SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT (NO. 2-65955-99)

 

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

[X]

Pre-Effective Amendment No.

[ ]

Post-Effective Amendment No. 93

[X]

and

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT (NO. 811-02968-99) UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

Amendment No. 93

[X]

VANGUARD TRUSTEES' EQUITY FUND

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Declaration of Trust)

P.O. Box 2600, Valley Forge, PA 19482

(Address of Principal Executive Office)

Registrant's Telephone Number (610) 669-1000

Anne Robinson, Esquire

P.O. Box 876

Valley Forge, PA 19482

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box) [ ] immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

[X]on February 27, 2020 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.

 

Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund Prospectus

February 27, 2020

Investor Shares

Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund Investor Shares (VASFX)

See the inside front cover for important information about access to your fund's annual and semiannual shareholder reports.

This prospectus contains financial data for the Fund through the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019.

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.

Important information about access to shareholder reports

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the SEC, paper copies of your fund's annual and semiannual shareholder reports will no longer be sent to you by mail, unless you specifically request them. Instead, you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted on the website and will be provided with a link to access the report.

If you have already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and do not need to take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the fund electronically by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you invest directly with the fund, by calling Vanguard at one of the phone numbers on the back cover of this prospectus or by logging on to vanguard.com.

You may elect to receive paper copies of all future shareholder reports free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact the intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies. If you invest directly with the fund, you can call Vanguard at one of the phone numbers on the back cover of this prospectus or log on to vanguard.com. Your election to receive paper copies will apply to all the funds you hold through an intermediary or directly with Vanguard.

Contents

Fund Summary

1

Investing With Vanguard

34

More on the Fund

10

Purchasing Shares

34

 

 

 

 

The Fund and Vanguard

26

Redeeming Shares

37

 

 

 

 

Investment Advisor

27

Exchanging Shares

40

 

 

 

 

Dividends, Capital Gains, and Taxes

28

Frequent-Trading Limitations

41

 

 

 

 

Share Price

30

Other Rules You Should Know

43

 

 

 

 

Financial Highlights

32

Fund and Account Updates

47

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employer-Sponsored Plans

48

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contacting Vanguard

49

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Information

49

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related Performance

50

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary of Investment Terms

52

 

 

 

 

Fund Summary

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to generate returns that have low correlation with the returns of the stock and bond markets and seeks capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees

(Fees paid directly from your investment)

Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases

None

Purchase Fee

None

 

 

Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends

None

 

 

Redemption Fee

None

 

 

Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)

$20/year

 

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees

0.25%

12b-1 Distribution Fee

None

 

 

Other Expenses

 

Dividend Expenses on Securities Sold Short

0.41%

Borrowing Expenses on Securities Sold Short

0.00%

Other Operating Expenses

0.09%

Total of Other Expenses

0.50%

 

 

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

0.04%

 

 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses1

0.79%

 

 

1 The Fund's custodian has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its custody fee based on an offset arrangement. The Fund's Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after the custody fee offset was 0.74%.

1

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the Fund provides a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

$81

$252

$439

$978

 

 

 

 

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 157% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund seeks to generate returns by utilizing several alternative strategies that, individually and collectively, are expected to have low correlation with traditional capital markets and that collectively are expected to have lower volatility than the overall U.S. stock market. The strategies are based on the advisor's view regarding investable opportunities across capital markets. The Fund pursues strategies that include the following: long/short equity, event driven, fixed income relative value, currencies, commodity-linked investments, and equity index futures. The Fund will hold long and/or short positions within each strategy in an allocation that attempts to minimize market exposure, while attempting to capture attractive risk premiums identified by the advisor. The advisor expects that, over the long term, the assets underlying its long positions will outperform (appreciate more than or depreciate less than) the assets underlying its short positions.

The Fund implements these strategies by investing—either directly or indirectly through a wholly owned subsidiary—in a broad range of investments that may include, but are not limited to, the following: equities; fixed income instruments;

2

options; foreign currency exchange forward contracts; futures, including commodity, global equity index, and U.S. and foreign Treasury futures; and swaps.

The Fund seeks to generate absolute returns independent of market conditions, while managing volatility by combining strategies with different volatility patterns. The Fund is expected to utilize leverage in an attempt to match the expected risk profile of each individual strategy and the fund overall to a targeted level. A strategy will generate a positive return if stocks or other instruments held long (long positions) in the aggregate outperform stocks or other instruments sold short (short positions). This will happen if the long positions increase in value (appreciate) while the short positions decline in value (depreciate) or if the long positions appreciate more than, or depreciate less than, the short positions.

The Fund has adopted a risk methodology that targets a fixed range of volatility set by the advisor. This fixed range of volatility may change from time to time. The advisor will consider risk level of the individual strategies, composition of the portfolio, and market conditions when determining the fixed volatility range.

Although the Fund generally expects to maintain an approximate equal weighting among the strategies, the advisor may increase or decrease a strategy's weighting within the Fund to a level deemed appropriate to further the Fund's investment objective. In addition, the advisor may discontinue use of any of the strategies or add one or more new strategies if deemed to be in the best interests of the Fund.

The strategies employed by the Fund include:

•Long/Short Equity: The Fund may engage in strategies that seek to provide both long and short exposure to equity securities. This strategy involves simultaneously purchasing equities (e.g., U.S. and foreign stocks) the advisor expects to increase in value (i.e., investing long) and selling equities the advisor expects to decrease in value (i.e., short selling). This strategy may maintain overweightings in a variety of industry and sector exposures when seeking to capitalize on pricing inefficiencies between related equity securities. When taking a short position, the Fund sells a stock that it does not own and then borrows the stock from a third party to meet its settlement obligations. The Fund seeks to reduce the net exposure of the overall portfolio to general market movements and to minimize volatility by simultaneously engaging in long investing and short selling.

•Event Driven: The Fund may engage in event driven strategies, which seek to profit from investing in, and in some cases shorting, the securities (e.g., U.S. and foreign stocks) of a company based on the belief that a specific event or catalyst will affect the price of the company's stock. This strategy attempts to capitalize on price discrepancies and returns generated by an impending corporate activity, such as an acquisition or merger. The advisor may also engage in this strategy using futures, forwards, or swaps. Foreign currency exchange forward contracts may be used to

3

hedge currency risks presented by securities transactions. Swaps and futures may be used to create synthetic exposure to securities.

•Fixed Income Relative Value: The Fund may seek to profit by capitalizing on perceived mispricing of various liquid fixed income or interest rate-sensitive securities. This strategy will employ a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods to identify securities it believes are mispriced or display liquidity discrepancies based on historical, fundamental, or technical factors. The advisor may also engage in this strategy primarily using U.S. Treasury futures.

•Currencies: The Fund may utilize this strategy to benefit from expected currency movements across countries through the use of long and short foreign currency exchange forward contracts. The Fund seeks to benefit from premiums associated with selling currencies of countries with poor fundamental characteristics and purchasing currencies of countries with strong fundamental characteristics.

•Commodity-Linked Investments: The Fund may engage in investments that create both long and short exposure to commodities by using exchange-traded commodity futures contracts, commodity-linked swaps, or other commodity-linked investments. Commodities include real assets such as agricultural products, livestock, precious and industrial metals, and energy products. The Fund typically obtains exposure to commodities by investing a portion of its assets in a wholly owned subsidiary, which in turn invests in commodity-linked investments and fixed income securities. The Fund may also obtain exposure to commodities by investing directly in commodity-linked investments. Commodity-linked investments include commodity futures contracts, commodity-linked structured notes, commodity-linked swaps, exchange-traded commodity pools or funds, and other commodity-linked instruments.

•Equity Index Futures: The Fund may utilize long and short positions in global equity index futures to capture excess return opportunities. The Fund seeks to benefit from global differences in market and fundamental characteristics by buying equity index futures with strong characteristics and selling equity index futures with poor characteristics.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short, intermediate, or even long periods of time. Returns may vary substantially over time, and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective or that any of its investment strategies individually or collectively will succeed.

The Fund's strategies involve the use of leverage, so its investment program may be considered speculative and is expected to involve considerable risks. The Fund could lose money at any time and may underperform the markets in which it invests during any given period, regardless of whether such markets rise or fall.

4

The Fund is subject to the risks described below. Each of these risks, alone or in combination with other risks, has the potential to hurt Fund performance, sometimes significantly.

Absolute Return Investing Risk

Absolute return investing is complex and may involve greater risk than investing in a traditional portfolio of stocks, bonds, and cash. There is no guarantee that the performance of the Fund will have low correlation with the returns of traditional capital markets. It is possible that the Fund's investment returns may converge with the investment returns of equity or fixed income markets during a period of declining stock prices, thereby eliminating the diversification benefit that the advisor expects from the strategies. During these times, the strategies' correlations could increase, which in turn could increase the Fund's overall volatility.

Manager Risk

The Fund is subject to manager risk, which is the chance that poor investment selections, poor asset allocation decisions, and/or poor strategy execution by the advisor will cause the Fund to fail to achieve its objective or to generate lower returns than would be achieved from different investment selections and/or asset allocation decisions. Poor investment selection by the advisor could also cause the Fund to underperform relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar investment objectives.

Derivatives Risk

The use of derivatives—such as futures contracts, foreign currency exchange forward contracts, swap agreements, options, and warrants—presents risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in traditional securities. The use of derivatives can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the underlying security, commodity, asset, index, or reference rate. Derivative strategies often involve leverage, which may increase a loss, potentially causing the Fund to lose more money than it would have lost had it invested in the underlying security. Also, a liquid market may not always exist for the Fund's derivative positions at times when the Fund might wish to terminate or sell such positions. In addition, regulators and futures exchanges have established limits, referred to as position limits, on the maximum net long or net short positions that any person may hold or control, in particular derivatives contracts. Some contract positions, such as commodity futures contracts, held by the Fund and/or the subsidiary may have to be liquidated at disadvantageous times or prices to avoid exceeding such position limits, which may adversely affect the Fund's total return. The use of a derivative subjects the investor to the risk of nonperformance by the counterparty (i.e., counterparty risk), potentially resulting in delayed or partial payment or even nonpayment of amounts due under the derivative contract.

5

Short-Selling Risk

Short-selling risk is the chance that the Fund will lose money in connection with its short sales of securities or other instruments. Short selling allows an investor to profit from declines in the prices of securities or other instruments. There is no guarantee that the price of the securities or other instruments will decline; in fact, it may rise. To generate cash to close out a short position, the Fund may have to sell a related long position at a disadvantageous time. The Fund's loss on a short sale is potentially unlimited, because there is no limit on the price a security or instrument sold short could attain.

Commodity-Linked Investment Risk

The Fund has the ability to obtain commodity exposure by investing directly in commodity-linked investments or investing indirectly in those investments through a wholly owned subsidiary organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. These investments subject the Fund to risks associated with investments in commodities. Commodity futures trading is volatile and even a small movement in market prices could cause large losses. Commodity-linked investment risks include commodity futures trading risk, counterparty risk, derivatives risk, and tax risk. These risks are described under More on the Fund. Investment in a wholly owned subsidiary also subjects the Fund to subsidiary investment risk, manager risk, and tax risk. These subsidiary-related risks are also described in more detail under More on the Fund. In particular, the subsidiary will not be organized as a mutual fund that is registered under any U.S. federal or state securities laws, including the Investment Company Act of 1940. The tax treatment of the Fund's investment in the subsidiary may be adversely affected by changes in laws or regulations, or interpretations of existing laws or regulations, of the United States and/or the jurisdiction of the subsidiary.

Leverage Risk

Leverage risk is the chance that any leveraged losses will exceed the principal amount invested by the Fund. Returns from a leveraged investment have the potential to be more volatile than returns from traditional stock and bond investments, which exposes the Fund to heightened risks.

Stock Market Risk

The Fund is subject to stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's investments in foreign stocks can be riskier than U.S. stock investments. Foreign stocks may be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. stocks. The prices of foreign stocks and the prices of U.S. stocks may move in opposite directions.

Currency Risk

The Fund is subject to currency risk, which is the chance that the Fund could suffer losses from currency-related investments. For example, if positions the Fund holds

6

long decline in value and/or positions the Fund holds short increase in value, then the Fund could incur a loss. Currency prices can be highly volatile and trading currencies for non-hedging purposes is generally considered speculative and involves a high risk of a substantial loss of invested capital.

Nondiversification Risk

The Fund is also subject to nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few investments. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of particular issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Fund compare with those of a relevant market index, which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Effective November 1, 2019, the FTSE 3-month US T-Bill Index +4% was replaced with the FTSE 3-month Treasury Bill Index in order to align with the Fund's investment objective and risk methodology. The Spliced Alternative Strategies Index reflects the performance of the FTSE 3-month US T-Bill Index +4% through October 31, 2019, and the FTSE 3-month Treasury Bill Index thereafter. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

7

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund Investor Shares1

2016

2017

2018

2019

 

20%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10%

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.40

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.61

0.35

2.28

 

 

 

0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-10%

-20%

1 The year-to-date return as of the most recent calendar quarter, which ended on December 31, 2019, was 9.40%.

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 5.22% (quarter ended March 31, 2016), and the lowest return for a quarter was –2.61% (quarter ended December 31, 2016).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2019

 

 

Since

 

 

Inception

 

 

(Aug. 11,

 

1 Year

2015)

 

 

 

Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund Investor Shares

 

 

 

 

 

Return Before Taxes

9.40%

3.99%

 

 

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions

7.23

3.03

 

 

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

5.94

2.77

 

 

 

Comparative Indexes

 

 

(reflect no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

 

 

 

 

 

FTSE 3-month U.S.T-Bill Index + 4%

6.25%

5.33%

 

 

 

Spliced Alternative Strategies Index

5.58

5.18

 

 

 

FTSE 3-month Treasury Bill Index

2.25

1.19

 

 

 

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures

8

captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

Investment Advisor

The Vanguard Group, Inc. (Vanguard)

Portfolio Managers

Anatoly Shtekhman, CFA, Portfolio Manager at Vanguard. He has co-managed the Fund since 2016.

Fei Xu, CFA, Portfolio Manager at Vanguard. He has co-managed the Fund since 2017.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

You may purchase or redeem shares online through our website (vanguard.com), by mail (The Vanguard Group, P.O. Box 1110, Valley Forge, PA 19482-1110), or by telephone (800-662-2739). The minimum investment amount required to open and maintain a Fund account for Investor Shares is $50,000. The minimum investment amount required to add to an existing Fund account is generally $1. Institutional clients should contact Vanguard for information on special eligibility rules that may apply to them. If you are investing through an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, your plan administrator or your benefits office can provide you with detailed information on how you can invest through your plan.

Tax Information

The Fund's distributions may be taxable as ordinary income or capital gain. If you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, such as an IRA or an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, special tax rules apply.

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

The Fund and its investment advisor do not pay financial intermediaries for sales of Fund shares.

9

More on the Fund

This prospectus describes the principal risks you would face as a Fund shareholder. It is important to keep in mind one of the main principles of investing: generally, the higher the risk of losing money, the higher the potential reward. The reverse, also, is generally true: the lower the risk, the lower the potential reward. As you consider an investment in any mutual fund, you should take into account your personal tolerance

for fluctuations in the securities markets. Look for this symbol throughout the prospectus. It is used to mark detailed information about the more significant risks that you would confront as a Fund shareholder. To highlight terms and concepts important to mutual fund investors, we have provided Plain Talk® explanations along the way. Reading the prospectus will help you decide whether the Fund is the right investment for you. We suggest that you keep this prospectus for future reference.

The following sections explain the principal investment strategies and policies that the Fund uses in pursuit of its objective. The Fund's board of trustees, which oversees the Fund's management, may change investment strategies or policies in the interest of shareholders without a shareholder vote, unless those strategies or policies are designated as fundamental. Note that the Fund's investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed without a shareholder vote.

Plain Talk About Absolute Return Investing

Conventional approaches to investing money seek to either track or exceed the performance of a particular asset or sub-asset class. An absolute return approach to investing, however, seeks capital appreciation over the long term while exhibiting low correlation with the returns of traditional capital markets. During periods of falling or rising stock prices, an absolute return investment may generate returns that are markedly different from the returns of the stock market, for better or worse. Some absolute return strategies are designed to take advantage of disparities or inefficiencies in different markets or to benefit from cyclical relationships or special situations. Certain absolute return strategies may be designed to systematically capture risk premiums across the financial markets by offering risk transfer opportunities to market participants. Other absolute return strategies can be designed to capture mispricings across asset classes that have historically positive long-term returns while exhibiting low correlation with stock market returns. Generally speaking, an absolute return approach to investing places a premium on manager insight, effective execution, and disciplined risk controls. Absolute return strategies can use a high degree of implicit or explicit leverage, which introduces the potential for a substantial loss of invested capital over short periods of time.

10

Absolute return investing is complex and may involve greater risk than investing in a traditional portfolio of stocks, bonds, and cash. There is no guarantee that the performance of the Fund will have low correlation with the returns of traditional capital markets. It is possible that the Fund's investment returns may converge with the investment returns of equity or fixed income markets during a period of declining stock prices, thereby eliminating the diversification benefit that the advisor expects from the strategies. During these times, the strategies' correlations could increase, which in turn could increase the Fund's overall volatility.

Plain Talk About Costs of Investing

Costs are an important consideration in choosing a mutual fund. That is because you, as a shareholder, pay a proportionate share of the costs of operating a fund and any transaction costs incurred when the fund buys or sells securities. These costs can erode a substantial portion of the gross income or the capital appreciation a fund achieves. Even seemingly small differences in expenses can, over time, have a dramatic effect on a fund's performance.

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short, intermediate, or even long periods of time. Returns may vary substantially over time, and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective or that any of its investment strategies individually or collectively will succeed.

Portfolio Construction

The Fund seeks to provide shareholders with an absolute return through investments in various alternative strategies. The Fund is constructed to provide returns that have low correlation to traditional capital markets. Therefore, the Fund's strategies have been designed and selected to have minimal long-term correlation with each other. The Fund will seek to be broadly diversified across a range of markets. Each of the strategies is constructed using a bottom up systematic process.

The advisor constructs each strategy individually then combines them into a single portfolio using a long-term strategic risk-weighting process. In general, the advisor's portfolio construction process focuses on adding value through diversified risk weighting over the long-term.

Although the Fund's returns are designed to have low long-term correlation with traditional capital market returns on average over time, the Fund may experience periods of increased correlation and risk relative to capital markets. Although the Fund may simultaneously use one type of exposure in more than one strategy, the exposure will be independently selected to achieve the goal of the particular strategy. The advisor will attempt to mitigate risk through the allocation of assets among the

11

strategies and through active monitoring of volatility, counterparties, and other risk measures.

Security Selection

Vanguard manages each strategy through the use of a continually evolving process that was developed and is managed by Vanguard's Quantitative Equity Group. All potential enhancements to the process go through rigorous peer vetting and validation before being implemented. The advisor utilizes the resulting process to determine which securities and other instruments to buy long and sell short for the portfolio. The Fund's investments may include, but are not limited to, the following: equities; fixed income instruments; options; foreign currency exchange forward contracts; futures, including commodity, global equity index, and U.S. and foreign Treasury futures; and swaps. The Fund gains exposure to these instruments either directly by investing in the instruments or indirectly by investing in a subsidiary that invests in the instruments.

The Fund may invest in selected other investments that the advisor believes have attractive expected risk/return characteristics and that are compatible with the existing strategies of the Fund.

The Fund is subject to manager risk, which is the chance that poor investment selections, poor asset allocation decisions, and/or poor strategy execution by the advisor will cause the Fund to fail to achieve its objective or to generate lower returns than would be achieved from different investment selections and/or asset allocation decisions. Poor investment selection by the advisor could also cause the Fund to underperform relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar investment objectives.

The performance of the Fund depends on the net returns of its long and short positions, and it is possible for the Fund to experience a net loss across all positions. If the Fund's investment program is successful, however, the net returns of its long and short positions will produce long-term capital appreciation that reflects the quality of the advisor's security selections, with less volatility than the U.S. stock market.

The Fund is subject to nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few investments. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of particular issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds.

12

 

Plain Talk About Alternative Strategies Funds

What is an alternative strategies mutual fund? While there is no clear definition of "alternative" in the mutual fund space, an alternative strategies mutual fund is generally understood to be a fund whose principal investment strategy falls into one or more of the three following buckets: (1) non-traditional asset classes (such as currencies), (2) non-traditional strategies (such as long/short equity positions), and/or (3) illiquid assets (such as private debt). These investment strategies generally seek to produce positive risk-adjusted returns (or alphas) that are not closely correlated to traditional investments or benchmarks. These investment strategies differ from those of traditional mutual funds that pursue long-only strategies in asset classes. It is possible for an alternative strategies mutual fund to experience considerable losses.

Market Exposure

• U.S. and Foreign Stocks

The Fund invests, to varying degrees, in large-, mid-, and small-capitalization stocks of companies in the United States, as well as in stocks of companies located in markets around the world. The Fund may hedge some of its currency exposure to foreign stocks in order to reduce volatility caused by changes in currency exchange rates.

The Fund is subject to stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. Investments in foreign stocks can be riskier than U.S. stock investments. Foreign stocks may be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. stocks. The prices of foreign stocks and the prices of U.S. stocks may move in opposite directions.

The Fund is subject to country/regional risk and currency risk. Country/regional risk is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by companies in foreign countries or regions. Currency risk is the chance that the value of a foreign investment, including a derivative that provides exposure to a foreign investment, measured in U.S. dollars, will decrease because of unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates.

The advisor expects that much of the risks of investing in stocks will be offset through strategy construction, for example, taking short positions in stocks. That said, there is no guarantee that strategy construction will always be successful in reducing stock market risk.

13

•Bonds

The Fund may invest in instruments that provide exposure to fixed income markets, including U.S. Treasury futures, and to varying degrees, a wide spectrum of short-, intermediate-, and long-term U.S. government, U.S. agency, and investment-grade U.S. corporate bonds; mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities; and government, agency, corporate, and securitized investment-grade foreign bonds issued in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The Fund may hedge some of its currency exposure in order to reduce volatility caused by changes in currency rates. Fixed income investments may be used in furtherance of an investment strategy and also to enable the Fund to satisfy margin deposit, collateralization, and/or segregation obligations associated with its use of derivatives.

The Fund is subject to interest rate risk, which is the chance that prices of fixed income instruments, including, but not limited to, bonds and U.S. Treasury futures, will be affected by changes in interest rates. Increasing interest rates could cause positions of the long portfolio to decline in value, while decreasing interest rates could cause positions of the short portfolio to decline in value.

14

 

Plain Talk About Bonds and Interest Rates

As a rule, when interest rates rise, bond prices fall. The opposite is also true: Bond prices go up when interest rates fall. Why do bond prices and interest rates move in opposite directions? Let's assume that you hold a bond offering a 4% yield. A year later, interest rates are on the rise and bonds of comparable quality and maturity are offered with a 5% yield. With higher-yielding bonds available, you would have trouble selling your 4% bond for the price you paid—you would probably have to lower your asking price. On the other hand, if interest rates were falling and 3% bonds were being offered, you should be able to sell your 4% bond for more than you paid.

How mortgage-backed securities are different: In general, declining interest rates will not lift the prices of mortgage-backed securities—such as those guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association—as much as the prices of comparable bonds. Why? Because when interest rates fall, the bond market tends to discount the prices of mortgage-backed securities for prepayment risk— the possibility that homeowners will refinance their mortgages at lower rates and cause the bonds to be paid off prior to maturity. In part to compensate for this prepayment possibility, mortgage-backed securities tend to offer higher yields than other bonds of comparable credit quality and maturity. In contrast, when interest rates rise, prepayments tend to slow down, subjecting mortgage-backed securities to extension risk—the possibility that homeowners will repay their mortgages at slower rates. This will lengthen the duration or average life of mortgage-backed securities held by a fund and delay the fund's ability to reinvest proceeds at higher interest rates, making the fund more sensitive to changes in interest rates.

The Fund is subject to credit risk, which is the chance that the issuer of a security will fail to pay interest or principal in a timely manner or that negative perceptions of the issuer's ability to make such payments will cause the price of that security to decline, thus reducing the Fund's return.

The Fund is subject to income risk, which is the chance that the Fund's income will decline because of falling interest rates. A fund holding bonds will experience a decline in income when interest rates fall because the fund then must invest new cash flow and cash from maturing bonds in lower-yielding bonds. Income risk is generally higher for funds holding short-term bonds and lower for funds holding long-term bonds.

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The Fund is subject to call risk, which is the chance that during periods of falling interest rates, issuers of callable bonds may call (redeem) securities with higher coupon rates or interest rates before their maturity dates. If the Fund holds a bond that is called, the Fund would then lose any price appreciation above the bond's call price and would be forced to reinvest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund's income. For mortgage-backed securities, this risk is known as prepayment risk.

The Fund is subject to country/regional risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters— will adversely affect the value and/or liquidity of securities issued by foreign governments, government agencies, or companies.

The Fund is subject, to a limited extent, to event risk, which is the chance that corporate fixed income securities will suffer a substantial decline in credit quality and market value because of a corporate restructuring.

Plain Talk About Bond Maturities

A bond is issued with a specific maturity date—the date when the issuer must pay back the bond's principal (face value). Bond maturities range from less than 1 year to more than 30 years. Typically, the longer a bond's maturity, the more price risk you, as a bond investor, will face as interest rates rise—but also the higher the potential yield you could receive. Longer-term bonds are more suitable for investors willing to take a greater risk of price fluctuations to get higher and more stable interest income. Shorter-term bond investors should be willing to accept lower yields and greater income variability in return for less fluctuation in the value of their investment. The stated maturity of a bond may differ from the effective maturity of a bond, which takes into consideration that an action such as a call or refunding may cause bonds to be repaid before their stated maturity dates.

Commodity-Linked Investment Risk

The Fund may allocate a portion of its assets to investments that create long or short exposure to commodities (e.g., commodity futures). Commodities include real assets such as agricultural products, livestock, precious and industrial metals, and energy products. Commodity futures prices have a historically low correlation with the returns of the stock and bond markets.

The Fund intends to obtain exposure to commodities primarily through investing a portion of its assets in a wholly owned subsidiary organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands, which in turn invests in commodity-linked investments and fixed

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income securities. The Fund's ownership of the subsidiary exposes it to the same risks as if it were invested directly in the assets owned by the subsidiary. The Fund may also invest directly in certain types of commodity-linked investments. The Fund's direct and indirect commodity-linked investments may include commodity futures contracts, commodity-linked swaps, exchange-traded commodity pools or funds, and other commodity-linked instruments. The subsidiary's fixed income investments include, but are not limited to, cash instruments, money market instruments, and short- term bonds. Fixed income investments provide liquidity for the subsidiary and may serve as margin or collateral for the subsidiary's commodity-linked investments.

Subsidiary investment risk includes the risk that because a subsidiary is not registered under any U.S. federal or state securities laws, it does not offer the same investor protections available to shareholders of registered investment companies.

The subsidiary, which is managed by Vanguard, will not be organized as a mutual fund that is registered under any U.S. federal or state securities laws, including the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act), and is therefore not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act.

There is no assurance that the Fund will be permitted to continue to invest indirectly in commodity-linked investments through the subsidiary. Changes in the laws or regulations, or interpretations of existing laws or regulations, of the United States and/or the jurisdiction of the subsidiary could limit the Fund's ability to invest in the subsidiary, impact the way in which the subsidiary operates, increase the subsidiary's expenses, or otherwise adversely affect the Fund and/or the subsidiary. Moreover, the changes may be retroactive. For example, the subsidiary intends to operate in a manner that the Fund's qualifying income requirement is met under current U.S. tax law. However, there is no assurance that future changes in this law, or interpretations of this law, will not adversely affect the Fund. Also, although the subsidiary is not expected to owe income or other taxes in its jurisdiction of organization, if that jurisdiction's tax laws were changed and the subsidiary was required to pay taxes, the Fund's investment returns may decrease. Because Vanguard receives asset-based fees from the subsidiary for services provided to the subsidiary, Fund assets invested in the subsidiary are excluded when allocating to the Fund its share of the costs of Vanguard operations.

Tax risk is the chance that the Fund's commodity-linked investments could adversely affect the Fund's regulated investment company status.

The Fund's ability to make direct and indirect investments in some of the commodity- related investments previously described, including in the wholly owned subsidiary, is limited by the Fund's intention to qualify as a regulated investment company (RIC) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the IRC), including the requirement that 90% of the Fund's gross income for each taxable year constitute

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"qualifying income." As an RIC, the Fund also may not invest more than 25% of its assets in the subsidiary.

The Fund generally intends to gain direct or indirect exposure to the commodity markets through investments that generate qualifying income by investing directly in commodity-linked investments the Fund believes give rise to qualifying income or by investing indirectly in commodity-linked investments through the subsidiary. In addition, the subsidiary will be operated in a manner that is intended to enable the Fund to comply with the IRC requirements applicable to RICs. However, if the Fund does not appropriately limit its investments in the subsidiary or in commodity-related investments, or if the investments (or the income earned on the investments) are recharacterized for U.S. tax purposes, the Fund's status as an RIC may be jeopardized. Moreover, any recharacterization of these investments (or the income earned on the investments) may be retroactive. If the Fund were to fail to qualify as an RIC in any taxable year, the Fund would be subject to Fund-level taxation, reducing the amount of income available for distribution to shareholders and reducing the net asset value of its shares.

Manager risk is the chance that poor strategy execution will cause the subsidiary to fail to achieve its investment objective.

The subsidiary's success will depend on the advisor's ability to successfully invest in commodity-linked investments such as commodity futures and commodity-linked swaps and to invest the subsidiary's assets in a combination of fixed income investments. The subsidiary is subject to the risk that it will not be successful in executing this strategy, and there is no guarantee that the subsidiary will achieve its investment objective. The subsidiary could lose money at any time.

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Plain Talk About Commodities

Commodities are raw materials used to create the goods that consumers buy. They include a wide range of physical assets, such as agricultural products, livestock, precious metals, energy products, and industrial metals. Commodities can be purchased for immediate delivery ("on the spot") or delivery within a specific time period in the future under the terms of a futures contract. An exchange-traded commodity futures contract provides for the purchase and sale of a specified type and quantity of a commodity during a stated delivery month. A futures contract on an index of commodities provides for the payment and receipt of cash based on the level of the index at settlement or liquidation of the contract. Unlike equity securities, futures contracts, by their terms, have stated expirations, and at a specified time prior to expiration, trading in a futures contract for the current delivery month will cease. As a result, an investor wishing to maintain exposure to a futures contract on a particular commodity with the nearest expiration must close out a position in the expiring contract and establish a new position in the contract for the next delivery month. This process is referred to as "rolling." An investor will profit from rolling a futures contract if the cost for the new contract is lower than the cost of the expiring contract. Conversely, an investor will lose money by rolling a futures contract if the cost for the new contract is higher than the cost of the expiring contract.

Commodity futures trading risk is the chance that the Fund could lose all, or substantially all, of its investments in instruments linked to the returns of commodity futures. Commodity futures trading is volatile, and even a small movement in market prices could cause large losses.

The prices of commodity futures are subject to change based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the following: lack of liquidity; global supply and demand for commodities; disorderly markets; limitations on deliverable supplies; participation of hedgers and speculators; domestic and foreign interest rates and investors' expectations concerning interest rates; domestic and foreign inflation rates and investors' expectations concerning inflation rates; investment and trading activities of institutional investors; global or regional political, economic, or financial events and situations; government regulation and intervention; technical and operational or system failures; nuclear accident; terrorism; and natural disasters.

Derivatives Risk

The Fund may invest in derivatives only if the expected risks and rewards of the derivatives are consistent with the investment objective, policies, strategies, and risks of the Fund as disclosed in this prospectus.

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Derivatives risk is the risk associated with the use of futures contracts, options on futures contracts, options on securities, swap agreements, warrants, forward contracts, and other derivatives. Investments in derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, those of investments directly in the underlying securities or assets.

Losses involving certain derivatives can sometimes be substantial or even greater than the principal amount invested—in part because a relatively small price movement may result in an immediate and substantial loss to the investor. Derivatives also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying securities or assets. The market for many derivatives is, or can suddenly become, illiquid, which may result in significant, rapid, and unpredictable changes in the prices for derivatives.

The use of certain derivatives subjects the investor to counterparty risk, which is the risk of nonperformance by the counterparty, potentially resulting in delayed or partial payment or even nonpayment of amounts due under the derivative contract. There are typically contractual remedies that may be pursued under a derivatives agreement in the event of default by a counterparty. The Fund and the subsidiary each expects to hold margin or collateral to secure the obligations of a counterparty in an effort to mitigate this risk.

Plain Talk About Derivatives

Generally speaking, a derivative is a financial contract whose value is based on the value of a financial asset (such as a stock, a bond, or a currency), a physical asset (such as gold, oil, or wheat), a market index, or a reference rate. Some forms of derivatives—such as exchange-traded futures and options on securities, commodities, or indexes—have been trading on regulated exchanges for decades. These types of derivatives are standardized contracts that can easily be bought and sold and whose market values are determined and published daily. On the other hand, non-exchange-traded derivatives—such as certain swap agreements and foreign currency exchange forward contracts—tend to be more specialized or complex and may be less liquid and more difficult to accurately value.

Liquidity risk is the chance that the markets, assets, and instruments in which the Fund invests are, or may become, illiquid.

The advisor expects that the Fund generally will seek to invest in liquid markets, assets, and instruments, although the Fund may have the ability to invest a portion of its assets in markets, assets, or instruments that are or may become illiquid. There is

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no assurance that investments that were liquid when purchased will not suddenly become illiquid for an indefinite period of time.

Short-Selling Risk

The Fund's use of short sales in combination with its long positions may not be successful and may result in greater losses or lower returns than if the Fund held only long positions. For example, it is possible that the instruments the Fund holds long will underperform (appreciate less than or depreciate more than) the instruments it holds short, resulting in losses to the Fund. Any gain from a short position may be partially or totally offset by a decline in a long position, or vice versa.

Plain Talk About Equity Short Sales

A short sale of an equity security is the sale of a security that the seller does not own. In order to deliver the security to the purchaser, the short seller borrows the security, typically from a broker-dealer or an institutional investor, for a fee. The short seller later closes out the position by returning the security to the lender, typically by purchasing the same security on the open market. A short sale theoretically carries the risk of an unlimited loss, because the price of the underlying security could increase without limit, thus increasing the cost of buying that security to cover the short position. In addition, there can be no assurance that the security needed to cover a short position will be available for purchase. Also, the purchase of a security to close out the short position can itself cause the price of the security to rise further, thereby exacerbating the loss. Short selling is often used to profit from an expected downward price movement in a security.

Short-selling risk is the chance that the Fund will lose money in connection with its short sales of securities or other instruments.

Short selling allows an investor to profit from declines in the prices of securities or other instruments the investor does not own. To engage in an equity short sale, the Fund sells a security that it does not own and borrows, for a fee, securities to meet its settlement obligation. There is no guarantee that the price of the borrowed securities will decline; in fact, it may rise. Short selling of equity securities involves higher transaction costs than long-only investing. For example, to generate cash to close out a short position, the Fund may have to sell a related long position at disadvantageous times to produce cash to unwind a short position. The Fund's loss on a short sale is potentially unlimited, because there is no limit on the price appreciation a borrowed security or instrument sold short could attain.

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Plain Talk About Short Sale Borrowing and Dividend Expenses

The Fund engages in short selling as a principal investment strategy. A short sale occurs when the Fund sells a stock it does not own and then borrows the stock from a lender in order to settle the transaction. When the Fund sells short, it will normally incur two types of expenses—borrowing expenses and dividend expenses—which increase the Fund's expense ratio.

In connection with the short sale, the Fund may receive income or be charged a fee on borrowed stock. This income or fee is calculated on a daily basis, based upon the market value of the borrowed stock and a variable rate that is dependent upon the availability of the stock. The net amounts of income or fees are recorded as "interest income" (for net income received) or "borrowing expense on securities sold short" (for net fees charged) on the Fund's Statement of Operations.

The Fund incurs dividend expenses until the borrowed stock is returned to the lender. These expenses are paid to the lender of the stock and are based upon the amount of any dividends declared on the stock. Having sold the borrowed stock, the Fund does not itself collect the dividends, and thus has a net expense payable to the lender. This payment is recorded as "dividend expense on securities sold short" on the Fund's financial statements. Short sale dividend expenses generally reduce the market value of the stock by the amount of the dividend declared, thus increasing the Fund's unrealized gain or reducing the Fund's unrealized loss on the stock sold short.

Leverage Risk

Leverage risk is the chance that any leveraged losses will exceed the principal amount invested by the Fund. Returns from a leveraged investment have the potential to be more volatile than returns from traditional stock and bond investments, which exposes the Fund to heightened risks.

Leverage exists when an investor has the right to a return on a total investment amount that exceeds the cash amount the investor contributed to the investment. Leverage magnifies the effect of gains and losses. The Fund's losses from its leveraged investments could be considerable.

Leverage-financing risk is the chance that the Fund will be unable to access and maintain financing sufficient to leverage its investments to targeted levels.

The Fund will require the use of leverage in order for its strategies to reach targeted volatility levels. It is possible that the prime broker or other counterparties that finance

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the leverage employed by the Fund may not be able or willing to provide the level of financing that the advisor believes is required to achieve its volatility targets.

Currency Risk

Currency risk is the chance that the Fund could suffer losses from currency- related investments. For example, if positions the Fund holds long decline in value and/or positions the Fund holds short increase in value, then the Fund could incur a loss. Currency prices can be highly volatile and trading currencies for non-hedging purposes is generally considered speculative and involves a high risk of a substantial loss of invested capital.

Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates, impositions of currency controls, devaluation of a currency by a country's government or banking authority, or political developments in the United States or abroad.

Other Investment Policies and Risks

Although the Fund actively allocates its assets principally among some combination of equities; fixed income instruments; options; foreign currency exchange forward contracts; futures, including commodity, global equity index, and U.S. and foreign Treasury futures; and swaps, the Fund may make other kinds of investments to achieve its objective.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities are investments that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Restricted securities are a special type of illiquid security; these securities have not been publicly issued and legally can be resold only to qualified buyers. From time to time, the board of trustees may determine that particular restricted securities are not illiquid, and those securities may then be purchased by the Fund without limit.

The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in shares of stock or bond exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ETFs provide returns similar to those of stocks or bonds. The Fund may purchase ETFs when doing so will reduce the Fund's transaction costs, facilitate cash management, mitigate risk, or have the potential to add value because the instruments are favorably priced. Vanguard receives no additional revenue from Fund assets invested in ETF Shares of other Vanguard funds. Fund assets invested in ETF Shares are excluded when allocating to the Fund its share of the costs of Vanguard operations.

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Cash Management

The Fund's daily cash balance may be invested in Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund and/or Vanguard Municipal Cash Management Fund (each, a CMT Fund), which are low-cost money market funds. When investing in a CMT Fund, the Fund bears its proportionate share of the expenses of the CMT Fund in which it invests. Vanguard receives no additional revenue from Fund assets invested in a CMT Fund.

Methods Used to Meet Redemption Requests

Under normal circumstances, the Fund typically expects to meet redemptions with positive cash flows. When this is not an option, the Fund seeks to maintain its risk exposure by selling a cross section of the Fund's holdings to meet redemptions, while also factoring in transaction costs. Additionally, the Fund may work with larger clients to implement their redemptions in a manner that is least disruptive to the portfolio; see "Potentially disruptive redemptions" under Redeeming Shares in the Investing With Vanguard section.

Under certain circumstances, including under stressed market conditions, there are additional tools that the Fund may use in order to meet redemptions, including advancing the settlement of market trades with counterparties to match investor redemption payments or delaying settlement of an investor's transaction to match trade settlement within regulatory requirements. The Fund may also suspend payment of redemption proceeds for up to seven days; see "Emergency circumstances" under Redeeming Shares in the Investing With Vanguard section. Additionally under these unusual circumstances, the Fund may borrow money (subject to certain regulatory conditions and if available under board-approved procedures) through an interfund lending facility or through a bank line-of-credit, including a joint committed credit facility, in order to meet redemption requests.

Temporary Investment Measures

The Fund may temporarily depart from its normal investment policies and strategies when the advisor believes that doing so is in the Fund's best interest, so long as the strategy or policy employed is consistent with the Fund's investment objective. For instance, the Fund may invest beyond its normal limits in derivatives or exchange- traded funds that are consistent with the Fund's investment objective when those instruments are more favorably priced or provide needed liquidity, as might be the case if the Fund is transitioning assets from one advisor to another or receives large cash flows that it cannot prudently invest immediately.

In addition, the Fund may take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its normal investment policies and strategies—for instance, by allocating substantial assets to cash equivalent investments or other less volatile instruments— in response to adverse or unusual market, economic, political, or other conditions. In

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doing so, the Fund may succeed in avoiding losses but may otherwise fail to achieve its investment objective.

Frequent Trading or Market-Timing

Background. Some investors try to profit from strategies involving frequent trading of mutual fund shares, such as market-timing. For funds holding foreign securities, investors may try to take advantage of an anticipated difference between the price of the fund's shares and price movements in overseas markets, a practice also known as time-zone arbitrage. Investors also may try to engage in frequent trading of funds holding investments such as small-cap stocks and high-yield bonds. As money is shifted into and out of a fund by a shareholder engaging in frequent trading, the fund incurs costs for buying and selling securities, resulting in increased brokerage and administrative costs. These costs are borne by all fund shareholders, including the long-term investors who do not generate the costs. In addition, frequent trading may interfere with an advisor's ability to efficiently manage the fund.

Policies to address frequent trading. The Vanguard funds (other than money market funds and short-term bond funds, but including Vanguard Short-Term Inflation- Protected Securities Index Fund) do not knowingly accommodate frequent trading. The board of trustees of each Vanguard fund (other than money market funds and short- term bond funds, but including Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund) has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to detect and discourage frequent trading and, in some cases, to compensate the fund for the costs associated with it. These policies and procedures do not apply to ETF Shares because frequent trading in ETF Shares generally does not disrupt portfolio management or otherwise harm fund shareholders. Although there is no assurance that Vanguard will be able to detect or prevent frequent trading or market-timing in all circumstances, the following policies have been adopted to address these issues:

•Each Vanguard fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request—including exchanges from other Vanguard funds—without notice and regardless of size. For example, a purchase request could be rejected because the investor has a history of frequent trading or if Vanguard determines that such purchase may negatively affect a fund's operation or performance.

•Each Vanguard fund (other than money market funds and short-term bond funds, but including Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund) generally prohibits, except as otherwise noted in the Investing With Vanguard section, an investor's purchases or exchanges into a fund account for 30 calendar days after the investor has redeemed or exchanged out of that fund account.

•Certain Vanguard funds charge shareholders purchase and/or redemption fees on transactions.

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See the Investing With Vanguard section of this prospectus for further details on Vanguard's transaction policies.

Each Vanguard fund (other than retail and government money market funds), in determining its net asset value, will use fair-value pricing when appropriate, as described in the Share Price section. Fair-value pricing may reduce or eliminate the profitability of certain frequent-trading strategies.

Do not invest with Vanguard if you are a market-timer.

Turnover Rate

Although the Fund generally seeks to invest for the long term, it may sell securities regardless of how long they have been held. The Financial Highlights section of this prospectus shows historical turnover rates for the Fund. A turnover rate of 100%, for example, would mean that the Fund had sold and replaced securities valued at 100% of its net assets within a one-year period. In general, the greater the turnover rate, the greater the impact transaction costs will have on a fund's return. Also, funds with high turnover rates may be more likely to generate capital gains, including short-term capital gains, that must be distributed to shareholders and will be taxable to shareholders investing through a taxable account.

The Fund and Vanguard

The Fund is a member of The Vanguard Group, a family of over 200 funds. All of the funds that are members of The Vanguard Group (other than funds of funds) share in the expenses associated with administrative services and business operations, such as personnel, office space, and equipment.

Vanguard Marketing Corporation provides marketing services to the funds. Although fund shareholders do not pay sales commissions or 12b-1 distribution fees, each fund (other than a fund of funds) or each share class of a fund (in the case of a fund with multiple share classes) pays its allocated share of the Vanguard funds' marketing costs.

Plain Talk About Vanguard's Unique Corporate Structure

The Vanguard Group is owned jointly by the funds it oversees and thus indirectly by the shareholders in those funds. Most other mutual funds are operated by management companies that are owned by third parties—either public or private stockholders—and not by the funds they serve.

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Investment Advisor

The Vanguard Group, Inc. (Vanguard), P.O. Box 2600, Valley Forge, PA 19482, which began operations in 1975, serves as advisor to the Fund through its Quantitative Equity Group. As of October 31, 2019, Vanguard served as advisor for approximately $4.7 trillion in assets. Vanguard provides investment advisory services to the Fund pursuant to the Funds' Service Agreement and subject to the supervision and oversight of the trustees and officers of the Fund.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019, the advisory expenses represented an effective annual rate of 0.09% of the Fund's average net assets.

Under the terms of an SEC exemption, the Fund's board of trustees may, without prior approval from shareholders, change the terms of an advisory agreement with a third- party investment advisor or hire a new third-party investment advisor—either as a replacement for an existing advisor or as an additional advisor. Any significant change in the Fund's advisory arrangements will be communicated to shareholders in writing. As the Fund's sponsor and overall manager, Vanguard may provide investment advisory services to the Fund at any time. Vanguard may also recommend to the board of trustees that an advisor be hired, terminated, or replaced or that the terms of an existing advisory agreement be revised. The Fund has filed an application seeking a similar SEC exemption with respect to investment advisors that are wholly owned subsidiaries of Vanguard. If the exemption is granted, the Fund may rely on the new SEC relief.

For a discussion of why the board of trustees approved the Fund's investment advisory arrangement, see the most recent semiannual report to shareholders covering the fiscal period ended April 30.

The managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are:

Anatoly Shtekhman, CFA, Portfolio Manager at Vanguard. He has been with Vanguard since 2007 and has managed investment portfolios and co-managed the Fund since 2016. Education: B.S., University of Scranton; M.S., Boston College; M.B.A., The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Fei Xu, CFA, Portfolio Manager at Vanguard. He has been with Vanguard since 2004 and has managed investment portfolios and co-managed the Fund since 2017. Education: B.S., Peking University; M.S., University of California, Los Angeles; M.B.A., Duke University.

The Fund's Statement of Additional Information provides information about each portfolio manager's compensation, other accounts under management, and ownership of shares of the Fund.

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Dividends, Capital Gains, and Taxes

Fund Distributions

The Fund distributes to shareholders virtually all of its net income (interest and dividends, less expenses) as well as any net short-term or long-term capital gains realized from the sale of its holdings. Income and capital gains distributions, if any, generally occur annually in December. In addition, the Fund may occasionally make a supplemental distribution at some other time during the year.

You can receive distributions of income or capital gains in cash, or you can have them automatically reinvested in more shares of the Fund. However, if you are investing through an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, your distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares.

Plain Talk About Distributions

As a shareholder, you are entitled to your portion of a fund's income from interest, dividends, and other sources as well as capital gains from the fund's sale of investments. Income consists of, among other things, the dividends that the fund earns from any stock holdings and the interest it receives from any bond investments. In general, capital gains are realized whenever the fund sells investments for higher prices than it paid for them. These capital gains are either short-term or long-term, depending on whether the fund held the investments for one year or less or for more than one year.

Basic Tax Points

Investors in taxable accounts should be aware of the following basic federal income tax points:

•Distributions are taxable to you whether or not you reinvest these amounts in additional Fund shares.

•Distributions declared in December—if paid to you by the end of January—are taxable as if received in December.

•Any dividend distribution or short-term capital gains distribution that you receive is taxable to you as ordinary income. If you are an individual and meet certain holding- period requirements with respect to your Fund shares, you may be eligible for reduced tax rates on "qualified dividend income,"if any, distributed by the Fund.

•Any distribution of net long-term capital gains is taxable to you as long-term capital gains, no matter how long you have owned shares in the Fund.

•Capital gains distributions may vary considerably from year to year as a result of the Fund's normal investment activities and cash flows.

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•A sale or exchange of Fund shares is a taxable event. This means that you may have a capital gain to report as income, or a capital loss to report as a deduction, when you complete your tax return.

•Vanguard (or your intermediary) will send you a statement each year showing the tax status of all of your distributions.

Individuals, trusts, and estates whose income exceeds certain threshold amounts are subject to a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on "net investment income." Net investment income takes into account distributions paid by the Fund and capital gains from any sale or exchange of Fund shares.

Dividend distributions and capital gains distributions that you receive, as well as your gains or losses from any sale or exchange of Fund shares, may be subject to state and local income taxes.

This prospectus provides general tax information only. If you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, such as an IRA or an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, special tax rules apply. Please consult your tax advisor for detailed information about any tax consequences for you.

Plain Talk About Buying a Dividend

Unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged account (such as an IRA or an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan), you should consider avoiding a purchase of fund shares shortly before the fund makes a distribution, because doing so can cost you money in taxes. This is known as "buying a dividend." For example: On December 15, you invest $5,000, buying 250 shares for $20 each. If the fund pays a distribution of $1 per share on December 16, its share price will drop to $19 (not counting market change). You still have only $5,000 (250 shares x $19 = $4,750 in share value, plus 250 shares x $1 = $250 in distributions), but you owe tax on the $250 distribution you received—even if you reinvest it in more shares. To avoid buying a dividend, check a fund's distribution schedule before you invest.

General Information

Backup withholding. By law, Vanguard must withhold 24% of any taxable distributions or redemptions from your account if you do not:

•Provide your correct taxpayer identification number.

•Certify that the taxpayer identification number is correct.

•Confirm that you are not subject to backup withholding.

Similarly, Vanguard (or your intermediary) must withhold taxes from your account if the IRS instructs us to do so.

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Foreign investors. Vanguard funds offered for sale in the United States (Vanguard U.S. funds), including the Fund offered in this prospectus, are not widely available outside the United States. Non-U.S. investors should be aware that U.S. withholding and estate taxes and certain U.S. tax reporting requirements may apply to any investments in Vanguard U.S. funds. Foreign investors should visit the non-U.S. investors page on our website at vanguard.com for information on Vanguard's non- U.S. products.

Invalid addresses. If a dividend distribution or capital gains distribution check mailed to your address of record is returned as undeliverable, Vanguard will automatically reinvest the distribution and all future distributions until you provide us with a valid mailing address. Reinvestments will receive the net asset value calculated on the date of the reinvestment.

Share Price

Share price, also known as net asset value (NAV), is calculated as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), generally 4 p.m., Eastern time, on each day the NYSE is open for business (a business day). In the rare event the NYSE experiences unanticipated disruptions and is unavailable at the close of the trading day, the Fund reserves the right to treat such day as a business day and calculate NAVs as of the close of regular trading on the Nasdaq (or another alternate exchange if the Nasdaq is unavailable, as determined at Vanguard's discretion), generally 4 p.m., Eastern time. The NAV per share is computed by dividing the total assets, minus liabilities, of the Fund by the number of Fund shares outstanding. On U.S. holidays or other days when the NYSE is closed, the NAV is not calculated, and the Fund does not sell or redeem shares. However, on those days the value of the Fund's assets may be affected to the extent that the Fund holds securities that change in value on those days (such as foreign securities that trade on foreign markets that are open).

Stocks held by a Vanguard fund are valued at their market value when reliable market quotations are readily available from the principal exchange or market on which they are traded. Such securities are generally valued at their official closing price, the last reported sales price, or if there were no sales that day, the mean between the closing bid and asking prices. Debt securities held by a fund are valued based on information furnished by an independent pricing service or market quotations. When a fund determines that pricing-service information or market quotations either are not readily available or do not accurately reflect the value of a security, the security is priced at its fair value (the amount that the owner might reasonably expect to receive upon the current sale of the security).

The values of any foreign securities held by a fund are converted into U.S. dollars using an exchange rate obtained from an independent third party as of the close of

30

regular trading on the NYSE. The values of any mutual fund shares, including institutional money market fund shares, held by a fund are based on the NAVs of the shares. The values of any ETF shares or closed-end fund shares held by a fund are based on the market value of the shares.

A fund also will use fair-value pricing if the value of a security it holds has been materially affected by events occurring before the fund's pricing time but after the close of the principal exchange or market on which the security is traded. This most commonly occurs with foreign securities, which may trade on foreign exchanges that close many hours before the fund's pricing time. Intervening events might be company-specific (e.g., earnings report, merger announcement) or country-specific or regional/global (e.g., natural disaster, economic or political news, act of terrorism, interest rate change). Intervening events include price movements in U.S. markets that exceed a specified threshold or that are otherwise deemed to affect the value of foreign securities.

Fair-value pricing may be used for domestic securities—for example, if (1) trading in a security is halted and does not resume before the fund's pricing time or a security does not trade in the course of a day and (2) the fund holds enough of the security that its price could affect the NAV. A fund may use fair-value pricing with respect to its fixed income securities on bond market holidays when the fund is open for business (such as Columbus Day and Veterans Day).

Fair-value prices are determined by Vanguard according to procedures adopted by the board of trustees. When fair-value pricing is employed, the prices of securities used by a fund to calculate the NAV may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities.

Vanguard fund share prices are published daily on our website at vanguard.com/prices.

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Financial Highlights

Financial highlights information is intended to help you understand a fund's performance for the past five years (or, if shorter, its period of operations). Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. Total return represents the rate that an investor would have earned or lost each period on an investment in a fund or share class (assuming reinvestment of all distributions). This information has been obtained from the financial statements audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with fund financial statements, is included in a fund's most recent annual report to shareholders. You may obtain a free copy of a fund's latest annual or semiannual report, which is available upon request.

32

Alternative Strategies Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aug. 11,

 

 

Year Ended October 31,

20151 to

 

 

Oct. 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

2019

2018

2017

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

$20.41

$20.46

$21.28

 

$20.23

 

$20.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Investment Income (Loss)

.2522

.1972

.153

2

.106

 

.004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on Investments

1.828

(.143)

(.139)

1.039

 

.226

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total from Investment Operations

2.080

.054

.014

 

1.145

 

.230

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends from Net Investment Income

(.260)

(.104)

(.093)

(.095)

 

—

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions from Realized Capital Gains

—

—

(.741)

—

—

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Distributions

(.260)

(.104)

(.834)

(.095)

 

—

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

$22.23

$20.41

$20.46

 

$21.28

 

$20.23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return3

10.30%

0.27%

0.11%

 

5.68%

 

1.15%

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Assets, End of Period (Millions)

$297

$320

$292

 

$235

 

$159

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of Total Expenses to Average Net Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Based on Total Expenses4,5

0.79%6

0.66%6

0.79%

 

0.71%

 

0.73%7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net of Dividend and Borrowing Expense on

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities Sold Short

0.38%6

0.33%6

0.35%

 

0.36%

 

0.36%7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of Net Investment Income (Loss) to Average

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Assets

1.18%

0.93%

0.75%

 

0.50%

 

0.09%7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

157%

131%

125%

 

120%

 

25%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1Inception.

2Calculated based on average shares outstanding.

3Total returns do not include account service fees that may have applied in the periods shown.

4Includes dividend expense on securities sold short of 0.41%, 0.33%, 0.44%, 0.35%, and 0.34%, respectively.

5Includes borrowing expense on securities sold short of 0.00%, 0.00%, 0.00%, 0.00%, and 0.03%, respectively.

6The ratio of total expenses to average net assets for the periods ended 2019 and 2018, net of reduction from custody fee offset arrangement for total expenses and net of dividend and borrowing expenses on securities sold short, was 0.74% and 0.33% and 0.65% and 0.32%, respectively.

7Annualized.

33

Investing With Vanguard

This section of the prospectus explains the basics of doing business with Vanguard. Vanguard fund shares can be held directly with Vanguard or indirectly through an intermediary, such as a bank, a broker, or an investment advisor. If you hold Vanguard fund shares directly with Vanguard, you should carefully read each topic within this section that pertains to your relationship with Vanguard. If you hold Vanguard fund shares indirectly through an intermediary including shares held in a brokerage account through Vanguard Brokerage Services®, please see Investing With Vanguard Through Other Firms, and also refer to your account agreement with the intermediary for information about transacting in that account. If you hold Vanguard fund shares through an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, please see Employer-Sponsored Plans. Vanguard reserves the right to change the following policies without notice. Please call or check online for current information. See Contacting Vanguard.

For Vanguard fund shares held directly with Vanguard, each fund you hold in an account is a separate "fund account." For example, if you hold three funds in a nonretirement account titled in your own name, two funds in a nonretirement account titled jointly with your spouse, and one fund in an individual retirement account, you have six fund accounts—and this is true even if you hold the same fund in multiple accounts. Note that each reference to "you" in this prospectus applies to any one or more registered account owners or persons authorized to transact on your account.

Purchasing Shares

Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to increase or decrease the minimum amount required to open or maintain a fund account or to add to an existing fund account.

Investment minimums may differ for certain categories of investors.

If you are an intermediary who would like to open and maintain an account in the Fund, please note that Vanguard will require your written agreement to provide certain information about fund distributions to your clients on a periodic basis. Intermediaries who establish fund accounts without a written agreement may be prevented from making additional investments in those accounts. If you are an intermediary, please call Vanguard for instructions before you open an account in the Fund.

Account Minimums

To open and maintain an account. $50,000. Institutional clients should contact Vanguard for information on special eligibility rules that may apply to them.

To add to an existing account. Generally $1.

34

How to Initiate a Purchase Request

Be sure to check Exchanging Shares, Frequent-Trading Limitations, and Other Rules You Should Know before placing your purchase request.

Online. You may open certain types of accounts, request a purchase of shares, and request an exchange through our website or our mobile application if you are registered for online access.

By telephone. You may call Vanguard to begin the account registration process or request that the account-opening forms be sent to you. You may also call Vanguard to request a purchase of shares in your account or to request an exchange. See Contacting Vanguard.

By mail. You may send Vanguard your account registration form and check to open a new fund account. To add to an existing fund account, you may send your check with an Invest-by-Mail form (from a transaction confirmation or your account statement) or with a deposit slip (available online).

How to Pay for a Purchase

By electronic bank transfer. You may purchase shares of a Vanguard fund through an electronic transfer of money from a bank account. To establish the electronic bank transfer service on an account, you must designate the bank account online, complete a form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account registration form. After the service is set up on your account, you can purchase shares by electronic bank transfer on a regular schedule (Automatic Investment Plan) or upon request. Your purchase request can be initiated online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail.

By wire. Wiring instructions vary for different types of purchases. Please call Vanguard for instructions and policies on purchasing shares by wire. See Contacting Vanguard.

By check. You may make initial or additional purchases to your fund account by sending a check with a deposit slip or by utilizing our mobile application if you are registered for online access. Also see How to Initiate a Purchase Request. Make your check payable to Vanguard and include the appropriate fund number (Vanguard—1298).

By exchange. You may purchase shares of a Vanguard fund using the proceeds from the simultaneous redemption of shares of another Vanguard fund. You may initiate an exchange online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail with an exchange form. See Exchanging Shares.

Trade Date

The trade date for any purchase request received in good order will depend on the day and time Vanguard receives your request, the manner in which you are paying, and

35

the type of fund you are purchasing. Your purchase will be executed using the NAV as calculated on the trade date. See Share Price.

For purchases by check into all funds other than money market funds and for purchases by exchange, wire, or electronic bank transfer into all funds: If the purchase request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date for the purchase will be the same day. If the purchase request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date for the purchase will be the next business day.

For purchases by check into money market funds: If the purchase request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date for the purchase will be the next business day. If the purchase request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date for the purchase will be the second business day following the day Vanguard receives the purchase request. Because money market instruments must be purchased with federal funds and it takes a money market mutual fund one business day to convert check proceeds into federal funds, the trade date for the purchase will be one business day later than for other funds.

If your purchase request is not accurate and complete, it may be rejected. See Other Rules You Should Know—Good Order.

For further information about purchase transactions, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Other Purchase Rules You Should Know

Check purchases. All purchase checks must be written in U.S. dollars, be drawn on a U.S. bank, and be accompanied by good order instructions. Vanguard does not accept cash, traveler's checks, starter checks, or money orders. In addition, Vanguard may refuse checks that are not made payable to Vanguard.

New accounts. We are required by law to obtain from you certain personal information that we will use to verify your identity. If you do not provide the information, we may not be able to open your account. If we are unable to verify your identity, Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to close your account or take such other steps as we deem reasonable. Certain types of accounts may require additional documentation.

Refused or rejected purchase requests. Vanguard reserves the right to stop selling fund shares or to reject any purchase request at any time and without notice, including, but not limited to, purchases requested by exchange from another Vanguard fund. This also includes the right to reject any purchase request because the investor has a

36

history of frequent trading or because the purchase may negatively affect a fund's operation or performance.

Large purchases. Call Vanguard before attempting to invest a large dollar amount.

No cancellations. Vanguard will not accept your request to cancel any purchase request once processing has begun. Please be careful when placing a purchase request.

Redeeming Shares

How to Initiate a Redemption Request

Be sure to check Exchanging Shares, Frequent-Trading Limitations, and Other Rules You Should Know before placing your redemption request.

Online. You may request a redemption of shares or request an exchange through our website or our mobile application if you are registered for online access.

By telephone. You may call Vanguard to request a redemption of shares or an exchange. See Contacting Vanguard.

By mail. You may send a form (available online) to Vanguard to redeem from a fund account or to make an exchange. See Contacting Vanguard.

How to Receive Redemption Proceeds

By electronic bank transfer. You may have the proceeds of a fund redemption sent directly to a designated bank account. To establish the electronic bank transfer service on an account, you must designate a bank account online, complete a form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account registration form. After the service is set up on your account, you can redeem shares by electronic bank transfer on a regular schedule (Automatic Withdrawal Plan) or upon request. Your redemption request can be initiated online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail.

By wire. To receive your proceeds by wire, you may instruct Vanguard to wire your redemption proceeds ($100 minimum) to a previously designated bank account. To establish the wire redemption service, you generally must designate a bank account online, complete a form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account registration form.

Please note that Vanguard charges a $10 wire fee for outgoing wire redemptions. The fee is assessed in addition to, rather than being withheld from, redemption proceeds and is paid directly to the fund in which you invest. For example, if you redeem $100 via a wire, you will receive the full $100, and the $10 fee will be assessed to your fund account through an additional redemption of fund shares. If you redeem your entire fund account, your redemption proceeds will be reduced by the amount of the fee.

37

The wire fee does not apply to accounts held by Flagship and Flagship Select clients; accounts held through intermediaries, including Vanguard Brokerage Services; or accounts held by institutional clients.

By exchange. You may have the proceeds of a Vanguard fund redemption invested directly in shares of another Vanguard fund. You may initiate an exchange online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail. See Exchanging Shares.

By check. If you have not chosen another redemption method, Vanguard will mail you a redemption check, generally payable to all registered account owners, normally within two business days of your trade date, and generally to the address of record.

Trade Date

The trade date for any redemption request received in good order will depend on the day and time Vanguard receives your request and the manner in which you are redeeming. Your redemption will be executed using the NAV as calculated on the trade date. See Share Price.

For redemptions by check, exchange, or wire: If the redemption request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date will be the same day. If the redemption request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the next business day.

•Note on timing of wire redemptions from money market funds: For telephone requests received by Vanguard on a business day before 10:45 a.m., Eastern time (2 p.m., Eastern time, for Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund; 12:30 p.m., Eastern time, for Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund), the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business the same day. For telephone requests received by Vanguard on a business day after those cut-off times, or on a nonbusiness day, and for all requests other than by telephone, the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business on the next business day.

•Note on timing of wire redemptions from all other funds: For requests received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business on the next business day. For requests received by Vanguard on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business on the second business day after Vanguard receives the request.

For redemptions by electronic bank transfer: If the redemption request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date will be the same day. If the redemption

38

request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the next business day.

If your redemption request is not accurate and complete, it may be rejected. If we are unable to send your redemption proceeds by wire or electronic bank transfer because the receiving institution rejects the transfer, Vanguard will make additional efforts to complete your transaction. If Vanguard is still unable to complete the transaction, we may send the proceeds of the redemption to you by check, generally payable to all registered account owners, or use your proceeds to purchase new shares of the fund from which you sold shares for the purpose of the wire or electronic bank transfer transaction. See Other Rules You Should Know—Good Order.

If your redemption request is received in good order, we typically expect that redemption proceeds will be paid by the Fund within one business day of the trade date; however, in certain circumstances, investors may experience a longer settlement period at the time of the transaction. For further information, see "Potentially disruptive redemptions" and "Emergency circumstances."

For further information about redemption transactions, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Other Redemption Rules You Should Know

Documentation for certain accounts. Special documentation may be required to redeem from certain types of accounts, such as trust, corporate, nonprofit, or retirement accounts. Please call us before attempting to redeem from these types of accounts.

Potentially disruptive redemptions. Vanguard reserves the right to pay all or part of a redemption in kind—that is, in the form of securities—if we reasonably believe that a cash redemption would negatively affect the fund's operation or performance or that the shareholder may be engaged in market-timing or frequent trading. Under these circumstances, Vanguard also reserves the right to delay payment of the redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days. By calling us before you attempt to redeem a large dollar amount, you may avoid in-kind or delayed payment of your redemption. Please see Frequent-Trading Limitations for information about Vanguard's policies to limit frequent trading.

Recently purchased shares. Although you can redeem shares at any time, proceeds may not be made available to you until the fund collects payment for your purchase. This may take up to seven calendar days for shares purchased by check or by electronic bank transfer. If you have written a check on a fund with checkwriting privileges, that check may be rejected if your fund account does not have a sufficient available balance.

39

Address change. If you change your address online or by telephone, there may be up to a 14-day restriction on your ability to request check redemptions online and by telephone. You can request a redemption in writing (using a form available online) at any time. Confirmations of address changes are sent to both the old and new addresses.

Payment to a different person or address. At your request, we can make your redemption check payable, or wire your redemption proceeds, to a different person or send it to a different address. However, this generally requires the written consent of all registered account owners and may require additional documentation, such as a signature guarantee or a notarized signature. You may obtain a signature guarantee from some commercial or savings banks, credit unions, trust companies, or member firms of a U.S. stock exchange.

No cancellations. Vanguard will not accept your request to cancel any redemption request once processing has begun. Please be careful when placing a redemption request.

Emergency circumstances. Vanguard funds can postpone payment of redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days. In addition, Vanguard funds can suspend redemptions and/or postpone payments of redemption proceeds beyond seven calendar days at times when the NYSE is closed or during emergency circumstances, as determined by the SEC.

Exchanging Shares

An exchange occurs when you use the proceeds from the redemption of shares of one Vanguard fund to simultaneously purchase shares of a different Vanguard fund. You can make exchange requests online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail. See Purchasing Shares and Redeeming Shares.

If the NYSE is open for regular trading (generally until 4 p.m., Eastern time, on a business day) at the time an exchange request is received in good order, the trade date generally will be the same day. See Other Rules You Should Know—Good Order for additional information on all transaction requests.

Vanguard will not accept your request to cancel any exchange request once processing has begun. Please be careful when placing an exchange request.

Call Vanguard before attempting to exchange a large dollar amount. By calling us before you attempt to exchange a large dollar amount, you may avoid delayed or rejected transactions.

Please note that Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to revise or terminate the exchange privilege, limit the amount of any exchange, or reject an exchange, at

40

any time, for any reason. See Frequent-Trading Limitations for additional restrictions on exchanges.

Frequent-Trading Limitations

Because excessive transactions can disrupt management of a fund and increase the fund's costs for all shareholders, the board of trustees of each Vanguard fund places certain limits on frequent trading in the funds. Each Vanguard fund (other than money market funds and short-term bond funds, but including Vanguard Short-Term Inflation- Protected Securities Index Fund) limits an investor's purchases or exchanges into a fund account for 30 calendar days after the investor has redeemed or exchanged out of that fund account. ETF Shares are not subject to these frequent-trading limits.

For Vanguard Retirement Investment Program pooled plans, the limitations apply to exchanges made online or by telephone.

These frequent-trading limitations do not apply to the following:

•Purchases of shares with reinvested dividend or capital gains distributions.

•Transactions through Vanguard's Automatic Investment Plan, Automatic Exchange Service, Direct Deposit Service, Automatic Withdrawal Plan, Required Minimum Distribution Service, and Vanguard Small Business Online®.

•Discretionary transactions through Vanguard Personal Advisor Services®, Vanguard Institutional Advisory Services®, and Vanguard Digital AdvisorTM.

•Redemptions of shares to pay fund or account fees.

•Redemptions of shares to remove excess shareholder contributions to certain types of retirement accounts (including, but not limited to, IRAs and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans).

•Transfers and reregistrations of shares within the same fund.

•Purchases of shares by asset transfer or direct rollover.

•Conversions of shares from one share class to another in the same fund.

•Checkwriting redemptions.

•Section 529 college savings plans.

•Certain approved institutional portfolios and asset allocation programs, as well as trades made by funds or trusts managed by Vanguard or its affiliates that invest in other Vanguard funds. (Please note that shareholders of Vanguard's funds of funds are subject to the limitations.)

For participants in employer-sponsored defined contribution plans,* the frequent- trading limitations do not apply to:

41

•Purchases of shares with participant payroll or employer contributions or loan repayments.

•Purchases of shares with reinvested dividend or capital gains distributions.

•Distributions, loans, and in-service withdrawals from a plan.

•Redemptions of shares as part of a plan termination or at the direction of the plan.

•Transactions executed through the Vanguard Managed Account Program.

•Redemptions of shares to pay fund or account fees.

•Share or asset transfers or rollovers.

•Reregistrations of shares.

•Conversions of shares from one share class to another in the same fund.

•Exchange requests submitted by written request to Vanguard. (Exchange requests submitted by fax, if otherwise permitted, are subject to the limitations.)

*The following Vanguard fund accounts are subject to the frequent-trading limitations: SEP-IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, certain Individual 403(b)(7) Custodial Accounts, and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans.

Accounts Held by Institutions (Other Than Defined Contribution Plans)

Vanguard will systematically monitor for frequent trading in institutional clients' accounts. If we detect suspicious trading activity, we will investigate and take appropriate action, which may include applying to a client's accounts the 30-day policy previously described, prohibiting a client's purchases of fund shares, and/or revoking the client's exchange privilege.

Accounts Held by Intermediaries

When intermediaries establish accounts in Vanguard funds for the benefit of their clients, we cannot always monitor the trading activity of the individual clients. However, we review trading activity at the intermediary (omnibus) level, and if we detect suspicious activity, we will investigate and take appropriate action. If necessary, Vanguard may prohibit additional purchases of fund shares by an intermediary, including for the benefit of certain of the intermediary's clients. Intermediaries also may monitor their clients' trading activities with respect to Vanguard funds.

For those Vanguard funds that charge purchase and/or redemption fees, intermediaries will be asked to assess these fees on client accounts and remit these fees to the funds. The application of purchase and redemption fees and frequent- trading limitations may vary among intermediaries. There are no assurances that Vanguard will successfully identify all intermediaries or that intermediaries will properly assess purchase and redemption fees or administer frequent-trading

42

limitations. If you invest with Vanguard through an intermediary, please read that firm's materials carefully to learn of any other rules or fees that may apply.

Other Rules You Should Know

Prospectus and Shareholder Report Mailings

When two or more shareholders have the same last name and address, just one summary prospectus (or prospectus) and/or shareholder report may be sent in an attempt to eliminate the unnecessary expense of duplicate mailings. You may request individual prospectuses and reports by contacting our Client Services Department by telephone or online. See Contacting Vanguard.

Vanguard.com

Registration. If you are a registered user of vanguard.com, you can review your account holdings; buy, sell, or exchange shares of most Vanguard funds; and perform most other transactions through our website. You must register for this service online.

Electronic delivery. Vanguard can deliver your account statements, transaction confirmations, prospectuses, certain tax forms, and shareholder reports electronically. If you are a registered user of vanguard.com, you can consent to the electronic delivery of these documents by logging on and changing your mailing preferences under "Account Maintenance." You can revoke your electronic consent at any time through our website, and we will begin to send paper copies of these documents within 30 days of receiving your revocation.

Telephone Transactions

Automatic. When we set up your account, we will automatically enable you to do business with us by telephone, unless you instruct us otherwise in writing.

Tele-Account®. To obtain fund and account information through Vanguard's automated telephone service, you must first establish a Personal Identification Number (PIN) by calling Tele-Account at 800-662-6273.

Proof of a caller's authority. We reserve the right to refuse a telephone request if the caller is unable to provide the requested information or if we reasonably believe that the caller is not an individual authorized to act on the account. Before we allow a caller to act on an account, we may request the following information:

•Authorization to act on the account (as the account owner or by legal documentation or other means).

•Account registration and address.

•Fund name and account number, if applicable.

43

• Other information relating to the caller, the account owner, or the account.

Good Order

We reserve the right to reject any transaction instructions that are not in "good order." Good order generally means that your instructions:

•Are provided by the person(s) authorized in accordance with Vanguard's policies and procedures to access the account and request transactions.

•Include the fund name and account number.

•Include the amount of the transaction (stated in dollars, shares, or percentage). Written instructions also must generally be provided on a Vanguard form and include:

•Signature(s) and date from the authorized person(s).

•Signature guarantees or notarized signatures, if required for the type of transaction. (Call Vanguard for specific requirements.)

•Any supporting documentation that may be required.

Good order requirements may vary among types of accounts and transactions. For more information, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to revise the requirements for good order.

Future Trade-Date Requests

Vanguard does not accept requests to hold a purchase, redemption, or exchange transaction for a future date. All such requests will receive trade dates as previously described in Purchasing Shares, Redeeming Shares, and Exchanging Shares. Vanguard reserves the right to return future-dated purchase checks.

Accounts With More Than One Owner

If an account has more than one owner or authorized person, Vanguard generally will accept instructions from any one owner or authorized person.

Responsibility for Fraud

You should take precautions to protect yourself from fraud. Keep your account-related information private, and review any account confirmations, statements, or other information that we provide to you as soon as you receive them. Let us know immediately if you discover unauthorized activity or see something on your account that you do not understand or that looks unusual.

Vanguard will not be responsible for losses that result from transactions by a person who we reasonably believe is authorized to act on your account.

44

Uncashed Checks

Please cash your distribution or redemption checks promptly. Vanguard will not pay interest on uncashed checks. Vanguard may be required to transfer assets related to uncashed checks to a state under the state's abandoned property law.

Dormant Accounts

If your account has no activity in it for a period of time, Vanguard may be required to transfer it to a state under the state's abandoned property law, subject to potential federal or state withholding taxes.

Unusual Circumstances

If you experience difficulty contacting Vanguard online or by telephone, you can send us your transaction request on a Vanguard form by regular or express mail.

Investing With Vanguard Through Other Firms

You may purchase or sell shares of most Vanguard funds through a financial intermediary, such as a bank, a broker, or an investment advisor. Please consult your financial intermediary to determine which, if any, shares are available through that firm and to learn about other rules that may apply. Your financial intermediary can provide you with account information and any required tax forms. You may be required to pay a commission on purchases of mutual fund shares made through a financial intermediary.

Please see Frequent-Trading Limitations—Accounts Held by Intermediaries for information about the assessment of any purchase or redemption fees and the monitoring of frequent trading for accounts held by intermediaries.

Account Service Fee

Vanguard may charge a $20 account service fee on fund accounts that have a balance below $10,000 for any reason, including market fluctuation. The account service fee applies to both retirement and nonretirement fund accounts and may be assessed on fund accounts in all Vanguard funds, regardless of the account minimum. The fee, which will be collected by redeeming fund shares in the amount of $20, will be deducted from fund accounts subject to the fee once per calendar year.

If you elect to receive your statements and other materials electronically (i.e., by e-delivery), the account service fee will not be charged, so long as your election remains in effect. You can make your e-delivery election on vanguard.com.

Beginning on January 1, 2021, you may elect to receive paper copies of shareholder reports free of charge as noted on the cover of this prospectus.

45

Certain account types have alternative fee structures, including SIMPLE IRAs, Vanguard Retirement Investment Program pooled plans, and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans.

Low-Balance Accounts

The Fund reserves the right to liquidate a fund account whose balance falls below the account minimum for any reason, including market fluctuation. This liquidation policy applies to nonretirement fund accounts and accounts that are held through intermediaries. Any such liquidation will be preceded by written notice to the investor.

Right to Change Policies

In addition to the rights expressly stated elsewhere in this prospectus, Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to (1) alter, add, or discontinue any conditions of purchase (including eligibility requirements), redemption, exchange, service, or privilege at any time and (2) alter, impose, discontinue, or waive any purchase fee, redemption fee, account service fee, or other fee charged to a shareholder or a group of shareholders. Changes may affect any or all investors. These actions will be taken when, at the sole discretion of Vanguard management, Vanguard believes they are in the best interest of a fund.

Account Restrictions

Vanguard reserves the right to: (1) redeem all or a portion of a fund/account to meet a legal obligation, including tax withholding, tax lien, garnishment order, or other obligation imposed on your account by a court or government agency; (2) redeem shares, close an account, or suspend account privileges, features, or options in the case of threatening conduct or activity; (3) redeem shares, close an account, or suspend account privileges, features, or options if Vanguard believes or suspects that not doing so could result in a suspicious, fraudulent, or illegal transaction; (4) place restrictions on the ability to redeem any or all shares in an account if it is required to do so by a court or government agency; (5) place restrictions on the ability to redeem any or all shares in an account if Vanguard believes that doing so will prevent fraud, financial exploitation or abuse, or to protect vulnerable investors; (6) freeze any account and/or suspend account services if Vanguard has received reasonable notice of a dispute regarding the assets in an account, including notice of a dispute between the registered or beneficial account owners; and (7) freeze any account and/or suspend account services upon initial notification to Vanguard of the death of an account owner.

46

Fund and Account Updates

Confirmation Statements

We will send (or provide through our website, whichever you prefer) a confirmation of your trade date and the amount of your transaction when you buy, sell, or exchange shares. However, we will not send confirmations reflecting only checkwriting redemptions or the reinvestment of dividend or capital gains distributions. For any month in which you had a checkwriting redemption, a Checkwriting Activity Statement will be sent to you itemizing the checkwriting redemptions for that month. Promptly review each confirmation statement that we provide to you. It is important that you contact Vanguard immediately with any questions you may have about any transaction reflected on a confirmation statement, or Vanguard will consider the transaction properly processed.

Portfolio Summaries

We will send (or provide through our website, whichever you prefer) quarterly portfolio summaries to help you keep track of your accounts throughout the year. Each summary shows the market value of your account at the close of the statement period, as well as all distributions, purchases, redemptions, exchanges, and transfers for the current calendar quarter (or month). Promptly review each summary that we provide to you. It is important that you contact Vanguard immediately with any questions you may have about any transaction reflected on the summary, or Vanguard will consider the transaction properly processed.

Tax Information Statements

For most accounts, Vanguard (or your intermediary) is required to provide annual tax forms to assist you in preparing your income tax returns. These forms are generally available for each calendar year early in the following year. Registered users of vanguard.com can also view certain forms through our website. Vanguard (or your intermediary) may also provide you with additional tax-related documentation. For more information, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Annual and Semiannual Reports

We will send (or provide through our website, whichever you prefer) reports about Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund twice a year, in June and December. These reports include overviews of the financial markets and provide the following specific Fund information:

•Performance assessments and comparisons with industry benchmarks.

•Reports from the advisor.

•Financial statements with listings of Fund holdings.

47

Portfolio Holdings

Please consult the Fund's Statement of Additional Information or our website for a description of the policies and procedures that govern disclosure of the Fund's portfolio holdings.

Employer-Sponsored Plans

Your plan administrator or your employee benefits office can provide you with detailed information on how to participate in your plan and how to elect the Fund as an investment option.

•If you have any questions about the Fund or Vanguard, including those about the Fund's investment objective, strategies, or risks, contact Vanguard Participant Services toll-free at 800-523-1188 or visit our website at vanguard.com.

•If you have questions about your account, contact your plan administrator or the organization that provides recordkeeping services for your plan.

•Be sure to carefully read each topic that pertains to your transactions with Vanguard.

Vanguard reserves the right to change its policies without notice to shareholders.

Transactions

Processing times for your transaction requests may differ among recordkeepers or among transaction and funding types. Your plan's recordkeeper (which may also be Vanguard) will determine the necessary processing time frames for your transaction requests prior to submission to the Fund. Consult your recordkeeper or plan administrator for more information.

If Vanguard is serving as your plan recordkeeper and if your transaction involves one or more investments with an early cut-off time for processing or another trading restriction, your entire transaction will be subject to the restriction when the trade date for your transaction is determined.

48

Contacting Vanguard

Web

Vanguard.com

For the most complete source of Vanguard news

 

For fund, account, and service information

 

For most account transactions

 

For literature requests

 

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

 

 

Phone

 

 

 

Vanguard Tele-Account® 800-662-6273

For automated fund and account information

 

Toll-free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

 

 

Investor Information 800-662-7447 (Text telephone for people with hearing impairment at 800-749-7273)

For fund and service information For literature requests

Client Services 800-662-2739

For account information

(Text telephone for people with hearing

For most account transactions

impairment at 800-749-7273)

 

 

 

Participant Services 800-523-1188 (Text telephone for people with hearing impairment at 800-749-7273)

For information and services for participants in employer- sponsored plans

Institutional Division

For information and services for large institutional investors

888-809-8102

 

 

 

Financial Advisor and Intermediary

For information and services for financial intermediaries

Sales Support 800-997-2798

including financial advisors, broker-dealers, trust institutions,

 

and insurance companies

 

 

Financial Advisory and Intermediary

For account information and trading support for financial

Trading Support 800-669-0498

intermediaries including financial advisors, broker-dealers,

 

trust institutions, and insurance companies

 

 

Additional Information

 

Inception

Newspaper

Vanguard

CUSIP

 

Date

Abbreviation

Fund Number

Number

 

 

 

 

 

Alternative Strategies Fund

8/11/2015

VanAltStrat

1298

921939609

 

 

 

 

 

CFA® is a registered trademark owned by CFA Institute.

49

Related Performance

Previously, the advisor managed an account ("Related Account") with investment objectives, policies, and strategies that were substantially similar to those of the Fund. The Related Account, however, was not subject to the investment limitations, diversification requirements, and other restrictions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Internal Revenue Code, which, if applicable, may have adversely affected performance results. The Related Account ceased operations on July 31, 2015.

The performance of the Related Account does not represent the past performance of the Fund, and you should not consider the performance of the Related Account as indicative of the future performance of the Fund. The performance of the Fund may be greater than or less than the performance of the Related Account due to, among other things, the number of holdings in and composition of the Fund's portfolio, as well as the asset size and cash flow differences between the Fund and the Related Account.

Annual Total Returns of Related Account

The following bar chart and table set forth the performance of the Related Account, calculated net of actual fees and expenses. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Related Account has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Related Account compare with those of relevant market indexes. Keep in mind that the Related Account's past performance does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.

Annual Total Returns — Related Account

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

 

 

20%

 

 

13.19

12.28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10%

2.42

 

 

 

 

3.15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-10%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-5.49

 

 

-20%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The year-to-date return as of July 31, 2015, was 3.02%.

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 8.68% (quarter ended March 31, 2012), and the lowest return for a quarter was –3.64% (quarter ended March 31, 2014).

50

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended July 31, 20151

 

 

 

Since

 

 

 

Inception

 

 

 

(Sep. 10,

 

1 Year

5 Years

2009)

 

 

 

 

Related Account

4.69%

5.76%

5.28%

 

 

 

 

Comparative Benchmarks

 

 

 

(reflect no deduction for fees or expenses)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Citigroup 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index (Daily)

0.02%

0.05%

0.06%

 

 

 

 

Standard & Poor's 500 Index

11.21

16.24

15.00

 

 

 

 

1 The Related Account was closed as of July 31, 2015.

51

Glossary of Investment Terms

Absolute Return Investing. An investment strategy that seeks capital appreciation over the long term while exhibiting low correlation with the returns of traditional capital markets (e.g., U.S. stock market).

Bond. A debt security (IOU) issued by a corporation, a government, or a government agency in exchange for the money the bondholder lends it. In most instances, the issuer agrees to pay back the loan by a specific date and generally to make regular interest payments until that date.

Borrowing Expense on Securities Sold Short. A fee charged by a fund's broker when a fund sells a stock short. This fee is calculated on a daily basis, based upon the market value of the stock sold short and a variable rate that is dependent upon the availability of the stock.

Capital Gains Distributions. Payments to mutual fund shareholders of gains realized on securities that a fund has sold at a profit, minus any realized losses.

Cash Equivalent Investments. Cash deposits, short-term bank deposits, and money market instruments that include U.S. Treasury bills and notes, bank certificates of deposit (CDs), repurchase agreements, commercial paper, and banker's acceptances.

Commodities. Bulk goods or raw materials, such as agricultural products, livestock, precious metals, energy products, and industrial metals. Commodities can be purchased for immediate delivery ("on the spot") or delivery on a future date under a standardized agreement.

Commodity Futures Contract. A legally binding agreement for the purchase or sale of a specified type and quantity of a commodity during a stated delivery month for a fixed price.

Common Stock. A security representing ownership rights in a corporation.

Correlation. The relationship between two variables, such as the relationship between the prices of stocks and bonds. Investments that are positively correlated have prices that tend to move in the same direction at the same time, while investments that are negatively correlated have prices that tend to move in opposite directions at the same time. Investments with low correlation have prices that tend to move independently of each other.

Dividend Distributions. Payments to mutual fund shareholders of income from interest or dividends generated by a fund's investments.

Dividend Expense on Securities Sold Short. The amount of money that a fund is required to pay to a lender of stock that the fund has sold short when a dividend has been declared on the stock.

52

Expense Ratio. A fund's total annual operating expenses expressed as a percentage of the fund's average net assets. The expense ratio includes management and administrative expenses, but it does not include the transaction costs of buying and selling portfolio securities.

Face Value. The amount to be paid at a bond's maturity; also known as the par value or principal.

Fixed Income Security. An investment, such as a bond, representing a debt that must be repaid by a specified date, and on which the borrower must pay a fixed, variable, or floating rate of interest.

FTSE 3-Month Treasury Bill Index. An index that tracks the daily performance of 3-month U.S. treasury bills.

FTSE 3-Month US T-Bill Index +4%. An index that tracks the daily performance of 3-month U.S. treasury bills, plus an annual equivalent rate of 4%.

Inception Date. The date on which the assets of a fund (or one of its share classes) are first invested in accordance with the fund's investment objective. For funds with a subscription period, the inception date is the day after that period ends. Investment performance is generally measured from the inception date.

Investment-Grade Bond. A debt security whose credit quality is considered by independent bond rating agencies, or through independent analysis conducted by a fund's advisor, to be sufficient to ensure timely payment of principal and interest under current economic circumstances. Debt securities rated in one of the four highest rating categories are considered investment-grade. Other debt securities may be considered by an advisor to be investment-grade.

Joint Committed Credit Facility. The Fund participates, along with other funds managed by Vanguard, in a committed credit facility provided by a syndicate of lenders pursuant to a credit agreement that may be renewed annually; each Vanguard fund is individually liable for its borrowings, if any, under the credit facility. The amount and terms of the committed credit facility are subject to approval by the Fund's board of trustees and renegotiation with the lender syndicate on an annual basis.

Mutual Fund. An investment company that pools the money of many people and invests it in a variety of securities in an effort to achieve a specific objective over time.

New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). A stock exchange based in New York City that is open for regular trading on business days, Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern time.

Nominal Return. The total return of an investment without taking into account the expected impact of inflation.

53

Principal. The face value of a debt instrument or the amount of money put into an investment.

Record Date. The date used to determine who is eligible to receive a fund's next distribution of dividends or capital gains.

Real Return. The total return of an investment when reduced to take into account the expected impact of inflation.

Short Sale. A transaction in which a fund sells a stock it does not own and then borrows the stock from a lender in order to settle the transaction. A fund will engage in short sales when its advisor believes that the price of the stock will decline or underperform.

Total Return. A percentage change, over a specified time period, in a mutual fund's net asset value, assuming the reinvestment of all distributions of dividends and capital gains.

Volatility. The fluctuations in value of a mutual fund or other security. The greater a fund's volatility, the wider the fluctuations in its returns.

Yield. Income (interest or dividends) earned by an investment, expressed as a percentage of the investment's price.

54

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P.O. Box 2600

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2600

Connect with Vanguard® > vanguard.com

For More Information

If you would like more information about Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund, the following documents are available free upon request:

Annual/Semiannual Reports to Shareholders Additional information about the Fund's investments is available in the Fund's annual and semiannual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year.

Statement of Additional Information (SAI)

The SAI provides more detailed information about the Fund and is incorporated by reference into (and thus legally a part of) this prospectus.

To receive a free copy of the latest annual or semiannual report or the SAI, or to request additional information about the Fund or other Vanguard funds, please visit vanguard.com or contact us as follows:

If you are an individual investor:

The Vanguard Group

Investor Information Department P.O. Box 2600

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2600

Telephone: 800-662-7447; Text telephone for people

with hearing impairment: 800-749-7273

If you are a participant in an employer-sponsored plan: The Vanguard Group

Participant Services P.O. Box 2900

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2900

Telephone: 800-523-1188; Text telephone for people

with hearing impairment: 800-749-7273

If you are a current Vanguard shareholder and would like information about your account, account transactions, and/or account statements, please call:

Client Services Department

Telephone: 800-662-2739; Text telephone for people

with hearing impairment: 800-749-7273

Information Provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Reports and other information about the Fund are available in the EDGAR database on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, or you can receive copies of this information, for a fee, by electronic request at the following email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

Fund's Investment Company Act file number: 811-02968-99

© 2020 The Vanguard Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.

P 1298 022020

 

Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund Prospectus

February 27, 2020

Admiral™ Shares

Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund Admiral Shares (VCMDX)

See the inside front cover for important information about access to your fund's annual and semiannual shareholder reports.

This prospectus contains financial data for the Fund through the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) nor the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Important information about access to shareholder reports

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the SEC, paper copies of your fund's annual and semiannual shareholder reports will no longer be sent to you by mail, unless you specifically request them. Instead, you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted on the website and will be provided with a link to access the report.

If you have already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and do not need to take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the fund electronically by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you invest directly with the fund, by calling Vanguard at one of the phone numbers on the back cover of this prospectus or by logging on to vanguard.com.

You may elect to receive paper copies of all future shareholder reports free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact the intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies. If you invest directly with the fund, you can call Vanguard at one of the phone numbers on the back cover of this prospectus or log on to vanguard.com. Your election to receive paper copies will apply to all the funds you hold through an intermediary or directly with Vanguard.

Contents

Fund Summary

1

Investing With Vanguard

27

More on the Fund

7

Purchasing Shares

27

 

 

 

 

The Fund and Vanguard

19

Redeeming Shares

30

 

 

 

 

Investment Advisor

20

Exchanging Shares

33

 

 

 

 

Dividends, Capital Gains, and Taxes

21

Frequent-Trading Limitations

34

 

 

 

 

Share Price

24

Other Rules You Should Know

36

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fund and Account Updates

40

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employer-Sponsored Plans

41

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contacting Vanguard

42

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Information

42

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary of Investment Terms

43

 

 

 

 

Fund Summary

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to provide broad commodities exposure and capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees

(Fees paid directly from your investment)

Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases

None

Purchase Fee

None

 

 

Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends

None

 

 

Redemption Fee

None

 

 

Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)

$20/year

 

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

 

 

Management Fees

0.10%

 

 

12b-1 Distribution Fee

None

 

 

Other Expenses

0.08%

 

 

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

0.02%

 

 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

0.20%

 

 

1

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the Fund provides a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

$20

$64

$113

$255

 

 

 

 

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the fiscal period from June 25, 2019 to October 31, 2019, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 7% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund's advisor employs an active investment management approach to invest the Fund's assets in commodity-linked investments, which are backed by a portfolio of inflation-linked investments and other fixed income securities.

Commodities are real assets, including, but not limited to, agricultural products, livestock, precious and industrial metals, and energy products. The Fund invests in instruments that create long and short exposure to commodities, including commodity-linked total return swaps, commodity futures contracts and options on commodity futures contracts, commodity-linked structured notes, exchange-traded commodity pools or funds, and other commodity-linked derivative instruments. Particular commodity-linked investments may not necessarily conform to the composition, weighting, roll dates, reset dates, or contract months of the Fund's benchmark index or any other commodity market index.

The Fund intends to gain exposure to commodities by investing in a wholly owned subsidiary organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the subsidiary), which in turn invests in commodity-linked investments and fixed income securities. The Fund

2

may also invest directly in commodity-linked investments. The Fund will generally not invest more than 25% of its assets in the subsidiary.

The Fund invests the remainder of its assets in inflation-indexed bonds issued by the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities, and corporations. The Fund may also invest in other fixed income securities, such as cash or cash equivalent investments and short-term bonds. At a minimum, all bonds purchased by the Fund will be investment-grade, or, if unrated, will be considered by the advisor to be investment-grade. The Fund's fixed income investments may provide liquidity for the Fund or serve as margin or collateral for its commodity-linked investments.

The Fund's use of certain commodity-linked investments is expected to have a leveraging effect on the Fund.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short, intermediate, or long periods of time. Returns may vary substantially over time, and there can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective or that its investment strategy will succeed.

The Fund's investment strategy involves the use of leverage, so its investment program may be considered speculative and is expected to involve considerable risks. The Fund could lose money at any time and may underperform the commodities markets during any given period, regardless of whether such markets rise or fall.

The Fund is subject to the risks described below. Each of these risks, alone or in combination with other risks, has the potential to hurt the Fund's performance, sometimes significantly.

•Commodity-linked investment risk, which is the chance that the Fund could lose all, or substantially all, of its investments in instruments linked to the returns of commodity investments. The commodities markets are volatile, and even a small movement in market prices could cause large losses. Prices of commodity-linked investments have a historically low correlation with the returns of the stock and bond markets and are subject to change based on a variety of factors that may not be anticipated by the Fund's advisor.

•Derivatives risk. The Fund's direct and indirect commodity-linked investments— such as commodity-linked total return swaps, commodity futures contracts and options on commodity futures contracts, commodity-linked structured notes, exchange-traded commodity pools or funds, and other commodity-linked derivative instruments—subject the Fund to risks associated with derivatives. The use of derivatives presents risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in traditional securities. The use of derivatives can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the underlying commodity or index. Derivative strategies often involve leverage, which may increase

3

a loss, potentially causing the Fund to lose more money than it would have lost had it invested in the underlying commodity or index. Also, a liquid market may not always exist for the Fund's derivative positions at times when the Fund might wish to terminate or sell such positions. In addition, regulators and futures exchanges have established limits, referred to as position limits, on the maximum net long or net short positions that any person may hold or control in particular derivative contracts. Some contract positions, such as commodity futures contracts, held by the Fund and/or the subsidiary may have to be liquidated at disadvantageous times or prices to avoid exceeding such position limits, which could adversely affect the Fund's total return. The use of a derivative subjects the investor to the risk of nonperformance by the counterparty (i.e., counterparty risk), potentially resulting in delayed or partial payment or even nonpayment of amounts due under the derivative contract.

•Tax risk, which is the chance that the Fund's commodity-linked investments could adversely affect the Fund's status as a regulated investment company.

•Inflation-linked investment risks. The Fund's annual income distributions are likely to fluctuate considerably. Under certain conditions, the Fund may not have any income to distribute. Income fluctuations associated with changes in interest rates are expected to be low; however, income fluctuations associated with changes in inflation are expected to be high. Overall, investors can expect income fluctuations to be high for the Fund. The Fund is also subject to interest rate risk, which is the chance that the value of a bond will fluctuate because of a change in the level of interest rates. Although inflation-indexed bonds seek to provide inflation protection, their prices may decline when interest rates rise and vice versa.

•Other fixed income investment risks. To the extent that the Fund invests in other fixed income securities, such as cash instruments or short-term bonds, the Fund is subject to income risk, credit risk, and call risk. These risks are described in the More on the Fund section of this prospectus.

•Subsidiary investment risk. The Fund is subject to risks associated with subsidiary investments. In particular, because the subsidiary is not organized as a mutual fund and is not registered under any federal or state securities laws (including the Investment Company Act of 1940), it does not offer the same investor protections available to shareholders of registered investment companies. In addition, the tax treatment of the Fund's investment in the subsidiary may be adversely affected by changes in the laws or regulations, or interpretations of existing laws or regulations, of the United States and/or the jurisdiction of the subsidiary. The Fund's ownership of the subsidiary subjects it to the same risks as if it were invested directly in the assets owned by the subsidiary. Risks associated with the subsidiary's underlying investments have been described elsewhere in this prospectus and include commodity-linked investment risk, derivatives risk, tax risk, inflation-linked investment risks, other fixed income investment risks, and manager risk.

4

•Leverage risk, which is the chance that any leveraged losses will exceed the principal amount invested by the Fund. Returns from a leveraged investment have the potential to be more volatile than returns from traditional stock and bond investments, which exposes the Fund to heightened risks.

•Manager risk, which is the chance that poor investment selection and/or poor strategy execution will cause the Fund and/or the subsidiary to fail to achieve its investment objective or generate lower returns than would be achieved from different investment selections. Poor investment selection by the advisor could also cause the Fund to underperform relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar investment objectives.

•Nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the performance of relatively few investments. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the instruments of particular issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The Fund has not been in operation long enough to report a full calendar-year return. Performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Investment Advisor

The Vanguard Group, Inc. (Vanguard)

Portfolio Managers

Anatoly Shtekhman, CFA, Portfolio Manager at Vanguard. He has co-managed the Fund since its inception in 2019.

Fei Xu, CFA, Portfolio Manager at Vanguard. He has co-managed the Fund since its inception in 2019.

Joshua C. Barrickman, CFA, Principal of Vanguard and co-head of Vanguard's Fixed Income Indexing Americas. He has co-managed the Fund since its inception in 2019.

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Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

You may purchase or redeem shares online through our website (vanguard.com), by mail (The Vanguard Group, P.O. Box 1110, Valley Forge, PA 19482-1110), or by telephone (800-662-2739). The minimum investment amount required to open and maintain a Fund account for Admiral Shares is $50,000. The minimum investment amount required to add to an existing Fund account is generally $1. Institutional clients should contact Vanguard for information on special eligibility rules that may apply to them regarding Admiral Shares. If you are investing through an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, your plan administrator or your benefits office can provide you with detailed information on how you can invest through your plan.

Tax Information

The Fund's distributions may be taxable as ordinary income or capital gain. If you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, such as an IRA or an employer- sponsored retirement or savings plan, special tax rules apply.

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

The Fund and its investment advisor do not pay financial intermediaries for sales of Fund shares.

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More on the Fund

This prospectus describes the principal risks you would face as a Fund shareholder. It is important to keep in mind one of the main principles of investing: generally, the higher the risk of losing money, the higher the potential reward. The reverse, also, is generally true: the lower the risk, the lower the potential reward. As you consider an investment in any mutual fund, you should take into account your personal tolerance

for fluctuations in the securities markets. Look for this symbol throughout the prospectus. It is used to mark detailed information about the more significant risks that you would confront as a Fund shareholder. To highlight terms and concepts important to mutual fund investors, we have provided Plain Talk® explanations along the way. Reading the prospectus will help you decide whether the Fund is the right investment for you. We suggest that you keep this prospectus for future reference.

Plain Talk About Fund Expenses

All mutual funds have operating expenses. These expenses, which are deducted from a fund's gross income, are expressed as a percentage of the net assets of the fund. Assuming that operating expenses remain as stated in the Fees and Expenses section, Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund's expense ratio would be 0.20%, or $2.00 per $1,000 of average net assets.

Plain Talk About Costs of Investing

Costs are an important consideration in choosing a mutual fund. That is because you, as a shareholder, pay a proportionate share of the costs of operating a fund and any transaction costs incurred when the fund buys or sells securities. These costs can erode a substantial portion of the gross income or the capital appreciation a fund achieves. Even seemingly small differences in expenses can, over time, have a dramatic effect on a fund's performance.

The following sections explain the principal investment strategies and policies that the Fund uses in pursuit of its objective. The Fund's board of trustees, which oversees the Fund's management, may change investment strategies or policies in the interest of shareholders without a shareholder vote, unless those strategies or policies are designated as fundamental. Note that the Fund's investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed without a shareholder vote.

An investment in the Fund could lose money over any period of time. Returns may vary significantly over time, and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective or that its investment strategy will succeed.

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Market Exposure

The Fund seeks to provide broad commodities exposure and capital appreciation. To achieve this objective, the Fund's advisor employs an active investment management approach to invest the Fund's assets, either directly or indirectly through a wholly owned subsidiary, in commodity-linked investments. The Fund's commodity-linked investments are backed by a portfolio of inflation-linked investments and other fixed income securities.

• Commodity-Linked Investments

Commodities are real assets, including, but not limited to, agricultural products, livestock, precious and industrial metals, and energy products. The Fund does not invest in physical commodities, but rather in instruments that create both long and short exposure to commodities. These instruments include commodity-linked total return swaps, commodity futures contracts and options on commodity futures contracts, commodity-linked structured notes, exchange-traded commodity pools or funds, or other commodity-linked derivative instruments. Particular commodity-linked investments may not necessarily conform to the composition, weighting, roll dates, reset dates, or contract months of the Fund's benchmark index or any other commodity market index.

The Fund is subject to commodity-linked investment risk, which is the chance that the Fund could lose all, or substantially all, of its investments in instruments linked to the returns of commodity investments. The commodities markets are volatile, and even a small movement in market prices could cause large losses. Prices of commodity-linked investments have a historically low correlation with the returns of the stock and bond markets and are subject to change based on a variety of factors that may not be anticipated by the Fund's advisor.

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Plain Talk About Commodities

Commodities are raw materials used to create the goods that consumers buy. They include a wide range of physical assets, such as agricultural products, livestock, precious metals, energy products, and industrial metals. Commodities can be purchased for immediate delivery ("on the spot") or delivery within a specific time period in the future under the terms of a futures contract. An exchange-traded commodity futures contract provides for the purchase and sale of a specified type and quantity of a commodity during a stated delivery month. A futures contract on an index of commodities provides for the payment and receipt of cash based on the level of the index at settlement or liquidation of the contract. Unlike equity securities, futures contracts, by their terms, have stated expirations, and at a specified time prior to expiration, trading in a futures contract for the current delivery month will cease. As a result, an investor wishing to maintain exposure to a futures contract on a particular commodity with the nearest expiration must close out a position in the expiring contract and establish a new position in the contract for the next delivery month. This process is referred to as "rolling." An investor will profit from rolling a futures contract if the cost for the new contract is lower than the cost of the expiring contract. Conversely, an investor will lose money by rolling a futures contract if the cost for the new contract is higher than the cost of the expiring contract.

The prices of commodity-linked investments are subject to change based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the following: lack of liquidity; global supply and demand for commodities; disorderly markets; limitations on deliverable supplies; the participation of hedgers and speculators; domestic and foreign interest rates and investors' expectations concerning interest rates; domestic and foreign inflation rates and investors' expectations concerning inflation rates; investment and trading activities of institutional investors; global or regional political, economic, or financial events and situations; government regulation and intervention; technical and operational or system failures; nuclear accident; terrorism; and natural disasters.

The Fund gains exposure to commodities primarily by investing in a wholly owned subsidiary organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the subsidiary), which in turn invests in commodity-linked investments and fixed income securities. The Fund may also invest directly in commodity-linked investments. The subsidiary's fixed income investments may include, but are not limited to, inflation-indexed securities, cash and cash equivalent investments, money market instruments, or other short- term instruments. Fixed income investments provide liquidity for the subsidiary and may serve as margin or collateral for the subsidiary's commodity-linked investments. The Fund's ownership of the subsidiary exposes it to the same risks as if it were invested directly in the assets owned by the subsidiary.

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The Fund is subject to subsidiary investment risk, which is the risk that because the subsidiary is not registered under any federal or state securities laws, it does not offer the same investor protections available to shareholders of registered investment companies.

The subsidiary is not organized as a mutual fund, i.e., it is not registered under any federal or state securities laws, including the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act), and therefore is not subject to the investor protections of the 1940 Act.

There can be no assurance that the Fund will be permitted to continue to invest indirectly in commodity-linked investments through the subsidiary. Changes in the laws or regulations, or interpretations of existing laws or regulations, of the U.S. and/or the jurisdiction of the subsidiary could limit the Fund's ability to invest in the subsidiary, impact the way in which the subsidiary operates, increase the subsidiary's expenses, or otherwise adversely affect the Fund and/or the subsidiary. Moreover, the changes may be retroactive. For example, the subsidiary intends to operate in a manner that satisfies the Fund's qualifying income requirement under current U.S. tax law. However, there is no assurance that future changes in this law, or interpretations of this law, will not adversely affect the Fund. Also, although the subsidiary is not expected to owe income or other taxes in the jurisdiction in which it is organized, if that jurisdiction's tax laws were to change and the subsidiary were required to pay taxes, the Fund's investment returns could decrease. Because Vanguard receives asset-based fees from the subsidiary for services provided to the subsidiary, Fund assets invested in the subsidiary are excluded when allocating to the Fund its share of the costs of Vanguard's operations.

Tax risk is the chance that the Fund's commodity-linked investments could adversely affect the Fund's regulated investment company status.

The Fund's ability to make direct and indirect investments in commodity-linked investments, including in the subsidiary, is limited by the Fund's intention to qualify as a regulated investment company (RIC) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the IRC), including the requirement that 90% of the Fund's gross income for each taxable year constitute "qualifying income." Additionally, as an RIC, the Fund may not invest more than 25% of its assets in the subsidiary.

The Fund generally intends to gain direct or indirect exposure to the commodities markets through investments that generate qualifying income under the IRC by investing directly in commodity-linked investments the Fund believes give rise to qualifying income, or by investing indirectly in commodity-linked investments through the subsidiary. However, if the Fund does not appropriately limit its investments in the subsidiary or in commodity-linked investments, or if the investments (or the income earned on the investments) are recharacterized for U.S. tax purposes, the Fund's status as an RIC may be jeopardized. Moreover, any recharacterization of these investments (or the income earned on these investments) may be retroactive. If the

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Fund were to fail to qualify as an RIC in any taxable year, the Fund would be subject to Fund-level taxation, reducing the amount of income available for distribution to shareholders and reducing the net asset value of its shares.

Subsidiary manager risk is the chance that poor strategy execution will cause the subsidiary to fail to achieve its investment objective.

The subsidiary's success will depend on its advisor's ability to successfully invest in commodity-linked investments, such as commodity futures and commodity-linked total return swaps, and a combination of fixed income investments. The subsidiary is subject to the risk that it will not be successful in executing this strategy, and there is no guarantee that the subsidiary will achieve its investment objective. The subsidiary could lose money at any time.

The Fund's direct and indirect commodity-linked investments—such as commodity-linked total return swaps, commodities futures contracts and options on commodity futures contracts, commodity-linked structured notes, exchange-traded commodity pools or funds, and other commodity-linked derivative instruments—subject the Fund to risks associated with derivatives. Investments in derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, those of investments directly in the underlying commodities or assets..

Losses involving certain derivatives can sometimes be substantial or even greater than the principal amount invested—in part because a relatively small price movement in such derivatives may result in an immediate and substantial loss to the investor. Derivatives also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying securities, assets, reference rates, or indexes. The market for many derivatives is, or can suddenly become, illiquid, which may result in significant, rapid, and unpredictable changes in the prices for derivatives.

The use of certain derivatives subjects the investor to counterparty risk, which is the risk of nonperformance by the counterparty, potentially resulting in delayed or partial payment or even nonpayment of amounts due under the derivative contract. There are typically contractual remedies that may be pursued under a derivatives agreement in the event of default by a counterparty. The Fund and the subsidiary each expect to hold margin or collateral to secure the obligations of a counterparty in an effort to mitigate this risk.

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Plain Talk About Derivatives

Generally speaking, a derivative is a financial contract whose value is based on the value of a financial asset (such as a stock, a bond, or a currency), a physical asset (such as gold, oil, or wheat), a market index, or a reference rate. Some forms of derivatives—such as exchange-traded futures and options on securities, commodities, or indexes—have been trading on regulated exchanges for decades. These types of derivatives are standardized contracts that can easily be bought and sold and whose market values are determined and published daily. On the other hand, non-exchange-traded derivatives—such as certain swap agreements and foreign currency exchange forward contracts—tend to be more specialized or complex and may be less liquid and more difficult to accurately value.

Liquidity risk is the chance that the markets, assets, and instruments in which the Fund invests are, or may become, illiquid.

The advisor expects that the Fund generally will seek to invest in liquid markets, assets, and instruments, although the Fund may have the ability to invest a portion of its assets in markets, assets, or instruments that are or may become illiquid. There is no assurance that investments that were liquid when purchased will not suddenly become illiquid for an indefinite period of time.

The Fund's use of commodity-linked derivative instruments is expected to have a leveraging effect on the Fund.

Leverage risk is the chance that any leveraged losses will exceed the principal amount invested by the Fund. Returns from a leveraged investment have the potential to be more volatile than returns from traditional stock and bond investments, which exposes the Fund to heightened risks.

Leverage exists when an investor has the right to a return on a total investment amount that exceeds the cash amount the investor contributed to the investment. Leverage magnifies the effect of gains and losses. The Fund's losses from its leveraged investments could be considerable.

Leverage-financing risk is the chance that the Fund will be unable to access and maintain financing sufficient to leverage its investments to targeted levels.

It is possible that the prime broker or other counterparties that finance the leverage employed by the Fund may not be willing or able to provide the level of financing that the advisor believes is required to implement the Fund's investment strategy.

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• Inflation-Linked and Other Fixed Income Investments

The Fund's commodity-linked investments are backed by a portfolio of inflation-linked investments and other fixed income securities. These investments include inflation- indexed securities issued by the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities, and corporations. The Fund may also invest in other fixed income securities, such as cash or cash equivalent investments, short-term bonds, or other debt securities.

Plain Talk About Inflation-Indexed Securities

Unlike a conventional bond, whose issuer makes regular fixed interest payments and repays the face value of the bond at maturity, an inflation-indexed security (IIS) provides principal and interest payments that are adjusted over time to reflect a rise (inflation) or a drop (deflation) in the general price level for goods and services. This adjustment is a key feature, given that inflation has typically occurred. However, there have been periods of deflation, such as in 1954 when the Consumer Price Index (CPI) declined by 0.7%. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.) Importantly, in the event of deflation, the U.S. Treasury has guaranteed that it will repay at least the face value of an IIS issued by the U.S. government. However, if an IIS is purchased by a fund at a premium, deflation could cause a fund to experience a loss.

Inflation measurement and adjustment for an IIS have two important features. There is a two-month lag between the time that inflation occurs in the economy and when it is factored into IIS valuations. This is due to the time required to measure and calculate the CPI and for the U.S. Treasury to adjust the inflation accrual schedules for an IIS. For example, inflation that occurs in January is calculated and announced during February and affects IIS valuations throughout the month of March. In addition, the inflation index used is the nonseasonally adjusted index. It differs from the CPI that is reported by most news organizations, which is statistically smoothed to overcome highs and lows observed at different points each year. The use of the nonseasonally adjusted index can cause a fund's income level to fluctuate.

The Fund is subject to income fluctuations. The Fund's annual income distributions are likely to fluctuate considerably. In fact, under certain conditions, the Fund may not have any income to distribute. Income fluctuations associated with changes in interest rates are expected to be low; however, income fluctuations associated with changes in inflation are expected to be high. Overall, investors can expect income fluctuations to be high for the Fund.

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Although fluctuations in the Fund's annual income distributions are expected to be high, distributions should provide an income yield that adjusts with inflation. In periods of extreme deflation, the Fund may have no income to distribute. If prices throughout the economy decline, the principal and income of an IIS will decline and could result in losses for the Fund.

Changes in interest rates can affect bond income as well as bond prices.

Plain Talk About Inflation-Indexed Securities and Interest Rates

Interest rates on conventional bonds have two primary components: a "real" yield and an increment that reflects investor expectations of future inflation. By contrast, interest rates on an IIS are adjusted for inflation and, therefore, are not affected meaningfully by inflation expectations. This leaves only real rates to influence the price of an IIS. A rise in real rates will cause the price of an IIS to fall, while a decline in real rates will boost the price of an IIS.

The Fund is subject to interest rate risk, which is the chance that the value of a bond will fluctuate because of a change in the level of interest rates. Although inflation-indexed bonds seek to provide inflation protection, their prices may decline when interest rates rise and vice versa.

Plain Talk About Real Returns

Inflation-indexed securities are designed to provide a "real rate of return"—a return after adjusting for the impact of inflation. Inflation—a rise in the general price level—erodes the purchasing power of an investor's portfolio. For example, if an investment provides a "nominal" total return of 5% in a given year and inflation is 2% during that period, the inflation-adjusted, or real, return is 3%. Investors should be conscious of both the nominal and the real returns on their investments. Investors in inflation-indexed bond funds who do not reinvest the portion of the income distribution that comes from inflation adjustments will not maintain the purchasing power of the investment over the long term. This is because interest earned depends on the amount of principal invested, and that principal will not grow with inflation if the investor does not reinvest the principal adjustment paid out as part of a fund's income distributions.

At a minimum, all bonds in which the Fund invests will be rated investment-grade, or, if unrated, will be considered by the advisor to be investment-grade.

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The Fund may be subject to credit risk, which is the chance that a bond issuer will fail to pay interest or principal in a timely manner or that negative perceptions of the issuer's ability to make such payments will cause the price of that bond to decline.

Plain Talk About Credit Quality

A bond's credit quality rating is an assessment of the issuer's ability to pay interest on the bond and, ultimately, to repay the principal. The lower the credit quality, the greater the perceived chance that the bond issuer will default, or fail to meet its payment obligations. All things being equal, the lower a bond's credit quality, the higher its yield should be to compensate investors for assuming additional risk.

To the extent that the Fund invests in other fixed income investments, such as cash instruments, short-term bonds, or other debt securities, the Fund is subject to income risk and call risk.

The Fund may be subject to income risk, which is the chance that the Fund's income will decline because of falling interest rates. A fund holding bonds will experience a decline in income when interest rates fall because the fund then must invest new cash flow and cash from maturing bonds in lower-yielding bonds. Income risk is generally higher for funds holding short-term bonds than for funds holding long-term bonds.

The Fund may be subject to call risk, which is the chance that during periods of falling interest rates, issuers of callable bonds may call (redeem) securities with higher coupon rates or interest rates before their maturity dates. If the Fund holds a bond that is called, the Fund would then lose any price appreciation above the bond's call price and would be forced to reinvest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund's income.

Security Selection

Vanguard manages the Fund through the use of a continually evolving process that was developed and is managed by Vanguard's Quantitative Equity Group. All potential enhancements to the process go through rigorous vetting and validation before being implemented. The portfolio managers use the resulting process to determine which instruments to buy long and sell short for the portfolio.

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The Fund is subject to manager risk, which is the chance that poor investment selections and/or poor strategy execution by the advisor will cause the Fund to fail to achieve its investment objective or to generate lower returns than would be achieved from different investment selections. Poor investment selection by the advisor could also cause the Fund to underperform relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar investment objectives.

While the Fund predominantly holds long positions, the Fund's performance depends on the net returns of its long and short positions. It is possible for the Fund to experience a net loss across all positions. If the Fund's investment program is successful, however, the net returns of its long and short positions will produce long- term capital appreciation.

The Fund is subject to nondiversification risk, which is the chance that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few investments. The Fund is considered nondiversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the instruments of particular issuers as compared with diversified mutual funds.

Other Investment Policies and Risks

In addition to investing in commodity-linked investments, inflation-linked investments, and other fixed income securities, the Fund may make other kinds of investments to achieve its investment objective.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities are investments that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Restricted securities are a special type of illiquid security; these securities have not been publicly issued and legally can be resold only to qualified buyers. From time to time, the board of trustees may determine that particular restricted securities are not illiquid, and those securities may then be purchased by the Fund without limit.

The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in fixed income futures, which are a type of derivative, and/or shares of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). These fixed income futures and ETFs typically provide returns similar to those of bonds. The Fund may purchase fixed income futures or ETFs when doing so will reduce the Fund's transaction costs, facilitate cash management, mitigate risk, or have the potential to add value because the instruments are favorably priced. Vanguard receives no additional revenue from Fund assets invested in ETF Shares of other Vanguard funds. Fund assets invested in ETF Shares are excluded when allocating to the Fund its share of the costs of Vanguard operations.

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Cash Management

The Fund's daily cash balance may be invested in Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund and/or Vanguard Municipal Cash Management Fund (each, a CMT Fund), which are low-cost money market funds. When investing in a CMT Fund, the Fund bears its proportionate share of the expenses of the CMT Fund in which it invests. Vanguard receives no additional revenue from Fund assets invested in a CMT Fund.

Methods Used to Meet Redemption Requests

Under normal circumstances, the Fund typically expects to meet redemptions with positive cash flows. When this is not an option, the Fund seeks to maintain its risk exposure by selling a cross section of the Fund's holdings to meet redemptions, while also factoring in transaction costs. Additionally, the Fund may work with larger clients to implement their redemptions in a manner that is least disruptive to the portfolio; see "Potentially disruptive redemptions" under Redeeming Shares in the Investing With Vanguard section.

Under certain circumstances, including under stressed market conditions, there are additional tools that the Fund may use in order to meet redemptions, including advancing the settlement of market trades with counterparties to match investor redemption payments or delaying settlement of an investor's transaction to match trade settlement within regulatory requirements. The Fund may also suspend payment of redemption proceeds for up to seven days; see "Emergency circumstances" under Redeeming Shares in the Investing With Vanguard section. Additionally under these unusual circumstances, the Fund may borrow money (subject to certain regulatory conditions and if available under board-approved procedures) through an interfund lending facility or through a bank line-of-credit, including a joint committed credit facility, in order to meet redemption requests.

Temporary Investment Measures

The Fund may temporarily depart from its normal investment policies and strategies when the advisor believes that doing so is in the Fund's best interest, so long as the strategy or policy employed is consistent with the Fund's investment objective. For instance, the Fund may invest beyond its normal limits in derivatives or exchange- traded funds that are consistent with the Fund's investment objective when those instruments are more favorably priced or provide needed liquidity, as might be the case if the Fund is transitioning assets from one advisor to another or receives large cash flows that it cannot prudently invest immediately.

In addition, the Fund may take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its normal investment policies and strategies—for instance, by allocating substantial assets to cash equivalent investments or other less volatile instruments— in response to adverse or unusual market, economic, political, or other conditions. In

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doing so, the Fund may succeed in avoiding losses but may otherwise fail to achieve its investment objective.

Frequent Trading or Market-Timing

Background. Some investors try to profit from strategies involving frequent trading of mutual fund shares, such as market-timing. For funds holding foreign securities, investors may try to take advantage of an anticipated difference between the price of the fund's shares and price movements in overseas markets, a practice also known as time-zone arbitrage. Investors also may try to engage in frequent trading of funds holding investments such as small-cap stocks and high-yield bonds. As money is shifted into and out of a fund by a shareholder engaging in frequent trading, the fund incurs costs for buying and selling securities, resulting in increased brokerage and administrative costs. These costs are borne by all fund shareholders, including the long-term investors who do not generate the costs. In addition, frequent trading may interfere with an advisor's ability to efficiently manage the fund.

Policies to address frequent trading. The Vanguard funds (other than money market funds and short-term bond funds, but including Vanguard Short-Term Inflation- Protected Securities Index Fund) do not knowingly accommodate frequent trading. The board of trustees of each Vanguard fund (other than money market funds and short- term bond funds, but including Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund) has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to detect and discourage frequent trading and, in some cases, to compensate the fund for the costs associated with it. These policies and procedures do not apply to ETF Shares because frequent trading in ETF Shares generally does not disrupt portfolio management or otherwise harm fund shareholders. Although there is no assurance that Vanguard will be able to detect or prevent frequent trading or market-timing in all circumstances, the following policies have been adopted to address these issues:

•Each Vanguard fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request—including exchanges from other Vanguard funds—without notice and regardless of size. For example, a purchase request could be rejected because the investor has a history of frequent trading or if Vanguard determines that such purchase may negatively affect a fund's operation or performance.

•Each Vanguard fund (other than money market funds and short-term bond funds, but including Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund) generally prohibits, except as otherwise noted in the Investing With Vanguard section, an investor's purchases or exchanges into a fund account for 30 calendar days after the investor has redeemed or exchanged out of that fund account.

•Certain Vanguard funds charge shareholders purchase and/or redemption fees on transactions.

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See the Investing With Vanguard section of this prospectus for further details on Vanguard's transaction policies.

Each Vanguard fund (other than retail and government money market funds), in determining its net asset value, will use fair-value pricing when appropriate, as described in the Share Price section. Fair-value pricing may reduce or eliminate the profitability of certain frequent-trading strategies.

Do not invest with Vanguard if you are a market-timer.

Turnover Rate

Although the Fund generally seeks to invest for the long term, it may sell securities regardless of how long they have been held. The Financial Highlights section of this prospectus shows historical turnover rates for the Fund. A turnover rate of 100%, for example, would mean that the Fund had sold and replaced securities valued at 100% of its net assets within a one-year period. In general, the greater the turnover rate, the greater the impact transaction costs will have on a fund's return. Also, funds with high turnover rates may be more likely to generate capital gains, including short-term capital gains, that must be distributed to shareholders and will be taxable to shareholders investing through a taxable account.

The Fund and Vanguard

The Fund is a member of The Vanguard Group, a family of over 200 funds. All of the funds that are members of The Vanguard Group (other than funds of funds) share in the expenses associated with administrative services and business operations, such as personnel, office space, and equipment.

Vanguard Marketing Corporation provides marketing services to the funds. Although fund shareholders do not pay sales commissions or 12b-1 distribution fees, each fund (other than a fund of funds) or each share class of a fund (in the case of a fund with multiple share classes) pays its allocated share of the Vanguard funds' marketing costs.

Plain Talk About Vanguard's Unique Corporate Structure

The Vanguard Group is owned jointly by the funds it oversees and thus indirectly by the shareholders in those funds. Most other mutual funds are operated by management companies that are owned by third parties—either public or private stockholders—and not by the funds they serve.

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Investment Advisor

The Vanguard Group, Inc., P.O. Box 2600, Valley Forge, PA 19482, which began operations in 1975, serves as advisor to the Fund through its Quantitative Equity Group and its Fixed Income Group. As of October 31, 2019, Vanguard served as advisor for approximately $4.7 trillion in assets. Vanguard provides investment advisory services to the Fund pursuant to the Funds' Service Agreement and subject to the supervision and oversight of the trustees and officers of the Fund.

For the fiscal period ended October 31, 2019, the advisory expenses represented an effective annual rate of 0.01% of the Fund's average net assets.

Under the terms of an SEC exemption, the Fund's board of trustees may, without prior approval from shareholders, change the terms of an advisory agreement with a third-party investment advisor or hire a new third-party investment advisor—either as a replacement for an existing advisor or as an additional advisor. Any significant change in the Fund's advisory arrangements will be communicated to shareholders in writing. As the Fund's sponsor and overall manager, Vanguard may provide investment advisory services to the Fund at any time. Vanguard may also recommend to the board of trustees that an advisor be hired, terminated, or replaced or that the terms of an existing advisory agreement be revised. The Fund has filed an application seeking a similar SEC exemption with respect to investment advisors that are wholly owned subsidiaries of Vanguard. If the exemption is granted, the Fund may rely on the new SEC relief.

For a discussion of why the board of trustees approved the Fund's investment advisory arrangement, see the annual report to shareholders covering the fiscal period ended October 31, 2019, which will be available 60 days after that date.

The managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are:

Anatoly Shtekhman, CFA, Portfolio Manager at Vanguard. He has been with Vanguard since 2007, has managed investment portfolios since 2016, and has co-managed the Fund since its inception in 2019. Education: B.S., University of Scranton; M.S., Boston College; M.B.A., The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Fei Xu, CFA, Portfolio Manager at Vanguard. He has been with Vanguard since 2004, has managed investment portfolios since 2017, and has co-managed the Fund since its inception in 2019. Education: B.S., Peking University; M.S., University of California, Los Angeles; M.B.A., Duke University.

Joshua C. Barrickman, CFA, Principal of Vanguard and co-head of Vanguard's Fixed Income Indexing Americas. He has been with Vanguard since 1998, has worked in investment management since 1999, has managed investment portfolios since 2005, and has co-managed the Fund since its inception in 2019. Education: B.S., Ohio Northern University; M.B.A., Lehigh University.

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The Fund's Statement of Additional Information provides information about each portfolio manager's compensation, other accounts under management, and ownership of shares of the Fund.

Dividends, Capital Gains, and Taxes

Fund Distributions

The Fund distributes to shareholders virtually all of its net income (interest and dividends, less expenses) as well as any net short-term or long-term capital gains realized from the sale of its holdings. From time to time, the Fund may also make distributions that are treated as a return of capital. Income and capital gains distributions, if any, generally occur annually in December. In addition, the Fund may occasionally make a supplemental distribution at some other time during the year. However, the special tax treatment applicable to the Fund's investments in inflation- indexed bonds increases the Fund's risk of overdistributing income and paying a return of capital for the year.

You can receive distributions of income or capital gains in cash, or you can have them automatically reinvested in more shares of the Fund. However, if you are investing through an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, your distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares.

Plain Talk About Distributions

As a shareholder, you are entitled to your portion of a fund's income from interest as well as capital gains from the fund's sale of investments. Income consists of, among other things, interest the fund earns from its fixed income investments. Capital gains are realized whenever the fund sells investments for higher prices than it paid for them. These capital gains are either short-term or long-term, depending on whether the fund held the investments for one year or less or for more than one year.

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Plain Talk About Return of Capital

Return of capital is the portion of a distribution representing the return of your original investment in a fund. Return of capital reduces your cost basis in the fund's shares and is not taxable to you until your cost basis has been reduced to zero. During periods of deflation, the fund's inflation-indexed bonds may experience a downward adjustment in their value. These downward adjustments can partially or entirely offset, or more than offset, the income earned on the bonds. Under certain circumstances, these downward adjustments could require the fund to reclassify a portion of the income dividends previously distributed to shareholders as return of capital.

Basic Tax Points

Investors in taxable accounts should be aware of the following basic federal income tax points:

•Distributions are taxable to you whether or not you reinvest these amounts in additional Fund shares.

•Distributions declared in December—if paid to you by the end of January—are taxable as if received in December.

•Any income distribution or short-term capital gains distribution that you receive is taxable to you as ordinary income.

•Any distribution of net long-term capital gains is taxable to you as long-term capital gains, no matter how long you have owned shares in the Fund.

•Capital gains distributions may vary considerably from year to year as a result of the Fund's normal investment activities and cash flows.

•Your cost basis in the Fund will be decreased by the amount of any return of capital that you receive. This, in turn, will affect the amount of any capital gain or loss that you realize when selling or exchanging your Fund shares.

•Return of capital distributions generally are not taxable to you until your cost basis has been reduced to zero. If your cost basis is at zero, return of capital distributions will be treated as capital gains.

•A sale or exchange of Fund shares is a taxable event. This means that you may have a capital gain to report as income, or a capital loss to report as a deduction, when you complete your tax return.

•Any conversion between classes of shares of the same fund is a nontaxable event. By contrast, an exchange between classes of shares of different funds is a taxable event.

22

•Vanguard (or your intermediary) will send you a statement each year showing the tax status of all of your distributions.

Individuals, trusts, and estates whose income exceeds certain threshold amounts are subject to a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on "net investment income." Net investment income takes into account distributions paid by the Fund and capital gains from any sale or exchange of Fund shares.

Income dividends and capital gains distributions that you receive, as well as your gains or losses from any sale or exchange of Fund shares, may be subject to state and local income taxes. Depending on your state's rules, however, any dividends attributable to interest earned on direct obligations of the U.S. government may be exempt from state and local taxes. Vanguard will notify you each year how much, if any, of your dividends may qualify for this exemption.

This prospectus provides general tax information only. If you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, such as an IRA or an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, special tax rules apply. Please consult your tax advisor for detailed information about any tax consequences for you.

Plain Talk About Buying a Dividend

Unless you are a tax-exempt investor or investing through a tax-advantaged account (such as an IRA or an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan), you should consider avoiding a purchase of fund shares shortly before the fund makes a distribution, because doing so can cost you money in taxes. This is known as "buying a dividend." For example: On December 15, you invest $5,000, buying 250 shares for $20 each. If the fund pays a distribution of $1 per share on December 16, its share price will drop to $19 (not counting market change). You still have only $5,000 (250 shares x $19 = $4,750 in share value, plus 250 shares x $1 = $250 in distributions), but you owe tax on the $250 distribution you received—even if you reinvest it in more shares. To avoid buying a dividend, check a fund's distribution schedule before you invest.

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General Information

Backup withholding. By law, Vanguard must withhold 24% of any taxable distributions or redemptions from your account if you do not:

•Provide your correct taxpayer identification number.

•Certify that the taxpayer identification number is correct.

•Confirm that you are not subject to backup withholding.

Similarly, Vanguard (or your intermediary) must withhold taxes from your account if the IRS instructs us to do so.

Foreign investors. Vanguard funds offered for sale in the United States (Vanguard U.S. funds), including the Fund offered in this prospectus, are not widely available outside the United States. Non-U.S. investors should be aware that U.S. withholding and estate taxes and certain U.S. tax reporting requirements may apply to any investments in Vanguard U.S. funds. Foreign investors should visit the non-U.S. investors page on our website at vanguard.com for information on Vanguard's non-U.S. products.

Invalid addresses. If an income distribution or capital gains distribution check mailed to your address of record is returned as undeliverable, Vanguard will automatically reinvest the distribution and all future distributions until you provide us with a valid mailing address. Reinvestments will receive the net asset value calculated on the date of the reinvestment.

Share Price

Share price, also known as net asset value (NAV), is calculated as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), generally 4 p.m., Eastern time, on each day that the NYSE is open for business (a business day). In the rare event the NYSE experiences unanticipated disruptions and is unavailable at the close of the trading day, the Fund reserves the right to treat such day as a business day and calculate NAVs as of the close of regular trading on the Nasdaq (or another alternate exchange if the Nasdaq is unavailable, as determined at Vanguard's discretion), generally 4 p.m., Eastern time. The NAV per share is computed by dividing the total assets, minus liabilities, of the Fund by the number of Fund shares outstanding. On U.S. holidays or other days when the NYSE is closed, the NAV is not calculated, and the Fund does not sell or redeem shares.

Debt securities held by a Vanguard fund are valued based on information furnished by an independent pricing service or market quotations. When a fund determines that pricing-service information or market quotations either are not readily available or do not accurately reflect the value of a security, the security is priced at its fair value (the amount that the owner might reasonably expect to receive upon the current sale of the security).

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The values of any foreign securities held by a fund are converted into U.S. dollars using an exchange rate obtained from an independent third party as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE. The values of any mutual fund shares, including institutional money market fund shares, held by a fund are based on the NAVs of the shares. The values of any ETF shares or closed-end fund shares held by a fund are based on the market value of the shares.

A fund also may use fair-value pricing on bond market holidays when the fund is open for business (such as Columbus Day and Veterans Day). Fair-value prices are determined by Vanguard according to procedures adopted by the board of trustees. When fair-value pricing is employed, the prices of securities used by a fund to calculate the NAV may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities.

Vanguard fund share prices are published daily on our website at vanguard.com/prices.

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Financial Highlignts

Financial highlights information is intended to help you understand a fund's performance for the past five years (or, if shorter, its period of operations). Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. Total return represents the rate that an investor would have earned or lost each period on an investment in a fund or share class (assuming reinvestment of all distributions). This information has been obtained from the financial statements audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with fund financial statements, is included in a fund's most recent annual report to shareholders. You may obtain a free copy of a fund's latest annual or semiannual report, which is available upon request.

Commodity Strategy Fund

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period

June 25, 20191 to

October 31, 2019

 

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

$25.00

 

 

Investment Operations

 

 

 

Net Investment Income2

.143

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

 

on Investments

(.313)

 

 

Total from Investment Operations

(.170)

 

 

Distributions

 

 

 

Dividends from Net Investment Income

—

 

 

Distributions from Realized Capital Gains

—

 

 

Total Distributions

—

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

$24.83

 

 

Total Return3

–0.68%

 

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

 

 

Net Assets, End of Period (Millions)

$207

 

 

Ratio of Total Expenses to

 

Average Net Assets

0.20%4

 

 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to

 

Average Net Assets

1.65%4

 

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

7%

 

 

1Inception.

2Calculated based on average shares outstanding.

3Total returns do not include account service fees that may have applied in the periods shown.

4Annualized.

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Investing With Vanguard

This section of the prospectus explains the basics of doing business with Vanguard. Vanguard fund shares can be held directly with Vanguard or indirectly through an intermediary, such as a bank, a broker, or an investment advisor. If you hold Vanguard fund shares directly with Vanguard, you should carefully read each topic within this section that pertains to your relationship with Vanguard. If you hold Vanguard fund shares indirectly through an intermediary (including shares held in a brokerage account through Vanguard Brokerage Services®), please see Investing With Vanguard Through Other Firms, and also refer to your account agreement with the intermediary for information about transacting in that account. If you hold Vanguard fund shares through an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, please see Employer-Sponsored Plans. Vanguard reserves the right to change the following policies without notice. Please call or check online for current information. See Contacting Vanguard.

For Vanguard fund shares held directly with Vanguard, each fund you hold in an account is a separate "fund account." For example, if you hold three funds in a nonretirement account titled in your own name, two funds in a nonretirement account titled jointly with your spouse, and one fund in an individual retirement account, you have six fund accounts—and this is true even if you hold the same fund in multiple accounts. Note that each reference to "you" in this prospectus applies to any one or more registered account owners or persons authorized to transact on your account.

Purchasing Shares

Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to increase or decrease the minimum amount required to open or maintain a fund account or to add to an existing fund account.

Investment minimums may differ for certain categories of investors.

Account Minimums for Admiral Shares

To open and maintain an account. $50,000. Institutional clients should contact Vanguard for information on special eligibility rules that may apply to them regarding Admiral Shares.

To add to an existing account. Generally $1.

How to Initiate a Purchase Request

Be sure to check Exchanging Shares, Frequent-Trading Limitations, and Other Rules You Should Know before placing your purchase request.

Online. You may open certain types of accounts, request a purchase of shares, and request an exchange through our website or our mobile application if you are registered for online access.

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By telephone. You may call Vanguard to begin the account registration process or request that the account-opening forms be sent to you. You may also call Vanguard to request a purchase of shares in your account or to request an exchange. See Contacting Vanguard.

By mail. You may send Vanguard your account registration form and check to open a new fund account. To add to an existing fund account, you may send your check with an Invest-by-Mail form (from a transaction confirmation or your account statement) or with a deposit slip (available online).

How to Pay for a Purchase

By electronic bank transfer. You may purchase shares of a Vanguard fund through an electronic transfer of money from a bank account. To establish the electronic bank transfer service on an account, you must designate the bank account online, complete a form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account registration form. After the service is set up on your account, you can purchase shares by electronic bank transfer on a regular schedule (Automatic Investment Plan) or upon request. Your purchase request can be initiated online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail.

By wire. Wiring instructions vary for different types of purchases. Please call Vanguard for instructions and policies on purchasing shares by wire. See Contacting Vanguard.

By check. You may make initial or additional purchases to your fund account by sending a check with a deposit slip or by utilizing our mobile application if you are registered for online access. Also see How to Initiate a Purchase Request. Make your check payable to Vanguard and include the appropriate fund number (Vanguard—517).

By exchange. You may purchase shares of a Vanguard fund using the proceeds from the simultaneous redemption of shares of another Vanguard fund. You may initiate an exchange online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail with an exchange form. See Exchanging Shares.

Trade Date

The trade date for any purchase request received in good order will depend on the day and time Vanguard receives your request, the manner in which you are paying, and the type of fund you are purchasing. Your purchase will be executed using the NAV as calculated on the trade date. See Share Price.

For purchases by check into all funds other than money market funds and for purchases by exchange, wire, or electronic bank transfer into all funds: If the purchase request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date for the purchase will be the same day. If the purchase request is received on a business day

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after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date for the purchase will be the next business day.

For purchases by check into money market funds: If the purchase request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date for the purchase will be the next business day. If the purchase request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date for the purchase will be the second business day following the day Vanguard receives the purchase request. Because money market instruments must be purchased with federal funds and it takes a money market mutual fund one business day to convert check proceeds into federal funds, the trade date for the purchase will be one business day later than for other funds.

If your purchase request is not accurate and complete, it may be rejected. See Other Rules You Should Know—Good Order.

For further information about purchase transactions, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Other Purchase Rules You Should Know

Admiral Shares. Admiral Shares generally are not available for SIMPLE IRAs and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans.

Check purchases. All purchase checks must be written in U.S. dollars, be drawn on a U.S. bank, and be accompanied by good order instructions. Vanguard does not accept cash, traveler's checks, starter checks, or money orders. In addition, Vanguard may refuse checks that are not made payable to Vanguard.

New accounts. We are required by law to obtain from you certain personal information that we will use to verify your identity. If you do not provide the information, we may not be able to open your account. If we are unable to verify your identity, Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to close your account or take such other steps as we deem reasonable. Certain types of accounts may require additional documentation.

Refused or rejected purchase requests. Vanguard reserves the right to stop selling fund shares or to reject any purchase request at any time and without notice, including, but not limited to, purchases requested by exchange from another Vanguard fund. This also includes the right to reject any purchase request because the investor has a history of frequent trading or because the purchase may negatively affect a fund's operation or performance.

Large purchases. Call Vanguard before attempting to invest a large dollar amount.

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No cancellations. Vanguard will not accept your request to cancel any purchase request once processing has begun. Please be careful when placing a purchase request.

Redeeming Shares

How to Initiate a Redemption Request

Be sure to check Exchanging Shares, Frequent-Trading Limitations, and Other Rules You Should Know before placing your redemption request.

Online. You may request a redemption of shares or request an exchange through our website or our mobile application if you are registered for online access.

By telephone. You may call Vanguard to request a redemption of shares or an exchange. See Contacting Vanguard.

By mail. You may send a form (available online) to Vanguard to redeem from a fund account or to make an exchange.

How to Receive Redemption Proceeds

By electronic bank transfer. You may have the proceeds of a fund redemption sent directly to a designated bank account. To establish the electronic bank transfer service on an account, you must designate a bank account online, complete a form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account registration form. After the service is set up on your account, you can redeem shares by electronic bank transfer on a regular schedule (Automatic Withdrawal Plan) or upon request. Your redemption request can be initiated online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail.

By wire. To receive your proceeds by wire, you may instruct Vanguard to wire your redemption proceeds ($100 minimum) to a previously designated bank account. To establish the wire redemption service, you generally must designate a bank account online, complete a form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account registration form.

Please note that Vanguard charges a $10 wire fee for outgoing wire redemptions. The fee is assessed in addition to, rather than being withheld from, redemption proceeds and is paid directly to the fund in which you invest. For example, if you redeem $100 via a wire, you will receive the full $100, and the $10 fee will be assessed to your fund account through an additional redemption of fund shares. If you redeem your entire fund account, your redemption proceeds will be reduced by the amount of the fee. The wire fee does not apply to accounts held by Flagship and Flagship Select clients; accounts held through intermediaries, including Vanguard Brokerage Services; or accounts held by institutional clients.

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By exchange. You may have the proceeds of a Vanguard fund redemption invested directly in shares of another Vanguard fund. You may initiate an exchange online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail. See Exchanging Shares.

By check. If you have not chosen another redemption method, Vanguard will mail you a redemption check, generally payable to all registered account owners, normally within two business days of your trade date, and generally to the address of record.

Trade Date

The trade date for any redemption request received in good order will depend on the day and time Vanguard receives your request and the manner in which you are redeeming. Your redemption will be executed using the NAV as calculated on the trade date. See Share Price.

For redemptions by check, exchange, or wire: If the redemption request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date will be the same day. If the redemption request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the next business day.

•Note on timing of wire redemptions from money market funds: For telephone requests received by Vanguard on a business day before 10:45 a.m., Eastern time (2 p.m., Eastern time, for Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund; 12:30 p.m., Eastern time, for Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund), the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business the same day. For telephone requests received by Vanguard on a business day after those cut-off times, or on a nonbusiness day, and for all requests other than by telephone, the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business on the next business day.

•Note on timing of wire redemptions from all other funds: For requests received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business on the next business day. For requests received by Vanguard on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business on the second business day after Vanguard receives the request.

For redemptions by electronic bank transfer: If the redemption request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date will be the same day. If the redemption request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the next business day.

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If your redemption request is not accurate and complete, it may be rejected. If we are unable to send your redemption proceeds by wire or electronic bank transfer because the receiving institution rejects the transfer, Vanguard will make additional efforts to complete your transaction. If Vanguard is still unable to complete the transaction, we may send the proceeds of the redemption to you by check, generally payable to all registered account owners, or use your proceeds to purchase new shares of the fund from which you sold shares for the purpose of the wire or electronic bank transfer transaction. See Other Rules You Should Know—Good Order.

If your redemption request is received in good order, we typically expect that redemption proceeds will be paid by the Fund within one business day of the trade date; however, in certain circumstances, investors may experience a longer settlement period at the time of the transaction. For further information, see "Potentially disruptive redemptions" and "Emergency circumstances."

For further information about redemption transactions, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Other Redemption Rules You Should Know

Documentation for certain accounts. Special documentation may be required to redeem from certain types of accounts, such as trust, corporate, nonprofit, or retirement accounts. Please call us before attempting to redeem from these types of accounts.

Potentially disruptive redemptions. Vanguard reserves the right to pay all or part of a redemption in kind—that is, in the form of securities—if we reasonably believe that a cash redemption would negatively affect the fund's operation or performance or that the shareholder may be engaged in market-timing or frequent trading. Under these circumstances, Vanguard also reserves the right to delay payment of the redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days. By calling us before you attempt to redeem a large dollar amount, you may avoid in-kind or delayed payment of your redemption. Please see Frequent-Trading Limitations for information about Vanguard's policies to limit frequent trading.

Recently purchased shares. Although you can redeem shares at any time, proceeds may not be made available to you until the fund collects payment for your purchase. This may take up to seven calendar days for shares purchased by check or by electronic bank transfer. If you have written a check on a fund with checkwriting privileges, that check may be rejected if your fund account does not have a sufficient available balance.

Address change. If you change your address online or by telephone, there may be up to a 14-day restriction on your ability to request check redemptions online and by telephone. You can request a redemption in writing (using a form available online) at

32

any time. Confirmations of address changes are sent to both the old and new addresses.

Payment to a different person or address. At your request, we can make your redemption check payable, or wire your redemption proceeds, to a different person or send it to a different address. However, this generally requires the written consent of all registered account owners and may require additional documentation, such as a signature guarantee or a notarized signature. You may obtain a signature guarantee from some commercial or savings banks, credit unions, trust companies, or member firms of a U.S. stock exchange.

No cancellations. Vanguard will not accept your request to cancel any redemption request once processing has begun. Please be careful when placing a redemption request.

Emergency circumstances. Vanguard funds can postpone payment of redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days. In addition, Vanguard funds can suspend redemptions and/or postpone payments of redemption proceeds beyond seven calendar days at times when the NYSE is closed or during emergency circumstances, as determined by the SEC.

Exchanging Shares

An exchange occurs when you use the proceeds from the redemption of shares of one Vanguard fund to simultaneously purchase shares of a different Vanguard fund. You can make exchange requests online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail. See Purchasing Shares and Redeeming Shares.

If the NYSE is open for regular trading (generally until 4 p.m., Eastern time, on a business day) at the time an exchange request is received in good order, the trade date generally will be the same day. See Other Rules You Should Know—Good Order for additional information on all transaction requests.

Vanguard will not accept your request to cancel any exchange request once processing has begun. Please be careful when placing an exchange request.

Call Vanguard before attempting to exchange a large dollar amount. By calling us before you attempt to exchange a large dollar amount, you may avoid delayed or rejected transactions.

Please note that Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to revise or terminate the exchange privilege, limit the amount of any exchange, or reject an exchange, at any time, for any reason. See Frequent-Trading Limitations for additional restrictions on exchanges.

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Frequent-Trading Limitations

Because excessive transactions can disrupt management of a fund and increase the fund's costs for all shareholders, the board of trustees of each Vanguard fund places certain limits on frequent trading in the funds. Each Vanguard fund (other than money market funds and short-term bond funds, but including Vanguard Short-Term Inflation- Protected Securities Index Fund) limits an investor's purchases or exchanges into a fund account for 30 calendar days after the investor has redeemed or exchanged out of that fund account. ETF Shares are not subject to these frequent-trading limits.

For Vanguard Retirement Investment Program pooled plans, the limitations apply to exchanges made online or by telephone.

These frequent-trading limitations do not apply to the following:

•Purchases of shares with reinvested dividend or capital gains distributions.

•Transactions through Vanguard's Automatic Investment Plan, Automatic Exchange Service, Direct Deposit Service, Automatic Withdrawal Plan, Required Minimum Distribution Service, and Vanguard Small Business Online®.

•Discretionary transactions through Vanguard Personal Advisor Services®, Vanguard Institutional Advisory Services®, and Vanguard Digital AdvisorTM.

•Redemptions of shares to pay fund or account fees.

•Redemptions of shares to remove excess shareholder contributions to certain types of retirement accounts (including, but not limited to, IRAs and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans).

•Transfers and reregistrations of shares within the same fund.

•Purchases of shares by asset transfer or direct rollover.

•Conversions of shares from one share class to another in the same fund.

•Checkwriting redemptions.

•Section 529 college savings plans.

•Certain approved institutional portfolios and asset allocation programs, as well as trades made by funds or trusts managed by Vanguard or its affiliates that invest in other Vanguard funds. (Please note that shareholders of Vanguard's funds of funds are subject to the limitations.)

For participants in employer-sponsored defined contribution plans,* the frequent- trading limitations do not apply to:

•Purchases of shares with participant payroll or employer contributions or loan repayments.

•Purchases of shares with reinvested dividend or capital gains distributions.

•Distributions, loans, and in-service withdrawals from a plan.

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•Redemptions of shares as part of a plan termination or at the direction of the plan.

•Transactions executed through the Vanguard Managed Account Program.

•Redemptions of shares to pay fund or account fees.

•Share or asset transfers or rollovers.

•Reregistrations of shares.

•Conversions of shares from one share class to another in the same fund.

•Exchange requests submitted by written request to Vanguard. (Exchange requests submitted by fax, if otherwise permitted, are subject to the limitations.)

*The following Vanguard fund accounts are subject to the frequent-trading limitations: SEP-IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, certain Individual 403(b)(7) Custodial Accounts, and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans.

Accounts Held by Institutions (Other Than Defined Contribution Plans)

Vanguard will systematically monitor for frequent trading in institutional clients' accounts. If we detect suspicious trading activity, we will investigate and take appropriate action, which may include applying to a client's accounts the 30-day policy previously described, prohibiting a client's purchases of fund shares, and/or revoking the client's exchange privilege.

Accounts Held by Intermediaries

When intermediaries establish accounts in Vanguard funds for the benefit of their clients, we cannot always monitor the trading activity of the individual clients. However, we review trading activity at the intermediary (omnibus) level, and if we detect suspicious activity, we will investigate and take appropriate action. If necessary, Vanguard may prohibit additional purchases of fund shares by an intermediary, including for the benefit of certain of the intermediary's clients. Intermediaries also may monitor their clients' trading activities with respect to Vanguard funds.

For those Vanguard funds that charge purchase and/or redemption fees, intermediaries will be asked to assess these fees on client accounts and remit these fees to the funds. The application of purchase and redemption fees and frequent- trading limitations may vary among intermediaries. There are no assurances that Vanguard will successfully identify all intermediaries or that intermediaries will properly assess purchase and redemption fees or administer frequent-trading limitations. If you invest with Vanguard through an intermediary, please read that firm's materials carefully to learn of any other rules or fees that may apply.

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Other Rules You Should Know

Prospectus and Shareholder Report Mailings

When two or more shareholders have the same last name and address, just one summary prospectus (or prospectus) and/or shareholder report may be sent in an attempt to eliminate the unnecessary expense of duplicate mailings. You may request individual prospectuses and reports by contacting our Client Services Department by telephone, or online. See Contacting Vanguard.

Vanguard.com

Registration. If you are a registered user of vanguard.com, you can review your account holdings; buy, sell, or exchange shares of most Vanguard funds; and perform most other transactions through our website. You must register for this service online.

Electronic delivery. Vanguard can deliver your account statements, transaction confirmations, prospectuses, certain tax forms, and shareholder reports electronically. If you are a registered user of vanguard.com, you can consent to the electronic delivery of these documents by logging on and changing your mailing preferences under "Account Maintenance." You can revoke your electronic consent at any time through our website, and we will begin to send paper copies of these documents within 30 days of receiving your revocation.

Telephone Transactions

Automatic. When we set up your account, we will automatically enable you to do business with us by telephone, unless you instruct us otherwise in writing.

Tele-Account®. To obtain fund and account information through Vanguard's automated telephone service, you must first establish a Personal Identification Number (PIN) by calling Tele-Account at 800-662-6273.

Proof of a caller's authority. We reserve the right to refuse a telephone request if the caller is unable to provide the requested information or if we reasonably believe that the caller is not an individual authorized to act on the account. Before we allow a caller to act on an account, we may request the following information:

•Authorization to act on the account (as the account owner or by legal documentation or other means).

•Account registration and address.

•Fund name and account number, if applicable.

•Other information relating to the caller, the account owner, or the account.

36

Good Order

We reserve the right to reject any transaction instructions that are not in "good order." Good order generally means that your instructions:

•Are provided by the person(s) authorized in accordance with Vanguard's policies and procedures to access the account and request transactions.

•Include the fund name and account number.

•Include the amount of the transaction (stated in dollars, shares, or percentage). Written instructions also must generally be provided on a Vanguard form and include:

•Signature(s) and date from the authorized person(s).

•Signature guarantees or notarized signatures, if required for the type of transaction. (Call Vanguard for specific requirements.)

•Any supporting documentation that may be required.

Good order requirements may vary among types of accounts and transactions. For more information, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to revise the requirements for good order.

Future Trade-Date Requests

Vanguard does not accept requests to hold a purchase, redemption, or exchange transaction for a future date. All such requests will receive trade dates as previously described in Purchasing Shares, Redeeming Shares, and Exchanging Shares. Vanguard reserves the right to return future-dated purchase checks.

Accounts With More Than One Owner

If an account has more than one owner or authorized person, Vanguard generally will accept instructions from any one owner or authorized person.

Responsibility for Fraud

You should take precautions to protect yourself from fraud. Keep your account-related information private, and review any account confirmations, statements, or other information that we provide to you as soon as you receive them. Let us know immediately if you discover unauthorized activity or see something on your account that you do not understand or that looks unusual.

Vanguard will not be responsible for losses that result from transactions by a person who we reasonably believe is authorized to act on your account.

37

Uncashed Checks

Please cash your distribution or redemption checks promptly. Vanguard will not pay interest on uncashed checks. Vanguard may be required to transfer assets related to uncashed checks to a state under the state's abandoned property law.

Dormant Accounts

If your account has no activity in it for a period of time, Vanguard may be required to transfer it to a state under the state's abandoned property law, subject to potential federal or state withholding taxes.

Unusual Circumstances

If you experience difficulty contacting Vanguard online or by telephone, you can send us your transaction request on a Vanguard form by regular or express mail.

Investing With Vanguard Through Other Firms

You may purchase or sell shares of most Vanguard funds through a financial intermediary, such as a bank, a broker, or an investment advisor. Please consult your financial intermediary to determine which, if any, shares are available through that firm and to learn about other rules that may apply. Your financial intermediary can provide you with account information and any required tax forms. You may be required to pay a commission on purchases of mutual fund shares made through a financial intermediary.

Please see Frequent-Trading Limitations—Accounts Held by Intermediaries for information about the assessment of any purchase or redemption fees and the monitoring of frequent trading for accounts held by intermediaries.

Account Service Fee

Vanguard may charge a $20 account service fee on fund accounts that have a balance below $10,000 for any reason, including market fluctuation. The account service fee applies to both retirement and nonretirement fund accounts and may be assessed on fund accounts in all Vanguard funds, regardless of the account minimum. The fee, which will be collected by redeeming fund shares in the amount of $20, will be deducted from fund accounts subject to the fee once per calendar year.

If you elect to receive your statements and other materials electronically (i.e., by e-delivery), the account service fee will not be charged, so long as your election remains in effect. You can make your e-delivery election on vanguard.com.

Beginning on January 1, 2021, you may elect to receive paper copies of shareholder reports free of charge as noted on the cover of this prospectus.

38

Certain account types have alternative fee structures, including SIMPLE IRAs, Vanguard Retirement Investment Program pooled plans, and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans.

Low-Balance Accounts

The Fund reserves the right to liquidate a fund account whose balance falls below the account minimum for any reason, including market fluctuation. This liquidation policy applies to nonretirement fund accounts and accounts that are held through intermediaries. Any such liquidation will be preceded by written notice to the investor.

Right to Change Policies

In addition to the rights expressly stated elsewhere in this prospectus, Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to (1) alter, add, or discontinue any conditions of purchase (including eligibility requirements), redemption, exchange, service, or privilege at any time and (2) alter, impose, discontinue, or waive any purchase fee, redemption fee, account service fee, or other fee charged to a shareholder or a group of shareholders. Changes may affect any or all investors. These actions will be taken when, at the sole discretion of Vanguard management, Vanguard believes they are in the best interest of a fund.

Account Restrictions

Vanguard reserves the right to: (1) redeem all or a portion of a fund/account to meet a legal obligation, including tax withholding, tax lien, garnishment order, or other obligation imposed on your account by a court or government agency; (2) redeem shares, close an account, or suspend account privileges, features, or options in the case of threatening conduct or activity; (3) redeem shares, close an account, or suspend account privileges, features, or options if Vanguard believes or suspects that not doing so could result in a suspicious, fraudulent, or illegal transaction; (4) place restrictions on the ability to redeem any or all shares in an account if it is required to do so by a court or government agency; (5) place restrictions on the ability to redeem any or all shares in an account if Vanguard believes that doing so will prevent fraud, financial exploitation or abuse, or to protect vulnerable investors; (6) freeze any account and/or suspend account services if Vanguard has received reasonable notice of a dispute regarding the assets in an account, including notice of a dispute between the registered or beneficial account owners; and (7) freeze any account and/or suspend account services upon initial notification to Vanguard of the death of an account owner.

39

Fund and Account Updates

Confirmation Statements

We will send (or provide through our website, whichever you prefer) a confirmation of your trade date and the amount of your transaction when you buy, sell, or exchange shares. However, we will not send confirmations reflecting only checkwriting redemptions or the reinvestment of dividend or capital gains distributions. For any month in which you had a checkwriting redemption, a Checkwriting Activity Statement will be sent to you itemizing the checkwriting redemptions for that month. Promptly review each confirmation statement that we provide to you. It is important that you contact Vanguard immediately with any questions you may have about any transaction reflected on a confirmation statement, or Vanguard will consider the transaction properly processed.

Portfolio Summaries

We will send (or provide through our website, whichever you prefer) quarterly portfolio summaries to help you keep track of your accounts throughout the year. Each summary shows the market value of your account at the close of the statement period, as well as all distributions, purchases, redemptions, exchanges, and transfers for the current calendar quarter (or month). Promptly review each summary that we provide to you. It is important that you contact Vanguard immediately with any questions you may have about any transaction reflected on the summary, or Vanguard will consider the transaction properly processed.

Tax Information Statements

For most accounts, Vanguard (or your intermediary) is required to provide annual tax forms to assist you in preparing your income tax returns. These forms are generally available for each calendar year early in the following year. Registered users of vanguard.com can also view certain forms through our website. Vanguard (or your intermediary) may also provide you with additional tax-related documentation. For more information, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Annual and Semiannual Reports

We will send (or provide through our website, whichever you prefer) reports about Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund twice a year, in June and December. These reports include overviews of the financial markets and provide the following specific Fund information:

•Performance assessments and comparisons with industry benchmarks.

•Reports from the advisor.

•Financial statements with listings of Fund holdings.

40

Portfolio Holdings

Please consult the Fund's Statement of Additional Information or our website for a description of the policies and procedures that govern disclosure of the Fund's portfolio holdings.

Employer-Sponsored Plans

Your plan administrator or your employee benefits office can provide you with detailed information on how to participate in your plan and how to elect the Fund as an investment option.

•If you have any questions about the Fund or Vanguard, including those about the Fund's investment objective, strategies, or risks, contact Vanguard Participant Services toll-free at 800-523-1188 or visit our website at vanguard.com.

•If you have questions about your account, contact your plan administrator or the organization that provides recordkeeping services for your plan.

•Be sure to carefully read each topic that pertains to your transactions with Vanguard.

Vanguard reserves the right to change its policies without notice to shareholders.

Transactions

Processing times for your transaction requests may differ among recordkeepers or among transaction and funding types. Your plan's recordkeeper (which may also be Vanguard) will determine the necessary processing time frames for your transaction requests prior to submission to the Fund. Consult your recordkeeper or plan administrator for more information.

If Vanguard is serving as your plan recordkeeper and if your transaction involves one or more investments with an early cut-off time for processing or another trading restriction, your entire transaction will be subject to the restriction when the trade date for your transaction is determined.

41

Contacting Vanguard

Web

Vanguard.com

For the most complete source of Vanguard news

 

For fund, account, and service information

 

For most account transactions

 

For literature requests

 

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

 

 

Phone

 

 

 

Vanguard Tele-Account® 800-662-6273

For automated fund and account information

 

Toll-free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

 

 

Investor Information 800-662-7447 (Text telephone for people with hearing impairment at 800-749-7273)

For fund and service information For literature requests

Client Services 800-662-2739

For account information

(Text telephone for people with hearing

For most account transactions

impairment at 800-749-7273)

 

 

 

Participant Services 800-523-1188 (Text telephone for people with hearing impairment at 800-749-7273)

For information and services for participants in employer- sponsored plans

Institutional Division

For information and services for large institutional investors

888-809-8102

 

 

 

Financial Advisor and Intermediary

For information and services for financial intermediaries

Sales Support 800-997-2798

including financial advisors, broker-dealers, trust institutions,

 

and insurance companies

 

 

Financial Advisory and Intermediary

For account information and trading support for financial

Trading Support 800-669-0498

intermediaries including financial advisors, broker-dealers,

 

trust institutions, and insurance companies

 

 

Additional Information

 

Inception

Newspaper

Vanguard

CUSIP

 

Date

Abbreviation

Fund Number

Number

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity Strategy Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Admiral Shares

6/25/2019

VgComSgyAdm

517

921939708

 

 

 

 

 

CFA® is a registered trademark owned by CFA Institute.

42

Glossary of Investment Terms

Bond. A debt security (IOU) issued by a corporation, a government, or a government agency in exchange for the money the bondholder lends it. In most instances, the issuer agrees to pay back the loan by a specific date and generally to make regular interest payments until that date.

Capital Gains Distributions. Payments to mutual fund shareholders of gains realized on securities that a fund has sold at a profit, minus any realized losses.

Cash Equivalent Investments. Cash deposits, short-term bank deposits, and money market instruments that include U.S. Treasury bills and notes, bank certificates of deposit (CDs), repurchase agreements, commercial paper, and banker's acceptances.

Commodities. Bulk goods or raw materials, such as agricultural products, livestock, precious metals, energy products, and industrial metals. Commodities can be purchased for immediate delivery ("on the spot") or delivery on a future date under a standardized agreement.

Commodity Futures Contract. A legally binding agreement for the purchase or sale of a specified type and quantity of a commodity during a stated delivery month for a fixed price.

Common Stock. A security representing ownership rights in a corporation.

Correlation. The relationship between two variables, such as the relationship between the prices of stocks and bonds. Investments that are positively correlated have prices that tend to move in the same direction at the same time, while investments that are negatively correlated have prices that tend to move in opposite directions at the same time. Investments with low correlation have prices that tend to move independently of each other.

Dividend Distributions. Payments to mutual fund shareholders of income from interest or dividends generated by a fund's investments.

Expense Ratio. A fund's total annual operating expenses expressed as a percentage of the fund's average net assets. The expense ratio includes management and administrative expenses, but it does not include the transaction costs of buying and selling portfolio securities.

Face Value. The amount to be paid at a bond's maturity; also known as the par value or principal.

Fixed Income Security. An investment, such as a bond, representing a debt that must be repaid by a specified date, and on which the borrower must pay a fixed, variable, or floating rate of interest.

43

Inception Date. The date on which the assets of a fund are first invested in accordance with the fund's investment objective. For funds with a subscription period, the inception date is the day after that period ends. Investment performance is generally measured from the inception date.

Investment-Grade Bond. A debt security whose credit quality is considered by independent bond rating agencies, or through independent analysis conducted by a fund's advisor, to be sufficient to ensure timely payment of principal and interest under current economic circumstances. Debt securities rated in one of the four highest rating categories are considered investment-grade. Other debt securities may be considered by an advisor to be investment-grade.

Joint Committed Credit Facility. The Fund may participate, along with other funds managed by Vanguard, in a committed credit facility provided by a syndicate of lenders pursuant to a credit agreement that may be renewed annually; each Vanguard fund is individually liable for its borrowings, if any, under the credit facility. The amount and terms of the committed credit facility are subject to approval by the Fund's board of trustees and renegotiation with the lender syndicate on an annual basis. New funds, such as Vanguard Commodity Strategy, will generally be added to the agreement during the annual renewal process.

Mutual Fund. An investment company that pools the money of many people and invests it in a variety of securities in an effort to achieve a specific objective over time.

New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). A stock exchange based in New York City that is open for regular trading on business days, Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern time.

Nominal Return. The total return of an investment without taking into account the expected impact of inflation.

Principal. The face value of a debt instrument or the amount of money put into an investment.

Record Date. The date used to determine who is eligible to receive a fund's next distribution of dividends or capital gains.

Real Return. The total return of an investment when reduced to take into account the expected impact of inflation.

Total Return. A percentage change, over a specified time period, in a mutual fund's net asset value, assuming the reinvestment of all distributions of dividends and capital gains.

44

Volatility. The fluctuations in value of a mutual fund or other security. The greater a fund's volatility, the wider the fluctuations in its returns.

Yield. Income (interest or dividends) earned by an investment, expressed as a percentage of the investment's price.

 

P.O. Box 2600

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2600

Connect with Vanguard® > vanguard.com

For More Information

If you would like more information about Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund, the following documents are available free upon request:

Annual/Semiannual Reports to Shareholders Additional information about the Fund's investments will be available in the Fund's annual and semiannual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year.

Statement of Additional Information (SAI)

The SAI provides more detailed information about the Fund and is incorporated by reference into (and thus legally a part of) this prospectus.

To receive a free copy of the latest annual or semiannual report (once available) or the SAI, or to request additional information about the Fund or other Vanguard funds, please visit vanguard.com or contact us as follows:

If you are an individual investor:

The Vanguard Group

Investor Information Department P.O. Box 2600

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2600

Telephone: 800-662-7447; Text telephone for people

with hearing impairment: 800-749-7273

If you are a participant in an employer-sponsored plan: The Vanguard Group

Participant Services P.O. Box 2900

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2900

Telephone: 800-523-1188; Text telephone for people

with hearing impairment: 800-749-7273

If you are a current Vanguard shareholder and would like information about your account, account transactions, and/or account statements, please call:

Client Services Department

Telephone: 800-662-2739; Text telephone for people

with hearing impairment: 800-749-7273

Information Provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Reports and other information about the Fund are available in the EDGAR database on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, or you can receive copies of this information, for a fee, by electronic request at the following email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

Fund's Investment Company Act file number: 811-02968-99

© 2020 The Vanguard Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.

P 517 022020

 

Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund Prospectus

February 27, 2020

Investor Shares

Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund Investor Shares (VDEQX)

See the inside front cover for important information about access to your fund's annual and semiannual shareholder reports.

This prospectus contains financial data for the Fund through the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019.

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.

Important information about access to shareholder reports

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the SEC, paper copies of your fund's annual and semiannual shareholder reports will no longer be sent to you by mail, unless you specifically request them. Instead, you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted on the website and will be provided with a link to access the report.

If you have already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and do not need to take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the fund electronically by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you invest directly with the fund, by calling Vanguard at one of the phone numbers on the back cover of this prospectus or by logging on to vanguard.com.

You may elect to receive paper copies of all future shareholder reports free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact the intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies. If you invest directly with the fund, you can call Vanguard at one of the phone numbers on the back cover of this prospectus or log on to vanguard.com. Your election to receive paper copies will apply to all the funds you hold through an intermediary or directly with Vanguard.

Contents

Fund Summary

1

Investing With Vanguard

18

More on the Fund

6

Purchasing Shares

18

 

 

 

 

The Fund and Vanguard

12

Redeeming Shares

21

 

 

 

 

Investment Advisor

13

Exchanging Shares

24

 

 

 

 

Dividends, Capital Gains, and Taxes

14

Frequent-Trading Limitations

25

 

 

 

 

Share Price

16

Other Rules You Should Know

27

 

 

 

 

Financial Highlights

17

Fund and Account Updates

31

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employer-Sponsored Plans

32

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contacting Vanguard

33

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Information

33

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary of Investment Terms

34

 

 

 

 

Fund Summary

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation and dividend income.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees

(Fees paid directly from your investment)

Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases

None

Purchase Fee

None

 

 

Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends

None

 

 

Redemption Fee

None

 

 

Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)

$20/year

 

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees

None

12b-1 Distribution Fee

None

 

 

Other Expenses

None

 

 

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

0.35%

 

 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

0.35%

 

 

1

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund (based on the fees and expenses of the acquired funds) with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the Fund provides a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses of the Fund and its underlying funds remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

$36

$113

$197

$443

 

 

 

 

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund may pay transaction costs, such as purchase fees, 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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 9% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

As a fund of funds, the Diversified Equity Fund invests in a diversified group of other Vanguard equity mutual funds, rather than in individual securities. The underlying funds' holdings mainly consist of large-, mid-, and small-capitalization equity securities of domestic companies.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

•Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices.

•Manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause one or more of the Fund's actively managed underlying funds—and, thus, the Fund itself—to underperform relevant benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective.

2

•The Fund is also subject to asset allocation risk, which is the chance that the selection of underlying funds, and the allocation of a high percentage of assets to a relatively few number of underlying funds may cause the Fund to be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of any one underlying fund or to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Fund compare with those of a relevant market index, which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund Investor Shares

 

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

 

 

60%

 

 

 

 

 

 

35.37

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

40%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31.45

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22.70

 

 

 

 

20%

16.12

 

 

17.48

 

 

11.08

0.73

8.47

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-20%

 

 

-1.01

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-5.39

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-40%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 15.15% (quarter ended March 31, 2012), and the lowest return for a quarter was –16.69% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).

3

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2019

 

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund Investor Shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return Before Taxes

31.45%

10.76%

12.97%

 

 

 

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions

29.36

8.87

11.72

 

 

 

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

20.12

8.11

10.54

 

 

 

 

MSCI US Broad Market Index

 

 

 

(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

31.07%

11.26%

13.48%

 

 

 

 

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

Investment Advisor

The Vanguard Group, Inc. (Vanguard)

Portfolio Managers

William Coleman, CFA, Portfolio Manager at Vanguard. He has co-managed the Fund since 2013.

Walter Nejman, Portfolio Manager at Vanguard. He has co-managed the Fund since 2013.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

You may purchase or redeem shares online through our website (vanguard.com), by mail (The Vanguard Group, P.O. Box 1110, Valley Forge, PA 19482-1110), or by telephone (800-662-2739). The minimum investment amount required to open and maintain a Fund account for Investor Shares is $3,000. The minimum investment amount required to add to an existing Fund account is generally $1. Financial intermediaries, institutional clients, and Vanguard-advised clients should contact Vanguard for information on special eligibility rules that may apply to them regarding Investor Shares. If you are investing through an intermediary, please contact that firm

4

directly for more information regarding your eligibility. If you are investing through an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, your plan administrator or your benefits office can provide you with detailed information on how you can invest through your plan.

Tax Information

The Fund's distributions may be taxable as ordinary income or capital gain. If you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, such as an IRA or an employer- sponsored retirement or savings plan, special tax rules apply.

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

The Fund and its investment advisor do not pay financial intermediaries for sales of Fund shares.

5

More on the Fund

This prospectus describes the principal risks you would face as a Fund shareholder. It is important to keep in mind one of the main principles of investing: generally, the higher the risk of losing money, the higher the potential reward. The reverse, also, is generally true: the lower the risk, the lower the potential reward. As you consider an investment in any mutual fund, you should take into account your personal tolerance

for fluctuations in the securities markets. Look for this symbol throughout the prospectus. It is used to mark detailed information about the more significant risks that you would confront as a Fund shareholder. To highlight terms and concepts important to mutual fund investors, we have provided Plain Talk® explanations along the way. Reading the prospectus will help you decide whether the Fund is the right investment for you. We suggest that you keep this prospectus for future reference.

Plain Talk About Costs of Investing

Costs are an important consideration in choosing a mutual fund. That is because you, as a shareholder, pay a proportionate share of the costs of operating a fund and any transaction costs incurred when the fund buys or sells securities. These costs can erode a substantial portion of the gross income or the capital appreciation a fund achieves. Even seemingly small differences in expenses can, over time, have a dramatic effect on a fund's performance.

The following sections explain the principal investment strategies and policies that the Fund uses in pursuit of its objective. The Fund's board of trustees, which oversees the Fund's management, may change investment strategies or policies in the interest of shareholders without a shareholder vote, unless those strategies or policies are designated as fundamental. Note that the Fund's investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed without a shareholder vote. As a fund of funds, the Diversified Equity Fund achieves its investment objective by investing in other Vanguard mutual funds. Through its investments in underlying funds, the Diversified Equity Fund indirectly owns a diversified portfolio of stocks.

Market Exposure

Through the underlying Vanguard funds, the Diversified Equity Fund indirectly invests its assets in equity securities. These investments are designed to provide long-term capital appreciation and some income. The underlying equity funds are described later in this section under "Security Selection." Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. The Fund's policy of investing at least 80% of its assets in equity securities may only be changed upon 60 days' notice to shareholders.

6

The Fund is subject to asset allocation risk, which is the chance that the selection of underlying funds, and the allocation of a high percentage of assets to a relatively few number of underlying funds may cause the Fund to be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of any one underlying fund or to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective.

Stocks of publicly traded companies are often classified according to market capitalization, which is the market value of a company's outstanding shares. These classifications typically include small-cap, mid-cap, and large-cap. It is important to understand that there are no "official" definitions of small-, mid-, and large-cap, even among Vanguard fund advisors, and that market capitalization ranges can change over time. The asset-weighted median market capitalization of the Fund's indirect stock holdings as of October 31, 2019, was $48 billion.

By owning shares of the underlying funds, the Fund indirectly owns a diversified mixture of common stocks. Although its indirect stock holdings are predominantly mid- and large- cap, the Fund consists of stocks across the capitalization spectrum, including small-cap. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. This volatility is the result of several factors, including the fact that smaller companies often have fewer customers and financial resources than larger firms. These characteristics can make small and mid-size companies more sensitive to economic conditions, leading to less certain growth and dividend prospects.

The Fund is subject to stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices.

Security Selection

The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing in a combination of other mutual funds rather than in individual securities.

The underlying Vanguard funds are managed according to traditional methods of active investment management. This means that securities are bought and sold according to the advisors' judgments about companies and their financial prospects.

The Diversified Equity Fund invests in the following funds, in approximately the percentages indicated. As of the date of this prospectus, the Fund held Investor Shares of each underlying Vanguard fund. Share class changes may be made without prior notice to shareholders.

•Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund (30%)

•Vanguard Growth and Income Fund (20%)

•Vanguard Windsor II™ Fund (15%)

7

•Vanguard Windsor™ Fund (15%)

•Vanguard Explorer™ Fund (10%)

•Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth Fund (5%)

•Vanguard Capital Value Fund (5%)

Vanguard Growth and Income Fund, made up of both value- and growth-oriented stocks that are mainly large-cap, is included primarily for its potential for a total return greater than that of the S&P 500 Index.

•Vanguard Growth and Income Fund uses quantitative approaches to select a broadly diversified group of stocks that, as a whole, have investment characteristics similar to those of the S&P 500 Index but are expected to provide a higher total return than that of the Index.

Vanguard Windsor Fund, Vanguard Windsor II Fund, and Vanguard Capital Value Fund are value-oriented stock funds. These funds are included primarily for their potential for long- term capital appreciation. Vanguard Windsor Fund and Vanguard Windsor II Fund have a secondary objective of providing some dividend income.

•Vanguard Windsor Fund and Vanguard Windsor II Fund invest in mid- and large-cap companies, and Vanguard Capital Value Fund invests in companies across the capitalization spectrum. These funds invest in companies whose stocks are considered undervalued by the advisors. These stocks typically have below-average prices in relation to measures such as earnings and book value.

Vanguard Explorer Fund, Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund, and Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth Fund are growth-oriented stock funds. These funds are included primarily to provide long-term capital appreciation. They work in different ways to achieve this goal.

•Vanguard Explorer Fund invests mainly in the stocks of small and mid-size companies. These companies tend to be unseasoned but are considered by the fund's advisors to have superior growth potential. These companies often provide little or no dividend income.

•Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund invests mainly in large-cap stocks of U.S. companies considered to have above-average earnings growth potential and reasonable stock prices in comparison with expected earnings.

•Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth Fund invests mainly in the stocks of mid-size companies. In selecting stocks, the fund's advisors choose companies considered to have the best prospects for future growth.

The Fund is subject to manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause one or more of the Fund's actively managed underlying funds—and, thus, the Fund itself—to underperform relevant benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective.

8

 

Plain Talk About Growth Funds and Value Funds

Growth investing and value investing are two styles employed by stock-fund managers. Growth funds generally invest in stocks of companies believed to have above-average potential for growth in revenue, earnings, cash flow, or other similar criteria. These stocks typically have low dividend yields, if any, and above- average prices in relation to measures such as earnings and book value. Value funds typically invest in stocks whose prices are below average in relation to those measures; these stocks often have above-average dividend yields. Value stocks also may remain undervalued by the market for long periods of time. Growth and value stocks have historically produced similar long-term returns, though each category has periods when it outperforms the other.

Other Investment Policies and Risks

Through its investment in the underlying funds, Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund is proportionately exposed to certain investment style risks, each of which is described in detail in the underlying funds' prospectuses. For example, through its investment in Vanguard Explorer Fund and Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth Fund, the Fund is subject to the risk that small-cap growth stocks and mid-cap growth stocks, respectively, will trail returns from the overall stock market. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than the large-cap stocks that dominate the overall stock market, and they often perform quite differently. Because the Diversified Equity Fund indirectly invests in growth and value stocks, and across all capitalization ranges, the Fund in the aggregate is not subject to any particular primary investment style risk.

To the extent that the underlying funds own foreign securities, the Fund is subject to country risk and currency risk. Country risk is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by companies in foreign countries. In addition, the prices of foreign stocks and the prices of U.S. stocks have, at times, moved in opposite directions. Currency risk is the chance that the value of a foreign investment, measured in U.S. dollars, will decrease because of unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates.

Each underlying fund may invest, to a limited extent, in derivatives. Generally speaking, a derivative is a financial contract whose value is based on the value of a financial asset (such as a stock, a bond, or a currency), a physical asset (such as gold, oil, or wheat), a market index, or a reference rate. Investments in derivatives may subject the funds to risks different from, and possibly greater than, those of investments directly in the underlying securities or assets. The underlying funds will not use derivatives for speculation or for the purpose of leveraging (magnifying) investment returns.

9

Cash Management

The Fund's daily cash balance may be invested in Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund and/or Vanguard Municipal Cash Management Fund (each, a CMT Fund), which are low-cost money market funds. When investing in a CMT Fund, the Fund bears its proportionate share of the expenses of the CMT Fund in which it invests. Vanguard receives no additional revenue from Fund assets invested in a CMT Fund.

Methods Used to Meet Redemption Requests

Under normal circumstances, the Fund typically expects to meet redemptions with positive cash flows. When this is not an option, the Fund seeks to maintain its risk exposure by selling a cross section of the Fund's holdings to meet redemptions, while also factoring in transaction costs. Additionally, the Fund may work with larger clients to implement their redemptions in a manner that is least disruptive to the portfolio; see "Potentially disruptive redemptions" under Redeeming Shares in the Investing With Vanguard section.

Under certain circumstances, including under stressed market conditions, there are additional tools that the Fund may use in order to meet redemptions, including advancing the settlement of market trades with counterparties to match investor redemption payments or delaying settlement of an investor's transaction to match trade settlement within regulatory requirements. The Fund may also suspend payment of redemption proceeds for up to seven days; see "Emergency circumstances" under Redeeming Shares in the Investing With Vanguard section. Additionally under these unusual circumstances, the Fund may borrow money (subject to certain regulatory conditions and if available under board-approved procedures) through an interfund lending facility or through a bank line-of-credit, including a joint committed credit facility, in order to meet redemption requests.

Temporary Investment Measures

Each underlying fund may take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its normal investment policies and strategies—for instance, by allocating substantial assets to cash equivalent investments or other less volatile instruments— in response to adverse or unusual market, economic, political, or other conditions. In doing so, the underlying fund may succeed in avoiding losses but may otherwise fail to achieve its investment objective, which in turn may prevent the Diversified Equity Fund from achieving its investment objective.

Frequent Trading or Market-Timing

Background. Some investors try to profit from strategies involving frequent trading of mutual fund shares, such as market-timing. For funds holding foreign securities, investors may try to take advantage of an anticipated difference between the price of the fund's shares and price movements in overseas markets, a practice also known as

10

time-zone arbitrage. Investors also may try to engage in frequent trading of funds holding investments such as small-cap stocks and high-yield bonds. As money is shifted into and out of a fund by a shareholder engaging in frequent trading, the fund incurs costs for buying and selling securities, resulting in increased brokerage and administrative costs. These costs are borne by all fund shareholders, including the long-term investors who do not generate the costs. In addition, frequent trading may interfere with an advisor's ability to efficiently manage the fund.

Policies to address frequent trading. The Vanguard funds (other than money market funds and short-term bond funds, but including Vanguard Short-Term Inflation- Protected Securities Index Fund) do not knowingly accommodate frequent trading. The board of trustees of each Vanguard fund (other than money market funds and short- term bond funds, but including Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund) has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to detect and discourage frequent trading and, in some cases, to compensate the fund for the costs associated with it. These policies and procedures do not apply to ETF Shares because frequent trading in ETF Shares generally does not disrupt portfolio management or otherwise harm fund shareholders. Although there is no assurance that Vanguard will be able to detect or prevent frequent trading or market-timing in all circumstances, the following policies have been adopted to address these issues:

•Each Vanguard fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request—including exchanges from other Vanguard funds—without notice and regardless of size. For example, a purchase request could be rejected because the investor has a history of frequent trading or if Vanguard determines that such purchase may negatively affect a fund's operation or performance.

•Each Vanguard fund (other than money market funds and short-term bond funds, but including Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund) generally prohibits, except as otherwise noted in the Investing With Vanguard section, an investor's purchases or exchanges into a fund account for 30 calendar days after the investor has redeemed or exchanged out of that fund account.

•Certain Vanguard funds charge shareholders purchase and/or redemption fees on transactions.

See the Investing With Vanguard section of this prospectus for further details on Vanguard's transaction policies.

Each Vanguard fund (other than retail and government money market funds), in determining its net asset value, will use fair-value pricing when appropriate, as described in the Share Price section. Fair-value pricing may reduce or eliminate the profitability of certain frequent-trading strategies.

Do not invest with Vanguard if you are a market-timer.

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Turnover Rate

Although the Fund generally seeks to invest for the long term, it may sell shares of the underlying funds regardless of how long they have been held. The Financial Highlights section of this prospectus shows historical turnover rates for the Fund. A turnover rate of 100%, for example, would mean that the Fund had sold and replaced shares of the underlying funds valued at 100% of its net assets within a one-year period. In general, the greater the turnover rate, the greater the impact transaction costs will have on a fund's return. Also, funds with high turnover rates may be more likely to generate capital gains, including short-term capital gains, that must be distributed to shareholders and will be taxable to shareholders investing through a taxable account.

The Fund and Vanguard

The Fund is a member of The Vanguard Group, a family of over 200 funds. All of the funds that are members of The Vanguard Group (other than funds of funds) share in the expenses associated with administrative services and business operations, such as personnel, office space, and equipment.

Vanguard Marketing Corporation provides marketing services to the funds. Although fund shareholders do not pay sales commissions or 12b-1 distribution fees, each fund (other than a fund of funds) or each share class of a fund (in the case of a fund with multiple share classes) pays its allocated share of the Vanguard funds' marketing costs.

According to an agreement applicable to Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund and Vanguard, the Fund's direct expenses may be offset by (1) the Fund's contributions to the costs of operating the underlying Vanguard funds in which the Fund invests and (2) certain savings in administrative and marketing costs that Vanguard expects to derive from the Fund's operation.

Accordingly, all expenses for services provided by Vanguard to the Fund and all other expenses incurred by the Fund are expected to be borne by the underlying funds. The Fund's shareholders bear the fees and expenses associated with the Fund's investment in the underlying funds.

Plain Talk About Vanguard's Unique Corporate Structure

The Vanguard Group is owned jointly by the funds it oversees and thus indirectly by the shareholders in those funds. Most other mutual funds are operated by management companies that are owned by third parties—either public or private stockholders—and not by the funds they serve.

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Investment Advisor

The Vanguard Group, Inc., P.O. Box 2600, Valley Forge, PA 19482, which began operations in 1975, serves as advisor to the Fund through its Equity Index Group. Vanguard also serves as investment advisor for each of the underlying funds. As of October 31, 2019, Vanguard served as advisor for approximately $4.7 trillion in assets. Vanguard provides investment advisory services to the Fund pursuant to the Funds' Service Agreement and subject to the supervision and oversight of the trustees and officers of the Fund.

The underlying Vanguard funds employ multiple advisors, none of which are paid a management fee for performing investment management services for Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund. However, the advisors receive management fees for managing the underlying Vanguard funds. For additional information on the investment advisors, please refer to each underlying fund's prospectus.

Under the terms of an SEC exemption, the Fund's board of trustees may, without prior approval from shareholders, change the terms of an advisory agreement with a third- party investment advisor or hire a new third-party investment advisor—either as a replacement for an existing advisor or as an additional advisor. Any significant change in the Fund's advisory arrangements will be communicated to shareholders in writing. As the Fund's sponsor and overall manager, Vanguard may provide investment advisory services to the Fund at any time. Vanguard may also recommend to the board of trustees that an advisor be hired, terminated, or replaced or that the terms of an existing advisory agreement be revised. The Fund has filed an application seeking a similar SEC exemption with respect to investment advisors that are wholly owned subsidiaries of Vanguard. If the exemption is granted, the Fund may rely on the new SEC relief.

For a discussion of why the board of trustees approved the Fund's investment advisory arrangement, see the most recent semiannual report to shareholders covering the fiscal period ended April 30.

The managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are:

William Coleman, CFA, Portfolio Manager at Vanguard. He has worked in investment management since joining Vanguard in 2006 and has co-managed the Fund since 2013. Education: B.S., King's College; M.S., Saint Joseph's University.

Walter Nejman, Portfolio Manager at Vanguard. He has been with Vanguard since 2005, has worked in investment management since 2008, and has co-managed the Fund since 2013. Education: B.A., Arcadia University; M.B.A., Villanova University.

The Fund's Statement of Additional Information provides information about each portfolio manager's compensation, other accounts under management, and ownership of shares of the Fund.

13

Dividends, Capital Gains, and Taxes

Fund Distributions

The Fund distributes to shareholders virtually all of its net income as well as any net short-term or long-term capital gains realized from the sale of its holdings or received as capital gains distributions from the underlying funds. Income and capital gains distributions, if any, generally occur annually in December. In addition, the Fund may occasionally make a supplemental distribution at some other time during the year.

You can receive distributions of income or capital gains in cash, or you can have them automatically reinvested in more shares of the Fund. However, if you are investing through an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, your distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares.

Basic Tax Points

Investors in taxable accounts should be aware of the following basic federal income tax points:

•Distributions are taxable to you whether or not you reinvest these amounts in additional Fund shares.

•Distributions declared in December—if paid to you by the end of January—are taxable as if received in December.

•Any dividend distribution or short-term capital gains distribution that you receive is taxable to you as ordinary income. If you are an individual and meet certain holding- period requirements with respect to your Fund shares, you may be eligible for reduced tax rates on "qualified dividend income,"if any, distributed by the Fund.

•Any distribution of net long-term capital gains is taxable to you as long-term capital gains, no matter how long you have owned shares in the Fund.

•Capital gains distributions may vary considerably from year to year as a result of the Fund's normal investment activities and cash flows.

•A sale or exchange of Fund shares is a taxable event. This means that you may have a capital gain to report as income, or a capital loss to report as a deduction, when you complete your tax return.

•Vanguard (or your intermediary) will send you a statement each year showing the tax status of all of your distributions.

Individuals, trusts, and estates whose income exceeds certain threshold amounts are subject to a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on "net investment income." Net investment income takes into account distributions paid by the Fund and capital gains from any sale or exchange of Fund shares.

14

Dividend distributions and capital gains distributions that you receive, as well as your gains or losses from any sale or exchange of Fund shares, may be subject to state and local income taxes.

This prospectus provides general tax information only. If you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, such as an IRA or an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, special tax rules apply. Please consult your tax advisor for detailed information about any tax consequences for you.

Plain Talk About Buying a Dividend

Unless you are a tax-exempt investor or investing through a tax-advantaged account (such as an IRA or an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan), you should consider avoiding a purchase of fund shares shortly before the fund makes a distribution, because doing so can cost you money in taxes. This is known as "buying a dividend." For example: On December 15, you invest $5,000, buying 250 shares for $20 each. If the fund pays a distribution of $1 per share on December 16, its share price will drop to $19 (not counting market change). You still have only $5,000 (250 shares x $19 = $4,750 in share value, plus 250 shares x $1 = $250 in distributions), but you owe tax on the $250 distribution you received—even if you reinvest it in more shares. To avoid buying a dividend, check a fund's distribution schedule before you invest.

General Information

Backup withholding. By law, Vanguard must withhold 24% of any taxable distributions or redemptions from your account if you do not:

•Provide your correct taxpayer identification number.

•Certify that the taxpayer identification number is correct.

•Confirm that you are not subject to backup withholding.

Similarly, Vanguard (or your intermediary) must withhold taxes from your account if the IRS instructs us to do so.

Foreign investors. Vanguard funds offered for sale in the United States (Vanguard U.S. funds), including the Fund offered in this prospectus, are not widely available outside the United States. Non-U.S. investors should be aware that U.S. withholding and estate taxes and certain U.S. tax reporting requirements may apply to any investments in Vanguard U.S. funds. Foreign investors should visit the non-U.S. investors page on our website at vanguard.com for information on Vanguard's non-U.S. products.

Invalid addresses. If a dividend distribution or capital gains distribution check mailed to your address of record is returned as undeliverable, Vanguard will automatically reinvest the distribution and all future distributions until you provide us with a valid

15

mailing address. Reinvestments will receive the net asset value calculated on the date of the reinvestment.

Share Price

Share price, also known as net asset value (NAV), is calculated as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), generally 4 p.m., Eastern time, on each day that the NYSE is open for business (a business day). In the rare event the NYSE experiences unanticipated disruptions and is unavailable at the close of the trading day, the Fund reserves the right to treat such day as a business day and calculate NAVs as of the close of regular trading on the Nasdaq (or another alternate exchange if the Nasdaq is unavailable, as determined at Vanguard's discretion), generally 4 p.m., Eastern time. The NAV per share is computed by dividing the total assets, minus liabilities, of the Fund by the number of Fund shares outstanding. On U.S. holidays or other days when the NYSE is closed, the NAV is not calculated, and the Fund does not sell or redeem shares. The underlying Vanguard funds in which the Fund invests also do not calculate their NAV on days when the NYSE is closed, but the value of their assets may be affected to the extent that they hold securities that change in value on those days (such as foreign securities that trade on foreign markets that are open).

The Fund's NAV is calculated based upon the values of the underlying mutual funds in which the Fund invests. The values of any mutual fund shares, including institutional money market fund shares, held by a fund are based on the NAVs of the shares. The values of any ETF shares held by a fund are based on the market value of the shares. The prospectuses for the underlying funds explain the circumstances under which those funds will use fair-value pricing and the effects of doing so.

Vanguard fund share prices are published daily on our website at vanguard.com/prices.

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Financial Highlights

Financial highlights information is intended to help you understand a fund's performance for the past five years (or, if shorter, its period of operations). Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. Total return represents the rate that an investor would have earned or lost each period on an investment in a fund or share class (assuming reinvestment of all distributions). This information has been obtained from the financial statements audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with fund financial statements, is included in a fund's most recent annual report to shareholders. You may obtain a free copy of a fund's latest annual or semiannual report, which is available upon request.

Diversified Equity Fund

For a Share Outstanding

 

 

 

Year Ended October 31,

Throughout Each Period

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

$35.88

$35.57

$30.76

$33.15

$33.18

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

.4551

.3951

.4281

.397

.394

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital Gain Distributions Received

3.0871

1.6861

1.0641

.860

2.606

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

on Investments

.575

.206

5.627

(.836)

(1.453)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total from Investment Operations

4.117

2.287

7.119

.421

1.547

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends from Net Investment Income

(.383)

(.358)

(.414)

(.362)

(.342)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions from Realized Capital Gains

(1.664)

(1.619)

(1.895)

(2.449)

(1.235)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Distributions

(2.047)

(1.977)

(2.309)

(2.811)

(1.577)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

$37.95

$35.88

$35.57

$30.76

$33.15

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return2

12.82%

6.55%

24.47%

1.39%

4.71%

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Assets, End of Period (Millions)

$1,789

$1,709

$1,439

$1,276

$1,456

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of Total Expenses to Average

 

 

 

 

 

Net Assets

—

—

—

—

—

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

0.35%

0.36%

0.36%

0.36%

0.40%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to

 

 

 

 

 

Average Net Assets

1.27%

1.07%

1.31%

1.26%

1.16%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

9%

8%

5%

9%

10%

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Calculated based on average shares outstanding.

2 Total returns do not include account service fees that may have applied in the periods shown.

17

Investing With Vanguard

This section of the prospectus explains the basics of doing business with Vanguard. Vanguard fund shares can be held directly with Vanguard or indirectly through an intermediary, such as a bank, a broker, or an investment advisor. If you hold Vanguard fund shares directly with Vanguard, you should carefully read each topic within this section that pertains to your relationship with Vanguard. If you hold Vanguard fund shares indirectly through an intermediary (including shares held in a brokerage account through Vanguard Brokerage Services®), please see Investing With Vanguard Through Other Firms, and also refer to your account agreement with the intermediary for information about transacting in that account. If you hold Vanguard fund shares through an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, please see Employer-Sponsored Plans. Vanguard reserves the right to change the following policies without notice. Please call or check online for current information. See Contacting Vanguard.

For Vanguard fund shares held directly with Vanguard, each fund you hold in an account is a separate "fund account." For example, if you hold three funds in a nonretirement account titled in your own name, two funds in a nonretirement account titled jointly with your spouse, and one fund in an individual retirement account, you have six fund accounts—and this is true even if you hold the same fund in multiple accounts. Note that each reference to "you" in this prospectus applies to any one or more registered account owners or persons authorized to transact on your account.

Purchasing Shares

Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to increase or decrease the minimum amount required to open or maintain a fund account or to add to an existing fund account.

Investment minimums may differ for certain categories of investors.

Account Minimums

To open and maintain an account. $3,000. Financial intermediaries, institutional clients, and Vanguard-advised clients should contact Vanguard for information on special eligibility rules that may apply to them regarding Investor Shares. If you are investing through an intermediary, please contact that firm directly for more information regarding your eligibility.

To add to an existing account. Generally $1.

How to Initiate a Purchase Request

Be sure to check Exchanging Shares, Frequent-Trading Limitations, and Other Rules You Should Know before placing your purchase request.

18

Online. You may open certain types of accounts, request a purchase of shares, and request an exchange through our website or our mobile application if you are registered for online access.

By telephone. You may call Vanguard to begin the account registration process or request that the account-opening forms be sent to you. You may also call Vanguard to request a purchase of shares in your account or to request an exchange. See Contacting Vanguard.

By mail. You may send Vanguard your account registration form and check to open a new fund account. To add to an existing fund account, you may send your check with an Invest-by-Mail form (from a transaction confirmation or your account statement) or with a deposit slip (available online).

How to Pay for a Purchase

By electronic bank transfer. You may purchase shares of a Vanguard fund through an electronic transfer of money from a bank account. To establish the electronic bank transfer service on an account, you must designate the bank account online, complete a form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account registration form. After the service is set up on your account, you can purchase shares by electronic bank transfer on a regular schedule (Automatic Investment Plan) or upon request. Your purchase request can be initiated online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail.

By wire. Wiring instructions vary for different types of purchases. Please call Vanguard for instructions and policies on purchasing shares by wire. See Contacting Vanguard.

By check. You may make initial or additional purchases to your fund account by sending a check with a deposit slip or by utilizing our mobile application if you are registered for online access. Also see How to Initiate a Purchase Request. Make your check payable to Vanguard and include the appropriate fund number (Vanguard—608).

By exchange. You may purchase shares of a Vanguard fund using the proceeds from the simultaneous redemption of shares of another Vanguard fund. You may initiate an exchange online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail with an exchange form. See Exchanging Shares.

Trade Date

The trade date for any purchase request received in good order will depend on the day and time Vanguard receives your request, the manner in which you are paying, and the type of fund you are purchasing. Your purchase will be executed using the NAV as calculated on the trade date. See Share Price.

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For purchases by check into all funds other than money market funds and for purchases by exchange, wire, or electronic bank transfer into all funds: If the purchase request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date for the purchase will be the same day. If the purchase request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date for the purchase will be the next business day.

For purchases by check into money market funds: If the purchase request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date for the purchase will be the next business day. If the purchase request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date for the purchase will be the second business day following the day Vanguard receives the purchase request. Because money market instruments must be purchased with federal funds and it takes a money market mutual fund one business day to convert check proceeds into federal funds, the trade date for the purchase will be one business day later than for other funds.

If your purchase request is not accurate and complete, it may be rejected. See Other Rules You Should Know—Good Order.

For further information about purchase transactions, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Other Purchase Rules You Should Know

Check purchases. All purchase checks must be written in U.S. dollars, be drawn on a U.S. bank, and be accompanied by good order instructions. Vanguard does not accept cash, traveler's checks, starter checks, or money orders. In addition, Vanguard may refuse checks that are not made payable to Vanguard.

New accounts. We are required by law to obtain from you certain personal information that we will use to verify your identity. If you do not provide the information, we may not be able to open your account. If we are unable to verify your identity, Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to close your account or take such other steps as we deem reasonable. Certain types of accounts may require additional documentation.

Refused or rejected purchase requests. Vanguard reserves the right to stop selling fund shares or to reject any purchase request at any time and without notice, including, but not limited to, purchases requested by exchange from another Vanguard fund. This also includes the right to reject any purchase request because the investor has a history of frequent trading or because the purchase may negatively affect a fund's operation or performance.

20

Large purchases. Call Vanguard before attempting to invest a large dollar amount.

No cancellations. Vanguard will not accept your request to cancel any purchase request once processing has begun. Please be careful when placing a purchase request.

Redeeming Shares

How to Initiate a Redemption Request

Be sure to check Exchanging Shares, Frequent-Trading Limitations, and Other Rules You Should Know before placing your redemption request.

Online. You may request a redemption of shares or request an exchange through our website or our mobile application if you are registered for online access.

By telephone. You may call Vanguard to request a redemption of shares or an exchange. See Contacting Vanguard.

By mail. You may send a form (available online) to Vanguard to redeem from a fund account or to make an exchange. See Contacting Vanguard.

How to Receive Redemption Proceeds

By electronic bank transfer. You may have the proceeds of a fund redemption sent directly to a designated bank account. To establish the electronic bank transfer service on an account, you must designate a bank account online, complete a form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account registration form. After the service is set up on your account, you can redeem shares by electronic bank transfer on a regular schedule (Automatic Withdrawal Plan) or upon request. Your redemption request can be initiated online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail.

By wire. To receive your proceeds by wire, you may instruct Vanguard to wire your redemption proceeds ($100 minimum) to a previously designated bank account. To establish the wire redemption service, you generally must designate a bank account online, complete a form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account registration form.

Please note that Vanguard charges a $10 wire fee for outgoing wire redemptions. The fee is assessed in addition to, rather than being withheld from, redemption proceeds and is paid directly to the fund in which you invest. For example, if you redeem $100 via a wire, you will receive the full $100, and the $10 fee will be assessed to your fund account through an additional redemption of fund shares. If you redeem your entire fund account, your redemption proceeds will be reduced by the amount of the fee. The wire fee does not apply to accounts held by Flagship and Flagship Select clients; accounts held through intermediaries, including Vanguard Brokerage Services; or accounts held by institutional clients.

21

By exchange. You may have the proceeds of a Vanguard fund redemption invested directly in shares of another Vanguard fund. You may initiate an exchange online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail. See Exchanging Shares.

By check. If you have not chosen another redemption method, Vanguard will mail you a redemption check, generally payable to all registered account owners, normally within two business days of your trade date, and generally to the address of record.

Trade Date

The trade date for any redemption request received in good order will depend on the day and time Vanguard receives your request and the manner in which you are redeeming. Your redemption will be executed using the NAV as calculated on the trade date. See Share Price.

For redemptions by check, exchange, or wire: If the redemption request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date will be the same day. If the redemption request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the next business day.

•Note on timing of wire redemptions from money market funds: For telephone requests received by Vanguard on a business day before 10:45 a.m., Eastern time (2 p.m., Eastern time, for Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund; 12:30 p.m., Eastern time, for Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund), the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business the same day. For telephone requests received by Vanguard on a business day after those cut-off times, or on a nonbusiness day, and for all requests other than by telephone, the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business on the next business day.

•Note on timing of wire redemptions from all other funds: For requests received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business on the next business day. For requests received by Vanguard on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business on the second business day after Vanguard receives the request.

For redemptions by electronic bank transfer: If the redemption request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date will be the same day. If the redemption request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the next business day.

22

If your redemption request is not accurate and complete, it may be rejected. If we are unable to send your redemption proceeds by wire or electronic bank transfer because the receiving institution rejects the transfer, Vanguard will make additional efforts to complete your transaction. If Vanguard is still unable to complete the transaction, we may send the proceeds of the redemption to you by check, generally payable to all registered account owners, or use your proceeds to purchase new shares of the fund from which you sold shares for the purpose of the wire or electronic bank transfer transaction. See Other Rules You Should Know—Good Order.

If your redemption request is received in good order, we typically expect that redemption proceeds will be paid by the Fund within one business day of the trade date; however, in certain circumstances, investors may experience a longer settlement period at the time of the transaction. For further information, see "Potentially disruptive redemptions" and "Emergency circumstances."

For further information about redemption transactions, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Other Redemption Rules You Should Know

Documentation for certain accounts. Special documentation may be required to redeem from certain types of accounts, such as trust, corporate, nonprofit, or retirement accounts. Please call us before attempting to redeem from these types of accounts.

Potentially disruptive redemptions. Vanguard reserves the right to pay all or part of a redemption in kind—that is, in the form of securities—if we reasonably believe that a cash redemption would negatively affect the fund's operation or performance or that the shareholder may be engaged in market-timing or frequent trading. Under these circumstances, Vanguard also reserves the right to delay payment of the redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days. By calling us before you attempt to redeem a large dollar amount, you may avoid in-kind or delayed payment of your redemption. Please see Frequent-Trading Limitations for information about Vanguard's policies to limit frequent trading.

Recently purchased shares. Although you can redeem shares at any time, proceeds may not be made available to you until the fund collects payment for your purchase. This may take up to seven calendar days for shares purchased by check or by electronic bank transfer. If you have written a check on a fund with checkwriting privileges, that check may be rejected if your fund account does not have a sufficient available balance.

Address change. If you change your address online or by telephone, there may be up to a 14-day restriction on your ability to request check redemptions online and by telephone. You can request a redemption in writing (using a form available online) at

23

any time. Confirmations of address changes are sent to both the old and new addresses.

Payment to a different person or address. At your request, we can make your redemption check payable, or wire your redemption proceeds, to a different person or send it to a different address. However, this generally requires the written consent of all registered account owners and may require additional documentation, such as a signature guarantee or a notarized signature. You may obtain a signature guarantee from some commercial or savings banks, credit unions, trust companies, or member firms of a U.S. stock exchange.

No cancellations. Vanguard will not accept your request to cancel any redemption request once processing has begun. Please be careful when placing a redemption request.

Emergency circumstances. Vanguard funds can postpone payment of redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days. In addition, Vanguard funds can suspend redemptions and/or postpone payments of redemption proceeds beyond seven calendar days at times when the NYSE is closed or during emergency circumstances, as determined by the SEC.

Exchanging Shares

An exchange occurs when you use the proceeds from the redemption of shares of one Vanguard fund to simultaneously purchase shares of a different Vanguard fund. You can make exchange requests online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail. See Purchasing Shares and Redeeming Shares.

If the NYSE is open for regular trading (generally until 4 p.m., Eastern time, on a business day) at the time an exchange request is received in good order, the trade date generally will be the same day. See Other Rules You Should Know—Good Order for additional information on all transaction requests.

Vanguard will not accept your request to cancel any exchange request once processing has begun. Please be careful when placing an exchange request.

Call Vanguard before attempting to exchange a large dollar amount. By calling us before you attempt to exchange a large dollar amount, you may avoid delayed or rejected transactions.

Please note that Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to revise or terminate the exchange privilege, limit the amount of any exchange, or reject an exchange, at any time, for any reason. See Frequent-Trading Limitations for additional restrictions on exchanges.

24

Frequent-Trading Limitations

Because excessive transactions can disrupt management of a fund and increase the fund's costs for all shareholders, the board of trustees of each Vanguard fund places certain limits on frequent trading in the funds. Each Vanguard fund (other than money market funds and short-term bond funds, but including Vanguard Short-Term Inflation- Protected Securities Index Fund) limits an investor's purchases or exchanges into a fund account for 30 calendar days after the investor has redeemed or exchanged out of that fund account. ETF Shares are not subject to these frequent-trading limits.

For Vanguard Retirement Investment Program pooled plans, the limitations apply to exchanges made online or by telephone.

These frequent-trading limitations do not apply to the following:

•Purchases of shares with reinvested dividend or capital gains distributions.

•Transactions through Vanguard's Automatic Investment Plan, Automatic Exchange Service, Direct Deposit Service, Automatic Withdrawal Plan, Required Minimum Distribution Service, and Vanguard Small Business Online®.

•Discretionary transactions through Vanguard Personal Advisor Services®, Vanguard Institutional Advisory Services®, and Vanguard Digital AdvisorTM.

•Redemptions of shares to pay fund or account fees.

•Redemptions of shares to remove excess shareholder contributions to certain types of retirement accounts (including, but not limited to, IRAs and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans).

•Transfers and reregistrations of shares within the same fund.

•Purchases of shares by asset transfer or direct rollover.

•Conversions of shares from one share class to another in the same fund.

•Checkwriting redemptions.

•Section 529 college savings plans.

•Certain approved institutional portfolios and asset allocation programs, as well as trades made by funds or trusts managed by Vanguard or its affiliates that invest in other Vanguard funds. (Please note that shareholders of Vanguard's funds of funds are subject to the limitations.)

For participants in employer-sponsored defined contribution plans,* the frequent- trading limitations do not apply to:

•Purchases of shares with participant payroll or employer contributions or loan repayments.

•Purchases of shares with reinvested dividend or capital gains distributions.

•Distributions, loans, and in-service withdrawals from a plan.

25

•Redemptions of shares as part of a plan termination or at the direction of the plan.

•Transactions executed through the Vanguard Managed Account Program.

•Redemptions of shares to pay fund or account fees.

•Share or asset transfers or rollovers.

•Reregistrations of shares.

•Conversions of shares from one share class to another in the same fund.

•Exchange requests submitted by written request to Vanguard. (Exchange requests submitted by fax, if otherwise permitted, are subject to the limitations.)

*The following Vanguard fund accounts are subject to the frequent-trading limitations: SEP-IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, certain Individual 403(b)(7) Custodial Accounts, and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans.

Accounts Held by Institutions (Other Than Defined Contribution Plans)

Vanguard will systematically monitor for frequent trading in institutional clients' accounts. If we detect suspicious trading activity, we will investigate and take appropriate action, which may include applying to a client's accounts the 30-day policy previously described, prohibiting a client's purchases of fund shares, and/or revoking the client's exchange privilege.

Accounts Held by Intermediaries

When intermediaries establish accounts in Vanguard funds for the benefit of their clients, we cannot always monitor the trading activity of the individual clients. However, we review trading activity at the intermediary (omnibus) level, and if we detect suspicious activity, we will investigate and take appropriate action. If necessary, Vanguard may prohibit additional purchases of fund shares by an intermediary, including for the benefit of certain of the intermediary's clients. Intermediaries also may monitor their clients' trading activities with respect to Vanguard funds.

For those Vanguard funds that charge purchase and/or redemption fees, intermediaries will be asked to assess these fees on client accounts and remit these fees to the funds. The application of purchase and redemption fees and frequent- trading limitations may vary among intermediaries. There are no assurances that Vanguard will successfully identify all intermediaries or that intermediaries will properly assess purchase and redemption fees or administer frequent-trading limitations. If you invest with Vanguard through an intermediary, please read that firm's materials carefully to learn of any other rules or fees that may apply.

26

Other Rules You Should Know

Prospectus and Shareholder Report Mailings

When two or more shareholders have the same last name and address, just one summary prospectus (or prospectus) and/or shareholder report may be sent in an attempt to eliminate the unnecessary expense of duplicate mailings. You may request individual prospectuses and reports by contacting our Client Services Department by telephone or online. See Contacting Vanguard.

Vanguard.com

Registration. If you are a registered user of vanguard.com, you can review your account holdings; buy, sell, or exchange shares of most Vanguard funds; and perform most other transactions through our website. You must register for this service online.

Electronic delivery. Vanguard can deliver your account statements, transaction confirmations, prospectuses, certain tax forms, and shareholder reports electronically. If you are a registered user of vanguard.com, you can consent to the electronic delivery of these documents by logging on and changing your mailing preferences under "Account Maintenance." You can revoke your electronic consent at any time through our website, and we will begin to send paper copies of these documents within 30 days of receiving your revocation.

Telephone Transactions

Automatic. When we set up your account, we will automatically enable you to do business with us by telephone, unless you instruct us otherwise in writing.

Tele-Account®. To obtain fund and account information through Vanguard's automated telephone service, you must first establish a Personal Identification Number (PIN) by calling Tele-Account at 800-662-6273.

Proof of a caller's authority. We reserve the right to refuse a telephone request if the caller is unable to provide the requested information or if we reasonably believe that the caller is not an individual authorized to act on the account. Before we allow a caller to act on an account, we may request the following information:

•Authorization to act on the account (as the account owner or by legal documentation or other means).

•Account registration and address.

•Fund name and account number, if applicable.

•Other information relating to the caller, the account owner, or the account.

27

Good Order

We reserve the right to reject any transaction instructions that are not in "good order." Good order generally means that your instructions:

•Are provided by the person(s) authorized in accordance with Vanguard's policies and procedures to access the account and request transactions.

•Include the fund name and account number.

•Include the amount of the transaction (stated in dollars, shares, or percentage). Written instructions also must generally be provided on a Vanguard form and include:

•Signature(s) and date from the authorized person(s).

•Signature guarantees or notarized signatures, if required for the type of transaction. (Call Vanguard for specific requirements.)

•Any supporting documentation that may be required.

Good order requirements may vary among types of accounts and transactions. For more information, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to revise the requirements for good order.

Future Trade-Date Requests

Vanguard does not accept requests to hold a purchase, redemption, or exchange transaction for a future date. All such requests will receive trade dates as previously described in Purchasing Shares, Redeeming Shares, and Exchanging Shares. Vanguard reserves the right to return future-dated purchase checks.

Accounts With More Than One Owner

If an account has more than one owner or authorized person, Vanguard generally will accept instructions from any one owner or authorized person.

Responsibility for Fraud

You should take precautions to protect yourself from fraud. Keep your account-related information private, and review any account confirmations, statements, or other information that we provide to you as soon as you receive them. Let us know immediately if you discover unauthorized activity or see something on your account that you do not understand or that looks unusual.

Vanguard will not be responsible for losses that result from transactions by a person who we reasonably believe is authorized to act on your account.

28

Uncashed Checks

Please cash your distribution or redemption checks promptly. Vanguard will not pay interest on uncashed checks. Vanguard may be required to transfer assets related to uncashed checks to a state under the state's abandoned property law.

Dormant Accounts

If your account has no activity in it for a period of time, Vanguard may be required to transfer it to a state under the state's abandoned property law, subject to potential federal or state withholding taxes.

Unusual Circumstances

If you experience difficulty contacting Vanguard online or by telephone, you can send us your transaction request on a Vanguard form by regular or express mail.

Investing With Vanguard Through Other Firms

You may purchase or sell shares of most Vanguard funds through a financial intermediary, such as a bank, a broker, or an investment advisor. Please consult your financial intermediary to determine which, if any, shares are available through that firm and to learn about other rules that may apply. Your financial intermediary can provide you with account information and any required tax forms. You may be required to pay a commission on purchases of mutual fund shares made through a financial intermediary.

Please see Frequent-Trading Limitations—Accounts Held by Intermediaries for information about the assessment of any purchase or redemption fees and the monitoring of frequent trading for accounts held by intermediaries.

Account Service Fee

Vanguard may charge a $20 account service fee on fund accounts that have a balance below $10,000 for any reason, including market fluctuation. The account service fee applies to both retirement and nonretirement fund accounts and may be assessed on fund accounts in all Vanguard funds, regardless of the account minimum. The fee, which will be collected by redeeming fund shares in the amount of $20, will be deducted from fund accounts subject to the fee once per calendar year.

If you elect to receive your statements and other materials electronically (i.e., by e-delivery), the account service fee will not be charged, so long as your election remains in effect. You can make your e-delivery election on vanguard.com.

Beginning on January 1, 2021, you may elect to receive paper copies of shareholder reports free of charge as noted on the cover of this prospectus.

29

Certain account types have alternative fee structures, including SIMPLE IRAs, Vanguard Retirement Investment Program pooled plans, and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans.

Low-Balance Accounts

The Fund reserves the right to liquidate a fund account whose balance falls below the account minimum for any reason, including market fluctuation. This liquidation policy applies to nonretirement fund accounts and accounts that are held through intermediaries. Any such liquidation will be preceded by written notice to the investor.

Right to Change Policies

In addition to the rights expressly stated elsewhere in this prospectus, Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to (1) alter, add, or discontinue any conditions of purchase (including eligibility requirements), redemption, exchange, service, or privilege at any time and (2) alter, impose, discontinue, or waive any purchase fee, redemption fee, account service fee, or other fee charged to a shareholder or a group of shareholders. Changes may affect any or all investors. These actions will be taken when, at the sole discretion of Vanguard management, Vanguard believes they are in the best interest of a fund.

Account Restrictions

Vanguard reserves the right to: (1) redeem all or a portion of a fund/account to meet a legal obligation, including tax withholding, tax lien, garnishment order, or other obligation imposed on your account by a court or government agency; (2) redeem shares, close an account, or suspend account privileges, features, or options in the case of threatening conduct or activity; (3) redeem shares, close an account, or suspend account privileges, features, or options if Vanguard believes or suspects that not doing so could result in a suspicious, fraudulent, or illegal transaction; (4) place restrictions on the ability to redeem any or all shares in an account if it is required to do so by a court or government agency; (5) place restrictions on the ability to redeem any or all shares in an account if Vanguard believes that doing so will prevent fraud, financial exploitation or abuse, or to protect vulnerable investors; (6) freeze any account and/or suspend account services if Vanguard has received reasonable notice of a dispute regarding the assets in an account, including notice of a dispute between the registered or beneficial account owners; and (7) freeze any account and/or suspend account services upon initial notification to Vanguard of the death of an account owner.

30

Fund and Account Updates

Confirmation Statements

We will send (or provide through our website, whichever you prefer) a confirmation of your trade date and the amount of your transaction when you buy, sell, or exchange shares. However, we will not send confirmations reflecting only checkwriting redemptions or the reinvestment of dividend or capital gains distributions. For any month in which you had a checkwriting redemption, a Checkwriting Activity Statement will be sent to you itemizing the checkwriting redemptions for that month. Promptly review each confirmation statement that we provide to you. It is important that you contact Vanguard immediately with any questions you may have about any transaction reflected on a confirmation statement, or Vanguard will consider the transaction properly processed.

Portfolio Summaries

We will send (or provide through our website, whichever you prefer) quarterly portfolio summaries to help you keep track of your accounts throughout the year. Each summary shows the market value of your account at the close of the statement period, as well as all distributions, purchases, redemptions, exchanges, and transfers for the current calendar quarter (or month). Promptly review each summary that we provide to you. It is important that you contact Vanguard immediately with any questions you may have about any transaction reflected on the summary, or Vanguard will consider the transaction properly processed.

Tax Information Statements

For most accounts, Vanguard (or your intermediary) is required to provide annual tax forms to assist you in preparing your income tax returns. These forms are generally available for each calendar year early in the following year. Registered users of vanguard.com can also view certain forms through our website. Vanguard (or your intermediary) may also provide you with additional tax-related documentation. For more information, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Annual and Semiannual Reports

We will send (or provide through our website, whichever you prefer) reports about Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund twice a year, in June and December. These reports include overviews of the financial markets and provide the following specific Fund information:

•Performance assessments and comparisons with industry benchmarks.

•Financial statements with listings of Fund holdings.

31

Portfolio Holdings

Please consult the Fund's Statement of Additional Information or our website for a description of the policies and procedures that govern disclosure of the Fund's portfolio holdings.

Employer-Sponsored Plans

Your plan administrator or your employee benefits office can provide you with detailed information on how to participate in your plan and how to elect the Fund as an investment option.

•If you have any questions about the Fund or Vanguard, including those about the Fund's investment objective, strategies, or risks, contact Vanguard Participant Services toll-free at 800-523-1188 or visit our website at vanguard.com.

•If you have questions about your account, contact your plan administrator or the organization that provides recordkeeping services for your plan.

•Be sure to carefully read each topic that pertains to your transactions with Vanguard.

Vanguard reserves the right to change its policies without notice to shareholders.

Transactions

Processing times for your transaction requests may differ among recordkeepers or among transaction and funding types. Your plan's recordkeeper (which may also be Vanguard) will determine the necessary processing time frames for your transaction requests prior to submission to the Fund. Consult your recordkeeper or plan administrator for more information.

If Vanguard is serving as your plan recordkeeper and if your transaction involves one or more investments with an early cut-off time for processing or another trading restriction, your entire transaction will be subject to the restriction when the trade date for your transaction is determined.

32

Contacting Vanguard

Web

Vanguard.com

For the most complete source of Vanguard news

 

For fund, account, and service information

 

For most account transactions

 

For literature requests

 

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

 

 

Phone

 

 

 

Vanguard Tele-Account® 800-662-6273

For automated fund and account information

 

Toll-free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

 

 

Investor Information 800-662-7447 (Text telephone for people with hearing impairment at 800-749-7273)

For fund and service information For literature requests

Client Services 800-662-2739

For account information

(Text telephone for people with hearing

For most account transactions

impairment at 800-749-7273)

 

 

 

Participant Services 800-523-1188 (Text telephone for people with hearing impairment at 800-749-7273)

For information and services for participants in employer- sponsored plans

Institutional Division

For information and services for large institutional investors

888-809-8102

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Advisor and Intermediary

For information and services for financial intermediaries

Sales Support 800-997-2798

including financial advisors, broker-dealers, trust institutions,

 

and insurance companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Advisory and Intermediary

For account information and trading support for financial

Trading Support 800-669-0498

intermediaries including financial advisors, broker-dealers,

 

trust institutions, and insurance companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inception

Newspaper

Vanguard

CUSIP

 

Date

Abbreviation

Fund Number

Number

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diversified Equity Fund

6/10/2005

DivEqInv

608

921939401

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CFA® is a registered trademark owned by CFA Institute.

33

Glossary of Investment Terms

Acquired Fund. Any mutual fund, business development company, closed-end investment company, or other pooled investment vehicle whose shares are owned by a fund.

Capital Gains Distributions. Payments to mutual fund shareholders of gains realized on securities that a fund has sold at a profit, minus any realized losses.

Cash Equivalent Investments. Cash deposits, short-term bank deposits, and money market instruments that include U.S. Treasury bills and notes, bank certificates of deposit (CDs), repurchase agreements, commercial paper, and banker's acceptances.

Common Stock. A security representing ownership rights in a corporation.

Dividend Distributions. Payments to mutual fund shareholders of income from interest or dividends generated by a fund's investments.

Expense Ratio. A fund's total annual operating expenses expressed as a percentage of the fund's average net assets. The expense ratio includes management and administrative expenses, but it does not include the transaction costs of buying and selling portfolio securities.

Fund of Funds. A mutual fund that pursues its objective by investing in other mutual funds.

Inception Date. The date on which the assets of a fund (or one of its share classes) are first invested in accordance with the fund's investment objective. For funds with a subscription period, the inception date is the day after that period ends. Investment performance is generally measured from the inception date.

Joint Committed Credit Facility. The Fund participates, along with other funds managed by Vanguard, in a committed credit facility provided by a syndicate of lenders pursuant to a credit agreement that may be renewed annually; each Vanguard fund is individually liable for its borrowings, if any, under the credit facility. The amount and terms of the committed credit facility are subject to approval by the Fund's board of trustees and renegotiation with the lender syndicate on an annual basis.

Median Market Capitalization. An indicator of the size of companies in which a fund invests; the midpoint of market capitalization (market price x shares outstanding) of a fund's stocks, weighted by the proportion of the fund's assets invested in each stock. Stocks representing half of the fund's assets have market capitalizations above the median, and the rest are below it.

MSCI US Broad Market Index. An index that tracks virtually all stocks that trade in the U.S. stock market.

Mutual Fund. An investment company that pools the money of many people and invests it in a variety of securities in an effort to achieve a specific objective over time.

34

New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). A stock exchange based in New York City that is open for regular trading on business days, Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern time.

Securities. Stocks, bonds, money market instruments, and other investments.

Total Return. A percentage change, over a specified time period, in a mutual fund's net asset value, assuming the reinvestment of all distributions of dividends and capital gains.

Volatility. The fluctuations in value of a mutual fund or other security. The greater a fund's volatility, the wider the fluctuations in its returns.

Yield. Income (interest or dividends) earned by an investment, expressed as a percentage of the investment's price.

35

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P.O. Box 2600

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2600

Connect with Vanguard® > vanguard.com

For More Information

If you would like more information about Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund, the following documents are available free upon request:

Annual/Semiannual Reports to Shareholders Additional information about the Fund's investments is available in the Fund's annual and semiannual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year.

Statement of Additional Information (SAI)

The SAI provides more detailed information about the Fund and is incorporated by reference into (and thus legally a part of) this prospectus.

To receive a free copy of the latest annual or semiannual report or the SAI, or to request additional information about the Fund or other Vanguard funds, please visit vanguard.com or contact us as follows:

If you are an individual investor:

The Vanguard Group

Investor Information Department P.O. Box 2600

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2600

Telephone: 800-662-7447; Text telephone for people

with hearing impairment: 800-749-7273

If you are a participant in an employer-sponsored plan: The Vanguard Group

Participant Services P.O. Box 2900

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2900

Telephone: 800-523-1188; Text telephone for people

with hearing impairment: 800-749-7273

If you are a current Vanguard shareholder and would like information about your account, account transactions, and/or account statements, please call:

Client Services Department

Telephone: 800-662-2739; Text telephone for people

with hearing impairment: 800-749-7273

Information Provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Reports and other information about the Fund are available in the EDGAR database on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, or you can receive copies of this information, for a fee, by electronic request at the following email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

Fund's Investment Company Act file number: 811-02968-99

© 2020 The Vanguard Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.

P 608 022020

 

Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund Prospectus

February 27, 2020

Investor Shares

Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund Investor Shares (VMMSX)

See the inside front cover for important information about access to your fund's annual and semiannual shareholder reports.

This prospectus contains financial data for the Fund through the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019.

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.

Important information about access to shareholder reports

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the SEC, paper copies of your fund's annual and semiannual shareholder reports will no longer be sent to you by mail, unless you specifically request them. Instead, you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted on the website and will be provided with a link to access the report.

If you have already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and do not need to take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the fund electronically by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you invest directly with the fund, by calling Vanguard at one of the phone numbers on the back cover of this prospectus or by logging on to vanguard.com.

You may elect to receive paper copies of all future shareholder reports free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact the intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies. If you invest directly with the fund, you can call Vanguard at one of the phone numbers on the back cover of this prospectus or log on to vanguard.com. Your election to receive paper copies will apply to all the funds you hold through an intermediary or directly with Vanguard.

Contents

Fund Summary

1

Investing With Vanguard

24

More on the Fund

7

Purchasing Shares

24

 

 

 

 

The Fund and Vanguard

15

Redeeming Shares

27

 

 

 

 

Investment Advisors

15

Exchanging Shares

30

 

 

 

 

Dividends, Capital Gains, and Taxes

18

Frequent-Trading Limitations

31

 

 

 

 

Share Price

20

Other Rules You Should Know

33

 

 

 

 

Financial Highlights

23

Fund and Account Updates

37

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employer-Sponsored Plans

38

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contacting Vanguard

39

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Information

39

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary of Investment Terms

40

 

 

 

 

Fund Summary

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees

(Fees paid directly from your investment)

Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases

None

Purchase Fee

None

 

 

Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends

None

 

 

Redemption Fee

None

 

 

Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)

$20/year

 

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

 

 

Management Fees

0.88%

 

 

12b-1 Distribution Fee

None

 

 

Other Expenses

0.05%

 

 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

0.93%

 

 

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the Fund provides a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

$95

$296

$515

$1,143

 

 

 

 

1

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 46% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund invests mainly in equity securities of companies located in emerging markets. The Fund invests in small-, mid-, and large-capitalization companies and is expected to diversify its assets among companies located in emerging markets around the world.

Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund's assets will be invested in common stocks of companies located in emerging markets. A company is considered to be located in an emerging market if it is organized under the laws of, or has a principal office in, an emerging country; has a class of securities whose principal securities market is in an emerging country; derives 50% or more of its total revenue from goods produced, sales made, or services provided in one or more emerging countries; or maintains 50% or more of its assets in one or more emerging countries. The Fund uses multiple investment advisors. Each advisor independently selects and maintains a portfolio of equity securities for the Fund.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

•Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's investments in foreign stocks can be riskier than U.S. stock investments. Foreign stocks may be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. stocks. The prices of foreign stocks and the prices of U.S. stocks may move in opposite directions.

•Emerging markets risk, which is the chance that the stocks of companies located in emerging markets will be substantially more volatile, and substantially less liquid, than the stocks of companies located in more developed foreign markets because, among other factors, emerging markets can have greater custodial and operational risks; less developed legal, tax, regulatory, and accounting systems; and greater political, social, and economic instability than developed markets.

•Country/regional risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of

2

securities issued by companies in foreign countries or regions. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of companies located in any one country or region, the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area. Country/regional risk is especially high in emerging markets.

•Currency risk, which is the chance that the value of a foreign investment, measured in U.S. dollars, will decrease because of unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates. Currency risk is especially high in emerging markets.

•Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from global stock markets. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the global market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. The stock prices of small and mid-size companies tend to experience greater volatility because, among other things, these companies tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions.

•Manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause the Fund to underperform relevant benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. In addition, significant investment in the financial sector subjects the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of this sector.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Fund compare with those of the Fund's benchmark index and another comparative index, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. FTSE Emerging Index returns are adjusted for withholding taxes applicable to U.S.-based mutual funds organized as Delaware statutory trusts. MSCI Emerging Markets Index returns are adjusted for withholding taxes. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

3

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund Investor Shares

 

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

 

 

60%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

40%

22.57

 

 

 

 

 

 

16.86

 

 

21.39

 

 

20%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0%

 

 

0.99

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-20%

 

 

 

 

-6.62

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-15.26

 

 

 

 

-12.54

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-40%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-60%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 15.92% (quarter ended March 31, 2012), and the lowest return for a quarter was –17.92% (quarter ended September 30, 2015).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2019

 

 

 

Since

 

 

 

Inception

 

 

 

(Jun. 27,

 

1 Year

5 Years

2011)

 

 

 

 

Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund Investor Shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return Before Taxes

21.39%

6.77%

3.34%

 

 

 

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions

20.88

6.38

3.03

 

 

 

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

13.15

5.32

2.63

 

 

 

 

Comparative Indexes

 

 

 

(reflect no deduction for fees or expenses)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FTSE Emerging Index

20.16%

5.65%

2.80%

 

 

 

 

MSCI Emerging Markets Index

18.44

5.61

2.50

 

 

 

 

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

4

Investment Advisors

Baillie Gifford Overseas Ltd. (Baillie Gifford)

Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (Oaktree)

Pzena Investment Management, LLC (Pzena)

Wellington Management Company LLP (Wellington Management)

Portfolio Managers

Richard Sneller, Partner of Baillie Gifford & Co., which is the 100% owner of Baillie Gifford, and Head of Emerging Markets Equities at Baillie Gifford. He has co-managed a portion of the Fund since 2018.

Andrew Stobart, Portfolio Manager at Baillie Gifford. He has co-managed a portion of the Fund since 2018.

Mike Gush, Portfolio Manager at Baillie Gifford. He has co-managed a portion of the Fund since 2018.

Frank J. Carroll III, Managing Director and co-head of Emerging Markets Equities at Oaktree. He has co-managed a portion of the Fund since its inception in 2011.

Timothy D. Jensen, Managing Director and co-head of Emerging Markets Equities at Oaktree. He has co-managed a portion of the Fund since its inception in 2011.

Caroline Cai, CFA, Principal of Pzena. She has co-managed a portion of the Fund since its inception in 2011.

Allison Fisch, Principal of Pzena. She has co-managed a portion of the Fund since its inception in 2011.

John P. Goetz, Managing Principal and co-Chief Investment Officer of Pzena. He has co-managed a portion of the Fund since its inception in 2011.

Mary Pryshlak, CFA, Senior Managing Director of Wellington Management. She has managed a portion of the Fund since 2018.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

You may purchase or redeem shares online through our website (vanguard.com), by mail (The Vanguard Group, P.O. Box 1110, Valley Forge, PA 19482-1110), or by telephone (800-662-2739). The minimum investment amount required to open and maintain a Fund account for Investor Shares is $3,000. The minimum investment amount required to add to an existing Fund account is generally $1. Financial intermediaries, institutional clients, and Vanguard-advised clients should contact Vanguard for information on special eligibility rules that may apply to them regarding Investor Shares. If you are investing through an intermediary, please contact that firm

5

directly for more information regarding your eligibility. If you are investing through an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, your plan administrator or your benefits office can provide you with detailed information on how you can invest through your plan.

Tax Information

The Fund's distributions may be taxable as ordinary income or capital gain. If you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, such as an IRA or an employer- sponsored retirement or savings plan, special tax rules apply.

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

The Fund and its investment advisors do not pay financial intermediaries for sales of Fund shares.

6

More on the Fund

This prospectus describes the principal risks you would face as a Fund shareholder. It is important to keep in mind one of the main principles of investing: generally, the higher the risk of losing money, the higher the potential reward. The reverse, also, is generally true: the lower the risk, the lower the potential reward. As you consider an investment in any mutual fund, you should take into account your personal tolerance

for fluctuations in the securities markets. Look for this symbol throughout the prospectus. It is used to mark detailed information about the more significant risks that you would confront as a Fund shareholder. To highlight terms and concepts important to mutual fund investors, we have provided Plain Talk® explanations along the way. Reading the prospectus will help you decide whether the Fund is the right investment for you. We suggest that you keep this prospectus for future reference.

Plain Talk About Fund Expenses

All mutual funds have operating expenses. These expenses, which are deducted from a fund's gross income, are expressed as a percentage of the net assets of the fund. Assuming that operating expenses remain as stated in the Fees and Expenses section, Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund's expense ratio would be 0.93%, or $9.30 per $1,000 of average net assets. The average expense ratio for emerging markets funds in 2018 was 1.40%, or $14.00 per $1,000 of average net assets (derived from data provided by Lipper, a Thomson Reuters Company, which reports on the mutual fund industry).

Plain Talk About Costs of Investing

Costs are an important consideration in choosing a mutual fund. That is because you, as a shareholder, pay a proportionate share of the costs of operating a fund and any transaction costs incurred when the fund buys or sells securities. These costs can erode a substantial portion of the gross income or the capital appreciation a fund achieves. Even seemingly small differences in expenses can, over time, have a dramatic effect on a fund's performance.

The following sections explain the principal investment strategies and policies that the Fund uses in pursuit of its objective. The Fund's board of trustees, which oversees the Fund's management, may change investment strategies or policies in the interest of shareholders without a shareholder vote, unless those strategies or policies are designated as fundamental. Note that the Fund's investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed without a shareholder vote. The Fund may change its 80% policy only upon 60 days' notice to shareholders.

7

Market Exposure

The Fund invests primarily in the common stocks of companies located in emerging markets throughout the world, without regard for the size (capitalization) of the companies.

The Fund is subject to stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's investments in foreign stocks can be riskier than U.S. stock investments. Foreign stocks may be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. stocks. The prices of foreign stocks and the prices of U.S. stocks may move in opposite directions.

The Fund is subject to emerging markets risk, which is the chance that the stocks of companies located in emerging markets will be substantially more volatile, and substantially less liquid, than the stocks of companies located in more developed foreign markets because, among other factors, emerging markets can have greater custodial and operational risks; less developed legal, tax, regulatory, and accounting systems; and greater political, social, and economic instability than developed markets.

Plain Talk About International Investing

U.S. investors who invest in foreign securities will encounter risks not typically associated with U.S. companies because foreign stock and bond markets operate differently from the U.S. markets. For instance, foreign companies and governments may not be subject to the same or similar accounting, auditing, legal, tax, and financial reporting standards and practices as U.S. companies and the U.S. government, and their stocks and bonds may not be as liquid as those of similar U.S. entities. In addition, foreign stock exchanges, brokers, companies, bond markets, and dealers may be subject to less government supervision and regulation than their counterparts in the United States. These factors, among others, could negatively affect the returns U.S. investors receive from foreign investments.

8

The Fund is subject to country/regional risk and currency risk. Country/regional risk is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by companies in foreign countries or regions. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of companies located in any one country or region, the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area. Currency risk is the chance that the value of a foreign investment, measured in U.S. dollars, will decrease because of unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates. Country/regional risk and currency risk are especially high in emerging markets.

The Fund is subject to investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from global stock markets. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the global market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks.

Security Selection

The Fund uses multiple investment advisors. Each advisor independently selects and maintains a portfolio of equity securities for the Fund. The advisors may consider emerging countries to be those included in the Fund's benchmark index, the FTSE Emerging Index; countries classified as emerging economies by the World Bank; and other countries or markets with similar emerging characteristics. Each advisor will consider, among other things, a country's political and economic stability and the development of its financial and capital markets when determining what constitutes an emerging market country. A company is considered to be located in an emerging market if it is organized under the laws of, or has a principal office in, an emerging country; has a class of securities whose principal securities market is in an emerging country; derives 50% or more of its total revenue from goods produced, sales made, or services provided in one or more emerging countries; or maintains 50% or more of its assets in one or more emerging countries. Equity securities may include common stock, preferred stock, depositary receipts, convertible securities, and rights to purchase common stock.

Each advisor employs active investment management methods, which means that securities are bought and sold according to the advisor's evaluations of companies and their financial prospects, the prices of the securities, and the stock market and the economy in general. Each advisor uses a different process to select securities for its portion of the Fund's assets. The equity securities selected for the Fund will typically be from those emerging markets countries included in the FTSE Emerging Index.

9

Each advisor will sell a security when, in the view of the advisor, it is no longer as attractive as an alternative investment or if the advisor deems it to be in the best interest of the Fund. Different advisors may reach different conclusions on the same security.

Wellington Management allocates assets to a team of Wellington Management's investment professionals, who are primarily Global Industry Analysts (GIAs). The relative size of each analyst's subportfolio of assets is roughly proportional to the relative weight of the analyst's coverage universe in the Fund's benchmark, the FTSE Emerging Index. Wellington Management employs a bottom-up approach that seeks to add value through in-depth fundamental research and understanding of its industries. The advisor believes that the experience of covering the same companies over a period of many years provides the GIAs with in-depth knowledge of their coverage, which in turn leads to better and more timely decisions and increases their potential to produce superior results. The strategy combines a blend of investment disciplines, which diversifies investment style risk, as individual analysts have developed valuation methodologies that have proved most relevant to their particular industries. The country weights are determined by the stock selection process. The Wellington Management analysts communicate on a regular basis to discuss risk arising from overall portfolio-level country exposures.

Oaktree seeks to achieve attractive, risk-adjusted returns by investing in companies that are fundamentally undervalued and have catalysts to close their valuation gap. Oaktree's investment process is driven by bottom-up stock selection and in-house research. The investment team researches industries, builds in-house models and values companies by searching for valuation anomalies and opportunities. This research is augmented with extensive travel to meet company management. Stocks are selected based on a combination of valuation, investment thesis, portfolio construction, and risk management. Oaktree's investment process results in a diversified portfolio and limits exposure by country and industry in order to avoid concentrated positions that could expose the portfolio to heightened risk. The portfolio will hold companies across all market capitalizations; less liquid companies will only be included in the portfolio if the advisor concludes that there is significant upside potential.

Baillie Gifford follows an investment approach based on making long-term investments in well-researched and well-managed businesses with above-average growth potential. Baillie Gifford analyzes a company's ability to grow at an above- average rate by considering the industry in which it operates, any sustainable competitive advantages the company has within that industry, the ability of management to execute on the market opportunity before them, and whether the company can fund growth with internally generated cash flows. Baillie Gifford also considers the valuation of the company to understand the extent to which the market has already appreciated these factors. Historically, Baillie Gifford has been willing to

10

pay a premium for companies it believes can deliver superior growth.

Pzena utilizes a deep-value approach to portfolio management that focuses on the most undervalued companies based on five-year price-to-normalized earnings. Pzena believes that this value philosophy works well in emerging markets because most investors ignore the cost side of the equation and focus only on growth. Because the companies that the advisor targets may be underperforming relative to their historical earnings, each undergoes an underwriting process to determine whether the problems are temporary or permanent.

Stocks are considered for purchase if they meet the following criteria: (1) the company's identified problems, if any, are temporary; (2) the company's management has a viable strategy to generate a recovery in earnings; and (3) there is meaningful downside protection in case the earnings recovery does not materialize. Pzena's portfolio will be diversified among sectors and countries.

The Fund is subject to manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause the Fund to underperform relevant benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. In addition, significant investment in the financial sector subjects the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of this sector.

Other Investment Policies and Risks

In addition to investing in equity securities of companies located in emerging markets, the Fund may make other kinds of investments to achieve its objective.

The Fund may invest, to a limited extent, in derivatives. Generally speaking, a derivative is a financial contract whose value is based on the value of a financial asset (such as a stock, a bond, or a currency), a physical asset (such as gold, oil, or wheat), a market index, or a reference rate. Investments in derivatives may subject the Fund to risks different from, and possibly greater than, those of investments directly in the underlying securities or assets. The Fund will not use derivatives for speculation or for the purpose of leveraging (magnifying) investment returns.

The Fund may enter into foreign currency exchange forward contracts, which are a type of derivative. A foreign currency exchange forward contract is an agreement to buy or sell a currency at a specific price on a specific date, usually 30, 60, or 90 days in the future. In other words, the contract guarantees an exchange rate on a given date. Advisors of funds that invest in foreign securities can use these contracts to guard against unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates. These contracts, however, would not prevent the Fund's securities from falling in value as a result of risks other than unfavorable currency exchange movements. The Fund may also invest in stock futures, stock index futures, and options contracts, which are all types of derivatives.

11

 

Plain Talk About Derivatives

Derivatives can take many forms. Some forms of derivatives—such as exchange- traded futures and options on securities, commodities, or indexes—have been trading on regulated exchanges for decades. These types of derivatives are standardized contracts that can easily be bought and sold and whose market values are determined and published daily. On the other hand, non-exchange- traded derivatives—such as certain swap agreements and foreign currency exchange forward contracts—tend to be more specialized or complex and may be more difficult to accurately value.

The Vanguard Group, Inc. (Vanguard) administers a small portion of the Fund's assets to facilitate cash flows to and from the Fund's advisors. The Fund may invest these assets in equity futures, which are a type of derivative, and/or shares of exchange- traded funds (ETFs), including ETF Shares issued by Vanguard stock funds. These equity futures and ETFs typically provide returns similar to those of common stocks. The Fund may also purchase futures or ETFs when doing so will reduce the Fund's transaction costs or have the potential to add value because the instruments are favorably priced. Vanguard receives no additional revenue from Fund assets invested in ETF Shares of other Vanguard funds. Fund assets invested in ETF Shares are excluded when allocating to the Fund its share of the costs of Vanguard operations.

Cash Management

The Fund's daily cash balance may be invested in Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund and/or Vanguard Municipal Cash Management Fund (each, a CMT Fund), which are low-cost money market funds. When investing in a CMT Fund, the Fund bears its proportionate share of the expenses of the CMT Fund in which it invests. Vanguard receives no additional revenue from Fund assets invested in a CMT Fund.

Methods Used to Meet Redemption Requests

Under normal circumstances, the Fund typically expects to meet redemptions with positive cash flows. When this is not an option, the Fund seeks to first meet redemptions from a cash or cash equivalent reserve. Alternatively, Vanguard may instruct the advisors to sell a cross section of the Fund's holdings to meet redemptions, while also factoring in transaction costs. Additionally, the Fund may work with larger clients to implement their redemptions in a manner that is least disruptive to the portfolio; see "Potentially disruptive redemptions" under Redeeming Shares in the Investing With Vanguard section.

Under certain circumstances, including under stressed market conditions, there are additional tools that the Fund may use in order to meet redemptions, including

12

advancing the settlement of market trades with counterparties to match investor redemption payments or delaying settlement of an investor's transaction to match trade settlement within regulatory requirements. The Fund may also suspend payment of redemption proceeds for up to seven days; see "Emergency circumstances" under Redeeming Shares in the Investing With Vanguard section. Additionally under these unusual circumstances, the Fund may borrow money (subject to certain regulatory conditions and if available under board-approved procedures) through an interfund lending facility or through a bank line-of-credit, including a joint committed credit facility, in order to meet redemption requests.

Temporary Investment Measures

The Fund may temporarily depart from its normal investment policies and strategies when an advisor believes that doing so is in the Fund's best interest, so long as the strategy or policy employed is consistent with the Fund's investment objective. For instance, the Fund may invest beyond its normal limits in derivatives or exchange- traded funds that are consistent with the Fund's investment objective when those instruments are more favorably priced or provide needed liquidity, as might be the case if the Fund is transitioning assets from one advisor to another or receives large cash flows that it cannot prudently invest immediately.

In addition, the Fund may take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its normal investment policies and strategies—for instance, by allocating substantial assets to cash equivalent investments or other less volatile instruments— in response to adverse or unusual market, economic, political, or other conditions. In doing so, the Fund may succeed in avoiding losses but may otherwise fail to achieve its investment objective.

Frequent Trading or Market-Timing

Background. Some investors try to profit from strategies involving frequent trading of mutual fund shares, such as market-timing. For funds holding foreign securities, investors may try to take advantage of an anticipated difference between the price of the fund's shares and price movements in overseas markets, a practice also known as time-zone arbitrage. Investors also may try to engage in frequent trading of funds holding investments such as small-cap stocks and high-yield bonds. As money is shifted into and out of a fund by a shareholder engaging in frequent trading, the fund incurs costs for buying and selling securities, resulting in increased brokerage and administrative costs. These costs are borne by all fund shareholders, including the long-term investors who do not generate the costs. In addition, frequent trading may interfere with an advisor's ability to efficiently manage the fund.

Policies to address frequent trading. The Vanguard funds (other than money market funds and short-term bond funds, but including Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-

13

Protected Securities Index Fund) do not knowingly accommodate frequent trading. The board of trustees of each Vanguard fund (other than money market funds and short- term bond funds, but including Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund) has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to detect and discourage frequent trading and, in some cases, to compensate the fund for the costs associated with it. These policies and procedures do not apply to ETF Shares because frequent trading in ETF Shares generally does not disrupt portfolio management or otherwise harm fund shareholders. Although there is no assurance that Vanguard will be able to detect or prevent frequent trading or market-timing in all circumstances, the following policies have been adopted to address these issues:

•Each Vanguard fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request—including exchanges from other Vanguard funds—without notice and regardless of size. For example, a purchase request could be rejected because the investor has a history of frequent trading or if Vanguard determines that such purchase may negatively affect a fund's operation or performance.

•Each Vanguard fund (other than money market funds and short-term bond funds, but including Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund) generally prohibits, except as otherwise noted in the Investing With Vanguard section, an investor's purchases or exchanges into a fund account for 30 calendar days after the investor has redeemed or exchanged out of that fund account.

•Certain Vanguard funds charge shareholders purchase and/or redemption fees on transactions.

See the Investing With Vanguard section of this prospectus for further details on Vanguard's transaction policies.

Each Vanguard fund (other than retail and government money market funds), in determining its net asset value, will use fair-value pricing when appropriate, as described in the Share Price section. Fair-value pricing may reduce or eliminate the profitability of certain frequent-trading strategies.

Do not invest with Vanguard if you are a market-timer.

Turnover Rate

Although the Fund generally seeks to invest for the long term, it may sell securities regardless of how long they have been held. The Financial Highlights section of this prospectus shows historical turnover rates for the Fund. A turnover rate of 100%, for example, would mean that the Fund had sold and replaced securities valued at 100% of its net assets within a one-year period. In general, the greater the turnover rate, the greater the impact transaction costs will have on a fund's return. Also, funds with high turnover rates may be more likely to generate capital gains, including short-term

14

capital gains, that must be distributed to shareholders and will be taxable to shareholders investing through a taxable account.

The Fund and Vanguard

The Fund is a member of The Vanguard Group, a family of over 200 funds. All of the funds that are members of The Vanguard Group (other than funds of funds) share in the expenses associated with administrative services and business operations, such as personnel, office space, and equipment.

Vanguard Marketing Corporation provides marketing services to the funds. Although fund shareholders do not pay sales commissions or 12b-1 distribution fees, each fund (other than a fund of funds) or each share class of a fund (in the case of a fund with multiple share classes) pays its allocated share of the Vanguard funds' marketing costs.

Plain Talk About Vanguard's Unique Corporate Structure

The Vanguard Group is owned jointly by the funds it oversees and thus indirectly by the shareholders in those funds. Most other mutual funds are operated by management companies that are owned by third parties—either public or private stockholders—and not by the funds they serve.

Investment Advisors

The Fund uses a multimanager approach. Each advisor independently manages its assigned portion of the Fund's assets, subject to the supervision and oversight of Vanguard and the Fund's board of trustees. The board of trustees designates the proportion of Fund assets to be managed by each advisor and may change these proportions at any time.

•Baillie Gifford Overseas Ltd., Calton Square, 1 Greenside Row, Edinburgh, EH1 3AN, Scotland, is an investment advisory firm founded in 1983. Baillie Gifford is wholly owned by a Scottish investment company, Baillie Gifford & Co. Founded in 1908, Baillie Gifford & Co., one of the largest independently owned investment management firms in the United Kingdom, manages money primarily for institutional clients. Baillie Gifford began managing a portion of the Fund in 2018. Baillie Gifford & Co. had assets under management that totaled approximately $264 billion as of October 31, 2019.

•Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071, is an investment advisory firm founded in 1995. Oaktree focuses on certain specialized investment areas, including emerging markets. As of October 31, 2019, Oaktree managed approximately $122 billion in assets.

15

•Pzena Investment Management, LLC, 320 Park Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10022, is a global investment management firm founded in 1995. Pzena focuses exclusively on a deep value investment approach. The members of the firm's executive committee and other employees collectively own a majority of the firm. As of October 31, 2019, Pzena managed approximately $36 billion in assets.

•Wellington Management Company LLP, 280 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210, a Delaware limited liability partnership, is an investment counseling firm that provides investment services to investment companies, employee benefit plans, endowments, foundations, and other institutions. Wellington Management and its predecessor organizations have provided investment advisory services for over 80 years. Wellington Management is owned by the partners of Wellington Management Group LLP, a Massachusetts limited liability partnership. As of October 31, 2019, Wellington Management had investment management authority with respect to approximately $1.1 trillion in client assets.

The Fund pays each of its investment advisors a base fee plus or minus a performance adjustment. Each base fee, which is paid quarterly, is a percentage of average daily net assets managed by the advisor during the most recent fiscal quarter. The base fee has breakpoints, which means that the percentage declines as assets go up. The performance adjustment, also paid quarterly, is based on the cumulative total return of each advisor's portion of the Fund relative to that of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index through July 31, 2013, and the FTSE Emerging Index thereafter over the preceding 36-month period. When the performance adjustment is positive, the Fund's expenses increase; when it is negative, expenses decrease.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019, the aggregate advisory fee represented an effective annual rate of 0.52% of the Fund's average net assets before a performance-based increase of 0.07%.

Under the terms of an SEC exemption, the Fund's board of trustees may, without prior approval from shareholders, change the terms of an advisory agreement with a third- party investment advisor or hire a new third-party investment advisor—either as a replacement for an existing advisor or as an additional advisor. Any significant change in the Fund's advisory arrangements will be communicated to shareholders in writing. As the Fund's sponsor and overall manager, Vanguard may provide investment advisory services to the Fund at any time. Vanguard may also recommend to the board of trustees that an advisor be hired, terminated, or replaced or that the terms of an existing advisory agreement be revised. The Fund has filed an application seeking a similar SEC exemption with respect to investment advisors that are wholly owned subsidiaries of Vanguard. If the exemption is granted, the Fund may rely on the new SEC relief.

16

For a discussion of why the board of trustees approved the Fund's investment advisory arrangements, see the most recent annual report to shareholders covering the fiscal year ended October 31.

The managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are:

Richard Sneller, Partner of Baillie Gifford & Co., the sole shareholder in Baillie Gifford, and Head of Emerging Markets Equities at Baillie Gifford. He has worked in investment management and managed investment portfolios since joining Baillie Gifford in 1994 and has co-managed a portion of the Fund since 2018. Education: M.Sc., University of Stirling.

Andrew Stobart, Portfolio Manager at Baillie Gifford. He has worked in investment management since joining Baillie Gifford in 1991, has managed investment portfolios since 2001, and has co-managed a portion of the Fund since 2018. Education: M.A., University of Cambridge.

Mike Gush, Portfolio Manager at Baillie Gifford. He has worked in investment management since joining Baillie Gifford in 2003, has managed investment portfolios since 2005, and has co-managed a portion of the Fund since 2018. Education: M.Eng., Durham University.

Frank J. Carroll III, Managing Director and co-head of Emerging Markets Equities at Oaktree. He has worked in investment management since 1990, has been with Oaktree since 1999, has managed investment portfolios since 2005, and has co- managed a portion of the Fund since its inception in 2011. Education: B.A., Fairfield University.

Timothy D. Jensen, Managing Director and co-head of Emerging Markets Equities at Oaktree. He has worked in investment management since 1990, has managed investment portfolios since 1998, has been with Oaktree since 2000, and has co- managed a portion of the Fund since its inception in 2011. Education: B.A., Harvard College; M.B.A., University of California, Los Angeles.

Caroline Cai, CFA, Principal of Pzena. She has worked in investment management since 1998, has managed investment portfolios for Pzena since 2007, and has co- managed a portion of the Fund since its inception in 2011. Education: B.A., Bryn Mawr College.

Allison Fisch, Principal of Pzena. She has worked in investment management since 2001, has managed investment portfolios for Pzena since 2008, and has co-managed a portion of the Fund since its inception in 2011. Education: B.A., Dartmouth College.

John P. Goetz, Managing Principal and co-Chief Investment Officer of Pzena. He has worked in investment management since 1979, has managed investment portfolios for Pzena since 1996, and has co-managed a portion of the Fund since its inception in

17

2011. Education: B.A., Wheaton College; M.B.A., the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Mary Pryshlak, CFA, Senior Managing Director and Director of Global Industry Research of Wellington Management. She has worked in investment management since 1994, joined Wellington Management in 2004, and has managed investment portfolios and managed a portion of the Fund since 2018. Education: B.A., Rutgers College.

The Fund's Statement of Additional Information provides information about each portfolio manager's compensation, other accounts under management, and ownership of shares of the Fund.

Dividends, Capital Gains, and Taxes

Fund Distributions

The Fund distributes to shareholders virtually all of its net income (interest and dividends, less expenses) as well as any net short-term or long-term capital gains realized from the sale of its holdings. Income and capital gains distributions, if any, generally occur annually in December. In addition, the Fund may occasionally make a supplemental distribution at some other time during the year.

You can receive distributions of income or capital gains in cash, or you can have them automatically reinvested in more shares of the Fund. However, if you are investing through an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, your distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares.

Plain Talk About Distributions

As a shareholder, you are entitled to your portion of a fund's income from interest and dividends as well as capital gains from the fund's sale of investments. Income consists of both the dividends that the fund earns from any stock holdings and the interest it receives from any money market and bond investments. Capital gains are realized whenever the fund sells securities for higher prices than it paid for them. These capital gains are either short-term or long-term, depending on whether the fund held the securities for one year or less or for more than one year.

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Basic Tax Points

Investors in taxable accounts should be aware of the following basic federal income tax points:

•Distributions are taxable to you whether or not you reinvest these amounts in additional Fund shares.

•Distributions declared in December—if paid to you by the end of January—are taxable as if received in December.

•Any dividend distribution or short-term capital gains distribution that you receive is taxable to you as ordinary income. If you are an individual and meet certain holding- period requirements with respect to your Fund shares, you may be eligible for reduced tax rates on "qualified dividend income,"if any, distributed by the Fund.

•Any distribution of net long-term capital gains is taxable to you as long-term capital gains, no matter how long you have owned shares in the Fund.

•Capital gains distributions may vary considerably from year to year as a result of the Fund's normal investment activities and cash flows.

•A sale or exchange of Fund shares is a taxable event. This means that you may have a capital gain to report as income, or a capital loss to report as a deduction, when you complete your tax return.

•Vanguard (or your intermediary) will send you a statement each year showing the tax status of all of your distributions.

Individuals, trusts, and estates whose income exceeds certain threshold amounts are subject to a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on "net investment income." Net investment income takes into account distributions paid by the Fund and capital gains from any sale or exchange of Fund shares.

Dividend distributions and capital gains distributions that you receive, as well as your gains or losses from any sale or exchange of Fund shares, may be subject to state and local income taxes.

The Fund may be subject to foreign taxes or foreign tax withholding on dividends, interest, and some capital gains that it receives on foreign securities. You may qualify for an offsetting credit or deduction under U.S. tax laws for any amount designated as your portion of the Fund's foreign tax obligations, provided that you meet certain requirements. See your tax advisor or IRS publications for more information.

This prospectus provides general tax information only. If you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, such as an IRA or an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, special tax rules apply. Please consult your tax advisor for detailed information about any tax consequences for you.

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Plain Talk About Buying a Dividend

Unless you are a tax-exempt investor or investing through a tax-advantaged account (such as an IRA or an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan), you should consider avoiding a purchase of fund shares shortly before the fund makes a distribution, because doing so can cost you money in taxes. This is known as "buying a dividend." For example: On December 15, you invest $5,000, buying 250 shares for $20 each. If the fund pays a distribution of $1 per share on December 16, its share price will drop to $19 (not counting market change). You still have only $5,000 (250 shares x $19 = $4,750 in share value, plus 250 shares x $1 = $250 in distributions), but you owe tax on the $250 distribution you received—even if you reinvest it in more shares. To avoid buying a dividend, check a fund's distribution schedule before you invest.

General Information

Backup withholding. By law, Vanguard must withhold 24% of any taxable distributions or redemptions from your account if you do not:

•Provide your correct taxpayer identification number.

•Certify that the taxpayer identification number is correct.

•Confirm that you are not subject to backup withholding.

Similarly, Vanguard (or your intermediary) must withhold taxes from your account if the IRS instructs us to do so.

Foreign investors. Vanguard funds offered for sale in the United States (Vanguard U.S. funds), including the Fund offered in this prospectus, are not widely available outside the United States. Non-U.S. investors should be aware that U.S. withholding and estate taxes and certain U.S. tax reporting requirements may apply to any investments in Vanguard U.S. funds. Foreign investors should visit the non-U.S. investors page on our website at vanguard.com for information on Vanguard's non-U.S. products.

Invalid addresses. If a dividend distribution or capital gains distribution check mailed to your address of record is returned as undeliverable, Vanguard will automatically reinvest the distribution and all future distributions until you provide us with a valid mailing address. Reinvestments will receive the net asset value calculated on the date of the reinvestment.

Share Price

Share price, also known as net asset value (NAV), is calculated as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), generally 4 p.m., Eastern time, on each day that the NYSE is open for business (a business day). In the rare

20

event the NYSE experiences unanticipated disruptions and is unavailable at the close of the trading day, the Fund reserves the right to treat such day as a business day and calculate NAVs as of the close of regular trading on the Nasdaq (or another alternate exchange if the Nasdaq is unavailable, as determined at Vanguard's discretion), generally 4 p.m., Eastern time. NAV per share is computed by dividing the total assets, minus liabilities, of the Fund by the number of Fund shares outstanding. On U.S. holidays or other days when the NYSE is closed, the NAV is not calculated, and the Fund does not sell or redeem shares. However, on those days the value of the Fund's assets may be affected to the extent that the Fund holds securities that change in value on those days (such as foreign securities that trade on foreign markets that are open).

Stocks held by a Vanguard fund are valued at their market value when reliable market quotations are readily available from the principal exchange or market on which they are traded. Such securities are generally valued at their official closing price, the last reported sales price, or if there were no sales that day, the mean between the closing bid and asking prices. When a fund determines that market quotations either are not readily available or do not accurately reflect the value of a security, the security is priced at its fair value (the amount that the owner might reasonably expect to receive upon the current sale of the security).

The values of any foreign securities held by a fund are converted into U.S. dollars using an exchange rate obtained from an independent third party as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE. The values of any mutual fund shares, including institutional money market fund shares, held by a fund are based on the NAVs of the shares. The values of any ETF shares or closed-end fund shares held by a fund are based on the market value of the shares.

A fund also will use fair-value pricing if the value of a security it holds has been materially affected by events occurring before the fund's pricing time but after the close of the principal exchange or market on which the security is traded. This most commonly occurs with foreign securities, which may trade on foreign exchanges that close many hours before the fund's pricing time. Intervening events might be company-specific (e.g., earnings report, merger announcement) or country-specific or regional/global (e.g., natural disaster, economic or political news, act of terrorism, interest rate change). Intervening events include price movements in U.S. markets that exceed a specified threshold or that are otherwise deemed to affect the value of foreign securities.

Fair-value pricing may be used for domestic securities—for example, if (1) trading in a security is halted and does not resume before the fund's pricing time or a security does not trade in the course of a day and (2) the fund holds enough of the security that its price could affect the NAV.

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Fair-value prices are determined by Vanguard according to procedures adopted by the board of trustees. When fair-value pricing is employed, the prices of securities used by a fund to calculate the NAV may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities.

Vanguard fund share prices are published daily on our website at vanguard.com/prices.

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Financial Highlights

Financial highlights information is intended to help you understand a fund's performance for the past five years (or, if shorter, its period of operations). Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. Total return represents the rate that an investor would have earned or lost each period on an investment in a fund or share class (assuming reinvestment of all distributions). This information has been obtained from the financial statements audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with fund financial statements, is included in a fund's most recent annual report to shareholders. You may obtain a free copy of a fund's latest annual or semiannual report, which is available upon request.

Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund

For a Share Outstanding

 

 

Year Ended October 31,

 

 

 

 

 

Throughout Each Period

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

$19.68

$22.56

$18.27

$16.48

$20.13

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

.4741,2

.4141

.4131

.234

.290

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

on Investments

2.208

(2.943)

4.129

1.840

(3.685)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total from Investment Operations

2.682

(2.529)

4.542

2.074

(3.395)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends from Net Investment Income

(.492)

(.351)

(.252)

(.284)

(.255)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions from Realized Capital Gains

—

—

—

—

—

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Distributions

(.492)

(.351)

(.252)

(.284)

(.255)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

$21.87

$19.68

$22.56

$18.27

$16.48

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return3

13.96%

–11.39%

25.28%

12.95%

–16.99%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Assets, End of Period (Millions)

$702

$564

$646

$339

$259

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of Total Expenses to

0.93%

0.94%

0.92%

0.90%

0.93%

Average Net Assets4

Ratio of Net Investment Income to

 

1.85%

2.04%

1.57%

1.59%

Average Net Assets

2.25%2

Portfolio Turnover Rate

46%

76%

44%

46%

49%

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Calculated based on average shares outstanding.

2 Net investment income per share and the ratio of net investment income to average net assets include $.071 and 0.34%, respectively, resulting from a special dividend from Naspers Ltd. in September 2019.

3 Total returns do not include account service fees that may have applied in the periods shown.

4 Includes performance-based investment advisory fee increases (decreases) of 0.07%, 0.05%, (0.01%), (0.03%), and 0.00%.

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Investing With Vanguard

This section of the prospectus explains the basics of doing business with Vanguard. Vanguard fund shares can be held directly with Vanguard or indirectly through an intermediary, such as a bank, a broker, or an investment advisor. If you hold Vanguard fund shares directly with Vanguard, you should carefully read each topic within this section that pertains to your relationship with Vanguard. If you hold Vanguard fund shares indirectly through an intermediary (including shares held in a brokerage account through Vanguard Brokerage Services®), please see Investing With Vanguard Through Other Firms, and also refer to your account agreement with the intermediary for information about transacting in that account. If you hold Vanguard fund shares through an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, please see Employer-Sponsored Plans. Vanguard reserves the right to change the following policies without notice. Please call or check online for current information. See Contacting Vanguard.

For Vanguard fund shares held directly with Vanguard, each fund you hold in an account is a separate "fund account." For example, if you hold three funds in a nonretirement account titled in your own name, two funds in a nonretirement account titled jointly with your spouse, and one fund in an individual retirement account, you have six fund accounts—and this is true even if you hold the same fund in multiple accounts. Note that each reference to "you" in this prospectus applies to any one or more registered account owners or persons authorized to transact on your account.

Purchasing Shares

Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to increase or decrease the minimum amount required to open or maintain a fund account or to add to an existing fund account.

Investment minimums may differ for certain categories of investors.

Account Minimums

To open and maintain an account. $3,000. Financial intermediaries, institutional clients, and Vanguard-advised clients should contact Vanguard for information on special eligibility rules that may apply to them regarding Investor Shares. If you are investing through an intermediary, please contact that firm directly for more information regarding your eligibility.

To add to an existing account. Generally $1.

How to Initiate a Purchase Request

Be sure to check Exchanging Shares, Frequent-Trading Limitations, and Other Rules You Should Know before placing your purchase request.

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Online. You may open certain types of accounts, request a purchase of shares, and request an exchange through our website or our mobile application if you are registered for online access.

By telephone. You may call Vanguard to begin the account registration process or request that the account-opening forms be sent to you. You may also call Vanguard to request a purchase of shares in your account or to request an exchange. See Contacting Vanguard.

By mail. You may send Vanguard your account registration form and check to open a new fund account. To add to an existing fund account, you may send your check with an Invest-by-Mail form (from a transaction confirmation or your account statement) or with a deposit slip (available online).

How to Pay for a Purchase

By electronic bank transfer. You may purchase shares of a Vanguard fund through an electronic transfer of money from a bank account. To establish the electronic bank transfer service on an account, you must designate the bank account online, complete a form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account registration form. After the service is set up on your account, you can purchase shares by electronic bank transfer on a regular schedule (Automatic Investment Plan) or upon request. Your purchase request can be initiated online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail.

By wire. Wiring instructions vary for different types of purchases. Please call Vanguard for instructions and policies on purchasing shares by wire. See Contacting Vanguard.

By check. You may make initial or additional purchases to your fund account by sending a check with a deposit slip or by utilizing our mobile application if you are registered for online access. Also see How to Initiate a Purchase Request. Make your check payable to Vanguard and include the appropriate fund number (Vanguard—752).

By exchange. You may purchase shares of a Vanguard fund using the proceeds from the simultaneous redemption of shares of another Vanguard fund. You may initiate an exchange online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail with an exchange form. See Exchanging Shares.

Trade Date

The trade date for any purchase request received in good order will depend on the day and time Vanguard receives your request, the manner in which you are paying, and the type of fund you are purchasing. Your purchase will be executed using the NAV as calculated on the trade date. See Share Price.

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For purchases by check into all funds other than money market funds and for purchases by exchange, wire, or electronic bank transfer into all funds: If the purchase request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date for the purchase will be the same day. If the purchase request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date for the purchase will be the next business day.

For purchases by check into money market funds: If the purchase request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date for the purchase will be the next business day. If the purchase request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date for the purchase will be the second business day following the day Vanguard receives the purchase request. Because money market instruments must be purchased with federal funds and it takes a money market mutual fund one business day to convert check proceeds into federal funds, the trade date for the purchase will be one business day later than for other funds.

If your purchase request is not accurate and complete, it may be rejected. See Other Rules You Should Know—Good Order.

For further information about purchase transactions, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Other Purchase Rules You Should Know

Check purchases. All purchase checks must be written in U.S. dollars, be drawn on a U.S. bank, and be accompanied by good order instructions. Vanguard does not accept cash, traveler's checks, starter checks, or money orders. In addition, Vanguard may refuse checks that are not made payable to Vanguard.

New accounts. We are required by law to obtain from you certain personal information that we will use to verify your identity. If you do not provide the information, we may not be able to open your account. If we are unable to verify your identity, Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to close your account or take such other steps as we deem reasonable. Certain types of accounts may require additional documentation.

Refused or rejected purchase requests. Vanguard reserves the right to stop selling fund shares or to reject any purchase request at any time and without notice, including, but not limited to, purchases requested by exchange from another Vanguard fund. This also includes the right to reject any purchase request because the investor has a history of frequent trading or because the purchase may negatively affect a fund's operation or performance.

26

Large purchases. Call Vanguard before attempting to invest a large dollar amount.

No cancellations. Vanguard will not accept your request to cancel any purchase request once processing has begun. Please be careful when placing a purchase request.

Redeeming Shares

How to Initiate a Redemption Request

Be sure to check Exchanging Shares, Frequent-Trading Limitations, and Other Rules You Should Know before placing your redemption request.

Online. You may request a redemption of shares or request an exchange through our website or our mobile application if you are registered for online access.

By telephone. You may call Vanguard to request a redemption of shares or an exchange. See Contacting Vanguard.

By mail. You may send a form (available online) to Vanguard to redeem from a fund account or to make an exchange. See Contacting Vanguard.

How to Receive Redemption Proceeds

By electronic bank transfer. You may have the proceeds of a fund redemption sent directly to a designated bank account. To establish the electronic bank transfer service on an account, you must designate a bank account online, complete a form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account registration form. After the service is set up on your account, you can redeem shares by electronic bank transfer on a regular schedule (Automatic Withdrawal Plan) or upon request. Your redemption request can be initiated online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail.

By wire. To receive your proceeds by wire, you may instruct Vanguard to wire your redemption proceeds ($100 minimum) to a previously designated bank account. To establish the wire redemption service, you generally must designate a bank account online, complete a form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account registration form.

Please note that Vanguard charges a $10 wire fee for outgoing wire redemptions. The fee is assessed in addition to, rather than being withheld from, redemption proceeds and is paid directly to the fund in which you invest. For example, if you redeem $100 via a wire, you will receive the full $100, and the $10 fee will be assessed to your fund account through an additional redemption of fund shares. If you redeem your entire fund account, your redemption proceeds will be reduced by the amount of the fee. The wire fee does not apply to accounts held by Flagship and Flagship Select clients; accounts held through intermediaries, including Vanguard Brokerage Services; or accounts held by institutional clients.

27

By exchange. You may have the proceeds of a Vanguard fund redemption invested directly in shares of another Vanguard fund. You may initiate an exchange online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail. See Exchanging Shares.

By check. If you have not chosen another redemption method, Vanguard will mail you a redemption check, generally payable to all registered account owners, normally within two business days of your trade date, and generally to the address of record.

Trade Date

The trade date for any redemption request received in good order will depend on the day and time Vanguard receives your request and the manner in which you are redeeming. Your redemption will be executed using the NAV as calculated on the trade date. See Share Price.

For redemptions by check, exchange, or wire: If the redemption request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date will be the same day. If the redemption request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the next business day.

•Note on timing of wire redemptions from money market funds: For telephone requests received by Vanguard on a business day before 10:45 a.m., Eastern time (2 p.m., Eastern time, for Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund; 12:30 p.m., Eastern time, for Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund), the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business the same day. For telephone requests received by Vanguard on a business day after those cut-off times, or on a nonbusiness day, and for all requests other than by telephone, the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business on the next business day.

•Note on timing of wire redemptions from all other funds: For requests received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business on the next business day. For requests received by Vanguard on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business on the second business day after Vanguard receives the request.

For redemptions by electronic bank transfer: If the redemption request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date will be the same day. If the redemption request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the next business day.

28

If your redemption request is not accurate and complete, it may be rejected. If we are unable to send your redemption proceeds by wire or electronic bank transfer because the receiving institution rejects the transfer, Vanguard will make additional efforts to complete your transaction. If Vanguard is still unable to complete the transaction, we may send the proceeds of the redemption to you by check, generally payable to all registered account owners, or use your proceeds to purchase new shares of the fund from which you sold shares for the purpose of the wire or electronic bank transfer transaction. See Other Rules You Should Know—Good Order.

If your redemption request is received in good order, we typically expect that redemption proceeds will be paid by the Fund within one business day of the trade date; however, in certain circumstances, investors may experience a longer settlement period at the time of the transaction. For further information, see "Potentially disruptive redemptions" and "Emergency circumstances."

For further information about redemption transactions, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Other Redemption Rules You Should Know

Documentation for certain accounts. Special documentation may be required to redeem from certain types of accounts, such as trust, corporate, nonprofit, or retirement accounts. Please call us before attempting to redeem from these types of accounts.

Potentially disruptive redemptions. Vanguard reserves the right to pay all or part of a redemption in kind—that is, in the form of securities—if we reasonably believe that a cash redemption would negatively affect the fund's operation or performance or that the shareholder may be engaged in market-timing or frequent trading. Under these circumstances, Vanguard also reserves the right to delay payment of the redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days. By calling us before you attempt to redeem a large dollar amount, you may avoid in-kind or delayed payment of your redemption. Please see Frequent-Trading Limitations for information about Vanguard's policies to limit frequent trading.

Recently purchased shares. Although you can redeem shares at any time, proceeds may not be made available to you until the fund collects payment for your purchase. This may take up to seven calendar days for shares purchased by check or by electronic bank transfer. If you have written a check on a fund with checkwriting privileges, that check may be rejected if your fund account does not have a sufficient available balance.

Address change. If you change your address online or by telephone, there may be up to a 14-day restriction on your ability to request check redemptions online and by telephone. You can request a redemption in writing (using a form available online) at

29

any time. Confirmations of address changes are sent to both the old and new addresses.

Payment to a different person or address. At your request, we can make your redemption check payable, or wire your redemption proceeds, to a different person or send it to a different address. However, this generally requires the written consent of all registered account owners and may require additional documentation, such as a signature guarantee or a notarized signature. You may obtain a signature guarantee from some commercial or savings banks, credit unions, trust companies, or member firms of a U.S. stock exchange.

No cancellations. Vanguard will not accept your request to cancel any redemption request once processing has begun. Please be careful when placing a redemption request.

Emergency circumstances. Vanguard funds can postpone payment of redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days. In addition, Vanguard funds can suspend redemptions and/or postpone payments of redemption proceeds beyond seven calendar days at times when the NYSE is closed or during emergency circumstances, as determined by the SEC.

Exchanging Shares

An exchange occurs when you use the proceeds from the redemption of shares of one Vanguard fund to simultaneously purchase shares of a different Vanguard fund. You can make exchange requests online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail. See Purchasing Shares and Redeeming Shares.

If the NYSE is open for regular trading (generally until 4 p.m., Eastern time, on a business day) at the time an exchange request is received in good order, the trade date generally will be the same day. See Other Rules You Should Know—Good Order for additional information on all transaction requests.

Vanguard will not accept your request to cancel any exchange request once processing has begun. Please be careful when placing an exchange request.

Call Vanguard before attempting to exchange a large dollar amount. By calling us before you attempt to exchange a large dollar amount, you may avoid delayed or rejected transactions.

Please note that Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to revise or terminate the exchange privilege, limit the amount of any exchange, or reject an exchange, at any time, for any reason. See Frequent-Trading Limitations for additional restrictions on exchanges.

30

Frequent-Trading Limitations

Because excessive transactions can disrupt management of a fund and increase the fund's costs for all shareholders, the board of trustees of each Vanguard fund places certain limits on frequent trading in the funds. Each Vanguard fund (other than money market funds and short-term bond funds, but including Vanguard Short-Term Inflation- Protected Securities Index Fund) limits an investor's purchases or exchanges into a fund account for 30 calendar days after the investor has redeemed or exchanged out of that fund account. ETF Shares are not subject to these frequent-trading limits.

For Vanguard Retirement Investment Program pooled plans, the limitations apply to exchanges made online or by telephone.

These frequent-trading limitations do not apply to the following:

•Purchases of shares with reinvested dividend or capital gains distributions.

•Transactions through Vanguard's Automatic Investment Plan, Automatic Exchange Service, Direct Deposit Service, Automatic Withdrawal Plan, Required Minimum Distribution Service, and Vanguard Small Business Online®.

•Discretionary transactions through Vanguard Personal Advisor Services®, Vanguard Institutional Advisory Services®, and Vanguard Digital AdvisorTM.

•Redemptions of shares to pay fund or account fees.

•Redemptions of shares to remove excess shareholder contributions to certain types of retirement accounts (including, but not limited to, IRAs and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans).

•Transfers and reregistrations of shares within the same fund.

•Purchases of shares by asset transfer or direct rollover.

•Conversions of shares from one share class to another in the same fund.

•Checkwriting redemptions.

•Section 529 college savings plans.

•Certain approved institutional portfolios and asset allocation programs, as well as trades made by funds or trusts managed by Vanguard or its affiliates that invest in other Vanguard funds. (Please note that shareholders of Vanguard's funds of funds are subject to the limitations.)

For participants in employer-sponsored defined contribution plans,* the frequent- trading limitations do not apply to:

•Purchases of shares with participant payroll or employer contributions or loan repayments.

•Purchases of shares with reinvested dividend or capital gains distributions.

•Distributions, loans, and in-service withdrawals from a plan.

31

•Redemptions of shares as part of a plan termination or at the direction of the plan.

•Transactions executed through the Vanguard Managed Account Program.

•Redemptions of shares to pay fund or account fees.

•Share or asset transfers or rollovers.

•Reregistrations of shares.

•Conversions of shares from one share class to another in the same fund.

•Exchange requests submitted by written request to Vanguard. (Exchange requests submitted by fax, if otherwise permitted, are subject to the limitations.)

*The following Vanguard fund accounts are subject to the frequent-trading limitations: SEP-IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, certain Individual 403(b)(7) Custodial Accounts, and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans.

Accounts Held by Institutions (Other Than Defined Contribution Plans)

Vanguard will systematically monitor for frequent trading in institutional clients' accounts. If we detect suspicious trading activity, we will investigate and take appropriate action, which may include applying to a client's accounts the 30-day policy previously described, prohibiting a client's purchases of fund shares, and/or revoking the client's exchange privilege.

Accounts Held by Intermediaries

When intermediaries establish accounts in Vanguard funds for the benefit of their clients, we cannot always monitor the trading activity of the individual clients. However, we review trading activity at the intermediary (omnibus) level, and if we detect suspicious activity, we will investigate and take appropriate action. If necessary, Vanguard may prohibit additional purchases of fund shares by an intermediary, including for the benefit of certain of the intermediary's clients. Intermediaries also may monitor their clients' trading activities with respect to Vanguard funds.

For those Vanguard funds that charge purchase and/or redemption fees, intermediaries will be asked to assess these fees on client accounts and remit these fees to the funds. The application of purchase and redemption fees and frequent- trading limitations may vary among intermediaries. There are no assurances that Vanguard will successfully identify all intermediaries or that intermediaries will properly assess purchase and redemption fees or administer frequent-trading limitations. If you invest with Vanguard through an intermediary, please read that firm's materials carefully to learn of any other rules or fees that may apply.

32

Other Rules You Should Know

Prospectus and Shareholder Report Mailings

When two or more shareholders have the same last name and address, just one summary prospectus (or prospectus) and/or shareholder report may be sent in an attempt to eliminate the unnecessary expense of duplicate mailings. You may request individual prospectuses and reports by contacting our Client Services Department by telephone or online. See Contacting Vanguard.

Vanguard.com

Registration. If you are a registered user of vanguard.com, you can review your account holdings; buy, sell, or exchange shares of most Vanguard funds; and perform most other transactions through our website. You must register for this service online.

Electronic delivery. Vanguard can deliver your account statements, transaction confirmations, prospectuses, certain tax forms, and shareholder reports electronically. If you are a registered user of vanguard.com, you can consent to the electronic delivery of these documents by logging on and changing your mailing preferences under "Account Maintenance." You can revoke your electronic consent at any time through our website, and we will begin to send paper copies of these documents within 30 days of receiving your revocation.

Telephone Transactions

Automatic. When we set up your account, we will automatically enable you to do business with us by telephone, unless you instruct us otherwise in writing.

Tele-Account®. To obtain fund and account information through Vanguard's automated telephone service, you must first establish a Personal Identification Number (PIN) by calling Tele-Account at 800-662-6273.

Proof of a caller's authority. We reserve the right to refuse a telephone request if the caller is unable to provide the requested information or if we reasonably believe that the caller is not an individual authorized to act on the account. Before we allow a caller to act on an account, we may request the following information:

•Authorization to act on the account (as the account owner or by legal documentation or other means).

•Account registration and address.

•Fund name and account number, if applicable.

•Other information relating to the caller, the account owner, or the account.

33

Good Order

We reserve the right to reject any transaction instructions that are not in "good order." Good order generally means that your instructions:

•Are provided by the person(s) authorized in accordance with Vanguard's policies and procedures to access the account and request transactions.

•Include the fund name and account number.

•Include the amount of the transaction (stated in dollars, shares, or percentage). Written instructions also must generally be provided on a Vanguard form and include:

•Signature(s) and date from the authorized person(s).

•Signature guarantees or notarized signatures, if required for the type of transaction. (Call Vanguard for specific requirements.)

•Any supporting documentation that may be required.

Good order requirements may vary among types of accounts and transactions. For more information, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to revise the requirements for good order.

Future Trade-Date Requests

Vanguard does not accept requests to hold a purchase, redemption, or exchange transaction for a future date. All such requests will receive trade dates as previously described in Purchasing Shares, Redeeming Shares, and Exchanging Shares. Vanguard reserves the right to return future-dated purchase checks.

Accounts With More Than One Owner

If an account has more than one owner or authorized person, Vanguard generally will accept instructions from any one owner or authorized person.

Responsibility for Fraud

You should take precautions to protect yourself from fraud. Keep your account-related information private, and review any account confirmations, statements, or other information that we provide to you as soon as you receive them. Let us know immediately if you discover unauthorized activity or see something on your account that you do not understand or that looks unusual.

Vanguard will not be responsible for losses that result from transactions by a person who we reasonably believe is authorized to act on your account.

34

Uncashed Checks

Please cash your distribution or redemption checks promptly. Vanguard will not pay interest on uncashed checks. Vanguard may be required to transfer assets related to uncashed checks to a state under the state's abandoned property law.

Dormant Accounts

If your account has no activity in it for a period of time, Vanguard may be required to transfer it to a state under the state's abandoned property law, subject to potential federal or state withholding taxes.

Unusual Circumstances

If you experience difficulty contacting Vanguard online or by telephone, you can send us your transaction request on a Vanguard form by regular or express mail.

Investing With Vanguard Through Other Firms

You may purchase or sell shares of most Vanguard funds through a financial intermediary, such as a bank, a broker, or an investment advisor. Please consult your financial intermediary to determine which, if any, shares are available through that firm and to learn about other rules that may apply. Your financial intermediary can provide you with account information and any required tax forms. You may be required to pay a commission on purchases of mutual fund shares made through a financial intermediary.

Please see Frequent-Trading Limitations—Accounts Held by Intermediaries for information about the assessment of any purchase or redemption fees and the monitoring of frequent trading for accounts held by intermediaries.

Account Service Fee

Vanguard may charge a $20 account service fee on fund accounts that have a balance below $10,000 for any reason, including market fluctuation. The account service fee applies to both retirement and nonretirement fund accounts and may be assessed on fund accounts in all Vanguard funds, regardless of the account minimum. The fee, which will be collected by redeeming fund shares in the amount of $20, will be deducted from fund accounts subject to the fee once per calendar year.

If you elect to receive your statements and other materials electronically (i.e., by e-delivery), the account service fee will not be charged, so long as your election remains in effect. You can make your e-delivery election on vanguard.com.

Beginning on January 1, 2021, you may elect to receive paper copies of shareholder reports free of charge as noted on the cover of this prospectus.

35

Certain account types have alternative fee structures, including SIMPLE IRAs, Vanguard Retirement Investment Program pooled plans, and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans.

Low-Balance Accounts

The Fund reserves the right to liquidate a fund account whose balance falls below the account minimum for any reason, including market fluctuation. This liquidation policy applies to nonretirement fund accounts and accounts that are held through intermediaries. Any such liquidation will be preceded by written notice to the investor.

Right to Change Policies

In addition to the rights expressly stated elsewhere in this prospectus, Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to (1) alter, add, or discontinue any conditions of purchase (including eligibility requirements), redemption, exchange, service, or privilege at any time and (2) alter, impose, discontinue, or waive any purchase fee, redemption fee, account service fee, or other fee charged to a shareholder or a group of shareholders. Changes may affect any or all investors. These actions will be taken when, at the sole discretion of Vanguard management, Vanguard believes they are in the best interest of a fund.

Account Restrictions

Vanguard reserves the right to: (1) redeem all or a portion of a fund/account to meet a legal obligation, including tax withholding, tax lien, garnishment order, or other obligation imposed on your account by a court or government agency; (2) redeem shares, close an account, or suspend account privileges, features, or options in the case of threatening conduct or activity; (3) redeem shares, close an account, or suspend account privileges, features, or options if Vanguard believes or suspects that not doing so could result in a suspicious, fraudulent, or illegal transaction; (4) place restrictions on the ability to redeem any or all shares in an account if it is required to do so by a court or government agency; (5) place restrictions on the ability to redeem any or all shares in an account if Vanguard believes that doing so will prevent fraud, financial exploitation or abuse, or to protect vulnerable investors; (6) freeze any account and/or suspend account services if Vanguard has received reasonable notice of a dispute regarding the assets in an account, including notice of a dispute between the registered or beneficial account owners; and (7) freeze any account and/or suspend account services upon initial notification to Vanguard of the death of an account owner.

36

Fund and Account Updates

Confirmation Statements

We will send (or provide through our website, whichever you prefer) a confirmation of your trade date and the amount of your transaction when you buy, sell, or exchange shares. However, we will not send confirmations reflecting only checkwriting redemptions or the reinvestment of dividend or capital gains distributions. For any month in which you had a checkwriting redemption, a Checkwriting Activity Statement will be sent to you itemizing the checkwriting redemptions for that month. Promptly review each confirmation statement that we provide to you. It is important that you contact Vanguard immediately with any questions you may have about any transaction reflected on a confirmation statement, or Vanguard will consider the transaction properly processed.

Portfolio Summaries

We will send (or provide through our website, whichever you prefer) quarterly portfolio summaries to help you keep track of your accounts throughout the year. Each summary shows the market value of your account at the close of the statement period, as well as all distributions, purchases, redemptions, exchanges, and transfers for the current calendar quarter (or month). Promptly review each summary that we provide to you. It is important that you contact Vanguard immediately with any questions you may have about any transaction reflected on the summary, or Vanguard will consider the transaction properly processed.

Tax Information Statements

For most accounts, Vanguard (or your intermediary) is required to provide annual tax forms to assist you in preparing your income tax returns. These forms are generally available for each calendar year early in the following year. Registered users of vanguard.com can also view certain forms through our website. Vanguard (or your intermediary) may also provide you with additional tax-related documentation. For more information, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Annual and Semiannual Reports

We will send (or provide through our website, whichever you prefer) reports about Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund twice a year, in June and December. These reports include overviews of the financial markets and provide the following specific Fund information:

•Performance assessments and comparisons with industry benchmarks.

•Reports from the advisors.

•Financial statements with listings of Fund holdings.

37

Portfolio Holdings

Please consult the Fund's Statement of Additional Information or our website for a description of the policies and procedures that govern disclosure of the Fund's portfolio holdings.

Employer-Sponsored Plans

Your plan administrator or your employee benefits office can provide you with detailed information on how to participate in your plan and how to elect the Fund as an investment option.

•If you have any questions about the Fund or Vanguard, including those about the Fund's investment objective, strategies, or risks, contact Vanguard Participant Services toll-free at 800-523-1188 or visit our website at vanguard.com.

•If you have questions about your account, contact your plan administrator or the organization that provides recordkeeping services for your plan.

•Be sure to carefully read each topic that pertains to your transactions with Vanguard.

Vanguard reserves the right to change its policies without notice to shareholders.

Transactions

Processing times for your transaction requests may differ among recordkeepers or among transaction and funding types. Your plan's recordkeeper (which may also be Vanguard) will determine the necessary processing time frames for your transaction requests prior to submission to the Fund. Consult your recordkeeper or plan administrator for more information.

If Vanguard is serving as your plan recordkeeper and if your transaction involves one or more investments with an early cut-off time for processing or another trading restriction, your entire transaction will be subject to the restriction when the trade date for your transaction is determined.

38

Contacting Vanguard

Web

Vanguard.com

For the most complete source of Vanguard news

 

For fund, account, and service information

 

For most account transactions

 

For literature requests

 

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

 

 

Phone

 

 

 

Vanguard Tele-Account® 800-662-6273

For automated fund and account information

 

Toll-free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

 

 

Investor Information 800-662-7447 (Text telephone for people with hearing impairment at 800-749-7273)

For fund and service information For literature requests

Client Services 800-662-2739

For account information

(Text telephone for people with hearing

For most account transactions

impairment at 800-749-7273)

 

 

 

Participant Services 800-523-1188 (Text telephone for people with hearing impairment at 800-749-7273)

For information and services for participants in employer- sponsored plans

Institutional Division

For information and services for large institutional investors

888-809-8102

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Advisor and Intermediary

For information and services for financial intermediaries

Sales Support 800-997-2798

including financial advisors, broker-dealers, trust institutions,

 

and insurance companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Advisory and Intermediary

For account information and trading support for financial

Trading Support 800-669-0498

intermediaries including financial advisors, broker-dealers,

 

trust institutions, and insurance companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vanguard

 

 

 

Inception

Newspaper

Fund

CUSIP

 

Date

Abbreviation

Number

Number

 

 

 

 

 

Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund

6/27/2011 EmgMktSelStk

752

921939500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CFA® is a registered trademark owned by CFA Institute.

39

Glossary of Investment Terms

Capital Gains Distributions. Payments to mutual fund shareholders of gains realized on securities that a fund has sold at a profit, minus any realized losses.

Cash Equivalent Investments. Cash deposits, short-term bank deposits, and money market instruments that include U.S. Treasury bills and notes, bank certificates of deposit (CDs), repurchase agreements, commercial paper, and banker's acceptances.

Common Stock. A security representing ownership rights in a corporation.

Dividend Distributions. Payments to mutual fund shareholders of income from interest or dividends generated by a fund's investments.

Expense Ratio. A fund's total annual operating expenses expressed as a percentage of the fund's average net assets. The expense ratio includes management and administrative expenses, but it does not include the transaction costs of buying and selling portfolio securities.

FTSE Emerging Index. A market-capitalization-weighted index representing large- and mid-cap stocks of companies located in emerging markets around the world.

Inception Date. The date on which the assets of a fund (or one of its share classes) are first invested in accordance with the fund's investment objective. For funds with a subscription period, the inception date is the day after that period ends. Investment performance is generally measured from the inception date.

Joint Committed Credit Facility. The Fund participates, along with other funds managed by Vanguard, in a committed credit facility provided by a syndicate of lenders pursuant to a credit agreement that may be renewed annually; each Vanguard fund is individually liable for its borrowings, if any, under the credit facility. The amount and terms of the committed credit facility are subject to approval by the Fund's board of trustees and renegotiation with the lender syndicate on an annual basis.

MSCI Emerging Markets Index. An index that tracks stocks in more than 20 emerging markets of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Mutual Fund. An investment company that pools the money of many people and invests it in a variety of securities in an effort to achieve a specific objective over time.

New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). A stock exchange based in New York City that is open for regular trading on business days, Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern time.

Securities. Stocks, bonds, money market instruments, and other investments.

Total Return. A percentage change, over a specified time period, in a mutual fund's net asset value, assuming the reinvestment of all distributions of dividends and capital gains.

40

Volatility. The fluctuations in value of a mutual fund or other security. The greater a fund's volatility, the wider the fluctuations in its returns.

Yield. Income (interest or dividends) earned by an investment, expressed as a percentage of the investment's price.

 

P.O. Box 2600

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2600

Connect with Vanguard® > vanguard.com

For More Information

If you would like more information about Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund, the following documents are available free upon request:

Annual/Semiannual Reports to Shareholders Additional information about the Fund's investments is available in the Fund's annual and semiannual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year.

Statement of Additional Information (SAI)

The SAI provides more detailed information about the Fund and is incorporated by reference into (and thus legally a part of) this prospectus.

To receive a free copy of the latest annual or semiannual report or the SAI, or to request additional information about the Fund or other Vanguard funds, please visit vanguard.com or contact us as follows:

If you are an individual investor:

The Vanguard Group

Investor Information Department P.O. Box 2600

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2600

Telephone: 800-662-7447; Text telephone for people

with hearing impairment: 800-749-7273

If you are a participant in an employer-sponsored plan: The Vanguard Group

Participant Services P.O. Box 2900

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2900

Telephone: 800-523-1188; Text telephone for people

with hearing impairment: 800-749-7273

If you are a current Vanguard shareholder and would like information about your account, account transactions, and/or account statements, please call:

Client Services Department

Telephone: 800-662-2739; Text telephone for people

with hearing impairment: 800-749-7273

Information Provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Reports and other information about the Fund are available in the EDGAR database on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, or you can receive copies of this information, for a fee, by electronic request at the following email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

Fund's Investment Company Act file number: 811-02968-99

© 2020 The Vanguard Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.

P 752 022020

 

Vanguard International Value Fund Prospectus

February 27, 2020

Investor Shares

Vanguard International Value Fund Investor Shares (VTRIX)

See the inside front cover for important information about access to your fund's annual and semiannual shareholder reports.

This prospectus contains financial data for the Fund through the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019.

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.

Important information about access to shareholder reports

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the SEC, paper copies of your fund's annual and semiannual shareholder reports will no longer be sent to you by mail, unless you specifically request them. Instead, you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted on the website and will be provided with a link to access the report.

If you have already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and do not need to take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the fund electronically by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you invest directly with the fund, by calling Vanguard at one of the phone numbers on the back cover of this prospectus or by logging on to vanguard.com.

You may elect to receive paper copies of all future shareholder reports free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact the intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies. If you invest directly with the fund, you can call Vanguard at one of the phone numbers on the back cover of this prospectus or log on to vanguard.com. Your election to receive paper copies will apply to all the funds you hold through an intermediary or directly with Vanguard.

Contents

Fund Summary

1

Investing With Vanguard

23

More on the Fund

7

Purchasing Shares

23

 

 

 

 

The Fund and Vanguard

14

Redeeming Shares

26

 

 

 

 

Investment Advisors

15

Exchanging Shares

29

 

 

 

 

Dividends, Capital Gains, and Taxes

17

Frequent-Trading Limitations

30

 

 

 

 

Share Price

20

Other Rules You Should Know

32

 

 

 

 

Financial Highlights

22

Fund and Account Updates

36

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employer-Sponsored Plans

37

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contacting Vanguard

38

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Information

38

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary of Investment Terms

39

 

 

 

 

Fund Summary

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees

(Fees paid directly from your investment)

Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases

None

Purchase Fee

None

 

 

Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends

None

 

 

Redemption Fee

None

 

 

Account Service Fee (for certain fund account balances below $10,000)

$20/year

 

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

 

 

Management Fees

0.35%

 

 

12b-1 Distribution Fee

None

 

 

Other Expenses

0.02%

 

 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

0.37%

 

 

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you were to invest $10,000 in the Fund's shares. This example assumes that the Fund provides a return of 5% each year and that total annual fund operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. You would incur these hypothetical expenses whether or not you were to redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

$38

$119

$208

$468

 

 

 

 

1

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 more taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the previous expense example, reduce the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 38% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund invests mainly in common stocks of companies located outside the United States that are considered by an advisor to be undervalued. Such stocks, called value stocks, often are out of favor in periods when investors are drawn to companies with strong prospects for growth. The prices of value stocks, therefore, may be below average in relation to measures such as earnings and book value. The Fund invests in large-, mid-, and small-capitalization companies and is expected to diversify its assets in countries across developed and emerging markets. The Fund uses multiple investment advisors. Each advisor independently selects and maintains a portfolio of equity securities of foreign companies for the Fund.

Principal Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time. You should expect the Fund's share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range. The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund's performance:

•Stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's investments in foreign stocks can be riskier than U.S. stock investments. Foreign stocks may be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. stocks. The prices of foreign stocks and the prices of U.S. stocks may move in opposite directions.

•Country/regional risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by companies in foreign countries or regions. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of companies located in any one country or region, including emerging markets, the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area. Country/regional risk is especially high in emerging markets.

•Currency risk, which is the chance that the value of a foreign investment, measured in U.S. dollars, will decrease because of unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates. Currency risk is especially high in emerging markets.

2

•Investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from global stock markets. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks, as well as non-U.S. value stocks, each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the global market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks.

•Manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause the Fund to underperform relevant benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. In addition, significant investment in the financial sector subjects the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of this sector.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart and table are intended to help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Fund has varied from one calendar year to another over the periods shown. The table shows how the average annual total returns of the Fund compare with those of the Fund's benchmark index and other comparative indexes, which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Spliced International Index is an index that reflects performance of the MSCI EAFE Index through May 31, 2010, and the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index thereafter. Returns for the indexes shown are adjusted for withholding taxes. Keep in mind that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on our website at vanguard.com/performance or by calling Vanguard toll-free at 800-662-7447.

3

Annual Total Returns — Vanguard International Value Fund Investor Shares

 

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

 

 

60%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

40%

 

 

 

 

20.18

22.15

 

 

 

 

 

 

27.96

 

 

20.39

 

 

20%

7.31

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.46

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-20%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-6.69

-6.44

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-14.58

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-14.52

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-40%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-60%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 18.00% (quarter ended September 30, 2010), and the lowest return for a quarter was –20.73% (quarter ended September 30, 2011).

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2019

 

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Vanguard International Value Fund Investor Shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return Before Taxes

20.39%

5.17%

4.91%

 

 

 

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions

19.57

4.45

4.30

 

 

 

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

12.66

3.97

3.87

 

 

 

 

Comparative Indexes

 

 

 

(reflect no deduction for fees or expenses)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MSCI ACWI ex USA Index

21.51%

5.51%

4.97%

 

 

 

 

MSCI EAFE Index

22.01

5.67

5.50

 

 

 

 

Spliced International Index

21.51

5.51

4.68

 

 

 

 

Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that the shareholder was in the highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains or upon redemption. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. Please note that after-tax returns are not relevant for a shareholder who holds fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan. Also, figures captioned Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other figures for the same period if a capital loss occurs upon redemption and results in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder.

4

Investment Advisors

ARGA Investment Management, LP (ARGA)

Edinburgh Partners Limited (Edinburgh Partners)

Lazard Asset Management LLC (Lazard)

Portfolio Managers

A. Rama Krishna, CFA, Founder and Chief Investment Officer of ARGA. He has co-managed a portion of the Fund since 2012.

Steven Morrow, CFA, Director of Research at ARGA. He has co-managed a portion of the Fund since 2012.

Sandy Nairn, Investment Partner, Director, and Chief Executive of Edinburgh Partners. He has managed a portion of the Fund since 2008.

Michael A. Bennett, CPA, Managing Director of Lazard. He has co-managed a portion of the Fund since 2010.

Michael G. Fry, Managing Director of Lazard. He has co-managed a portion of the Fund since 2010.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

You may purchase or redeem shares online through our website (vanguard.com), by mail (The Vanguard Group, P.O. Box 1110, Valley Forge, PA 19482-1110), or by telephone (800-662-2739). The minimum investment amount required to open and maintain a Fund account for Investor Shares is $3,000. The minimum investment amount required to add to an existing Fund account is generally $1. Financial intermediaries, institutional clients, and Vanguard-advised clients should contact Vanguard for information on special eligibility rules that may apply to them regarding Investor Shares. If you are investing through an intermediary, please contact that firm directly for more information regarding your eligibility. If you are investing through an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, your plan administrator or your benefits office can provide you with detailed information on how you can invest through your plan.

5

Tax Information

The Fund's distributions may be taxable as ordinary income or capital gain. If you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, such as an IRA or an employer- sponsored retirement or savings plan, special tax rules apply.

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

The Fund and its investment advisors do not pay financial intermediaries for sales of Fund shares.

6

More on the Fund

This prospectus describes the principal risks you would face as a Fund shareholder. It is important to keep in mind one of the main principles of investing: generally, the higher the risk of losing money, the higher the potential reward. The reverse, also, is generally true: the lower the risk, the lower the potential reward. As you consider an investment in any mutual fund, you should take into account your personal tolerance

for fluctuations in the securities markets. Look for this symbol throughout the prospectus. It is used to mark detailed information about the more significant risks that you would confront as a Fund shareholder. To highlight terms and concepts important to mutual fund investors, we have provided Plain Talk® explanations along the way. Reading the prospectus will help you decide whether the Fund is the right investment for you. We suggest that you keep this prospectus for future reference.

Plain Talk About Fund Expenses

All mutual funds have operating expenses. These expenses, which are deducted from a fund's gross income, are expressed as a percentage of the net assets of the fund. Assuming that operating expenses remain as stated in the Fees and Expenses section, Vanguard International Value Fund's expense ratio would be 0.37%, or $3.70 per $1,000 of average net assets. The average expense ratio for international funds in 2018 was 1.29%, or $12.90 per $1,000 of average net assets (derived from data provided by Lipper, a Thomson Reuters Company, which reports on the mutual fund industry).

Plain Talk About Costs of Investing

Costs are an important consideration in choosing a mutual fund. That is because you, as a shareholder, pay a proportionate share of the costs of operating a fund and any transaction costs incurred when the fund buys or sells securities. These costs can erode a substantial portion of the gross income or the capital appreciation a fund achieves. Even seemingly small differences in expenses can, over time, have a dramatic effect on a fund's performance.

The following sections explain the principal investment strategies and policies that the Fund uses in pursuit of its objective. The Fund's board of trustees, which oversees the Fund's management, may change investment strategies or policies in the interest of shareholders without a shareholder vote, unless those strategies or policies are designated as fundamental. Note that the Fund's investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed without a shareholder vote.

7

Market Exposure

The Fund is a value-oriented fund that invests primarily in the common stocks of foreign companies in a number of different countries throughout the world, without regard for the size (capitalization) of the companies. The asset-weighted median market capitalization of the Fund's stock holdings as of October 31, 2019, was $36.4 billion.

The Fund is subject to stock market risk, which is the chance that stock prices overall will decline. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. The Fund's investments in foreign stocks can be riskier than U.S. stock investments. Foreign stocks may be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. stocks. The prices of foreign stocks and the prices of U.S. stocks may move in opposite directions.

Plain Talk About International Investing

U.S. investors who invest in foreign securities will encounter risks not typically associated with U.S. companies because foreign stock and bond markets operate differently from the U.S. markets. For instance, foreign companies and governments may not be subject to the same or similar accounting, auditing, legal, tax, and financial reporting standards and practices as U.S. companies and the U.S. government, and their stocks and bonds may not be as liquid as those of similar U.S. entities. In addition, foreign stock exchanges, brokers, companies, bond markets, and dealers may be subject to less government supervision and regulation than their counterparts in the United States. These factors, among others, could negatively affect the returns U.S. investors receive from foreign investments.

The Fund is subject to country/regional risk and currency risk. Country/regional risk is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by companies in foreign countries or regions. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of companies located in any one country or region, including emerging markets, the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area. Currency risk is the chance that the value of a foreign investment, measured in U.S. dollars, will decrease because of unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates. Country/regional risk and currency risk are especially high in emerging markets.

8

 

Plain Talk About Growth Funds and Value Funds

Growth investing and value investing are two styles employed by stock-fund managers. Growth funds generally invest in stocks of companies believed to have above-average potential for growth in revenue, earnings, cash flow, or other similar criteria. These stocks typically have low dividend yields, if any, and above- average prices in relation to measures such as earnings and book value. Value funds typically invest in stocks whose prices are below average in relation to those measures; these stocks often have above-average dividend yields. Value stocks also may remain undervalued by the market for long periods of time. Growth and value stocks have historically produced similar long-term returns, though each category has periods when it outperforms the other.

The Fund is subject to investment style risk, which is the chance that returns from the types of stocks in which the Fund invests will trail returns from global stock markets. Small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks, as well as non-U.S. value stocks, each tend to go through cycles of doing better—or worse—than other segments of the stock market or the global market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. Historically, small- and mid-cap stocks have been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks.

Security Selection

The Fund uses multiple investment advisors. Each advisor independently selects and maintains a portfolio of equity securities of foreign companies for the Fund. Equity securities may include common stock, preferred stock, depositary receipts, convertible securities, and rights to purchase common stock.

Each advisor employs active investment management methods, which means that securities are bought and sold according to the advisor's evaluations of companies and their financial prospects, the prices of the securities, and the stock market and the economy in general. Each advisor will sell a security when, in the view of the advisor, it is no longer as attractive as an alternative investment or if the advisor deems it to be in the best interest of the Fund. Different advisors may reach different conclusions on the same security.

Lazard employs a research-driven, bottom-up, relative value approach in selecting stocks. Lazard seeks to identify individual stocks that offer an appropriate trade-off between valuation and financial productivity. The portfolio management team uses return on equity as the primary measure of financial productivity, while secondary measures include return on assets, cash return on equity, and operating margin.

Lazard's research analysts utilize a global sector approach to fundamental analysis.

9

Stock selection is the result of the bottom-up process, regardless of sector and regional boundaries. Holdings and sector weightings may differ from the benchmark.

Edinburgh Partners employs a disciplined, value-oriented, global investment strategy to select stocks. The firm's investment philosophy is based on the belief that a portfolio of companies with below-average five-year forward price/earnings (P/E) ratios will outperform the market over the long run. Therefore, the firm's research focuses primarily on seeking to accurately forecast five-year forward P/E ratios. The security selection process is unconstrained, portfolio holdings are concentrated, and turnover is expected to be low.

The investment process begins with a research screening designed to eliminate companies that Edinburgh Partners considers overvalued. Following this initial screening, a research template is compiled for companies that are considered undervalued. The template includes five years of historical data (e.g., sales growth, margins, and capital expenditures); five years of forecast data; and a written review of the investment case, positioning, and financial structure of the company. Next, a scenario analysis (best-case, central-case, worst-case) of the long-term valuation is used to properly assess the risk/reward of a given security. In general, Edinburgh Partners' management style is collaborative and decision-making is team-oriented.

ARGA invests in businesses that it believes are undervalued based on long-term earnings power and dividend-paying capability. ARGA's investment philosophy is based on the belief that investors overreact to short-term developments, leading to opportunities to generate gains from investing in "good businesses at great prices." Its valuation-focused process uses a dividend discount model to select stocks that trade at a discount to intrinsic value based upon the company's long-term earnings power and dividend-paying capability. The process begins with a quantitative screen that sorts the universe of securities into valuation quintiles. Comprehensive fundamental company research then focuses on operational expertise, financial stability, and corporate governance, with stress tests performed to determine potential downside risk. The end result seeks a portfolio of businesses at a substantial discount to intrinsic value, with expected holding periods of generally three to five years. Holdings are continually evaluated based on their discount to intrinsic value. Position sizes are influenced by the discount and perceived risk, and sales tend to occur when holdings fall into the bottom half of the valuation universe or when changing fundamentals alter the investment thesis.

The Fund is subject to manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause the Fund to underperform relevant benchmarks or other funds with a similar investment objective. In addition, significant investment in the financial sector subjects the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of this sector.

10

Other Investment Policies and Risks

In addition to investing in equity securities of foreign companies, the Fund may make other kinds of investments to achieve its objective.

The Fund may invest in preferred stocks and convertible bonds. With preferred stocks, holders receive set dividends from the issuer; their claim on the issuer's income and assets ranks before that of common-stock holders, but after that of bondholders.

Convertible bonds can be converted into, or exchanged for, common stocks.

The Fund may invest, to a limited extent, in derivatives. Generally speaking, a derivative is a financial contract whose value is based on the value of a financial asset (such as a stock, a bond, or a currency), a physical asset (such as gold, oil, or wheat), a market index, or a reference rate. Investments in derivatives may subject the Fund to risks different from, and possibly greater than, those of investments directly in the underlying securities or assets. The Fund will not use derivatives for speculation or for the purpose of leveraging (magnifying) investment returns.

The Fund may enter into foreign currency exchange forward contracts, which are a type of derivative. A foreign currency exchange forward contract is an agreement to buy or sell a currency at a specific price on a specific date, usually 30, 60, or 90 days in the future. In other words, the contract guarantees an exchange rate on a given date. Advisors of funds that invest in foreign securities can use these contracts to guard against unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates. These contracts, however, would not prevent the Fund's securities from falling in value as a result of risks other than unfavorable currency exchange movements. The Fund may also invest in equity futures and options contracts, which are types of derivatives.

Plain Talk About Derivatives

Derivatives can take many forms. Some forms of derivatives—such as exchange- traded futures and options on securities, commodities, or indexes—have been trading on regulated exchanges for decades. These types of derivatives are standardized contracts that can easily be bought and sold and whose market values are determined and published daily. On the other hand, non-exchange- traded derivatives—such as certain swap agreements and foreign currency exchange forward contracts—tend to be more specialized or complex and may be more difficult to accurately value.

The Vanguard Group, Inc. (Vanguard) administers a small portion of the Fund's assets to facilitate cash flows to and from the Fund's advisors. The Fund may invest these assets in equity futures, which are a type of derivative, and/or shares of exchange- traded funds (ETFs), including ETF Shares issued by Vanguard stock funds. These equity futures and ETFs typically provide returns similar to those of common stocks.

11

The Fund may also purchase futures or ETFs when doing so will reduce the Fund's transaction costs or have the potential to add value because the instruments are favorably priced. Vanguard receives no additional revenue from Fund assets invested in ETF Shares of other Vanguard funds. Fund assets invested in ETF Shares are excluded when allocating to the Fund its share of the costs of Vanguard operations.

Cash Management

The Fund's daily cash balance may be invested in Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund and/or Vanguard Municipal Cash Management Fund (each, a CMT Fund), which are low-cost money market funds. When investing in a CMT Fund, the Fund bears its proportionate share of the expenses of the CMT Fund in which it invests. Vanguard receives no additional revenue from Fund assets invested in a CMT Fund.

Methods Used to Meet Redemption Requests

Under normal circumstances, the Fund typically expects to meet redemptions with positive cash flows. When this is not an option, the Fund seeks to first meet redemptions from a cash or cash equivalent reserve. Alternatively, Vanguard may instruct the advisors to sell a cross section of the Fund's holdings to meet redemptions, while also factoring in transaction costs. Additionally, the Fund may work with larger clients to implement their redemptions in a manner that is least disruptive to the portfolio; see "Potentially disruptive redemptions" under Redeeming Shares in the Investing With Vanguard section.

Under certain circumstances, including under stressed market conditions, there are additional tools that the Fund may use in order to meet redemptions, including advancing the settlement of market trades with counterparties to match investor redemption payments or delaying settlement of an investor's transaction to match trade settlement within regulatory requirements. The Fund may also suspend payment of redemption proceeds for up to seven days; see "Emergency circumstances" under Redeeming Shares in the Investing With Vanguard section. Additionally under these unusual circumstances, the Fund may borrow money (subject to certain regulatory conditions and if available under board-approved procedures) through an interfund lending facility or through a bank line-of-credit, including a joint committed credit facility, in order to meet redemption requests.

Temporary Investment Measures

The Fund may temporarily depart from its normal investment policies and strategies when an advisor believes that doing so is in the Fund's best interest, so long as the strategy or policy employed is consistent with the Fund's investment objective. For instance, the Fund may invest beyond its normal limits in derivatives or exchange- traded funds that are consistent with the Fund's investment objective when those

12

instruments are more favorably priced or provide needed liquidity, as might be the case if the Fund is transitioning assets from one advisor to another or receives large cash flows that it cannot prudently invest immediately.

In addition, the Fund may take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its normal investment policies and strategies—for instance, by allocating substantial assets to cash equivalent investments or other less volatile instruments— in response to adverse or unusual market, economic, political, or other conditions. In doing so, the Fund may succeed in avoiding losses but may otherwise fail to achieve its investment objective.

Frequent Trading or Market-Timing

Background. Some investors try to profit from strategies involving frequent trading of mutual fund shares, such as market-timing. For funds holding foreign securities, investors may try to take advantage of an anticipated difference between the price of the fund's shares and price movements in overseas markets, a practice also known as time-zone arbitrage. Investors also may try to engage in frequent trading of funds holding investments such as small-cap stocks and high-yield bonds. As money is shifted into and out of a fund by a shareholder engaging in frequent trading, the fund incurs costs for buying and selling securities, resulting in increased brokerage and administrative costs. These costs are borne by all fund shareholders, including the long-term investors who do not generate the costs. In addition, frequent trading may interfere with an advisor's ability to efficiently manage the fund.

Policies to address frequent trading. The Vanguard funds (other than money market funds and short-term bond funds, but including Vanguard Short-Term Inflation- Protected Securities Index Fund) do not knowingly accommodate frequent trading. The board of trustees of each Vanguard fund (other than money market funds and short- term bond funds, but including Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund) has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to detect and discourage frequent trading and, in some cases, to compensate the fund for the costs associated with it. These policies and procedures do not apply to ETF Shares because frequent trading in ETF Shares generally does not disrupt portfolio management or otherwise harm fund shareholders. Although there is no assurance that Vanguard will be able to detect or prevent frequent trading or market-timing in all circumstances, the following policies have been adopted to address these issues:

•Each Vanguard fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request—including exchanges from other Vanguard funds—without notice and regardless of size. For example, a purchase request could be rejected because the investor has a history of frequent trading or if Vanguard determines that such purchase may negatively affect a fund's operation or performance.

13

•Each Vanguard fund (other than money market funds and short-term bond funds, but including Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund) generally prohibits, except as otherwise noted in the Investing With Vanguard section, an investor's purchases or exchanges into a fund account for 30 calendar days after the investor has redeemed or exchanged out of that fund account.

•Certain Vanguard funds charge shareholders purchase and/or redemption fees on transactions.

See the Investing With Vanguard section of this prospectus for further details on Vanguard's transaction policies.

Each Vanguard fund (other than retail and government money market funds), in determining its net asset value, will use fair-value pricing when appropriate, as described in the Share Price section. Fair-value pricing may reduce or eliminate the profitability of certain frequent-trading strategies.

Do not invest with Vanguard if you are a market-timer.

Turnover Rate

Although the Fund generally seeks to invest for the long term, it may sell securities regardless of how long they have been held. The Financial Highlights section of this prospectus shows historical turnover rates for the Fund. A turnover rate of 100%, for example, would mean that the Fund had sold and replaced securities valued at 100% of its net assets within a one-year period. In general, the greater the turnover rate, the greater the impact transaction costs will have on a fund's return. Also, funds with high turnover rates may be more likely to generate capital gains, including short-term capital gains, that must be distributed to shareholders and will be taxable to shareholders investing through a taxable account.

The Fund and Vanguard

The Fund is a member of The Vanguard Group, a family of over 200 funds. All of the funds that are members of The Vanguard Group (other than funds of funds) share in the expenses associated with administrative services and business operations, such as personnel, office space, and equipment.

Vanguard Marketing Corporation provides marketing services to the funds. Although fund shareholders do not pay sales commissions or 12b-1 distribution fees, each fund (other than a fund of funds) or each share class of a fund (in the case of a fund with multiple share classes) pays its allocated share of the Vanguard funds' marketing costs.

14

 

Plain Talk About Vanguard's Unique Corporate Structure

The Vanguard Group is owned jointly by the funds it oversees and thus indirectly by the shareholders in those funds. Most other mutual funds are operated by management companies that are owned by third parties—either public or private stockholders—and not by the funds they serve.

Investment Advisors

The Fund uses a multimanager approach. Each advisor independently manages its assigned portion of the Fund's assets, subject to the supervision and oversight of Vanguard and the Fund's board of trustees. The board of trustees designates the proportion of Fund assets to be managed by each advisor and may change these proportions at any time.

•ARGA Investment Management, LP, 1010 Washington Boulevard, 6th Floor, Stamford, CT 06901, is an investment management firm founded in 2010. As of October 31, 2019, ARGA managed approximately $4.8 billion in assets.

•Edinburgh Partners Limited, 27–31 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7JF, Scotland, is an investment management firm and a wholly owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc., a global investment management organization headquartered in San Mateo, California, operating as Franklin Templeton Investments. As of October 31, 2019, Edinburgh Partners managed approximately $8.6 billion in assets.

•Lazard Asset Management LLC, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112, is an investment management firm and wholly owned subsidiary of Lazard Freres & Co. LLC. As of October 31, 2019, Lazard managed approximately $208 billion in assets.

The Fund pays each of its investment advisors a base fee plus or minus a performance adjustment. Each base fee, which is paid quarterly, is a percentage of average daily net assets managed by the advisor during the most recent fiscal quarter. The base fee has breakpoints, which means that the percentage declines as assets go up. The performance adjustment, also paid quarterly, is based on the cumulative total return of each advisor's portion of the Fund relative to that of the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index over the preceding 60-month period (for ARGA and Lazard) or the preceding 36-month period (for Edinburgh Partners). When the performance adjustment is positive, the Fund's expenses increase; when it is negative, expenses decrease.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019, the aggregate advisory fee represented an effective annual rate of 0.17% of the Fund's average net assets before a performance-based decrease of 0.01%.

15

Under the terms of an SEC exemption, the Fund's board of trustees may, without prior approval from shareholders, change the terms of an advisory agreement with a third- party investment advisor or hire a new third-party investment advisor—either as a replacement for an existing advisor or as an additional advisor. Any significant change in the Fund's advisory arrangements will be communicated to shareholders in writing. As the Fund's sponsor and overall manager, Vanguard may provide investment advisory services to the Fund at any time. Vanguard may also recommend to the board of trustees that an advisor be hired, terminated, or replaced or that the terms of an existing advisory agreement be revised. The Fund has filed an application seeking a similar SEC exemption with respect to investment advisors that are wholly owned subsidiaries of Vanguard. If the exemption is granted, the Fund may rely on the new SEC relief.

For a discussion of why the board of trustees approved the Fund's investment advisory agreements, see the most recent semiannual report to shareholders covering the fiscal period ended April 30.

The managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are:

A. Rama Krishna, CFA, Founder and Chief Investment Officer of ARGA. He has worked in investment management since 1987, has been with ARGA since 2010, and has co-managed a portion of the Fund since 2012. Education: B.A. (Honors) in economics, St. Stephens College, University of Delhi; M.B.A. and M.A., University of Michigan.

Steven Morrow, CFA, Director of Research at ARGA. He has worked in investment management since 1993, has been with ARGA since 2010, and has co-managed a portion of the Fund since 2012. Education: B.S., University of New Hampshire; M.B.A., Cornell University.

Sandy Nairn, Investment Partner, Director, and Chief Executive of Edinburgh Partners. He has worked in investment management since 1985, has managed investment portfolios since 1986, has been with Edinburgh Partners since co-founding the firm in 2003, and has managed a portion of the Fund since 2008. Following the acquisition of Edinburgh Partners by Franklin Templeton Investments in 2018, Dr. Nairn also acts as Chairman of the Templeton Global Equity Group. Education: B.Sc. and Ph.D. in economics, University of Strathclyde/Scottish Business School.

Michael A. Bennett, CPA, Managing Director of Lazard. He has worked in investment management since 1987, has been with Lazard since 1992, and has co-managed a portion of the Fund since 2010. Education: B.S., New York University; M.B.A., University of Chicago.

16

Michael G. Fry, Managing Director of Lazard. He has worked in investment management since 1981, has been with Lazard since 2005, and has co-managed a portion of the Fund since 2010. Education: B.Sc., Flinders University.

The Fund's Statement of Additional Information provides information about each portfolio manager's compensation, other accounts under management, and ownership of shares of the Fund.

Dividends, Capital Gains, and Taxes

Fund Distributions

The Fund distributes to shareholders virtually all of its net income (interest and dividends, less expenses) as well as any net short-term or long-term capital gains realized from the sale of its holdings. Income and capital gains distributions, if any, generally occur annually in December. In addition, the Fund may occasionally make a supplemental distribution at some other time during the year.

You can receive distributions of income or capital gains in cash, or you can have them automatically reinvested in more shares of the Fund. However, if you are investing through an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, your distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares.

Plain Talk About Distributions

As a shareholder, you are entitled to your portion of a fund's income from interest and dividends as well as capital gains from the fund's sale of investments. Income consists of both the dividends that the fund earns from any stock holdings and the interest it receives from any money market and bond investments. Capital gains are realized whenever the fund sells securities for higher prices than it paid for them. These capital gains are either short-term or long-term, depending on whether the fund held the securities for one year or less or for more than one year.

Basic Tax Points

Investors in taxable accounts should be aware of the following basic federal income tax points:

•Distributions are taxable to you whether or not you reinvest these amounts in additional Fund shares.

•Distributions declared in December—if paid to you by the end of January—are taxable as if received in December.

17

•Any dividend distribution or short-term capital gains distribution that you receive is taxable to you as ordinary income. If you are an individual and meet certain holding- period requirements with respect to your Fund's shares, you may be eligible for reduced tax rates on "qualified dividend income,"if any, distributed by the Fund.

•Any distribution of net long-term capital gains is taxable to you as long-term capital gains, no matter how long you have owned shares in the Fund.

•Capital gains distributions may vary considerably from year to year as a result of the Fund's normal investment activities and cash flows.

•A sale or exchange of Fund shares is a taxable event. This means that you may have a capital gain to report as income, or a capital loss to report as a deduction, when you complete your tax return.

•Vanguard (or your intermediary) will send you a statement each year showing the tax status of all of your distributions.

Individuals, trusts, and estates whose income exceeds certain threshold amounts are subject to a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on "net investment income." Net investment income takes into account distributions paid by the Fund and capital gains from any sale or exchange of Fund shares.

Dividend distributions and capital gains distributions that you receive, as well as your gains or losses from any sale or exchange of Fund shares, may be subject to state and local income taxes.

The Fund may be subject to foreign taxes or foreign tax withholding on dividends, interest, and some capital gains that it receives on foreign securities. You may qualify for an offsetting credit or deduction under U.S. tax laws for any amount designated as your portion of the Fund's foreign tax obligations, provided that you meet certain requirements. See your tax advisor or IRS publications for more information.

This prospectus provides general tax information only. If you are investing through a tax-advantaged account, such as an IRA or an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, special tax rules apply. Please consult your tax advisor for detailed information about any tax consequences for you.

18

 

Plain Talk About Buying a Dividend

Unless you are a tax-exempt investor or investing through a tax-advantaged account (such as an IRA or an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan), you should consider avoiding a purchase of fund shares shortly before the fund makes a distribution, because doing so can cost you money in taxes. This is known as "buying a dividend." For example: On December 15, you invest $5,000, buying 250 shares for $20 each. If the fund pays a distribution of $1 per share on December 16, its share price will drop to $19 (not counting market change). You still have only $5,000 (250 shares x $19 = $4,750 in share value, plus 250 shares x $1 = $250 in distributions), but you owe tax on the $250 distribution you received—even if you reinvest it in more shares. To avoid buying a dividend, check a fund's distribution schedule before you invest.

General Information

Backup withholding. By law, Vanguard must withhold 24% of any taxable distributions or redemptions from your account if you do not:

•Provide your correct taxpayer identification number.

•Certify that the taxpayer identification number is correct.

•Confirm that you are not subject to backup withholding.

Similarly, Vanguard (or your intermediary) must withhold taxes from your account if the IRS instructs us to do so.

Foreign investors. Vanguard funds offered for sale in the United States (Vanguard U.S. funds), including the Fund offered in this prospectus, are not widely available outside the United States. Non-U.S. investors should be aware that U.S. withholding and estate taxes and certain U.S. tax reporting requirements may apply to any investments in Vanguard U.S. funds. Foreign investors should visit the non-U.S. investors page on our website at vanguard.com for information on Vanguard's non-U.S. products.

Invalid addresses. If a dividend distribution or capital gains distribution check mailed to your address of record is returned as undeliverable, Vanguard will automatically reinvest the distribution and all future distributions until you provide us with a valid mailing address. Reinvestments will receive the net asset value calculated on the date of the reinvestment.

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Share Price

Share price, also known as net asset value (NAV), is calculated as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), generally 4 p.m., Eastern time, on each day that the NYSE is open for business (a business day). In the rare event the NYSE experiences unanticipated disruptions and is unavailable at the close of the trading day, the Fund reserves the right to treat such day as a business day and calculate NAVs as of the close of regular trading on the Nasdaq (or another alternate exchange if the Nasdaq is unavailable, as determined at Vanguard's discretion), generally 4 p.m., Eastern time. NAV per share is computed by dividing the total assets, minus liabilities, of the Fund by the number of Fund shares outstanding. On U.S. holidays or other days when the NYSE is closed, the NAV is not calculated, and the Fund does not sell or redeem shares. However, on those days the value of the Fund's assets may be affected to the extent that the Fund holds securities that change in value on those days (such as foreign securities that trade on foreign markets that are open).

Stocks held by a Vanguard fund are valued at their market value when reliable market quotations are readily available from the principal exchange or market on which they are traded. Such securities are generally valued at their official closing price, the last reported sales price, or if there were no sales that day, the mean between the closing bid and asking prices. When a fund determines that market quotations either are not readily available or do not accurately reflect the value of a security, the security is priced at its fair value (the amount that the owner might reasonably expect to receive upon the current sale of the security).

The values of any foreign securities held by a fund are converted into U.S. dollars using an exchange rate obtained from an independent third party as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE. The values of any mutual fund shares, including institutional money market fund shares, held by a fund are based on the NAVs of the shares. The values of any ETF shares or closed-end fund shares held by a fund are based on the market value of the shares.

A fund also will use fair-value pricing if the value of a security it holds has been materially affected by events occurring before the fund's pricing time but after the close of the principal exchange or market on which the security is traded. This most commonly occurs with foreign securities, which may trade on foreign exchanges that close many hours before the fund's pricing time. Intervening events might be company-specific (e.g., earnings report, merger announcement) or country-specific or regional/global (e.g., natural disaster, economic or political news, act of terrorism, interest rate change). Intervening events include price movements in U.S. markets that exceed a specified threshold or that are otherwise deemed to affect the value of foreign securities.

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Fair-value pricing may be used for domestic securities—for example, if (1) trading in a security is halted and does not resume before the fund's pricing time or a security does not trade in the course of a day and (2) the fund holds enough of the security that its price could affect the NAV.

Fair-value prices are determined by Vanguard according to procedures adopted by the board of trustees. When fair-value pricing is employed, the prices of securities used by a fund to calculate the NAV may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities.

Vanguard fund share prices are published daily on our website at vanguard.com/prices.

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Financial Highlights

Financial highlights information is intended to help you understand a fund's performance for the past five years (or, if shorter, its period of operations). Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. Total return represents the rate that an investor would have earned or lost each period on an investment in a fund or share class (assuming reinvestment of all distributions). This information has been obtained from the financial statements audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with fund financial statements, is included in a fund's most recent annual report to shareholders. You may obtain a free copy of a fund's latest annual or semiannual report, which is available upon request.

International Value Fund

 

 

 

Year Ended October 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

$35.86

$39.26

$32.30

$33.22

$36.87

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

1.1041

.9501

.7811

.721

.669

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

on Investments

1.669

(3.607)

6.905

(.979)

(3.373)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total from Investment Operations

2.773

(2.657)

7.686

(.258)

(2.704)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends from Net Investment Income

(.943)

(.743)

(.726)

(.662)

(.946)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions from Realized Capital Gains

(1.060)

—

—

—

—

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Distributions

(2.003)

(.743)

(.726)

(.662)

(.946)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

$36.63

$35.86

$39.26

$32.30

$33.22

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return2

8.48%

–6.95%

24.33%

–0.67%

–7.43%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Assets, End of Period (Millions)

$10,360

$9,524

$9,964

$7,873

$7,932

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of Total Expenses to Average Net Assets3

0.37%

0.38%

0.40%

0.43%

0.46%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to

 

 

 

 

 

Average Net Assets

3.15%

2.41%

2.21%

2.29%

1.95%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

38%

28%

34%

30%

36%

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Calculated based on average shares outstanding.

2 Total returns do not include account service fees that may have applied in the periods shown.

3 Includes performance-based investment advisory fee increases (decreases) of (0.01%), (0.01%), 0.00%, 0.03%, and 0.04%.

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Investing With Vanguard

This section of the prospectus explains the basics of doing business with Vanguard. Vanguard fund shares can be held directly with Vanguard or indirectly through an intermediary, such as a bank, a broker, or an investment advisor. If you hold Vanguard fund shares directly with Vanguard, you should carefully read each topic within this section that pertains to your relationship with Vanguard. If you hold Vanguard fund shares indirectly through an intermediary (including shares held in a brokerage account through Vanguard Brokerage Services®), please see Investing With Vanguard Through Other Firms, and also refer to your account agreement with the intermediary for information about transacting in that account. If you hold Vanguard fund shares through an employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, please see Employer-Sponsored Plans. Vanguard reserves the right to change the following policies without notice. Please call or check online for current information. See Contacting Vanguard.

For Vanguard fund shares held directly with Vanguard, each fund you hold in an account is a separate "fund account." For example, if you hold three funds in a nonretirement account titled in your own name, two funds in a nonretirement account titled jointly with your spouse, and one fund in an individual retirement account, you have six fund accounts—and this is true even if you hold the same fund in multiple accounts. Note that each reference to "you" in this prospectus applies to any one or more registered account owners or persons authorized to transact on your account.

Purchasing Shares

Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to increase or decrease the minimum amount required to open or maintain a fund account or to add to an existing fund account.

Investment minimums may differ for certain categories of investors.

Account Minimums

To open and maintain an account. $3,000. Financial intermediaries, institutional clients, and Vanguard-advised clients should contact Vanguard for information on special eligibility rules that may apply to them regarding Investor Shares. If you are investing through an intermediary, please contact that firm directly for more information regarding your eligibility.

To add to an existing account. Generally $1.

How to Initiate a Purchase Request

Be sure to check Exchanging Shares, Frequent-Trading Limitations, and Other Rules You Should Know before placing your purchase request.

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Online. You may open certain types of accounts, request a purchase of shares, and request an exchange through our website or our mobile application if you are registered for online access.

By telephone. You may call Vanguard to begin the account registration process or request that the account-opening forms be sent to you. You may also call Vanguard to request a purchase of shares in your account or to request an exchange. See Contacting Vanguard.

By mail. You may send Vanguard your account registration form and check to open a new fund account. To add to an existing fund account, you may send your check with an Invest-by-Mail form (from a transaction confirmation or your account statement) or with a deposit slip (available online).

How to Pay for a Purchase

By electronic bank transfer. You may purchase shares of a Vanguard fund through an electronic transfer of money from a bank account. To establish the electronic bank transfer service on an account, you must designate the bank account online, complete a form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account registration form. After the service is set up on your account, you can purchase shares by electronic bank transfer on a regular schedule (Automatic Investment Plan) or upon request. Your purchase request can be initiated online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail.

By wire. Wiring instructions vary for different types of purchases. Please call Vanguard for instructions and policies on purchasing shares by wire. See Contacting Vanguard.

By check. You may make initial or additional purchases to your fund account by sending a check with a deposit slip or by utilizing our mobile application if you are registered for online access. Also see How to Initiate a Purchase Request. Make your check payable to Vanguard and include the appropriate fund number (Vanguard—46).

By exchange. You may purchase shares of a Vanguard fund using the proceeds from the simultaneous redemption of shares of another Vanguard fund. You may initiate an exchange online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail with an exchange form. See Exchanging Shares.

Trade Date

The trade date for any purchase request received in good order will depend on the day and time Vanguard receives your request, the manner in which you are paying, and the type of fund you are purchasing. Your purchase will be executed using the NAV as calculated on the trade date. See Share Price.

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For purchases by check into all funds other than money market funds and for purchases by exchange, wire, or electronic bank transfer into all funds: If the purchase request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date for the purchase will be the same day. If the purchase request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date for the purchase will be the next business day.

For purchases by check into money market funds: If the purchase request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date for the purchase will be the next business day. If the purchase request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date for the purchase will be the second business day following the day Vanguard receives the purchase request. Because money market instruments must be purchased with federal funds and it takes a money market mutual fund one business day to convert check proceeds into federal funds, the trade date for the purchase will be one business day later than for other funds.

If your purchase request is not accurate and complete, it may be rejected. See Other Rules You Should Know—Good Order.

For further information about purchase transactions, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Other Purchase Rules You Should Know

Check purchases. All purchase checks must be written in U.S. dollars, be drawn on a U.S. bank, and be accompanied by good order instructions. Vanguard does not accept cash, traveler's checks, starter checks, or money orders. In addition, Vanguard may refuse checks that are not made payable to Vanguard.

New accounts. We are required by law to obtain from you certain personal information that we will use to verify your identity. If you do not provide the information, we may not be able to open your account. If we are unable to verify your identity, Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to close your account or take such other steps as we deem reasonable. Certain types of accounts may require additional documentation.

Refused or rejected purchase requests. Vanguard reserves the right to stop selling fund shares or to reject any purchase request at any time and without notice, including, but not limited to, purchases requested by exchange from another Vanguard fund. This also includes the right to reject any purchase request because the investor has a history of frequent trading or because the purchase may negatively affect a fund's operation or performance.

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Large purchases. Call Vanguard before attempting to invest a large dollar amount.

No cancellations. Vanguard will not accept your request to cancel any purchase request once processing has begun. Please be careful when placing a purchase request.

Redeeming Shares

How to Initiate a Redemption Request

Be sure to check Exchanging Shares, Frequent-Trading Limitations, and Other Rules You Should Know before placing your redemption request.

Online. You may request a redemption of shares or request an exchange through our website or our mobile application if you are registered for online access.

By telephone. You may call Vanguard to request a redemption of shares or an exchange. See Contacting Vanguard.

By mail. You may send a form (available online) to Vanguard to redeem from a fund account or to make an exchange. See Contacting Vanguard.

How to Receive Redemption Proceeds

By electronic bank transfer. You may have the proceeds of a fund redemption sent directly to a designated bank account. To establish the electronic bank transfer service on an account, you must designate a bank account online, complete a form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account registration form. After the service is set up on your account, you can redeem shares by electronic bank transfer on a regular schedule (Automatic Withdrawal Plan) or upon request. Your redemption request can be initiated online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail.

By wire. To receive your proceeds by wire, you may instruct Vanguard to wire your redemption proceeds ($100 minimum) to a previously designated bank account. To establish the wire redemption service, you generally must designate a bank account online, complete a form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account registration form.

Please note that Vanguard charges a $10 wire fee for outgoing wire redemptions. The fee is assessed in addition to, rather than being withheld from, redemption proceeds and is paid directly to the fund in which you invest. For example, if you redeem $100 via a wire, you will receive the full $100, and the $10 fee will be assessed to your fund account through an additional redemption of fund shares. If you redeem your entire fund account, your redemption proceeds will be reduced by the amount of the fee. The wire fee does not apply to accounts held by Flagship and Flagship Select clients; accounts held through intermediaries, including Vanguard Brokerage Services; or accounts held by institutional clients.

26

By exchange. You may have the proceeds of a Vanguard fund redemption invested directly in shares of another Vanguard fund. You may initiate an exchange online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail. See Exchanging Shares.

By check. If you have not chosen another redemption method, Vanguard will mail you a redemption check, generally payable to all registered account owners, normally within two business days of your trade date, and generally to the address of record.

Trade Date

The trade date for any redemption request received in good order will depend on the day and time Vanguard receives your request and the manner in which you are redeeming. Your redemption will be executed using the NAV as calculated on the trade date. See Share Price.

For redemptions by check, exchange, or wire: If the redemption request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date will be the same day. If the redemption request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the next business day.

•Note on timing of wire redemptions from money market funds: For telephone requests received by Vanguard on a business day before 10:45 a.m., Eastern time (2 p.m., Eastern time, for Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund; 12:30 p.m., Eastern time, for Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund), the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business the same day. For telephone requests received by Vanguard on a business day after those cut-off times, or on a nonbusiness day, and for all requests other than by telephone, the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business on the next business day.

•Note on timing of wire redemptions from all other funds: For requests received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business on the next business day. For requests received by Vanguard on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business on the second business day after Vanguard receives the request.

For redemptions by electronic bank transfer: If the redemption request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date will be the same day. If the redemption request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the next business day.

27

If your redemption request is not accurate and complete, it may be rejected. If we are unable to send your redemption proceeds by wire or electronic bank transfer because the receiving institution rejects the transfer, Vanguard will make additional efforts to complete your transaction. If Vanguard is still unable to complete the transaction, we may send the proceeds of the redemption to you by check, generally payable to all registered account owners, or use your proceeds to purchase new shares of the fund from which you sold shares for the purpose of the wire or electronic bank transfer transaction. See Other Rules You Should Know—Good Order.

If your redemption request is received in good order, we typically expect that redemption proceeds will be paid by the Fund within one business day of the trade date; however, in certain circumstances, investors may experience a longer settlement period at the time of the transaction. For further information, see "Potentially disruptive redemptions" and "Emergency circumstances."

For further information about redemption transactions, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Other Redemption Rules You Should Know

Documentation for certain accounts. Special documentation may be required to redeem from certain types of accounts, such as trust, corporate, nonprofit, or retirement accounts. Please call us before attempting to redeem from these types of accounts.

Potentially disruptive redemptions. Vanguard reserves the right to pay all or part of a redemption in kind—that is, in the form of securities—if we reasonably believe that a cash redemption would negatively affect the fund's operation or performance or that the shareholder may be engaged in market-timing or frequent trading. Under these circumstances, Vanguard also reserves the right to delay payment of the redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days. By calling us before you attempt to redeem a large dollar amount, you may avoid in-kind or delayed payment of your redemption. Please see Frequent-Trading Limitations for information about Vanguard's policies to limit frequent trading.

Recently purchased shares. Although you can redeem shares at any time, proceeds may not be made available to you until the fund collects payment for your purchase. This may take up to seven calendar days for shares purchased by check or by electronic bank transfer. If you have written a check on a fund with checkwriting privileges, that check may be rejected if your fund account does not have a sufficient available balance.

Share certificates. Share certificates are no longer issued for Vanguard funds. Shares currently held in certificates cannot be redeemed, exchanged, or transferred (reregistered) until you return the certificates (unsigned) to Vanguard by registered mail.

28

Address change. If you change your address online or by telephone, there may be up to a 14-day restriction on your ability to request check redemptions online and by telephone. You can request a redemption in writing (using a form available online) at any time. Confirmations of address changes are sent to both the old and new addresses.

Payment to a different person or address. At your request, we can make your redemption check payable, or wire your redemption proceeds, to a different person or send it to a different address. However, this generally requires the written consent of all registered account owners and may require additional documentation, such as a signature guarantee or a notarized signature. You may obtain a signature guarantee from some commercial or savings banks, credit unions, trust companies, or member firms of a U.S. stock exchange.

No cancellations. Vanguard will not accept your request to cancel any redemption request once processing has begun. Please be careful when placing a redemption request.

Emergency circumstances. Vanguard funds can postpone payment of redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days. In addition, Vanguard funds can suspend redemptions and/or postpone payments of redemption proceeds beyond seven calendar days at times when the NYSE is closed or during emergency circumstances, as determined by the SEC.

Exchanging Shares

An exchange occurs when you use the proceeds from the redemption of shares of one Vanguard fund to simultaneously purchase shares of a different Vanguard fund. You can make exchange requests online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail. See Purchasing Shares and Redeeming Shares.

If the NYSE is open for regular trading (generally until 4 p.m., Eastern time, on a business day) at the time an exchange request is received in good order, the trade date generally will be the same day. See Other Rules You Should Know—Good Order for additional information on all transaction requests.

Vanguard will not accept your request to cancel any exchange request once processing has begun. Please be careful when placing an exchange request.

Call Vanguard before attempting to exchange a large dollar amount. By calling us before you attempt to exchange a large dollar amount, you may avoid delayed or rejected transactions.

Please note that Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to revise or terminate the exchange privilege, limit the amount of any exchange, or reject an exchange, at

29

any time, for any reason. See Frequent-Trading Limitations for additional restrictions on exchanges.

Frequent-Trading Limitations

Because excessive transactions can disrupt management of a fund and increase the fund's costs for all shareholders, the board of trustees of each Vanguard fund places certain limits on frequent trading in the funds. Each Vanguard fund (other than money market funds and short-term bond funds, but including Vanguard Short-Term Inflation- Protected Securities Index Fund) limits an investor's purchases or exchanges into a fund account for 30 calendar days after the investor has redeemed or exchanged out of that fund account. ETF Shares are not subject to these frequent-trading limits.

For Vanguard Retirement Investment Program pooled plans, the limitations apply to exchanges made online or by telephone.

These frequent-trading limitations do not apply to the following:

•Purchases of shares with reinvested dividend or capital gains distributions.

•Transactions through Vanguard's Automatic Investment Plan, Automatic Exchange Service, Direct Deposit Service, Automatic Withdrawal Plan, Required Minimum Distribution Service, and Vanguard Small Business Online®.

•Discretionary transactions through Vanguard Personal Advisor Services®, Vanguard Institutional Advisory Services®, and Vanguard Digital AdvisorTM.

•Redemptions of shares to pay fund or account fees.

•Redemptions of shares to remove excess shareholder contributions to certain types of retirement accounts (including, but not limited to, IRAs and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans).

•Transfers and reregistrations of shares within the same fund.

•Purchases of shares by asset transfer or direct rollover.

•Conversions of shares from one share class to another in the same fund.

•Checkwriting redemptions.

•Section 529 college savings plans.

•Certain approved institutional portfolios and asset allocation programs, as well as trades made by funds or trusts managed by Vanguard or its affiliates that invest in other Vanguard funds. (Please note that shareholders of Vanguard's funds of funds are subject to the limitations.)

For participants in employer-sponsored defined contribution plans,* the frequent- trading limitations do not apply to:

30

•Purchases of shares with participant payroll or employer contributions or loan repayments.

•Purchases of shares with reinvested dividend or capital gains distributions.

•Distributions, loans, and in-service withdrawals from a plan.

•Redemptions of shares as part of a plan termination or at the direction of the plan.

•Transactions executed through the Vanguard Managed Account Program.

•Redemptions of shares to pay fund or account fees.

•Share or asset transfers or rollovers.

•Reregistrations of shares.

•Conversions of shares from one share class to another in the same fund.

•Exchange requests submitted by written request to Vanguard. (Exchange requests submitted by fax, if otherwise permitted, are subject to the limitations.)

*The following Vanguard fund accounts are subject to the frequent-trading limitations: SEP-IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, certain Individual 403(b)(7) Custodial Accounts, and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans.

Accounts Held by Institutions (Other Than Defined Contribution Plans)

Vanguard will systematically monitor for frequent trading in institutional clients' accounts. If we detect suspicious trading activity, we will investigate and take appropriate action, which may include applying to a client's accounts the 30-day policy previously described, prohibiting a client's purchases of fund shares, and/or revoking the client's exchange privilege.

Accounts Held by Intermediaries

When intermediaries establish accounts in Vanguard funds for the benefit of their clients, we cannot always monitor the trading activity of the individual clients. However, we review trading activity at the intermediary (omnibus) level, and if we detect suspicious activity, we will investigate and take appropriate action. If necessary, Vanguard may prohibit additional purchases of fund shares by an intermediary, including for the benefit of certain of the intermediary's clients. Intermediaries also may monitor their clients' trading activities with respect to Vanguard funds.

For those Vanguard funds that charge purchase and/or redemption fees, intermediaries will be asked to assess these fees on client accounts and remit these fees to the funds. The application of purchase and redemption fees and frequent- trading limitations may vary among intermediaries. There are no assurances that Vanguard will successfully identify all intermediaries or that intermediaries will properly assess purchase and redemption fees or administer frequent-trading

31

limitations. If you invest with Vanguard through an intermediary, please read that firm's materials carefully to learn of any other rules or fees that may apply.

Other Rules You Should Know

Prospectus and Shareholder Report Mailings

When two or more shareholders have the same last name and address, just one summary prospectus (or prospectus) and/or shareholder report may be sent in an attempt to eliminate the unnecessary expense of duplicate mailings. You may request individual prospectuses and reports by contacting our Client Services Department by telephone or online. See Contacting Vanguard.

Vanguard.com

Registration. If you are a registered user of vanguard.com, you can review your account holdings; buy, sell, or exchange shares of most Vanguard funds; and perform most other transactions through our website. You must register for this service online.

Electronic delivery. Vanguard can deliver your account statements, transaction confirmations, prospectuses, certain tax forms, and shareholder reports electronically. If you are a registered user of vanguard.com, you can consent to the electronic delivery of these documents by logging on and changing your mailing preferences under "Account Maintenance." You can revoke your electronic consent at any time through our website, and we will begin to send paper copies of these documents within 30 days of receiving your revocation.

Telephone Transactions

Automatic. When we set up your account, we will automatically enable you to do business with us by telephone, unless you instruct us otherwise in writing.

Tele-Account®. To obtain fund and account information through Vanguard's automated telephone service, you must first establish a Personal Identification Number (PIN) by calling Tele-Account at 800-662-6273.

Proof of a caller's authority. We reserve the right to refuse a telephone request if the caller is unable to provide the requested information or if we reasonably believe that the caller is not an individual authorized to act on the account. Before we allow a caller to act on an account, we may request the following information:

•Authorization to act on the account (as the account owner or by legal documentation or other means).

•Account registration and address.

•Fund name and account number, if applicable.

32

• Other information relating to the caller, the account owner, or the account.

Good Order

We reserve the right to reject any transaction instructions that are not in "good order." Good order generally means that your instructions:

•Are provided by the person(s) authorized in accordance with Vanguard's policies and procedures to access the account and request transactions.

•Include the fund name and account number.

•Include the amount of the transaction (stated in dollars, shares, or percentage). Written instructions also must generally be provided on a Vanguard form and include:

•Signature(s) and date from the authorized person(s).

•Signature guarantees or notarized signatures, if required for the type of transaction. (Call Vanguard for specific requirements.)

•Any supporting documentation that may be required.

Good order requirements may vary among types of accounts and transactions. For more information, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to revise the requirements for good order.

Future Trade-Date Requests

Vanguard does not accept requests to hold a purchase, redemption, or exchange transaction for a future date. All such requests will receive trade dates as previously described in Purchasing Shares, Redeeming Shares, and Exchanging Shares. Vanguard reserves the right to return future-dated purchase checks.

Accounts With More Than One Owner

If an account has more than one owner or authorized person, Vanguard generally will accept instructions from any one owner or authorized person.

Responsibility for Fraud

You should take precautions to protect yourself from fraud. Keep your account-related information private, and review any account confirmations, statements, or other information that we provide to you as soon as you receive them. Let us know immediately if you discover unauthorized activity or see something on your account that you do not understand or that looks unusual.

Vanguard will not be responsible for losses that result from transactions by a person who we reasonably believe is authorized to act on your account.

33

Uncashed Checks

Please cash your distribution or redemption checks promptly. Vanguard will not pay interest on uncashed checks. Vanguard may be required to transfer assets related to uncashed checks to a state under the state's abandoned property law.

Dormant Accounts

If your account has no activity in it for a period of time, Vanguard may be required to transfer it to a state under the state's abandoned property law, subject to potential federal or state withholding taxes.

Unusual Circumstances

If you experience difficulty contacting Vanguard online or by telephone, you can send us your transaction request on a Vanguard form by regular or express mail.

Investing With Vanguard Through Other Firms

You may purchase or sell shares of most Vanguard funds through a financial intermediary, such as a bank, a broker, or an investment advisor. Please consult your financial intermediary to determine which, if any, shares are available through that firm and to learn about other rules that may apply. Your financial intermediary can provide you with account information and any required tax forms. You may be required to pay a commission on purchases of mutual fund shares made through a financial intermediary.

Please see Frequent-Trading Limitations—Accounts Held by Intermediaries for information about the assessment of any purchase or redemption fees and the monitoring of frequent trading for accounts held by intermediaries.

Account Service Fee

Vanguard may charge a $20 account service fee on fund accounts that have a balance below $10,000 for any reason, including market fluctuation. The account service fee applies to both retirement and nonretirement fund accounts and may be assessed on fund accounts in all Vanguard funds, regardless of the account minimum. The fee, which will be collected by redeeming fund shares in the amount of $20, will be deducted from fund accounts subject to the fee once per calendar year.

If you elect to receive your statements and other materials electronically (i.e., by e-delivery), the account service fee will not be charged, so long as your election remains in effect. You can make your e-delivery election on vanguard.com.

Beginning on January 1, 2021, you may elect to receive paper copies of shareholder reports free of charge as noted on the cover of this prospectus.

34

Certain account types have alternative fee structures, including SIMPLE IRAs, Vanguard Retirement Investment Program pooled plans, and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans.

Low-Balance Accounts

The Fund reserves the right to liquidate a fund account whose balance falls below the account minimum for any reason, including market fluctuation. This liquidation policy applies to nonretirement fund accounts and accounts that are held through intermediaries. Any such liquidation will be preceded by written notice to the investor.

Right to Change Policies

In addition to the rights expressly stated elsewhere in this prospectus, Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to (1) alter, add, or discontinue any conditions of purchase (including eligibility requirements), redemption, exchange, service, or privilege at any time and (2) alter, impose, discontinue, or waive any purchase fee, redemption fee, account service fee, or other fee charged to a shareholder or a group of shareholders. Changes may affect any or all investors. These actions will be taken when, at the sole discretion of Vanguard management, Vanguard believes they are in the best interest of a fund.

Account Restrictions

Vanguard reserves the right to: (1) redeem all or a portion of a fund/account to meet a legal obligation, including tax withholding, tax lien, garnishment order, or other obligation imposed on your account by a court or government agency; (2) redeem shares, close an account, or suspend account privileges, features, or options in the case of threatening conduct or activity; (3) redeem shares, close an account, or suspend account privileges, features, or options if Vanguard believes or suspects that not doing so could result in a suspicious, fraudulent, or illegal transaction; (4) place restrictions on the ability to redeem any or all shares in an account if it is required to do so by a court or government agency; (5) place restrictions on the ability to redeem any or all shares in an account if Vanguard believes that doing so will prevent fraud, financial exploitation or abuse, or to protect vulnerable investors; (6) freeze any account and/or suspend account services if Vanguard has received reasonable notice of a dispute regarding the assets in an account, including notice of a dispute between the registered or beneficial account owners; and (7) freeze any account and/or suspend account services upon initial notification to Vanguard of the death of an account owner.

35

Fund and Account Updates

Confirmation Statements

We will send (or provide through our website, whichever you prefer) a confirmation of your trade date and the amount of your transaction when you buy, sell, or exchange shares. However, we will not send confirmations reflecting only checkwriting redemptions or the reinvestment of dividend or capital gains distributions. For any month in which you had a checkwriting redemption, a Checkwriting Activity Statement will be sent to you itemizing the checkwriting redemptions for that month. Promptly review each confirmation statement that we provide to you. It is important that you contact Vanguard immediately with any questions you may have about any transaction reflected on a confirmation statement, or Vanguard will consider the transaction properly processed.

Portfolio Summaries

We will send (or provide through our website, whichever you prefer) quarterly portfolio summaries to help you keep track of your accounts throughout the year. Each summary shows the market value of your account at the close of the statement period, as well as all distributions, purchases, redemptions, exchanges, and transfers for the current calendar quarter (or month). Promptly review each summary that we provide to you. It is important that you contact Vanguard immediately with any questions you may have about any transaction reflected on the summary, or Vanguard will consider the transaction properly processed.

Tax Information Statements

For most accounts, Vanguard (or your intermediary) is required to provide annual tax forms to assist you in preparing your income tax returns. These forms are generally available for each calendar year early in the following year. Registered users of vanguard.com can also view certain forms through our website. Vanguard (or your intermediary) may also provide you with additional tax-related documentation. For more information, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Annual and Semiannual Reports

We will send (or provide through our website, whichever you prefer) reports about Vanguard International Value Fund twice a year, in June and December. These reports include overviews of the financial markets and provide the following specific Fund information:

•Performance assessments and comparisons with industry benchmarks.

•Reports from the advisors.

•Financial statements with listings of Fund holdings.

36

Portfolio Holdings

Please consult the Fund's Statement of Additional Information or our website for a description of the policies and procedures that govern disclosure of the Fund's portfolio holdings.

Employer-Sponsored Plans

Your plan administrator or your employee benefits office can provide you with detailed information on how to participate in your plan and how to elect the Fund as an investment option.

•If you have any questions about the Fund or Vanguard, including those about the Fund's investment objective, strategies, or risks, contact Vanguard Participant Services toll-free at 800-523-1188 or visit our website at vanguard.com.

•If you have questions about your account, contact your plan administrator or the organization that provides recordkeeping services for your plan.

•Be sure to carefully read each topic that pertains to your transactions with Vanguard.

Vanguard reserves the right to change its policies without notice to shareholders.

Transactions

Processing times for your transaction requests may differ among recordkeepers or among transaction and funding types. Your plan's recordkeeper (which may also be Vanguard) will determine the necessary processing time frames for your transaction requests prior to submission to the Fund. Consult your recordkeeper or plan administrator for more information.

If Vanguard is serving as your plan recordkeeper and if your transaction involves one or more investments with an early cut-off time for processing or another trading restriction, your entire transaction will be subject to the restriction when the trade date for your transaction is determined.

37

Contacting Vanguard

Web

Vanguard.com

For the most complete source of Vanguard news

 

For fund, account, and service information

 

For most account transactions

 

For literature requests

 

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

 

 

Phone

 

 

 

Vanguard Tele-Account® 800-662-6273

For automated fund and account information

 

Toll-free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

 

 

Investor Information 800-662-7447 (Text telephone for people with hearing impairment at 800-749-7273)

For fund and service information For literature requests

Client Services 800-662-2739

For account information

(Text telephone for people with hearing

For most account transactions

impairment at 800-749-7273)

 

 

 

Participant Services 800-523-1188 (Text telephone for people with hearing impairment at 800-749-7273)

For information and services for participants in employer- sponsored plans

Institutional Division

For information and services for large institutional investors

888-809-8102

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Advisor and Intermediary

For information and services for financial intermediaries

Sales Support 800-997-2798

including financial advisors, broker-dealers, trust institutions,

 

and insurance companies

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Advisory and Intermediary

For account information and trading support for financial

Trading Support 800-669-0498

intermediaries including financial advisors, broker-dealers,

 

trust institutions, and insurance companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inception

Newspaper

Vanguard

CUSIP

 

Date

Abbreviation

Fund Number

Number

 

 

 

 

 

 

International Value Fund

5/16/1983

IntlVal

46

921939203

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CFA® is a registered trademark owned by CFA Institute.

38

Glossary of Investment Terms

Capital Gains Distributions. Payments to mutual fund shareholders of gains realized on securities that a fund has sold at a profit, minus any realized losses.

Cash Equivalent Investments. Cash deposits, short-term bank deposits, and money market instruments that include U.S. Treasury bills and notes, bank certificates of deposit (CDs), repurchase agreements, commercial paper, and banker's acceptances.

Common Stock. A security representing ownership rights in a corporation.

Dividend Distributions. Payments to mutual fund shareholders of income from interest or dividends generated by a fund's investments.

Expense Ratio. A fund's total annual operating expenses expressed as a percentage of the fund's average net assets. The expense ratio includes management and administrative expenses, but it does not include the transaction costs of buying and selling portfolio securities.

Inception Date. The date on which the assets of a fund (or one of its share classes) are first invested in accordance with the fund's investment objective. For funds with a subscription period, the inception date is the day after that period ends. Investment performance is generally measured from the inception date.

Joint Committed Credit Facility. The Fund participates, along with other funds managed by Vanguard, in a committed credit facility provided by a syndicate of lenders pursuant to a credit agreement that may be renewed annually; each Vanguard fund is individually liable for its borrowings, if any, under the credit facility. The amount and terms of the committed credit facility are subject to approval by the Fund's board of trustees and renegotiation with the lender syndicate on an annual basis.

Median Market Capitalization. An indicator of the size of companies in which a fund invests; the midpoint of market capitalization (market price x shares outstanding) of a fund's stocks, weighted by the proportion of the fund's assets invested in each stock. Stocks representing half of the fund's assets have market capitalizations above the median, and the rest are below it.

MSCI ACWI ex USA Index. An index that tracks stock markets in countries included in the MSCI EAFE Index plus Canada and a number of emerging markets, but excluding the U.S.

MSCI EAFE Index. An index that tracks approximately 1,000 stocks from more than 20 developed markets in Europe and the Pacific Rim.

Mutual Fund. An investment company that pools the money of many people and invests it in a variety of securities in an effort to achieve a specific objective over time.

39

New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). A stock exchange based in New York City that is open for regular trading on business days, Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern time.

Price/Earnings (P/E) Ratio. The current share price of a stock, divided by its per-share earnings (profits). A stock selling for $20, with earnings of $2 per share, has a price/earnings ratio of 10.

Securities. Stocks, bonds, money market instruments, and other investments.

Total Return. A percentage change, over a specified time period, in a mutual fund's net asset value, assuming the reinvestment of all distributions of dividends and capital gains.

Volatility. The fluctuations in value of a mutual fund or other security. The greater a fund's volatility, the wider the fluctuations in its returns.

Yield. Income (interest or dividends) earned by an investment, expressed as a percentage of the investment's price.

40

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P.O. Box 2600

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2600

Connect with Vanguard® > vanguard.com

For More Information

If you would like more information about Vanguard International Value Fund, the following documents are available free upon request:

Annual/Semiannual Reports to Shareholders Additional information about the Fund's investments is available in the Fund's annual and semiannual reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year.

Statement of Additional Information (SAI)

The SAI provides more detailed information about the Fund and is incorporated by reference into (and thus legally a part of) this prospectus.

To receive a free copy of the latest annual or semiannual report or the SAI, or to request additional information about the Fund or other Vanguard funds, please visit vanguard.com or contact us as follows:

If you are an individual investor:

The Vanguard Group

Investor Information Department P.O. Box 2600

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2600

Telephone: 800-662-7447; Text telephone for people

with hearing impairment: 800-749-7273

If you are a participant in an employer-sponsored plan: The Vanguard Group

Participant Services P.O. Box 2900

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2900

Telephone: 800-523-1188; Text telephone for people

with hearing impairment: 800-749-7273

If you are a current Vanguard shareholder and would like information about your account, account transactions, and/or account statements, please call:

Client Services Department

Telephone: 800-662-2739; Text telephone for people

with hearing impairment: 800-749-7273

Information Provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Reports and other information about the Fund are available in the EDGAR database on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, or you can receive copies of this information, for a fee, by electronic request at the following email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

Fund's Investment Company Act file number: 811-02968-99

© 2020 The Vanguard Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.

P 046 022020

PART B

VANGUARD® TRUSTEES' EQUITY FUND

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

February 27, 2020

This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus but should be read in conjunction with a Fund's current prospectus (dated February 27, 2020). To obtain, without charge, a prospectus or the most recent Annual Report to Shareholders, which contains the Fund's financial statements as hereby incorporated by reference, please contact The Vanguard Group, Inc. (Vanguard).

Phone: Investor Information Department at 800-662-7447

Online: vanguard.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Description of the Trust ...................................................................................................................

B-1

Fundamental Policies .......................................................................................................................

B-4

Investment Strategies, Risks, and Nonfundamental Policies ...........................................................

B-4

Share Price .....................................................................................................................................

B-27

Purchase and Redemption of Shares..............................................................................................

B-28

Management of the Funds..............................................................................................................

B-29

Investment Advisory and Other Services .......................................................................................

B-44

Portfolio Transactions ....................................................................................................................

B-61

Proxy Voting ...................................................................................................................................

B-63

Financial Statements......................................................................................................................

B-64

Description of Bond Ratings ..........................................................................................................

B-64

Appendix A.....................................................................................................................................

B-66

Appendix B .....................................................................................................................................

B-69

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST

Vanguard Trustees' Equity Fund (the Trust) currently offers the following funds and share class (identified by ticker symbol):

 

 

Share Classes1

Fund2

Investor

Admiral

 

 

 

Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund

VDEQX

—

 

 

 

 

 

Vanguard International Value Fund

VTRIX

—

Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund

VMMSX

—

 

Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund

VASFX

—

 

 

 

 

 

Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund

—

VCMDX

1

Individually, a class; collectively, the classes.

 

 

 

2

Individually, a Fund; collectively, the Funds.

 

 

 

The Trust has the ability to offer additional funds or classes of shares. There is no limit on the number of full and fractional shares that may be issued for a single fund or class of shares.

Each Fund offers only one class of shares. Throughout this document, any references to "class" indicate how a Fund would operate if, in the future, the Fund issued more than one class of shares.

Organization

The Trust was organized as a Maryland corporation in 1979, was reorganized as a Pennsylvania statutory trust in 1984, and then was reorganized as a Delaware statutory trust in 1998. Prior to its reorganization as a Delaware statutory trust,

B-1

the Trust was known as Vanguard/Trustees' Equity Fund, Inc. The Trust is registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act) as an open-end management investment company. All Funds within the Trust, other than Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund and Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund, are classified as diversified within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund and Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund are classified as nondiversified within the meaning of the 1940 Act.

Service Providers

Custodians. JPMorgan Chase Bank, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10179 (for the Diversified Equity Fund and International Value Fund) and State Street Bank and Trust Company, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111 (for the Alternative Strategies Fund, Commodity Strategy Fund, and Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund) serve as the Funds' custodians. The custodians are responsible for maintaining the Funds' assets, keeping all necessary accounts and records of Fund assets, and appointing any foreign sub-custodians or foreign securities depositories.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Two Commerce Square, Suite 1800, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042, serves as the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm. The independent registered public accounting firm audits the Funds' annual financial statements and provides other related services.

Transfer and Dividend-Paying Agent. The Funds' transfer agent and dividend-paying agent is Vanguard, P.O. Box 2600, Valley Forge, PA 19482.

Characteristics of the Funds' Shares

Restrictions on Holding or Disposing of Shares. There are no restrictions on the right of shareholders to retain or dispose of a Fund's shares, other than those described in the Fund's current prospectus and elsewhere in this Statement of Additional Information. Each Fund or class may be terminated by reorganization into another mutual fund or class or by liquidation and distribution of the assets of the Fund or class. Unless terminated by reorganization or liquidation, each Fund and share class will continue indefinitely.

Shareholder Liability. The Trust is organized under Delaware law, which provides that shareholders of a statutory trust are entitled to the same limitations of personal liability as shareholders of a corporation organized under Delaware law. This means that a shareholder of a Fund generally will not be personally liable for payment of the Fund's debts. Some state courts, however, may not apply Delaware law on this point. We believe that the possibility of such a situation arising is remote.

Dividend Rights. The shareholders of each class of a Fund are entitled to receive any dividends or other distributions declared by the Fund for each such class. No shares of a Fund have priority or preference over any other shares of the Fund with respect to distributions. Distributions will be made from the assets of the Fund and will be paid ratably to all shareholders of a particular class according to the number of shares of the class held by shareholders on the record date. The amount of dividends per share may vary between separate share classes of the Fund based upon differences in the net asset values of the different classes and differences in the way that expenses are allocated between share classes pursuant to a multiple class plan approved by the Fund's board of trustees.

Voting Rights. Shareholders are entitled to vote on a matter if (1) the matter concerns an amendment to the Declaration of Trust that would adversely affect to a material degree the rights and preferences of the shares of a Fund or any class;

(2)the trustees determine that it is necessary or desirable to obtain a shareholder vote; (3) a merger or consolidation, share conversion, share exchange, or sale of assets is proposed and a shareholder vote is required by the 1940 Act to approve the transaction; or (4) a shareholder vote is required under the 1940 Act. The 1940 Act requires a shareholder vote under various circumstances, including to elect or remove trustees upon the written request of shareholders representing 10% or more of a Fund's net assets, to change any fundamental policy of a Fund (please see Fundamental Policies), and to enter into certain merger transactions. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, shareholders of a Fund receive one vote for each dollar of net asset value owned on the record date and a fractional vote for each fractional dollar of net asset value owned on the record date. However, only the shares of the Fund or class affected by a particular matter are entitled to vote on that matter. In addition, each class has exclusive voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders that relates solely to that class, and each class has separate voting rights on any matter submitted to

B-2

shareholders in which the interests of one class differ from the interests of another. Voting rights are noncumulative and cannot be modified without a majority vote by the shareholders.

Liquidation Rights. In the event that a Fund is liquidated, shareholders will be entitled to receive a pro rata share of the Fund's net assets. In the event that a class of shares is liquidated, shareholders of that class will be entitled to receive a pro rata share of the Fund's net assets that are allocated to that class. Shareholders may receive cash, securities, or a combination of the two.

Preemptive Rights. There are no preemptive rights associated with the Funds' shares.

Conversion Rights. There are no conversion rights associated with the Funds' shares.

Redemption Provisions. Each Fund's redemption provisions are described in its current prospectus and elsewhere in this Statement of Additional Information.

Sinking Fund Provisions. The Funds have no sinking fund provisions.

Calls or Assessment. Each Fund's shares, when issued, are fully paid and non-assessable.

Tax Status of the Funds

Each Fund expects to qualify each year for treatment as a "regulated investment company" under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the IRC). This special tax status means that the Fund will not be liable for federal tax on income and capital gains distributed to shareholders. In order to preserve its tax status, each Fund must comply with certain requirements relating to the source of its income and the diversification of its assets. If a Fund fails to meet these requirements in any taxable year, the Fund will, in some cases, be able to cure such failure, including by paying a fund-level tax, paying interest, making additional distributions, and/or disposing of certain assets. If the Fund is ineligible to or otherwise does not cure such failure for any year, it will be subject to tax on its taxable income at corporate rates, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gains, will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. In addition, a Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before regaining its tax status as a regulated investment company.

Dividends received and distributed by each Fund on shares of stock of domestic corporations (excluding Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)) and certain foreign corporations generally may be eligible to be reported by the Fund, and treated by individual shareholders, as "qualified dividend income" taxed at long-term capital gain rates instead of at higher ordinary income tax rates. Individuals must satisfy holding period and other requirements in order to be eligible for such treatment. Also, distributions attributable to income earned on a Fund's securities lending transactions, including substitute dividend payments received by a Fund with respect to a security out on loan, will not be eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income.

Taxable ordinary dividends received and distributed by each Fund on its REIT holdings may be eligible to be reported by each Fund, and treated by individual shareholders, as "qualified REIT dividends" that are eligible for a 20% deduction on their federal income tax returns. Individuals must satisfy holding period and other requirements in order to be eligible for this deduction. Each Fund's ability to pass-through this deduction to Fund shareholders is based on preliminary IRS guidance and is subject to change. Shareholders should consult their own tax professionals concerning their eligibility for this deduction.

Dividends received and distributed by each Fund on shares of stock of domestic corporations (excluding REITs) may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction applicable to corporate shareholders. Corporations must satisfy certain requirements in order to claim the deduction. Also, distributions attributable to income earned on a Fund's securities lending transactions, including substitute dividend payments received by a Fund with respect to a security out on loan, will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction.

Each Fund may declare a capital gain dividend consisting of the excess (if any) of net realized long-term capital gains over net realized short-term capital losses. Net capital gains for a fiscal year are computed by taking into account any capital loss carryforwards of the Fund. For Fund fiscal years beginning on or after December 22, 2010, capital losses may be carried forward indefinitely and retain their character as either short-term or long-term. Under prior law, net capital losses could be carried forward for eight tax years and were treated as short-term capital losses. A Fund is required to use capital losses arising in fiscal years beginning on or after December 22, 2010, before using capital losses arising in fiscal years beginning prior to December 22, 2010.

B-3

FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES

Each Fund is subject to the following fundamental investment policies, which cannot be changed in any material way without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund's shares. For these purposes, a "majority" of shares means shares representing the lesser of (1) 67% or more of the Fund's net assets voted, so long as shares representing more than 50% of the Fund's net assets are present or represented by proxy or (2) more than 50% of the Fund's net assets.

Borrowing. Each Fund may borrow money only as permitted by the 1940 Act or other governing statute, by the Rules thereunder, or by the SEC or other regulatory agency with authority over the Fund.

Commodities. Each Fund may invest in commodities only as permitted by the 1940 Act or other governing statute, by the Rules thereunder, or by the SEC or other regulatory agency with authority over the Fund.

Diversification. Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund will limit the aggregate value of its holdings (other than U.S. government securities, cash, and cash items, as defined under subchapter M of the IRC, and securities of other regulated investment companies), each of which exceeds 5% of the Fund's total assets or 10% of the issuer's outstanding voting securities, to an aggregate of 50% of the Fund's total assets as of the end of each quarter of the taxable year. Additionally, the Fund will limit the aggregate value of holdings of a single issuer (other than U.S. government securities, as defined in the IRC, or the securities of other regulated investment companies) to a maximum of 25% of the Fund's total assets as of the end of each quarter of the taxable year.

With respect to 75% of its total assets, Vanguard International Value Fund may not (1) purchase more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer or (2) purchase securities of any issuer if, as a result, more than 5% of the Fund's total assets would be invested in that issuer's securities. This limitation does not apply to obligations of the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities.

Industry Concentration. Each Fund will not concentrate its investments in the securities of issuers whose principal business activities are in the same industry or group of industries.

Loans. Each Fund may make loans to another person only as permitted by the 1940 Act or other governing statute, by the Rules thereunder, or by the SEC or other regulatory agency with authority over the Fund.

Real Estate. Each Fund may not invest directly in real estate unless it is acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments. This restriction shall not prevent the Fund from investing in securities or other instruments (1) issued by companies that invest, deal, or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or (2) backed or secured by real estate or interests in real estate.

Senior Securities. Each Fund may not issue senior securities except as permitted by the 1940 Act or other governing statute, by the Rules thereunder, or by the SEC or other regulatory agency with authority over the Fund.

Underwriting. Each Fund may not act as an underwriter of another issuer's securities, except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 (the 1933 Act), in connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio securities.

Compliance with the fundamental policies previously described is generally measured at the time the securities are purchased. Unless otherwise required by the 1940 Act (as is the case with borrowing), if a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time the investment is made, a later change in percentage resulting from a change in the market value of assets will not constitute a violation of such restriction. All fundamental policies must comply with applicable regulatory requirements. For more details, see Investment Strategies, Risks, and Nonfundamental Policies.

None of these policies prevents the Funds from having an ownership interest in Vanguard. As a part owner of Vanguard, each Fund may own securities issued by Vanguard, make loans to Vanguard, and contribute to Vanguard's costs or other financial requirements. See Management of the Funds for more information.

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, RISKS, AND NONFUNDAMENTAL POLICIES

Some of the investment strategies and policies described on the following pages and in each Fund's prospectus set forth percentage limitations on a Fund's investment in, or holdings of, certain securities or other assets. Unless otherwise required by law, compliance with these strategies and policies will be determined immediately after the acquisition of such securities or assets by the Fund. Subsequent changes in values, net assets, or other circumstances will not be considered when determining whether the investment complies with the Fund's investment strategies and policies.

B-4

The following investment strategies, risks, and policies supplement each Fund's investment strategies, risks, and policies set forth in the prospectus. With respect to the different investments discussed as follows, a Fund may acquire such investments to the extent consistent with its investment strategies and policies.

Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund is indirectly exposed to the investment strategies and policies of the underlying Vanguard funds in which it invests and is therefore subject to all risks associated with the investment strategies and policies of the underlying Vanguard funds. The investment strategies and policies and associated risks detailed in this section also include those to which Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund indirectly may be exposed through its investment in the underlying Vanguard funds.

Borrowing. A fund's ability to borrow money is limited by its investment policies and limitations; by the 1940 Act; and by applicable exemptions, no-action letters, interpretations, and other pronouncements issued from time to time by the SEC and its staff or any other regulatory authority with jurisdiction. Under the 1940 Act, a fund is required to maintain continuous asset coverage (i.e., total assets including borrowings, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of 300% of the amount borrowed, with an exception for borrowings not in excess of 5% of the fund's total assets (at the time of borrowing) made for temporary or emergency purposes. Any borrowings for temporary purposes in excess of 5% of the fund's total assets must maintain continuous asset coverage. If the 300% asset coverage should decline as a result of market fluctuations or for other reasons, a fund may be required to sell some of its portfolio holdings within three days (excluding Sundays and holidays) to reduce the debt and restore the 300% asset coverage, even though it may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint to sell securities at that time.

Borrowing will tend to exaggerate the effect on net asset value of any increase or decrease in the market value of a fund's portfolio. Money borrowed will be subject to interest costs that may or may not be recovered by earnings on the securities purchased with the proceeds of such borrowing. A fund also may be required to maintain minimum average balances in connection with a borrowing or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit; either of these requirements would increase the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate.

The SEC takes the position that transactions that have a leveraging effect on the capital structure of a fund or are economically equivalent to borrowing can be viewed as constituting a form of borrowing by the fund for purposes of the 1940 Act. These transactions can include entering into reverse repurchase agreements; engaging in mortgage-dollar-roll transactions; selling securities short (other than short sales "against-the-box"); buying and selling certain derivatives (such as futures contracts); selling (or writing) put and call options; engaging in sale-buybacks; entering into firm-commitment and standby-commitment agreements; engaging in when-issued, delayed-delivery, or forward-commitment transactions; and participating in other similar trading practices. (Additional discussion about a number of these transactions can be found on the following pages.)

A borrowing transaction will not be considered to constitute the issuance, by a fund, of a "senior security," as that term is defined in Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act, and therefore such transaction will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by a fund, if the fund maintains an offsetting financial position; segregates liquid assets (with such liquidity determined by the advisor in accordance with procedures established by the board of trustees) in the manner provided below; or otherwise "covers" the transaction in accordance with applicable SEC or SEC- staff guidance (collectively, "covers" the transaction). A fund may segregate liquid assets equal in value to the fund's daily marked-to-market net obligations (i.e., the fund's daily net liability) with respect to derivatives and similar instruments that are required to settle in cash. With respect to derivatives and similar instruments that do not settle in cash, a fund is required to segregate liquid assets equal in value to the full notional amount of the instrument (to the extent not otherwise covered). However, these instruments will be treated as cash settled for asset segregation purposes when a fund has entered into a contractual arrangement with a third party futures commission merchant (FCM) pursuant to which the FCM will close out the contract prior to expiration and, failing that, to assume the fund's obligation under the contract. A fund that segregates liquid assets equal in value to only its net obligations under an instrument will have the ability to employ leverage to a greater extent than if the fund were required to segregate liquid assets equal in value to the full notional amount of the instrument. The funds may, from time to time, modify their asset segregation policies without prior notification, consistent with the 1940 Act or other governing statute, the Rules thereunder or any guidance from the SEC or other regulatory agency with authority over the funds (or their respective staffs). A fund may have to buy or sell a security at a disadvantageous time or price in order to cover a borrowing transaction. In addition, segregated assets may not be available to satisfy redemptions or to fulfill other obligations.

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Commodity Futures. Commodities are raw materials used to create the goods that consumers buy. They include a wide range of physical assets, such as agricultural products, livestock, precious metals, energy products, and industrial metals. Commodities can be purchased for immediate delivery ("on the spot") or delivered at a specific time in the future under the terms of a commodity futures contract. An exchange-traded commodity futures contract is a derivative that provides for the purchase and sale of a specified type and quantity of a commodity during a stated delivery month for a fixed price. A futures contract on an index of commodities provides for the payment and receipt of cash based on the level of the index at settlement or liquidation of the contract. Futures contracts, by their terms, have stated expirations, and at a specified point in time prior to expiration, trading in a futures contract for the current delivery month will cease. As a result, an investor wishing to maintain exposure to a futures contract on a particular commodity with the nearest expiration must close out the position in the expiring contract and establish a new position in the contract for the next delivery month, a process referred to as "rolling." The process of rolling a futures contract can be profitable or unprofitable depending in large part on whether the futures price for the next delivery month is less than or more than the price of the expiring contract. If the price for the new futures contract is less than the price of the expiring contract, then the market for the commodity is said to be in "backwardation." In these markets, roll returns are positive because the proceeds from the expiring futures contract will be greater than the price of the new contract, resulting in a net gain. Roll returns from a long, passive strategy (such as maintaining exposure to a specific commodity futures contract) will be positive when markets are persistently backwardated. The term "contango" is used to describe a market in which the price for a new futures contract is more than the price of the expiring contract. In these markets, roll returns are negative because the proceeds from the expiring futures contract will be less than the price of the new contract, resulting in a net loss. Roll returns from a long, passive strategy will be negative when markets are persistently in contango. Finally, if the market is neither backwardated nor in contango, the roll return will be close to zero.

Commodity futures contracts are subject to the risks of derivatives and futures contracts. Commodity-linked structured notes are subject to the risks of commodity futures contracts and the risks of debt securities. Commodity futures trading is volatile, and even a small movement in market prices could cause large losses. Consequently, an investor in commodity futures could lose all, or substantially all, of the investment in such contracts. The prices of commodity futures are subject to change based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the following: the lack of liquidity; global supply and demand for commodities; congestion; disorderly markets; limitations on deliverable supplies; the participation of hedgers and speculators; domestic and foreign interest rates and investors' expectations concerning interest rates; domestic and foreign inflation rates and investors' expectations concerning inflation rates; investment and trading activities of institutional investors; global or regional political, economic, or financial events and situations; government regulation and intervention; technical and operational or system failures; nuclear accidents; terrorism; riots; and natural disasters. In addition, U.S. futures exchanges and some foreign exchanges have regulations that limit the amount of fluctuation in futures contract prices that may occur during a single business day. These limits are generally referred to as "daily price fluctuation limits," and the maximum or minimum price of a contract on any given day as a result of these limits is referred to as a "limit price." Once the limit price has been reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made at a different price. It is not certain how long any such price limits may remain in effect. Limit prices may have the effect of precluding trading in a particular contract or forcing the liquidation of contracts at disadvantageous times or prices, consequently affecting the value of commodity futures. Although the performance of commodity futures may be largely independent of the general stock and bond markets, there is no assurance that commodity futures will be consistently independent or noncorrelated. An investment in commodity futures could increase rather than reduce overall portfolio losses during periods when commodity futures as well as stocks and bonds decline in value. There is no way of predicting whether commodity futures will lose more or less than stocks and bonds in declining markets.

Common Stock. Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. Common stock typically entitles the owner to vote on the election of directors and other important matters, as well as to receive dividends on such stock. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds, other debt holders, and owners of preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.

Convertible Securities. Convertible securities are hybrid securities that combine the investment characteristics of bonds and common stocks. Convertible securities typically consist of debt securities or preferred stock that may be converted (on a voluntary or mandatory basis) within a specified period of time (normally for the entire life of the security) into a certain amount of common stock or other equity security of the same or a different issuer at a predetermined price. Convertible securities also include debt securities with warrants or common stock attached and derivatives combining the features of debt securities and equity securities. Other convertible securities with features and

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risks not specifically referred to herein may become available in the future. Convertible securities involve risks similar to those of both fixed income and equity securities. In a corporation's capital structure, convertible securities are senior to common stock but are usually subordinated to senior debt obligations of the issuer.

The market value of a convertible security is a function of its "investment value" and its "conversion value." A security's "investment value" represents the value of the security without its conversion feature (i.e., a nonconvertible debt security). The investment value may be determined by reference to its credit quality and the current value of its yield to maturity or probable call date. At any given time, investment value is dependent upon such factors as the general level of interest rates, the yield of similar nonconvertible securities, the financial strength of the issuer, and the seniority of the security in the issuer's capital structure. A security's "conversion value" is determined by multiplying the number of shares the holder is entitled to receive upon conversion or exchange by the current price of the underlying security. If the conversion value of a convertible security is significantly below its investment value, the convertible security will trade like nonconvertible debt or preferred stock and its market value will not be influenced greatly by fluctuations in the market price of the underlying security. In that circumstance, the convertible security takes on the characteristics of a bond, and its price moves in the opposite direction from interest rates. Conversely, if the conversion value of a convertible security is near or above its investment value, the market value of the convertible security will be more heavily influenced by fluctuations in the market price of the underlying security. In that case, the convertible security's price may be as volatile as that of common stock. Because both interest rates and market movements can influence its value, a convertible security generally is not as sensitive to interest rates as a similar debt security, nor is it as sensitive to changes in share price as its underlying equity security. Convertible securities are often rated below investment-grade or are not rated, and they are generally subject to a high degree of credit risk.

Although all markets are prone to change over time, the generally high rate at which convertible securities are retired (through mandatory or scheduled conversions by issuers or through voluntary redemptions by holders) and replaced with newly issued convertible securities may cause the convertible securities market to change more rapidly than other markets. For example, a concentration of available convertible securities in a few economic sectors could elevate the sensitivity of the convertible securities market to the volatility of the equity markets and to the specific risks of those sectors. Moreover, convertible securities with innovative structures, such as mandatory-conversion securities and equity- linked securities, have increased the sensitivity of the convertible securities market to the volatility of the equity markets and to the special risks of those innovations, which may include risks different from, and possibly greater than, those associated with traditional convertible securities. A convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price set in the governing instrument of the convertible security. If a convertible security held by a fund is subject to such redemption option and is called for redemption, the fund must allow the issuer to redeem the security, convert it into the underlying common stock, or sell the security to a third party.

Cybersecurity Risks. The increased use of technology to conduct business could subject a fund and its third-party service providers (including, but not limited to, investment advisors, transfer agents, and custodians) to risks associated with cybersecurity. In general, a cybersecurity incident can occur as a result of a deliberate attack designed to gain unauthorized access to digital systems. If the attack is successful, an unauthorized person or persons could misappropriate assets or sensitive information, corrupt data, or cause operational disruption. A cybersecurity incident could also occur unintentionally if, for example, an authorized person inadvertently released proprietary or confidential information. Vanguard has developed robust technological safeguards and business continuity plans to prevent, or reduce the impact of, potential cybersecurity incidents. Additionally, Vanguard has a process for assessing the information security and/or cybersecurity programs implemented by a fund's third-party service providers, which helps minimize the risk of potential incidents that could impact a Vanguard fund or its shareholders. Despite these measures, a cybersecurity incident still has the potential to disrupt business operations, which could negatively impact a fund and/ or its shareholders. Some examples of negative impacts that could occur as a result of a cybersecurity incident include, but are not limited to, the following: a fund may be unable to calculate its net asset value (NAV), a fund's shareholders may be unable to transact business, a fund may be unable to process transactions, or a fund may be unable to safeguard its data or the personal information of its shareholders.

Debt Securities. A debt security, sometimes called a fixed income security, consists of a certificate or other evidence of a debt (secured or unsecured) upon which the issuer of the debt security promises to pay the holder a fixed, variable, or floating rate of interest for a specified length of time and to repay the debt on the specified maturity date. Some debt securities, such as zero-coupon bonds, do not make regular interest payments but are issued at a discount to their principal or maturity value. Debt securities include a variety of fixed income obligations, including, but not limited to,

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corporate bonds, government securities, municipal securities, convertible securities, mortgage-backed securities, and asset-backed securities. Debt securities include investment-grade securities, non-investment-grade securities, and unrated securities. Debt securities are subject to a variety of risks, such as interest rate risk, income risk, call risk, prepayment risk, extension risk, inflation risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and (in the case of foreign securities) country risk and currency risk. The reorganization of an issuer under the federal bankruptcy laws or an out-of-court restructuring of an issuer's capital structure may result in the issuer's debt securities being cancelled without repayment, repaid only in part, or repaid in part or in whole through an exchange thereof for any combination of cash, debt securities, convertible securities, equity securities, or other instruments or rights in respect to the same issuer or a related entity.

Debt Securities—Non-Investment-Grade Securities. Non-investment-grade securities, also referred to as "high-yield securities" or "junk bonds," are debt securities that are rated lower than the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (e.g., lower than Baa3/P-2 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. (Moody's) or below BBB–/A-2 by Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC (Standard & Poor's)) or, if unrated, are determined to be of comparable quality by the fund's advisor. These securities are generally considered to be, on balance, predominantly speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation, and they will generally involve more credit risk than securities in the investment-grade categories. Non-investment-grade securities generally provide greater income and opportunity for capital appreciation than higher quality securities, but they also typically entail greater price volatility and principal and income risk.

Analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of high-yield securities may be more complex than for issuers of investment- grade securities. Thus, reliance on credit ratings in making investment decisions entails greater risks for high-yield securities than for investment-grade securities. The success of a fund's advisor in managing high-yield securities is more dependent upon its own credit analysis than is the case with investment-grade securities.

Some high-yield securities are issued by smaller, less-seasoned companies, while others are issued as part of a corporate restructuring such as an acquisition, a merger, or a leveraged buyout. Companies that issue high-yield securities are often highly leveraged and may not have more traditional methods of financing available to them.

Therefore, the risk associated with acquiring the securities of such issuers generally is greater than is the case with investment-grade securities. Some high-yield securities were once rated as investment-grade but have been downgraded to junk bond status because of financial difficulties experienced by their issuers.

The market values of high-yield securities tend to reflect individual issuer developments to a greater extent than do investment-grade securities, which in general react to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. High-yield securities also tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions than are investment-grade securities. An actual or anticipated economic downturn or sustained period of rising interest rates, for example, could cause a decline in junk bond prices because the advent of a recession could lessen the ability of a highly leveraged company to make principal and interest payments on its debt securities. If an issuer of high-yield securities defaults, in addition to risking payment of all or a portion of interest and principal, a fund investing in such securities may incur additional expenses to seek recovery.

The secondary market on which high-yield securities are traded may be less liquid than the market for investment-grade securities. Less liquidity in the secondary trading market could adversely affect the ability of a fund's advisor to sell a high-yield security or the price at which a fund's advisor could sell a high-yield security, and it could also adversely affect the daily net asset value of fund shares. When secondary markets for high-yield securities are less liquid than the market for investment-grade securities, it may be more difficult to value the securities because such valuation may require more research, and elements of judgment may play a greater role in the valuation of the securities.

Except as otherwise provided in a fund's prospectus, if a credit rating agency changes the rating of a portfolio security held by a fund, the fund may retain the portfolio security if the advisor deems it in the best interests of shareholders.

Debt Securities—Structured and Indexed Securities. Structured securities (also called "structured notes") and indexed securities are derivative debt securities, the interest rate or principal of which is determined by an unrelated indicator. Indexed securities include structured notes as well as securities other than debt securities. The value of the principal of and/or interest on structured and indexed securities is determined by reference to changes in the value of a specific asset, reference rate, or index (the reference) or the relative change in two or more references. The interest rate or the principal amount payable upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased, depending upon changes in the applicable reference. The terms of the structured and indexed securities may provide that, in certain circumstances, no principal is due at maturity and, therefore, may result in a loss of invested capital. Structured and

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indexed securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that appreciation of the reference may produce an increase or a decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at maturity. In addition, changes in the interest rate or the value of the structured or indexed security at maturity may be calculated as a specified multiple of the change in the value of the reference; therefore, the value of such security may be very volatile. Structured and indexed securities may entail a greater degree of market risk than other types of debt securities because the investor bears the risk of the reference. Structured or indexed securities may also be more volatile, less liquid, and more difficult to accurately price than less complex securities or more traditional debt securities, which could lead to an overvaluation or an undervaluation of the securities.

Debt Securities—U.S. Government Securities. The term "U.S. government securities" refers to a variety of debt securities that are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, by various agencies of the U.S. government, or by various instrumentalities that have been established or sponsored by the U.S. government. The term also refers to repurchase agreements collateralized by such securities.

U.S. Treasury securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, meaning that the U.S. government is required to repay the principal in the event of default. Other types of securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies and U.S. government-sponsored instrumentalities may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. The U.S. government, however, does not guarantee the market price of any U.S. government securities. In the case of securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, the investor must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment and may not be able to assert a claim against the United States itself in the event the agency or instrumentality does not meet its commitment.

Some of the U.S. government agencies that issue or guarantee securities include the Government National Mortgage Association, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Federal Housing Administration, the Maritime Administration, the Small Business Administration, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. An instrumentality of the U.S. government is a government agency organized under federal charter with government supervision. Instrumentalities issuing or guaranteeing securities include, among others, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Home Loan Banks, and the Federal National Mortgage Association.

Debt Securities—Variable and Floating Rate Securities. Variable and floating rate securities are debt securities that provide for periodic adjustments in the interest rate paid on the security. Variable rate securities provide for a specified periodic adjustment in the interest rate, while floating rate securities have interest rates that change whenever there is a change in a designated benchmark or reference rate (such as the London Inter-bank Offered Rate (LIBOR), the Secured Overnight Rate Financing Rate (SOFR), or another reference rate) or the issuer's credit quality. There is a risk that the current interest rate on variable and floating rate securities may not accurately reflect current market interest rates or adequately compensate the holder for the current creditworthiness of the issuer. Some variable or floating rate securities are structured with liquidity features such as (1) put options or tender options that permit holders (sometimes subject to conditions) to demand payment of the unpaid principal balance plus accrued interest from the issuers or certain financial intermediaries or (2) auction-rate features, remarketing provisions, or other maturity-shortening devices designed to enable the issuer to refinance or redeem outstanding debt securities (market-dependent liquidity features). Variable or floating rate securities that include market-dependent liquidity features may have greater liquidity risk than other securities. The greater liquidity risk may exist, for example, because of the failure of a market-dependent liquidity feature to operate as intended (as a result of the issuer's declining creditworthiness, adverse market conditions, or other factors) or the inability or unwillingness of a participating broker-dealer to make a secondary market for such securities. As a result, variable or floating rate securities that include market-dependent liquidity features may lose value, and the holders of such securities may be required to retain them until the later of the repurchase date, the resale date, or the date of maturity. A demand instrument with a demand notice exceeding seven days may be considered illiquid if there is no secondary market for such security.

Depositary Receipts. Depositary receipts (also sold as participatory notes) are securities that evidence ownership interests in a security or a pool of securities that have been deposited with a "depository." Depositary receipts may be sponsored or unsponsored and include American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), European Depositary Receipts (EDRs), and Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs). For ADRs, the depository is typically a U.S. financial institution, and the underlying securities are issued by a foreign issuer. For other depositary receipts, the depository may be a foreign or a U.S. entity, and the underlying securities may have a foreign or a U.S. issuer. Depositary receipts will not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as their underlying securities. Generally, ADRs are issued in registered form,

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denominated in U.S. dollars, and designed for use in the U.S. securities markets. Other depositary receipts, such as GDRs and EDRs, may be issued in bearer form and denominated in other currencies, and they are generally designed for use in securities markets outside the United States. Although the two types of depositary receipt facilities (sponsored and unsponsored) are similar, there are differences regarding a holder's rights and obligations and the practices of market participants.

A depository may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by (or acquiescence of) the underlying issuer; typically, however, the depository requests a letter of nonobjection from the underlying issuer prior to establishing the facility. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of the facility. The depository usually charges fees upon the deposit and withdrawal of the underlying securities, the conversion of dividends into U.S. dollars or other currency, the disposition of noncash distributions, and the performance of other services. The depository of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the underlying issuer or to pass through voting rights to depositary receipt holders with respect to the underlying securities.

Sponsored depositary receipt facilities are created in generally the same manner as unsponsored facilities, except that sponsored depositary receipts are established jointly by a depository and the underlying issuer through a deposit agreement. The deposit agreement sets out the rights and responsibilities of the underlying issuer, the depository, and the depositary receipt holders. With sponsored facilities, the underlying issuer typically bears some of the costs of the depositary receipts (such as dividend payment fees of the depository), although most sponsored depositary receipt holders may bear costs such as deposit and withdrawal fees. Depositories of most sponsored depositary receipts agree to distribute notices of shareholder meetings, voting instructions, and other shareholder communications and information to the depositary receipt holders at the underlying issuer's request.

For purposes of a fund's investment policies, investments in depositary receipts will be deemed to be investments in the underlying securities. Thus, a depositary receipt representing ownership of common stock will be treated as common stock. Depositary receipts do not eliminate all of the risks associated with directly investing in the securities of foreign issuers.

Derivatives. A derivative is a financial instrument that has a value based on—or "derived from"—the values of other assets, reference rates, or indexes. Derivatives may relate to a wide variety of underlying references, such as commodities, stocks, bonds, interest rates, currency exchange rates, and related indexes. Derivatives include futures contracts and options on futures contracts, certain forward-commitment transactions, options on securities, caps, floors, collars, swap agreements, and certain other financial instruments. Some derivatives, such as futures contracts and certain options, are traded on U.S. commodity and securities exchanges, while other derivatives, such as swap agreements, may be privately negotiated and entered into in the over-the-counter market (OTC Derivatives) or may be cleared through a clearinghouse (Cleared Derivatives) and traded on an exchange or swap execution facility. As a result of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Dodd-Frank Act), certain swap agreements, such as certain standardized credit default and interest rate swap agreements, must be cleared through a clearinghouse and traded on an exchange or swap execution facility. This could result in an increase in the overall costs of such transactions. While the intent of derivatives regulatory reform is to mitigate risks associated with derivatives markets, the new regulations could, among other things, increase liquidity and decrease pricing for more standardized products while decreasing liquidity and increasing pricing for less standardized products. The risks associated with the use of derivatives are different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the securities or assets on which the derivatives are based.

Derivatives may be used for a variety of purposes, including—but not limited to—hedging, managing risk, seeking to stay fully invested, seeking to reduce transaction costs, seeking to simulate an investment in equity or debt securities or other investments, and seeking to add value by using derivatives to more efficiently implement portfolio positions when derivatives are favorably priced relative to equity or debt securities or other investments. Some investors may use derivatives primarily for speculative purposes while other uses of derivatives may not constitute speculation. There is no assurance that any derivatives strategy used by a fund's advisor will succeed. The other parties to a fund's OTC Derivatives contracts (usually referred to as "counterparties") will not be considered the issuers thereof for purposes of certain provisions of the 1940 Act and the IRC, although such OTC Derivatives may qualify as securities or investments under such laws. A fund's advisors, however, will monitor and adjust, as appropriate, the fund's credit risk exposure to OTC Derivative counterparties.

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Derivative products are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques and risk analyses different from those associated with stocks, bonds, and other traditional investments. The use of a derivative requires an understanding not only of the underlying instrument but also of the derivative itself, without the benefit of observing the performance of the derivative under all possible market conditions.

When a fund enters into a Cleared Derivative, an initial margin deposit with a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) is required. Initial margin deposits are typically calculated as an amount equal to the volatility in market value of a Cleared Derivative over a fixed period. If the value of the fund's Cleared Derivatives declines, the fund will be required to make additional "variation margin" payments to the FCM to settle the change in value. If the value of the fund's Cleared Derivatives increases, the FCM will be required to make additional "variation margin" payments to the fund to settle the change in value. This process is known as "marking-to-market" and is calculated on a daily basis.

For OTC Derivatives, a fund is subject to the risk that a loss may be sustained as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the counterparty or the failure of the counterparty to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the contract. Additionally, the use of credit derivatives can result in losses if a fund's advisor does not correctly evaluate the creditworthiness of the issuer on which the credit derivative is based.

Derivatives may be subject to liquidity risk, which exists when a particular derivative is difficult to purchase or sell. If a derivative transaction is particularly large or if the relevant market is illiquid (as is the case with certain OTC Derivatives), it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price.

Derivatives may be subject to pricing or "basis" risk, which exists when a particular derivative becomes extraordinarily expensive relative to historical prices or the prices of corresponding cash market instruments. Under certain market conditions, it may not be economically feasible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position in time to avoid a loss or take advantage of an opportunity.

Because certain derivatives have a leverage component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate, or index can result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself. Certain derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. A derivative transaction will not be considered to constitute the issuance, by a fund, of a "senior security," as that term is defined in Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act, and therefore such transaction will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by a fund, if the fund covers the transaction in accordance with the requirements described under the heading "Borrowing."

Like most other investments, derivative instruments are subject to the risk that the market value of the instrument will change in a way detrimental to a fund's interest. A fund bears the risk that its advisor will incorrectly forecast future market trends or the values of assets, reference rates, indexes, or other financial or economic factors in establishing derivative positions for the fund. If the advisor attempts to use a derivative as a hedge against, or as a substitute for, a portfolio investment, the fund will be exposed to the risk that the derivative will have or will develop imperfect or no correlation with the portfolio investment. This could cause substantial losses for the fund. Although hedging strategies involving derivative instruments can reduce the risk of loss, they can also reduce the opportunity for gain or even result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in other fund investments. Many derivatives (in particular, OTC Derivatives) are complex and often valued subjectively. Improper valuations can result in increased cash payment requirements to counterparties or a loss of value to a fund.

Each Fund (other than the Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund and Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund) intends to comply with Rule 4.5 under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), under which a mutual fund may be excluded from the definition of the term Commodity Pool Operator (CPO) if the fund meets certain conditions such as limiting its investments in certain CEA-regulated instruments (e.g., futures, options, or swaps) and complying with certain marketing restrictions. Accordingly, Vanguard is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO with respect to the Funds under the CEA. Each Fund will only enter into futures contracts and futures options that are traded on a U.S. or foreign exchange, board of trade, or similar entity or that are quoted on an automated quotation system.Vanguard is registered as a CPO and is subject to regulation as a CPO with respect to Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund and Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund.

Exchange-Traded Funds. A fund may purchase shares of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Typically, a fund would purchase ETF shares for the same reason it would purchase (and as an alternative to purchasing) futures contracts: to obtain exposure to all or a portion of the stock or bond market. ETF shares enjoy several advantages over futures. Depending on the market, the holding period, and other factors, ETF shares can be less costly and more tax-efficient than futures. In

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addition, ETF shares can be purchased for smaller sums, offer exposure to market sectors and styles for which there is no suitable or liquid futures contract, and do not involve leverage.

An investment in an ETF generally presents the same principal risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objective, strategies, and policies. The price of an ETF can fluctuate within a wide range, and a fund could lose money investing in an ETF if the prices of the securities owned by the ETF go down. In addition, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional funds: (1) the market price of an ETF's shares may trade at a discount or a premium to their net asset value; (2) an active trading market for an ETF's shares may not develop or be maintained; and (3) trading of an ETF's shares may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide trading halts (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of an ETF's shares may also be halted if the shares are delisted from the exchange without first being listed on another exchange or if the listing exchange's officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or for the protection of investors.

Most ETFs are investment companies. Therefore, a fund's purchases of ETF shares generally are subject to the limitations on, and the risks of, a fund's investments in other investment companies, which are described under the heading "Other Investment Companies."

Foreign Securities. Typically, foreign securities are considered to be equity or debt securities issued by entities organized, domiciled, or with a principal executive office outside the United States, such as foreign corporations and governments. Securities issued by certain companies organized outside the United States may not be deemed to be foreign securities if the company's principal operations are conducted from the United States or when the company's equity securities trade principally on a U.S. stock exchange. Foreign securities may trade in U.S. or foreign securities markets. A fund may make foreign investments either directly by purchasing foreign securities or indirectly by purchasing depositary receipts or depositary shares of similar instruments (depositary receipts) for foreign securities. Direct investments in foreign securities may be made either on foreign securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter (OTC) markets. Investing in foreign securities involves certain special risk considerations that are not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. companies or governments.

Because foreign issuers are not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards and practices comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers, there may be less publicly available information about certain foreign issuers than about U.S. issuers. Evidence of securities ownership may be uncertain in many foreign countries. As a result, there are risks that could result in a loss to the fund, including, but not limited to, the risk that a fund's trade details could be incorrectly or fraudulently entered at the time of a transaction. Securities of foreign issuers are generally more volatile and less liquid than securities of comparable U.S. issuers, and foreign investments may be effected through structures that may be complex or confusing. In certain countries, there is less government supervision and regulation of stock exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the United States. The risk that securities traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by government authorities, is also heightened. In addition, with respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political or social instability, war, terrorism, nationalization, limitations on the removal of funds or other assets, or diplomatic developments that could affect U.S. investments in those countries. Additionally, economic or other sanctions imposed on the United States by a foreign country, or imposed on a foreign country or issuer by the United States, could impair a fund's ability to buy, sell, hold, receive, deliver, or otherwise transact in certain investment securities. Sanctions could also affect the value and/or liquidity of a foreign security.

Although an advisor will endeavor to achieve the most favorable execution costs for a fund's portfolio transactions in foreign securities under the circumstances, commissions and other transaction costs are generally higher than those on U.S. securities. In addition, it is expected that the custodian arrangement expenses for a fund that invests primarily in foreign securities will be somewhat greater than the expenses for a fund that invests primarily in domestic securities. Additionally, bankruptcy laws vary by jurisdiction and cash deposits may be subject to a custodian's creditors. Certain foreign governments levy withholding or other taxes against dividend and interest income from, capital gains on the sale of, or transactions in foreign securities. Although in some countries a portion of these taxes is recoverable by the fund, the nonrecovered portion of foreign withholding taxes will reduce the income received from such securities.

The value of the foreign securities held by a fund that are not U.S. dollar-denominated may be significantly affected by changes in currency exchange rates. The U.S. dollar value of a foreign security generally decreases when the value of the U.S. dollar rises against the foreign currency in which the security is denominated, and it tends to increase when the value

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of the U.S. dollar falls against such currency (as discussed under the heading "Foreign Securities—Foreign Currency Transactions," a fund may attempt to hedge its currency risks). In addition, the value of fund assets may be affected by losses and other expenses incurred from converting between various currencies in order to purchase and sell foreign securities, as well as by currency restrictions, exchange control regulations, currency devaluations, and political and economic developments.

Foreign Securities—China A-shares Risk. China A-shares (A-shares) are shares of mainland Chinese companies that are traded locally on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges. In order to invest in A-shares, a foreign investor must have access to an investment quota through a Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII) or a Renminbi QFII (RQFII) license holder. A-shares are also available through the China Stock Connect program, subject to separate quota limitations. The developing state of the investment and banking systems of the People's Republic of China (China, or the PRC) subjects the settlement, clearing, and registration of securities transactions to heightened risks. Additionally, there are foreign ownership limitations that may result in limitations on investment or the return of profits if a fund purchases and sells shares of an issuer in which it owns 5% or more of the shares issued within a six-month period. It is unclear if the 5% ownership will be determined by aggregating the holdings of a fund with affiliated funds.

Due to these restrictions, it is possible that the A-shares quota available to a fund as a foreign investor may not be sufficient to meet the fund's investment needs. In this situation, a fund may seek an alternative method of economic exposure, such as by purchasing other classes of securities or depositary receipts or by utilizing derivatives. Any of these options could increase a fund's index sampling risk (for index funds) or investment cost. Additionally, investing in A-shares generally increases emerging markets risk due in part to government and issuer market controls and the developing settlement and legal systems.

Investing in China A-shares through Stock Connect. The China Stock Connect program (Stock Connect) is a mutual market access program designed to, among other things, enable foreign investment in the PRC via brokers in Hong Kong. A QFII/RQFII license is not required to trade via Stock Connect. There are significant risks inherent in investing in A-shares through Stock Connect. Specifically, trading can be affected by a number of issues. Stock Connect can only operate when both PRC and Hong Kong markets are open for trading and when banking services are available in both markets on the corresponding settlement days. As such, if one or both markets are closed on a U.S. trading day, a fund may not be able to dispose of its shares in a timely manner, which could adversely affect the fund's performance. Trading through Stock Connect may require pre-delivery or pre-validation of cash or securities to or by a broker. If the cash or securities are not in the broker's possession before the market opens on the day of selling, the sell order will be rejected. This requirement may limit a fund's ability to dispose of its A-shares purchased through Stock Connect in a timely manner.

Additionally, Stock Connect is subject to daily quota limitations on purchases into the PRC. Once the daily quota is reached, orders to purchase additional A-shares through Stock Connect will be rejected. In addition, a fund's purchase of A-shares through Stock Connect may only be subsequently sold through Stock Connect and is not otherwise transferable. Stock Connect utilizes an omnibus clearing structure, and the fund's shares will be registered in its custodian's name on the Hong Kong Central Clearing and Settlement System. This may limit an advisor's ability to effectively manage a fund's holdings, including the potential enforcement of equity owner rights.

Foreign Securities—Emerging Market Risk. Investing in emerging market countries involves certain risks not typically associated with investing in the United States, and it imposes risks greater than, or in addition to, risks of investing in more developed foreign countries. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following: nationalization or expropriation of assets or confiscatory taxation; currency devaluations and other currency exchange rate fluctuations; greater social, economic, and political uncertainty and instability (including amplified risk of war and terrorism); more substantial government involvement in the economy; less government supervision and regulation of the securities markets and participants in those markets and possible arbitrary and unpredictable enforcement of securities regulations and other laws; 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; unavailability of currency-hedging techniques in certain emerging market countries; generally smaller, less seasoned, or newly organized companies; differences in, or lack of, auditing and financial reporting standards, which may result in unavailability of material information about issuers; difficulty in obtaining and/or enforcing a judgment in a court outside the United States; and greater price volatility, substantially less liquidity, and significantly smaller market capitalization of securities markets. Also, any change in the leadership or politics of emerging market countries, or the countries that exercise a significant influence over those countries, may halt the expansion of or reverse the liberalization of foreign investment policies now occurring and adversely affect

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existing investment opportunities. Furthermore, high rates of inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging market countries. Custodial expenses and other investment-related costs are often more expensive in emerging market countries, which can reduce a fund's income from investments in securities or debt instruments of emerging market country issuers.

Foreign Securities—Foreign Currency Transactions. The value in U.S. dollars of a fund's non-dollar-denominated foreign securities and currency exchange transactions generally may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations, and the fund may incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies. To seek to minimize the impact of such factors on net asset values, a fund may engage in foreign currency transactions in connection with its investments in foreign securities. A fund may enter into foreign currency transactions to attempt to "hedge" the currency risk associated with investing in foreign securities. Although such transactions tend to minimize the risk of loss that would result from a decline in the value of the hedged currency, they also may limit any potential gain that might result should the value of such currency increase.

Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund may enter into foreign currency transactions for non-hedging purposes. The Fund may purchase and sell currencies of various countries. If positions the Fund holds long decline in value and/or positions the Fund holds short increase in value, then the Fund could incur a loss. Currency prices can be highly volatile and trading currencies for non-hedging purposes is generally considered speculative and involves a high risk of a substantial loss of invested capital due to, among other things, the leverage and volatility involved with currency exchange transactions.

Currency exchange transactions may be conducted either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the rate prevailing in the currency exchange market or through forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. A forward currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are entered into with large commercial banks or other currency traders who are participants in the interbank market. Currency exchange transactions also may be effected through the use of swap agreements or other derivatives.

Currency exchange transactions may be considered borrowings. A currency exchange transaction will not be considered to constitute the issuance, by a fund, of a "senior security," as that term is defined in Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act, and therefore such transaction will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by a fund, if the fund covers the transaction in accordance with the requirements described under the heading "Borrowing."

By entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of foreign currency involved in underlying security transactions, a fund may be able to protect itself against part or all of the possible loss between trade and settlement dates for that purchase or sale resulting from an adverse change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar and such foreign currency. This practice is sometimes referred to as "transaction hedging." In addition, when the advisor reasonably believes that a particular foreign currency may suffer a substantial decline against the U.S. dollar, a fund may enter into a forward contract to sell an amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of its portfolio securities denominated in such foreign currency. This practice is sometimes referred to as "portfolio hedging." Similarly, when the advisor reasonably believes that the U.S. dollar may suffer a substantial decline against a foreign currency, a fund may enter into a forward contract to buy that foreign currency for a fixed dollar amount.

A fund may also attempt to hedge its foreign currency exchange rate risk by engaging in currency futures, options, and "cross-hedge" transactions. In cross-hedge transactions, a fund holding securities denominated in one foreign currency will enter into a forward currency contract to buy or sell a different foreign currency (one that the advisor reasonably believes generally tracks the currency being hedged with regard to price movements). The advisor may select the tracking (or substitute) currency rather than the currency in which the security is denominated for various reasons, including in order to take advantage of pricing or other opportunities presented by the tracking currency or to take advantage of a more liquid or more efficient market for the tracking currency. Such cross-hedges are expected to help protect a fund against an increase or decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar against certain foreign currencies.

A fund may hold a portion of its assets in bank deposits denominated in foreign currencies, so as to facilitate investment in foreign securities as well as protect against currency fluctuations and the need to convert such assets into U.S. dollars (thereby also reducing transaction costs). To the extent these assets are converted back into U.S. dollars, the value of the

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assets so maintained will be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations.

Forecasting the movement of the currency market is extremely difficult. Whether any hedging strategy will be successful is highly uncertain. Moreover, it is impossible to forecast with precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration of a forward currency contract. Accordingly, a fund may be required to buy or sell additional currency on the spot market (and bear the expense of such transaction) if its advisor's predictions regarding the movement of foreign currency or securities markets prove inaccurate. In addition, the use of cross-hedging transactions may involve special risks and may leave a fund in a less advantageous position than if such a hedge had not been established. Because forward currency contracts are privately negotiated transactions, there can be no assurance that a fund will have flexibility to roll over a forward currency contract upon its expiration if it desires to do so. Additionally, there can be no assurance that the other party to the contract will perform its services thereunder.

Foreign Securities—Foreign Investment Companies. Some of the countries in which a fund may invest may not permit, or may place economic restrictions on, direct investment by outside investors. Fund investments in such countries may be permitted only through foreign government-approved or authorized investment vehicles, which may include other investment companies. Such investments may be made through registered or unregistered closed-end investment companies that invest in foreign securities. Investing through such vehicles may involve layered fees or expenses and may also be subject to the limitations on, and the risks of, a fund's investments in other investment companies, which are described under the heading "Other Investment Companies."

Foreign Securities—Russian Market Risk. There are significant risks inherent in investing in Russian securities. The underdeveloped state of Russia's banking system subjects the settlement, clearing, and registration of securities transactions to significant risks. In March of 2013, the National Settlement Depository (NSD) began acting as a central depository for the majority of Russian equity securities; the NSD is now recognized as the Central Securities Depository in Russia.

For Russian issuers with fewer than 50 shareholders, ownership records are maintained only by registrars who are under contract with the issuers and are currently not settled with the NSD. Although a Russian sub-custodian will maintain copies of the registrar's records (Share Extracts) on its premises, such Share Extracts are not recorded with the NSD and may not be legally sufficient to establish ownership of securities. The registrars may not be independent from the issuer, are not necessarily subject to effective state supervision, and may not be licensed with any governmental entity. A fund will endeavor to ensure by itself or through a custodian or other agent that the fund's interest continues to be appropriately recorded for Russian issuers with fewer than 50 shareholders by inspecting the share register and by obtaining extracts of share registers through regular confirmations. However, these extracts have no legal enforceability, and the possibility exists that a subsequent illegal amendment or other fraudulent act may deprive the fund of its ownership rights or may improperly dilute its interest. In addition, although applicable Russian regulations impose liability on registrars for losses resulting from their errors, a fund may find it difficult to enforce any rights it may have against the registrar or issuer of the securities in the event of loss of share registration.

Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. Futures contracts and options on futures contracts are derivatives. A futures contract is a standardized agreement between two parties to buy or sell at a specific time in the future a specific quantity of a commodity at a specific price. The commodity may consist of an asset, a reference rate, or an index. A security futures contract relates to the sale of a specific quantity of shares of a single equity security or a narrow-based securities index. The value of a futures contract tends to increase and decrease in tandem with the value of the underlying commodity. The buyer of a futures contract enters into an agreement to purchase the underlying commodity on the settlement date and is said to be "long" the contract. The seller of a futures contract enters into an agreement to sell the underlying commodity on the settlement date and is said to be "short" the contract. The price at which a futures contract is entered into is established either in the electronic marketplace or by open outcry on the floor of an exchange between exchange members acting as traders or brokers. Open futures contracts can be liquidated or closed out by physical delivery of the underlying commodity or payment of the cash settlement amount on the settlement date, depending on the terms of the particular contract. Some financial futures contracts (such as security futures) provide for physical settlement at maturity. Other financial futures contracts (such as those relating to interest rates, foreign currencies, and broad-based securities indexes) generally provide for cash settlement at maturity. In the case of cash-settled futures contracts, the cash settlement amount is equal to the difference between the final settlement or market price for the relevant commodity on the last trading day of the contract and the price for the relevant commodity agreed upon at the outset of the contract.

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Most futures contracts, however, are not held until maturity but instead are "offset" before the settlement date through the establishment of an opposite and equal futures position.

The purchaser or seller of a futures contract is not required to deliver or pay for the underlying commodity unless the contract is held until the settlement date. However, both the purchaser and seller are required to deposit "initial margin" with a futures commission merchant (FCM) when the futures contract is entered into. Initial margin deposits are typically calculated as an amount equal to the volatility in market value of a contract over a fixed period. If the value of the fund's position declines, the fund will be required to make additional "variation margin" payments to the FCM to settle the change in value. If the value of the fund's position increases, the FCM will be required to make additional "variation margin" payments to the fund to settle the change in value. This process is known as "marking-to-market" and is calculated on a daily basis. A futures transaction will not be considered to constitute the issuance, by a fund, of a "senior security," as that term is defined in Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act, and therefore such transaction will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by a fund, if the fund covers the transaction in accordance with the requirements described under the heading "Borrowing."

An option on a futures contract (or futures option) conveys the right, but not the obligation, to purchase (in the case of a call option) or sell (in the case of a put option) a specific futures contract at a specific price (called the "exercise" or "strike" price) any time before the option expires. The seller of an option is called an option writer. The purchase price of an option is called the premium. The potential loss to an option buyer is limited to the amount of the premium plus transaction costs. This will be the case, for example, if the option is held and not exercised prior to its expiration date. Generally, an option writer sells options with the goal of obtaining the premium paid by the option buyer. If an option sold by an option writer expires without being exercised, the writer retains the full amount of the premium. The option writer, however, has unlimited economic risk because its potential loss, except to the extent offset by the premium received when the option was written, is equal to the amount the option is "in-the-money" at the expiration date. A call option is in-the-money if the value of the underlying futures contract exceeds the exercise price of the option. A put option is in-the-money if the exercise price of the option exceeds the value of the underlying futures contract. Generally, any profit realized by an option buyer represents a loss for the option writer.

A fund that takes the position of a writer of a futures option is required to deposit and maintain initial and variation margin with respect to the option, as previously described in the case of futures contracts. A futures option transaction will not be considered to constitute the issuance, by a fund, of a "senior security," as that term is defined in Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act, and therefore such transaction will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by a fund, if the fund covers the transaction in accordance with the requirements described under the heading "Borrowing." A Fund will only enter into futures contracts and futures options that are traded on a U.S. or foreign exchange, board of trade, or similar entity or that are quoted on an automated quotation system.

Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts—Risks. The risk of loss in trading futures contracts and in writing futures options can be substantial because of the low margin deposits required, the extremely high degree of leverage involved in futures and options pricing, and the potential high volatility of the futures markets. As a result, a relatively small price movement in a futures position may result in immediate and substantial loss (or gain) for the investor. For example, if at the time of purchase, 10% of the value of the futures contract is deposited as margin, a subsequent 10% decrease in the value of the futures contract would result in a total loss of the margin deposit, before any deduction for the transaction costs, if the account were then closed out. A 15% decrease would result in a loss equal to 150% of the original margin deposit if the contract were closed out. Thus, a purchase or sale of a futures contract, and the writing of a futures option, may result in losses in excess of the amount invested in the position. In the event of adverse price movements, a fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments to maintain its required margin. In such situations, if the fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily margin requirements (and segregation requirements, if applicable) at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In addition, on the settlement date, a fund may be required to make delivery of the instruments underlying the futures positions it holds.

A fund could suffer losses if it is unable to close out a futures contract or a futures option because of an illiquid secondary market. Futures contracts and futures options may be closed out only on an exchange that provides a secondary market for such products. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures product at any specific time. Thus, it may not be possible to close a futures or option position. Moreover, most futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or

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down from the previous day's settlement price at the end of a trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular type of contract, no trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movement during a particular trading day, and therefore does not limit potential losses because the limit may prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. Futures contract prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of future positions and subjecting some futures traders to substantial losses. The inability to close futures and options positions also could have an adverse impact on the ability to hedge a portfolio investment or to establish a substitute for a portfolio investment. U.S. Treasury futures are generally not subject to such daily limits.

A fund bears the risk that its advisor will incorrectly predict future market trends. If the advisor attempts to use a futures contract or a futures option as a hedge against, or as a substitute for, a portfolio investment, the fund will be exposed to the risk that the futures position will have or will develop imperfect or no correlation with the portfolio investment. This could cause substantial losses for the fund. Although hedging strategies involving futures products can reduce the risk of loss, they can also reduce the opportunity for gain or even result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in other fund investments.

A fund could lose margin payments it has deposited with its FCM if, for example, the FCM breaches its agreement with the fund or becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy. In that event, the fund may be entitled to return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the FCM's other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the fund.

Interfund Borrowing and Lending. The SEC has granted an exemption permitting registered open-end Vanguard funds to participate in Vanguard's interfund lending program. This program allows the Vanguard funds to borrow money from and lend money to each other for temporary or emergency purposes. The program is subject to a number of conditions, including, among other things, the requirements that (1) no fund may borrow or lend money through the program unless it receives a more favorable interest rate than is typically available from a bank for a comparable transaction, (2) no fund may lend money if the loan would cause its aggregate outstanding loans through the program to exceed 15% of its net assets at the time of the loan, and (3) a fund's interfund loans to any one fund shall not exceed 5% of the lending fund's net assets. In addition, a Vanguard fund may participate in the program only if and to the extent that such participation is consistent with the fund's investment objective and investment policies. The boards of trustees of the Vanguard funds are responsible for overseeing the interfund lending program. Any delay in repayment to a lending fund could result in a lost investment opportunity or additional borrowing costs.

Investing for Control. Each Vanguard fund invests in securities and other instruments for the sole purpose of achieving a specific investment objective. As such, a Vanguard fund does not seek to acquire, individually or collectively with any other Vanguard fund, enough of a company's outstanding voting stock to have control over management decisions. A Vanguard fund does not invest for the purpose of controlling a company's management. This policy does not prevent Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund or Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund from having an ownership interest in a wholly owned subsidiary.

Loan Interests and Direct Debt Instruments. Loan interests and direct debt instruments are interests in amounts owed by a corporate, governmental, or other borrower to lenders or lending syndicates (in the case of loans and loan participations); to suppliers of goods or services (in the case of trade claims or other receivables); or to other parties. These investments involve a risk of loss in case of default, insolvency, or the bankruptcy of the borrower and may offer less legal protection to the purchaser in the event of fraud or misrepresentation, or there may be a requirement that a purchaser supply additional cash to a borrower on demand.

Purchasers of loans and other forms of direct indebtedness depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of the borrower for payment of interest and repayment of principal. Direct debt instruments may not be rated by a rating agency. If scheduled interest or principal payments are not made, or are not made in a timely manner, the value of the instrument may be adversely affected. Loans that are fully secured provide more protections than unsecured loans in the event of failure to make scheduled interest or principal payments. However, there is no assurance that the liquidation of collateral from a secured loan would satisfy the borrower's obligation or that the collateral could be liquidated. Indebtedness of borrowers whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks and may be highly speculative. Borrowers that are in bankruptcy or restructuring may never pay off their indebtedness, or they may pay only a small fraction of the amount owed. Direct indebtedness of countries, particularly developing countries, also involves a risk that the

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governmental entities responsible for the repayment of the debt may be unable, or unwilling, to pay interest and repay principal when due.

Corporate loans and other forms of direct corporate indebtedness in which a fund may invest generally are made to finance internal growth, mergers, acquisitions, stock repurchases, refinancing of existing debt, leveraged buyouts, and other corporate activities. A significant portion of the corporate indebtedness purchased by a fund may represent interests in loans or debt made to finance highly leveraged corporate acquisitions (known as "leveraged buyout" transactions), leveraged recapitalization loans, and other types of acquisition financing. Another portion may also represent loans incurred in restructuring or "work-out" scenarios, including super-priority debtor-in-possession facilities in bankruptcy and acquisition of assets out of bankruptcy. Loans in restructuring or work-out scenarios may be especially vulnerable to the inherent uncertainties in restructuring processes. In addition, the highly leveraged capital structure of the borrowers in any such transactions, whether in acquisition financing or restructuring, may make such loans especially vulnerable to adverse or unusual economic or market conditions.

Loans and other forms of direct indebtedness generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and only limited opportunities may exist to sell them in secondary markets. As a result, a fund may be unable to sell loans and other forms of direct indebtedness at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to sell them only at a price that is less than their fair value.

Options. An option is a derivative. An option on a security (or index) is a contract that gives the holder of the option, in return for the payment of a "premium," the right, but not the obligation, to buy from (in the case of a call option) or sell to (in the case of a put option) the writer of the option the security underlying the option (or the cash value of the index) at a specified exercise price prior to the expiration date of the option. The writer of an option on a security has the obligation upon exercise of the option to deliver the underlying security upon payment of the exercise price (in the case of a call option) or to pay the exercise price upon delivery of the underlying security (in the case of a put option). The writer of an option on an index has the obligation upon exercise of the option to pay an amount equal to the cash value of the index minus the exercise price, multiplied by the specified multiplier for the index option. The multiplier for an index option determines the size of the investment position the option represents. Unlike exchange-traded options, which are standardized with respect to the underlying instrument, expiration date, contract size, and strike price, the terms of over-the-counter (OTC) options (options not traded on exchanges) generally are established through negotiation with the other party to the option contract. Although this type of arrangement allows the purchaser or writer greater flexibility to tailor an option to its needs, OTC options generally involve credit risk to the counterparty, whereas for exchange-traded, centrally cleared options, credit risk is mutualized through the involvement of the applicable clearing house.

The buyer (or holder) of an option is said to be "long" the option, while the seller (or writer) of an option is said to be "short" the option. A call option grants to the holder the right to buy (and obligates the writer to sell) the underlying security at the strike price, which is the predetermined price at which the option may be exercised. A put option grants to the holder the right to sell (and obligates the writer to buy) the underlying security at the strike price. The purchase price of an option is called the "premium." The potential loss to an option buyer is limited to the amount of the premium plus transaction costs. This will be the case if the option is held and not exercised prior to its expiration date. Generally, an option writer sells options with the goal of obtaining the premium paid by the option buyer, but that person could also seek to profit from an anticipated rise or decline in option prices. If an option sold by an option writer expires without being exercised, the writer retains the full amount of the premium. The option writer, however, has unlimited economic risk because its potential loss, except to the extent offset by the premium received when the option was written, is equal to the amount the option is "in-the-money" at the expiration date. A call option is in-the-money if the value of the underlying position exceeds the exercise price of the option. A put option is in-the-money if the exercise price of the option exceeds the value of the underlying position. Generally, any profit realized by an option buyer represents a loss for the option writer. The writing of an option will not be considered to constitute the issuance, by a fund, of a "senior security," as that term is defined in Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act, and therefore such transaction will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by a fund, if the fund covers the transaction in accordance with the requirements described under the heading "Borrowing."

If a trading market, in particular options, were to become unavailable, investors in those options (such as the funds) would be unable to close out their positions until trading resumes, and they may be faced with substantial losses if the value of the underlying instrument moves adversely during that time. Even if the market were to remain available, there may be

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times when options prices will not maintain their customary or anticipated relationships to the prices of the underlying instruments and related instruments. Lack of investor interest, changes in volatility, or other factors or conditions might adversely affect the liquidity, efficiency, continuity, or even the orderliness of the market for particular options.

A fund bears the risk that its advisor will not accurately predict future market trends. If the advisor attempts to use an option as a hedge against, or as a substitute for, a portfolio investment, the fund will be exposed to the risk that the option will have or will develop imperfect or no correlation with the portfolio investment, which could cause substantial losses for the fund. Although hedging strategies involving options can reduce the risk of loss, they can also reduce the opportunity for gain or even result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in other fund investments. Many options, in particular OTC options, are complex and often valued based on subjective factors. Improper valuations can result in increased cash payment requirements to counterparties or a loss of value to a fund.

OTC Swap Agreements. An over-the-counter (OTC) swap agreement, which is a type of derivative, is an agreement between two parties (counterparties) to exchange payments at specified dates (periodic payment dates) on the basis of a specified amount (notional amount) with the payments calculated with reference to a specified asset, reference rate, or index.

Examples of OTC swap agreements include, but are not limited to, interest rate swaps, credit default swaps, equity swaps, commodity swaps, foreign currency swaps, index swaps, excess return swaps, and total return swaps. Most OTC swap agreements provide that when the periodic payment dates for both parties are the same, payments are netted and only the net amount is paid to the counterparty entitled to receive the net payment. Consequently, a fund's current obligations (or rights) under an OTC swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement, based on the relative values of the positions held by each counterparty. OTC swap agreements allow for a wide variety of transactions. For example, fixed rate payments may be exchanged for floating rate payments; U.S. dollar-denominated payments may be exchanged for payments denominated in a different currency; and payments tied to the price of one asset, reference rate, or index may be exchanged for payments tied to the price of another asset, reference rate, or index.

An OTC option on an OTC swap agreement, also called a "swaption," is an option that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to enter into a swap on a future date in exchange for paying a market-based "premium." A receiver swaption gives the owner the right to receive the total return of a specified asset, reference rate, or index. A payer swaption gives the owner the right to pay the total return of a specified asset, reference rate, or index. Swaptions also include options that allow an existing swap to be terminated or extended by one of the counterparties.

The use of OTC swap agreements by a fund entails certain risks, which may be different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the securities and other investments that are the referenced asset for the swap agreement. OTC swaps are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques, risk analyses, and tax planning different from those associated with stocks, bonds, and other traditional investments. The use of an OTC swap requires an understanding not only of the referenced asset, reference rate, or index but also of the swap itself, without the benefit of observing the performance of the swap under all possible market conditions.

OTC swap agreements may be subject to liquidity risk, which exists when a particular swap is difficult to purchase or sell. If an OTC swap transaction is particularly large or if the relevant market is illiquid (as is the case with many OTC swaps), it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses. In addition, OTC swap transactions may be subject to a fund's limitation on investments in illiquid securities.

OTC swap agreements may be subject to pricing risk, which exists when a particular swap becomes extraordinarily expensive or inexpensive relative to historical prices or the prices of corresponding cash market instruments. Under certain market conditions, it may not be economically feasible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position in time to avoid a loss or take advantage of an opportunity or to realize the intrinsic value of the OTC swap agreement.

Because certain OTC swap agreements have a leverage component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate, or index can result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the swap itself. Certain OTC swaps have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. A leveraged OTC swap transaction will not be considered to constitute the issuance, by a fund, of a "senior security," as that term is defined in Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act, and therefore such transaction will not be subject to the 300% asset

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coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by a fund, if the fund covers the transaction in accordance with the requirements described under the heading "Borrowing."

Like most other investments, OTC swap agreements are subject to the risk that the market value of the instrument will change in a way detrimental to a fund's interest. A fund bears the risk that its advisor will not accurately forecast future market trends or the values of assets, reference rates, indexes, or other economic factors in establishing OTC swap positions for the fund. If the advisor attempts to use an OTC swap as a hedge against, or as a substitute for, a portfolio investment, the fund will be exposed to the risk that the OTC swap will have or will develop imperfect or no correlation with the portfolio investment. This could cause substantial losses for the fund. Although hedging strategies involving OTC swap instruments can reduce the risk of loss, they can also reduce the opportunity for gain or even result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in other fund investments. Many OTC swaps are complex and often valued subjectively. Improper valuations can result in increased cash payment requirements to counterparties or a loss of value to a fund.

The use of an OTC swap agreement also involves the risk that a loss may be sustained as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the counterparty or the failure of the counterparty to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the agreement. Additionally, the use of credit default swaps can result in losses if a fund's advisor does not correctly evaluate the creditworthiness of the issuer on which the credit swap is based.

Other Investment Companies. A fund may invest in other investment companies to the extent permitted by applicable law or SEC exemption. Under Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act, a fund may invest up to 10% of its assets in shares of investment companies generally and up to 5% of its assets in any one investment company, as long as no investment represents more than 3% of the voting stock of an acquired investment company. In addition, no funds for which Vanguard acts as an advisor may, in the aggregate, own more than 10% of the voting stock of a closed-end investment company. The 1940 Act and related rules provide certain exemptions from these restrictions, for example, for funds that invest in other funds within the same group of investment companies. If a fund invests in other investment companies, shareholders will bear not only their proportionate share of the fund's expenses (including operating expenses and the fees of the advisor), but they also may indirectly bear similar expenses of the underlying investment companies. Certain investment companies, such as business development companies (BDCs), are more akin to operating companies and, as such, their expenses are not direct expenses paid by fund shareholders and are not used to calculate the fund's net asset value. SEC rules nevertheless require that any expenses incurred by a BDC be included in a fund's expense ratio as "Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses." The expense ratio of a fund that holds a BDC will thus overstate what the fund actually spends on portfolio management, administrative services, and other shareholder services by an amount equal to these Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses. The Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are not included in a fund's financial statements, which provide a clearer picture of a fund's actual operating expenses. Shareholders would also be exposed to the risks associated not only with the investments of the fund but also with the portfolio investments of the underlying investment companies. Certain types of investment companies, such as closed-end investment companies, issue a fixed number of shares that typically trade on a stock exchange or over-the-counter at a premium or discount to their net asset value. Others are continuously offered at net asset value but also may be traded on the secondary market.

A fund may be limited to purchasing a particular share class of other investment companies (underlying funds). In certain cases, an investor may be able to purchase lower-cost shares of such underlying funds separately, and therefore be able to construct, and maintain over time, a similar portfolio of investments while incurring lower overall expenses.

Preferred Stock. Preferred stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. Preferred stock normally pays dividends at a specified rate and has precedence over common stock in the event the issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy. However, in the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock. Preferred stock, unlike common stock, often has a stated dividend rate payable from the corporation's earnings. Preferred stock dividends may be cumulative or noncumulative, participating, or auction rate. "Cumulative" dividend provisions require all or a portion of prior unpaid dividends to be paid before dividends can be paid to the issuer's common stock. "Participating" preferred stock may be entitled to a dividend exceeding the stated dividend in certain cases. If interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stocks may be less attractive, causing the price of such stocks to decline. Preferred stock may have mandatory sinking fund provisions, as well as provisions allowing the stock to be called or redeemed, which can limit the benefit of a decline in interest rates. Preferred stock is subject to many of the risks to which common stock and debt securities are subject. In addition, preferred stock may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than common stock or

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debt securities because preferred stock may trade with less frequency and in more limited volume.

Reliance on Service Providers, Data Providers, and Other Technology. Vanguard funds rely upon the performance of service providers to execute several key functions, which may include functions integral to a fund's operations. Failure by any service provider to carry out its obligations to a fund could disrupt the business of the fund and could have an adverse effect on the fund's performance. A fund's service providers' reliance on certain technology or information vendors (e.g., trading systems, investment analysis tools, benchmark analytics, and tax and accounting tools) could also adversely affect a fund and its shareholders. For example, a fund's investment advisor may use models and/or data to screen potential investments for the fund. When models or data prove to be incorrect or incomplete, any decisions made in reliance upon such models or data expose a fund to potential risks.

Repurchase Agreements. A repurchase agreement is an agreement under which a fund acquires a debt security (generally a security issued by the U.S. government or an agency thereof, a banker's acceptance, or a certificate of deposit) from a bank, a broker, or a dealer and simultaneously agrees to resell such security to the seller at an agreed- upon price and date (normally, the next business day). Because the security purchased constitutes collateral for the repurchase obligation, a repurchase agreement may be considered a loan that is collateralized by the security purchased. The resale price reflects an agreed-upon interest rate effective for the period the instrument is held by a fund and is unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying instrument. In these transactions, the securities acquired by a fund (including accrued interest earned thereon) must have a total value in excess of the value of the repurchase agreement and be held by a custodian bank until repurchased. In addition, the investment advisor will monitor a fund's repurchase agreement transactions generally and will evaluate the creditworthiness of any bank, broker, or dealer party to a repurchase agreement relating to a fund. The aggregate amount of any such agreements is not limited, except to the extent required by law.

The use of repurchase agreements involves certain risks. One risk is the seller's ability to pay the agreed-upon repurchase price on the repurchase date. If the seller defaults, the fund may incur costs in disposing of the collateral, which would reduce the amount realized thereon. If the seller seeks relief under bankruptcy laws, the disposition of the collateral may be delayed or limited. For example, if the other party to the agreement becomes insolvent and subject to liquidation or reorganization under bankruptcy or other laws, a court may determine that the underlying security is collateral for a loan by the fund not within its control, and therefore the realization by the fund on such collateral may be automatically stayed. Finally, it is possible that the fund may not be able to substantiate its interest in the underlying security and may be deemed an unsecured creditor of the other party to the agreement.

Restricted and Illiquid Securities. Illiquid securities are investments that a fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. The SEC generally limits aggregate holdings of illiquid securities by a mutual fund to 15% of its net assets (5% for money market funds). A fund may experience difficulty valuing and selling illiquid securities and, in some cases, may be unable to value or sell certain illiquid securities for an indefinite period of time. Illiquid securities may include a wide variety of investments, such as (1) repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days (unless the agreements have demand/redemption features), (2) OTC options contracts and certain other derivatives (including certain swap agreements), (3) fixed time deposits that are not subject to prepayment or do not provide for withdrawal penalties upon prepayment (other than overnight deposits), (4) certain loan interests and other direct debt instruments, (5) certain municipal lease obligations, (6) private equity investments, (7) commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act, and (8) securities whose disposition is restricted under the federal securities laws. Illiquid securities may include restricted, privately placed securities that, under the federal securities laws, generally may be resold only to qualified institutional buyers. If a substantial market develops for a restricted security held by a fund, it may be treated as a liquid security in accordance with procedures and guidelines approved by the board of trustees. This generally includes securities that are unregistered, that can be sold to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, or that are exempt from registration under the 1933 Act, such as commercial paper. Although a fund's advisor monitors the liquidity of restricted securities, the board of trustees oversees and retains ultimate responsibility for the advisor's liquidity determinations. Several factors that the trustees consider in monitoring these decisions include the valuation of a security; the availability of qualified institutional buyers, brokers, and dealers that trade in the security; and the availability of information about the security's issuer.

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Reverse Repurchase Agreements. In a reverse repurchase agreement, a fund sells a security to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase that security at an agreed-upon price and time. Under a reverse repurchase agreement, the fund continues to receive any principal and interest payments on the underlying security during the term of the agreement. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of securities retained by the fund may decline below the repurchase price of the securities sold by the fund that it is obligated to repurchase. In addition to the risk of such a loss, fees charged to the fund may exceed the return the fund earns from investing the proceeds received from the reverse repurchase agreement transaction. A reverse repurchase agreement may be considered a borrowing transaction for purposes of the 1940 Act. A reverse repurchase agreement transaction will not be considered to constitute the issuance, by a fund, of a "senior security," as that term is defined in Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act, and therefore such transaction will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by a fund, if the fund covers the transaction in accordance with the requirements described under the heading "Borrowing." A fund will enter into reverse repurchase agreements only with parties whose creditworthiness has been reviewed and found satisfactory by the advisor. If the buyer in a reverse repurchase agreement becomes insolvent or files for bankruptcy, a fund's use of proceeds from the sale may be restricted while the other party or its trustee or receiver determines if it will honor the fund's right to repurchase the securities. If the fund is unable to recover the securities it sold in a reverse repurchase agreement, it would realize a loss equal to the difference between the value of the securities and the payment it received for them.

Securities Lending. A fund may lend its securities to financial institutions (typically brokers, dealers, and banks) to generate income for the fund. There are certain risks associated with lending securities, including counterparty, credit, market, regulatory, and operational risks. The advisor considers the creditworthiness of the borrower, among other factors, in making decisions with respect to the lending of securities, subject to oversight by the board of trustees. If the borrower defaults on its obligation to return the securities lent because of insolvency or other reasons, a fund could experience delays and costs in recovering the securities lent or in gaining access to the collateral. These delays and costs could be greater for certain types of foreign securities, as well as certain types of borrowers that are subject to global regulatory regimes. If a fund is not able to recover the securities lent, the fund may sell the collateral and purchase a replacement security in the market. Collateral investments are subject to market appreciation or depreciation. The value of the collateral could decrease below the value of the replacement investment by the time the replacement investment is purchased. Currently, a fund invests cash collateral into Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund, an affiliated money market fund that invests in high-quality, short-term money market instruments.

The terms and the structure of the loan arrangements, as well as the aggregate amount of securities loans, must be consistent with the 1940 Act and the rules or interpretations of the SEC thereunder. These provisions limit the amount of securities a fund may lend to 33 1/3% of the fund's total assets and require that (1) the borrower pledge and maintain with the fund collateral consisting of cash, an irrevocable letter of credit, or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government having at all times not less than 100% of the value of the securities lent; (2) the borrower add to such collateral whenever the price of the securities lent rises (i.e., the borrower "marks to market" on a daily basis); (3) the loan be made subject to termination by the fund at any time; and (4) the fund receives reasonable interest on the loan (which may include the fund investing any cash collateral in interest-bearing short-term investments), any distribution on the lent securities, and any increase in their market value. Loan arrangements made by a fund will comply with any other applicable regulatory requirements. At the present time, the SEC does not object if an investment company pays reasonable negotiated fees in connection with lent securities, so long as such fees are set forth in a written contract and approved by the investment company's trustees. In addition, voting rights pass with the lent securities, but if a fund has knowledge that a material event will occur affecting securities on loan, and in respect to which the holder of the securities will be entitled to vote or consent, the lender must be entitled to call the loaned securities in time to vote or consent. A fund bears the risk that there may be a delay in the return of the securities, which may impair the fund's ability to vote on such a matter. See Tax Status of the Funds for information about certain tax consequences related to a fund's securities lending activities.

Pursuant to Vanguard's securities lending policy, Vanguard's fixed income and money market funds are not permitted to, and do not, lend their investment securities.

Short Sales. In a short sale of securities, a fund sells a security that it does not own, making delivery with securities "borrowed" from a broker. The fund is then obligated to replace the borrowed security by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement. This price may or may not be less than the price at which the security was sold by the fund. Until the security is replaced, the fund is required to pay the lender any interest or dividends that accrue during the

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period of the loan. In order to borrow the security, the fund may also have to pay a fee, which would increase the cost of the security sold. Generally speaking, the proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out. A fund will incur a loss as a result of a short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the fund replaces the borrowed security. A fund will realize a gain if the security declines in price between those two dates. The amount of any gain will be decreased and the amount of any loss will be increased by any fees, dividends, or interest the fund may be required to pay in connection with the short sale. Thus, a fund may incur a loss even if the security declines in price if such expenses are greater than the realized gain. A short sale theoretically creates the risk of an unlimited loss, as the price of the underlying securities could increase without limit, thus increasing the cost of buying those securities to cover the short position. There can be no assurance that the security needed to cover a short position will be available for purchase. Purchasing securities to close out the short position can itself cause the price of the securities to rise further (i.e, by increasing the demand for such security), thereby exacerbating the loss.

A fund may also engage in short sales if, at the time of the short sale, the fund owns or has the right to obtain without additional cost an equal amount of the security being sold short. This investment technique is known as a short sale "against the box." For example, a fund may make a short sale against the box as a hedge because the advisor believes that the price of a security may decline, causing a decline in the value of a security owned by the fund (or a security convertible or exchangeable for such security), or when the fund wants to sell the security at an attractive current price.

In such a case, any future losses in the fund's long position should be offset by a gain in the short position and, conversely, any gain in the long position should be reduced by a loss in the short position. The extent to which such gains or losses are reduced will depend upon the amount of the security sold short relative to the amount the fund owns. If a fund sells securities short "against the box," it may protect unrealized gains, but it will lose the opportunity to profit on such securities if the price rises. The successful use of short selling as a hedging strategy may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the security sold short and the security being hedged.

Subsidiary Investments. Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund and Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund (each, a "respective Fund") may invest in a wholly owned subsidiary organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (each, a "subsidiary" and together, the "subsidiaries"). The respective Fund is the sole beneficial owner of its subsidiary, and the respective Fund's investment in its subsidiary will generally not exceed 25% of the respective Fund's total assets.

The respective Fund intends to invest in its subsidiary primarily to obtain exposure to the commodity markets in compliance with the IRC. Each subsidiary seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in commodity-linked investments, including commodity futures and swaps. Each subsidiary may also invest in fixed income securities, including cash instruments or other short-term investments, such as U.S. Treasury and U.S. government agency securities, certificates of deposit, money market instruments, and short-term fixed and floating-rate bonds for the purpose of providing margin or collateral for its commodity-linked derivative investments, providing liquidity in the portfolio, and earning interest. By investing in its wholly owned subsidiary, the respective Fund is indirectly exposed to all of the risks to which its subsidiary is exposed.

Each subsidiary is not a registered investment company and, accordingly, is not subject to the 1940 Act. Therefore, the respective Fund's investment in its subsidiary has none of the protections provided to investors in funds registered under the federal securities laws of the United States. In addition, if the laws of the United States or the Cayman Islands change, there is no guarantee that a subsidiary can continue to operate or that the respective Fund would be permitted to invest in its subsidiary. See "Tax Matters-Federal Tax Treatment of Commodity-Linked Investments and Subsidiary Investments" for information about special tax considerations and risks applicable to the respective Fund's investment in its subsidiary.

Tax Matters—Federal Tax Discussion. Discussion herein of U.S. federal income tax matters summarizes some of the important, generally applicable U.S. federal tax considerations relevant to investment in a fund based on the IRC, U.S. Treasury regulations, and other applicable authorities. These authorities are subject to change by legislative, administrative, or judicial action, possibly with retroactive effect. Each Fund has not requested and will not request an advance ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as to the U.S. federal income tax matters discussed in this Statement of Additional Information. In some cases, a fund's tax position may be uncertain under current tax law and an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to such a position could adversely affect the fund and its shareholders, including the fund's ability to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company or to continue to

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pursue its current investment strategy. A shareholder should consult his or her tax professional for information regarding the particular situation and the possible application of U.S. federal, state, local, foreign, and other taxes.

Tax Matters—Federal Tax Treatment of Commodity-Linked Investments and Subsidiary Investments. Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund and Commodity Strategy Fund may invest a portion of their assets in investments that create exposure to the commodity markets. The Funds may invest directly in commodity-linked investments that provide this exposure or indirectly in such investments through a wholly owned subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. A fund's ability to make direct and indirect investments in certain commodity-related investments, including its subsidiary, is limited by the fund's intention to qualify as a regulated investment company under the IRC. The subsidiary will be operated in a manner that is intended to enable the Funds to comply with these IRC requirements applicable to regulated investment companies.

In particular, in order for a fund to continue to qualify for federal income tax treatment as a regulated investment company, at least 90% of its gross income for a taxable year must be derived from qualifying income—i.e., dividends, interest, income derived from securities loans, gains from the sale of securities or foreign currencies, or other income derived with respect to the fund's business of investing in securities or currencies. Income and gains from certain commodity-linked investments do not constitute qualifying income to a regulated investment company for purposes of this qualifying income test, and the tax treatment of other commodity-linked investments is uncertain, in particular with respect to whether the income or gains from such investments constitute qualifying income. The Funds generally intend to gain direct or indirect exposure to the commodity markets through investments that generate qualifying income by investing directly in commodity-linked investments that the Funds believe give rise to qualifying income or by investing indirectly in commodity-linked investments through a subsidiary. If the Funds, however, were to treat income or gain from a particular investment as qualifying income and the income or gain were later determined not to constitute qualifying income and, when aggregated with any other nonqualifying income, caused the Funds' nonqualifying income to exceed 10% of its gross income in any taxable year, the Funds would fail to qualify as regulated investment companies unless they were eligible to, and did, pay a tax at the fund-level.

Under current law, the IRC generally treats a fund's income derived from its investment in a wholly owned subsidiary as qualifying income, provided that the subsidiary annually distributes its earnings and profits to the fund. There is no assurance that the applicable provisions of the IRC will remain in effect; these provisions (and interpretations thereof) are subject to change, potentially with retroactive effect. The Funds could be required to restructure or liquidate their investment in their subsidiary accordingly. In the case of such liquidation, there is no guarantee that the Funds would be able to reinvest such investments in securities with comparable returns.

In addition, in order to qualify as regulated investment companies, the Funds generally cannot invest more than 25% of their assets in a subsidiary.

The subsidiary will be classified as a "controlled foreign corporation" for U.S. tax purposes and, because it is not expected to be deemed to carry on a U.S. trade or business, generally should not be subject to U.S. tax, although no assurance is given in that regard. However, the Funds will be required to include in their income annually amounts earned by the subsidiary during that year. Gains from the sales of investments by the subsidiary will not be eligible for capital gain treatment, but instead will be treated as ordinary income when included in the Funds' income. Net losses incurred by the subsidiary during a tax year do not flow through to the Funds and thus will not be available to offset income or capital gain generated from the Funds' other investments. In addition, net losses incurred by the subsidiary during a tax year generally cannot be carried forward by the subsidiary to offset gains realized by it in subsequent taxable years.

Each subsidiary is not expected to owe income tax in its jurisdiction of organization, the Cayman Islands. Changes in the tax laws, or interpretations of existing laws, of the United States or the Cayman Islands could adversely affect each subsidiary and the Funds' investment in their respective subsidiaries.

Tax Matters—Federal Tax Treatment of Derivatives, Hedging, and Related Transactions. A fund's transactions in derivative instruments (including, but not limited to, options, futures, forward contracts, and swap agreements), as well as any of the fund's hedging, short sale, securities loan, or similar transactions, may be subject to one or more special tax rules that accelerate income to the fund, defer losses to the fund, cause adjustments in the holding periods of the fund's securities, convert long-term capital gains into short-term capital gains, or convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing, and character of distributions to shareholders.

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Because these and other tax rules applicable to these types of transactions are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether a fund has made sufficient distributions, and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements, to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid a fund-level tax.

Tax Matters—Federal Tax Treatment of Futures Contracts. For federal income tax purposes, a fund generally must recognize, as of the end of each taxable year, any net unrealized gains and losses on certain futures contracts, as well as any gains and losses actually realized during the year. In these cases, any gain or loss recognized with respect to a futures contract is considered to be 60% long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss, without regard to the holding period of the contract. Gains and losses on certain other futures contracts (primarily non-U.S. futures contracts) are not recognized until the contracts are closed and are treated as long-term or short-term, depending on the holding period of the contract. Sales of futures contracts that are intended to hedge against a change in the value of securities held by a fund may affect the holding period of such securities and, consequently, the nature of the gain or loss on such securities upon disposition. A fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on one position, such as futures contracts, to the extent of any unrecognized gains on a related offsetting position held by the fund.

A fund will distribute to shareholders annually any net capital gains that have been recognized for federal income tax purposes on futures transactions. Such distributions will be combined with distributions of capital gains realized on the fund's other investments, and shareholders will be advised on the nature of the distributions.

Tax Matters—Federal Tax Treatment of Non-U.S. Currency Transactions. Special rules generally govern the federal income tax treatment of a fund's transactions in the following: non-U.S. currencies; non-U.S. currency-denominated debt obligations; and certain non-U.S. currency options, futures contracts, forward contracts, and similar instruments. Accordingly, if a fund engages in these types of transactions it may have ordinary income or loss to the extent that such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the non-U.S. currency concerned. Such ordinary income could accelerate fund distributions to shareholders and increase the distributions taxed to shareholders as ordinary income. Any ordinary loss so created will generally reduce ordinary income distributions and, in some cases, could require the recharacterization of prior ordinary income distributions. Net ordinary losses cannot be carried forward by the fund to offset income or gains realized in subsequent taxable years.

Any gain or loss attributable to the non-U.S. currency component of a transaction engaged in by a fund that is not subject to these special currency rules (such as foreign equity investments other than certain preferred stocks) will generally be treated as a capital gain or loss and will not be segregated from the gain or loss on the underlying transaction.

To the extent a fund engages in non-U.S. currency hedging, the fund may elect or be required to apply other rules that could affect the character, timing, or amount of the fund's gains and losses. For more information, see "Tax Matters— Federal Tax Treatment of Derivatives, Hedging, and Related Transactions."

Tax Matters—Foreign Tax Credit. Foreign governments may withhold taxes on dividends and interest paid with respect to foreign securities held by a fund. Foreign governments may also impose taxes on other payments or gains with respect to foreign securities. If, at the close of its fiscal year, more than 50% of a fund's total assets are invested in securities of foreign issuers, the fund may elect to pass through to shareholders the ability to deduct or, if they meet certain holding period requirements, take a credit for foreign taxes paid by the fund. Similarly, if at the close of each quarter of a fund's taxable year, at least 50% of its total assets consist of interests in other regulated investment companies, the fund is permitted to elect to pass through to its shareholders the foreign income taxes paid by the fund in connection with foreign securities held directly by the fund or held by a regulated investment company in which the fund invests that has elected to pass through such taxes to shareholders.

Tax Matters—Passive Foreign Investment Companies. Each Fund may invest in passive foreign investment companies (PFICs). A foreign company is generally a PFIC if 75% or more of its gross income is passive or if 50% or more of its assets produce passive income. Capital gains on the sale of an interest in a PFIC will be deemed ordinary income regardless of how long the Fund held it. Also, the Fund may be subject to corporate income tax and an interest charge on certain dividends and capital gains earned in respect to PFIC interests, whether or not such amounts are distributed to shareholders. To avoid such tax and interest, a Fund may elect to "mark to market" its PFIC interests, that is, to treat such interests as sold on the last day of the Fund's fiscal year, and to recognize any unrealized gains (or losses, to the extent of previously recognized gains) as ordinary income each year. Distributions from a Fund that are attributable to income or gains earned in respect to PFIC interests are characterized as ordinary income.

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Tax Matters—Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits. If a fund invests directly or indirectly, including through a REIT or other pass-through entity, in residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (REMICs) or equity interests in taxable mortgage pools (TMPs), a portion of the fund's income that is attributable to a residual interest in a REMIC or an equity interest in a TMP (such portion referred to in the IRC as an "excess inclusion") will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in all events—including potentially at the fund level—under a notice issued by the IRS in October 2006 and U.S. Treasury regulations that have yet to be issued but may apply retroactively. This notice also provides, and the regulations are expected to provide, that excess inclusion income of a registered investment company will be allocated to shareholders of the registered investment company in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related interest directly. In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (1) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions); (2) will constitute unrelated business taxable income (UBTI) to entities (including a qualified pension plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan, or other tax-exempt entity) subject to tax on UBTI, thereby potentially requiring such an entity, which otherwise might not be required, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income; and (3) in the case of a non-U.S. investor, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax. A shareholder will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such inclusions notwithstanding any exemption from such income tax otherwise available under the IRC. As a result, a fund investing in such interests may not be suitable for charitable remainder trusts. See "Tax Matters—Tax-Exempt Investors."

Tax Matters—Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Investors. U.S. withholding and estate taxes and certain U.S. tax reporting requirements may apply to any investments made by non-U.S. investors in Vanguard funds. Certain properly reported distributions of qualifying interest income or short-term capital gain made by a fund to its non-U.S. investors are exempt from U.S. withholding taxes, provided the investors furnish valid tax documentation (i.e., IRS Form W-8) certifying as to their non-U.S. status.

A fund is permitted, but is not required, to report any of its distributions as eligible for such relief, and some distributions (e.g., distributions of interest a fund receives from non-U.S. issuers) are not eligible for this relief. For some funds, Vanguard has chosen to report qualifying distributions and apply the withholding exemption to those distributions when made to non-U.S. shareholders who invest directly with Vanguard. For other funds, Vanguard may choose not to apply the withholding exemption to qualifying fund distributions made to direct shareholders, but may provide the reporting to such shareholders. In these cases, a shareholder may be able to reclaim such withholding tax directly from the IRS.

If shareholders hold fund shares (including ETF shares) through a broker or intermediary, their broker or intermediary may apply this relief to properly reported qualifying distributions made to shareholders with respect to those shares. If a shareholder's broker or intermediary instead collects withholding tax where the fund has provided the proper reporting, the shareholder may be able to reclaim such withholding tax from the IRS. Please consult your broker or intermediary regarding the application of these rules.

This relief does not apply to any withholding required under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), which generally requires a fund to obtain information sufficient to identify the status of each of its shareholders. If a shareholder fails to provide this information or otherwise fails to comply with FATCA, a fund may be required to withhold under FATCA at a rate of 30% with respect to that shareholder on fund distributions. Please consult your tax advisor for more information about these rules.

Tax Matters—Tax-Exempt Investors. Income of a fund that would be UBTI if earned directly by a tax-exempt entity will not generally be attributed as UBTI to a tax-exempt shareholder of the fund. 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 IRC Section 514(b).

A tax-exempt shareholder may also recognize UBTI if a fund recognizes "excess inclusion income" derived from direct or indirect investments in residual interests in REMICs or equity interests in TMPs. See "Tax Matters—Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits."

In addition, special tax consequences apply to charitable remainder trusts that invest in a fund that invests directly or indirectly in residual interests in REMICs or equity interests in TMPs. Charitable remainder trusts and other tax-exempt investors are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the consequences of investing in a fund.

Time Deposits. Time deposits are subject to the same risks that pertain to domestic issuers of money market instruments, most notably credit risk (and, to a lesser extent, income risk, market risk, and liquidity risk). Additionally,

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time deposits of foreign branches of U.S. banks and foreign branches of foreign banks may be subject to certain sovereign risks. One such risk is the possibility that a sovereign country might prevent capital, in the form of U.S. dollars, from flowing across its borders. Other risks include adverse political and economic developments, the extent and quality of government regulation of financial markets and institutions, the imposition of foreign withholding taxes, and expropriation or nationalization of foreign issuers. However, time deposits of such issuers will undergo the same type of credit analysis as domestic issuers in which a Vanguard fund invests and will have at least the same financial strength as the domestic issuers approved for the fund.

Warrants. Warrants are instruments that give the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy an equity security at a specific price for a specific period of time. Changes in the value of a warrant do not necessarily correspond to changes in the value of its underlying security. The price of a warrant may be more volatile than the price of its underlying security, and a warrant may offer greater potential for capital appreciation as well as capital loss. Warrants do not entitle a holder to dividends or voting rights with respect to the underlying security and do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuing company. A warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date. These factors can make warrants more speculative than other types of investments.

When-Issued, Delayed-Delivery, and Forward-Commitment Transactions. When-issued, delayed-delivery, and forward-commitment transactions involve a commitment to purchase or sell specific securities at a predetermined price or yield in which payment and delivery take place after the customary settlement period for that type of security. Typically, no interest accrues to the purchaser until the security is delivered. When purchasing securities pursuant to one of these transactions, payment for the securities is not required until the delivery date. However, the purchaser assumes the rights and risks of ownership, including the risks of price and yield fluctuations and the risk that the security will not be issued as anticipated. When a fund has sold a security pursuant to one of these transactions, the fund does not participate in further gains or losses with respect to the security. If the other party to a delayed-delivery transaction fails to deliver or pay for the securities, the fund could miss a favorable price or yield opportunity or suffer a loss. A fund may renegotiate a when- issued or forward-commitment transaction and may sell the underlying securities before delivery, which may result in capital gains or losses for the fund. When-issued, delayed-delivery, and forward-commitment transactions will not be considered to constitute the issuance, by a fund, of a "senior security," as that term is defined in Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act, and therefore such transaction will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by the fund, if the fund covers the transaction in accordance with the requirements described under the heading "Borrowing."

Regulatory restrictions in India. Shares of Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund and Vanguard International Value Fund have not been, and will not be, registered under the laws of India and are not intended to benefit from any laws in India promulgated for the protection of shareholders. As a result of regulatory requirements in India, shares of the Funds shall not be knowingly offered to (directly or indirectly) or sold or delivered to (within India); transferred to or purchased by; or held by, for, on the account of, or for the benefit of (1) a "person resident in India" (as defined under applicable Indian law), (2) an "overseas corporate body" or a "person of Indian origin" (as defined under applicable Indian law), or (3) any other entity or person disqualified or otherwise prohibited from accessing the Indian securities market under applicable laws, as may be amended from time to time. Investors, prior to purchasing shares of the Funds, must satisfy themselves regarding compliance with these requirements.

SHARE PRICE

Each Fund's share price, called its net asset value, or NAV, is calculated as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), generally 4 p.m., Eastern time on each day that the NYSE is open for business (a business day). In the rare event the NYSE experiences unanticipated disruptions and is unavailable at the close of the trading day, each Fund reserves the right to treat such day as a business day and calculate NAVs as of the close of regular trading on the Nasdaq (or another alternate exchange if the Nasdaq is unavailable, as determined at Vanguard's discretion), generally 4 p.m., Eastern time. NAV per share is computed by dividing the total assets, minus liabilities, of the Fund by the number of Fund shares outstanding. On U.S. holidays or other days when the NYSE is closed, the NAV is not calculated, and the Funds do not sell or redeem shares. However, on those days the value of a Fund's assets may be affected to the extent that the Fund holds securities that change in value on those days (such as foreign securities that trade on foreign markets that are open). The underlying Vanguard funds in which the Diversified Equity Fund invests also do not calculate their NAV on days when the NYSE is closed, but the value of their assets may also be affected to the extent that they

B-27

hold securities that change in value on those days (such as foreign securities that trade on foreign markets that are open).

The NYSE typically observes the following holidays: New Year's Day; Martin Luther King, Jr., Day; Presidents' Day (Washington's Birthday); Good Friday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day; and Christmas Day. Although each Fund expects the same holidays to be observed in the future, the NYSE may modify its holiday schedule or hours of operation at any time.

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

Purchase of Shares

The purchase price of shares of each Fund is the NAV per share next determined after the purchase request is received in good order, as defined in the Fund's prospectus.

Exchange of Securities for Shares of a Fund. Shares of a Fund may be purchased "in kind" (i.e., in exchange for securities, rather than for cash) at the discretion of the Fund's portfolio manager. Such securities must not be restricted as to transfer and must have a value that is readily ascertainable. Securities accepted by the Fund will be valued, as set forth in the Fund's prospectus, as of the time of the next determination of NAV after such acceptance. All dividend, subscription, or other rights that are reflected in the market price of accepted securities at the time of valuation become the property of the Fund and must be delivered to the Fund by the investor upon receipt from the issuer. A gain or loss for federal income tax purposes, depending upon the cost of the securities tendered, would be realized by the investor upon the exchange. Investors interested in purchasing fund shares in kind should contact Vanguard.

Redemption of Shares

The redemption price of shares of each Fund is the NAV per share next determined after the redemption request is received in good order, as defined in the Fund's prospectus.

Each Fund can postpone payment of redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days. In addition, each Fund can suspend redemptions and/or postpone payments of redemption proceeds beyond seven calendar days (1) during any period that the Exchange is closed or trading on the NYSE is restricted as determined by the SEC; (2) during any period when an emergency exists, as defined by the SEC, as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to dispose of securities it owns or to fairly determine the value of its assets; or (3) for such other periods as the SEC may permit.

The Trust has filed a notice of election with the SEC to pay in cash all redemptions requested by any shareholder of record limited in amount during any 90-day period to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets of a Fund at the beginning of such period.

If Vanguard determines that it would be detrimental to the best interests of the remaining shareholders of a Fund to make payment wholly or partly in cash, the Fund may pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution in kind of readily marketable securities held by the Fund in lieu of cash in conformity with applicable rules of the SEC and in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund's board of trustees. Investors may incur brokerage charges on the sale of such securities received in payment of redemptions.

The Funds do not charge redemption fees. Shares redeemed may be worth more or less than what was paid for them, depending on the market value of the securities held by the Fund.

Vanguard processes purchase and redemption requests through a pooled account. Pending investment direction or distribution of redemption proceeds, the assets in the pooled account are invested and any earnings (the "float") are allocated proportionately among the Vanguard funds in order to offset fund expenses. Other than the float, Vanguard treats assets held in the pooled account as the assets of each shareholder making such purchase or redemption request.

Right to Change Policies

Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to (1) alter, add, or discontinue any conditions of purchase (including eligibility requirements), redemption, exchange, conversion, service, or privilege at any time and (2) alter, impose, discontinue, or waive any purchase fee, redemption fee, account service fee, or other fee charged to a shareholder or a

B-28

group of shareholders. Changes may affect any or all investors. These actions will be taken when, at the sole discretion of Vanguard management, Vanguard believes they are in the best interest of a fund.

Account Restrictions

Vanguard reserves the right to: (1) redeem all or a portion of a fund/account to meet a legal obligation, including tax withholding, tax lien, garnishment order, or other obligation imposed on your account by a court or government agency;

(2)redeem shares, close an account, or suspend account privileges, features, or options in case of threatening conduct or activity; (3) redeem shares, close an account, or suspend account privileges, features, or options if Vanguard believes or suspects that not doing so could result in a suspicious, fraudulent, or illegal transaction; (4) place restrictions on the ability to redeem any or all shares in an account if it is required to do so by a court or government agency; (5) place restrictions on the ability to redeem any or all shares in an account if Vanguard believes that doing so will prevent fraud, financial exploitation, or abuse, or to protect vulnerable investors; (6) freeze any account and/or suspend account services if Vanguard has received reasonable notice of a dispute regarding the assets in an account, including notice of a dispute between the registered or beneficial account owners; and (7) freeze any account and/or suspend account services upon initial notification to Vanguard of the death of an account owner.

Investing With Vanguard Through Other Firms

Each Fund has authorized certain agents to accept on its behalf purchase and redemption orders, and those agents are authorized to designate other intermediaries to accept purchase and redemption orders on the Fund's behalf (collectively, Authorized Agents). The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an Authorized Agent accepts the order in accordance with the Fund's instructions. In most instances, a customer order that is properly transmitted to an Authorized Agent will be priced at the NAV per share next determined after the order is received by the Authorized Agent.

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

Vanguard

Each Fund is part of the Vanguard group of investment companies, which consists of over 200 funds. Each Vanguard fund is a series of a Delaware statutory trust. The funds obtain virtually all of their corporate management, administrative, and distribution services through the trusts' jointly owned subsidiary, Vanguard. Vanguard may contract with certain third-party service providers to assist Vanguard in providing certain administrative and/or accounting services with respect to the funds, subject to Vanguard's oversight. Vanguard also provides investment advisory services to certain Vanguard funds. All of these services are provided at Vanguard's total cost of operations pursuant to the Fifth Amended and Restated Funds' Service Agreement (the Agreement).

Vanguard was established and operates under the Agreement. Vanguard employs a supporting staff of management and administrative personnel needed to provide the requisite services to the funds and also furnishes the funds with necessary office space, furnishings, and equipment. The funds' officers are also employees of Vanguard.

Vanguard, Vanguard Marketing Corporation (VMC), the funds, and the funds' advisors have adopted codes of ethics designed to prevent employees who may have access to nonpublic information about the trading activities of the funds (access persons) from profiting from that information. The codes of ethics permit access persons to invest in securities for their own accounts, including securities that may be held by a fund, but place substantive and procedural restrictions on the trading activities of access persons. For example, the codes of ethics require that access persons receive advance approval for most securities trades to ensure that there is no conflict with the trading activities of the funds.

Vanguard International Value Fund, Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund, Vanguard Alternative

Strategies Fund, and Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund Only. Vanguard provides corporate management, administrative, and distribution services. Each fund (other than a fund of funds) pays its share of Vanguard's total expenses, which are allocated among the funds under methods approved by the board of trustees of each fund. In addition, each fund bears its own direct expenses, such as legal, auditing, and custodial fees. The Agreement provides that each Vanguard fund may be called upon to invest up to 0.40% of its net assets in Vanguard. The amounts that each fund has invested are adjusted from time to time in order to maintain the proportionate relationship between each fund's relative net assets and its contribution to Vanguard's capital.

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As of October 31, 2019, each Fund had contributed capital to Vanguard as follows:

 

Capital

Percentage of

Percent of

 

Contribution

Fund's

Vanguard Funds'

Vanguard Fund

to Vanguard

Average Net Assets

Contribution

 

 

 

 

International Value Fund

$474,000

less than 0.01%

0.19%

 

 

 

 

Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund

33,000

less than 0.01

0.01

 

 

 

 

Alternative Strategies Fund

14,000

less than 0.01

0.01

 

 

 

 

Commodity Strategy Fund

10,000

less than 0.01

less than 0.01

 

 

 

 

Under a separate agreement, Vanguard provides corporate management, administrative, and investment advisory services to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Alternative Strategies Fund for an annual fee of 0.40% of average net assets of the subsidiary. In addition, the subsidiary pays an unaffiliated third party, VGMF I (Cayman) Limited, an affiliate of Maples Trustee Services (Cayman) Limited, a fee plus reasonable additional expenses for trustee services. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019, the subsidiary paid Vanguard $115,646.

Under a separate agreement, Vanguard provides corporate management, administrative, and investment advisory services to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Commodity Strategy Fund for an annual fee of 0.10% of average net assets of the subsidiary. In addition, the subsidiary pays an unaffiliated third party, VGMF I (Cayman) Limited, an affiliate of Maples FS Limited, a fee plus reasonable additional expenses for trustee services. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019, the subsidiary paid Vanguard $12,076.

Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund Only. The Agreement provides that the Fund will not contribute to Vanguard's capitalization or pay for corporate management, administrative, and distribution services provided by Vanguard. However, the Fund will bear its own direct expenses, such as legal, auditing, and custodial fees. In addition, the Agreement further provides that the Fund's expenses will be offset, in whole or in part, by a reimbursement from Vanguard for (1) the Fund's contributions to the cost of operating the underlying Vanguard funds in which the Fund invests and (2) certain savings in administrative and marketing costs that Vanguard expects to derive from the Fund's operations. The Fund expects that the reimbursements should be sufficient to offset most or all of the direct expenses incurred by the Fund. Therefore, the Fund is expected to operate at a very low—or zero—direct expense ratio. Of course, there is no guarantee that this will always be the case.

Although the Fund is not expected to incur any net expenses directly, the Fund's shareholders indirectly bear the expenses of the underlying Vanguard funds. As of October 31, 2019, the Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses of the Fund were 0.35%.

Management. Corporate management and administrative services include (1) executive staff, (2) accounting and financial, (3) legal and regulatory, (4) shareholder account maintenance, (5) monitoring and control of custodian relationships, (6) shareholder reporting, and (7) review and evaluation of advisory and other services provided to the funds by third parties.

Distribution. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, 100 Vanguard Boulevard, Malvern, PA 19355, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vanguard, is the principal underwriter for the funds and in that capacity performs and finances marketing, promotional, and distribution activities (collectively, marketing and distribution activities) that are primarily intended to result in the sale of the funds' shares. VMC offers shares of each fund for sale on a continuous basis and will use all reasonable efforts in connection with the distribution of shares of the funds. VMC performs marketing and distribution activities in accordance with the conditions of a 1981 SEC exemptive order that permits the Vanguard funds to internalize and jointly finance the marketing, promotion, and distribution of their shares. The funds' trustees review and approve the marketing and distribution expenses incurred by the funds, including the nature and cost of the activities and the desirability of each fund's continued participation in the joint arrangement.

To ensure that each fund's participation in the joint arrangement falls within a reasonable range of fairness, each fund contributes to VMC's marketing and distribution expenses in accordance with an SEC-approved formula. Under that formula, one half of the marketing and distribution expenses are allocated among the funds based upon their relative net

B-30

assets. The remaining half of those expenses are allocated among the funds based upon each fund's sales for the preceding 24 months relative to the total sales of the funds as a group, provided, however, that no fund's aggregate quarterly rate of contribution for marketing and distribution expenses shall exceed 125% of the average marketing and distribution expense rate for Vanguard and that no fund shall incur annual marketing and distribution expenses in excess of 0.20% of its average month-end net assets. Each fund's contribution to these marketing and distribution expenses helps to maintain and enhance the attractiveness and viability of the Vanguard complex as a whole, which benefits all of the funds and their shareholders.

VMC's principal marketing and distribution expenses are for advertising, promotional materials, and marketing personnel. Other marketing and distribution activities of an administrative nature that VMC undertakes on behalf of the funds may include, but are not limited to:

⬛Conducting or publishing Vanguard-generated research and analysis concerning the funds, other investments, the financial markets, or the economy.

⬛Providing views, opinions, advice, or commentary concerning the funds, other investments, the financial markets, or the economy.

⬛Providing analytical, statistical, performance, or other information concerning the funds, other investments, the financial markets, or the economy.

⬛Providing administrative services in connection with investments in the funds or other investments, including, but not limited to, shareholder services, recordkeeping services, and educational services.

⬛Providing products or services that assist investors or financial service providers (as defined below) in the investment decision-making process.

⬛Providing promotional discounts, commission-free trading, fee waivers, and other benefits to clients of Vanguard Brokerage Services® who maintain qualifying investments in the funds.

VMC performs most marketing and distribution activities itself. Some activities may be conducted by third parties pursuant to shared marketing arrangements under which VMC agrees to share the costs and performance of marketing and distribution activities in concert with a financial service provider. Financial service providers include, but are not limited to, investment advisors, broker-dealers, financial planners, financial consultants, banks, and insurance companies. Under these cost- and performance-sharing arrangements, VMC may pay or reimburse a financial service provider (or a third party it retains) for marketing and distribution activities that VMC would otherwise perform. VMC's cost- and performance-sharing arrangements may be established in connection with Vanguard investment products or services offered or provided to or through the financial service providers. VMC's arrangements for shared marketing and distribution activities may vary among financial service providers, and its payments or reimbursements to financial service providers in connection with shared marketing and distribution activities may be significant.

VMC, as a matter of policy, does not pay asset-based fees, sales-based fees, or account-based fees to financial service providers in connection with its marketing and distribution activities for the Vanguard funds. VMC does make fixed dollar payments to financial service providers when sponsoring, jointly sponsoring, financially supporting, or participating in conferences, programs, seminars, presentations, meetings, or other events involving fund shareholders, financial service providers, or others concerning the funds, other investments, the financial markets, or the economy, such as industry conferences, prospecting trips, due diligence visits, training or education meetings, and sales presentations. VMC also makes fixed dollar payments to financial service providers for data regarding funds, such as statistical information regarding sales of fund shares. In addition, VMC makes one-time fixed dollar payments for setup expenses associated with financial service providers' use of Vanguard's model portfolios comprised of funds.

In connection with its marketing and distribution activities, VMC may give financial service providers (or their representatives) (1) promotional items of nominal value that display Vanguard's logo, such as golf balls, shirts, towels, pens, and mouse pads; (2) gifts that do not exceed $100 per person annually and are not preconditioned on achievement of a sales target; (3) an occasional meal, a ticket to a sporting event or the theater, or comparable entertainment that is neither so frequent nor so extensive as to raise any question of propriety and is not preconditioned on achievement of a sales target; and (4) reasonable travel and lodging accommodations to facilitate participation in marketing and distribution activities.

VMC policy prohibits marketing and distribution activities that are intended, designed, or likely to compromise suitability determinations by, or the fulfillment of any fiduciary duties or other obligations that apply to, financial service providers.

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Nonetheless, VMC's marketing and distribution activities are primarily intended to result in the sale of the funds' shares, and, as such, its activities, including shared marketing and distribution activities and fixed dollar payments as described above, may influence applicable financial service providers (or their representatives) to recommend, promote, include, or invest in a Vanguard fund or share class. In addition, Vanguard or any of its subsidiaries may retain a financial service provider to provide consulting or other services, and that financial service provider also may provide services to investors. Investors should consider the possibility that any of these activities, relationships, or payments may influence a financial service provider's (or its representatives') decision to recommend, promote, include, or invest in a Vanguard fund or share class. Each financial service provider should consider its suitability determinations, fiduciary duties, and other legal obligations (or those of its representatives) in connection with any decision to consider, recommend, promote, include, or invest in a Vanguard fund or share class.

The following table describes the expenses of Vanguard and VMC that are incurred by each Fund (except Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund). Amounts captioned "Management and Administrative Expenses" include a Fund's allocated share of expenses associated with the management, administrative, and transfer agency services Vanguard provides to the Vanguard funds. Amounts captioned "Marketing and Distribution Expenses" include a Fund's allocated share of expenses associated with the marketing and distribution activities that VMC conducts on behalf of the Vanguard funds.

As is the case with all mutual funds, transaction costs incurred by Vanguard International Value Fund, Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund, Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund, and Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund for buying and selling securities are not reflected in the table. Annual Shared Fund Operating Expenses are based on expenses incurred in the fiscal years ended October 31, 2017, 2018, and 2019, and are presented as a percentage of each Fund's average month-end net assets.

Annual Shared Fund Operating Expenses

(Shared Expenses Deducted From Fund Assets)

Vanguard Fund

2017

2018

2019

International Value Fund

 

 

 

Management and Administrative Expenses

0.20%

0.20%

0.19%

Marketing and Distribution Expenses

0.01

0.01

0.01

 

 

 

 

Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund

 

 

 

Management and Administrative Expenses

0.25%

0.28%

0.29%

Marketing and Distribution Expenses

0.02

0.02

0.01

 

 

 

 

Alternative Strategies Fund

 

 

 

Management and Administrative Expenses

0.28%

0.26%

0.29%

Marketing and Distribution Expenses

0.02

0.01

0.01

 

 

 

 

Commodity Strategy Fund1

 

 

 

Management and Administrative Expenses

—

—

0.06%

Marketing and Distribution Expenses

—

—

less than 0.01

 

 

 

 

1 The inception date for the Fund was June 25, 2019.

 

 

 

Officers and Trustees

Each Vanguard fund is governed by the board of trustees of its trust and a single set of officers. Consistent with the board's corporate governance principles, the trustees believe that their primary responsibility is oversight of the management of each fund for the benefit of its shareholders, not day-to-day management. The trustees set broad policies for the funds; select investment advisors; monitor fund operations, regulatory compliance, performance, and costs; nominate and select new trustees; and elect fund officers. Vanguard manages the day-to-day operations of the funds under the direction of the board of trustees.

The trustees play an active role, as a full board and at the committee level, in overseeing risk management for the funds. The trustees delegate the day-to-day risk management of the funds to various groups, including portfolio review, investment management, risk management, compliance, legal, fund accounting, and fund financial services. These groups provide the trustees with regular reports regarding investment, valuation, liquidity, and compliance, as well as the risks associated with each. The trustees also oversee risk management for the funds through regular interactions with the funds' internal and external auditors.

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The full board participates in the funds' risk oversight, in part, through the Vanguard funds' compliance program, which covers the following broad areas of compliance: investment and other operations; recordkeeping; valuation and pricing; communications and disclosure; reporting and accounting; oversight of service providers; fund governance; and codes of ethics, insider trading controls, and protection of nonpublic information. The program seeks to identify and assess risk through various methods, including through regular interdisciplinary communications between compliance professionals and business personnel who participate on a daily basis in risk management on behalf of the funds. The funds' chief compliance officer regularly provides reports to the board in writing and in person.

The audit committee of the board, which is composed of F. Joseph Loughrey, Mark Loughridge, Sarah Bloom Raskin, and Peter F. Volanakis, each of whom is an independent trustee, oversees management of financial risks and controls. The audit committee serves as the channel of communication between the independent auditors of the funds and the board with respect to financial statements and financial reporting processes, systems of internal control, and the audit process. Vanguard's head of internal audit reports directly to the audit committee and provides reports to the committee in writing and in person on a regular basis. Although the audit committee is responsible for overseeing the management of financial risks, the entire board is regularly informed of these risks through committee reports.

All of the trustees bring to each fund's board a wealth of executive leadership experience derived from their service as executives (in many cases chief executive officers), board members, and leaders of diverse public operating companies, academic institutions, and other organizations. In determining whether an individual is qualified to serve as a trustee of the funds, the board considers a wide variety of information about the trustee, and multiple factors contribute to the board's decision. Each trustee is determined to have the experience, skills, and attributes necessary to serve the funds and their shareholders because each trustee demonstrates an exceptional ability to consider complex business and financial matters, evaluate the relative importance and priority of issues, make decisions, and contribute effectively to the deliberations of the board. The board also considers the individual experience of each trustee and determines that the trustee's professional experience, education, and background contribute to the diversity of perspectives on the board. The business acumen, experience, and objective thinking of the trustees are considered invaluable assets for Vanguard management and, ultimately, the Vanguard funds' shareholders. The specific roles and experience of each board member that factor into this determination are presented on the following pages. The mailing address of the trustees and officers is P.O. Box 876, Valley Forge, PA 19482.

 

 

 

Principal Occupation(s)

Number of

 

 

Vanguard

During the Past Five Years,

Vanguard Funds

 

Position(s)

Funds' Trustee/

Outside Directorships,

Overseen by

Name, Year of Birth

Held With Funds

Officer Since

and Other Experience

Trustee/Officer

 

 

 

 

 

Interested Trustee1

 

 

 

 

Mortimer J. Buckley

Chairman of the

January 2018

Chairman of the board (2019–present) of Vanguard and

213

(1969)

Board, Chief

 

of each of the investment companies served by

 

 

Executive Officer,

 

Vanguard; chief executive officer (2018–present) of

 

 

and President

 

Vanguard; chief executive officer, president, and

 

 

 

 

trustee (2018–present) of each of the investment

 

 

 

 

companies served by Vanguard; president and director

 

 

 

 

(2017–present) of Vanguard; and president (2018–

 

 

 

 

present) of Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Chief

 

 

 

 

investment officer (2013–2017), managing director

 

 

 

 

(2002–2017), head of the Retail Investor Group (2006–

 

 

 

 

2012), and chief information officer (2001–2006) of

 

 

 

 

Vanguard. Chairman of the board (2011–2017) and

 

 

 

 

trustee (2009–2017) of the Children's Hospital of

 

 

 

 

Philadelphia; and trustee (2018–present) and vice chair

 

 

 

 

(2019-present) of The Shipley School.

 

1 Mr. Buckley is considered an "interested person" as defined in the 1940 Act because he is an officer of the Trust.

B-33

 

 

 

Principal Occupation(s)

Number of

 

 

Vanguard

During the Past Five Years,

Vanguard Funds

 

Position(s)

Funds' Trustee/

Outside Directorships,

Overseen by

Name, Year of Birth

Held With Funds

Officer Since

and Other Experience

Trustee/Officer

 

 

 

 

 

Independent Trustees

 

 

 

 

Emerson U. Fullwood

Trustee

January 2008

Executive chief staff and marketing officer for North

213

(1948)

 

 

America and corporate vice president (retired 2008) of

 

 

 

 

Xerox Corporation (document management products

 

 

 

 

and services). Former president of the Worldwide

 

 

 

 

Channels Group, Latin America, and Worldwide

 

 

 

 

Customer Service and executive chief staff officer of

 

 

 

 

Developing Markets of Xerox. Executive in residence

 

 

 

 

and 2009–2010 Distinguished Minett Professor at the

 

 

 

 

Rochester Institute of Technology. Director of SPX

 

 

 

 

FLOW, Inc. (multi-industry manufacturing). Director of

 

 

 

 

the University of Rochester Medical Center, the

 

 

 

 

Monroe Community College Foundation, the United

 

 

 

 

Way of Rochester, North Carolina A&T University, and

 

 

 

 

Roberts Wesleyan College. Trustee of the University of

 

 

 

 

Rochester.

 

Amy Gutmann (1949)

F. Joseph Loughrey (1949)

Mark Loughridge (1953)

Scott C. Malpass (1962)

Trustee

June 2006

Trustee

October 2009

Lead Independent March 2012 Trustee

Trustee

March 2012

President (2004–present) of the University of Pennsylvania. Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Political Science, School of Arts and Sciences, and professor of communication, Annenberg School for Communication, with secondary faculty appointments in the Department of Philosophy, School of Arts and Sciences, and at the Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania.

President and chief operating officer (retired 2009) and vice chairman of the board (2008–2009) of Cummins Inc. (industrial machinery). Chairman of the board of Hillenbrand, Inc. (specialized consumer services) and the Lumina Foundation. Director of the V Foundation. Member of the advisory council for the College of Arts and Letters and chair of the advisory board to the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, both at the University of Notre Dame.

Senior vice president and chief financial officer (retired 2013) of IBM (information technology services). Fiduciary member of IBM's Retirement Plan Committee (2004–2013), senior vice president and general manager (2002–2004) of IBM Global Financing, vice president and controller (1998–2002) of IBM, and a variety of other prior management roles at IBM. Member of the Council on Chicago Booth.

Chief investment officer (1989–present) and vice president (1996–present) of the University of Notre Dame. Assistant professor of finance at the Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, and member of the Notre Dame 403(b) Investment Committee. Member of the board of TIFF Advisory Services, Inc. Member of the board of Catholic Investment Services, Inc. (investment advisors) and the board of superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion.

213

213

213

213

B-34

 

 

 

Principal Occupation(s)

Number of

 

 

Vanguard

During the Past Five Years,

Vanguard Funds

 

Position(s)

Funds' Trustee/

Outside Directorships,

Overseen by

Name, Year of Birth

Held With Funds

Officer Since

and Other Experience

Trustee/Officer

 

 

 

 

 

Deanna Mulligan

Trustee

January 2018

Chief executive officer (2011–present) of The Guardian

213

(1963)

 

 

Life Insurance Company of America. President (2010–

 

 

 

 

2019), chief operating officer (2010–2011), and

 

 

 

 

executive vice president (2008–2010) of Individual Life

 

 

 

 

and Disability of The Guardian Life Insurance Company

 

 

 

 

of America. Member of the board of The Guardian Life

 

 

 

 

Insurance Company of America, the American Council

 

 

 

 

of Life Insurers, and the Economic Club of New York.

 

 

 

 

Trustee of the Partnership for New York City (business

 

 

 

 

leadership), the Chief Executives for Corporate

 

 

 

 

Purpose, the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Catalyst,

 

 

 

 

and the Bruce Museum (arts and science). Member of

 

 

 

 

the Advisory Council for the Stanford Graduate School

 

 

 

 

of Business.

 

André F. Perold

Trustee

December 2004

George Gund Professor of Finance and Banking,

213

(1952)

 

 

Emeritus at the Harvard Business School (retired

 

 

 

 

2011). Chief investment officer and co-managing

 

 

 

 

partner of HighVista Strategies LLC (private

 

 

 

 

investment firm). Board of Advisors and investment

 

 

 

 

committee member of the Museum of Fine Arts

 

 

 

 

Boston. Board member (2018–present) of RIT Capital

 

 

 

 

Partners (investment firm); investment committee

 

 

 

 

member of Partners Health Care System.

 

Sarah Bloom Raskin

Trustee

January 2018

Deputy secretary (2014–2017) of the United States

213

(1961)

 

 

Department of the Treasury. Governor (2010–2014) of

 

 

 

 

the Federal Reserve Board. Commissioner (2007–

 

 

 

 

2010) of financial regulation for the State of Maryland.

 

 

 

 

Member of the board of directors (2012–2014) of

 

 

 

 

Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation. Director

 

 

 

 

(2017–present) of i(x) Investments, LLC; director

 

 

 

 

(2017–present) of Reserve Trust. Rubenstein Fellow

 

 

 

 

(2017–present) of Duke University; trustee (2017–

 

 

 

 

present) of Amherst College; and trustee (2019–

 

 

 

 

present) of Folger Shakespeare Library.

 

Peter F. Volanakis

Trustee

July 2009

President and chief operating officer (retired 2010) of

213

(1955)

 

 

Corning Incorporated (communications equipment)

 

 

 

 

and director of Corning Incorporated (2000–2010) and

 

 

 

 

Dow Corning (2001–2010). Director (2012) of SPX

 

 

 

 

Corporation (multi-industry manufacturing). Overseer

 

 

 

 

of the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration,

 

 

 

 

Dartmouth College (2001–2013). Chairman of the

 

 

 

 

board of trustees of Colby-Sawyer College. Member of

 

 

 

 

the board of Hypertherm Inc. (industrial cutting

 

 

 

 

systems, software, and consumables).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Officers

 

 

 

 

John Bendl

Chief Financial

October 2019

Principal of Vanguard. Chief financial officer (2019–

213

(1970)

Officer

 

present) of each of the investment companies served

 

 

 

 

by Vanguard. Chief accounting officer, treasurer, and

 

 

 

 

controller of Vanguard (2017–present). Partner (2003–

 

 

 

 

2016) at KPMG (audit, tax, and advisory services).

 

B-35

 

 

 

Principal Occupation(s)

Number of

 

 

Vanguard

During the Past Five Years,

Vanguard Funds

 

Position(s)

Funds' Trustee/

Outside Directorships,

Overseen by

Name, Year of Birth

Held With Funds

Officer Since

and Other Experience

Trustee/Officer

 

 

 

 

 

Glenn Booraem

Investment

February 2001

Principal of Vanguard. Investment stewardship officer

213

(1967)

Stewardship

 

(2017–present), treasurer (2015–2017), controller

 

 

Officer

 

(2010–2015), and assistant controller (2001–2010) of

 

 

 

 

each of the investment companies served by

 

 

 

 

Vanguard.

 

Christine M. Buchanan

Treasurer

November 2017

Principal of Vanguard. Treasurer (2017–present) of each

213

(1970)

 

 

of the investment companies served by Vanguard.

 

 

 

 

Partner (2005–2017) at KPMG (audit, tax, and advisory

 

 

 

 

services).

 

David Cermak

Finance Director

October 2019

Principal of Vanguard. Finance director (2019–present)

213

(1960)

 

 

of each of the investment companies served by

 

 

 

 

Vanguard. Managing director and head (2017–present)

 

 

 

 

of Vanguard Investments Singapore. Managing

 

 

 

 

director and head (2017–2019) of Vanguard

 

 

 

 

Investments Hong Kong. Representative director and

 

 

 

 

head (2014–2017) of Vanguard Investments Japan.

 

Thomas J. Higgins

Finance Director

July 1998

Principal of Vanguard. Finance director (2019–present),

213

(1957)

 

 

chief financial officer (2008–2019), and treasurer

 

 

 

 

(1998–2008) of each of the investment companies

 

 

 

 

served by Vanguard.

 

Peter Mahoney

Controller

May 2015

(1974)

 

 

Anne E. Robinson

Secretary

September 2016

(1970)

 

 

Principal of Vanguard. Controller (2015–present) of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard. Head of International Fund Services (2008– 2014) at Vanguard.

General counsel (2016–present) of Vanguard. Secretary (2016–present) of Vanguard and of each of the investment companies served by Vanguard. Managing director (2016–present) of Vanguard. Managing director and general counsel of Global Cards and Consumer Services (2014–2016) at Citigroup. Counsel (2003–2014) at American Express.

213

213

Michael Rollings

Finance Director

February 2017

Finance director (2017–present) and treasurer (2017) of

213

(1963)

 

 

each of the investment companies served by

 

 

 

 

Vanguard. Managing director (2016–present) of

 

 

 

 

Vanguard. Chief financial officer (2016–present) of

 

 

 

 

Vanguard. Director (2016–present) of Vanguard

 

 

 

 

Marketing Corporation. Executive vice president and

 

 

 

 

chief financial officer (2006–2016) of MassMutual

 

 

 

 

Financial Group.

 

John E. Schadl

Chief Compliance

March 2019

Principal of Vanguard. Chief compliance officer (2019–

213

(1972)

Officer

 

present) of Vanguard and of each of the investment

 

 

 

 

companies served by Vanguard. Assistant vice

 

president (2019–present) of Vanguard Marketing Corporation.

All but one of the trustees are independent. The independent trustees designate a lead independent trustee. The lead independent trustee is a spokesperson and principal point of contact for the independent trustees and is responsible for coordinating the activities of the independent trustees, including calling regular executive sessions of the independent trustees; developing the agenda of each meeting together with the chairman; and chairing the meetings of the independent trustees. The lead independent trustee also chairs the meetings of the audit, compensation, and

B-36

nominating committees. The board also has two investment committees, which consist of independent trustees and the sole interested trustee.

The independent trustees appoint the chairman of the board. The roles of chairman of the board and chief executive officer currently are held by the same person; as a result, the chairman of the board is an "interested" trustee. The independent trustees generally believe that the Vanguard funds' chief executive officer is best qualified to serve as chairman and that fund shareholders benefit from this leadership structure through accountability and strong day-to-day leadership.

Board Committees: The Trust's board has the following committees:

⬛Audit Committee: This committee oversees the accounting and financial reporting policies, the systems of internal controls, and the independent audits of each fund. The following independent trustees serve as members of the committee: Mr. Loughrey, Mr. Loughridge, Ms. Raskin, and Mr. Volanakis. The committee held six meetings during the Trust's fiscal year ended October 31, 2019.

⬛Compensation Committee: This committee oversees the compensation programs established by each fund for the benefit of its trustees. All independent trustees serve as members of the committee. The committee did not hold any meetings during the Trust's fiscal year ended October 31, 2019.

⬛Investment Committees: These committees assist the board in its oversight of investment advisors to the funds and in the review and evaluation of materials relating to the board's consideration of investment advisory agreements with the funds. Each trustee serves on one of two investment committees. Each investment committee held four meetings during the Trust's fiscal year ended October 31, 2019.

⬛Nominating Committee: This committee nominates candidates for election to the board of trustees of each fund. The committee also has the authority to recommend the removal of any trustee. All independent trustees serve as members of the committee. The committee held two meetings during the Trust's fiscal year ended October 31, 2019.

The Nominating Committee will consider shareholder recommendations for trustee nominees. Shareholders may send recommendations to Mr. Loughridge, chairman of the committee.

Trustee Compensation

The same individuals serve as trustees of all Vanguard funds and each fund pays a proportionate share of the trustees' compensation. Vanguard funds also employ their officers on a shared basis; however, officers are compensated by Vanguard, not the funds. The trustees and officers of Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund will receive no remuneration directly from the funds. However, the Fund's underlying funds pay their proportionate share of the trustees' compensation and the officers' salaries and benefits.

Independent Trustees. The funds compensate their independent trustees (i.e., the ones who are not also officers of the funds) in three ways:

⬛The independent trustees receive an annual fee for their service to the funds, which is subject to reduction based on absences from scheduled board meetings.

⬛The independent trustees are reimbursed for the travel and other expenses that they incur in attending board meetings.

⬛Upon retirement (after attaining age 65 and completing five years of service), the independent trustees who began their service prior to January 1, 2001, receive a retirement benefit under a separate account arrangement. As of January 1, 2001, the opening balance of each eligible trustee's separate account was generally equal to the net present value of the benefits he or she had accrued under the trustees' former retirement plan. Each eligible trustee's separate account will be credited annually with interest at a rate of 7.5% until the trustee receives his or her final distribution. Those independent trustees who began their service on or after January 1, 2001, are not eligible to participate in the plan.

"Interested" Trustee. Mr. Buckley serves as trustee, but is not paid in this capacity. He is, however, paid in his role as an officer of Vanguard.

Compensation Table. The following table provides compensation details for each of the trustees. We list the amounts paid as compensation and accrued as retirement benefits by Vanguard International Value Fund, Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund, Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund, and Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund for each trustee. In addition, the table shows the total amount of benefits that we expect each trustee to receive from all Vanguard funds upon retirement and the total amount of compensation paid to each trustee by all Vanguard funds.

B-37

VANGUARD INTERNATIONAL VALUE FUND,

VANGUARD EMERGING MARKETS SELECT STOCK FUND,

VANGUARD ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES FUND,

AND VANGUARD COMMODITY STRATEGY FUND

TRUSTEES' COMPENSATION TABLE

 

 

Pension or Retirement

Accrued Annual

Total Compensation

 

Aggregate

Benefits Accrued

Retirement

From all Vanguard

 

Compensation

as Part of the

Benefit at

Funds Paid

Trustee

From the Funds1

Funds' Expenses1

January 1, 20202

to Trustees3

F. William McNabb III4

—

—

—

—

Mortimer J. Buckley

—

—

—

—

Emerson U. Fullwood

$1,206

—

—

$287,500

Amy Gutmann

1,206

—

—

287,500

JoAnn Heffernan Heisen4

215

$31

$9,329

—

F. Joseph Loughrey

1,290

—

—

307,500

Mark Loughridge

1,499

—

—

357,500

Scott C. Malpass

1,206

—

—

287,500

Deanna Mulligan

1,206

—

—

287,500

André F. Perold

1,206

—

—

287,500

Sarah Bloom Raskin

1,290

—

—

307,500

Peter F. Volanakis

1,290

—

—

307,500

 

 

 

 

 

1 The amounts shown in this column are based on the Trust's fiscal year ended October 31, 2019. Each Fund within the Trust is responsible for a proportionate share of these amounts.

2 Each trustee is eligible to receive retirement benefits only after completing at least 5 years (60 consecutive months) of service as a trustee for the Vanguard funds. The annual retirement benefit will be paid in monthly installments, beginning with the month following the trustee's retirement from service, and will cease after 10 years of payments (120 monthly installments). Trustees who began their service on or after January 1, 2001, are not eligible to participate in the retirement benefit plan.

3 The amounts reported in this column reflect the total compensation paid to each trustee for his or her service as trustee of 213 Vanguard funds for the 2019 calendar year.

4 Mr. McNabb and Ms. Heisen retired from service effective December 31, 2018.

Ownership of Fund Shares

All current trustees allocate their investments among the various Vanguard funds based on their own investment needs. The following table shows each trustee's ownership of shares of each Fund and of all Vanguard funds served by the trustee as of December 31, 2019.

 

 

Dollar Range

Aggregate Dollar Range

 

 

of Fund Shares

of Vanguard Fund Shares

Vanguard Fund

Trustee

Owned by Trustee

Owned by Trustee

 

 

 

 

Diversified Equity Fund

Mortimer J. Buckley

—

Over $100,000

 

Emerson U. Fullwood

—

Over $100,000

 

Amy Gutmann

—

Over $100,000

 

F. Joseph Loughrey

—

Over $100,000

 

Mark Loughridge

—

Over $100,000

 

Scott C. Malpass

—

Over $100,000

 

Deanna Mulligan

—

Over $100,000

 

André F. Perold

—

Over $100,000

 

Sarah Bloom Raskin

—

Over $100,000

 

Peter F. Volanakis

Over $100,000

Over $100,000

B-38

 

 

Dollar Range

Aggregate Dollar Range

 

 

of Fund Shares

of Vanguard Fund Shares

Vanguard Fund

Trustee

Owned by Trustee

Owned by Trustee

 

 

 

 

International Value Fund

Mortimer J. Buckley

—

Over $100,000

 

Emerson U. Fullwood

—

Over $100,000

 

Amy Gutmann

—

Over $100,000

 

F. Joseph Loughrey

—

Over $100,000

 

Mark Loughridge

—

Over $100,000

 

Scott C. Malpass

—

Over $100,000

 

Deanna Mulligan

—

Over $100,000

 

André F. Perold

—

Over $100,000

 

Sarah Bloom Raskin

—

Over $100,000

 

Peter F. Volanakis

—

Over $100,000

Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund

Mortimer J. Buckley

Over $100,000

Over $100,000

 

Emerson U. Fullwood

—

Over $100,000

 

Amy Gutmann

—

Over $100,000

 

F. Joseph Loughrey

—

Over $100,000

 

Mark Loughridge

—

Over $100,000

 

Scott C. Malpass

—

Over $100,000

 

Deanna Mulligan

—

Over $100,000

 

André F. Perold

—

Over $100,000

 

Sarah Bloom Raskin

—

Over $100,000

 

Peter F. Volanakis

—

Over $100,000

Alternative Strategies Fund

Mortimer J. Buckley

—

Over $100,000

 

Emerson U. Fullwood

—

Over $100,000

 

Amy Gutmann

—

Over $100,000

 

F. Joseph Loughrey

—

Over $100,000

 

Mark Loughridge

—

Over $100,000

 

Scott C. Malpass

—

Over $100,000

 

Deanna Mulligan

—

Over $100,000

 

André F. Perold

—

Over $100,000

 

Sarah Bloom Raskin

—

Over $100,000

 

Peter F. Volanakis

—

Over $100,000

Commodity Strategy Fund

Mortimer J. Buckley

—

Over $100,000

 

Emerson U. Fullwood

—

Over $100,000

 

Amy Gutmann

—

Over $100,000

 

F. Joseph Loughrey

—

Over $100,000

 

Mark Loughridge

—

Over $100,000

 

Scott C. Malpass

—

Over $100,000

 

Deanna Mulligan

—

Over $100,000

 

André F. Perold

—

Over $100,000

 

Sarah Bloom Raskin

—

Over $100,000

 

Peter F. Volanakis

—

Over $100,000

As of January 31, 2020, the trustees and officers of the funds owned, in the aggregate, less than 1% of each fund's outstanding shares.

As of January 31, 2020, the following owned of record 5% or more of each fund's outstanding shares:

Vanguard International Value Fund—Investor Shares: Vanguard STAR Fund, Valley Forge, PA (20.38%), Charles Schwab

and Company Inc. San Francisco, CA (5.14%); Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund—Investor Shares: Charles

B-39

Schwab and Company Inc., San Francisco, CA (11.89%); Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund—Investor Shares: Vanguard Managed Payout Fund, Valley Forge, PA (63.08%), Charles Schwab and Company Inc., San Francisco, CA (15.39%); Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund—Investor Shares: Fidelity Investments, Covington, KY (9.62%), West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. 401(k) Plan, Exton, PA (5.1%); Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund—Investor Shares: Vanguard Managed Payout Fund, Valley Forge, PA (51.4%), Charles Schwab and Company Inc., San Francisco, CA (5.98%).

A shareholder who owns more than 25% of a Fund's voting shares may be considered a controlling person. As of January 31, 2020, Vanguard Managed Payout Fund (a series of Vanguard Valley Forge Funds, which is organized as a Delaware statutory trust) owned 63.08% of the voting shares of the Alternative Strategies Fund. The Managed Payout Fund must echo vote these shares in proportionately the same manner as shares voted by the Alternative Strategies Fund's other shareholders.

A shareholder who owns more than 25% of a Fund's voting shares may be considered a controlling person. As of January 31, 2020, Vanguard Managed Payout Fund (a series of Vanguard Valley Forge Funds, which is organized as a Delaware statutory trust) owned 51.4% of the voting shares of the Commodity Strategy Fund. The Managed Payout Fund must echo vote these shares in proportionately the same manner as shares voted by the Commodity Strategy Fund's other shareholders.

Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Policies and Procedures

Introduction

Vanguard and the boards of trustees of the Vanguard funds (Boards) have adopted Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Policies and Procedures (Policies and Procedures) to govern the disclosure of the portfolio holdings of each Vanguard fund. Vanguard and the Boards considered each of the circumstances under which Vanguard fund portfolio holdings may be disclosed to different categories of persons under the Policies and Procedures. Vanguard and the Boards also considered actual and potential material conflicts that could arise in such circumstances between the interests of Vanguard fund shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the fund's investment advisor, distributor, or any affiliated person of the fund, its investment advisor, or its distributor, on the other. After giving due consideration to such matters and after the exercise of their fiduciary duties and reasonable business judgment, Vanguard and the Boards determined that the Vanguard funds have a legitimate business purpose for disclosing portfolio holdings to the persons described in each of the circumstances set forth in the Policies and Procedures and that the Policies and Procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that disclosure of portfolio holdings and information about portfolio holdings is in the best interests of fund shareholders and appropriately addresses the potential for material conflicts of interest.

The Boards exercise continuing oversight of the disclosure of Vanguard fund portfolio holdings by (1) overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the Policies and Procedures, the Code of Ethics, and the Policies and Procedures Designed to Prevent the Misuse of Inside Information (collectively, the portfolio holdings governing policies) by the chief compliance officer of Vanguard and the Vanguard funds; (2) considering reports and recommendations by the chief compliance officer concerning any material compliance matters (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 206(4)-7 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940) that may arise in connection with any portfolio holdings governing policies; and (3) considering whether to approve or ratify any amendment to any portfolio holdings governing policies. Vanguard and the Boards reserve the right to amend the Policies and Procedures at any time and from time to time without prior notice at their sole discretion. For purposes of the Policies and Procedures, the term "portfolio holdings" means the equity and debt securities (e.g., stocks and bonds) held by a Vanguard fund and does not mean the cash investments, derivatives, and other investment positions (collectively, other investment positions) held by the fund.

Online Disclosure of Ten Largest Stock Holdings

Each actively managed Vanguard fund generally will seek to disclose the fund's ten largest stock portfolio holdings and the percentage of the fund's total assets that each of these holdings represents as of the end of the most recent calendar quarter (quarter-end ten largest stock holdings with weightings) online at vanguard.com, in the "Portfolio" section of the fund's Portfolio & Management page, 15 calendar days after the end of the calendar quarter. Each Vanguard index fund generally will seek to disclose the fund's ten largest stock portfolio holdings and the percentage of the fund's total assets that each of these holdings represents as of the end of the most recent month (month-end ten largest stock holdings with weightings) online at vanguard.com, in the "Portfolio" section of the fund's Portfolio &

B-40

Management page, 15 calendar days after the end of the month. In addition, Vanguard funds generally will seek to disclose the fund's ten largest stock portfolio holdings and the aggregate percentage of the fund's total assets (and, for balanced funds, the aggregate percentage of the fund's equity securities) that these holdings represent as of the end of the most recent month (month-end ten largest stock holdings) online at vanguard.com, in the "Portfolio" section of the fund's Portfolio & Management page, 10 business days after the end of the month. Together, the quarter-end and month- end ten largest stock holdings are referred to as the ten largest stock holdings. Online disclosure of the ten largest stock holdings is made to all categories of persons, including individual investors, institutional investors, intermediaries, third- party service providers, rating and ranking organizations, affiliated persons of a Vanguard fund, and all other persons.

Online Disclosure of Complete Portfolio Holdings

Each actively managed Vanguard fund, unless otherwise stated, generally will seek to disclose the fund's complete portfolio holdings as of the end of the most recent calendar quarter online at vanguard.com, in the "Portfolio" section of the fund's Portfolio & Management page, 30 calendar days after the end of the calendar quarter. In accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act, each of the Vanguard money market funds will disclose the fund's complete portfolio holdings as of the last business day of the prior month online at vanguard.com, in the "Portfolio" section of the fund's Portfolio & Management page, no later than the fifth business day of the current month. The complete portfolio holdings information for money market funds will remain available online for at least six months after the initial posting. Vanguard Market Neutral Fund and Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund generally will seek to disclose the Fund's complete portfolio holdings as of the end of the most recent calendar quarter online at vanguard.com, in the "Portfolio" section of the Fund's Portfolio & Management page, 60 calendar days after the end of the calendar quarter. Each Vanguard index fund generally will seek to disclose the fund's complete portfolio holdings as of the end of the most recent month online at vanguard.com, in the "Portfolio" section of the fund's Portfolio & Management page, 15 calendar days after the end of the month. Online disclosure of complete portfolio holdings is made to all categories of persons, including individual investors, institutional investors, intermediaries, third-party service providers, rating and ranking organizations, affiliated persons of a Vanguard fund, and all other persons. Vanguard will review complete portfolio holdings before disclosure is made and, except with respect to the complete portfolio holdings of the Vanguard money market funds, may withhold any portion of the fund's complete portfolio holdings from disclosure when deemed to be in the best interests of the fund after consultation with a Vanguard fund's investment advisor.

Disclosure of Complete Portfolio Holdings to Service Providers Subject to Confidentiality and Trading Restrictions

Vanguard, for legitimate business purposes, may disclose Vanguard fund complete portfolio holdings at times it deems necessary and appropriate to rating and ranking organizations; financial printers; proxy voting service providers; pricing information vendors; issuers of guaranteed investment contracts for stable value portfolios; third parties that deliver analytical, statistical, or consulting services; and other third parties that provide services (collectively, Service Providers) to Vanguard, Vanguard subsidiaries, and/or the Vanguard funds. Disclosure of complete portfolio holdings to a Service Provider is conditioned on the Service Provider being subject to a written agreement imposing a duty of confidentiality, including a duty not to trade on the basis of any material nonpublic information.

The frequency with which complete portfolio holdings may be disclosed to a Service Provider, and the length of the lag, if any, between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed to the Service Provider, is determined based on the facts and circumstances, including, without limitation, the nature of the portfolio holdings information to be disclosed, the risk of harm to the funds and their shareholders, and the legitimate business purposes served by such disclosure. The frequency of disclosure to a Service Provider varies and may be as frequent as daily, with no lag. Disclosure of Vanguard fund complete portfolio holdings by Vanguard to a Service Provider must be authorized by a Vanguard fund officer or a Principal in Vanguard's Portfolio Review Department or Legal and Compliance Division. Any disclosure of Vanguard fund complete portfolio holdings to a Service Provider as previously described may also include a list of the other investment positions that make up the fund, such as cash investments and derivatives.

Currently, Vanguard discloses complete portfolio holdings to the following Service Providers as part of ongoing arrangements that serve legitimate business purposes: Abel/Noser Corporation; Advisor Software, Inc.; Alcom Printing Group Inc.; Apple Press, L.C.; Bloomberg L.P.; Brilliant Graphics, Inc.; Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.; Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.; Canon Business Process Services; Charles River Systems, Inc.; FactSet Research Systems

B-41

Inc.; Innovation Printing & Communications; Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc.; Intelligencer Printing Company; Investment Technology Group, Inc.; Lipper, Inc.; Markit WSO Corporation; McMunn Associates Inc.; Reuters America Inc.; R.R. Donnelley, Inc.; State Street Bank and Trust Company; and Trade Informatics LLC.

Disclosure of Complete Portfolio Holdings to Vanguard Affiliates and Certain Fiduciaries Subject to Confidentiality and Trading Restrictions

Vanguard fund complete portfolio holdings may be disclosed between and among the following persons (collectively, Affiliates and Fiduciaries) for legitimate business purposes within the scope of their official duties and responsibilities, subject to such persons' continuing legal duty of confidentiality and legal duty not to trade on the basis of any material nonpublic information, as such duties are imposed under the Code of Ethics, the Policies and Procedures Designed to Prevent the Misuse of Inside Information, by agreement, or under applicable laws, rules, and regulations: (1) persons who are subject to the Code of Ethics or the Policies and Procedures Designed to Prevent the Misuse of Inside Information; (2) an investment advisor, distributor, administrator, transfer agent, or custodian to a Vanguard fund; (3) an accounting firm, an auditing firm, or outside legal counsel retained by Vanguard, a Vanguard subsidiary, or a Vanguard fund; (4) an investment advisor to whom complete portfolio holdings are disclosed for due diligence purposes when the advisor is in merger or acquisition talks with a Vanguard fund's current advisor; and (5) a newly hired investment advisor or sub-advisor to whom complete portfolio holdings are disclosed prior to the time it commences its duties.

The frequency with which complete portfolio holdings may be disclosed between and among Affiliates and Fiduciaries, and the length of the lag, if any, between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed between and among the Affiliates and Fiduciaries, is determined by such Affiliates and Fiduciaries based on the facts and circumstances, including, without limitation, the nature of the portfolio holdings information to be disclosed, the risk of harm to the funds and their shareholders, and the legitimate business purposes served by such disclosure. The frequency of disclosure between and among Affiliates and Fiduciaries varies and may be as frequent as daily, with no lag. Any disclosure of Vanguard fund complete portfolio holdings to any Affiliates and Fiduciaries as previously described may also include a list of the other investment positions that make up the fund, such as cash investments and derivatives. Disclosure of Vanguard fund complete portfolio holdings or other investment positions by Vanguard, Vanguard Marketing Corporation, or a Vanguard fund to Affiliates and Fiduciaries must be authorized by a Vanguard fund officer or a Principal of Vanguard.

Currently, Vanguard discloses complete portfolio holdings to the following Affiliates and Fiduciaries as part of ongoing arrangements that serve legitimate business purposes: Vanguard and each investment advisor, custodian, and independent registered public accounting firm identified in each fund's Statement of Additional Information.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings to Broker-Dealers in the Normal Course of Managing a Fund's Assets

An investment advisor, administrator, or custodian for a Vanguard fund may, for legitimate business purposes within the scope of its official duties and responsibilities, disclose portfolio holdings (whether partial portfolio holdings or complete portfolio holdings) and other investment positions that make up the fund to one or more broker-dealers during the course of, or in connection with, normal day-to-day securities and derivatives transactions with or through such broker-dealers subject to the broker-dealer's legal obligation not to use or disclose material nonpublic information concerning the fund's portfolio holdings, other investment positions, securities transactions, or derivatives transactions without the consent of the fund or its agents. The Vanguard funds have not given their consent to any such use or disclosure and no person or agent of Vanguard is authorized to give such consent except as approved in writing by the Boards of the Vanguard funds. Disclosure of portfolio holdings or other investment positions by Vanguard to broker-dealers must be authorized by a Vanguard fund officer or a Principal of Vanguard.

Disclosure of Nonmaterial Information

The Policies and Procedures permit Vanguard fund officers, Vanguard fund portfolio managers, and other Vanguard representatives (collectively, Approved Vanguard Representatives) to disclose any views, opinions, judgments, advice, or commentary, or any analytical, statistical, performance, or other information, in connection with or relating to a Vanguard fund or its portfolio holdings and/or other investment positions (collectively, commentary and analysis) or any changes in the portfolio holdings of a Vanguard fund that occurred after the end of the most recent calendar quarter (recent portfolio changes) to any person if (1) such disclosure serves a legitimate business purpose, (2) such disclosure does not

B-42

effectively result in the disclosure of the complete portfolio holdings of any Vanguard fund (which can be disclosed only in accordance with the Policies and Procedures), and (3) such information does not constitute material nonpublic information. Disclosure of commentary and analysis or recent portfolio changes by Vanguard, VMC, or a Vanguard fund must be authorized by a Vanguard fund officer or a Principal of Vanguard.

An Approved Vanguard Representative must make a good faith determination whether the information constitutes material nonpublic information, which involves an assessment of the particular facts and circumstances. Vanguard believes that in most cases recent portfolio changes that involve a few or even several securities in a diversified portfolio or commentary and analysis would be immaterial and would not convey any advantage to a recipient in making an investment decision concerning a Vanguard fund. Nonexclusive examples of commentary and analysis about a Vanguard fund include (1) the allocation of the fund's portfolio holdings and other investment positions among various asset classes, sectors, industries, and countries; (2) the characteristics of the stock and bond components of the fund's portfolio holdings and other investment positions; (3) the attribution of fund returns by asset class, sector, industry, and country; and (4) the volatility characteristics of the fund. Approved Vanguard Representatives may, at their sole discretion, deny any request for information made by any person, and may do so for any reason or for no reason. Approved Vanguard Representatives include, for purposes of the Policies and Procedures, persons employed by or associated with Vanguard or a subsidiary of Vanguard who have been authorized by Vanguard's Portfolio Review Department to disclose recent portfolio changes and/or commentary and analysis in accordance with the Policies

and Procedures.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings Related Information to the Issuer of a Security for Legitimate Business Purposes

Vanguard, at its sole discretion, may disclose portfolio holdings information concerning a security held by one or more Vanguard funds to the issuer of such security if the issuer presents, to the satisfaction of Vanguard's Fund Financial Services unit, convincing evidence that the issuer has a legitimate business purpose for such information. Disclosure of this information to an issuer is conditioned on the issuer being subject to a written agreement imposing a duty of confidentiality, including a duty not to trade on the basis of any material nonpublic information. The frequency with which portfolio holdings information concerning a security may be disclosed to the issuer of such security, and the length of the lag, if any, between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed to the issuer, is determined based on the facts and circumstances, including, without limitation, the nature of the portfolio holdings information to be disclosed, the risk of harm to the funds and their shareholders, and the legitimate business purposes served by such disclosure. The frequency of disclosure to an issuer cannot be determined in advance of a specific request and will vary based upon the particular facts and circumstances and the legitimate business purposes, but in unusual situations could be as frequent as daily, with no lag. Disclosure of portfolio holdings information concerning a security held by one or more Vanguard funds to the issuer of such security must be authorized by a Vanguard fund officer or a Principal in Vanguard's Portfolio Review Department or Legal and Compliance Division.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings as Required by Applicable Law

Vanguard fund portfolio holdings (whether partial portfolio holdings or complete portfolio holdings) and other investment positions that make up a fund shall be disclosed to any person as required by applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Examples of such required disclosure include, but are not limited to, disclosure of Vanguard fund portfolio holdings (1) in a filing or submission with the SEC or another regulatory body, (2) in connection with seeking recovery on defaulted bonds in a federal bankruptcy case, (3) in connection with a lawsuit, or (4) as required by court order. Disclosure of portfolio holdings or other investment positions by Vanguard, VMC, or a Vanguard fund as required by applicable laws, rules, and regulations must be authorized by a Vanguard fund officer or a Principal of Vanguard.

Prohibitions on Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

No person is authorized to disclose Vanguard fund portfolio holdings or other investment positions (whether online at vanguard.com, in writing, by fax, by email, orally, or by other means) except in accordance with the Policies and Procedures. In addition, no person is authorized to make disclosure pursuant to the Policies and Procedures if such disclosure is otherwise unlawful under the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act). Furthermore, Vanguard's management, at its sole discretion, may determine not to disclose portfolio holdings or other investment positions that make up a Vanguard fund to any person who would otherwise be

B-43

eligible to receive such information under the Policies and Procedures, or may determine to make such disclosures publicly as provided by the Policies and Procedures.

Prohibitions on Receipt of Compensation or Other Consideration

The Policies and Procedures prohibit a Vanguard fund, its investment advisor, and any other person or entity from paying or receiving any compensation or other consideration of any type for the purpose of obtaining disclosure of Vanguard fund portfolio holdings or other investment positions. "Consideration" includes any agreement to maintain assets in the fund or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the investment advisor or by any affiliated person of the investment advisor.

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

The Trust currently uses eight investment advisors:

⬛ARGA Investment Management, LP (ARGA) provides investment advisory services for a portion of Vanguard International Value Fund.

⬛Ballie Gifford Overseas Ltd. (Baillie Gifford) provides investment advisory services for a portion of Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund.

⬛Edinburgh Partners Limited (Edinburgh Partners) provides investment advisory services for a portion of Vanguard International Value Fund.

⬛Lazard Asset Management LLC (Lazard) provides investment advisory services for a portion of Vanguard International Value Fund.

⬛Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (Oaktree) provides investment advisory services for a portion of Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund.

⬛Pzena Investment Management, LLC (Pzena) provides investment advisory services for a portion of Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund.

⬛Wellington Management Company LLP (Wellington Management) provides investment advisory services for a portion of Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund.

⬛Vanguard provides investment advisory services to Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund, Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund, and Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund.

M&G Investment Management Limited provided investment advisory services for a portion of Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund from June 2011 until July 2018.

For funds that are advised by independent third-party advisory firms unaffiliated with Vanguard, the board of trustees of each fund hires investment advisory firms, not individual portfolio managers, to provide investment advisory services to such funds. Vanguard negotiates each advisory agreement, which contains advisory fee arrangements, on an arm's length basis with the advisory firm. Each advisory agreement is reviewed annually by each fund's board of trustees, taking into account numerous factors, which include, without limitation, the nature, extent, and quality of the services provided; investment performance; and the fair market value of the services provided. Each advisory agreement is between the Trust and the advisory firm, not between the Trust and the portfolio manager. The structure of the advisory fee paid to each unaffiliated investment advisory firm is described in the following sections. In addition, the firm has established policies and procedures designed to address the potential for conflicts of interest. Each firm's compensation structure and management of potential conflicts of interest are summarized by the advisory firm in the following sections for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019.

A fund is a party to an investment advisory agreement with each of its independent third-party advisors whereby the advisor manages the investment and reinvestment of the portion of the fund's assets that the fund's board of trustees determines to assign to the advisor. In this capacity, each advisor continuously reviews, supervises, and administers the investment program for its portion of the fund's assets. Hereafter, each portion will be referred to as the advisor's Portfolio. Each advisor discharges its responsibilities subject to the supervision and oversight of Vanguard's Portfolio Review Department and the officers and trustees of the fund. Vanguard's Portfolio Review Department is responsible for recommending changes in a fund's advisory arrangements to the fund's board of trustees, including changes in the amount of assets allocated to each advisor and recommendations to hire, terminate, or replace an advisor.

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I. Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund, Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund, and Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund

Vanguard, through its Equity Index Group, provides investment advisory services to Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund. The Diversified Equity Fund is a fund of funds that invests in other Vanguard mutual funds (underlying funds). The Diversified Equity Fund benefits from the investment advisory services provided to the underlying funds and, as a shareholder of those funds, indirectly bears a proportionate share of those funds' advisory fees and expenses. For more information about the investment advisory services provided to the underlying funds, please refer to each fund's Statement of Additional Information.

Vanguard, through its Quantitative Equity Group, provides investment advisory services to Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund. The compensation and other expenses of Vanguard's advisory staff are allocated among the funds utilizing these services. Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund began operations on August 11, 2015. During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2017, 2018, and 2019, the Fund incurred investment advisory expenses of approximately $346,000, $244,000, and $280,000, respectively.

Vanguard, through its Quantitative Equity Group and its Fixed Income Group, provides investment advisory services to Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund. The compensation and other expenses of Vanguard's advisory staff are allocated among the funds utilizing these services. Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund began operations on June 25, 2019.

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019, the Fund incurred investment advisory expenses of approximately $10,000.

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1. Other Accounts Managed

The following table provides information relating to the other accounts managed by the portfolio managers of the Fund as of the fiscal-year ended October 31, 2019 (unless otherwise noted):

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets in

 

 

 

 

No. of accounts with

accounts with

 

 

No. of

 

performance-based

performance-based

Portfolio Manager

 

accounts

Total assets

fees

fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

William Coleman

Registered investment

54

$900B

0

0

companies1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pooled investment

1

$7.5B

0

0

 

vehicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accounts

0

0

0

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walter Nejman

Registered investment

49

$1.8T

0

0

companies1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pooled investment

2

$2.4B

0

0

 

vehicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accounts

1

$1B

0

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anatoly Shtekman

Registered investment

3

$2.3B

0

0

companies2,3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pooled investment

0

$0

0

0

 

vehicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accounts

0

$0

0

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fei Xu

Registered investment

2

$505M

0

0

companies2,3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pooled investment

0

$0

0

0

 

vehicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accounts

0

$0

0

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joshua C.

Registered investment

22

$829B

0

0

Barrickman

companies3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pooled investment

0

$0

0

0

 

vehicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accounts

0

$0

0

0

1 Includes Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund which held assets of $1.8 billion as of October 31, 2019.

2 Includes Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund which held assets of $298 million as of October 31, 2019. 3 Includes Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund which held assets of $207 million as of October 31, 2019.

2. Material Conflicts of Interest

At Vanguard, individual portfolio managers may manage multiple accounts for multiple clients. In addition to mutual funds, these accounts may include separate accounts, collective trusts, or offshore funds. Managing multiple funds or accounts may give rise to potential conflicts of interest including, for example, conflicts among investment strategies and conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities. Vanguard manages potential conflicts between funds or accounts through allocation policies and procedures, internal review processes, and oversight by trustees and independent third parties. Vanguard has developed trade allocation procedures and controls to ensure that no one client, regardless of type, is intentionally favored at the expense of another. Allocation policies are designed to address potential conflicts in situations where two or more funds or accounts participate in investment decisions involving the same securities.

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3. Description of Compensation

All Vanguard portfolio managers are Vanguard employees. This section describes the compensation of the Vanguard employees who manage Vanguard mutual funds. As of October 31, 2019, a Vanguard portfolio manager's compensation generally consists of base salary, bonus, and payments under Vanguard's long-term incentive compensation program. In addition, portfolio managers are eligible for the standard retirement benefits and health and welfare benefits available to all Vanguard employees. Also, certain portfolio managers may be eligible for additional retirement benefits under several supplemental retirement plans that Vanguard adopted in the 1980s to restore dollar-for-dollar the benefits of management employees that had been cut back solely as a result of tax law changes. These plans are structured to provide the same retirement benefits as the standard retirement plans.

In the case of portfolio managers responsible for managing multiple Vanguard funds or accounts, the method used to determine their compensation is the same for all funds and investment accounts. A portfolio manager's base salary is determined by the manager's experience and performance in the role, taking into account the ongoing compensation benchmark analyses performed by Vanguard's Human Resources Department. 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 in response to a market adjustment of the position.

A portfolio manager's bonus is determined by a number of factors. One factor is gross, pre-tax performance of the fund relative to expectations for how the fund should have performed, given the fund's investment objective, policies, strategies, and limitations and the market environment during the measurement period. This performance factor is not based on the amount of assets held in any individual fund's portfolio. For the Diversified Equity Fund, Alternative Strategies Fund, and Commodity Strategy Fund, the performance factor depends on how closely each portfolio manager outperforms these expectations and maintains the risk parameters of the Fund over a three-year period. Additional factors include the portfolio manager's contributions to the investment management functions within the sub-asset class, contributions to the development of other investment professionals and supporting staff, and overall contributions to strategic planning and decisions for the investment group. The target bonus is expressed as a percentage of base salary. The actual bonus paid may be more or less than the target bonus, based on how well the manager satisfies the objectives previously described. The bonus is paid on an annual basis.

Under the long-term incentive compensation program, all full-time employees receive a payment from Vanguard's long- term incentive compensation plan based on their years of service, job level, and, if applicable, management responsibilities. Each year, Vanguard's independent directors determine the amount of the long-term incentive compensation award for that year based on the investment performance of the Vanguard funds relative to competitors and Vanguard's operating efficiencies in providing services to the Vanguard funds.

4. Ownership of Securities

As of October 31, 2019, Mr. Xu owned shares of Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund in the $50,001 - $100,000 range. As of the same date, Mr. Xu also owned shares of Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund in the $50,001 - $100,000 range. None of the other named portfolio managers owned any shares of the Funds they managed.

II. Vanguard International Value Fund

The Fund pays each of its independent third-party investment advisors a base fee plus or minus a performance adjustment. Each base fee, which is paid quarterly, is a percentage of average daily net assets managed by the advisor during the most recent fiscal quarter. The base fee has breakpoints, which means that the percentage declines as assets go up. The performance adjustment, also paid quarterly, is based on the cumulative total return of each advisor's portion of the Fund relative to that of the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index over the preceding 60-month period (for Lazard and ARGA) or the preceding 36-month period (for Edinburgh Partners).

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2017, 2018, and 2019, the Fund incurred aggregate investment advisory fees of approximately $14,719,000 (before a performance-based increase of $285,000), $16,831,000 (before a performance- based decrease of $533,000) and $16,144,000 (before a performance based decrease of $674,000), respectively.

A. ARGA Investment Management, LP (ARGA)

ARGA, located in Stamford, Connecticut, is an investment management firm founded in 2010 by A. Rama Krishna.

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1. Other Accounts Managed

The following table provides information relating to the other accounts managed by the portfolio managers of the Fund as of the fiscal-year ended October 31, 2019 (unless otherwise noted):

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets in

 

 

 

 

No. of accounts with

accounts with

 

 

No. of

 

performance-based

performance-based

Portfolio Manager

 

accounts

Total assets

fees

fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

A. Rama Krishna

Registered investment

1

$10.4B

1

$10.4B

companies1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pooled investment

13

$331M

3

$249M

 

vehicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accounts

17

$1.8B

3

$842M

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steven Morrow

Registered investment

1

$10.4B

1

$10.4B

companies1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pooled investment

8

$35.4M

2

$30.7M

 

vehicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accounts

11

$456M

0

0

1 Includes Vanguard International Value Fund which held assets of $10.4 billion as of October 31, 2019.

2. Material Conflicts of Interest

ARGA's compliance procedures aim to identify and prevent potential conflicts of interest related to client, employee, and proprietary activities. Potential conflicts of interest include instances when ARGA desires to purchase or sell the same securities for the ARGA Portfolio and other accounts, which could result, if such conflict is not managed properly, in unfair treatment to one account or another. Another potential conflict could occur if employees had knowledge of future ARGA trades and, on the basis of such information, made their own personal trades, which could harm the ARGA Portfolio and other ARGA accounts.

Specific procedures addressing conflicts of interest are described in the following paragraphs.

Mr. Krishna and Mr. Morrow are Chief Investment Officer and Director of Research, respectively, of ARGA. In addition to the Fund, ARGA manages other accounts on a discretionary basis (and where, as of October 31, 2019, Mr. Krishna is one of a number of investors within certain commingled funds as well as certain proprietary partnerships) that use the valuation-based investment strategy utilized for the ARGA Portfolio. ARGA expects to manage additional such accounts in the future. To avoid any incentive to favor one account over another in the allocation of investment opportunities (particularly where there are differing performance fee arrangements), ARGA has implemented strict fairness policies with respect to trading practices and allocation procedures. ARGA examines trade allocations among client portfolios regularly and confirms their consistency with ARGA's fiduciary obligation to allocate investment opportunities fairly. ARGA also regularly monitors dispersion of client account returns within the same investment strategy to verify that no preferential treatment has occurred. As expected, in instances such as clients directing trades through particular brokers, ARGA may place non-simultaneous trade orders for the ARGA Portfolio and another client, which may affect the execution price of the security to the detriment of one or the other.

To ensure ARGA employees do not use knowledge of the ARGA Portfolio's trading for personal gain, firm Access Persons and their immediate family members living in the same household are subject to initial, quarterly, and annual brokerage account reporting and certification requirements with respect to brokerage or investment accounts over which they have a direct or indirect beneficial interest. Access Persons, including their immediate family members living in the same household, contemplating the purchase or sale of any security or an interest in a private placement vehicle must obtain preclearance from ARGA. Access Persons' brokerage statements and emails are reviewed on a quarterly basis to ensure continued compliance with ARGA's policies on personal securities transactions.

While ARGA follows these procedures to eliminate potential conflicts of interest, there is no guarantee they will detect and prevent every situation where potential conflicts could arise. Investment personnel of the firm or its affiliates may be

B-48

permitted to be commercially or professionally involved with an issuer of securities. Any potential conflicts of interest from such involvement would be monitored for compliance with the firm's Code of Ethics.

3. Description of Compensation

The goal of ARGA's compensation structure is to align the interests of investment professionals with those of its clients and the firm. Accordingly, ARGA rewards behavior by investment professionals that results in long-term success for its clients and the company.

Mr. Krishna has equity ownership in ARGA; accordingly, he is entitled to a share of the firm's profits, if and when earned. He does not receive a base salary or performance bonus. ARGA compensates Mr. Morrow through a combination of base salary, performance bonus, and profit sharing. Base salary is a fixed amount that may change based on an annual review or market conditions. Bonus is determined by both individual performance and financial success of the firm. Effective 2016, a portion of profits and value of the firm is shared with employees other than Mr. Krishna through the ARGA Commitment Plan. These employees comprise individuals across the firm who are key to delivering superior levels of excellence for ARGA's clients. Over the long term, the firm expects bonus and profit sharing to make up the highest proportion of compensation. Where relevant at higher levels of individual compensation, a portion of both the bonus and profit sharing is likely to be deferred, thereby encouraging long-term retention of key employees.

ARGA formally reviews performance by each individual based on a framework that is relevant for the individual's area of responsibility and overall adherence to the firm's values. ARGA does not tie portfolio manager compensation specifically to the performance of the ARGA Portfolio relative to the Fund's benchmark, as that could cause individuals to stray from ARGA's long-term, valuation-based investment discipline. For investment professionals, ARGA reviews both quantitative and fundamental factors. Quantitative factors may include productivity in terms of companies' research coverage and construction of global industry models. Fundamental factors focus on depth of company and industry research, quality of company models and embedded forecasts, contribution to discussions with company management, and ability to identify key business issues and paths to possible resolution. In addition to evaluating individuals on their own contribution, the firm assesses their commitment to the success of other ARGA employees and ARGA as a whole.

4. Ownership of Securities

As of October 31, 2019, Mr. Krishna and Mr. Morrow did not own any shares of Vanguard International Value Fund.

B. Edinburgh Partners Limited (Edinburgh Partners)

Edinburgh Partners is an investment management firm founded in 2003 and based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Dr. Sandy Nairn is one of the founders and is a Director and Chief Executive of Edinburgh Partners. Edinburgh Partners is a wholly owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc., a global investment management organization headquartered in San Mateo, California operating as Franklin Templeton Investments. Following the acquisition of Edinburgh Partners by

Franklin Templeton Investments in 2018, Dr. Nairn also acts as Chairman of the Templeton Global Equity Group.

B-49

1. Other Accounts Managed

The following table provides information relating to the other accounts managed by the portfolio managers of the Fund as of the fiscal-year ended October 31, 2019 (unless otherwise noted):

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets in

 

 

 

 

No. of accounts with

accounts with

 

 

No. of

 

performance-based

performance-based

Portfolio Manager

 

accounts

Total assets

fees

fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Sandy Naim

Registered investment

1

$10.4B

1

$10.4B

companies1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pooled investment

2

$191M

0

0

 

vehicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accounts

0

0

0

0

1 Includes Vanguard International Value Fund which held assets of $10.4 billion as of October 31, 2019.

2. Material Conflicts of Interest

Edinburgh Partners has adopted policies and procedures (including oversight monitoring) designed to detect, manage, and mitigate the effects of potential conflicts of interest in the area of employee personal trading, managing accounts for multiple clients (including affiliated investment companies), and allocating investment opportunities. In addition, Edinburgh Partners has identified a number of other possible areas for conflicts to arise and these are documented in the firm's conflicts matrix. The matrix details the conflict, how it is managed or disclosed, and whether the conflict is monitored. The matrix is reviewed annually by the firm's Operational Management Committee. In addition, the firm's Regulatory and Operational Risk Department conducts monitoring activity over a number of potential conflicts and their controls. Any potential conflicts of interest from such involvement would be monitored for compliance with the firm's Code of Ethics.

3. Description of Compensation

Compensation is based on total reward, with bonus forming a significant element for partners; for others, base salary will form the major part of compensation. This bonus is paid from an operating profit bonus pool. The bonus element is related to all aspects of contribution to the objectives of the firm. For investment partners, the key driver is their research input and investment performance.

Typically, Edinburgh Partners aims to balance the mix of fixed compensation and variable compensation to reflect the value and responsibility attributable to each specific role. A proportion of variable compensation may be deferred from time to time and aligned to support the long-term performance of the company.

Remuneration oversight is performed by the Board which is responsible for approving and implementing the aggregate remuneration policy as well as approving recommendations of the Head of Human Resources and Head of Regulatory & Operational Risk, including as to amounts to individual departmental managers. Individual awards are determined as follows:

•Chief Executive - Compensation for the Chief Executive is determined in consultation with an appropriate nominated representative of Franklin Resources, Inc.

•Partners - Individual Partner compensation is determined by the Chief Executive.

•All other staff - Compensation for all other staff is proposed and approved by the Chief Operating Officer (with input from line managers, the Head of Human Resources and taking into account the results of annual performance appraisals and any other relevant factors).

In considering any compensation awards, the Board will receive input from the Regulatory and Operational Risk function if there are relevant matters to bring to the attention of the Board.

B-50

4. Ownership of Securities

As of October 31, 2019, Dr. Nairn did not own any shares of Vanguard International Value Fund.

C. Lazard Asset Management LLC (Lazard)

Lazard is a registered investment advisor and is a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Lazard Freres & Co. LLC and an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Lazard Ltd.

1. Other Accounts Managed

The following table provides information relating to the other accounts managed by the portfolio managers of the Fund as of the fiscal-year ended October 31, 2019 (unless otherwise noted):

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets in

 

 

 

 

No. of accounts with

accounts with

 

 

No. of

 

performance-based

performance-based

Portfolio Manager

 

accounts

Total assets

fees

fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael A. Bennett

Registered investment

206

$26.3B

1

$10.4B

companies1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pooled investment

13

$3.2B

0

0

 

vehicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accounts

205

$25.4B

1

$118B

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael G. Fry

Registered investment

165

$19.8B

1

$10.4B

companies1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pooled investment

9

$2.3B

0

0

 

vehicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accounts

164

$18B

1

$118B

1 Includes Vanguard International Value Fund which held assets of $10.4 billion as of October 31, 2019.

2. Material Conflicts of Interest

Although the potential for conflicts of interest exists when an investment adviser and portfolio managers manage other accounts that invest in securities in which the Fund may invest or that may pursue a strategy similar to the Fund's investment strategies implemented by Lazard (collectively, "Similar Accounts"), Lazard has procedures in place that are designed to ensure that all accounts are treated fairly and that the Fund is not disadvantaged, including procedures regarding trade allocations and "conflicting trades" (e.g., long and short positions in the same or similar securities). In addition, the Fund is subject to different regulations than certain of the Similar Accounts, and, consequently, may not be permitted to engage in all the investment techniques or transactions, or to engage in such techniques or transactions to the same degree, as the Similar Accounts.

Potential conflicts of interest may arise because of Lazard's management of the Fund and Similar Accounts, including the following:

1.Similar Accounts may have investment objectives, strategies and risks that differ from those of the Fund. In addition, the Fund is subject to different regulations than certain of the Similar Accounts and, consequently, may not be permitted to invest in the same securities, exercise rights to exchange or convert securities or engage in all the investment techniques or transactions, or to invest, exercise or engage to the same degree, as the Similar Accounts. For these or other reasons, the portfolio managers may purchase different securities for the Fund and the corresponding Similar Accounts, and the performance of securities purchased for the Fund may vary from the performance of securities purchased for Similar Accounts, perhaps materially.

2.Conflicts of interest may arise with both the aggregation and allocation of securities transactions and allocation of limited investment opportunities. Lazard may be perceived as causing accounts it manages to participate in an offering to increase Lazard's overall allocation of securities in that offering, or to increase Lazard's ability to participate in future offerings by the same underwriter or issuer. Allocations of bunched trades, particularly trade orders that were only partially filled due to limited availability, and allocation of investment opportunities generally, could raise a potential conflict of interest, as Lazard may have an incentive to allocate securities that are expected to increase in value to

B-51

preferred accounts. Initial public offerings, in particular, are frequently of very limited availability. A potential conflict of interest may be perceived to arise if transactions in one account closely follow related transactions in a different account, such as when a purchase increases the value of securities previously purchased by the other account, or when a sale in one account lowers the sale price received in a sale by a second account.

3.Portfolio managers may be perceived to have a conflict of interest because of the large number of Similar Accounts, in addition to the Fund, that they are managing on behalf of Lazard. Although Lazard does not track each individual portfolio manager's time dedicated to each account, Lazard periodically reviews each portfolio manager's overall responsibilities to ensure that he or she is able to allocate the necessary time and resources to effectively manage the Fund. As illustrated in the table above, most of the portfolio managers manage a significant number of Similar Accounts in addition to the Fund.

4.Generally, Lazard and/or its portfolio managers have investments in Similar Accounts. This could be viewed as creating a potential conflict of interest, since certain of the portfolio managers do not invest in the Fund.

5.The table above notes the portfolio managers who manage Similar Accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account, which could give the portfolio managers and Lazard an incentive to favor such Similar Accounts over the Fund.

6.Portfolio managers may place transactions on behalf of Similar Accounts that are directly or indirectly contrary to investment decisions made for the Fund, which could have the potential to adversely impact the Fund, depending on market conditions. In addition, if the Fund's investment in an issuer is at a different level of the issuer's capital structure than an investment in the issuer by Similar Accounts, in the event of credit deterioration of the issuer, there may be a conflict of interest between the Fund's and such Similar Accounts' investments in the issuer. If Lazard sells securities short, including on behalf of a Similar Account, it may be seen as harmful to the performance of the Fund to the extent it invests "long" in the same or similar securities whose market values fall as a result of short-selling activities.

7.Investment decisions are made independently from those of the Similar Accounts. If, however, such Similar Accounts desire to invest in, or dispose of, the same securities as the Fund, available investments or opportunities for sales will be allocated equitably to each. In some cases, this procedure may adversely affect the size of the position obtained for or disposed of by the Fund or the price paid or received by the Fund.

8.Under Lazard's trade allocation procedures applicable to domestic and foreign initial and secondary public offerings and Rule 144A transactions (collectively herein a "Limited Offering"), Lazard will generally allocate Limited Offering shares among client accounts, including the Fund, pro rata based upon the aggregate asset size (excluding leverage) of the account. Lazard may also allocate Limited Offering shares on a random basis, as selected electronically, or other basis. It is often difficult for the Adviser to obtain a sufficient number of Limited Offering shares to provide a full allocation to each account. Lazard's allocation procedures are designed to allocate Limited Offering securities in a fair and equitable manner.

3. Description of Compensation

Lazard's portfolio managers are generally responsible for managing multiple types of accounts that may, or may not, invest in securities in which the Fund may invest or pursue a strategy similar to the Fund's strategies. Portfolio managers responsible for managing the Fund may also manage sub-advised registered investment companies, collective investment trusts, unregistered funds and/or other pooled investment vehicles, separate accounts, separately managed account programs (often referred to as "wrap accounts") and model portfolios.

Lazard compensates portfolio managers by a competitive salary and bonus structure, which is determined both quantitatively and qualitatively. Salary and bonus are paid in cash, stock and restricted interests in funds managed by Lazard or its affiliates. Portfolio managers are compensated on the performance of the aggregate group of portfolios managed by the teams of which they are a member rather than for a specific fund or account. Various factors are considered in the determination of a portfolio manager's compensation. All of the portfolios managed by a portfolio manager are comprehensively evaluated to determine his or her positive and consistent performance contribution over time. Further factors include the amount of assets in the portfolios as well as qualitative aspects that reinforce Lazard's investment philosophy.

Total compensation is generally not fixed, but rather is based on the following factors: (i) leadership, teamwork and commitment, (ii) maintenance of current knowledge and opinions on companies owned in the portfolio; (iii) generation and development of new investment ideas, including the quality of security analysis and identification of appreciation catalysts; (iv) ability and willingness to develop and share ideas on a team basis; and (v) the performance results of the portfolios managed by the investment teams of which the portfolio manager is a member.

B-52

Variable bonus is based on the portfolio manager's quantitative performance as measured by his or her ability to make investment decisions that contribute to the pre-tax absolute and relative returns of the accounts managed by the teams of which the portfolio manager is a member, by comparison of each account to a predetermined benchmark, generally as set forth in the Prospectus or other governing document, over the current fiscal year and the longer-term performance of such account, as well as performance of the account relative to peers. The portfolio manager's bonus also can be influenced by subjective measurement of the manager's ability to help others make investment decisions. A portion of a portfolio manager's variable bonus is awarded under a deferred compensation arrangement pursuant to which the portfolio manager may allocate certain amounts awarded among certain Lazard Portfolios, in shares that vest in two to three years. Certain portfolio managers' bonus compensation may be tied to a fixed percentage of revenue or assets generated by the accounts managed by such portfolio management teams.

4. Ownership of Securities

As of October 31, 2019, Mr. Bennett and Mr. Fry did not own any shares of Vanguard International Value Fund.

III. Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund

The Fund pays each of its independent third-party investment advisors a base fee plus or minus a performance adjustment. Each base fee, which is paid quarterly, is a percentage of average daily net assets managed by the advisor during the most recent fiscal quarter. The base fee has breakpoints, which means that the percentage declines as assets go up. The performance adjustment, also paid quarterly, is based on the cumulative total return of each advisor's portion of the Fund relative to that of the FTSE Emerging Index thereafter over the preceding 36-month period.

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2017, 2018, and 2019, the Fund incurred aggregate investment advisory fees of approximately $2,480,000 (before a performance-based decrease of $27,000), $3,579,000 (before a performance-based increase of $312,000), and $3,402,000 (before a performance-based increase of $459,000), respectively.

A. Baillie Gifford Overseas Ltd. (Baillie Gifford)

Baillie Gifford is an investment advisory firm founded in 1983. Baillie Gifford is wholly owned by a Scottish investment company, Baillie Gifford & Co. Founded in 1908, Baillie Gifford & Co., one of the largest independently owned investment management firms in the United Kingdom, manages money primarily for institutional clients.

B-53

1. Other Accounts Managed

The following table provides information relating to the other accounts managed by the portfolio managers of the Fund as of the fiscal-year ended October 31, 2019 (unless otherwise noted):

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets in

 

 

 

 

No. of accounts with

accounts with

 

 

No. of

 

performance-based

performance-based

Portfolio Manager

 

accounts

Total assets

fees

fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard Sneller

Registered investment

2

$3.9B

1

$702M

companies1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pooled investment

8

$3.9B

1

$35M

 

vehicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accounts

16

$12.6B

2

$4.2B

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andre Stobart

Registered investment

7

$10.5B

1

$702M

companies1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pooled investment

3

$1.7B

1

$35M

 

vehicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accounts

45

$19B

5

$2.4B

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Gush

Registered investment

3

$3.9B

1

$702M

companies1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pooled investment

7

$2.3B

1

$35M

 

vehicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accounts

15

$6B

0

0

1 Includes Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund which held assets of $702 million as of October 31, 2019.

2. Material Conflicts of Interest

At Baillie Gifford, individual portfolio managers may manage multiple accounts for multiple clients. In addition to mutual funds, these other accounts may include separate accounts, collective investment schemes, or offshore funds. Baillie Gifford manages potential conflicts between funds or with other types of accounts by implementing effective organizational and administrative arrangements to ensure that reasonable steps are taken to prevent the conflict giving rise to a material risk of damage to the interests of clients.

One area where a conflict of interest potentially arises is in the placing of orders for multiple clients and subsequent allocation of trades. Unless client-specific circumstances dictate otherwise, investment teams normally implement transactions in individual stocks for all clients with similar mandates at the same time. This aggregation of individual transactions can, of course, operate to the advantage or disadvantage of the clients involved in the order. When receiving orders from investment managers, traders at Baillie Gifford will generally treat order priority on a "first come, first served" basis, and any exceptions to this are permitted only in accordance with established policies. Baillie Gifford has also developed trade allocation systems and controls to ensure that no one client, regardless of type, is intentionally favored at the expense of another. Allocation policies are designed to address potential conflicts in situations where two or more funds or accounts participate in investment decisions involving the same securities. Investment personnel of the firm or its affiliates may be permitted to be commercially or professionally involved with an issuer of securities. Any

potential conflicts of interest from such involvement would be monitored for compliance with the firm's Code of Ethics.

3. Description of Compensation

Mr. Sneller is a partner of Baillie Gifford & Co. As such, he receives a base salary and a share of the partnership profits. The profit share is calculated as a percentage of total partnership profits based on seniority, role within Baillie Gifford & Co., and length of service. The basis for the profit share is detailed in the Baillie Gifford Partnership Agreement. The main

B-54

staff benefits, such as pension schemes, are not available to partners and therefore partners provide for benefits from their own personal funds.

As employees of the firm, Mr. Stobart and Mr. Gush receive compensation with three key elements: (1) base salary, (2) a company-wide all-staff bonus, and (3) a performance-related bonus referred to as the Investment Departments' Incentive Bonus Scheme. The performance-related bonus is based 50% on individual performance and 50% on investment performance (determined on a pre-tax basis). Investment performance is calculated on a team basis and is measured over a five-year period against the relevant benchmark. In addition, Mr. Stobart and Mr. Gush are required to defer 40% of their respective variable remunerations each year. Awards deferred will be held for a period of three years and will be invested in a range of funds managed by Baillie Gifford.

4. Ownership of Securities

As of October 31, 2019, Mr. Sneller, Mr. Stobart, and Mr. Gush did not own any shares of Vanguard Emerging Markets

Select Stock Fund.

B. Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (Oaktree)

Oaktree is a leading global investment management firm focused on alternative markets. The firm emphasizes an opportunistic, value-oriented and risk-controlled approach to investments in distressed debt, corporate debt (including high-yield debt and senior loans), control investing, convertible securities, real estate, and listed equities. Oaktree was founded in 1995 by a group of principals who have worked together since the mid-1980s. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the firm has over 950 employees and offices in 18 cities worldwide. Oaktree is indirectly controlled by Oaktree Capital Group, LLC ("OCG"), a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. OCG is indirectly controlled by Oaktree's senior executives. In 2019, Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. acquired a majority economic interest in OCG. OCG operates as an independent business within Brookfield, with its own product offerings and investment, marketing, and support teams.

Howard Marks is Co-Chairman of Oaktree. Mr. Marks is an Emeritus Trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, where from 2000 to 2010 he chaired the Investment Board. Dr. Gutmann, a trustee of the Fund, also serves on the Board of the University of Pennsylvania in her capacity (since 2004) as President of the University. Although not required to do so, Dr. Gutmann voluntarily abstains from voting on the Fund's investment advisory agreement with Oaktree.

1. Other Accounts Managed

The following table provides information relating to the other accounts managed by the portfolio managers of the Fund as of the fiscal-year ended October 31, 2019 (unless otherwise noted):

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets in

 

 

 

 

No. of accounts with

accounts with

 

 

No. of

 

performance-based

performance-based

Portfolio Manager

 

accounts

Total assets

fees

fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frank J. Carroll III

Registered investment

9

$1.2B

1

$702M

companies1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pooled investment

2

$1.6B

0

0

 

vehicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accounts

6

$1B

0

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

Timothy D. Jensen

Registered investment

9

$1.2B

1

$702M

companies1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pooled investment

2

$1.6B

0

0

 

vehicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accounts

6

$1B

0

0

1 Includes Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund which held assets of $702 million as of October 31, 2019.

B-55

2. Material Conflicts of Interest

At Oaktree, individual portfolio managers may manage multiple accounts for multiple clients. In addition to the Fund, these other accounts may include separate accounts and other pooled investment vehicles. Conflicts of interest may arise when an individual portfolio manager has responsibilities for the investments of more than one account because the portfolio manager may be unable to devote equal time and attention to each account. Additionally, individual portfolio managers may make investment decisions on behalf of one account that have the potential to negatively impact another account. Conflicts of interest may also arise when a portfolio manager has a particular financial incentive, such as performance-based management fees, relating to an account. In such an instance, a portfolio manager may perceive an incentive to devote more time to developing and analyzing strategies or allocating securities for accounts for which Oaktree could share in investment gains. Oaktree manages potential conflicts between funds and other types of accounts through allocation policies and procedures and internal review processes. Oaktree has developed trade allocation systems and controls to ensure that no one client, regardless of type, is intentionally favored at the expense of another. Allocation policies are designed to address potential conflicts in situations where two or more funds or accounts participate in investment decisions involving the same securities.

3. Description of Compensation

The compensation structure of the portfolio managers is determined by Oaktree in accordance with its own internal policies, which are summarized here. Portfolio manager compensation generally consists of distributions under Oaktree's equity plan and participation in the profitability of the funds they manage. Equity participation vests over a multiyear period. The value of the portfolio managers' equity participation is a function of the firm's profitability and the individual's responsibilities and performance and is not specifically dependent on the performance of the funds they manage, on an absolute basis or relative to the funds' specific benchmark, or the growth of such funds', or any other clients', assets except to the extent that such growth contributes to the firm's overall asset growth, which in turn contributes to the firm's overall profitability. The portfolio managers also receive a percentage of the profits generated by the fund they manage. As a result, their compensation generally increases and decreases with the size and performance of such funds.

4. Ownership of Securities

As of October 31, 2019, Mr. Carroll and Mr. Jensen each owned shares of Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund in an amount exceeding $1,000,000.

C. Pzena Investment Management, LLC (Pzena)

Pzena, based in New York, New York, was founded in 1995. In 2007, the firm completed an initial public offering, whereby the majority ownership of the firm was retained by the members of the Executive Committee and other employees.

B-56

1. Other Accounts Managed

The following table provides information relating to the other accounts managed by the portfolio managers of the Fund as of the fiscal-year ended October 31, 2019 (unless otherwise noted):

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets in

 

 

 

 

No. of accounts with

accounts with

 

 

No. of

 

performance-based

performance-based

Portfolio Manager

 

accounts

Total assets

fees

fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caroline Cai

Registered investment

9

$3.6B

1

$702M

companies1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pooled investment

46

$8.5B

2

$478M

 

vehicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accounts

53

$10.3B

2

$256M

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allison Fisch

Registered investment

10

$3.6B

1

$702M

companies1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pooled investment

26

$3.2B

1

$25.3M

 

vehicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accounts

26

$5.2B

0

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

John P. Goetz

Registered investment

9

$3.6B

1

$702M

companies1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pooled investment

45

$8.5B

2

$478M

 

vehicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accounts

53

$10.5B

2

$256M

1 Includes Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund which held assets of $702 million as of October 31, 2019.

2. Material Conflicts of Interest

Conflicts of interest may arise in managing the Fund's Portfolio investments, on the one hand, and the portfolios of Pzena's other clients and/or accounts (together "Accounts"), on the other. Set forth below is a brief description of some of the material conflicts that may arise and Pzena's policy or procedure for handling them. Although Pzena has designed such procedures to prevent and address conflicts, there is no guarantee that these procedures will detect every situation in which a conflict could arise.

The management of multiple Accounts inherently carries the risk that there may be competing interests for the portfolio management team's time and attention. Pzena seeks to minimize this by utilizing one investment approach (i.e., classic value investing) and by managing all Accounts on a product-specific basis.

If the portfolio management team identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for more than one Account, the Fund may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity. However, Pzena has adopted procedures for allocating portfolio transactions across Accounts so that each Account is treated fairly. With respect to partial fills for an order, depending upon the size of the execution, Pzena may choose to allocate the executed shares on a pro rata basis or on a random basis. As with all trade allocations, each Account generally receives pro-rata allocations of any new issue or IPO security that is appropriate for its investment objective. Permissible reasons for excluding an Account from an otherwise acceptable IPO or new-issue investment include the Account having FINRA restricted person status, lack of available cash to make the purchase, a client-imposed trading prohibition on IPOs or on the business of the issuer, or brokerage restrictions.

With respect to securities transactions for the Accounts, Pzena determines which broker to use to execute each order, consistent with its duty to seek best execution. Pzena aggregates like orders when it believes doing so is beneficial to the Accounts. However, with respect to certain Accounts, Pzena may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, Pzena may place

B-57

separate, nonsimultaneous transactions for the Fund and another Account, which may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction to the detriment of one or the other.

Conflicts of interest may arise when members of the portfolio management team transact personally in securities investments made or to be made for the Fund or other Accounts. To address this, Pzena has adopted a written Code of Business Conduct and Ethics designed to prevent and detect personal trading activities that may interfere or conflict with client interests (including Fund shareholders' interests) or its current investment strategy. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics generally requires that most transactions in securities by Pzena's Access Persons and certain related persons, whether or not such securities are purchased or sold on behalf of the Accounts, be cleared prior to execution by appropriate approving parties and compliance personnel. Securities transactions for Access Persons' personal accounts also are subject to reporting requirements and annual and quarterly certification requirements. In addition, no Access Person shall be permitted to effect a short-term trade (i.e., to purchase and subsequently sell within 60 calendar days, or to sell and subsequently purchase within 60 calendar days) of non-exempt securities. Finally, orders for proprietary accounts (i.e., accounts of Pzena's principals, affiliates, or employees or their immediate family that are managed by Pzena) are subject to written trade allocation procedures designed to ensure fair treatment of client accounts.

Pzena manages some Accounts under performance-based fee arrangements. Pzena recognizes that this type of incentive compensation creates the risk for potential conflicts of interest. This structure may create inherent pressure to allocate investments having a greater potential for higher returns to accounts of those clients paying a performance fee. To prevent conflicts of interest associated with managing accounts with different compensation structures, Pzena generally requires portfolio decisions to be made on a product-specific basis. Pzena also requires pre-allocation of all client orders based on specific fee-neutral criteria. Additionally, Pzena requires average pricing of all aggregated orders. Finally, Pzena has adopted a policy prohibiting portfolio managers (and all employees) from placing the investment interests of one client or a group of clients with the same investment objectives above the investment interests of any other client or group of clients with the same or similar investment objectives. These measures help Pzena mitigate some of the conflicts that its management of private investment companies would otherwise present. Investment personnel of the firm or its affiliates may be permitted to be commercially or professionally involved with an issuer of securities. Any potential conflicts of interest from such involvement would be monitored for compliance with the firm's Code of Ethics.

3. Description of Compensation

Pzena's compensation philosophy is to reward long-term superior performers with total compensation at or near the top quartile of the asset management industry. As with all investment professionals at Pzena, Ms. Cai, Ms. Fisch, and Mr. Goetz are compensated through a combination of a fixed base salary, annual performance bonus, and equity ownership, if appropriate, due to superior personal performance. Base pay is set to be in line with industry averages, and when setting the level of discretionary bonuses, a blend of quantitative and qualitative measures is considered; however, bonuses are not based on Fund performance or assets of the Fund. For investment professionals, Pzena examines such things as effort, efficiency, ability to focus on the correct issues, stock modeling ability, and ability to successfully interact with company management. However, Pzena always considers all of the contributions that an employee has made and is likely to make in the future. Pzena avoids a compensation model that is driven by individual security performance, as this can lead to short-term thinking which is contrary to the firm's value investment philosophy. Ownership is provided to individuals who have contributed meaningfully to the long-term success of the organization, and is the primary tool used by Pzena for attracting and retaining the best people. Employees invited into the partnership generally receive an initial share grant at no cost to them and are subsequently offered economically attractive opportunities to exchange cash compensation for additional shares. Equity ownership ties personnel to long-term performance, as the value of their ownership stake depends on delivering superior long-term results to investors. Ms. Cai, Ms. Fisch, and Mr. Goetz are equity owners of Pzena.

4. Ownership of Securities

As of October 31, 2019, Ms. Cai owned shares of Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund in the $10,001 - $50,000 range; Mr. Goetz owned shares of the Fund in the $100,001 - $500-000 range; and Ms. Fisch did not own any shares of the Fund.

B-58

D. Wellington Management Company LLP (Wellington Management)

Wellington Management is a Delaware limited liability partnership with principal offices at 280 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210. Wellington Management is a professional investment counseling firm that provides investment services to investment companies, employee benefit plans, endowments, foundations, and other institutions. Wellington Management and its predecessor organizations have provided investment advisory services for over 80 years. Wellington Management is owned by the partners of Wellington Management Group LLP, a Massachusetts limited liability partnership.

1. Other Accounts Managed

The following table provides information relating to the other accounts managed by the portfolio managers of the Fund as of the fiscal-year ended October 31, 2019 (unless otherwise noted):

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets in

 

 

 

 

No. of accounts with

accounts with

 

 

No. of

 

performance-based

performance-based

Portfolio Manager

 

accounts

Total assets

fees

fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary Pryshlak

Registered investment

10

$6.9B

1

$702M

companies1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pooled investment

44

$16.3B

7

$4.4B

 

vehicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accounts

91

$32B

14

$5.5B

1 Includes Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund which held assets of $702 million as of October 31, 2019.

2. Material Conflicts of Interest

Individual investment professionals at Wellington Management manage multiple accounts for multiple clients. These accounts may include mutual funds, separate accounts (assets managed on behalf of institutions, such as pension funds, insurance companies, foundations, or separately managed account programs sponsored by financial intermediaries), bank common trust accounts, and hedge funds. The Wellington Management Portfolio's manager listed in the prospectus who is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Wellington Management Portfolio (Portfolio Manager) generally manage accounts in several different investment styles. These accounts may have investment objectives, strategies, time horizons, tax considerations, and risk profiles that differ from those of the Fund. The Portfolio Manager makes investment decisions for each account, including the Wellington Management Portfolio, based on the investment objectives, policies, practices, benchmarks, cash flows, and tax and other relevant investment considerations applicable to that account. Consequently, the Portfolio Manager may purchase or sell securities, including IPOs, for one account and not another account, and the performance of securities purchased for one account may vary from the performance of securities purchased for other accounts. Alternatively, these accounts may be managed in a similar fashion to the Wellington Management Portfolio, and thus the accounts may have similar, and in

some cases nearly identical, objectives, strategies, and/or holdings to that of the Fund.

A Portfolio Manager or other investment professional at Wellington Management may place transactions on behalf of other accounts that are directly or indirectly contrary to investment decisions made on behalf of the Wellington Management Portfolio or may make investment decisions that are similar to those made for the Wellington Management Portfolio, both of which have the potential to adversely impact the Wellington Management Portfolio depending on market conditions. For example, an investment professional may purchase a security in one account while appropriately selling that same security in another account. Similarly, the Portfolio Manager may purchase the same security for the Wellington Management Portfolio and one or more other accounts at or about the same time. In those instances the other accounts will have access to their respective holdings prior to the public disclosure of the Wellington Management Portfolio holdings. In addition, some of these accounts have fee structures, including performance fees,

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which are or have the potential to be higher, in some cases significantly higher, than the fees Wellington Management receives for managing the Wellington Management Portfolio. Ms. Pryshlak also manages accounts which

pay performance allocations to Wellington Management or its affiliates. Because incentive payments paid by Wellington Management to the Portfolio Manager is tied to revenues earned by Wellington Management and, where noted, to the performance achieved by the manager in each account, the incentives associated with any given account may be significantly higher or lower than those associated with other accounts managed by a given Portfolio Manager. Finally, the Portfolio Manager may hold shares or investments in the other pooled investment vehicles and/or other accounts identified above.

Wellington Management's goal is to meet its fiduciary obligation to treat all clients fairly and provide high-quality investment services to all of its clients. Wellington Management has adopted and implemented policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures, which it believes address the conflicts associated with managing multiple accounts for multiple clients. In addition, Wellington Management monitors a variety of areas, including compliance with primary account guidelines, allocation of IPOs, and compliance with the firm's Code of Ethics, and places additional investment restrictions on investment professionals who manage hedge funds and certain other accounts. Furthermore, senior investment and business personnel at Wellington Management periodically review the performance of Wellington Management's investment professionals. Although Wellington Management does not track the time an investment professional spends on a single account, Wellington Management does periodically assess whether an investment professional has adequate time and resources to effectively manage the investment professional's various client mandates.

3. Description of Compensation

Wellington Management receives a fee based on the assets under management of the Wellington Management Portfolio as set forth in the Investment Advisory Agreement between Wellington Management and Vanguard Trustees' Equity Fund on behalf of Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund. Wellington Management pays its investment professionals out of its total revenues, including the advisory fees earned with respect to the Wellington Management Portfolio. The following information is provided as of October 31, 2019.

Wellington Management's compensation structure is designed to attract and retain high-caliber investment professionals necessary to deliver high-quality investment management services to its clients. Wellington Management's compensation of the Fund's manager listed in the prospectus who is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund ("Portfolio Managers") includes a base salary. The base salary for each Portfolio Manager who is a partner (a "Partner") of Wellington Management Group LLP, the ultimate holding company of Wellington Management, is generally a fixed amount that is determined by the managing partners of Wellington Management Group LLP.

The Portfolio Manager may also be eligible for bonus payments based on her overall contribution to Wellington Management's business operations. Senior management at Wellington Management may reward individuals as it deems appropriate based on other factors. Each Partner is eligible to participate in a Partner-funded tax-qualified retirement plan, the contributions to which are made pursuant to an actuarial formula. Ms. Pryshlak is a

Partner.

4. Ownership of Securities

As of October 31, 2019, Ms. Pryshlak did not own any shares of the Fund.

Duration and Termination of Investment Advisory Agreements

The current investment advisory agreements with the unaffiliated advisors (other than with Baillie Gifford for Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund and with Edinburgh Partners for Vanguard International Value Fund) are renewable for successive one-year periods, only if (1) each renewal is specifically approved by a vote of the Fund's board of trustees, including the affirmative votes of a majority of trustees who are not parties to the agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of considering such approval, or (2) each renewal is specifically approved by a vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting

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securities. An agreement is automatically terminated if assigned and may be terminated without penalty at any time either (1) by vote of the board of trustees of the Fund on thirty (30) days' written notice to the advisor (no prior written notice to ARGA), (2) by a vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities in 30 days' written notice to the advisor (no prior written notice to ARGA), or (3) by the advisor upon ninety (90) days' written notice to the Fund.

The investment advisory agreement with Edinburgh Partners for Vanguard International Value Fund, which is effective as of May 1, 2018, is binding for a two-year period. At the end of that two-year period, the agreement will become renewable for successive one-year periods, subject to the above conditions. The initial advisory agreement with Baillie Gifford for Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund, which is effective as of July 27, 2018, is binding for a two-year period. At the end of that time, the agreement will become renewable for successive one-year periods, subject to the above conditions.

Securities Lending

The following table describes the securities lending activities of each Fund (other than Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund, Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund, and Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund) during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019. Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund, Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund, and Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund did not lend their securities during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019.

Vanguard Fund

Securities Lending Activities

Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund

 

Gross income from securities lending activities

Fees paid to securities lending agent from a revenue split

Fees paid for any cash collateral management service (including fees deducted from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle) that are not included in the revenue split

Administrative fees not included in revenue split

Indemnification fee not included in revenue split

Rebate (paid to borrower)

Other fees not included in revenue split (specify)

Aggregate fees/compensation for securities lending activities

Net income from securities lending activities

International Value Fund

$73,087 $0

$116 $1,103 $0 $28,081 $0 $29,300

$43,787

Gross income from securities lending activities

Fees paid to securities lending agent from a revenue split

Fees paid for any cash collateral management service (including fees deducted from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle) that are not included in the revenue split

Administrative fees not included in revenue split

Indemnification fee not included in revenue split

Rebate (paid to borrower)

Other fees not included in revenue split (specify)

Aggregate fees/compensation for securities lending activities

Net income from securities lending activities

$5,290,175 $171,173

$6,079 $191 $0

$2,285,253 $0 $2,462,696

$2,827,479

The services provided by Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. and Vanguard, each acting separately as securities lending agents for certain Vanguard funds, include coordinating the selection of securities to be loaned to approved borrowers; negotiating the terms of the loan; monitoring the value of the securities loaned and corresponding collateral, marking to market daily; coordinating the investment of cash collateral in the funds' approved cash collateral reinvestment vehicle; monitoring dividends and coordinating material proxy votes relating to loaned securities; and transferring, recalling, and arranging the return of loaned securities to the funds upon termination of the loan.

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

The advisor decides which securities to buy and sell on behalf of Vanguard International Value Fund, Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund, and Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund and then selects the brokers or dealers that will execute the trades on an agency basis or the dealers with whom the trades will be effected on a principal basis. For each

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trade, the advisor must select a broker-dealer that it believes will provide "best execution." Best execution does not necessarily mean paying the lowest spread or commission rate available. In seeking best execution, the SEC has said that an advisor should consider the full range of a broker-dealer's services. The factors considered by the advisor in seeking best execution include, but are not limited to, the broker-dealer's execution capability, clearance and settlement services, commission rate, trading expertise, willingness and ability to commit capital, ability to provide anonymity, financial responsibility, reputation and integrity, responsiveness, access to underwritten offerings and secondary markets, and access to company management, as well as the value of any research provided by the broker-dealer. In assessing which broker-dealer can provide best execution for a particular trade, the advisor also may consider the timing and size of the order and available liquidity and current market conditions. Subject to applicable legal requirements, the advisor may select a broker based partly on brokerage or research services provided to the advisor and its clients, including the Funds. The advisor may cause a Fund to pay a higher commission than other brokers would charge if the advisor determines in good faith that the amount of the commission is reasonable in relation to the value of services provided. The advisor also may receive brokerage or research services from broker-dealers that are provided at no charge in recognition of the volume of trades directed to the broker. To the extent research services or products may be a factor in selecting brokers, services and products may include written research reports analyzing performance or securities, discussions with research analysts, meetings with corporate executives to obtain oral reports on company performance, market data, and other products and services that will assist the advisor in its investment decision-making process. The research services provided by brokers through which a Fund effects securities transactions may be used by the advisor in servicing all of its accounts, and some of the services may not be used by the advisor in connection with the Fund.

Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund will purchase and sell shares of the underlying Vanguard funds by dealing directly with the issuer of the underlying funds. The Fund will incur no brokerage commissions for these transactions.

During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2017, 2018, and 2019, the Funds paid the following approximate amounts in brokerage commissions:

Vanguard Fund

2017

2018

2019

International Value Fund

$4,574,000

$4,133,000

$4,200,000

 

 

 

 

Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund

$685,000

$905,000

$672,000

 

 

 

 

Alternative Strategies Fund

$174,000

$208,000

$201,000

 

 

 

 

Commodity Strategy Fund

—

—

—

 

 

 

 

Some securities that are considered for investment by the Funds may also be appropriate for other Vanguard funds or for other clients served by the advisors. If such securities are compatible with the investment policies of a Fund and one or more of the advisor's other clients, and are considered for purchase or sale at or about the same time, then transactions in such securities may be aggregated by the advisor and the purchased securities or sale proceeds may be allocated among the participating Vanguard funds and the other participating clients of the advisor in a manner deemed equitable by the advisor. Although there may be no specified formula for allocating such transactions, the allocation methods used, and the results of such allocations, will be subject to periodic review by the Funds' board of trustees.

The ability of Vanguard and external advisors to purchase or dispose of certain fund investments or to exercise rights on behalf of a Fund, may be restricted or impaired because of limitations imposed by law, regulation, or by certain regulators or issuers. As a result, Vanguard and external advisors on behalf of a Fund may be required to limit purchases, sell existing investments, or otherwise limit the exercise of shareholder rights by the Fund, including voting rights. These ownership restrictions and limitations can impact a Fund's performance. For index funds, this impact generally takes the form of tracking error, which can arise when a fund is not able to acquire its desired amount of a security. For actively managed funds, this impact can result, for example, in missed investment opportunities otherwise desired by a fund's investment advisor. If a Fund is required to limit its investment in a particular issuer, then the Fund may seek to obtain regulatory or corporate consents or ownership waivers. Other options a Fund may pursue include seeking to obtain economic exposure to that issuer through alternative means, such as through a derivative, which may be more costly than owning securities of the issuer directly, or through investment in a wholly-owned subsidiary.

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As of October 31, 2019, each Fund (other than the Diversified Equity Fund) held securities of its "regular brokers or dealers," as that term is defined in Rule 10b-1 of the 1940 Act, as follows:

Vanguard Fund

Regular Broker or Dealer (or Parent)

Aggregate Holdings

International Value Fund

Barclays Capital Inc.

$80,721,000

 

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

52,100,000

Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund

—

—

Alternative Strategies Fund

—

—

Commodity Strategy Fund

—

—

Portfolio turnover for Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund. The Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 76% during its fiscal year ended October 31, 2018, and 46% during its fiscal year ended October 31, 2019. The decrease in the Fund's portfolio turnover rate during its most recent fiscal year reflects a return to normal after the change in the Fund's advisory structure during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018.

PROXY VOTING

I. Proxy Voting Policies

Each Vanguard fund advised by Vanguard retains authority to vote proxies received with respect to the shares of equity securities held in a portfolio advised by Vanguard. The Board of Trustees of the Vanguard-advised funds (the Board) has adopted proxy voting procedures and guidelines to govern proxy voting for each portfolio retaining proxy voting authority, which are summarized in Appendix A. The Board of each Vanguard fund advised by a manager not affiliated with Vanguard has delegated the authority to vote proxies related to the portfolio securities held by each fund to its respective advisor(s). Each advisor will vote such proxies in accordance with its own proxy voting policies and procedures, which are summarized in Appendix B.

Vanguard has entered into agreements with various state, federal, and non-U.S. regulators and with certain issuers that limit the amount of shares that the funds may vote at their discretion for particular securities. For these securities, the funds are able to vote a limited portion of the shares at their discretion. Any additional shares generally are voted in the same proportion as votes cast by the issuer's entire shareholder base (i.e., mirror voted), or the fund is not permitted to vote such shares. Further, the Board has adopted policies that will result in certain funds mirror voting a higher proportion of the shares they own in a regulated issuer in order to permit certain other funds (generally advised by managers not affiliated with Vanguard) to mirror vote none, or a lower proportion of, their shares in such regulated issuer.

II. Securities Lending

There may be occasions when Vanguard needs to restrict lending of and/or recall securities that are out on loan in order to vote the full position at a shareholder meeting. For the funds managed by Vanguard, Vanguard has processes to monitor securities on loan and to evaluate any circumstances that may require it to restrict and/or attempt to recall the security based on the criteria set forth in Appendix A. Additionally, Vanguard has processes in place for advisors unaffiliated with Vanguard who have been delegated authority to vote proxies on behalf of certain Vanguard funds to inform Vanguard of an upcoming vote the advisor deems to be material in accordance with such advisor's proxy voting policies and procedures in order for Vanguard to instruct the recall of the security.

To obtain a free copy of a report that details how the funds voted the proxies relating to the portfolio securities held by the funds for the prior 12-month period ended June 30, log on to vanguard.com or visit the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Each Fund's Financial Statements for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019, appearing in the Funds' 2019 Annual Reports to Shareholders, and the reports thereon of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, also appearing therein, are incorporated by reference into this Statement of Additional Information. For a more complete discussion of each Fund's performance, please see the Funds' Annual and Semiannual Reports to Shareholders, which may be obtained without charge.

DESCRIPTION OF BOND RATINGS

Moody's Rating Symbols

The following describe characteristics of the global long-term (original maturity of 1 year or more) bond ratings provided by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. (Moody's):

Aaa—Judged to be obligations of the highest quality, they are subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

Aa—Judged to be obligations of high quality, they are subject to very low credit risk. Together with the Aaa group, they make up what are generally known as high-grade bonds.

A—Judged to be upper-medium-grade obligations, they are subject to low credit risk.

Baa—Judged to be medium-grade obligations, subject to moderate credit risk, they may possess certain speculative characteristics.

Ba—Judged to be speculative obligations, they are subject to substantial credit risk.

B—Considered to be speculative obligations, they are subject to high credit risk.

Caa—Judged to be speculative obligations of poor standing, they are subject to very high credit risk.

Ca—Viewed as highly speculative obligations, they are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

C—Viewed as the lowest rated obligations, they are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal and interest.

Moody's also supplies numerical indicators (1, 2, and 3) to rating categories. The modifier 1 indicates that the security is in the higher end of its rating category, the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking, and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking toward the lower end of the category.

The following describe characteristics of the global short-term (original maturity of 13 months or less) bond ratings provided by Moody's. This ratings scale also applies to U.S. municipal tax-exempt commercial paper.

Prime-1 (P-1)—Judged to have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

Prime-2 (P-2)—Judged to have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

Prime-3 (P-3)—Judged to have an acceptable ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

Not Prime (NP)—Cannot be judged to be in any of the prime rating categories.

The following describe characteristics of the U.S. municipal short-term bond ratings provided by Moody's:

Moody's ratings for state and municipal notes and other short-term (up to 3 years) obligations are designated Municipal Investment Grade (MIG).

MIG 1—Indicates superior quality, enjoying the excellent protection of established cash flows, liquidity support, and broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

MIG 2—Indicates strong credit quality with ample margins of protection, although not as large as in the preceding group.

MIG 3—Indicates acceptable credit quality, with narrow liquidity and cash-flow protection and less well-established market access for refinancing.

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SG—Indicates speculative credit quality with questionable margins of protection.

Standard and Poor's Rating Symbols

The following describe characteristics of the long-term (original maturity of 1 year or more) bond ratings provided by Standard and Poor's:

AAA—These are the highest rated obligations. The capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.

AA—These also qualify as high-grade obligations. They have a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal, and they differ from AAA issues only in small degree.

A—These are regarded as upper-medium-grade obligations. They have a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher-rated categories.

BBB—These are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity in this regard. This group is the lowest that qualifies for commercial bank investment.

BB, B, CCC, CC, and C—These obligations range from speculative to significantly speculative with respect to the capacity to pay interest and repay principal. BB indicates the lowest degree of speculation and C the highest.

D—These obligations are in default, and payment of principal and/or interest is likely in arrears.

The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (–) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

The following describe characteristics of short-term (original maturity of 365 days or less) bond and commercial paper ratings designations provided by Standard and Poor's:

A-1—These are the highest rated obligations. The capacity of the obligor to pay interest and repay principal is strong. The addition of a plus sign (+) would indicate a very strong capacity.

A-2—These obligations are somewhat susceptible to changing economic conditions. The obligor has a satisfactory capacity to pay interest and repay principal.

A-3—These obligations are more susceptible to the adverse effects of changing economic conditions, which could lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal.

B—These obligations are vulnerable to nonpayment and are significantly speculative, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments.

C—These obligations are vulnerable to nonpayment, but the obligor must rely on favorable economic conditions to meet its financial commitment.

D—These obligations are in default, and payment of principal and/or interest is likely in arrears.

The following describe characteristics of U.S. municipal short-term (original maturity of 3 years or less) note ratings provided by Standard and Poor's:

SP-1—This designation indicates a strong capacity to pay principal and interest.

SP-2—This designation indicates a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.

SP-3—This designation indicates a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

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APPENDIX A

Vanguard-Advised Funds Proxy Voting Policy

Each Vanguard fund advised by Vanguard retains authority to vote proxies received with respect to the shares of equity securities held in a portfolio advised by Vanguard. The Board of Trustees (the Board) for the Vanguard-advised funds has adopted proxy voting procedures and guidelines to govern proxy voting for each portfolio retaining proxy voting authority.

The Investment Stewardship Oversight Committee (the Committee), made up of primarily fund officers and subject to the procedures described below, oversees the Vanguard-advised funds' proxy voting. The Committee reports directly to the Board. Vanguard is subject to these procedures and the proxy voting guidelines to the extent that they call for Vanguard to administer the voting process and implement the resulting voting decisions, and for these purposes the guidelines have also been approved by the Board of Directors of Vanguard.

The voting principles and guidelines adopted by the Board provide a framework for assessing each proposal and seek to ensure that each vote is cast in the best interests of each fund. Under the guidelines, each proposal is evaluated on its merits, based on the particular facts and circumstances as presented. For more information on the funds' proxy voting guidelines, please visit about.vanguard.com/investment-stewardship.

I. Investment Stewardship Team

The Investment Stewardship Team administers the day-to-day operation of the funds' proxy voting process, overseen by the Committee. The Investment Stewardship Team performs the following functions: (1) managing and conducting due diligence of proxy voting vendors; (2) reconciling share positions; (3) analyzing proxy proposals using factors described in the guidelines; (4) determining and addressing potential or actual conflicts of interest that may be presented by a particular proxy; and (5) voting proxies. The Investment Stewardship Team also prepares periodic and special reports to the Board, and proposes amendments to the procedures and guidelines. In addition, at any time, the Board may elect to exercise its discretionary authority to vote proxies.

II. Investment Stewardship Oversight Committee

The Board, including a majority of the independent trustees, appoints the members of the Committee (which is comprised primarily of fund officers). The Committee works with the Investment Stewardship Team to provide reports and other guidance to the Board regarding proxy voting by the funds. The Committee has an obligation to exercise its decision-making authority in accordance with the Board's instructions as set forth in the Funds' Proxy Voting Procedures and guidelines and subject to the fiduciary standards of good faith, fairness, and Vanguard's Code of Ethics. The Committee may advise the Investment Stewardship Team on how to best apply the Board's instructions as set forth in the Guidelines or refer the matter to the Board, which has ultimate decision-making authority for the funds. The Board reviews the procedures and guidelines annually and modifies them from time to time upon the recommendation of the Committee and in consultation with the Investment Stewardship Team.

III. Proxy Voting Principles

Vanguard's investment stewardship activities are grounded in four principles of good governance:

1)Board composition: We believe good governance begins with a great board of directors. Our primary interest is to ensure that the individuals who represent the interests of all shareholders are independent, committed, capable, and appropriately experienced.

2)Oversight of strategy and risk: We believe that boards are responsible for effective oversight of a company's long-term strategy and any relevant and material risks.

3)Executive compensation: We believe that performance-linked compensation (or remuneration) policies and practices are fundamental drivers of sustainable, long-term value.

4)Governance structures: We believe that companies should have in place governance structures to ensure that boards and management serve in the best interests of the shareholders they represent.

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IV. Evaluation of Proxies

For ease of reference, the procedures and guidelines often refer to all funds. However, the processes and practices seek to ensure that proxy voting decisions are suitable for individual funds. For most proxy proposals, particularly those involving corporate governance, the evaluation could result in the funds having a common interest in the matter, and accordingly, each fund casting votes in the same manner. In other cases, however, a fund may vote differently from other funds if doing so is in the best interest of the individual fund.

The guidelines do not permit the Board to delegate voting discretion to a third party that does not serve as a fiduciary for the funds. Because many factors bear on each decision, the guidelines incorporate factors that should be considered in each voting decision. A fund may refrain from voting some or all of its shares or vote in a particular way if doing so would be in the fund's and its shareholders' best interests. These circumstances may arise, for example, if the expected cost of voting exceeds the expected benefits of voting, if exercising the vote would result in the imposition of trading or other restrictions, or if a fund (or all Vanguard funds in the aggregate) were to own more than the permissible maximum percentage of a company's stock (as determined by the company's governing documents or by applicable law, regulation, or regulatory agreement).

In evaluating proxy proposals, we consider information from many sources, which could include, but is not limited to, an investment advisor unaffiliated with Vanguard that has investment and proxy voting authority with respect to Vanguard funds that hold shares in the applicable company, the management or shareholders of a company presenting a proposal, and independent proxy research services. We will give substantial weight to the recommendations of the company's board, absent guidelines or other specific facts that would support a vote against management. The Investment Stewardship Team does not vote in lockstep with recommendations from proxy advisors when voting on behalf of the Vanguard funds. Data from proxy advisors serve as one of many inputs into our research process.

While serving as a framework, the guidelines cannot contemplate all possible proposals with which a fund may be presented. In the absence of a specific guideline for a particular proposal (e.g., in the case of a transactional issue or contested proxy), the Investment Stewardship Team, under the supervision of the Committee, will evaluate the matter and cast the fund's vote in a manner that is in the fund's best interest, subject to the individual circumstances of the fund.

V. Conflicts of Interest

Vanguard takes seriously its commitment to avoid potential conflicts of interest. Vanguard funds invest in thousands of publicly listed companies worldwide. Those companies may include clients, potential clients, vendors, or competitors. Some companies may employ Vanguard trustees, former Vanguard executives, or family members of Vanguard personnel who have direct involvement in Vanguard's Investment Stewardship program.

Vanguard's approach to mitigating conflicts of interest begins with the funds' proxy voting procedures. The procedures require that voting personnel act as fiduciaries, and must conduct their activities at all times in accordance with the following standards: (i) fund shareholders' interests come first; (ii) conflicts of interest must be avoided; (iii) and compromising situations must be avoided.

We maintain an important separation between Vanguard's Investment Stewardship Team and other groups within Vanguard that are responsible for sales, marketing, client service, and vendor/partner relationships. Proxy voting personnel are required to disclose potential conflicts of interest, and must recuse themselves from all voting decisions and engagement activities in such instances. In certain circumstances, Vanguard may refrain from voting shares of a company, or may engage an independent third-party fiduciary to vote proxies.

Each externally managed fund has adopted the proxy voting guidelines of its advisor(s) and votes in accordance with the external advisors' guidelines and procedures. Each advisor has its own procedures for managing conflicts of interest in the best interests of fund shareholders.

VI. Environmental and Social Proposals

Proposals in this category, initiated primarily by shareholders, typically request that a company enhance its disclosure or amend certain business practices. These resolutions are evaluated in the context of the general corporate governance principle that a company's board has ultimate responsibility for providing effective ongoing oversight of relevant sector- and company-specific risks, including those related to environmental and social matters. Each proposal is evaluated on

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its merits and supported when there is a logically demonstrable linkage between the specific proposal and long-term shareholder value of the company. Some of the factors considered when evaluating these proposals include the materiality of the issue, the quality of the current disclosures/business practices, and any progress by the company toward the adoption of best practices and/or industry norms.

VII. Voting in Markets Outside the United States

Corporate governance standards, disclosure requirements, and voting mechanics vary greatly among the markets outside the United States in which the funds may invest. Each fund's votes will be used, where applicable, to support improvements in governance and disclosure by each fund's portfolio companies. Matters presented by non-U.S. portfolio companies will be evaluated in the foregoing context, as well as in accordance with local market standards and best practices. Votes are cast for each fund in a manner philosophically consistent with the guidelines, taking into account differing practices by market.

In many other markets, voting proxies will result in a fund being prohibited from selling the shares for a period of time due to requirements known as "share-blocking" or reregistration. Generally, the value of voting is unlikely to outweigh the loss of liquidity imposed by these requirements on the funds. In such instances, the funds will generally abstain from voting.

The costs of voting (e.g., custodian fees, vote agency fees) in other markets may be substantially higher than for U.S. holdings. As such, the fund may limit its voting on foreign holdings in instances in which the issues presented are unlikely to have a material impact on shareholder value.

VIII. Voting Shares of a Company Subject to an Ownership Limitation

Certain companies have provisions in their governing documents or other agreements that restrict stock ownership in excess of a specified limit. Typically, these ownership restrictions are included in the governing documents of real estate investment trusts, but may be included in other companies' governing documents. A company's governing documents normally allow the company to grant a waiver of these ownership limits, which would allow a fund to exceed the stated ownership limit. Sometimes a company will grant a waiver without restriction. From time to time, a company may grant a waiver only if a fund (or funds) agrees to not vote the company's shares in excess of the normal specified limit. In such a circumstance, a fund may refrain from voting shares if owning the shares beyond the company's specified limit is in the best interests of the fund and its shareholders.

In addition, applicable law may require prior regulatory approval to permit ownership of certain regulated issuer's voting securities above certain limits or may impose other restrictions on owners of more than a certain percentage of a regulated issuer's voting shares. The Board has authorized the funds to vote shares above these limits in the same proportion as votes cast by the issuer's entire shareholder base (i.e., mirror vote) or to refrain from voting excess shares. Further, the Board has adopted policies that will result in certain funds mirror voting a higher proportion of the shares they own in a regulated issuer in order to permit certain other funds (generally advised by managers not affiliated with Vanguard) to mirror vote none, or a lower proportion of, their shares in such regulated issuer.

IX. Voting on a Fund's Holdings of Other Vanguard Funds

Certain Vanguard funds (owner funds) may, from time to time, own shares of other Vanguard funds (underlying funds). If an underlying fund submits a matter to a vote of its shareholders, votes for and against such matters on behalf of the owner funds will be cast in the same proportion as the votes of the other shareholders in the underlying fund.

X. Securities Lending

There may be occasions when Vanguard needs to restrict lending of and/or recall securities that are out on loan in order to vote in a shareholder meeting. Vanguard has processes to monitor securities on loan and to evaluate any circumstances that may require us to restrict and/or recall the stock. In making this decision, we consider:

•The subject of the vote and whether, based on our knowledge and experience, we believe the topic is potentially material to the corporate governance and/or long-term performance of the company;

•The Vanguard funds' individual and/or aggregate equity investment in a company, and whether we estimate that voting Vanguard funds' shares would affect the shareholder meeting outcome; and

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•The long-term impact to our fund shareholders, evaluating whether we believe the benefits of voting a company's shares would outweigh the benefits of stock lending revenues in a particular instance.

APPENDIX B

ARGA Investment Management, LP

Summary of Proxy Voting Policy

Consistent with our fiduciary responsibility, ARGA's objective in voting proxies is to maximize shareholder value and to vote in a manner that reflects the best long-term, economic interest of our clients. In doing so, we follow any voting guidelines issued by clients, so long as these guidelines are consistent with ARGA's duties under applicable law, including ERISA. ARGA's proxy voting guidelines are the same for all the accounts we manage, where a client has delegated us with the authority to vote proxies on their behalf.

ARGA has implemented extensive procedures to ensure all proxies are received, analyzed and voted in a timely manner. In addition to information derived from our in-depth research and ongoing company analyses, ARGA utilizes the services of a third party proxy advisory firm, Glass Lewis & Co. ("Glass Lewis"), to obtain supplementary research and impartial analysis prior to voting and to administer the proxy voting process. ARGA retains responsibility for instructing Glass Lewis how to vote and we still apply our proxy voting guidelines when voting proxies on behalf of clients through Glass Lewis. This includes rejecting the advice of Glass Lewis in circumstances where ARGA determines doing so is in the best interest of our clients.

Proxy Voting Guidelines

The decision to vote in support or opposition of a proposal is based on the specific circumstances described in the proxy statement and other available information.

Generally, ARGA votes in favor of routine proposals that increase shareholder value, improve the management of a company, and maintain or increase shareholder rights and influence over a company's board and management.

Moral or social issues are generally voted based on the economic impact of the proposal. In cases where the economic impact is not clear, a vote to "abstain" may be appropriate.

Financial and corporate governance issues take more time to consider and may be complicated by activities such as hostile takeovers and mergers. ARGA generally votes in favor of the following types of proposals:

•Election of competent, qualified directors that support the board's independence and ensures its diversity

•Reasonable incentive compensation plans for certain key employees and directors

•Mandatory retirement age for directors

•Confidential voting, cumulative voting, proposals to lower barriers to shareholder action

•Proposals to restore shareholder ability to remove directors with or without cause

•Appointment of external auditors that provide competent advice, avoid conflicts of interest and uphold the transparency and integrity of financial reporting ARGA generally votes against the following types of financial and corporate governance proposals:

•Board entrenchment proposals and anti-takeover measures, such as "poison pill" and "golden parachute" provisions

•Compensation plans that are not aligned with shareholder interest

•Limitations on shareholder ability to act, blank check preferred stock authorizations, eliminating cumulative voting rights, and proposals to adopt classified boards

Conflicts of Interest

ARGA's proxy voting policies provide guidelines for dealing with actual or potential conflicts of interest, when identified. These include informing clients and seeking their consent or instructions or addressing the issue through other objective means, such as deferring to the recommendation of our independent third-party advisory firm, Glass Lewis.

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Glass Lewis itself has implemented Conflict Management Procedures to avoid and manage (if unavoidable) conflicts of interest arising between an issuer and Glass Lewis. For example, Glass Lewis requires any employee who serves as an executive or director of a public company to disclose the conflicts and abstain from any involvement in the research, analysis or making of any vote recommendations for such company.

Limitations on ARGA's Proxy Voting Obligations

In certain situations, ARGA may not vote client proxies or may abstain from voting. For example:

•ARGA will not vote proxies of behalf of a client where the client has reserved the right to vote proxies itself or has delegated the right to vote to a third party.

•ARGA will not vote proxies on behalf of a client after the effective termination date of ARGA's investment advisory agreement with such client.

•ARGA may abstain from voting proxies in circumstances where we determine doing so would have no identifiable economic benefit to the client, such as when the security is no longer held in the client's portfolio or when the value of the portfolio holdings is insignificant.

•ARGA may abstain from voting a client's proxy when the cost or disadvantage resulting from voting, in our judgment, outweighs the economic benefits of voting. For example, in some non-U.S. jurisdictions, the sale of securities voted may be prohibited for some period of time, usually between the record date and meeting date ("share blocking"). In general, ARGA believes that the loss of investment flexibility resulting from share blocking outweighs the benefit to be gained by voting.

•ARGA does not offer a securities lending service. Proxies for securities on loan through securities lending programs will generally not be voted, as ARGA's clients (not ARGA) control these securities lending decisions.

•ARGA may not be able to vote proxies due to circumstances beyond our control such as a regional disaster, business continuity or cyber event involving ARGA, our proxy advisory firm or client custodians, which may prevent proxies from being voted on time, or errors and circumstances not attributable to, and beyond, ARGA's control.

Baillie Gifford Proxy Voting Guidelines

Baillie Gifford has adopted the Governance and Sustainability Principles and Guidelines (the Guidelines) to vote proxies related to securities held by the funds.

The Guidelines are developed and administered by the Governance & Sustainability Team of the Baillie Gifford Group. This Governance & Sustainability Team sits alongside the investment teams and is responsible for the voting of proxies. The head of this Governance & Sustainability Team jointly reports to an investment partner of Baillie Gifford & Co., the parent of Baillie Gifford, and to the senior investment committee of the Investment Management Group of the Baillie Gifford Group.

The Guidelines cover Baillie Gifford's approach to governance and sustainability matters including the following areas:

—Board Effectiveness and Composition

—Capital Allocation

—Governance Processes and Disclosure

—Remuneration

—Sustainability

Baillie Gifford recognizes that given the range of markets in which the Funds invest, one set of standards is unlikely to be appropriate. The Guidelines consequently take an issues based approach covering standards from a global perspective.

Pragmatic & Flexible Approach

Baillie Gifford recognizes that companies within particular markets operate under significantly differing conditions. The Guidelines are intended to provide an insight into how Baillie Gifford approaches voting and engagement on behalf of clients with it important to note that Baillie Gifford assesses every company individually. With respect to voting, Baillie

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Gifford will evaluate proposals on a case-by-case basis, based on what it believes to be in the best long-term interests of the clients, rather than rigidly applying a policy.

In evaluating each proxy, the Governance & Sustainability Team follows the Guidelines, while also considering third party analysis, Baillie Gifford's and its affiliates own research and discussions with company management.

The Governance & Sustainability Team oversees voting analysis and execution in conjunction with the investment managers. Baillie Gifford may elect not to vote on certain proxies. While Baillie Gifford endeavours to vote a fund's shares in all markets, on occasion this may not be possible due to a practice known as share blocking, whereby voting shares would result in Baillie Gifford being prevented from trading for a certain period of time. When voting in these markets, Baillie Gifford assesses the benefits of voting clients' shares against the relevant restrictions. Baillie Gifford may also not vote where it has sold out of a stock following the record date.

Conflicts of Interest

Baillie Gifford recognizes the importance of managing potential conflicts of interest that may exist when voting a proxy solicited by a company with whom the Baillie Gifford Group has a material business or personal relationship. The Governance & Sustainability Team of the Baillie Gifford Group is responsible for monitoring possible material conflicts of interest with respect to proxy voting.

For proxy votes that involve a potential conflict of interest that is not managed in line with the Conflicts of Interest policy, the Governance & Sustainability Team reports the conflict to the Investment Management Group (IMG) for discussion. The Governance & Sustainability Team reports into the IMG which is comprised of several senior Baillie Gifford partners. These individuals review the voting rationale, consider whether business relationships between Baillie Gifford and the company have influenced the proposed vote and decide the course of action to be taken in the best interest of clients.

Edinburgh Partners Proxy Voting Summary

Edinburgh Partners (EP) has adopted and implemented proxy voting policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interest of clients (where EP has been given discretion to do so) in accordance with the relevant applicable regulatory and legislative requirements both in the UK and other relevant jurisdictions and also in accordance with its fiduciary duties. The guiding principles in performing this service are to make proxy voting decisions which favour proposals designed to maximise a company's shareholder value and are free from the influence of conflicts of interest.

This policy does not apply in any instance where a client has not granted EP discretionary voting authority either because the client has retained voting discretion, granted discretion to a third party or directed EP to vote proxies in a particular manner.

Proxy Procedures

EP's procedures are designed to reasonably ensure that EP votes proxies in the best interest of clients. To assist in this process, EP subscribes to Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS) and details of this relationship are described further below.

For those clients who have granted discretionary voting authority, EP will always seek to vote with the principal aim to ensure that voting is undertaken, or not, to protect the clients' interests.

There may be situations in which EP may be unable to successfully vote a proxy, or may choose not to vote a proxy, such as where:

⬛There are fees imposed upon the exercise of a vote and it is determined that such fees outweigh the benefit of voting;

⬛There are legal barriers to voting, including potential share-blocking or reregistration which may impact our ability to settle planned or potential investment trades;

⬛EP held shares on the record date but has sold them prior to the meeting date;

⬛EP believes it is not in the best interest of the client to vote; and/or

⬛A security is subject to a securities lending program.

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EP's portfolio managers are responsible for deciding action relating to proxy voting decisions and will review the ISS recommendations and may instruct votes in a manner other than in line with those recommendations where they have good reason to believe it is in the best interests of the shareholders. In these instances full documentation is maintained of any variation from the ISS voting recommendation and reported to the relevant clients.

Use of third parties

EP uses an independent service provider to assist it in determining EP Proxy Voting Policy and in implementing its proxy voting decisions. The provider EP uses is ISS. ISS is advised of changes to client accounts and are regularly provided with security positions to reconcile against ballots.

Specifically ISS assists EP in the proxy voting and corporate governance oversight process by developing and updating the ISS proxy voting guidelines and by providing research and analysis, recommendations regarding votes, delivery of proxy instructions and recordkeeping and reporting services. EP does not consider recommendations from ISS to be determinative of its ultimate decision. EP exercises its independent judgement in making voting decisions. If a Portfolio Manager determines that we should vote our clients' positions in a manner other than in line with the ISS recommendation, then the Portfolio Manager will provide a rationale for that decision which is captured and reported to each client impacted within our quarterly reporting.

EP's decision to retain ISS is based principally on the view that the services ISS provides, subject to EP's oversight, will generally result in proxy voting decisions which are favourable to shareholders' interests.

Conflicts of Interest

All conflicts of interest will be resolved in the best interest of the client. EP is a wholly owned subsidiary of a large, diverse financial services firm with many affiliates and makes its best efforts to avoid conflicts of interest.

EP has a conflicts control framework in place which is designed to identify, prevent and manage conflicts of interest. In addition, EP also addresses potential conflicts of interest by its adoption of and reliance on the ISS proxy voting guidelines and the day to day implementation of those guidelines by ISS. The procedures provide that, where a portfolio manager decides to instruct a vote in a manner other than in line with an ISS recommendation, the rationale behind his decision is fully documented and retained as well as being reported to the relevant client.

Recordkeeping

Edinburgh Partners retains the following records in relation to our exercise of discretionary voting authority for our clients:

⬛Proxy voting policies and procedures as amended from time to time

⬛ISS proxy voting recommendations

⬛Client requests for proxy voting information

⬛Documentation material to the voting decision for a client proxy or that reflects the basis for that decision

Securities Lending

EP does not undertake stock lending directly, but certain clients do participate in programs under which shares held within their portfolio managed by EP may be loaned out. Where some or all shares of a portfolio company are on loan at the record date in relation to a meeting of that company, those shares cannot be voted. EP is generally not advised of what shares are on loan and may not have an opportunity to recall the shares prior to the record date. As a result, in most cases, those shares will not be voted

Review of Policies and Procedures

The proxy voting policies and procedures are reviewed at least annually.

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Lazard Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

Introduction

Lazard Asset Management LLC (Lazard) is a global investment firm that provides investment management services for a variety of clients. As a registered investment advisor, Lazard has a fiduciary obligation to vote proxies in the best interests of our clients. Lazard's Proxy Voting Policy has been developed with the goal of maximizing the long-term shareholder value.

Lazard does not delegate voting authority to any proxy advisory service, but rather retains complete authority for voting all proxies delegated to it. Our policy is generally to vote all meetings and all proposals; and generally to vote all proxies for a given proposal the same way for all clients. The Policy is also designed to address potential material conflicts of interest associated with proxy voting, and does so principally in setting approved guidelines for various common proposals.

Proxy Operations Department

Lazard's proxy voting process is administered by members of its Operations Department (Proxy Administration Team). Oversight of the process is provided by Lazard's Legal/Compliance Department and Lazard's Proxy Committee (Proxy Committee).

Proxy Committee

Lazard's Proxy Committee is comprised of senior investment professionals, members of the Legal/Compliance Department and other Lazard personnel. The Proxy Committee meets regularly, generally on a quarterly basis, to review this Policy and other matters relating to the firm's proxy voting functions. Meetings may be convened more frequently (for example, to discuss a specific proxy voting proposal) as needed.

Role of Third Parties

Lazard currently subscribes to advisory and other proxy voting services provided by Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (ISS) and by Glass, Lewis & Co. (Glass Lewis). These proxy advisory services provide independent analysis and recommendations regarding various companies' proxy proposals. While this research serves to help improve our understanding of the issues surrounding a company's proxy proposals, Lazard's investment professionals are ultimately responsible for providing the vote recommendation for a given non-routine proposal. Voting for each agenda of each meeting is instructed specifically by Lazard in accordance with the Policy. ISS also provides administrative services related to proxy voting such as a web-based platform for proxy voting, ballot processing, recordkeeping and reporting.

Voting Process

Lazard votes on behalf of our clients according to proxy voting guidelines approved by the Proxy Committee (Approved Guidelines). The Approved Guidelines determine whether a specific agenda item should be voted 'For,' 'Against,' or is to be considered on a case-by case basis. The Proxy Administration Team ensures that investment professionals responsible for proxy voting are aware of the Approved Guidelines for each proposal. Voting on a proposal in a manner that is inconsistent with an Approved Guideline requires the approval of the Proxy Committee.

With respect to proposals to be voted on a case-by-case basis, the Proxy Administration Team will consult with relevant investment professionals prior to determining how to vote on a proposal. Lazard generally will treat proxy votes and voting intentions as confidential in the period before votes have been cast, and for appropriate time periods thereafter.

Conflicts of Interest

Meetings that pose a potential material conflict of interest for Lazard are voted in accordance with Approved Guidelines. Where the Approved Guideline is to vote on a case-by-case basis, Lazard will vote in accordance with the majority recommendation of the independent proxy services. Potential material conflicts of interest include:

Lazard manages the company's pension plan;

The proponent of a shareholder proposal is a Lazard client;

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An employee of Lazard (or an affiliate) sits on a company's board of directors;

An affiliate of Lazard serves as financial advisor or provides other services to the company; or

A Lazard employee has a material relationship with the company.

"Conflict Meetings" are voted in accordance with the Lazard Approved Guidelines. In situations where the Approved Guideline is to vote case-by-case and a material conflict of interest appears to exist, Lazard's policy is to vote the proxy item according to the majority recommendation of the independent proxy services to which we subscribe.

Voting Exceptions

It is Lazard's intention to vote all proposals at every meeting. However, there are instances when voting is not practical or is not, in our view, in the best interests of our clients. Lazard does not generally vote proxies for securities loaned by clients through a custodian's stock lending program.

Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance

Lazard has an Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) Policy, which outlines our approach to ESG and how our investment professionals take ESG issues into account as a part of the investment process. We recognize that ESG issues can affect the valuation of the companies that we invest in on our clients' behalf. As a result, we take these factors into consideration when voting, and, consistent with our fiduciary duty, vote proposals in a way we believe will increase shareholder value.

Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.

Proxy Voting Policy

Proxy Voting

Clients often grant Oaktree the authority to vote proxies on their behalf. Proxy statements increasingly contain controversial issues involving shareholder rights and corporate governance, among others, which deserve careful review and consideration. Oaktree has adopted and implemented policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interest of investors and clients, in accordance with our fiduciary duties and SEC Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act. Our authority to vote the proxies of our clients is established by the investment management agreements or similar documents.

Oaktree maintains written proxy voting guidelines, which are amended as necessary. The proxy voting guidelines address a broad range of issues, including the selection of directors, executive compensation, proxy contests and tender offer defenses. We generally vote in the manner as noted within the guidelines, unless a different vote is deemed prudent under the specific circumstances, taking into consideration the contractual obligations under any investment management agreement, or other comparable document, and all other relevant facts and circumstances at the time of the vote. It is our policy to perform a detailed review of each proxy statement when considering the voting recommendations of the guidelines.

1. Delegation of Voting Responsibility and Account Set Up

It is the responsibility of the Legal personnel who prepares or reviews an investment management agreement, or other comparable document, to ensure that such agreement, prior to, or at the time of execution, assigns responsibility of voting proxies, whether it be retained by the client or delegated to Oaktree.

There may be certain instances in which Oaktree's authority to vote proxies may be limited and as such the proxy voting guidelines may not be followed or a vote may not be placed. Such occasions may include, but are not limited to, when (i) the client has mandated that Oaktree vote in accordance with their proxy voting guidelines; or (ii) the client has chosen to participate in a securities lending program which may result in voting authority being lost if a particular security is out on loan on the record date. In the case where a Separate Account client has requested that Oaktree vote proxies in accordance with their guidelines, the Legal personnel reviewing the investment management agreement shall ensure that such guidelines are received from the client prior to funding of the account.

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Additionally, Oaktree may in its discretion, under certain limited facts and circumstances, abstain from voting proxies on behalf of its clients. Such facts and circumstances are documented and maintained as evidence for abstaining from the proxy vote.

Upon receipt of an investment management agreement, or other comparable document, the Compliance department sends the appropriate proxy voting provisions to the Corporate Actions department. The Corporate Actions department is responsible for preparing the Proxy Account Guidelines Matrix which details the voting responsibility for each Separate Account/Oaktree-Managed Fund and any other relevant details. The Corporate Actions department ensures that, for those Separate Accounts/Oaktree-Managed Funds for which Oaktree has been delegated voting authority, contact is made with the appropriate custodian bank and/or benefit plan trustee in order to receive proxy statements.

Note that Oaktree is not always delegated voting authority with respect to the registered investment companies with which it maintains a subadvisory relationship. This is stipulated in a provision regarding proxy voting in the investment management agreements between Oaktree and the investment adviser for each such registered investment company.

2. Voting Procedures

Determination of Vote

Proxies are generally considered by the investment professional responsible for monitoring the security being voted. The Corporate Actions personnel responsible for proxies (with the exception of the Emerging Markets Equity investment strategy, which handles the proxies relating to their investments) deliver to such investment professional the proxy statement, the proxy voting guidelines and the Proxy Voting Form. The Proxy Voting Form serve as Oaktree's record of the following information:

(i)whether the investment was held as a passive investment or considered a significant holding;

(ii)whether any material conflict of interest existed in connection with the vote (see further discussion below for description of the procedures to be followed in the instance of such occurrence);

(iii)documentation of the vote for each proposal, including any additional document created or utilized, if any, that was material to arriving at such a determination; and

(iv)documentation of the basis and rationale of the vote when the proxy voting guidelines were not followed, including the reasons why such guidelines were not used.

Once the investment professional has completed his or her analysis, documented the vote, the basis for such vote and signed the form, it should be forwarded to designated Compliance personnel for review. Such personnel ensures that all required documentation has been included, the vote is in accordance with the proxy voting guidelines, or if not, documentation supporting such exception has been created. The information is then taken to a Legal or Compliance Officer for a final review, which is evidenced in the proxy documentation.

Corporate Actions personnel (with the exception of the Emerging Markets Equity investment strategy, which handles the proxies relating to their investments) then takes the recommended vote from the Proxy Voting Form and submit/ transmit such vote(s) online unless the securities are held in physical form. If they are held in physical form, the custodian banks will provide the physical proxy ballots to Oaktree for approval and election. Oaktree will then forward the completed proxy ballots to the agent by mail in a timely manner. Copies of all such documents must be maintained to evidence submission of each proxy vote (see discussion under record-keeping below for additional guidance).

The Emerging Markets Equity strategy follows a similar process in which proxies are processed by the relevant Operations personnel supporting the strategy and forwarded to the applicable investment professional for consideration. Once the investment professional has completed his or her analysis, documented the vote, the rationale for such vote, and completed the Proxy Voting Form and received approval as necessary, the documentation is forwarded to designated Compliance personnel for review and approval. Once approval is received, the relevant Operations personnel then takes the recommended vote from the approved Proxy Voting Form and submit/transmit such vote(s) online.

Oaktree endeavors, on a best efforts basis, to vote all proxies for which it has proxy voting authority in accordance with the applicable deadlines. Nevertheless, from time to time, proxies may not be voted or are not voted in a timely manner

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due to various factors, for example receiving proxy notices late or after the cut-off time for voting, not receiving sufficient information regarding proxy matters or certain custodian policies and restrictions.

Conflicts of Interest

Occasions may arise where a person or organization involved in the proxy voting process may have a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest may exist, for example if Oaktree has a business relationship with (or is actively soliciting business from) either the company soliciting the proxy, a third party that has a material interest in the outcome of a proxy vote or that is actively lobbying for a particular outcome of a proxy vote. Any person with knowledge of a personal conflict of interest (e.g. familial relationship with company management) regarding a particular proxy vote must notify Legal or Compliance personnel.

The Legal and Compliance department review such circumstances to determine if a material conflict exists and address any such conflict by: (i) identifying the potential material conflict of interest on the proxy voting form; and (ii) implementing appropriate procedures to address such material conflict of interest. Such procedures may include: (i) having the investment professional remove him or herself from the voting process to be replaced with another research analyst not directly involved; (ii) disclose the conflict to the client and obtain their consent prior to voting; or (iii) a determination that the conflict is not material as neither Oaktree nor an Oaktree-Managed Fund or Separate Account owns more than 5% of the outstanding class of securities subject to the vote.

3. Tracking Procedures

The Corporate Actions or Trade Support/Operations personnel in each investment strategy in charge of proxies have been delegated the responsibility of communicating with each Separate Accounts'/Oaktree-Managed Funds' custodian bank, prime broker and/or benefit plan trustee to ensure that all proxies are received and for the correct amount of holdings. In addition, such personnel are responsible for ensuring that proxies are responded to in a timely manner and for transmitting appropriate voting instructions to the correct party. Information is documented on a Proxy Tracking Form as follows:

(i)Matching proxies received with stock holdings on the record date as indicated on the proxy card to internal holding reports;

(ii)Documenting reasons as to why proxies were not received for any stock holdings; and

(iii)Recording the dates on which votes were submitted for each Separate Account/Oaktree-Managed Fund.

In addition to the above, Compliance personnel confirms whether the shares subject to the proxy are held by more than one investment strategy. If the position is cross held, Compliance personnel may instruct coordination of the vote between the various investment strategies where the combined position is material (more than 5% of the outstanding class of securities subject to the vote). The ultimate decision to coordinate voting requires an evaluation of the relevant facts and circumstances with the relevant portfolio managers and Legal personnel.

4. Disclosure to Clients

Oaktree clients that request additional information regarding our proxy voting policies and procedures, or details on how we have voted specific proxies, can forward their written requests to the attention of the Chief Compliance Officer at Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., 333 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California, 90071, or via facsimile at (213) 830-6296. Disclosure of this option to clients is made through our Form ADV Part 2A. It is Oaktree's policy not to release proxy voting information to third parties.

In the event a request is received, the Compliance department will forward such requests from clients to the appropriate Corporate Actions personnel or Trade Support/Operations personnel in charge of proxies to facilitate and maintain the requested information.

5.Recordkeeping

Documentation that Oaktree has voted all proxies for Separate Accounts/Oaktree-Managed Funds for which it has proxy voting authority is maintained by the Corporate Actions or Trade Support/Operations personnel responsible for proxies. Such documentation includes for each proxy voted:

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(i)The proxy statement;

(ii)Proxy Voting Form indicating voting response, the basis and rationale for such vote, and any documentation or materials used in determining the vote;

(iii)Proxy Tracking Form indicating Separate Accounts/Oaktree-Managed Funds' names, shares owned on record date, date voted, method of voting; and if Oaktree did not vote for a particular Separate Account/Oaktree-Managed Fund the reasons behind such action; and

(iv)List of client requests for proxy voting information.

Pzena Investment Management, LLC

Proxy Voting, Corporate Actions, & Class Actions

Introduction

As a registered investment adviser, Pzena Investment Management, LLC ("PIM" or "the Firm") is required to adopt policies and procedures reasonably designed to (i) ensure that proxies are voted in the best interests of clients, (ii) disclose to clients information about these policies and procedures and how clients can obtain information about their proxies, and (iii) describe how conflicts of interest are addressed. The following policies and procedures have been established to ensure decision making consistent with PIM's fiduciary responsibilities and applicable regulations under the Investment Company Act and Advisers Act. These policies, procedures and guidelines are meant to convey PIM's general approach to certain issues. Nevertheless, PIM reviews all proxies individually and makes final decisions based on the merits of each issue.

I. Proxy Voting Procedures

A. ISS

PIM subscribes to a proxy monitor and voting agent service offered by Institutional Shareholder Services ("ISS"). Under the written agreement between ISS and PIM, ISS provides a proxy analysis with research and a vote recommendation for each shareholder meeting of the companies in our separately managed client accounts. They also vote, record and generate a voting activity report for our clients. PIM retains responsibility for instructing ISS how to vote, and we still apply our own guidelines as set forth herein when voting. If PIM does not issue instructions for a particular vote, the default is for ISS to mark the ballots in accordance with these guidelines (when they specifically cover the item being voted on), and to refer all other items back to PIM for instruction (when there is no PIM policy covering the vote).

PIM personnel continue to be responsible for entering all relevant client and account information (e.g., changes in client identities and portfolio holdings) in the Indata system. A direct link download has been established between PIM and ISS providing data from the Indata System. ISS assists us with our recordkeeping functions, as well as the mechanics of voting. As part of ISS' recordkeeping/administrative function, they receive and review all proxy ballots and other materials, and generate reports regarding proxy activity during specified periods, as requested by us. To the extent that the Procedures set forth in Section I are carried out by ISS, PIM will periodically monitor ISS to ensure that the Procedures are being followed and will conduct random tests to verify that proper records are being created and retained as provided in Section 6 below.

B. Compliance Procedures

PIM's standard Investment Advisory Agreement provides that until notified by the client to the contrary, PIM shall have the right to vote all proxies for securities held in that client's account. In those instances where PIM does not have proxy voting responsibility, it shall forward to the client or to such other person as the client designates any proxy materials received by it. In all instances where PIM has voting responsibility on behalf of a client, it follows the procedures set forth below. The Director of Research is responsible for monitoring the PIM Analyst's compliance with such procedures when voting. The Chief Compliance Officer ("CCO") is responsible for monitoring overall compliance with these procedures and an internally-designated "Proxy Coordinator" is responsible for day-to-day proxy voting activities as described below.

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C. Voting Procedures

1. Determine Proxies to be Voted

Based on the information provided by PIM via the direct link download established between PIM and ISS mentioned above, ISS shall determine what proxy votes are outstanding and what issues are to be voted on for all client accounts. Proxies received by ISS will be matched against PIM's records to verify that each proxy has been received. If a discrepancy is discovered, ISS will use reasonable efforts to resolve it, including calling PIM and/or applicable Custodians. Pending votes will be forwarded first to the Firm's CCO, or designee, who will perform the conflicts checks described in Section 2 below. Once the conflicts checks are completed, the ballots and supporting proxy materials will be returned to the Proxy Coordinator who will forward them on to the Analyst who is responsible for the Company soliciting the proxy. Specifically, the Analyst will receive a folder containing the proxy statement, the proxy analysis by ISS, a blank disclosure of personal holdings form, and one or more vote record forms.* The Analyst will then mark his/ her voting decision on the vote record form, initial this form to verify his/her voting instructions, fill out the disclosure of personal holdings form, and return the folder to the Proxy Coordinator who will then enter the vote into the ISS System. Any notes or other materials prepared or used by the Analyst in making his/her voting decision shall also be filed in the folder.

If an Analyst desires to vote contrary to the guidelines set forth in this proxy voting policy or the written proxy voting policy designated by a specific client, the Analyst will discuss the vote with the Chief Investment Officers and/or Director of Research and the Chief Investment Officers and/or Director of Research shall determine how to vote the proxy based on the Analyst's recommendation and the long term economic impact such vote will have on the securities held in client accounts. If the Chief Investment Officers and/or Director of Research agree with the Analyst's recommendation and determine that a contrary vote is advisable the Analyst will provide written documentation of the reasons for the vote (by putting such documentation in the folder and/or e-mailing such documentation to the Proxy Coordinator and CCO for filing.) When the Analyst has completed all voting, the Analyst will return the folder to the Proxy Coordinator who will enter the votes in the ISS System.

*A separate ballot and vote record form may be included in the folder if the company soliciting the proxy is included in the portfolio of a client who has designated specific voting guidelines in writing to PIM which vary substantially from these policies and if the Custodian for that client does not aggregate ballots before sending them to ISS. In such event, the Analyst shall evaluate and vote such ballot on an individual basis in accordance with the applicable voting guidelines.

2. Identify Conflicts and Vote According to Special Conflict Resolution Rules

The primary consideration is that PIM act for the benefit of its clients and places its client's interests before the interests of the Firm and its principals and employees. The following provisions identify potential conflicts of interest that are relevant to and most likely to arise with respect to PIM's advisory business and its clients, and set forth how we will resolve those conflicts. In the event that the Analyst who is responsible for the Company soliciting a particular proxy has knowledge of any facts or circumstances which the Analyst believes are or may appear be a material conflict, the Analyst will advise PIM's CCO, who will convene a meeting of the proxy committee to determine whether a conflict exists and how that conflict should be resolved.

a. PIM has identified the following areas of potential concern:

•Where PIM manages any pension or other assets affiliated with a publicly traded company, and also holds that company's or an affiliated company's securities in one or more client portfolios.

•Where PIM manages the assets of a proponent of a shareholder proposal for a company whose securities are in one or more client portfolios.

•Where PIM has a client relationship with an individual who is a corporate director, or a candidate for a corporate directorship of a public company whose securities are in one or more client portfolios.

•Where a PIM officer, director or employee, or an immediate family member thereof is a corporate director, or a candidate for a corporate directorship of a public company whose securities are in one or more client portfolios. For purposes hereof, an immediate family member shall be a spouse, child, parent, or sibling.

b. To address the first potential conflict identified above, PIM's CCO, or designee, will maintain a list of public company clients that will be updated regularly as new client relationships are established with the Firm. Upon receipt of each

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proxy to be voted for clients, the Proxy Coordinator will give the ballot and supporting proxy materials to PIM's CCO, or designee, who will check to see if the company soliciting the proxy is also on the public company client list. If the company soliciting the vote is on our public company client list and PIM still manages pension or other assets of that company, the CCO, or designee, will note this in the folder so that PIM will vote the proxy in accordance with the special rules set forth in Subsection f of this Section 2.

c. To address the second potential conflict identified above, PIM's CCO, or designee, will check the proxy materials to see if the proponent of any shareholder proposal is one of PIM's clients. If the proponent of a shareholder proposal is a PIM client, the CCO, or designee, will note this in the folder so that PIM will vote the proxy in accordance with the special rules set forth in Subsection f of this Section 2.

d. To address the third potential conflict identified above, PIM's CCO, or designee, will check the proxy materials to see if any corporate director, or candidate for a corporate directorship of a public company whose securities are in one or more client portfolios is one of PIM's individual clients (based on the client list generated by our Portfolio Management System, Indata). For purposes of this check, individual clients shall include natural persons and testamentary or other living trusts bearing the name of the grantor, settlor, or beneficiary thereof. If a director or director nominee is a PIM client, the CCO, or designee, will note this in the folder so that PIM will vote the proxy in accordance with the special rules set forth in Subsection f of this Section 2.

e. To address the fourth potential conflict identified above, PIM's CCO, or designee, will check the proxy materials to see if any corporate director, or candidate for a corporate directorship of a public company whose securities are in one or more client portfolios is a PIM officer, director or employee or an immediate family member thereof (based on the written responses of PIM personnel to an annual questionnaire in this regard). If a director or director nominee is a PIM officer, director or employee or an immediate family member thereof, the CCO, or designee, will note this in the folder so that PIM will vote the proxy in accordance with the special rules set forth in Subsection f of this Section 2.

f. The following special rules shall apply when a conflict is noted in the folder:

i. In all cases where PIM manages the pension or other assets of a publicly traded company, and also holds that company's or an affiliated company's securities in one or more client portfolios, PIM will have no discretion to vote any portion of the proxy, but will defer to the recommendation(s) of ISS in connection therewith and will vote strictly according to those recommendations.

ii. The identity of the proponent of a shareholder proposal shall not be given any substantive weight (either positive or negative) and shall not otherwise influence an Analyst's determination whether a vote for or against a proposal is in the best interests of PIM's clients.

iii.If PIM has proxy voting authority for a client who is the proponent of a shareholder proposal and PIM determines that it is in the best interests of its clients to vote against that proposal, a designated member of PIM's client service team will notify the client-proponent and give that client the option to direct PIM in writing to vote the client's proxy differently than it is voting the proxies of its other clients.

iv.If the proponent of a shareholder proposal is a PIM client whose assets under management with PIM constitute 30% or more of PIM's total assets under management, and PIM has determined that it is in the best interests of its clients

to vote for that proposal, PIM will disclose its intention to vote for such proposal to each additional client who also holds the securities of the company soliciting the vote on such proposal and for whom PIM has authority to vote proxies. If a client does not object to the vote within 3 business days of delivery of such disclosure, PIM will be free to vote such client's proxy as stated in such disclosure.

v. In all cases where PIM manages assets of an individual client and that client is a corporate director, or candidate for a corporate directorship of a public company whose securities are in one or more client portfolios, PIM will have no discretion to vote any portion of the proxy, but will defer to the recommendation(s) of ISS in connection therewith and will vote strictly according to those recommendations.

vi.In all cases where a PIM officer, director or employee, or an immediate family member thereof is a corporate director, or a candidate for a corporate directorship of a public company whose securities are in one or more client portfolios, PIM will have no discretion to vote any portion of the proxy, but will defer to the recommendation(s) of ISS in connection therewith and will vote strictly according to those recommendations.

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Notwithstanding any of the above special rules to the contrary, in the extraordinary event that it is determined by unanimous vote of the Director of Research, the Chief Executive Officer, and the Analyst covering a particular company that the ISS recommendation on a particular proposal to be voted is materially adverse to the best interests of the clients, then in that event, the following alternative conflict resolution procedures will be followed.

A designated member of PIM's client service team will notify each client who holds the securities of the company soliciting the vote on such proposal, and for whom PIM has authority to vote proxies, and disclose all of the facts pertaining to the vote (including, PIM's conflict of interest, the ISS recommendation, and PIM's recommendation). The client then will be asked to direct PIM how to vote on the issue. If a client does not give any direction to PIM within 3 business days of delivery of such disclosure, PIM will be free to vote such client's proxy in the manner it deems to be in the best interest of the client.

PIM will always defer to ISS when it votes a proxy of company shares accepted as a client accommodation, where said shares will not be held as part of the managed portfolio.

On an annual basis, the Compliance Department also will review the conflicts policies and Code of Conduct that ISS posts on its website.

3. Vote

Each proxy that comes to PIM to be voted shall be evaluated on the basis of what is in the best interest of the clients. We deem the best interests of the clients to be that which maximizes shareholder value and yields the best economic results (e.g., higher stock prices, long-term financial health, and stability). In evaluating proxy issues, PIM will rely on ISS to identify and flag factual issues of relevance and importance. We also will use information gathered as a result of the in-depth research and on-going company analyses performed by our investment team in making buy, sell and hold decisions for our client portfolios. This process includes periodic meetings with senior management of portfolio companies. PIM may also consider information from other sources, including the management of a company presenting a proposal, shareholder groups, and other independent proxy research services. Where applicable, PIM also will consider any specific guidelines designated in writing by a client.

The Analyst who is responsible for following the company votes the proxies for that company. If such Analyst also beneficially owns shares of the company in his/her personal trading accounts, the Analyst must complete a special "Disclosure of Personal Holdings Form" and the Director of Research must sign off on the Analyst's votes for that company by initialing such special form before it and the vote record sheet are returned to the Proxy Coordinator. It is the responsibility of each Analyst to disclose such personal interest and obtain such initials. Any other owner, partner, officer, director, or employee of the Firm who has a personal or financial interest in the outcome of the vote is hereby prohibited from attempting to influence the proxy voting decision of PIM personnel responsible for voting client securities.

Unless a particular proposal or the particular circumstances of a company may otherwise require (in the case of the conflicts identified in Section 2 above) or suggest (in all other cases), proposals generally shall be voted in accordance with the following broad guidelines:

a. Support management recommendations for the election of directors and appointment of auditors (subject to j below).

b. Give management the tools to motivate employees through reasonable incentive programs. Within these general parameters, PIM generally will support plans under which 50% or more of the shares awarded to top executives are tied to performance goals. In addition, the following are conditions that would generally cause us to vote against a management incentive arrangement:

i. With respect to incentive option arrangements:

•The proposed plan is in excess of 10% of shares, or

•The company has issued 3% or more of outstanding shares in a single year in the recent past, or

•The new plan replaces an existing plan before the existing plan's termination date (i.e., they ran out of authorization) and some other terms of the new plan are likely to be adverse to the maximization of investment returns, or

•The proposed plan resets options, or similarly compensates executives, for declines in a company's stock price. This includes circumstances where a plan calls for exchanging a lower number of options with lower strike prices for an existing larger volume of options with high strike prices, even when the option valuations might be considered the same

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total value. However, this would not include instances where such a plan seeks to retain key executives who have been undercompensated in the past.

For purposes hereof, the methodology used to calculate the share threshold in (i) above shall be the (sum of A + B) divided by (the sum of A + B + C + D), where: A = the number of shares reserved under the new plan/amendment; B = the number of shares available under continuing plans; C = granted but unexercised shares under all plans; and D = shares outstanding, plus convertible debt, convertible equity, and warrants.

ii. With respect to severance, golden parachute or other incentive compensation arrangements:

•The proposed arrangement is excessive or not reasonable in light of similar arrangements for other executives in the company or in the company's industry (based solely on information about those arrangements which may be found in the company's public disclosures and in ISS reports); or

•The proposed parachute or severance arrangement is considerably more financially or economically attractive than continued employment. Although PIM will apply a CASE-BY-CASE analysis of this issue, as a general rule, a proposed severance arrangement which is 3 or more times greater than the affected executive's then current compensation shall be voted against unless such arrangement has been or will be submitted to a vote of shareholders for ratification; or

•The triggering mechanism in the proposed arrangement is solely within the recipient's control (e.g., resignation).

c. PIM prefers a shareholder vote on compensation plans in order to provide a mechanism to register discontent with pay plans. In general, PIM will support proposals to have non- binding shareholder votes on compensation plans so long as these proposals are worded in a generic manner that is unrestrictive to actual company plans. However, PIM may oppose these proposals if PIM deems that the proposal:

i. restricts the company's ability to hire new, suitable management, or

ii. restricts an otherwise responsible management team in some other way harmful to the company.

d. Support facilitation of financings, acquisitions, stock splits, and increases in shares of capital stock that do not discourage acquisition of the company soliciting the proxy.

e. Consider each environmental, social or corporate governance (ESG) proposal on its own merits.

f. Support anti-takeover measures that are in the best interest of the shareholders, but oppose poison pills and other anti-takeover measures that entrench management and/or thwart the maximization of investment returns.

g. Oppose classified boards and any other proposals designed to eliminate or restrict shareholders' rights.

h. Oppose proposals requiring super majority votes for business combinations unless the particular proposal or the particular circumstances of the affected company suggest that such a proposal would be in the best interest of the shareholders.

i. Oppose vague, overly broad, open-ended, or general "other business" proposals for which insufficient detail or explanation is provided or risks or consequences of a vote in favor cannot be ascertained.

j. Make sure management is complying with current requirements such as of the NYSE, NASDAQ and Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 focusing on auditor independence and improved board and committee representation. Within these general parameters, the opinions and recommendations of ISS will be thoroughly evaluated and the following guidelines will be considered:

•PIM generally will vote against auditors and withhold votes from Audit Committee members if non-audit ("other") fees are greater than the sum of audit fees + audit- related fees + permissible tax fees.

In applying the above fee formula, PIM will use the following definitions:

•Audit fees shall mean fees for statutory audits, comfort letters, attest services, consents, and review of filings with

SEC

•Audit-related fees shall mean fees for employee benefit plan audits, due diligence related to M&A, audits in connection with acquisitions, internal control reviews, consultation on financial accounting and reporting standards

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•Tax fees shall mean fees for tax compliance (tax returns, claims for refunds and tax payment planning) and tax consultation and planning (assistance with tax audits and appeals, tax advice relating to M&A, employee benefit plans and requests for rulings or technical advice from taxing authorities)

•PIM will apply a CASE-BY-CASE approach to shareholder proposals asking companies to prohibit their auditors from engaging in non-audit services (or capping the level of non-audit services), taking into account whether the non-audit fees are excessive (per the formula above) and whether the company has policies and procedures in place to limit non- audit services or otherwise prevent conflicts of interest.

•PIM generally will evaluate director nominees individually and as a group based on ISS opinions and recommendations as well as our personal assessment of record and reputation, business knowledge and background, shareholder value mindedness, accessibility, corporate governance abilities, time commitment, attention and awareness, independence, and character.

•PIM generally will withhold votes from any insiders flagged by ISS on audit compensation or nominating committees, and from any insiders and affiliated outsiders flagged by ISS on boards that are not at least majority independent.

•In general, PIM will not support shareholder proposals to vote against directors unless PIM determines that clear shareholder value destruction has occurred as a consequence of the directors' actions. When shareholders propose voting against directors serving on compensation committees, PIM will evaluate ISS' opinions and recommendations, but will vote on the issue based on PIM's assessment of the matter and independently of ISS' criteria.

•PIM will apply a CASE-BY-CASE approach to determine whether to vote for or against directors nominated by outside parties whose interests may conflict with our interests as shareholders, regardless of whether management agrees with the nomination.

•PIM will evaluate and vote proposals to separate the Chairman and CEO positions in a company on a CASE-BY-CASE basis based on ISS opinions and recommendations as well as our personal assessment of the strength of the companies governing structure, the independence of the board and compliance with NYSE and NASDAQ listing requirements.

k. Support re-incorporation proposals that are in the best interests of shareholders and shareholder value.

l. Support proposals enabling shareholders to call a special meeting of a company so long as a 15% threshold is necessary in order for shareholders to do so. However, on a CASE-BY-CASE basis as determined by the Analyst voting the proxy, a 10% threshold may be deemed more appropriate should particular circumstances warrant; for example, in instances where executive compensation or governance has been an issue for a company.

m. PIM may abstain from voting a proxy if we conclude that the effect of abstention on our clients' economic interests or the value of the portfolio holding is indeterminable or insignificant. In addition, if a company imposes a blackout period for purchases and sales of securities after a particular proxy is voted, PIM generally will abstain from voting that proxy.

It is understood that PIM's and ISS' ability to commence voting proxies for new or transferred accounts is dependent upon the actions of custodian's and banks in updating their records and forwarding proxies. PIM will not be liable for any action or inaction by any Custodian or bank with respect to proxy ballots and voting.

Where a new client has funded its account by delivering in a portfolio of securities for PIM to liquidate and the record date to vote a proxy for one of those securities falls on a day when we are temporarily holding the position (because we were still executing or waiting for settlement), we will vote the shares. For these votes only, we will defer to ISS' recommendations, since we will not have firsthand knowledge of the companies and cannot devote research time to them.

Proxies for securities on loan through securities lending programs will generally not be voted. Since PIM's clients generally control these securities lending decisions, PIM may not be able to recall a security for voting purposes even if the issue is material; however, it will use its best efforts. In certain instances, PIM's commingled funds may participate in securities lending programs. PIM will use best efforts to have shares recalled in time to vote on material issues.

4. Return Proxies

The Chief Compliance Officer or designee shall send or cause to be sent (or otherwise communicate) all votes to the company or companies soliciting the proxies within the applicable time period designated for return of such votes.

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5. Client Disclosures

PIM will include a copy of these proxy voting policies and procedures, as they may be amended from time to time, in each new account pack sent to prospective clients. It also will update its ADV disclosures regarding these policies and procedures to reflect any material additions or other changes to them, as needed. Such ADV disclosures will include an explanation of how to request copies of these policies and procedures as well as any other disclosures required by Rule 206(4)-6 of the Advisers Act.

PIM will provide proxy voting summary reports to clients, on request. With respect to PIM's mutual fund clients, PIM will provide proxy voting information in such form as needed for them to prepare their Rule 30b1-4 Annual Report on Form N-PX.

6. Recordkeeping

A.PIM will maintain a list of dedicated proxy contacts for its clients as required. Each client will be asked to provide the name, email address, telephone number, and post office mailing address of one or more persons who are authorized to receive, give direction under and otherwise act on any notices and disclosures provided by PIM pursuant to Section I.C.2.f of these policies. With respect to ERISA plan clients, PIM shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that the dedicated proxy contact for the ERISA client is a named fiduciary of the plan.

B. PIM will maintain and/or cause to be maintained by any proxy voting service provider engaged by PIM the following records. Such records will be maintained for a minimum of five years. Records maintained by PIM shall be kept for 2 years at PIM's principal office and 3 years in offsite storage.

i. Copies of PIM's proxy voting policies and procedures, and any amendments thereto.

ii.Copies of the proxy materials received by PIM for client securities. These may be in the form of the proxy packages received from each Company and/or ISS, or downloaded from EDGAR, or any combination thereof.

iii.The vote cast for each proposal overall as well as by account.

iv.Records of any correspondence made regarding specific proxies and the voting thereof.

v.Records of any reasons for deviations from broad voting guidelines.

vi.Copies of any document created by PIM that was material to making a decision on how to vote proxies or that memorializes the basis of that decision.

vii.A record of proxies that were not received, and what actions were taken to obtain them.

viii.Copies of any written client requests for voting summary reports (including reports to mutual fund clients for whom PIM has proxy voting authority containing information they need to satisfy their annual reporting obligations under Rule 30b-1-4 and to complete Form N-PX) and the correspondence and reports sent to the clients in response to such requests.

7. Review of Policies

The proxy voting policies, procedures and guidelines contained herein have been formulated by PIM's proxy committee. This committee consists of PIM's Director of Research, CCO, and at least one Portfolio Manager (who represents the interests of all PIM's portfolio managers and is responsible for obtaining and expressing their opinions at committee meetings). The committee reviews these policies, procedures and guidelines at least annually, and makes such changes as it deems appropriate in light of current trends and developments in corporate governance and related issues, as well as operational issues facing the Firm.

II. Corporate Actions

PIM is responsible for monitoring both mandatory (e.g. calls, cash dividends, exchanges, mergers, spin-offs, stock dividends and stock splits) and voluntary (e.g. rights offerings, exchange offerings, and tender offers) corporate actions. Operations personnel will ensure that all corporate actions received are promptly reviewed and recorded in PIM's portfolio accounting system, and properly executed by the custodian banks for all eligible portfolios. On a daily basis, a

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file of PIM's security database is sent to a third-party service, Vantage, via an automated upload which then provides corporate action information for securities included in the file.

This information is received and acted upon by the Operations personnel responsible for corporate action processing. In addition, PIM receives details on voluntary and some mandatory corporate actions from the custodian banks via email or online system and all available data is used to properly understand each corporate event.

Voluntary Corporate Actions - The Portfolio Management team is responsible for providing guidance to Operations on the course of action to be taken for each voluntary corporate action received. In some instances, the Portfolio Management team may maintain standing instructions on particular event types. As appropriate, Legal and Compliance may be consulted to determine whether certain clients may participate in particular corporate actions. Operations personnel will then notify each custodian banks, either through an online interface, via email, or with a signed faxed document of the election selected. Once all necessary information is received and the corporate action has been vetted, the event is processed in the portfolio accounting system and filed electronically. A log of holdings information related to the corporate action is maintained for each portfolio in order to confirm accuracy of processing.

III. Class Actions

PIM shall not have any responsibility to initiate, consider or participate in any bankruptcy, class action or other litigation against or involving any issue of securities held in or formerly held in a client account or to advise or take any action on behalf of a client or former client with respect to any such actions or litigation.

Wellington Management Global Proxy Policy and Procedures

Wellington Management has adopted and implemented policies and procedures that it believes are reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best economic interests of clients for whom it exercises proxy-voting discretion.

Wellington Management's Proxy Voting Guidelines (the "Guidelines") set forth broad guidelines and positions on common proxy issues that Wellington Management uses in voting on proxies. In addition, Wellington Management also considers each proposal in the context of the issuer, industry, and country or countries in which the issuer's business is conducted. The Guidelines are not rigid rules and the merits of a particular proposal may cause Wellington Management to enter a vote that differs from the Guidelines.

Statement of Policy

Wellington Management:

1)Votes client proxies for which clients have affirmatively delegated proxy-voting authority, in writing, unless it determines that it is in the best interests of one or more clients to refrain from voting a given proxy.

2)Votes all proxies in the best interests of the client for whom it is voting, i.e., to maximize economic value.

3)Identifies and resolves all material proxy-related conflicts of interest between the firm and its clients in the best interests of the client.

Responsibility and Oversight

The Investment Research Group ("Investment Research") monitors regulatory requirements with respect to proxy voting and works with the firm's Legal and Compliance Group and the Investment Stewardship Committee to develop practices that implement those requirements. Investment Research also acts as a resource for portfolio managers and research analysts on proxy matters as needed. Day-to-day administration of the proxy voting process is the responsibility of Investment Research. The Investment Stewardship Committee is responsible for oversight of the implementation of the Global Proxy Policy and Procedures, review and approval of the Guidelines, and for providing advice and guidance on specific proxy votes for individual issuers.

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Procedures

Use of Third-Party Voting Agent

Wellington Management uses the services of a third-party voting agent to manage the administrative aspects of proxy voting. The voting agent processes proxies for client accounts, casts votes based on the Guidelines, and maintains records of proxies voted.

Receipt of Proxy

If a client requests that Wellington Management votes proxies on its behalf, the client must instruct its custodian bank to deliver all relevant voting material to Wellington Management or its voting agent.

Reconciliation

Each public security proxy received by electronic means is matched to the securities eligible to be voted and a reminder is sent to any custodian or trustee that has not forwarded the proxies as due. Although proxies received for private securities, as well as those received in non-electronic format, are voted as received, Wellington Management is not able to reconcile these proxies to holdings, nor does it notify custodians of non-receipt.

Research

In addition to proprietary investment research undertaken by Wellington Management investment professionals, Investment Research conducts proxy research internally, and uses the resources of a number of external sources to keep abreast of developments in corporate governance and of current practices of specific companies.

Proxy Voting

Following the reconciliation process, each proxy is compared against the Guidelines, and handled as follows:

•Generally, issues for which explicit proxy voting guidance is provided in the Guidelines (i.e., "For", "Against", "Abstain") are reviewed by Investment Research and voted in accordance with the Guidelines.

•Issues identified as "case-by-case" in the Guidelines are further reviewed by Investment Research. In certain circumstances, further input is needed, so the issues are forwarded to the relevant research analyst and/or portfolio manager(s) for their input.

•Absent a material conflict of interest, the portfolio manager has the authority to decide the final vote. Different portfolio managers holding the same securities may arrive at different voting conclusions for their clients' proxies.

Wellington Management reviews regularly the voting record to ensure that proxies are voted in accordance with these Global Proxy Policy and Procedures and the Guidelines; and ensures that documentation and reports, for clients and for internal purposes, relating to the voting of proxies are promptly and properly prepared and disseminated.

Material Conflict of Interest Identification and Resolution Processes

Wellington Management's broadly diversified client base and functional lines of responsibility serve to minimize the number of, but not prevent, material conflicts of interest it faces in voting proxies. Annually, the Investment Stewardship Committee sets standards for identifying material conflicts based on client, vendor, and lender relationships, and publishes those standards to individuals involved in the proxy voting process. In addition, the Investment Stewardship Committee encourages all personnel to contact Investment Research about apparent conflicts of interest, even if the apparent conflict does not meet the published materiality criteria. Apparent conflicts are reviewed by designated members of the Investment Stewardship Committee to determine if there is a conflict and if so whether the conflict is material.

If a proxy is identified as presenting a material conflict of interest, the matter must be reviewed by designated members of the Investment Stewardship Committee, who will resolve the conflict and direct the vote. In certain circumstances, the designated members may determine that the full Investment Stewardship Committee should convene.

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Other Considerations

In certain instances, Wellington Management may be unable to vote or may determine not to vote a proxy on behalf of one or more clients. While not exhaustive, the following are potential instances in which a proxy vote might not be entered.

Securities Lending

In general, Wellington Management does not know when securities have been lent out pursuant to a client's securities lending program and are therefore unavailable to be voted. Efforts to recall loaned securities are not always effective, but, in rare circumstances, Wellington Management may recommend that a client attempt to have its custodian recall the security to permit voting of related proxies.

Share Blocking and Re-registration

Certain countries impose trading restrictions or requirements regarding re-registration of securities held in omnibus accounts in order for shareholders to vote a proxy. The potential impact of such requirements is evaluated when determining whether to vote such proxies.

Lack of Adequate Information, Untimely Receipt of Proxy Materials, or Excessive Costs

Wellington Management may abstain from voting a proxy when the proxy statement or other available information is inadequate to allow for an informed vote, when the proxy materials are not delivered in a timely fashion or when, in Wellington Management's judgment, the costs exceed the expected benefits to clients (such as when powers of attorney or consularization are required).

Additional Information

Wellington Management maintains records related to proxies pursuant to Rule 204-2 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the "Advisers Act"), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), and other applicable laws.

Wellington Management provides clients with a copy of its Global Proxy Policy and Procedures, including the Guidelines, upon written request. In addition, Wellington Management will make specific client information relating to proxy voting available to a client upon reasonable written request.

SAI 046 022020

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PART C

VANGUARD TRUSTEES' EQUITY FUND

OTHER INFORMATION

Item 28. Exhibits

(a)Articles of Incorporation, Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 87 dated June, 25, 2019, is hereby incorporated by reference.

(b)By-Laws, Amended and Restated By-Laws, filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 82 dated February 22, 2018, are hereby incorporated by reference.

(c)Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders, reference is made to Articles III and V of the Registrant's Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, refer to Exhibit (a) above.

(d)Investment Advisory Contracts, for Lazard Asset Management LLC, filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 44 dated July 27, 2006; for Edinburgh Partners Limited, is filed herewith. For ARGA Investment Management, LP, filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 dated August 2, 2012, is hereby incorporated by reference. For Pzena Investment Management, LLC, and Wellington Management Company, LLP, filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 dated February 26, 2014, are hereby incorporated by reference. For Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., filed Post-Effective Amendment No. 91 dated November 1, 2019, is hereby incorporated by reference. The Vanguard Group, Inc. provides investment advisory services to Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund, Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund, and Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund pursuant to the Amended and Restated Funds' Service Agreement, refer to Exhibit (h) below.

(e)Underwriting Contracts, not applicable.

(f)Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts, reference is made to the section entitled "Management of the Funds" in the Registrant's Statement of Additional Information.

(g)Custodian Agreements, for JPMorgan Chase Bank, filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 91 dated November 1, 2019, is hereby incorporated by reference. For State Street Bank and Trust Company, filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 87 dated June 25, 2019, is hereby incorporated by reference.

(h)Other Material Contracts, Fifth Amended and Restated Funds' Service Agreement, is filed herewith.

(i)Legal Opinion, not applicable.

(j)Other Opinions, Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, is filed herewith.

(k)Omitted Financial Statements, not applicable.

(l)Initial Capital Agreements, not applicable.

(m)Rule 12b-1 Plan, not applicable.

(n)Rule 18f-3 Plan, is filed herewith.

(o)Reserved.

(p)Codes of Ethics, for Wellington Management Company, LLP, filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 82 dated February 22, 2018, is hereby incorporated by reference. For ARGA Invesment Management, LP; Edinburgh Partners Limited; Lazard Asset Management LLC; Pzena Investment Management, LLC; and for The Vanguard Group, Inc., filed with Post- Effective Amendment No. 84 dated February 27, 2019, are hereby incorporated by reference. For Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., is filed herewith.

Item 29. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant

None.

Item 30. Indemnification

The Registrant's organizational documents contain provisions indemnifying Trustees and officers against liability incurred in their official capacities. Article VII, Section 2 of the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides that the Registrant may indemnify and hold harmless each and every Trustee and officer from and against any and all claims, demands, costs, losses, expenses, and damages whatsoever arising out of or related to the performance of his or her duties as a Trustee or officer. Article VI of the By-Laws generally provides that the Registrant shall indemnify its Trustees and officers from any liability arising out of their past or present service in that capacity. Among other things, this provision excludes any liability arising by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or the reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the Trustee's or officer's office with the Registrant.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the Securities Act) may be permitted for directors, officers, or persons controlling the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Advisor

ARGA Investment Management, LP (ARGA) is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the Advisers Act). The list required by this Item 31 of officers and directors of ARGA, together with any information as to any business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by such officers and directors during the past two years, is incorporated herein by reference from Form ADV filed by ARGA pursuant to the Advisers Act (SEC File No. 801-77018)

Edinburgh Partners Limited (Edinburgh Partners) is an investment advisor registered under the Advisers Act. The list required by this Item 31 of officers and directors of Edinburgh Partners, together with any information as to any business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by such officers and directors during the past two years, is incorporated herein by reference from Form ADV filed by Edinburgh Partners pursuant to the Advisers Act (SEC File No. 801-63714).

Lazard Asset Management, LLC (Lazard) is an investment advisor registered under the Advisers Act. The list required by this Item 31 of officers and directors of Lazard, together with any information as to any business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by such officers and directors during the past two years, is incorporated herein by reference from Form ADV filed by Lazard pursuant to the Advisers Act (SEC File No. 801-61701).

Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (Oaktree), is an investment adviser registered under the Advisers Act. The list required by this Item 31 of officers and partners of Oaktree, together with any information as to any business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by such officers and partners during the past two years, is incorporated herein by reference from Form ADV filed by Oaktree pursuant to the Advisers Act (SEC File No. 801-48923).

Pzena Investment Management, LLC (Pzena) is an investment adviser registered under the Advisers Act. The list required by this Item 31 of officers and directors of Pzena, together with any information as to any business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by such officers and directors during the past two years, is incorporated herein by reference from Form ADV filed by Pzena pursuant to the Advisers Act (SEC File No. 801-50838).

Wellington Management Company, LLP (Wellington Management) is an investment advisor registered under the Advisers Act. The list required by this Item 31 of officers and partners of Wellington Management, together with any information as to any business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by such officers and partners during the past two years, is incorporated herein by reference from Form ADV filed by Wellington Management pursuant to the Advisers Act (SEC File No. 801-15908).

The Vanguard Group, Inc. (Vanguard) is an investment advisor registered under the Advisors Act. The list required by this Item 31 of officers and directors of Vanguard, together with any information as to any business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by such officers and directors during the past two years, is incorporated herein by reference from Form ADV filed by Vanguard pursuant to the Advisors Act (SEC File No. 801-11953).

Item 32. Principal Underwriters

(a)Vanguard Marketing Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Vanguard Group, Inc., is the principal underwriter of each fund within the Vanguard group of investment companies, a family of over 200 funds.

(b)The principal business address of each named director and officer of Vanguard Marketing Corporation is 100 Vanguard Boulevard, Malvern, PA 19355.

Name

Positions and Office with Underwriter

Positions and Office with Funds

Karin A. Risi

Chairman, Director, Principal, and Chief Executive Officer

None

 

Designee

 

Scott A. Conking

Director and Principal

None

Christopher D. McIsaac

Director and Principal

None

Thomas M. Rampulla

Director and Principal

None

Michael Rollings

Director and Principal

Finance Director

Caroline Cosby

Director, Principal, General Counsel, and Assistant

None

 

Secretary

 

Mortimer J. Buckley

President

Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chief

 

 

Executive Officer, and President

John E. Schadl

Assistant Vice President

Chief Compliance Officer

Beth Morales Singh

Secretary

None

Angela Gravinese

Chief Compliance Officer

None

John T. Marcante

Chief Information Officer

None

Alonzo Ellis

Chief Information Security Officer

None

Salvatore L. Pantalone

Financial and Operations Principal and Treasurer

None

Amy M. Laursen

Financial and Operations Principal

None

Danielle Corey

Annuity and Insurance Officer

None

Jeff Seglem

Annuity and Insurance Officer

None

Matthew Benchener

Principal

None

John Bendl

Principal

Chief Financial Officer

Saundra K. Cusumano

Principal

None

Name

Positions and Office with Underwriter

Positions and Office with Funds

James M. Delaplane Jr.

Principal

None

Andrew Kadjeski

Principal

None

Martha G. King

Principal

None

Michael V. Lucci

Principal

None

Brian McCarthy

Principal

None

James M. Norris

Principal

None

Douglas Mento

Principal

None

David Petty

Principal

None

Tammy Virnig

Principal

None

(c)Not Applicable.

Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records

The books, accounts, and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31 (a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder will be maintained at the offices of the Registrant, 100 Vanguard Boulevard, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355; the Registrant's Transfer Agent, The Vanguard Group, Inc., 100 Vanguard Boulevard, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355; the Registrant's Custodians, JPMorgan Chase Bank, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10179, and State Street Bank and Trust Co., One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111; and the Registrant's investment advisors at their respective locations identified in this Registration Statement.

Item 34. Management Services

Other than as set forth in the section entitled "Management of the Funds" in Part B of this Registration Statement, the Registrant is not a party to any management-related service contract.

Item 35. Undertakings

Not Applicable.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant hereby certifies that it meets all requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to 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 Town of Valley Forge and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on the 26th day of February, 2020.

VANGUARD TRUSTEES' EQUITY FUND

BY:_______/s/ Mortimer J. Buckley*__________

Mortimer J. Buckley

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated:

Signature

Title

Date

/s/ Mortimer J. Buckley*

Chairman and Chief

February 26, 2020

 

Executive Officer

 

Mortimer J. Buckley

 

 

 

/s/ Emerson U. Fullwood*

Trustee

February 26, 2020

Emerson U. Fullwood

 

 

/s/ Amy Gutmann*

Trustee

February 26, 2020

Amy Gutmann

 

 

/s/ Mark Loughridge*

Trustee

February 26, 2020

Mark Loughridge

 

 

/s/ Joseph Loughrey*

Trustee

February 26, 2020

Joseph Loughrey

 

 

/s/ Scott C. Malpass*

Trustee

February 26, 2020

Scott C. Malpass

 

 

/s/ Deanna Mulligan*

Trustee

February 26, 2020

Deanna Mulligan

 

 

/s/ André F. Perold*

Trustee

February 26, 2020

André F. Perold

 

 

/s/ Sarah Bloom Raskin*

Trustee

February 26, 2020

Sarah Bloom Raskin

 

 

/s/ Peter F. Volanakis*

Trustee

February 26, 2020

Peter F. Volanakis

 

 

/s/ John Bendl*

Chief Financial Officer

February 26, 2020

John Bendl

 

 

*By: /s/ Anne E. Robinson

Anne E. Robinson, pursuant to a Power of Attorney filed on January 18, 2018 (see File Number 33-32216) and a Power of Attorney filed on October 30, 2019 (see File Number 811-02554), Incorporated by Reference.

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Investment Advisory Contracts, Edinburgh Partners Limited. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ex-99.D Other Material Contracts, Fifth Amended and Restated Funds' Service Agreement. . . . . . . . . Ex-99.H Other Opinions, Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ex-99.J Rule 18f-3 Plan.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . Ex-99.N Codes of Ethics, Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . .Ex-99.P


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FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED FUNDS’ SERVICE AGREEMENT 

  

This Fifth Amended and Restated Funds’ Service Agreement, made as of the 8th day of June, 2009 (the “Agreement”), between and among the investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”), whose names are set forth on the signature page of this Agreement, which together with any additional investment companies which may become a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.4 and 5.5 are collectively called the “Funds”; and The Vanguard Group, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (“Service Company”). 

Whereas, each of the Funds has heretofore determined (as evidenced by, among many documents, prior versions* of this Agreement (the “Prior Agreements”), and by prospectuses and proxy statements of the Funds related thereto): (i) to manage and perform the corporate management, administrative and share distribution functions required for its continued operation, (ii) to create a structure which enhances the independence of the Funds from the providers of external services, (iii) to share, on an equitable and fair basis, with all of the other Funds the expenses of establishing the means to accomplish these objectives at the lowest reasonable cost; and 

Whereas, each of the Funds:  (i) has heretofore determined that these objectives can best be accomplished by establishing a company: (a) to be wholly-owned by the Funds; (b) to provide corporate management, administrative, and distribution services, and upon the reasonable request of any Fund to provide other service to such Fund at cost; (c) to employ the executive, managerial, administrative, secretarial and clerical personnel necessary or appropriate to perform such services; and (d) to acquire such assets and to obtain such facilities and equipment as are necessary or appropriate to carry out such services, and to make those assets available to the Funds; and (ii) since May 1, 1975 (or the commencement of its operations after this date) has utilized Service Company, pursuant to the provisions of the Prior Agreements; and 

Whereas, each of the Funds has further heretofore recognized that it may, from time to time, be in the best interests of the Funds (i) for Service Company to provide similar services to investment companies other than the Funds, (ii) for the Funds to organize, from time to time, new investment companies which are intended to become parties to this Agreement; and, (iii) for Service Company to engage in business activities (directly or through subsidiaries), supportive of the Funds’ operations as investment companies; and 

Whereas, each of the Funds desires to enter into a completely integrated Fifth Amended and Restated Funds’ Service Agreement with the other Funds to (i) set forth the current terms and provisions of the relationships which the Funds have determined to establish; and (ii) make non-substantive amendments to the Amended and Restated Funds’ Service Agreement, including correcting the names of the Funds set forth on the signature page of this Agreement. 

Now, Therefore, each Fund agrees with each and all of the other Funds, and with Service Company, as follows:  

  

  

  

I.

CAPITALIZATION AND ASSETS OF SERVICE COMPANY 

  

1

Capital and Assets.  To provide the Service Company with the cash and with the office space, facilities and equipment necessary for it to discharge its responsibilities hereunder, each Fund agrees: 

A

To make cash investments in the Service Company as provided in Sections 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4. 

B

To assign and transfer to Service Company on and after May 1, 1975 any and all right, title and interest which the Funds may have in any office facilities and equipment necessary for it to discharge its responsibilities and in any other assets which Service Company may develop or acquire, subject only to the rights reserved in Section 1.6 (concerning certain major assets).  Section 5.2 (concerning rights upon withdrawal) and Section 5.3 (concerning rights upon termination) of the Agreement. 

2

Cash Investments in Service Company.To provide Service Company with such cash as may be necessary or appropriate from time to time to accomplish the purposes of the Funds and to discharge its responsibilities hereunder, each Fund agrees to purchase, for cash, shares of common stock of Service Company (“Shares”) or such other securities of Service Company (hereafter referred to as “other securities”) upon the favorable vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares adopting a resolution setting forth the terms and provisions of the purchase.  Provided, however, that: 

A

Without the consent of all of the Funds, the date for the purchase of Shares or other securities shall not be less than 15 days following the date on which the resolution is approved by the shareholders. 

B

The cash purchase price to be paid by any Fund for the Shares or other securities, expressed as a percentage of the total purchase price for the additional securities to be paid by all of the Funds shall not exceed the percentage which the then current net assets of the Fund bears to the aggregate current net assets of all of the Funds as of the most recent month-end preceding the purchase date. 

3

Periodic Adjustments of Cash Investments.  To maintain and re-establish periodically a fair and proportionate ratio of cash investments by each Fund in the Service Company as compared to its then current net assets, each Fund agrees to purchase from one or more of the other Funds, or to sell one or more of the Funds, sufficient Shares or other securities to re-establish the ratio. 

A

Such purchases and sales shall be made (1) as of the last business day of any month upon the addition or withdrawal of any Fund as a party to this Agreement, provided that if the addition or withdrawal of a Fund creates no material disparity in the ratios (as determined by the Service Company’s Board of Directors), and no Fund requests that an adjustment be made, the adjustment may be deferred until the close of the Service Company’s fiscal year; (2) in connection with additional investments pursuant to Section 1.2; and (3) annually as of the close of the Service Company’s fiscal year, on a date fixed by Service Company’s Board of Directors within 90 days after the close of the fiscal year unless there is no material disparity in the ratios (as determined by the Service Company’s Board of Directors) and no Fund requests that an adjustment be made. 

B

The cash purchases and sale price of the Share or other securities shall be for each Fund (1) in the case of Shares, the fair market value of Shares determined in accord with generally accepted accounting principles and procedures established by the Board of Directors of Service Company; and (2) in the case of debt securities, the face value thereof. 

C

Unless specifically required by applicable law, the issuance and transfer of Shares or other securities of Service Company, and the cash investments of the Funds in Service Company, may be evidenced by proper records of Service Company; and no certificates need be issued. 

1.4 Limitation Upon Funds’ Obligations to Make Cash Investments or Purchases.  Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 above, no Fund shall be obligated to purchase Shares or other securities of Service Company if, as a result of such purchase the Fund would thereby have invested in cash a total of more than 0.40% of its then current net assets in Shares or other securities of Service Company. 

1.5 Restrictions on Transfer of Shares or Other Securities.    Each Fund agrees that it will not, without the written consent of all other parties to this Agreement, transfer or dispose of or encumber any of its Shares or other securities of Service Company except as provided in this Agreement, and that, if issued, each certificate for Shares or other securities of Service Company will be stamped with a legend referring to this restriction. 

1.6 Assets of Service Company.The Funds agree that Service Company may acquire, by purchase or lease, office space, furniture, equipment, supplies, files, records, computer hardware and software, and other assets necessary or appropriate for the discharge of the Service Company’s responsibilities hereunder.  Each of the Funds hereby assigns and transfers to Service Company, any and all right, title and interest that it may have or hereafter acquire in any such assets, subject to the rights of each Fund (A) to receive the then fair value of such assets upon the purchase or sale of Shares pursuant to this Agreement, (B) to the continued use of such assets in the administration of the business affairs of a Fund so long as the Fund remains a party to this Agreement. 

1.7 Borrowing by Service Company.    The Funds agree that Service Company may borrow money, and may issue a note or other security in connection with such borrowing, as long as such borrowing, is in connection with the discharge of Service Company’s responsibilities hereunder and is undertaken in accord with procedures approved by the Service Company’s Board of Directors. 

  

II

SERVICES TO BE OBTAINED INDEPENDENTLY BY EACH FUND 

  

1

Services and Expenses. Each Fund shall, at its own expense, obtain from Service Company or an outside vendor (as that Fund’s Board of Trustees shall determine): 

A

Services of an independent public accountant. 

B

Services of outside legal counsel. 

C

Transfer agency services, including “shareholder services.” 

D

Custodian, registrar and dividend disbursing services. 

E

Brokerage fees, commissions and transfer taxes in connection with the purchase and sale of securities for its investment portfolio. 

F

Investment advisory services. 

G

Taxes and other fees applicable to its operations. 

H

Costs incident to its annual or special meetings of shareholders, including but not limited to legal and accounting fees, and the preparations, printing and mailing of proxy materials. 

I

Trustees’ fees. 

J

Costs incurred in the continued maintenance of its corporate existence, including reports to shareholders and government agencies, and the expenses, if any, attributable to the registration of the Fund’s shares with Federal and state regulatory authorities. 

K

And, in general and except as provided in Section 3.2(B), any other costs directly attributable to and identified with a particular Fund or Funds rather than all Funds which are parties to this Agreement. 

2.2 Disbursement of Payment for These Services.   Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.1 above, Service Company may, as agent for any Fund, disburse to third parties payments for any of the foregoing services or expenses.  Each Fund shall reimburse Service Company promptly for such disbursements made on behalf of the Fund. 

  

III

SERVICES PROVIDED BY AND EXPENSES OF SERVICE COMPANY 

  

1

Services to be Provided to Funds.  Service Company shall with respect to each Fund, subject to the direction and control of the Board of Trustees and officers of the Fund: 

A

Manage, administer and/or conduct the general business activities of the Fund. 

B

Provide the personnel and obtain the office space, facilities and equipment necessary to perform such general business activities under the direction of the Funds’ executive officers (who may also be officers of Service Company) who will have the full responsibility for the general management of these functions. 

C

Establish wholly-owned subsidiaries, and supervise the management and operations of such subsidiaries, as are necessary or appropriate to carry on or support the business activities of the Fund; and authorize such subsidiaries to perform such other functions for the Fund, including organizing new investment companies which are intended to become parties to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.4 or Section 5.5, as Service Company’s Board of Directors shall determine.   

No provisions hereof shall prohibit the Service Company from performing such additional services to the Fund as the Fund’s Board of Trustees may appropriately request and which two-thirds of the shareholders of the Service Company shall approve. 

3.2 Expenses of Operation of Service Company.  Each of the Funds agrees to pay to the Service Company, within 10 days after the last business day of each month or at such other time as agreed to by the Fund and the Service Company, the Fund’s portion of the actual costs of operation of Service Company for each monthly period, or for such other period as is agreed upon, during which the Fund is a party to this Agreement. 

A.  Corporate Management and Administrative Expenses. A Fund’s portion of the cost of operation of Service Company shall mean its share of the direct and indirect expenses of Service Company’s providing corporate management and administrative services, including distribution services of an administrative nature, as allocated among the Funds with Allocation of indirect costs based on one or more of the following methods of allocation: 

(1

Net Assets:  The proportionate allocation of expenses based upon the value of each Fund’s net assets, computed as a percentage of the value of total net assets of all Funds receiving services from Service Company, determined at the end of the last preceding monthly period. 

(2

Personnel Time:  The proportionate allocation of expenses based upon a summary by each Fund of the time spent by each employee who works directly on the affairs of one or more of the Funds, computed as a percentage of the total time spent by such employee on the affairs of all of the Funds. 

(3

Shareholder Accounts:  The proportionate allocation of expenses based upon the number of each Fund’s shareholder accounts and transaction activity in those accounts, measured over a period of time, relative to the total number of shareholder accounts and transaction activity in those accounts for all Funds receiving number of portfolio transactions for all Funds receiving services from the Service Company during such period. 

(4

Such other methods of allocation as may be approved by the Board of Directors of the Service Company based upon its determination that the allocation method is fair to each Fund in view of (i) the nature, amount and purpose of the expenditure, (ii) the benefits, if any, to be derived directly by each Fund relative to the benefits derived by other Funds, (iii) the need or desirability for the Funds as a group to provide competitive investment programs and services at competitive prices for the group to survive and grow, (iv) the benefits which each Fund derives by being a member of a strong Fund group, and (v) such other factors as the Board considers relevant to the specific expenditure and allocation. 

B

Distribution Expenses. Each of the Funds expressly agrees to pay to Service Company, as requested, the Fund’s portion of the actual cost of distributing shares of the Funds, which shall mean its share of all of the direct and indirect expenses of a marketing and promotional nature including, but not limited to, advertising, sales literature, and sales personnel, as well as expenditures on behalf of any newly organized registered investment company which is to become a party of this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.4. The cost of distributing shares of the Funds shall not include distribution-related expenses of an administrative nature, which shall be allocated among the Funds pursuant to Section 3.2(A). Distribution expenses of a marketing and promotional nature shall be allocated among the Funds in the manner approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission in Investment Company Act Release No. 11645 (Feb. 25, 1981): 

(1

50% of these expenses will be allocated based upon each Fund’s average month-end assets during the preceding quarter relative to the average month-end assets during the preceding quarter of the Funds as a group. 

(2

50% of these expenses will be allocated initially among the Funds based upon each Fund’s sales for the 24 months ended with the last day of the preceding quarter relative to the sales of the Funds as a group for the same period. (Shares issued pursuant to a reorganization shall be excluded from the sales of a Fund and the Funds as a group.) 

(3

Provided, however, that no Fund’s aggregate quarterly contribution for distribution expenses, expressed as a percentage of its assets, shall exceed 125% of the average expenses for the Funds as a Group, expressed as a percentage of the total assets of the Funds. Expenses not charged to a particular Fund(s) because of this 125% limitation shall be reallocated to other Funds on iterative basis; and that no Fund’s annual expenses for distribution shall exceed 0.2% of its average month-end net assets.  

  

IV

CONCERNING THE SERVICE COMPANY 

  

1

Name.   Each Fund acknowledge and agrees: 

A

That the name “The Vanguard Group, Inc.”, and any variants thereof used to identify (1) the Funds as a group, (2) any Fund as a member of a group being served by Service Company, or (3) any other person as being served or related to Service Company (whether now in existence or hereafter created), shall be the sole and exclusive property of Service Company, its affiliates, and its successors. 

B

That Service Company shall have the sole and exclusive right to permit the use of said name or variants thereof so long as this Agreement or any amendments thereto are effective. 

C

That upon its withdrawal from this Agreement and upon the written request of Service Company, the Fund shall cease to use, or in any way to refer to itself as related to, “The Vanguard Group, Inc.” or any variant thereof. 

The foregoing agreements on the part of each Fund are hereby made binding upon it, its trustees, officers, shareholders and creditors and all other persons claiming under or through it. 

2

Services to Others.  The Service Company may render services to any person other than the Funds so long as: 

A

The services to be rendered to the Funds hereunder are not impaired thereby. 

B

The terms and provisions upon which the services are to be rendered have been approved by the holders of a majority of the Shares. 

C

The services rendered for compensation and, to the extent achievable, for the purpose of gaining a profit thereon. 

D

Any income earned and fees received by Service Company shall be used to reduce the total costs and expenses of Service Company. 

3

Books, Records, and Audits of Service Company.  The Service Company, and any subsidiary established pursuant to Section 3.1(C), shall maintain complete, accurate, and current books, records, and financial statements concerning its activities. To the extent appropriate, it will preserve said records in the manner and for the periods prescribed by law. Financial records and statements shall be kept in accord with generally accepted accounting principles and shall be audited at least annually by independent public accountants (who may also be accountants for any of the Funds). Within 120 days after the close of Service Company’s fiscal year, it shall deliver to each Fund a copy of its audited financial statements for that year and the accountants report thereon. Service Company, on behalf of itself and any subsidiary, acknowledges that all of the records they shall prepare and maintain pursuant to this Agreement shall be the property of the Funds and that upon a request of any Fund they shall make the Fund’s records available to it, along with such other information and data as are reasonably requested by the Fund, for inspection, audit or copying, or turn said records over to the Fund. 

3

Indemnification. 

A

Each Fund (herein the “Indemnitor”) agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, and reimburse (herein “indemnify”) every other Fund, Service Company and/or any subsidiary of Service Company (herein the “Indemnitee”): 

(1

which Indemnitee (a) was or is a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (herein a “suit”), or (b) incurs an actual economic loss or expense (herein a “loss”). 

(2

if: (a) such suit or loss arises from an action or failure to act, event, occurrence, transaction, or other analogous happening (herein an “event”) under circumstances in which the Indemnitee is involved in a suit or incurs a loss. 

(i

as a result substantially of, or attributable primarily to, its being a party to this Agreement, or to its indirect participation in transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and  

(ii

where the suit or loss arises primarily and substantially from an event related primarily and substantially to the business and/or operations of the Indemnitor; and 

(b

an independent third party, who may but need not be legal counsel for the Funds, advises the Funds in writing (i) that the condition set forth in “(1)” and “(2)(a)” have occurred and (ii) that the Indemnitee is without significant fault or responsibility for the suit or loss as measured by the comparative conduct of the Indemnitor and Indemnitee and by the purposes sought to be accomplished by this Agreement. 

B

The financial obligations of the Indemnitor under this Section shall be limited to: 

(1

In the case of a suit, to expenses (including attorneys’ fees), actually incurred by the Indemnitee. The termination of any suit by judgment, order, settlement, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder. 

(2) In the case of an event, to losses and/or expenses (including attorney’s fees) actually incurred by the Indemnitee. 

The Indemnitee shall not be liable financially hereunder for lost profits in the case of either a suit or loss. 

C

Expenses incurred in defending a suit or resolving an event may be paid by the prospective Indemnitor in advance of the final disposition of such suit or event if authorized by the Board of Trustees of the prospective Indemnitor in the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the prospective indemnitee to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that the Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified by the Indemnitor as provided in this Section. 

C

The indemnification provided by this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement or otherwise. 

 

V

TERM OF AGREEMENT 

  

1

Effective Period.This Agreement shall become effective on the date first written above, and shall continue in full force and effect as to all parties hereto until terminated or amended by mutual agreement of all parties hereto.  The withdrawal pursuant to Section 5.2(A) or 5.2(B) of one or more of the Funds from this agreement shall not affect the continuance of this Agreement except as to the parties withdrawing. 

2

Withdrawal from Agreement. 

A

Any Fund may elect to withdraw from this Agreement effective at the end of any monthly period by giving at least 90 days’ prior written notice to each of the parties to this Agreement.  Upon the written demand of all other Funds which are parties to this Agreement a Fund shall withdraw, and in the event of its failure to do so shall be deemed to have withdrawn, from this Agreement; such demand shall specify the date of withdrawal which shall be at the end of any monthly period at least 90 days from the time of service of such demand. 

B

In the event of the withdrawal of any Fund from this Agreement, all its rights and obligations, except for lease commitments, under this Agreement (except such rights or obligations as have accrued prior to the date of withdrawal) shall terminate as of the date of the withdrawal.  The withdrawing Fund shall surrender its Shares to Service Company, and (1) shall be entitled to receive from Service Company an amount equal to the excess of the fair value of (i) its Shares of other securities Service Company as of the date of its withdrawal less (ii) its proportionate interest in any liabilities of Service Company, including when appropriate any commitments of Service Company and unexpired leases at the date of withdrawal; (2) shall be obligated to pay Service Company an amount equal to the excess of (ii) over (i).  Such amount to be received from or paid to Service Company shall be determined by the favorable vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares whose determination shall be conclusive upon the Funds.  Any amount found payable by the Service Company to the withdrawing Fund shall be recoverable by Service Company from the Funds remaining under this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 hereof. 

3

Termination by Mutual Consent.  In the event that all Funds withdraw from this Agreement without entering into a comparable successor agreement, each Fund shall surrender its Shares to Service Company and after payment by Service Company of all its liabilities, including the settlement of unexpired lease obligations, shall: 

A

Receive from Service Company in cash an amount equal to its proportionate share of the actual value of all assets of the Service Company which can be reduced readily to cash. 

B

Negotiate in good faith with the other Funds provision for the equitable use and/or disposition of assets of the Service Company which are not readily reducible to cash. 

4

Additional Parties to Agreement. Upon the favorable vote of two-thirds of the shareholders and of the holders of two-thirds of the Shares of the Service Company, any investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 may become a party to this Agreement and share as a Fund in all of the rights, duties and liabilities hereunder by

adopting, executing and delivering to the Service Company and the Funds a signed copy of this Agreement which shall evidence that investment company’s agreement to assume the duties and obligations of a Fund hereunder.  Upon the delivery of a signed copy of this Agreement, the new Fund shall be subject to all provisions of this Agreement and become a holder of Shares by adjustment in cash investments among the Funds pursuant to Section 1.3.  No person shall become a holder of shares without becoming a party to this Agreement. 

5

Fund of Funds Parties to Agreement. A “Fund of Funds” shall mean a registered investment company or series of a Fund which is managed and administered by Service Company and which invests substantially all of its assets in shares of two or more Funds (or series thereof). 

A.  Upon the favorable vote of two-thirds of the shareholders and of the holders of two-thirds of the Shares of the Service Company, a Fund of Funds organized as a separate registered investment company may become a party to this Agreement and share as a Fund in all of the rights, duties and liabilities hereunder by adopting, executing and delivering to the Service Company and the Funds a signed copy of this Agreement which shall evidence that investment company’s agreement to assume the duties and obligations of a Fund hereunder, except as provided in the following paragraph B. 

B.  A Fund of Funds:  (1) shall not be obligated or permitted to make a capital contribution or to acquire Shares pursuant to Section I except to the extent that the Fund of Funds’ assets are not invested in shares of the Funds; (2) shall not be allocated or obligated to pay any portion of the expenses of Service Company pursuant to Section 3.2 except as determined by the Board of Directors of Service Company pursuant to Section 3.2(A)(4); and (3) may have the expenses the Fund of Funds would otherwise bear pursuant to Section 2.1 reduced or eliminated by the savings which accrue to the benefit of the Funds. 

C.  Upon the delivery of a signed copy of this Agreement, the Fund of Funds shall be subject to all the provisions of this Agreement except as provided herein.  

  

VI

GENERAL 

  

1

Definition of Certain Terms.  As used in this Agreement, the terms set forth below shall mean: 

A

“Fair Value of Shares” shall mean the proportionate interest, as represented by the ratio of the number of Shares owned by a Fund to the number of Shares issued and outstanding, in all assets of the Service Company less all liabilities of the Service Company on the date fair value is to be determined.  Assets shall be valued at fair market value.  In case of any dispute as to the proportionate interest of any Fund or as to the fair value of the Shares, the issue shall be determined by the favorable vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares, whose determination shall be conclusive upon the Fund. 

A

“Person” shall mean a natural person, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a joint-stock company, a trust, a fund or any organized group of persons whether incorporated or not. 

2

Assignment.  This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties thereto, their respective successors and assigns. 

2

Captions.The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. 

3

Amendment. Unless prohibited by applicable laws, regulations or orders of regulatory authorities and except as set forth below, this Agreement may be amended at any time and in one or more respects upon the favorable vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares (except that the vote required in Sections 3.1 and 5.4 may be amended only by the favorable votes of the number of holders or Shares specified therein) and without the further approval or vote of shareholders of any of the Funds; provided, however, that Section 1.4 (limiting cash investments by the Funds in Service Company) may not be amended unless and exemptive order permitting such amendment is obtained from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 

4

Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. 

In Witness Whereof, each of the parties hereto has caused the Agreement to be signed and its corporate seal to be hereto affixed by its proper officers thereunto duly authorized, all as of the date and year first above written. 

  

  

  

  

  

  

The Vanguard Group, Inc. 

  

  

Attest:/s/ Anne RobinsonBY: /s/ Mortimer J. Buckley 

Anne Robinson Mortimer J. Buckley 

Secretary

      Chief Executive Officer  

  

The Vanguard Group of Investment Companies:    

  

Vanguard Admiral FundsVanguard Bond Index Funds 

Vanguard California Tax-Free Funds Vanguard Charlotte Funds 

Vanguard Chester FundsVanguard Explorer Fund 

Vanguard Fenway Funds Vanguard Fixed Income Securities Funds
Vanguard Horizon FundsVanguard Index Funds
Vanguard International Equity Index FundsVanguard Institutional Index Funds 

Vanguard Malvern FundsVanguard Massachusetts Tax-Exempt Funds 

Vanguard Money Market ReservesVanguard Montgomery Funds 

Vanguard Municipal Bond FundsVanguard New Jersey Tax-Free Funds Vanguard New York Tax-Free FundsVanguard Ohio Tax-Free Funds 

Vanguard Pennsylvania Tax-Free FundsVanguard Quantitative Funds 

Vanguard Scottsdale Funds2Vanguard Specialized Funds            Vanguard STAR FundsVanguard Tax-Managed Funds 

Vanguard Trustees’ Equity FundVanguard Valley Forge Funds 

Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds Vanguard Wellesley Income Fund 

Vanguard Wellington FundVanguard Whitehall Funds 

Vanguard Windsor FundsVanguard World Fund 

  

  

  

Attest:/s/ Anne RobinsonBY: /s/ Mortimer J. Buckley 

Anne RobinsonMortimer J. Buckley 

Secretary

            President and Chief Executive Officer  

  

  

  

Signature page revised as of February 4, 2020. 

 

* Funds’ Service Agreement dated May 1, 1975; an Amended and Restated Funds’ Service Agreement dated October 1, 1977; an Amended and Restated Funds’ Service Agreement dated May 10, 1993, an Amended and Restated Funds’ Service Agreement dated January 1, 1996, and an Amended and Restated Funds’ Service Agreement dated June 15, 2001 as therefore amended.

 

11 

Formerly Vanguard Treasury Fund 

646121    


CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM 

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Vanguard Trustees’ Equity Fund of our reports dated December 13, 2019, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights, which appear in Vanguard Diversified Equity Fund and Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund’s Annual Reports on Form NCSR for the year ended October 31, 2019, and of our reports dated December 18, 2019, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights, which appear in Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund, Vanguard Commodity Strategy Fund and Vanguard International Value Fund’s Annual Reports on Form NCSR for the year ended October 31, 2019. We also consent to the references to us under the headings “Financial Statements”, “Service Providers—Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” and “Financial Highlights” in such Registration Statement.  

  

  

  

  

/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP  

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  

February 25, 2020 

  


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VANGUARD FUNDS

MULTIPLE CLASS PLAN

I.INTRODUCTION

This Multiple Class Plan (the "Plan") describes seven separate classes of shares that may be offered by investment company members of The Vanguard Group of Mutual Funds (collectively the "Funds," individually a "Fund"). The Plan has been adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") to allow each Fund to offer multiple classes of shares in a manner permitted by Rule 18f-3, subject to the requirements imposed by the Rule. Each Fund may offer any one or more of the specified classes.

The Plan has been approved by the Board of Directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc. ("VGI"). In addition, the Plan has been adopted by a majority of the Board of Trustees of each Fund ("Fund Board"), including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of each Fund. The classes of shares offered by each Fund are designated in Schedule A hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time.

II.SHARE CLASSES

A Fund may offer any one or more of the following share classes:

Investor Shares

Admiral Shares

Institutional Shares

Institutional Plus Shares

Institutional Select Shares

ETF Shares

Transition Shares

III.DISTRIBUTION, AVAILABILITY AND ELIGIBILITY

Distribution arrangements for all classes are described below. Distribution arrangements vary by VGI business line depending on the eligibility of the client segments to whom they market. Each Fund retains sole discretion in determining share class availability, and VGI retains discretion in determining whether Fund shares shall be offered either directly or through certain financial intermediaries, or on certain financial intermediary platforms. Eligibility requirements for purchasing shares of each class will differ, as follows:

A.Investor Shares

Investor Shares of actively-managed Funds generally will be available to investors who are not permitted to purchase other classes of shares, subject to the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be

1

amended from time to time. It is expected that the minimum investment amount for Investor Shares of actively-managed Funds will normally be lower than the amount required for any other class of shares of such Funds. Investor Shares of actively- managed Funds are typically distributed by all VGI business lines. Investor Shares of index Funds generally will be available to Funds that operate as a Fund-of-Funds and certain retirement plan clients receiving recordkeeping services from VGI.

B.Admiral Shares

Admiral Shares generally will be available to retail, institutional, and other investors who meet the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. These eligibility requirements may include, but are not limited to the following factors: (i) the total amount invested in the Fund; or (ii) any other factors deemed appropriate by a Fund's Board. Admiral Shares are typically distributed by all VGI business lines.

C.Institutional Shares

Institutional Shares generally will be available to institutional and other investors who meet the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. It is expected that the minimum investment amount per account for Institutional Shares will be substantially higher than the amounts required for Investor Shares or Admiral Shares. Institutional Shares are typically distributed by Vanguard's financial advisory services and institutional business lines.

D.Institutional Plus Shares

Institutional Plus Shares generally will be available to institutional and other investors who meet the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. It is expected that the minimum investment amount for Institutional Plus Shares will be substantially higher than the amount required for Institutional Shares. Institutional Plus Shares are typically distributed by VGI's financial advisory services and institutional business lines.

E.Institutional Select Shares

Institutional Select Shares generally will be available to institutional investors who meet the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. It is expected that the minimum investment amount for Institutional Select Shares will be the highest among all Fund share classes. Institutional Select Shares are typically distributed by VGI's institutional business line.

F.ETF Shares

A Fund will sell ETF Shares to investors that are (or who purchase through) Authorized Participants, and who generally pay for their ETF shares by depositing a prescribed basket consisting predominantly of securities with the Fund. An

2

Authorized Participant is an institution, usually a broker-dealer, that is a participant in the Depository Trust Company (DTC) and that has executed a Participant Agreement with the Fund's distributor. Additional eligibility requirements may be specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. Investors who are not Authorized Participants may buy and sell ETF shares through various exchanges and market centers. ETF Shares are typically distributed by all VGI business lines.

G.Transition Shares

Transition Shares generally will be available solely to Funds that operate as Funds-of-Funds and meet the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. Transition Shares are only internally distributed.

IV. SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS

Shareholders in all share classes will receive a range of shareholder services provided by VGI. These services may include transaction processing and shareholder recordkeeping, as well as the mailing of updated prospectuses, shareholder reports, tax statements, confirmation statements, quarterly portfolio summaries, and other items. Each share class will bear its proportionate share of VGI's cost of providing such services in accordance with Section VI of the Plan.

V.CONVERSION FEATURES

A. Self-Directed Conversions

1.Conversion into Investor Shares, Admiral Shares, Institutional Shares Institutional Plus Shares, and Institutional Select Shares. Shareholders may conduct self-directed conversions from one share class into another share class of the same Fund for which they are eligible. Self-directed conversions may be initiated by the shareholder; however, depending upon the particular share class and the complexity of the shareholder's accounts, such conversions may require the assistance of a VGI representative. Shareholders may convert from one share class into another share class provided that following the conversion the shareholder meets the then applicable eligibility requirements for the share class into which they are converting. Any such conversion will occur at the respective net asset values of the share classes next calculated after VGI's receipt of the shareholder's request in good order.

2.Conversion into ETF Shares. Except as otherwise provided, a shareholder may convert Investor Shares, Admiral Shares, or Institutional Shares into ETF Shares of the same Fund (if available), provided that: (i) the share class out of which the shareholder is converting and the ETF Shares declare and distribute dividends on the same schedule; (ii) the shares to be converted are not held through an employee benefit plan; and (iii) following

3

the conversion, the shareholder will hold ETF Shares through a brokerage account. Any such conversion will occur at the respective net asset values of the share classes next calculated after VGI's receipt of the shareholder's request in good order. VGI or the Fund may charge an administrative fee to process conversion transactions.

B.Automatic Conversions

1.Automatic conversion into Admiral Shares. VGI may automatically convert Investor Shares into Admiral Shares of the same Fund (if available), provided that following the conversion the shareholder meets the eligibility requirements for Admiral Shares. Any such conversion will occur at the respective net asset values of the share classes next calculated after VGI's conversion without the imposition of any charge. Such automatic conversions may occur on a periodic, or one-time basis. Automatic conversions may not apply to certain financial types of accounts (e.g., accounts held through certain intermediaries, or other accounts as may be excluded by VGI management).

2.Automatic conversion into Institutional Shares, Institutional Plus Shares, or Institutional Select Shares. VGI may conduct automatic conversions of any share class into either Institutional Shares, Institutional Plus Shares, or Institutional Select Shares in accordance with then-current eligibility requirements.

C.Involuntary Conversions and Cash Outs

1.Cash Outs. If a shareholder in any class of shares no longer meets the eligibility requirements for such shares, the Fund may, if permitted under applicable law, cash out the shareholder's remaining account balance. Any such cash out will be preceded by written notice to the shareholder and will be subject to the Fund's normal redemption fees, if any.

2.Conversion of Admiral Shares, Institutional Shares, and Institutional Plus Shares. If a shareholder no longer meets the eligibility requirements for the share class currently held, the Fund may convert the shareholder's holdings into the share class for which such shareholder is eligible. Any such conversion will be preceded by written notice to the shareholder, and will occur at the respective net asset values of the share classes without the imposition of any sales load, fee, or other charge.

3.Conversions of Transition Shares. When a Fund that issues Transition Shares has completed the relevant portfolio transition, the Fund will convert the Transition Shares to another share class of the same Fund as appropriate, based on the eligibility requirements of such class as specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time.

VI. EXPENSE ALLOCATION AMONG CLASSES

4

A.Background

VGI is a jointly-owned subsidiary of the Funds. VGI provides the Funds, on an at-cost basis, virtually all of their corporate management, administrative and distribution services. VGI also may provide investment advisory services on an at-cost basis to the Funds. VGI was established and operates pursuant to a Funds' Service Agreement between itself and the Funds (the "Agreement"), and pursuant to certain exemptive orders granted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("Exemptive Orders"). VGI's direct and indirect expenses of providing corporate management, administrative and distribution services to the Funds are allocated among such Funds in accordance with methods specified in the Agreement or such other methods as may be approved by the Board of Directors of VGI ("VGI Board") as permitted under the Agreement and by the Fund Board.1

B.Class Specific Expenses

1.Expenses for Account-Based Services. Expenses associated with VGI's provision of account-based services to the Funds will be allocated among the share classes of each Fund on the basis of the amount incurred by each such class as follows:

(a)Account maintenance expenses. Expenses associated with the maintenance of investor accounts will be proportionately allocated among each Fund's share classes based upon a monthly determination of the costs to service each class of shares. Factors considered in this determination are (i) the percentage of total shareholder accounts represented by each class; and (ii) the percentage of total account transactions performed by VGI for each class.

(b)Expenses of special servicing arrangements. Expenses relating to any special servicing arrangements for a specific class will be proportionally allocated among each eligible Fund's share classes primarily based on their percentage of total shareholder accounts receiving the special servicing arrangements.

(c)Literature production and mailing expenses. Expenses associated with shareholder reports, proxy materials and other literature will be allocated among each Fund's share classes based upon the number of such items produced and mailed for each class.

2.Other Class Specific Expenses. Expenses for the primary

benefit of a particular share class will be allocated to that share class. Such expenses would include any legal fees attributable to a particular class.

1In accordance with the methods set out in the Agreement and VGI Board and Fund Board approved methods, the expenses that would otherwise have been allocated to each Fund that operates as a Fund-of-Funds are reallocated to the approved share class of the underlying Funds in the Fund-of-Funds' portfolio on a pro rata basis based on the Fund-of-Fund's relative net assets invested in the underlying Fund's share class.

5

C.Fund-Wide Expenses

1.Marketing and Distribution Expenses. Each share class will bear marketing and distribution expenses proportionate to the marketing and distribution expenses of the business lines that distribute that share class. Retail and institutional businesses expenses will be allocated based on the percentage of client accounts in each share class serviced by the respective business. Financial advisory service expenses will be apportioned based on the percentage of assets in each share class.

Expenses associated with each share class will be allocated only among the Funds that have such share class according to the "Vanguard Modified Formula," with each share class or each Fund treated as if it were a separate Fund. The Vanguard Modified Formula is set forth in the Agreement and in certain of the SEC Exemptive Orders. This allocation has been deemed an appropriate allocation methodology by each Fund Board under paragraph (c)(1)(v) of Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act.

2.Asset Management Expenses. Expenses associated with management of a Fund's assets (including all advisory, tax preparation and custody fees) will be allocated among the Fund's share classes on the basis of their relative net assets.

3.Other Fund Expenses. Any other Fund expenses not described above will be allocated among the share classes on the basis of their relative net assets.

VII. ALLOCATION OF INCOME, GAINS AND LOSSES

Income, gains and losses will be allocated among each Fund's share classes on the basis of their relative net assets. As a result of differences in allocated expenses, it is expected that the net income of, and dividends payable to, each class of shares will vary. Dividends and distributions paid to each class of shares will be calculated in the same manner, on the same day and at the same time.

VIII. VOTING AND OTHER RIGHTS

Each share class will have: (i) exclusive voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders that relates solely to its service or distribution arrangements; and (ii) separate voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders in which the interests of one class differ from the interests of the other class; and (iii) in all other respects the same rights, obligations and privileges as each other, except as described in the Plan.

IX. AMENDMENTS

All material amendments to the Plan must be approved by a majority of the Board of

6

Trustees of each Fund, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund. In addition, any material amendment to the Plan must be approved by the Board of Directors of VGI.

Original Board Approval: July 21, 2000

Last Approved by Board: November 22, 2019

7

SCHEDULE A to

VANGUARD FUNDS MULTIPLE CLASS PLAN

Note: Transition Shares, when offered by a Fund, are available for a limited period of time and are then converted into another share class. For this reason, Transition Shares are not shown on Schedule A.

Vanguard Fund

Share Classes Authorized

 

Vanguard Admiral Funds

 

 

•

Treasury Money Market Fund

Investor

• S&P 500 Value Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• S&P 500 Growth Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• S&P MidCap 400 Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• S&P MidCap 400 Value Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• S&P MidCap 400 Growth Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• S&P SmallCap 600 Value Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• S&P SmallCap 600 Growth Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

Vanguard Bond Index Funds

 

 

• Short-Term Bond Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional,

 

 

Institutional Plus, ETF

•

Intermediate-Term Bond Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional, Institutional

 

 

Plus, ETF

• Long-Term Bond Index Fund

Admiral, Institutional, Institutional Plus,

 

 

ETF

• Total Bond Market Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional, Institutional

 

 

Plus, Institutional Select, ETF

• Total Bond Market II Index Fund

Investor, Institutional

•

Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional

Vanguard California Tax-Free Funds

 

 

•

Municipal Money Market Fund

Investor

•

Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor, Admiral

•

Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor, Admiral

Vanguard Charlotte Funds

 

 

• Total International Bond Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional,

 

 

Institutional Select, ETF

• Global Credit Bond Fund

Investor, Admiral

1

Vanguard Fund

Share Classes Authorized

Vanguard Chester Funds

 

•

PRIMECAP Fund

Investor, Admiral

• Target Retirement Income Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2010 Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2015 Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2020 Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2025 Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2030 Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2035 Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2040 Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2045 Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2050 Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2055 Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2060 Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2065 Fund

Investor

• Institutional Target Retirement Income Fund

Institutional

• Institutional Target Retirement 2010 Fund

Institutional

• Institutional Target Retirement 2015 Fund

Institutional

• Institutional Target Retirement 2020 Fund

Institutional

• Institutional Target Retirement 2025 Fund

Institutional

• Institutional Target Retirement 2030 Fund

Institutional

• Institutional Target Retirement 2035 Fund

Institutional

• Institutional Target Retirement 2040 Fund

Institutional

• Institutional Target Retirement 2045 Fund

Institutional

• Institutional Target Retirement 2050 Fund

Institutional

• Institutional Target Retirement 2055 Fund

Institutional

• Institutional Target Retirement 2060 Fund

Institutional

• Institutional Target Retirement 2065 Fund

Institutional

Vanguard Explorer Fund

Investor, Admiral

Vanguard Fenway Funds

 

•

Equity Income Fund

Investor, Admiral

•

Growth Equity Fund

Investor

•

PRIMECAP Core Fund

Investor

Vanguard Fixed Income Securities Funds

 

•

Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund

Investor, Admiral

• Real Estate II Index Fund

Institutional Plus

•

Short-Term Treasury Fund

Investor, Admiral

•

Short-Term Federal Fund

Investor, Admiral

•

Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional

•

Intermediate-Term Treasury Fund

Investor, Admiral

•

Intermediate-Term Investment-Grade Fund

Investor, Admiral

•

GNMA Fund

Investor, Admiral

2

Vanguard Fund

Share Classes Authorized

 

•

Long-Term Treasury Fund

Investor, Admiral

•

Long-Term Investment-Grade Fund

Investor, Admiral

•

High-Yield Corporate Fund

Investor, Admiral

Vanguard Horizon Funds

 

 

•

Capital Opportunity Fund

Investor, Admiral

•

Global Equity Fund

Investor

•

Strategic Equity Fund

Investor

•

Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund

Investor

• International Core Stock Fund

Investor, Admiral

Vanguard Index Funds

 

 

•

500 Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional Select, ETF

• Extended Market Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional,

 

 

Institutional Plus, Institutional Select, ETF

•

Growth Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF

•

Large-Cap Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF

• Mid-Cap Growth Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, ETF

•

Mid-Cap Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional,

 

 

Institutional Plus, ETF

• Mid-Cap Value Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, ETF

• Small-Cap Growth Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF

•

Small-Cap Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional,

 

 

Institutional Plus, ETF

• Small-Cap Value Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF

• Total Stock Market Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional, Institutional

 

 

Plus, Institutional Select, ETF

•

Value Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF

Vanguard Institutional Index Funds

 

 

•

Institutional Index Fund

Institutional, Institutional Plus

• Institutional Total Stock Market Index Fund

Institutional, Institutional Plus

Vanguard International Equity Index Funds

 

 

• Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional,

 

 

Institutional Plus

 

FTSE Emerging Markets ETF

ETF

• European Stock Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional,

 

 

Institutional Plus

 

FTSE Europe ETF

ETF

• FTSE All-World ex US Index Fund

Admiral, Institutional, Institutional

 

 

Plus, ETF

• Pacific Stock Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional

 

FTSE Pacific ETF

ETF

• Total World Stock Index Fund

Admiral, Institutional, ETF

• FTSE All World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund

Admiral, Institutional, ETF

• Global ex-U.S. Real Estate Index Fund

Admiral, Institutional, ETF

3

Vanguard Fund

Share Classes Authorized

Vanguard Malvern Funds

 

• Capital Value Fund

Investor

•Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities

 

Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF

•

U.S. Value Fund

Investor

•

Institutional Short-Term Bond Fund

Institutional Plus

•

Institutional Intermediate-Term Bond Fund

Institutional Plus

•

Core Bond Fund

Investor, Admiral

• Emerging Markets Bond Fund

Investor, Admiral

Vanguard Massachusetts Tax-Exempt Funds

 

•

Massachusetts Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor

Vanguard Money Market Funds

 

•

Prime Money Market Fund

Investor, Admiral

•

Federal Money Market Fund

Investor

Vanguard Montgomery Funds

 

•

Market Neutral Fund

Investor, Institutional

Vanguard Municipal Bond Funds

 

•

Municipal Money Market Fund

Investor

•

Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor, Admiral

•

Limited-Term Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor, Admiral

•

Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor, Admiral

•

Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor, Admiral

•

High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor, Admiral

• Tax-Exempt Bond Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

Vanguard New Jersey Tax-Free Funds

 

•

Municipal Money Market Fund

Investor

•

Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor, Admiral

Vanguard New York Tax-Free Funds

 

•

Municipal Money Market Fund

Investor

•

Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor, Admiral

Vanguard Ohio Tax-Free Funds

 

•

Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor

Vanguard Pennsylvania Tax-Free Funds

 

•

Municipal Money Market Fund

Investor

•

Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor, Admiral

4

Vanguard Fund

Share Classes Authorized

Vanguard Quantitative Funds

 

• Growth and Income Fund

Investor, Admiral

Vanguard Scottsdale Funds

 

•

Short-Term Treasury Index Fund

Institutional, Admiral, ETF

• Intermediate-Term Treasury Index Fund

Institutional, Admiral, ETF

•

Long-Term Treasury Index Fund

Institutional, Admiral, ETF

• Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund

Institutional, Admiral, ETF

• Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund

Institutional, Admiral, ETF

• Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund

Institutional, Admiral, ETF

• Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund

Institutional, Admiral, ETF

•

Explorer Value Fund

Investor

• Russell 1000 Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• Russell 2000 Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• Russell 2000 Value Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• Russell 2000 Growth Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• Russell 3000 Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

•

Total Corporate Bond ETF

ETF

•

Total World Bond ETF

ETF

Vanguard Specialized Funds

 

•

Energy Fund

Investor, Admiral

• Global Capital Cycles Fund

Investor

•

Health Care Fund

Investor, Admiral

•

Dividend Growth Fund

Investor

• Real Estate Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF

• Dividend Appreciation Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

• Global ESG Select Stock Fund

Investor, Admiral

Vanguard STAR Funds

 

• LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund

Investor

•

LifeStrategy Growth Fund

Investor

•

LifeStrategy Income Fund

Investor

• LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund

Investor

•

STAR Fund

Investor

• Total International Stock Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional,

 

 

Institutional Plus, Institutional Select,

Vanguard Tax-Managed Funds

ETF

 

•

Tax-Managed Balanced Fund

Admiral

• Tax-Managed Capital Appreciation Fund

Admiral, Institutional

• Developed Markets Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional,

 

 

Institutional Plus

 

FTSE Developed Markets ETF

ETF

•

Tax-Managed Small-Cap Fund

Admiral, Institutional

5

Vanguard Fund

Share Classes Authorized

Vanguard Trustees' Equity Fund

 

•

International Value Fund

Investor

•

Diversified Equity Fund

Investor

• Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund

Investor

•

Alternative Strategies Fund

Investor

•

Commodity Strategy Fund

Admiral

Vanguard Valley Forge Funds

 

•

Balanced Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional

•

Managed Payout Fund

Investor

Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds

 

•

Balanced Portfolio

Investor

•

Conservative Allocation Portfolio

Investor

•

Diversified Value Portfolio

Investor

•

Equity Income Portfolio

Investor

•

Equity Index Portfolio

Investor

•

Growth Portfolio

Investor

• Global Bond Index Portfolio

Investor

• Total Bond Market Index Portfolio

Investor

•

High Yield Bond Portfolio

Investor

•

International Portfolio

Investor

•

Mid-Cap Index Portfolio

Investor

•

Moderate Allocation Portfolio

Investor

•

Money Market Portfolio

Investor

•

Real Estate Index Portfolio

Investor

• Short-Term Investment Grade Portfolio

Investor

• Small Company Growth Portfolio

Investor

•

Capital Growth Portfolio

Investor

• Total International Stock Market Index Portfolio

Investor

• Total Stock Market Index Portfolio

Investor

Vanguard Wellesley Income Fund

Investor, Admiral

Vanguard Wellington Fund

 

•

U.S. Liquidity Factor ETF

ETF

•

U.S. Minimum Volatility ETF

ETF

•

U.S. Momentum Factor ETF

ETF

•

U.S. Multifactor ETF

ETF

•

U.S. Multifactor Fund

Admiral

•

U.S. Quality Factor ETF

ETF

• U.S. Value Factor ETF

ETF

•

Wellington Fund

Investor, Admiral

6

Vanguard Fund

Share Classes Authorized

Vanguard Whitehall Funds

 

•

Selected Value Fund

Investor

•

Mid-Cap Growth Fund

Investor

•

International Explorer Fund

Investor

• High Dividend Yield Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

•Emerging Markets Government

 

Bond Index Fund

Admiral, Institutional, ETF

• Vanguard Global Minimum Volatility Fund

Investor, Admiral

• International Dividend Appreciation Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

• International High Dividend Yield Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

Vanguard Windsor Funds

 

•

Windsor Fund

Investor, Admiral

•

Windsor II Fund

Investor, Admiral

Vanguard World Fund

 

• Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund

Institutional, Institutional Plus, ETF

• FTSE Social Index Fund

Admiral, Institutional

•

Global Wellesley Income Fund

Investor, Admiral

•

Global Wellington Fund

Investor, Admiral

•

International Growth Fund

Investor, Admiral

• Mega Cap Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• Mega Cap Growth Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• Mega Cap Value Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

•

U.S. Growth Fund

Investor, Admiral

•

Consumer Discretionary Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

• Consumer Staples Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

•

Energy Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

•

Financials Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

• Health Care Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

•

Industrials Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

• Information Technology Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

•

Materials Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

• Communication Services Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

•

Utilities Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

• ESG U.S. Stock ETF

ETF

•

ESG International Stock ETF

ETF

Original Board Approval: July 21, 2000

Last Updated: November 22, 2019

7

SCHEDULE B

to

VANGUARD FUNDS MULTIPLE CLASS

PLAN

VGI has policies and procedures designed to ensure consistency and compliance with the offering of multiple classes of shares within this Multiple Class Plan's eligibility requirements.2 These policies are reviewed and monitored on an ongoing basis in conjunction with VGI's Compliance Department.

Investor Shares - Eligibility Requirements

Investor Shares generally require a minimum initial investment and ongoing account balance of $3,000 ($50,000 for Vanguard Treasury Money Market Fund). Personal Advisor Services clients, clients investing through financial intermediaries, and institutional clients may hold Investor Shares without restriction in Funds that do not offer Admiral Shares. Investor Shares of index Funds generally are available only to Funds that operate as a Fund-of-Funds and certain retirement plan clients receiving recordkeeping services from VGI. A Vanguard Fund may, from time to time, establish higher or lower minimum amounts for Investor Shares. Each Fund and VGI also reserve the right to establish higher or lower minimum amounts for certain investors or a group of investors.

Financial intermediaries that serve as mutual fund supermarkets may only invest in Investor Shares of Funds in which Investor Shares are available and may not invest in other share classes of such Funds. Mutual fund supermarket means a program or platform offered by a financial intermediary through which such intermediary's retail clients may purchase and sell mutual funds offered by a variety of independent fund families on a self-directed basis without advice or recommendation from a financial advisor or broker. This definition may be changed or amended at any time and without prior notice as may be determined in the discretion of VGI management. Nothing in the definition of mutual fund supermarket should be construed to prohibit Vanguard Brokerage Services from offering the Funds' other share classes to its eligible clients.

Admiral Shares – Eligibility Requirements

Admiral Shares generally are intended for clients who meet the required minimum initial investment and ongoing account balance of $3,000 for retail clients in index Funds and $50,000 for retail clients in actively-managed Funds. Personal Advisor Services clients, clients investing through financial intermediaries and institutional clients may hold Admiral Shares of both index and actively-managed Funds without restriction. Funds may, from time to time, establish higher or lower minimum amounts for Admiral Shares, and each Fund and VGI reserve the right to establish higher or lower minimum amounts for certain investors or a group of investors. Admiral Share class eligibility also is subject to the following rule:

•Certain Retirement Plans – Admiral Shares of actively-managed Funds generally are not available for SIMPLE IRAs and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans.3

•Mutual Fund Supermarkets – Admiral Shares are not available to mutual fund supermarkets, except where a Fund does not have Investor Shares.

2The eligibility of a Fund that operates as a Fund-of-Funds to invest in a particular share class of an underlying Fund is determined by VGI and the Fund Board.

3Admiral Share classes of all Funds are available to 403(b) plan participants in Vanguard's Retail 403(b) business, which is serviced by The Newport Group.

Institutional Shares – Eligibility Requirements

Institutional Shares generally require a minimum initial investment and ongoing account balance of

$5,000,000. However, each Fund and VGI also reserve the right to establish higher or lower minimum amounts for certain investors or a group of investors.

Institutional Share class eligibility also is subject to the following special rules:4

•Retail clients. Retail clients may hold Institutional Shares by aggregating up to 3 accounts held by the same client (same tax I.D. number) in a single Fund.

•Financial intermediary clients. Financial intermediaries generally may hold Institutional Shares for the benefit of their underlying clients provided that:

(1)each underlying investor individually meets the investment minimum amount described above;

and

(2)the financial intermediary agrees to monitor ongoing compliance of the underlying investor accounts with the investment minimum amount; or

(3)an arrangement is established between VGI and the financial intermediary to allow VGI to monitor compliance with the eligibility requirements.

Home office model portfolios offered on wealth management platforms administered by financial intermediaries5 may offer Institutional Shares, provided:

(1)the financial intermediary in aggregate at the firm level, excluding custody assets, has total assets of at least $25 billion invested in Vanguard; and

(2)the financial intermediary in aggregate at the firm level, excluding custody assets, meets the investment minimum of Institutional Shares for the Fund.

A home office model portfolio must meet the following criteria:

(1)the allocations and Funds used in the model portfolios on the platform are set and selected by the financial intermediary (i.e., the firm itself);

(2)the allocations and Funds used in the model portfolios on the platform are not subject to change by individual financial advisors; and

(3)an arrangement is established between VGI and the financial intermediary to allow VGI to monitor compliance with the eligibility requirements.

•Institutional clients. An institutional client may hold Institutional Shares if the total amount aggregated among all accounts held by such a client (including accounts held through financial intermediaries) and invested in the Fund is at least $5 million (or such higher minimum required by

the individual Fund). Such an institutional client must disclose to VGI on behalf of its accounts the following: (1) that the client acts as a common-decision maker6 for each account; and (2) the total

4The following special rules also apply to Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund – Admiral Shares.

5For purposes of this Schedule B, this is not intended to include robo advisors.

6For purposes of this Schedule B, a common-decision maker includes, but is not limited to, a corporate entity that controls

multiple pools of assets invested in a Fund. For example, a corporate entity that acts as a plan sponsor for a retirement plan may have one or more investment committees or boards of trustees overseeing both the retirement plan account as well as other accounts invested in the Fund. In this case, the corporate entity would be considered a common-decision maker for each account where there is a common membership across each investment committee or governing body making investment decisions for each account. Common-decision makers do not include financial intermediaries.

balance in each account in the Fund.

•Institutional clients with assets in certain Vanguard collective investment trusts and Funds. Institutional clients with assets in the following collective investment trusts and Funds may aggregate such assets with assets invested in the corresponding Funds listed below in the right column ("Corresponding Funds") for purposes of meeting the investment minimum for Institutional Shares of the Corresponding Funds.

Trust/Fund

Corresponding Fund

Vanguard Institutional Total Stock

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index

Market Index Trust

Fund

Vanguard Institutional Total Stock

Vanguard Institutional Total Stock

Market Index Trust

Market Index Fund

Vanguard Institutional Total Bond

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index

Market Index Trust

Fund

Vanguard Institutional Total

Vanguard Total International Stock

International Stock Market Index Trust

Market Index Fund

Vanguard Institutional 500 Index Trust

Vanguard Institutional Index Fund

Vanguard Institutional 500 Index Trust

Vanguard 500 Index Fund

Vanguard Institutional Extended Market

Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund

Index Trust

 

Vanguard Employee Benefit Index

Vanguard Institutional Index Fund

Fund

 

Vanguard Employee Benefit Index

Vanguard 500 Index Fund

Fund

 

Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index

Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index

Trust

Fund

Vanguard Russell 1000 Value Index

Vanguard Russell 1000 Value Index

Trust

Fund

Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index

Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index

Trust

Fund

Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Index

Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Index

Trust

Fund

Vanguard Target Retirement Trust

Vanguard Institutional Target

 

Retirement Fund (full suite)

•Investment by Vanguard Target Retirement Collective Trust. A Vanguard Target Retirement Trust that is a collective trust exempt from regulation under the Investment Company Act and that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in underlying Funds (a "TRT") may hold Institutional Shares of an underlying Fund whether or not its investment meets the minimum investment threshold specified above.

•Accumulation Period Accounts funded through regular contributions (e.g., employer sponsored participant contribution plans), whose assets are expected to quickly achieve eligibility levels, may qualify for Institutional Shares upon account creation, rather than undergoing the conversion process shortly after account set-up if VGI management determines that the account will become eligible for Institutional Shares within a limited period of time (generally 90 days). The accumulation period eligibility is subject to the discretion of VGI management.

Institutional Plus Shares - Eligibility Requirements

Institutional Plus Shares generally require a minimum initial investment and ongoing account balance of $100,000,000. However, each Fund and VGI also reserve the right to establish higher or lower minimum amounts for certain investors or a group of investors. Institutional Plus Share class eligibility also is subject to the following special rules:

•Retail clients. Retail clients may hold Institutional Plus Shares by aggregating up to 3 accounts held by the same client (same tax I.D. number) in a single Fund. For purposes of this rule, VGI management is authorized to permit aggregation of a greater number of accounts in the case of clients whose aggregate assets within the Funds are expected to generate substantial economies in the servicing of their accounts.

•Institutional clients. An institutional client may hold Institutional Plus Shares if the total amount aggregated among all accounts held by such client (including accounts held through financial intermediaries) and invested in the Fund is at least $100 million (or such higher or lower minimum required by the individual Fund). Such an institutional client must disclose to VGI on behalf of its accounts the following: (1) that the client acts as a common-decision maker for each account; and

(2) the total balance in each account held in the Fund.

•Institutional clients with assets in certain Vanguard collective investment trusts and Funds. Institutional clients with assets in the following collective investment trusts and Funds may aggregate such assets with assets invested in the corresponding Funds listed below in the right column ("Corresponding Funds") for purposes of meeting the investment minimum for Institutional Plus Shares of the Corresponding Funds.

Trust/Fund

Corresponding Fund

Vanguard Institutional Total Stock

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index

Market Index Trust

Fund

Vanguard Institutional Total Stock

Vanguard Institutional Total Stock

Market Index Trust

Market Index Fund

Vanguard Institutional Total Bond

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index

Market Index Trust

Fund

Vanguard Institutional Total

Vanguard Total International Stock

International Stock Market Index Trust

Market Index Fund

Vanguard Institutional 500 Index Trust

Vanguard Institutional Index Fund

Vanguard Institutional 500 Index Trust

Vanguard 500 Index Fund

Vanguard Institutional Extended Market

Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund

Index Trust

 

Vanguard Employee Benefit Index

Vanguard Institutional Index Fund

Fund

 

Vanguard Employee Benefit Index

Vanguard 500 Index Fund

Fund

 

Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index

Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index

Trust

Fund

Vanguard Russell 1000 Value Index

Vanguard Russell 1000 Value Index

Trust

Fund

Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index

Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index

Trust

Fund

Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Index

Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Index

Trust

Fund

Vanguard Target Retirement Trust

Vanguard Institutional Target

 

Retirement Fund (full suite)

•Financial intermediary clients. Financial intermediaries generally may hold Institutional Plus Shares for the benefit of their underlying clients provided that:

(1)each underlying investor individually meets the investment minimum amount described above;

and

(2)the financial intermediary agrees to monitor ongoing compliance of the underlying investor accounts with the investment minimum amount; or

(3)an arrangement is established between VGI and the financial intermediary to allow VGI to monitor compliance with the eligibility requirements.

Home office model portfolios offered on wealth management platforms administered by financial intermediaries may offer Institutional Plus Shares, provided:

(1)the financial intermediary in aggregate at the firm level, excluding custody assets, has total assets of at least $25 billion invested in Vanguard; and

(2)the financial intermediary in aggregate at the firm level, excluding custody assets, meets the investment minimum of Institutional Plus Shares for the Fund.

A home office model portfolio must meet the following criteria:

(1)the allocations and Funds used in the model portfolios on the platform are set and selected by the financial intermediary (i.e., the firm itself);

(2)the allocations and Funds used in the model portfolios on the platform are not subject to change by individual financial advisors; and

(3)an arrangement is established between VGI and the financial intermediary to allow VGI to monitor compliance with the eligibility requirements.

•Accumulation Period - Accounts funded through regular contributions (e.g., employer sponsored participant contribution plans), whose assets are expected to quickly achieve eligibility levels, may qualify for Institutional Plus Shares upon account creation, rather than undergoing the conversion process shortly after account set-up if VGI management determines that the account will become eligible for Institutional Plus Shares within a limited period of time (generally 90 days). The accumulation period eligibility is subject to the discretion of VGI management.

•Asset Allocation Models - Clients with defined asset allocation models whose assets meet eligibility requirements may qualify for Institutional Plus Shares if such models comply with policies and procedures that have been approved by VGI management.

Institutional Select Shares - Eligibility Requirements

Institutional Select Shares generally require a minimum initial investment and ongoing account balance of $3,000,000,000. However, each Fund and VGI also reserve the right to establish higher or lower minimum amounts for certain investors or a group of investors. Institutional Select Share class eligibility also is subject to the following special rules:

•Institutional clients. An institutional client may hold Institutional Select Shares if the total amount aggregated among all accounts held by such client (including accounts held through financial intermediaries) and invested in the Fund is at least $3 billion (or such higher or lower minimum required by the individual Fund). Such an institutional client must disclose to VGI on behalf of its accounts the following: (1) the client acts as a common-decision maker for each account; and (2) the total balance in each account in the Fund.

•Financial intermediary clients. Financial intermediaries generally may hold Institutional Select Shares for the benefit of their underlying clients provided that:

(1)each underlying investor individually meets the investment minimum amount described above;

and

(2)the financial intermediary agrees to monitor ongoing compliance of the underlying investor accounts with the investment minimum amount; or

(3)an arrangement is established between VGI and the financial intermediary to allow VGI to monitor compliance with the eligibility requirements.

•Accumulation Period - Accounts funded through regular contributions (e.g. employer sponsored participant contribution plans), whose assets are expected to quickly achieve eligibility levels, may qualify for Institutional Select Shares upon account creation, rather than undergoing the conversion process shortly after account set-up, if VGI management determines that the account will become eligible for Institutional Select Shares within a limited period of time (generally 90 days). The accumulation period eligibility is subject to the discretion of VGI management.

•Investment by VGI collective investment trusts with a similar mandate. A VGI collective investment trust exempt from regulation under the Investment Company Act and that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in an underlying Fund with an index-based mandate may hold Institutional Select Shares of an underlying Fund with a similar index-based mandate whether or not its investment meets the minimum investment threshold specified above.

ETF Shares – Eligibility Requirements

The eligibility requirements for ETF Shares will be set forth in the Fund's registration statement. To be eligible to purchase ETF Shares directly from a Fund, an investor must be (or must purchase through) an Authorized Participant, as defined in Paragraph III.F of the Multiple Class Plan. Investors purchasing ETF Shares from a Fund must purchase a minimum number of shares, known as a Creation Unit. The number of ETF Shares in a Creation Unit may vary from Fund to Fund, and will be set forth in the relevant Fund's prospectus. The value of a Fund's Creation Unit will vary with the net asset value of the

Fund's ETF Shares, but is expected to be several million dollars. An eligible investor generally must purchase a Creation Unit by depositing a prescribed basket consisting predominantly of securities with the Fund.

Transition Shares – Eligibility Requirements

Transition Shares will be offered only to Funds that operate as a Fund-of-Funds and only by an underlying Fund (i) that is receiving assets in kind from one or more Funds and (ii) that will "transition" those in-kind assets by selling some or all of them and using the proceeds to purchase different assets. There is no minimum investment amount for Transition Shares.

Original Board Approval: July 21, 2000

Last Approved by Board: November 22, 2019


PDFtoHTML Conversion Output

code of ethics

1

code of ethics

I.INTRODUCTION

This Code of Ethics and the provisions contained herein (this "Code"), to the extent consistent with local laws and regulations, applies to all employees (including interns and temporary employees with assignments of 10 calendar days or more), senior executives, partners, officers and certain other individuals as designated by an Approving Officer (referred to herein collectively as "employees") of Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. and its subsidiaries and affiliates, but excluding any entity (other than sub-funds and special purpose entities) in which any fund or separate account managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. or its affiliates has made, directly or indirectly, an investment (including any joint ventures) (collectively, "Oaktree"). Certain individuals subject to this Code may be independent contractors to Oaktree or employees of outside service providers; nothing herein is intended to affect the status of such individuals' relationship with Oaktree. Every employee should consider himself or herself subject to the requirements of the Code unless otherwise specifically exempted pursuant to Article V of this Code by Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer.

The following policies are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set out within this Code:

∙Personal Investment Transactions Policy;

∙Insider Trading Policy;

∙Expert Network Policy;

∙Gifts, Meals, Entertainment Travel and Lodging Policy;

∙Political Activity Policy; and

∙Outside Activity Policy.

Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer has been designated as the individual with responsibility to explain and implement this Code and to provide to all such persons this Code and any amendments thereto. The Chief Compliance Officer may delegate such responsibilities, as necessary. Receipt of this Code satisfies Oaktree's obligation to notify all employees of their obligations.

standards of conduct

This Code is based on the principle that Oaktree employees owe a fiduciary duty to the clients of Oaktree. This duty of care, integrity, honesty and good faith for all employees is expressed in the general guiding principles detailed below. As an employee, you should conduct yourself in all circumstances in accordance with such general guiding principles.

•You must at all times place the interest of our clients before your own interests.

•You must pay strict attention to potential conflicts of interest, avoiding them if possible and disclosing them and dealing with them appropriately when the conflict is unavoidable or inherent in our business.

•You must adhere to the fundamental standard that Oaktree employees should not take advantage of their positions for their personal benefit.

Critically, the effectiveness of Oaktree's policies regarding ethics depends on your judgment and integrity rather than on any set of written rules. Accordingly, you must be sensitive to the general principles involved, alert for potential conflicts that may arise between your own interests and those of Oaktree or its clients, and aware of the purposes of the Code and the specific policies, procedures and examples provided throughout this document.

Sometimes it may be difficult to determine what behavior is necessary or appropriate in order to adhere to these general principles, so this Code contains several guidelines for proper conduct and related examples. Some examples of activities in which you may engage that could potentially pose a conflict include:

•Contracting on Oaktree's behalf with a vendor of which the CEO or other senior executive is your family member.

•Placing a trade on behalf of an Oaktree client or fund with a securities broker with whom you recently attended a high profile entertainment event.

∙Acquiring property leased by Oaktree or that an Oaktree strategy is considering for acquisition.

•Contributing to the campaign of a political candidate for a position that oversees the selection of investment managers for a public retirement plan that is a client or prospective client of Oaktree.

•Serving as a trustee of a foundation or a director of a company that is a prospective client of Oaktree.

•Frequently attending entertainment events at the invitation of service providers engaged by or seeking business from Oaktree.

•Accepting outside employment that interferes with your responsibilities at Oaktree.

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code of ethics

•Owning an interest in a company or a property with which Oaktree, its funds, accounts or a portfolio company conducts or intends to conduct business.

•Soliciting charitable donations from outside service providers to your department or that your department is considering engaging.

While an activity may pose a conflict, it does not necessarily mean that you will be prohibited from engaging in the activity. The Legal and Compliance departments will evaluate the potential conflict, advise on the appropriate course of action and implement any necessary compliance controls to prevent a violation of applicable laws, regulations, contractual obligations and/or Oaktree policies. The examples provided above do not constitute an exhaustive list of potential conflicts that you may encounter since conflicts can arise in a myriad of situations. For this reason, if you are uncertain as to whether a real or apparent conflict exists in any particular situation between your interests or the interests of Oaktree and those of its clients, you should consult with Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer immediately. Honesty at all times and in all things is an essential part of your responsibility to Oaktree. A lack of integrity with Oaktree or with its clients will not be tolerated.

II.DEFINITIONS

As referenced throughout this Code, "Access Persons" include all Oaktree employees, except certain persons specified by Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer who (i) do not devote substantially all working time to the activities of Oaktree and (ii) do not have access to information about the day-to-day investment activities of Oaktree.

"Approving Officer" means an officer of Oaktree named on the separate "List of Approving Officers and Chief Compliance Officer". The List of Approving Officers and Chief Compliance Officer is maintained on Oaktree Central.

"Confidential Information" means any information concerning the employees, organization, business or finances of Oaktree or any third party (including any client, investor, partner, portfolio company, customer, vendor or other person) with which Oaktree is engaged or conducts business, including business strategies, operating plans, acquisition strategies (including the identities of, and any other information concerning, possible acquisition candidates), financial information, valuations, analyses, investment performance, market analysis, acquisition terms and conditions, personnel, compensation and ownership information, know-how, customer lists and relationships, the identity of any client, investor, partner, portfolio company, customer vendor or any other third party, and supplier lists and relationships, as well as all other secret, confidential or proprietary information belonging to Oaktree. Information generally known to the public, other than as a result of improper disclosure by an Oaktree employee, does not constitute Confidential Information.

"Intellectual Property" means (a) any and all investment or trading records, agreements or data; (b) any and all financial and other analytic models, records, data, methodologies or software; (c) any and all investment advisory contracts, fee schedules and investment performance data; (d) any and all investment agreements, limited partnership agreements, subscription agreements, private placement memorandums and other offering documents and materials; (e) any and all client, investor or vendor lists, records or contact data; (f) any and all other documents, records, materials, data, trade secrets and other incidents of any business carried on by Oaktree or learned, created, developed or carried on by any employee of Oaktree (in whatever form, including print, computer file, diskette or otherwise); and (g) all trade names, services marks and logos under which Oaktree does business, and any combinations or variations thereof and all related logos.

"Related Person" of an Access Person for purposes of this Code includes the following:

•A husband, wife, domestic partner or minor child of the Access Person;

•A relative sharing the same household as the Access Person;

•Any person who is significantly dependent on the Access Person for financial support; or

•Anyone else if the Access Person:

(i)obtains benefits substantially equivalent to ownership of securities;

(ii)can obtain ownership of securities immediately or within 60 days; or

(iii)can vote or dispose of securities.

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code of ethics

III.GENERAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

confidentiality

The provision of services to Oaktree by employees creates a relationship of confidence and trust. Oaktree employees will come into possession of, or otherwise have access to, Confidential Information which has commercial value to Oaktree's business, including information created, discovered or developed by employees. All such Confidential Information is to be treated as highly confidential and is not to be disclosed or discussed with anyone except as required by law or as required in the performance of an employee's duties to Oaktree, and is not to be used for the benefit of any employee or to the detriment of Oaktree, in each case unless expressly permitted by Oaktree's General Counsel. Employees may not take, remove or retain upon ceasing to be an employee for any reason any document, paper, electronic file or other storage medium containing or relating to any Confidential Information, any Intellectual Property or any physical property of Oaktree. All Intellectual Property of Oaktree is the exclusive property of Oaktree and is intended for Oaktree's sole use.

Employees will generally be subject to one or more agreements addressing the use of confidential Oaktree information and intellectual property in connection with their provision of services to Oaktree. Such agreements may contain more restrictive or detailed obligations than those set forth in this Code. Nothing in this Code is intended to limit any employee's obligations, or Oaktree's rights, under any such agreement.

compliance with laws and regulations

All employees are expected to be familiar and comply with the laws and regulations applicable to their day-to-day responsibilities, including the relevant securities laws and regulations applicable to their activities. In some cases, this may involve the securities laws and regulations of multiple jurisdictions. If you have any questions about any such law or regulation, you should consult Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer. If you become aware of any violations of this Code, you should report them, in accordance with local law requirements. See Article V of this Code for further discussion.

business opportunities that rightfully belong to oaktree

Employees must not take for their own advantage an opportunity that rightfully belongs to Oaktree or its clients. Whenever Oaktree has been actively soliciting a business opportunity, or the opportunity has been offered to Oaktree or Oaktree-managed funds or accounts, or Oaktree facilities or personnel have been used in pursuing the opportunity, that opportunity rightfully belongs to Oaktree and not to employees who may be in a position to divert the opportunity for their own benefit.

Examples of improperly taking advantage of a corporate opportunity include:

∙Selling information to which an employee has access because of the employee's position.

∙Receiving a commission or fee on a transaction which would otherwise accrue to Oaktree or its clients.

∙Diverting business from Oaktree.

personal dealings with oaktree business contacts

Employees are generally prohibited from leveraging relationships with Oaktree clients, vendors and other business contacts ("Oaktree Contacts") gained during the course of their employment for personal purposes. Personal purposes include, but are not limited to the solicitation of political contributions and charitable donations. You should reference the Political Activity policy and the section of this Code on solicitation of charitable contributions in for specific obligations in these two areas. In certain limited situations, employees may be permitted to conduct such activities with Oaktree Contacts, subject to the prior approval of the employee's Department Head, the Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer and, in certain circumstances, the Chief Executive Officer.

soliciting charitable donations

While employees are generally prohibited from leveraging relationships with Oaktree Contacts for personal purposes, you may solicit charitable donations from Oaktree Contacts, subject to the following conditions:

•Before soliciting any donations from Oaktree Contacts, all Oaktree employees must first obtain approval from your Department Head and the Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer. Pre-approval is required even if a personal relationship exists with an Oaktree Contact.

•Soliciting a charitable donation from someone in exchange for business, a favor, preferential treatment and/or similar commitments or guarantees of reciprocity are strictly prohibited.

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code of ethics

•Neither the Oaktree employee soliciting the donation nor the employee's immediate family members should personally benefit from the resulting donation.

∙Oaktree employees who are directly or indirectly involved in contract negotiations are prohibited from soliciting charitable donations from Oaktree Contacts actively involved in a current negotiation or RFP process.

Pre-approval requests to solicit donations from Oaktree Contacts should be initiated by contacting your Department Head and the Compliance department. Each request will be evaluated for potential conflicts, regulatory risk and/or reputational risk that the request may pose to the firm, with full consideration of our fiduciary responsibility to Oaktree's clients. In certain circumstances, Compliance will seek approval from the Global Head of Marketing (or his or her designee) as well as the Chief Executive Officer. The decision to approve or deny any request for pre-approval to solicit charitable donations will remain in the sole discretion of the relevant Department Head, the Chief Compliance Officer and/or the relevant Approving Officer.

giving advice to clients

No Oaktree employee may provide legal advice to Oaktree's clients. You should avoid statements that might be interpreted as legal advice and refer questions in this area to Oaktree's Legal department. No Oaktree employee may give clients advice on tax matters, the preparation of tax returns or investment decisions, except as may be appropriate in the performance of an official fiduciary or advisory responsibility or as otherwise required in the ordinary course of your duties.

IV. OTHER EMPLOYEE CONDUCT

personal financial responsibility

It is important that employees properly manage their personal finances. Imprudent personal financial management may affect job performance and lead to more serious consequences for employees in positions of trust. In particular, you are not permitted to borrow from clients, or from providers of goods or services with whom Oaktree deals, except those who engage in lending in the usual course of their business and then only on terms offered to others in similar circumstances, without special treatment.

corporate property or services

Employees are not permitted to act as principal for either themselves or their immediate families in the supply of goods, properties, or services to Oaktree, its funds or portfolio companies unless approved by Oaktree's General Counsel or Chief Financial Officer. Purchase or acceptance of corporate property or use of the services of other employees for personal purposes is also prohibited. This includes the use of in-house counsel for personal legal advice absent approval from the Oaktree's General Counsel or use of outside counsel for personal legal advice at the expense of Oaktree.

requirements for licensed representatives

If you are a licensed representative of any Oaktree entity/affiliate you may be subject to additional policies and procedures.

use of oaktree-sponsored communication mediums and stationery

Employees should use their Oaktree email and other Oaktree-sponsored mediums (e.g., Bloomberg e-mail and instant messaging, SMS texting and Microsoft Lync instant messaging) (collectively, "Oaktree communication resources") primarily for conducting Oaktree business. While occasional use of Oaktree email for personal communications is permissible, employees must seek pre-approval prior to using Oaktree communication resources to conduct personal outside business activities including those involving political, civic and charitable solicitations as such communications may incorrectly imply Oaktree's sponsorship or endorsement of such activities. Questions concerning Oaktree communication resources and requests to seek pre-approval should be directed to Compliance at CodeofEthics@oaktreecapital.com. Use of Oaktree communication resources must also comply with Oaktree's Computer Acceptable Use Policy. All communications made via Oaktree communication resources are the property of Oaktree.

social media policy

The purpose of the Oaktree Social Media Policy, which is part of Oaktree's Computer Acceptable Use Policy, is to establish prudent and acceptable practices regarding the use of social media sites and to educate individuals who use social media sites of the responsibilities associated with such use. Oaktree recognizes that employees may wish to post

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code of ethics

content on the Internet via various social media sites, blogs and tools such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. (collectively referred to as "social media sites"). However, because Oaktree is subject to the rules and regulations of the securities industry, certain postings may be considered to be "investment advice," "correspondence" or "advertising." Additionally, postings may reflect poorly on the employee, and, by implication, may negatively impact Oaktree's reputation. In order to address the potential risks inherent in using social media sites, Oaktree has established certain social media use requirements to which all employees must adhere.

V.EXEMPTIVE RELIEF

Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer will review and consider any proper request of an Access Person for relief or exemption from any restriction, limitation or procedure contained in this Code which is claimed to cause a hardship for such Access Person or which may involve an unforeseen or involuntary situation where no abuse is involved. Exemptions of any nature may be given on a specific basis or a class basis, as such officers determine.

Exemptions from Access Person status may also be granted to any person or class of persons such officers determine do not warrant such status. Any Access Person's request for relief should be in writing and should state the basis for the request. Any such approval shall be appropriately documented and maintained by Oaktree's Compliance department.

VI. ANNUAL COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION AND PERIODIC REPORTING

periodic compliance reporting and training

As an Access Person, you are required to complete all assigned Compliance certifications, disclosures and mandatory training and to do so in a timely manner. Failure to complete such items by the prescribed deadlines may constitute a violation of the Code, as applicable.

annual compliance certification

Access Persons will be required to certify annually, via My Compliance Center, that (i) they have received, read and understand the terms of this Code and any amendments thereto and that they recognize the responsibilities and obligations incurred by being subject to this Code and (ii) they are in compliance with the requirements of this Code.

VII. REPORTING OF VIOLATIONS AND SANCTIONS

Any violation of the Code should be promptly reported to Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer, in accordance with local law requirements. Such reports will be promptly investigated. No retaliation will be permitted against any Oaktree employee who makes a report in good faith, regardless of whom the report concerns or the outcome of the resulting investigation or inquiry. An employee who is found to have engaged in retaliation against another employee for making a report will be subject to disciplinary measures that may include termination of employment.

All employees are encouraged to seek advice from Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer with respect to any action or transaction which may violate the Code and should refrain from any action or transaction which might lead to the appearance of a violation.

Upon the reporting or discovery of a violation of this Code, Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer, in consultation with other Oaktree officers as deemed necessary, may impose such sanctions as he or she deems appropriate. Generally, the first violation of the Code will result in a written warning. Additional violations may, if circumstances warrant, result in escalation to the offending employee's manager and the Chief Compliance Officer, a personal trading suspension, a fine, or additional training regarding the policies and procedures violated. The process of issuing violations and sanctions noted above is a general guideline. In any particular case, a violation may warrant more severe sanctions, including without limitation, a reversal of any improper transaction, more punitive monetary penalties, demotion and suspension or termination of employment and forfeiture of benefits. Any and all sanctions to be imposed will be determined at the sole discretion of Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer.

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PERSONAL INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS POLICY

I.INTRODUCTION

The Personal Investment Transactions Policy (referred to herein as the "Policy") has been adopted pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Policy applies to all Access Persons of Oaktree (as defined below).

Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer has been designated as the individual with responsibility to explain and implement this Policy for Oaktree and all its Access Persons and to provide to all such persons this Policy and any amendments thereto. Receipt of this Policy satisfies Oaktree's obligation to notify all Access Persons of their obligations.

standards of conduct

As an Access Person, you should conduct yourself in all circumstances in accordance with the following guiding principles when conducting personal investment transactions:

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You must at all times place the interest of our clients before your own interests.

You must pay strict attention to potential conflicts of interest, avoiding them if possible and disclosing them and dealing with them appropriately when the conflict is unavoidable or inherent in our business.

All of your personal investment transactions, and those of your Related Persons (as defined in Article II below), must be conducted in a manner consistent with this Policy so as to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or any abuse of your position of trust and responsibility.

You must adhere to the fundamental standard that investment advisory personnel should not take inappropriate advantage of their positions for their personal benefit.

You must not take any action or employ any action to defraud any Oaktree client. You must not mislead or deceive Oaktree clients.

You must not engage in any manipulative practice with respect to Oaktree clients.

If you are uncertain as to whether a real or apparent conflict exists in any particular situation between your interests or the interests of Oaktree and those of its clients, you should consult with the Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer immediately.

compliance with laws and regulations

Laws, including the insider trading laws described in Oaktree's Code of Ethics, and ethical standards impose duties on Oaktree and its Access Persons to avoid conflicts of interest between their personal transactions and the investment transactions Oaktree makes on behalf of clients. This Policy governs your personal investments in Securities, as defined below, as well as those of your Related Persons.

If you (i) act as executor, trustee, guardian, conservator, general partner or other fiduciary, or act in any capacity that has fiduciary or money management responsibilities or obligations which involve selecting, recommending or approving investments in Securities and (ii) have sole or overriding control or authority with respect to such decisions (i.e., you act as the executor of an estate for which you make investment decisions, have trading authority over a family member's account), then any Securities transactions made in such capacity will be subject to the trading restrictions set forth herein. You should review the restrictions on your ability to act as a fiduciary outside of your employment with Oaktree, which are set forth under "Outside Activities — Fiduciary Appointments" within Oaktree's Code of Ethics.

Any violation of this Policy should be promptly reported to the Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer in accordance with local law requirements. The List of Approving Officers and Chief Compliance Officer is maintained on Oaktree Central. Any such reports will be treated confidentially and investigated promptly. Upon the reporting or discovery of a violation of this Policy, Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer, in consultation with other Oaktree officers as deemed necessary, may impose such sanctions as he or she deems appropriate and as outlined within Oaktree's Code of Ethics.

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PERSONAL INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS POLICY

II.DEFINITIONS

"Access Persons" include all Oaktree employees, except certain persons specified by the Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer who (i) do not devote substantially all working time to the activities of Oaktree, and (ii) do not have access to information about the day-to-day investment activities of Oaktree.

"Basket Instrument" includes exchange traded funds, exchange traded notes, closed end funds, unit investment trusts, futures and options on such instruments, and derivative instruments that track or link to an index or basket of Securities.

"Beneficial Ownership" of a Security, means that an Access Person or any Related Person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a Security, even though title is in another name (i.e., has opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in any profit derived from a transaction in such Security).

"Contract for Difference" is a tradable instrument common in UK and European markets that mirrors the movements of its underlying asset. It allows for profits or losses to be realized when the underlying asset moves in relation to the position taken, but the underlying asset is never owned.

"Designated Broker" is an Oaktree-approved brokerage firm for brokerage accounts of Access Persons and their Related Persons. The List of Designated Brokers is maintained on Oaktree Central.

"Holding Periods" are restrictions on how often you may trade a Security.

"Investment Professionals" are Access Persons who are portfolio managers, investment analysts and securities traders. "G7 Governments" include the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada.

"Public Oaktree Funds" means publically traded funds for which Oaktree acts as investment manager, adviser or sub- adviser. A list of Public Oaktree Funds is maintained on Oaktree Central.

"Related Person" of an Access Person includes the following:

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A husband, wife, domestic partner or minor child of the Access Person; A relative sharing the same household as the Access Person;

Any other person who is significantly dependent on the Access Person for financial support; Anyone else if the Access Person:

(i)obtains benefits substantially equivalent to ownership of the Securities;

(ii)can obtain ownership of the Securities immediately or within 60 days; or

(iii)can vote or dispose of the Securities.

"Securities" (or each individually a "Security") includes any interest or instrument commonly known as a security, including stocks, bonds, notes, options, warrants, financial commodities, futures, other derivative products, and interests in private placements, limited partnerships or other entities.

"Spread Betting" is a type of speculative investing that involves gambling on the price movement of a Security, index, currency, or commodity among others. A bid and offer price (also called the spread) is quoted and investors bet whether the price of the reference asset/reference rate will be lower than the bid or higher than the offer. The investor does not own the reference asset/reference rate, they speculate on the price movement.

"Three Prong Test" means (i) Shareholders have the right to redeem on demand; (ii) Net asset value ("NAV") is calculated on a daily basis in a manner consistent with the principles of section 2(a)(41)of the Investment Company Act of 1940; and (iii) Shares are issued and redeemed at NAV and this NAV is calculated on a forward pricing basis (i.e., based upon the next NAV of the fund, not the previous or current NAV of the fund).

"UCITS" stands for Undertakings for Collective Investments in Transferable Securities.

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PERSONAL INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS POLICY

III.TRADING POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS

general principles regarding securities transactions

As mentioned in the Introduction section of this Policy, Access Persons and their Related Persons must conduct their personal transactions in a manner so as to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or any abuse of their position of trust and responsibility. The below outlined requirements are designed to reduce the possibilities for such conflicts and/or appearances of impropriety, while at the same time preserve reasonable flexibility and privacy. Note that your personal trading activity is shared with your manager or Oaktree management.

All personal transactions in Securities, even Exempt Securities, as defined in Article IV, are subject to Oaktree's Insider Trading Policy.

designated broker requirement

All Access Persons and their Related Persons must maintain their brokerage accounts with a Designated Broker, unless an exception has been granted by Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer. All new Access Persons or Related Persons will have specific timeframes during which to close or transfer their brokerage accounts to a Designated Broker. Additionally, if you are a FINRA Registered Representative you are subject to pre-approval requirements in connection with opening new brokerage accounts.

If an exception to the Designated Broker requirements is granted by the Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer, Oaktree's Compliance department is required to receive, on a timely basis, duplicate copies of trade confirmations and, at least quarterly, if compliant with local regulations and laws, broker account statements stating the name in which the account(s) is held and the account number(s).

The Compliance department will request that brokerage firms add Oaktree as an interested party to all accounts such that brokerage account statements (or relevant data) and trade confirmations are sent to Oaktree's Compliance department.

preclearance procedures

Each Access Person must obtain, for himself or herself and on behalf of his or her Related Persons, preclearance for any personal investment transaction in a Security that requires preclearance if such Access Person or his or her Related Persons has, or as a result of the transaction acquires, any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership in the Security.

Unless otherwise indicated in this Policy, you must obtain preclearance for all Securities transactions, including the writing of certain options to purchase or sell a Security, by completing and submitting a request for preclearance within Oaktree's automated personal trading system. You must wait until you receive preclearance through the system or directly from the Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer before entering your trade either online or with your broker. You will be required to make certain certifications each time you request pre-approval, including that you have no knowledge which would cause the trade to violate the general trading principles set forth above.

In most instances, your request for preclearance will be processed on the day it is received by the Compliance department. Preclearance for transactions in publicly traded Securities, if granted, will be valid only for the business day on which you receive it, plus the following business day. This means that the approval will be valid for a maximum of two business days. Approval for transactions in private placements, if granted, will be valid until the closing of the transaction. In either case, if the transaction is not completed within the approval window, you must obtain a new preclearance, including one for any portion of the personal investment transaction that is not completed within the approval window.

Post-approval of a transaction requiring preclearance is not permitted under this Policy. Completing a personal trade before receiving approval or after the approval window expires constitutes a violation. See the Introduction section of this Policy and Article VII "Reporting of Violations and Sanctions" in the Code of Ethics for further discussion regarding the types of sanctions that may be imposed as a result of violations of this Policy.

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PERSONAL INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS POLICY

Oaktree does not make a determination of the suitability of the investment when processing any trade request.

The Compliance department has the right to withdraw previously approved personal investment transaction requests if information is received or events occur subsequent to the approval that would cause the approved transaction to then present a conflict.

trading restrictions

In addition to the more general principals discussed above, the additional restrictions detailed below must be followed. Violation of these restrictions may require reversal of the transaction and/or any resulting profits being subject to disgorgement at the discretion of the Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer.

No Access Person or his or her Related Persons may:

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Participate in an initial public offering or in a public offering of a new issue brought to the market. Exempt Securities as listed below, are not subject to this restriction.

Trade, directly or indirectly, any Security of an issuer that is on the firm-wide restricted securities list or the subject of an information wall under which such Access Person is restricted, unless such transaction is subject to an exemption and is pre-approved by the Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer.

Enter into a short sale transaction or any transaction that has the same economic effect (e.g. short common stock, purchase a put option or sell a naked call option) on any Security of an issuer for which a position is held long in an Oaktree client account.

Purchase and sell, or sell and purchase, the same Security within 60 calendar days. The 60 calendar day Holding Period applies to all Security types that are subject to preclearance requirements. Refer to Article IV to determine which Security types are subject to Holding Period requirements. When calculating the Holding Period, the trade date does not count as day one; you must hold your position for a minimum of 60 calendar days without any opposing activity. The Last In, First Out method is used and is applied at the Security level across all accounts.

(i)This means, for example, that you may not: i) buy and then sell the same Security within 60 calendar days or sell and then buy the same Security within 60 calendar days; and ii) enter into a short sale transaction and then place a buy-to-cover trade for the same Security within 60 calendar days.

(ii)In addition, when opening or building an option position, the expiration date must be greater than 60 calendar days from the date purchased or sold.

(iii)Exceptions to this prohibition may be granted on a case-by-case basis in writing or communicated more broadly by the Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer in the event of a significant market disruption or downturn. If an exception is granted, at the discretion of the Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer, any resulting profits may need to be disgorged.

(iv)Note that if you are an Investment Professional that provides investment advice to open-end investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, additional requirements apply (see not profit rule below).

Trade Securities offered in a private placement (other than those offered by Oaktree) except with the prior approval of the Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer. The pre-approval requirement for private placements includes equity crowdfunding, initial coin offerings (ICOs) and cryptocurrency crowdsales. In considering approval, the Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer will take into consideration, among other factors, whether the investment opportunity the Access Person has been offered should be reserved for the benefit of Oaktree's clients.

Participate in Spread Betting on Securities, indices, interest rates, currencies or commodities. Transact in Contracts for Differences.

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PERSONAL INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS POLICY

No Investment Professional or his or her Related Persons may:

∙Purchase, sell or sell short any Security that is subject to disclosure requirements, other than Basket Instruments, for a period of five (5) business days before or five (5) business days after any related Security (i.e., equity to equity, equity to convertible bond) is traded on behalf of any Oaktree client account for which such Investment Professional's department is involved in the investment decision-making process. If you wish to trade a Security of an issuer that is followed by your department, other than Basket Instruments, in addition to Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer approval, you must obtain approval from your department head.

∙Profit from the purchase and sale, or sale and purchase, of the same Security within 60 calendar days if the Investment Professional provides investment advice to open-end investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (i.e., open-end mutual funds and exchange traded funds). The Securities subject to this prohibition are those Securities and related Securities owned or that might reasonably be considered as potential or eligible investments by such fund (including underlying equity Securities and Basket Instruments) (i.e., equity to equity, equity to convertible bond, corporate bond to corporate bond). The foregoing also applies to short sale transactions.

reviewing transactions

Oaktree's Compliance department is charged with the responsibility of reviewing requests for preclearance to trade in Securities and for performing reconciliations between such approvals and the broker confirmations and statements. No Access Person, who is also a member of the Compliance department, shall be responsible for reviewing and reconciling his or her own personal trading activity. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Chief Compliance Officer nor any Approving Officer is authorized to grant preclearance for his or her personal investment transaction requests, including the requests of his or her Related Persons.

IV. TRADING POLICIES AND REPORTING BASED ON SECURITY TYPE

not subject to policy requirements

The following Securities and any associated transactions are exempt from the preclearance, Holding Period and disclosure requirements ("Exempt Securities"):

(a)Direct debt obligations of the U.S. Government (i.e., treasury securities);

(b)Bank certificates of deposit;

(c)Bankers' acceptances;

(d)Commercial paper;

(e)High-quality, short-term debt obligations, including repurchase agreements;

(f)Shares issued by money market funds;

(g)Shares issued by open-end mutual funds, except Public Oaktree Funds;

(h)Shares or units issued by UCITS funds, except i) funds which are Basket Instruments; or ii) funds which are Public Oaktree Funds;

(i)Shares issued by open-end investment companies which are not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or designated as UCITS funds and meet the Three Prong Test;

(j)Shared issued by unit investment trusts invested exclusively in open-end mutual funds, except Public Oaktree Funds;

(k)Interests in Oaktree-sponsored private funds; and

(l)Securities transactions done through a managed account or blind trust over which there is no direct or indirect influence or control, as long as an Oaktree managed account agreement is in place.

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PERSONAL INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS POLICY

subject only to disclosure requirements

As the likelihood of a conflict of interest with any of Oaktree's investment activities is considered low, the following Securities, including derivatives thereof, and any associated transactions are exempt from the preclearance and Holding Period, but not the disclosure requirements:

a)Basket Instruments;

b)U.S. municipal bonds, excluding bonds issued by U.S. territories (i.e., Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands);

c)U.S. government agency debt obligations;

d)Debt obligations (i.e., sovereign state and provincial (municipal) debt) issued by G7 governments, excluding those issued by the U.S. government;

e)Non-U.S. government savings bonds;

f)Auction-rate money market instruments;

g)Shares issued by open-end investment companies which are not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are not designated as a UCITS fund, and do not meet the Three Prong Test;

h)Futures, options and other derivative instruments on currency (e.g., foreign exchange (FX) derivatives and bitcoin derivatives). Note: currency is not considered a Security;

i)Futures, options and other derivative instruments on non-financial commodities (e.g., pork belly contracts);

j)Interest rate swaps;

k)Involuntary transactions (i.e., assignment of an option position or exercise of an option at expiration, mandatory tender offers);

l)Securities purchased through the reinvestment of dividends in an automatic dividend reinvestment plan (but not the investment of additional amounts under such plans);

m)Security purchases effected through automatic investment plans (i.e., direct purchase plans); and

n)Security purchases effected upon the exercise of rights issued by the issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of its Securities.

subject to preclearance, disclosure and 60-day holding period requirements

All other Securities, including derivatives thereof, and any associated transactions not otherwise mentioned above are subject to preclearance, 60 calendar day Holding Period and disclosure requirements. This includes but is not limited to:

a)Common stock (including Oaktree Capital Group, LLC class A units) and preferred stock;

b)Private Placements;

c)Debt obligations of non-G7 governments;

d)Convertible bonds;

e)Corporate bonds;

f)Shares issued by Public Oaktree Funds; and

g)Shares or units issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in shares of Public Oaktree Funds.

security gifting requirements

The gifting of a Security by you or your Related Persons (including any donation of a Security to a charitable or non-profit organization) is considered a sale transaction for purposes of this Policy. Depending on the Security type you or your Related Person wishes to gift, the transaction may be subject to pre-clearance, disclosure and/or Holding Period requirements. If you receive approval you may only send the instructions to your broker to gift the Security during the approved trading window period. Once a Security that is subject to disclosure requirements is transferred, you should email Compliance to ensure the gifting transaction is properly recorded.

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PERSONAL INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS POLICY

You and your Related Persons do not need to pre-clear the receipt of a gifted Security so long as: i) the giver is not a current or prospective client or a provider of goods or services to Oaktree and does not otherwise have dealings with Oaktree and ii) the gifted Security was selected at the full discretion of the giver and not at your request or direction or that of a Related Person. However, if you or your Related Person selects the Security to be received as a gift, the transaction is subject to the standard personal trading requirements for a purchase of the Security type. As soon as possible after you or your Related Person receives a gifted Security subject to the disclosure requirements, you must contact the Compliance department so that the Security may be appropriately recorded.

V.INITIAL, QUARTERLY AND ANNUAL REPORTING

Every Access Person must complete initial, quarterly and annual disclosures and certifications even if such Access Person and their Related Persons have no reportable accounts, holdings or transactions in Securities during the period covered by the certification. You are charged with the responsibility for making sure your disclosures and certifications are accurate and timely. Any effort by the Compliance department to facilitate this process does not change or alter this responsibility.

It may be possible for Access Persons to exclude accounts held by a Related Person if the Access Person does not have any direct or indirect influence or control over the accounts, or if the Access Person does not have any Beneficial Ownership over the Related Persons account, or if the Access Person does not act as executor, trustee, guardian, conservator, general partner or other fiduciary over the Related Persons account. Access Persons must receive approval from the Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer to allow for this exclusion.

managed accounts

There is no need to include transactions and holdings in an account over which the Access Person or his or her Related Person has no direct or indirect influence or control (e.g., those done through a managed account or blind trust), as long as an Oaktree managed account agreement has been completed and is on file with, and duplicate statements are being received by, the Compliance department.

investment savings plans

The types and structures of investment savings plans or schemes (e.g. corporate pension and retirement plans and schemes, educational savings plans, governmental retirement plans) vary by jurisdiction. In order to determine the requirements under this Policy, you must first determine whether you or your Related Persons have control/discretion over the investments held by the plan or scheme. If there is no control/discretion, then the plan or scheme is not subject to disclosure. If there is control/discretion regarding the selection of the investments and the available investment options include Security types other than Exempt Securities then the preclearance, Holding Period and disclosure requirements apply.

initial reports

All Access Persons must complete an Initial Holdings Report within 10 calendar days of the commencement of employment or engagement. The Initial Holdings Report must include details of all Securities positions subject to the disclosure requirements of this Policy held by the Access Person or Related Persons and must be based on information that is current as of a date not more than 45 days prior to the date such person became an Access Person.

In addition, all Access Persons must complete the Initial List of Personal Brokerage Accounts form. You must ensure that all brokerage accounts for yourself and those of your Related Persons are included on the form, including any managed account or blind trust. After completing the Initial List of Personal Brokerage Accounts form, the submission of subsequent changes to brokerage account information should be conducted via Oaktree's automated personal trading system.

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PERSONAL INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS POLICY

quarterly reports

All Access Persons must complete quarterly Accounts and Transactions Only certifications by the 30th day of January, April, July and October through Oaktree's automated personal trading system. In each quarterly certification, the Access Person must report all personal investment transactions, including those of their Related Persons. This includes all transactions during the quarter, other than those that are not subject to the disclosure requirements and Securities purchased through automatic dividend reinvestment plans as these transactions and resulting positions are reconciled annually as part of the annual Accounts, Holdings and Transactions certification process.

In addition to the personal investment transaction reporting component of the certification, every Access Person must report all personal brokerage accounts, including those of their Related Persons. If the information contained in the form is not accurate, it is the Access Person's responsibility to notify the Compliance department by adding relevant brokerage account information within the automated personal trading system. If an account has been closed, the Access Person must contact the Compliance department who will, after obtaining appropriate supporting documentation, reflect the account as closed within the automated personal trading system.

annual reports

All Access Persons must also complete an annual Accounts, Holdings and Transactions certification due by the 30th day of January using Oaktree's automated personal trading system. In addition to the information included under the quarterly certification, this annual certification must include all Securities positions subject to the disclosure requirements held by you and your Related Persons and such information must be based on such positions no later than 45 days preceding the filing date of the report.

VI. EXEMPTIVE RELIEF

In addition to the Exemptive Relief considerations outlined in Article V of the Code of Ethics, under appropriate circumstances, the Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officers may authorize a personal transaction involving a Security subject to actual or prospective purchase or sale for Oaktree's clients, where the personal transaction would be very unlikely to affect the market for such Security, where the Oaktree Access Person is not in possession of MNPI, or for other reasons sufficient to satisfy such officers that the transaction does not represent a conflict of interest, involve the misuse of inside information or convey the appearance of impropriety.

VII. ANNUAL COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION AND PERIODIC REPORTING

annual compliance certification

As part of the annual certification of compliance with Oaktree's Code of Ethics, Access Persons will be required to certify that (i) they have received, have read and understand the terms of this Policy and any amendments thereto and that they recognize the responsibilities and obligations incurred by their being subject to this Policy, and (ii) they are in compliance with the requirements of this Policy.

periodic reporting

Oaktree shall provide a copy of this Policy to the board of directors/trustees of a U.S. registered investment company prior to being hired as an adviser. In addition, Oaktree must submit material changes to this Policy to the board and receive approval for such changes no later than six months after adopting the material change.

At least annually, the Chief Compliance Officer, on behalf of Oaktree, will furnish to the board of directors/trustees or to the chief compliance officer of any U.S. registered investment company to which Oaktree acts as adviser or sub-adviser, a written report that:

(a)Describes any issues arising under the Policy since the last report to the board, including, but not limited to, information about material violations of the Policy and sanctions imposed in response to the material violations; and

(b)Certifies that Oaktree has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating the Policy.

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insider trading policy

I. INTRODUCTION

The Insider Trading Policy (referred to herein as the "Policy") applies to all employees of Oaktree (as defined in the Code of Ethics).

Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer has been designated as the individual with responsibility to explain and implement this Policy for Oaktree and all its Access Persons and to provide to all such persons this Policy and any amendments thereto. Receipt of this Policy satisfies Oaktree's obligation to notify all employees of their obligations.

general

The prohibition against insider trading in the United States stems from the general antifraud provisions of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Insider Trading and Securities Fraud Enforcement Act of 1988 ("ITSFEA") amended both of those acts by adding specific provisions designed to detect and deter insider trading and to impose stiffer sanctions upon violators and persons who "control" violators, such as their employers. As such, registered investment advisers are required to establish, maintain and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent misuse of material non-public information ("MNPI") by their employees or associated persons. ITSFEA also imposes liability upon "controlling persons" (i.e., employers and individual supervisors) if the controlling person knew of or recklessly disregarded the fact that the "controlled person" (i.e., employee or associated person) was likely to engage in the misuse of MNPI and failed to take appropriate steps to prevent it.

In addition to regulations in the U.S. covering prohibitions against insider trading, there are also regulations in other jurisdictions in which Oaktree conducts business, including, without limit, the United Kingdom's Market Abuse Regime. Oaktree employees should be familiar with such local regulations and seek information from Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer when any questions related to insider trading arise.

Oaktree employees occasionally come into possession of MNPI that (i) is entrusted to them by a company or by those in a confidential relationship with the company, in either case with the understanding that the information is material, not public and is to be held confidential, (ii) has been "misappropriated" from the company or another source, or (iii) in the case of information about tender offers, the information is material, not public and is given by a person who has taken one or more steps toward commencement of such an offer. Various laws, regulations and court decisions, as well as general ethical and moral standards, impose certain duties with respect to the use of MNPI. The violation of those duties could subject Oaktree and its employees involved to serious civil and criminal penalties and the resulting damage to reputation. For the purpose of this Policy, the reference to "company" includes partnerships, trusts or any entity which issues securities.

Moreover, within an organization or affiliated group of organizations, courts may attribute one employee's knowledge of MNPI to any other employee or group that later trade in the affected security, even if there had been no communication of actual knowledge. Thus, by buying or selling a particular security in the normal course of business, Oaktree employees who have no actual knowledge of MNPI could inadvertently subject Oaktree to liability.

The civil and criminal liabilities for misuse of MNPI can be substantial and can end your career. These penalties apply both to trading while in possession of such information and to "tipping" others who trade. The risks in this area can be significantly reduced through the conscientious use of a combination of trading restrictions and information barriers designed to confine MNPI to a given investment group or department (so-called "Information Walls"). One purpose of this Policy is to establish a workable procedure for applying these techniques in ways that offer significant protection to Oaktree and its employees, while providing flexibility to carry on investment management activities. Oaktree's Expert Network Policy, which is incorporated by reference within the Code of Ethics, serves a similar purpose in connection with employees' use of expert networks.

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insider trading policy

II. DEFINITIONS

As referenced throughout this Policy, "Access Persons" include all Oaktree employees, except certain persons specified by Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer who (i) do not devote substantially all working time to the activities of Oaktree and (ii) do not have access to information about the day-to-day investment activities of Oaktree.

"Approving Officer" means an officer of Oaktree named on the separate "List of Approving Officers and Chief Compliance Officer". The List of Approving Officers and Chief Compliance Officer is maintained on Oaktree Central.

"Related Person" of an Access Person for purposes of this Policy includes the following:

•A husband, wife, domestic partner or minor child of the Access Person;

•A relative sharing the same household as the Access Person;

•Any person who is significantly dependent on the Access Person for financial support; or

•Anyone else if the Access Person:

(i)obtains benefits substantially equivalent to ownership of securities;

(ii)can obtain ownership of securities immediately or within 60 days; or

(iii)can vote or dispose of securities.

III. WHAT IS MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION?

Information is "material" when a reasonable investor would consider it important in deciding whether to buy, sell, hold or vote a security. Generally, this is information whose disclosure might reasonably be expected to have an impact on the price of a company's securities. Dividend changes, earnings results, changes in previously released earnings estimates, significant merger or acquisition proposals or agreements, major litigation, liquidity problems, and extraordinary management developments are only some examples of information that may be considered material under the circumstances. The prohibition on trading based on MNPI applies not only to the securities of the issuers to which MNPI is directly related but may also apply to other securities (for example, securities of companies in the same industry) that may reasonably be expected to be materially affected by a public disclosure of MNPI.

Information is generally considered "public" within a reasonable time after it has been disseminated broadly to investors in the marketplace. Tangible evidence of such dissemination is the best indication that the information is public. For example, information is public after it has become available to the general public through a public filing with the SEC (or some other governmental agency if the fact of such filing is generally disseminated), the Dow Jones "tape" or The Wall Street Journal or some other publication of general circulation.

IV. POLICY ON INSIDER TRADING

No Access Person or Related Person may buy or sell a security (or a related derivative) in a company, either for himself or herself or on behalf of others, while in possession of MNPI about a company, whether or not that company is owned by any funds or accounts managed by Oaktree. In addition, Access Persons may not disclose or otherwise communicate MNPI to others, with the exception of communications to Oaktree employees who have a business need to know the information.

V. MNPI PROCEDURES

First Steps. Before executing any trade for yourself or others, including clients of Oaktree, you must determine whether you have access to MNPI. If you believe you have received oral or written MNPI, you should discuss the situation immediately with Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer. You should not discuss the information with anyone else within or outside of Oaktree. Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving

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Officer will, with the assistance of counsel as required, determine whether the information is of a nature requiring restrictions on use and dissemination.

Handling of MNPI. If a Legal department Approving Officer determines that there is a substantial likelihood that an Oaktree investment group or Oaktree employee has received or may receive MNPI regarding an issuer of publicly traded securities, Oaktree may conclude to either: (i) place the issuer on a firm-wide restricted securities list, which would bar any purchases or sales of the issuer's securities by any Oaktree investment group or employee (or Related Person of such employee), or (ii) in limited and selective cases, elect to maintain an information wall with regard to

the issuer, which would (a) place the issuer on a "Watch List" for monitoring of trading activity, (b) bar any purchases or sales of the issuer's securities by any Oaktree investment group or employee (including any Related Person of such employee) that receives the information, but allowing other investment groups not in possession of the information to trade in the issuer's securities, and (c) bar the dissemination of the information beyond certain identified persons responsible for managing the proposed investment in the issuer and impose appropriate safeguards against such dissemination. Where an employee who does not readily fit within an investment group receives such information, Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer (subject to an analysis of the specific facts) will decide upon the appropriate restriction.

Lifting Restrictions. Once MNPI becomes public, or is judged to be no longer material, Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer may lift the trading and information restrictions.

VI. PERIODIC REPORTING AND ANNUAL COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION

periodic compliance certification

From time to time employees who are subject to an Information Wall are required to certify that they have read and understand the terms of the Information Wall and that they have complied with the Information Wall.

annual compliance certification

As part of the annual certification of compliance with Oaktree's Code of Ethics, Access Persons will be required to certify that (i) they have received, have read and understand the terms of this Policy and any amendments thereto and that they recognize the responsibilities and obligations incurred by their being subject to this Policy, and (ii) they are in compliance with the requirements of this Policy.

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expert network policy

I.INTRODUCTION

This Expert Network Policy (referred to herein as the "Policy") applies to all staff subject to the Code of Ethics or Code of Conduct (collectively, the "Code").

Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer has been designated as the individual with responsibility to explain and implement this Policy for Oaktree and all its staff and to provide to all such persons this Policy and any amendments thereto. Receipt of this Policy satisfies Oaktree's obligation to notify all staff of their obligations.

II.DEFINITIONS

"Expert Networks" are defined as entities that refer paid industry professionals ("Experts"), such as physicians, academics, industry professionals and scientists who have specialized knowledge of and experience in certain sectors, industries, products and fields, to third parties (such as investment and securities firms) for a fee to provide information, advice, analysis, market expertise or industry experience for use in the diligence process of a potential investment, formulating investment views or ongoing oversight of current investments. Expert Networks maintain a database of or conduct specialized searches for Experts relevant to a specific inquiry submitted by the client and then connect such selected Experts to the client.

For the purposes of this Policy only, "client" refers to Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. and its affiliates, individually or collectively "Oaktree" and Oaktree staff.

"Consultation" is defined as any discussion between Oaktree staff and an Expert arranged by an approved Expert Network.

"Public Official", for purposes of this Policy only, is defined as any person with legislative, regulatory or any other government approval authority, or who participates in any committee or group with approval authority, with respect to any issue discussed during the Consultation (e.g. an FDA official who has approval authority over a drug of interest).

"Employee", for the purpose of this Policy only, is defined as employee, consultant, advisor, board member or their equivalents.

III.BACKGROUND

It is generally permissible to solicit information and analysis from Experts through Expert Networks under specific conditions and parameters. However, there is a risk that an Expert may communicate material, non-public information ("MNPI"), as defined below, or other information they are obliged to keep confidential. This Policy is intended to assist Oaktree and its staff in the permissible use of Expert Networks in order to reduce the likelihood that Oaktree staff may, among other concerns, (i) receive, directly or indirectly, MNPI or other information from someone with a duty to keep such information confidential, (ii) receive MNPI misappropriated by someone in breach of a duty of trust or confidence, or (iii) trade while in possession of MNPI. This Policy supplements the Firm's Insider Trading Policy which is incorporated within Oaktree's Code and in Section 6 of Oaktree's Compliance Manual.

Information is "material" when a reasonable investor would consider it important in deciding whether to buy, sell, hold or vote a security. Generally, this is information whose disclosure might reasonably be expected to have an impact on the price of a company's securities. Dividend changes, earnings results, changes in previously released earnings estimates, significant merger or acquisition proposals or agreements, major litigation, liquidity problems, and extraordinary management developments (e.g., senior executive replacements/departures) are only some examples of information that could be considered material under the circumstances. The prohibition on trading based on MNPI

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applies not only to the securities of the issuers to which MNPI is directly related but may also apply to other securities (for example, securities of companies in the same industry) that may reasonably be expected to be materially affected by a public disclosure of MNPI. For example, MNPI regarding Microsoft could make it improper to trade in Novell or IBM.

Information is generally considered "public" within a reasonable time after it has been disseminated broadly to investors in the marketplace. Tangible evidence of such dissemination is the best indication that the information is public. For example, information is public after it has become available to the general public through a public filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or some other governmental agency if the fact of such filing is generally disseminated), The Wall Street Journal or some other publication of general circulation.

IV. EXPERT NETWORK CONSULTATIONS

Oaktree maintains ongoing relationships with pre-approved Expert Networks, a list of which can be found on Oaktree Central .  All Consultations between Oaktree staff and an Expert must be conducted through an approved Expert Network. In addition, all requests for Consultations must be submitted through Oaktree's Expert Network Mart Request Form ,  which can be found in the Research Center on Oaktree Central. All exceptions to this Policy should be submitted prior to the interaction with an Expert for review and pre-approval by an Approving Officer in the Compliance department.

Consultations are prohibited where there is likelihood that the information sought or likely to be disclosed (i) constitutes MNPI, (ii) would constitute a breach of a duty of confidentiality or (iii) otherwise would be provided improperly (e.g. provided in violation of an employment agreement, fiduciary duty or obligation, code of conduct, or confidentiality rule or agreement; through attendance at a closed Congressional hearing; in return for lavish gifts or entertainment; or through illegal means) (collectively, "Protected Information").

Free or limited trials with an unapproved Expert Network are strictly prohibited. Requests to engage a new Expert Network should be directed to the Head of Research and Market Data Services, who is responsible for informing the Compliance department.

If an Oaktree staff member believes that an Expert may have disclosed Protected Information during the course of a Consultation, the Oaktree staff member should promptly contact the Legal or Compliance departments and must refrain from sharing the information with anyone, including members within their own group, or trading on such information prior to speaking to an Approving Officer in the Legal or Compliance departments.

The following shall apply to any Consultation with an Expert of an approved Expert Network:

(a)General Consultation Guidelines and Restrictions: Oaktree staff must adhere to following guidelines and restrictions when engaging, interacting and communicating with an Expert Network and their associated Experts. If Oaktree staff wish to deviate from these requirements they must submit a pre-clearance request to Compliance by emailing ENCompliance@Oaktreecapital.com. Any questions should be directed to the Compliance department.

i.Prior to the beginning of discussions with any Expert during a Consultation, Oaktree staff must verbally communicate the following disclosure to the Expert:

"Before we begin our call, note that I do not want to receive material, non-public or any other confidential information."

ii.For phone-based Consultations, Oaktree staff are required to participate using a bridge line (i.e., a conference call number) provided by the relevant Expert Network, to the extent it offers such capabilities.

iii.At the discretion of your department head, Consultations may be required to be conducted in a confidential manner, (e.g., Oaktree staff may not advise that Oaktree is the client or provide their first and last name).

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iv.Oaktree staff are prohibited from exchanging their direct telephone numbers and email addresses with an Expert. Further, any documents to be referenced in or associated with the Consultation and requiring exchange between the Expert and an Oaktree staff member must be sent to the Expert Network for forwarding to the intended recipient.

v.Oaktree staff are prohibited from contacting any Expert introduced by an Expert Network outside the channels provided by the Expert Network (e.g., a call directly with an Expert that is not arranged through the Expert Network's system). Oaktree staff may participate in group educational conference calls and meetings hosted by approved Expert Networks, though private Consultations with Experts at such group meetings are prohibited.

vi.Oaktree staff are prohibited from offering, providing to, or receiving from any Expert, gifts, meals, entertainment, material items of any value or compensation outside the scope of the terms of the Expert Network engagement.

vii.During the course of a Consultation, Oaktree staff are prohibited from soliciting information that would reasonably be viewed to constitute Protected Information. Any solicitation to receive Protected Information or release of confidential information is considered a violation of this Policy and Oaktree's Code, which may result in disciplinary action, up to and including suspension or termination of employment. Additionally, Oaktree staff are prohibited from providing any specific or confidential information regarding Oaktree's business, investments or transactions.

viii.The use of Expert Networks can increase the risk of inadvertently receiving MNPI. Should Oaktree staff inadvertently receive MNPI, it should be noted that Oaktree could be restricted from trading in an issuer or its affiliates until the restriction can be removed. If you believe that you may have received MNPI during a consultation, you should immediately reach out to an Approving Officer in the Legal or Compliance departments.

(b)Restrictions and Prohibitions on Consultations with certain Experts: In order to mitigate the risk of inadvertent receipt of MNPI which would restrict Oaktree's ability from trading in an issuer or its affiliates, Consultations with Experts who are Current or Recent Employees of Target Companies, Current or Recent Employees of Strategy Holdings or Public Officials are restricted or prohibited.

i.Current or Recent Employees of Target Companies: Oaktree staff are prohibited from Consultations with Experts who are current Employees of, or who have been Employees within the last six (6) months of, any target company of the Oaktree investment strategy engaging the Expert, to the extent that the purpose of the Consultation concerns such target company. Oaktree staff may speak to an Expert about (i) the industry in which the company operates generally, or (ii) another unrelated company, provided such topics are not materially related to the Expert's current or recent employer or an affiliate or subsidiary of the Expert's current or recent employer.

ii.Current or Recent Employees of Strategy Holdings: Oaktree staff are required to seek Compliance preapproval before Consultations with Experts who are current Employees of, or who have been Employees within the last six (6) months of, any current portfolio holding or holding with in the past two (2) months of the Oaktree investment strategy engaging the Expert. Approval must be received before each Consultation. Preapproval requests must be sent to ENCompliance@oaktreecapital.com.

iii.Public Officials: Oaktree staff are prohibited from Consultations with an Expert who is a current Public Official or has been a Public Official within the last six (6) months.

(c)Prohibition on Engagement with Expert Networks: Oaktree staff members are prohibited from providing consulting services through an Expert Network irrespective of whether they receive a fee for such services.

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(d)Placement of Executives, Consultants, and Industry Professionals: Oaktree staff who would like to utilize Expert Networks to place Experts in short- or long-term assignments with Oaktree should complete the Consultant Engagement form and submit to ConsultantEngagement@oaktreecapital.com.

(e)Expert Network Responsibilities: Each approved Expert Network has an obligation to carry out the below activities in connection with Consultations their Experts will conduct with Oaktree staff:

i.Prior to any Consultation, the Expert Network should require confirmation of the following notice by the Expert via an electronic attestation or equivalent method:

"The client and its staff do not want to receive material, non-public information that would restrict the firm's ability to trade in the securities or obligations of any issuer, including your current or former employer or a competitor, supplier, customer of your employer or any publicly traded company. The client will deem all information provided on this call as information that would not be considered material, non-public information about any issuer, and the client will assume that you are authorized to disclose all information that you will be communicating. By participating on the call with the client's staff, you acknowledge that the client and its staff have no duty (fiduciary, contractually or otherwise) to you with respect to any information you provide."

ii.After any Consultation, the Expert Network should provide the following or similar notice to the Expert and when possible require an attestation:

"I hereby confirm that during the consultation (i) I did not disclose any confidential, including material nonpublic, information, or any information obtained under a duty of trust, or obtained unlawfully or inappropriately, and (ii) I did not breach any obligation to any third party, including my employer or any former employer, during the course of the communication."

(f)Books and records: Any written materials and notes prepared by Oaktree staff during a Consultation shall be labeled with the date of the Consultation, the name of the Expert, Expert Network and other participants. Staff shall maintain such records in accordance with Oaktree's document retention policies.

V.EXPERT NETWORK DUE DILIGENCE

Before an Expert Network may be engaged, due diligence surrounding its background, policies and procedures, systems and other relevant areas must be conducted to ensure that it is a reputable firm and Oaktree will be in position to adequately monitor the activities with such Expert Networks and their Experts in order to mitigate the risk of inadvertent receipt of MNPI.

a)Initial Engagement Review: Requests to engage a new Expert Network should be directed to the Head of Research and Market Data Services, who in turn is responsible for informing the Compliance department so that they can begin the due diligence and pre-approval process. Approving Officers in the Compliance department will review each Expert Network for, among other things, the adequacy of the Expert Network's internal policies and procedures regarding the onboarding of Experts and prevention of insider trading and initial and ongoing training of their employees and Experts, particularly regarding the handling of MNPI. The Legal and Compliance departments will also review the contract between the Expert Network and Oaktree, as well as between the Expert Network and their Experts, in order to:

i.Assess the Expert Network's adherence to Oaktree's ethics standards. Such adherence should include onboarding and periodic training of Expert Network firm employees and their Experts regarding insider trading;

ii.Evaluate fees to ensure that both Oaktree's usage and compensation of any one Expert Network is not unreasonably inordinate or excessive;

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expert network policy

iii.Require that the Expert Network appropriately assess each Expert's background prior to engagement, based on the Expert Network's business model and the risks that accompany such model. Depending on the business model employed by the Expert Network such an assessment may include each or some combination of the following: a third-party background check, public records search for securities law violations, adverse media search, credential and employment verification and other certain relevant factors. Experts who have been convicted of a violation of a securities statute or regulation, an offense involving fraud or dishonesty or a felony of any kind within the prior five years are ineligible to serve as Experts for Oaktree;

iv.Verify that the Expert Network firm conducts internal monitoring of the use of their Experts and also has the ability to provide clients with reports and other information/tools relating to usage of their Experts;

v.Verify that each Expert Network firm conducts anti-money laundering check of its Experts prior to recommending them for a consultation with Oaktree staff, such as comparison of Experts' identities against the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control or Specially Designated Nationals list, as appropriate. Experts who appear on such a list are ineligible to serve as Experts for Oaktree.

b)Annual review: In addition, the Compliance department conducts annual reviews of the internal control policies and procedures of Expert Networks to reaffirm that such internal policies and procedures are sufficient to meet Oaktree standards. For example, updates to the compliance training programs administered by approved Expert Networks and updates or revisions to the terms and conditions provided to Experts may be reviewed periodically.

At their discretion and without advance notice, an Approving Officer in the Legal or Compliance departments may restrict or suspend use of any individual Expert or Expert Network. In such instances, all scheduled meetings with such Experts or Expert Networks should be cancelled and may not proceed. Such restrictions may be imposed across Oaktree (firm-wide), at an investment strategy level or on an individual Oaktree employee level.

VI. ONGOING MONITORING OF EXPERT NETWORK USAGE

The Compliance department conducts, on at least a quarterly basis, an assessment of the usage of approved Expert Networks. The review may include, but is not limited to:

∙Expert Network usage reports, including a review of Oaktree client account trading and personal trading against the Consultations dates for correlation, if any;

∙monitoring of select calls on an announced or unannounced basis;

∙call frequency between Oaktree staff and a particular Expert; and

∙written notes and materials prepared during a Consultation by Oaktree staff for Protected Information.

VII. CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING

annual compliance certification

As part of the annual certification of compliance with Oaktree's Code, Access Persons will be required to certify that

(i)they have received, have read and understand the terms of this Policy and any amendments thereto and that they recognize the responsibilities and obligations incurred by their being subject to this Policy, and (ii) they are in compliance with the requirements of this Policy.

training

Oaktree will maintain an ongoing mandatory training program for certain staff regarding this Policy. Training regarding this Policy may also be incorporated into general training regarding the handling of MNPI and Insider Trading.

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VIII. ENTITIES NOT SUBJECT TO THE POLICY

Certain other entities, including research-oriented firms and investor relations departments, for example, may be similar to Expert Networks. Such entities may provide consulting services on issues of public policy or provide publicly available information upon request and do not exist to merely facilitate communication between the client and the Experts. Instead, these firms directly perform and provide the public policy research and analysis requested by the client, enlisting public policy experts as necessary to assist in the firm's research. If there are discussions between the client and a public policy expert, generally the firm representatives will participate in the discussions. While these entities are not considered Expert Networks, all interactions with such entities remain subject to the Insider Trading Policy. If there is any doubt whether a firm is considered an Expert Network or if any other interaction is subject to this Policy, Oaktree staff should consult the Compliance department prior to engagement of the firm or interaction. The following are examples of entities not subject to the Policy:

oPublic Insights

oInvestor Relations Departments o Capstone

o Height Analytics

o Observatory Group

o Meridian Research Group

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gifts, meals, entertainment, travel and lodging policy

I.INTRODUCTION

The Gifts, Meals, Entertainment, Travel and Lodging Policy (referred to herein as the "Policy") applies to all employees of Oaktree (as defined in the Code of Ethics).

Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer has been designated as the individual with responsibility to explain and implement this Policy for Oaktree and all its employees and to provide to all such persons this Policy and any amendments thereto. Receipt of this Policy satisfies Oaktree's obligation to notify all employees of their obligations.

general

No Oaktree employee may accept a gift, or be entertained in a manner, that might reasonably be expected to influence his or her behavior or judgment or interfere with his or her responsibilities to Oaktree and its clients. Employees should be mindful of this Policy when hosting or being hosted by clients or other Outside Parties. Items of value received or given should be reasonable in value and customary under the circumstances. In applying the foregoing standards, you should be conservative in your judgments and decline any offer that might reasonably be deemed lavish, excessive in value or frequency, or otherwise inappropriate.

Oaktree employees may not solicit gifts, favors, special accommodations, or other items from an Outside Party. Employees may not accept or participate in any arrangement leading to an inappropriate offer to himself or herself, Related Persons, or any business entity in which a substantial interest is held by such persons. When in doubt about whether an offer of something of value is proper, you should decline and promptly contact an Approving Officer.

Throughout this Policy, monetary limits are noted in $USD, and as such foreign exchange rate conversions should be used to determine the local market equivalent. If local law or regulation prescribe any such monetary limits they will be enforced.

II.DEFINITIONS

"Access Persons" include all Oaktree employees, except certain persons specified by Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer who (i) do not devote substantially all working time to the activities of Oaktree and (ii) do not have access to information about the day-to-day investment activities of Oaktree.

"Approving Officer" means an officer of Oaktree named on the separate "List of Approving Officers and Chief Compliance Officer" which is maintained on Oaktree Central.

"Public Official", for purposes of this Policy and the Anti-Corruption Policy, includes a "Foreign Official" under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and a "Foreign Public Official" under the Bribery Act as well as the following:

∙Full- or part-time government employees, or by regional subdivisions of governments, including states, provinces, districts, counties, cities, towns and villages or by independent agencies, state-owned businesses, state-controlled businesses or public academic institutions. For example, employees of sovereign wealth funds, government-sponsored pension plans (i.e. pension plans for the benefit of government employees), and government sponsored-university endowments.

∙Political party officials and candidates for political office.

∙Employees of public international organizations (e.g., the African and Asian Development Banks, the European Union, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations and the Organization of American States).

"Outside Party" is a current and prospective client, provider of goods or services (including a broker) or others with whom Oaktree has dealings, including a Private Sector Counterparty Representatives.

"Private Sector Counterparty Representative" is an owner, employee or representative of a private entity, such as a partnership or corporation, with which Oaktree is conducting or seeking to conduct business.

"Related Person" of an Access Person for purposes of this Policy includes the following:

•A husband, wife, domestic partner or minor child of the Access Person;

•A relative sharing the same household as the Access Person;

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gifts, meals, entertainment, travel and lodging policy

•Any person who is significantly dependent on the Access Person for financial support; or

•Anyone else if the Access Person:

(i)obtains benefits substantially equivalent to ownership of securities;

(ii)can obtain ownership of securities immediately or within 60 days; or

(iii)can vote or dispose of securities.

III.GIFTS, MEALS, ENTERTAINMENT, TRAVEL AND LODGING RECEIVED

Anything you receive during the normal course of business that gives you a personal benefit for which you do not provide monetary or other consideration is subject to the limitations outlined below. However, you may accept and are not required to disclose items of value given on the basis of an existing personal friendship, unless you have a reason to believe that, under the circumstances, it was provided because of your position with Oaktree, and not because of the personal friendship. Employees should be mindful of gifts, favors or anything of value received from an Outside Party and refrain from accepting anything that would result in the appearance of, or constitute, quid pro quo. In the event that you receive anything of value that raises a concern, immediately notify an Approving Officer.

If you are given tickets to an event to do with as you please, you have received a gift in the amount of the face value of the tickets. In contrast, if you attend an event with the Outside Party, you have received entertainment. Items of value provided to an Oaktree employee's Related Persons are covered by this Policy.

Gifts

You are generally permitted to accept unsolicited gifts from Outside Parties, subject to the following:

∙You may not accept gifts of cash (including gift cards and gift certificates) or securities; and

∙The aggregate value of gifts received from an Outside Party may not exceed $500 in a single calendar year.

If the value of a single gift or aggregate value of multiple gifts received during the course of a calendar year from a single Outside Party is greater than $500, generally one of the following actions will be required:

∙Return the gift;

∙Keep the gift and make a donation to a charity (501(c)(3) or local equivalent) for the difference between the face value of the gift and the $500 annual limit per Outside Party; or

∙Coordinate with Compliance to donate the gift to charity or include the gift in an Oaktree raffle.

Meals

You are generally permitted to accept unsolicited business meals from Outside Parties, subject to the following:

∙The value of any single business meal should generally not exceed $250 per person. If you think the value of a meal exceeds this guideline, contact an Approving Officer.

Entertainment

You are generally permitted to accept unsolicited invitations to entertainment events from Outside Parties, subject to the following:

∙The total aggregate value of entertainment received from an Outside Party during the course of a calendar year may not exceed $2,500. If the aggregate value is to exceed $2,500, pre-approval from your supervisor and an Approving Officer is required. Pre-approval requests should be submitted via My Compliance Center using the Request for Prior Approval of Gifts and Entertainment Received form.

∙Traders, including analysts who trade securities, and portfolio managers must obtain approval from their supervisor and an Approving Officer prior to attending any entertainment event, regardless of value or who is hosting the event. Pre-approval requests should be submitted via My Compliance Center using the Request for Prior Approval of Gifts, and Entertainment Received form.

∙Your Related Person's attendance at an entertainment event is considered a gift and should not exceed $500 from a particular Outside Party per year. For more information, refer to the previous gifts section.

High-Profile Events

A high-profile event is one that attracts broad public interest and extensive media attention and publicity. Typically, tickets to such events may be more difficult to obtain or sold at a premium to their face value. Participation in high-

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gifts, meals, entertainment, travel and lodging policy

profile events offered by Outside Parties have increased potential for conflicts of interest and regulatory scrutiny. As such, pre-approval is required for all high-profile events regardless of value and the standard aggregate gifts and entertainment limits outlined above apply. A separate non-exhaustive list of events is maintained in the "High-Profile Events" document on Oaktree Central. If you are ever in doubt as to whether an event constitutes a high-profile event, you must consult with an Approving Officer prior to participation in the event.

To participate in a high-profile event hosted by an Outside Party:

∙You must obtain pre-approval from your supervisor and an Approving Officer. Pre-approval requests should be submitted via My Compliance Center using the Request for Prior Approval of Gifts and Entertainment Received form.

∙With your request, you must provide documentation from the host indicating the cost of admission or attendance, as well as an invoice for any costs in excess of the annual aggregate $2,500 entertainment events or $500 gift limits per Outside Party.

Conferences

Attendance at conferences is held to the same limits and stipulations as those applicable to attendance at entertainment events unless an exception is pre-approved by an Approving Officer. Pre-approval requests should be submitted via My Compliance Center using the Request for Prior Approval of Gifts and Entertainment Received form. In general, conference exceptions will be granted if the event is solely educational in nature.

Travel and Lodging

In general, expenses for travel and lodging of employees should be borne by Oaktree. Travel and lodging expenses borne by an Outside Party are considered part of the gift or entertainment limits. For more information, refer to the previous gifts and entertainment sections.

Reporting Obligations

All employees are required to report, on a quarterly basis, the receipt of all gifts, excluding those of nominal value (e.g., pens, notepads, cups, etc. with company logos) but including those that are shared with and consumed by others in the office (e.g., chocolate, fruit, etc.), attendance at any entertainment event or conference, and travel and lodging expenses borne by Outside Parties. Reporting of such items must be done via My Compliance Center. Unsolicited normal and customary business meals received are not reportable.

IV. GIFTS, MEALS, ENTERTAINMENT, TRAVEL AND LODGING GIVEN

You must obtain pre-approval from your supervisor and an Approving Officer if you wish to give a gift, meal, entertainment, travel or lodging to a representative of an Outside Party that could reasonably be considered a decision maker for the relationship with Oaktree. Customary business meals under $250 per person are not subject to pre- approval. Requests should be made via the Request for Prior Approval of Gifts, Meals, Entertainment, Travel and Lodging for a Decision Maker form and directed to GiftsandEntertainment@oaktreecapital.com. Providing items of value during business negotiations, requests for proposals, and ongoing bids, are strictly prohibited.

It is acceptable for you to give gifts or favors of nominal value to clients or other Outside Parties, other than decision makers, to the extent they are appropriate and suitable under the circumstances, infrequent, meet the standards of ethical business conduct, and involve no element of concealment. You are prohibited from providing or offering to provide cash gifts, including gift certificates and gift cards, or gifts of securities to a representative of an Outside Party. Providing meals and entertainment that are reasonable and appropriate to such individuals is acceptable. In general, Oaktree does not cover travel and lodging expenses for Outside Parties. Gifts given on the basis of an existing personal friendship to individuals with whom you established a relationship outside the scope of Oaktree business are permissible.

Be aware that many organizations, including government entities and agencies, have their own rules prohibiting or limiting the type and amount of gifts, meals and entertainment that their employees can receive. Oaktree employees are required to adhere to any such restrictions. In addition, you should be sensitive to ERISA rules governing current and prospective corporate pension plan clients and the receipt of gifts and entertainment by employees of such clients.

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In the case of a conference, special client review or other special event hosted or sponsored by Oaktree, all proposed gift, meal, entertainment, travel and lodging expenses to be incurred in connection with such event must be reasonable under the circumstances and must otherwise comply with the general requirements set out within this Policy.

If the item of value involves a Public Official or Private Sector Counterparty Representative, refer to section V below.

If you are a FINRA Registered Representative, you are subject to $100 gift giving limits. See the OCM Investments, LLC Written Supervisory Procedures for more details.

Donations and Stakeholder/Community Relations Expenses

Generally, charitable donations that are made in an individual capacity do not require pre-approval. However, donations in an individual capacity, on behalf of Oaktree or an Oaktree strategy to an Outside Party require pre- approval from an Approving Officer and the Chief Executive Officer. Similarly, pre-approval is also required to make a donation at the request of an Outside Party (e.g., clients or prospects). This requirement covers charitable or political donations/contributions as well as stakeholder/community relations expenses. Requests should be made via the Request for Prior Approval of Charitable Donations form and directed to DonationRequests@oaktreecapital.com. If the donation involves a Public Official or Private Sector Counterparty Representative, refer to section V below. If the donation is political in nature, refer to the Political Activity Policy for more information.

Charitable donations should be given only for legitimate philanthropic reasons such as to serve humanitarian interests and to support cultural or educational institutions. It may be appropriate to make a donation with the goal of generating goodwill toward Oaktree in the community. However, it is never permitted to make a donation to garner favorable treatment of Oaktree by an Outside Party.

Charitable donations will generally not be approved within three months of a commitment to an Oaktree fund or the opening of a separately managed account. Charitable donations to, or on behalf of, ERISA clients or prospective clients, may trigger a reporting requirement to the Department of Labor.

V.GIFTS, MEALS, ENTERTAINMENT, TRAVEL AND LODGING GIVEN TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND PRIVATE SECTOR COUNTERPARTY REPRESENTATIVES

Anti-Corruption Policy Overview

As referenced in Section 20 of the Oaktree Compliance Manual (the "Anti-Corruption Policy"), Oaktree employees are prohibited from directly or indirectly offering, promising, paying or providing, or authorizing the promising, paying or providing of any amount of money or anything of value to any Public Official, including a person actually known to be an immediate family member of a Public Official and a former Public Official, in order to improperly influence or reward any official action or decision by such person for Oaktree's benefit. Neither funds from Oaktree nor funds from any other source may be used to make any such payment or gift on behalf of or for Oaktree's benefit. Similarly, Oaktree employees are prohibited from offering, promising, paying or providing, or authorizing the promising, paying or providing of any amount of money or anything of value to a Private Sector Counterparty Representative in order to induce or reward that person's improper performance of their functions or activity.

Failing to abide by the Anti-Corruption Policy and this Policy in connection with the provision of items of value to Public Officials and Private Sector Counterparty Representatives can result in serious financial and criminal penalties for Oaktree and Oaktree employees, including disciplinary action. Violations of applicable anti-bribery laws, the Anti- Corruption Policy, or this Policy must be promptly reported to an Approving Officer.

What payments are permitted and prohibited?

As a general matter, reasonable expenditures directly related to the promotion or explanation of Oaktree's offerings and/or services are permitted. For example, payments for reasonable meals, travel, and lodging to support a Public Official or Private Sector Counterparty Representative's attendance at a meeting at which Oaktree's investment services are explained, or at a meeting to discuss the performance of a fund managed by Oaktree in which the public institution that the Public Official represents (or private entity that the Private Sector Counterparty Representative represents) has invested. In addition, other expenditures for Private Sector Counterparty Representatives for legitimate business purposes, including improving Oaktree's image or establishing or maintaining good business relations are permitted. To qualify, any expense must be reasonable, bona fide, and consistent with Oaktree's policies and

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procedures. See below for more detailed guidelines, limitations, pre-approval and reporting requirements. Employees should refer to the Anti-Corruption Policy for further information on permitted and prohibited payments under the relevant anti-bribery and corruption laws to which Oaktree is subject as well as the Interaction and Engagement Red Flag and Escalation Guidance - Public Officials, Private Sector Counterparty Representatives and Third Parties document for red flags to consider so as to ensure improper payments are not taking place, been requested or offered.

Limitations, Guidelines and Preclearance for Items of Value Provided to Public Officials

Gifts, Meals, Entertainment, Travel and Lodging

Pre-approval requests to provide items of value to Public Officials should be submitted via My Compliance Center using the Request for Prior Approval of Gifts, Meals, Entertainment, Travel, and Lodging for Public Officials form. Requests for travel and lodging expenses should be accompanied by a general itinerary indicating the value of the travel and/or lodging being provided. Further, any requests for sightseeing or entertainment must be submitted using the form mentioned above and include a description of the items involved and the recipients (including any relation to the Public Official if not a Public Official). Payments for any expenses of a person known or believed to be a Related Person or guest of a Public Official are generally prohibited.

The following limitations and guidelines must be adhered to:

∙Gifts, meals and entertainment limited to $250 per occasion and $1,000 total per year – Items of value provided to a Public Official in any one day will generally not be approved if the value is greater than $250. The aggregate value given to such Public Official in a reporting year should not exceed $1,000. Requests to exceed the $1,000 annual aggregate require approval from the Chief Compliance Officer. Gifts, meals and entertainment to an immediate family member of a Public Official count as gifts to such Public Official.

∙Beverages valued at $10 or less do not require pre-approval or reporting – Non-alcoholic beverages valued at

$10 per person given in connection with standard, customary business meetings are deemed to be low-risk and therefore standard pre-approval and reporting requirements do not apply.

∙Local legal or regulatory prohibitions prevail – If local law or regulation prescribe thresholds or prohibits giving gifts, meals, or entertainment to Public Officials, then this Policy as well as Oaktree's Anti-Corruption Policy prohibit such conduct in that jurisdiction. Consult with an Approving Officer to determine whether giving gifts, meals, or entertainment to Public Officials is permitted in a particular country or local jurisdiction and the relevant thresholds.

∙The giving of cash gifts or gifts of securities to a Public Official is absolutely prohibited – No cash gifts, including gift certificates and gift cards, or gifts of securities should be given to a Public Official.

∙Modest customary gifts only – Gifts should be given to Public Officials only in connection with national, traditional or religious holidays or, where customary, to celebrate significant personal events.

∙No expectation of favorable treatment – Under no circumstances may anything of value be given to a Public Official in exchange for favorable treatment. If it appears from any facts reasonably known to Oaktree that customary gifts, meals and entertainment are expected to be received in exchange for favorable treatment or are so understood, they should be promptly discontinued and an Approving Officer must be notified.

∙Promotional gifts are preferred – Nominal gifts branded with an Oaktree logo are preferred but remain subject to applicable local jurisdiction social and regulatory limitations. Consult with an Approving Officer to determine whether giving gifts, meals, or entertainment to Public Officials is permitted in a particular country or local jurisdiction and the relevant thresholds.

∙Limit multiple gifts and invitations – Multiple gifts or invitations to a Public Official in any reporting year should generally be avoided. For example, no more than one gift should be given by all Oaktree employees to a Public Official in connection with a customary holiday, such as the Chinese New Year.

∙Give openly – Gifts should be given openly, so that supervisors of a Public Official can see that a gift is being tendered (i.e., it is preferable that gifts be sent to the office and not his or her home, hotel or other addresses).

∙Incidental to genuine business discussions – A Public Official generally should be invited to meals and entertainment events only when it is incidental to genuine, necessary business discussions between Oaktree and the Public Official. For example, if a Public Official is visiting Oaktree's offices to discuss a potential investment opportunity, it can be appropriate to take the Public Official to a restaurant for a modest lunch.

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In the case of a conference, special client review or other special event hosted or sponsored by Oaktree, all proposed gift, meal, entertainment, travel and lodging expenses to be incurred in connection with such event for Public Officials must be pre-approved by an Approving Officer. All proposed gifts, meals and entertainment must be reasonable under the circumstances and must otherwise comply with the general requirements set out above. Items of value being provided to limited partners in connection with Investor Committee meetings require Compliance pre-approval and should be directed to GiftsandEntertainment@oaktreecapital.com.

Air travel for Public Officials must be preapproved by the Chief Compliance Officer. Generally, only economy class tickets will be considered. Public Officials should also not be provided with "complimentary" travel on private aircraft owned or chartered by Oaktree. Lodging should be reasonable and in accordance with the standards of the destination. Payments for travel and lodging expenses for Public Officials must be made directly to the provider of the travel or lodging, not to the Public Officials. In addition, payments to cover expenses in excess of modest sightseeing are prohibited. For guidance as to what is considered reasonable, Oaktree employees may refer to the U.S. General Services Administration per diem guidelines .

Political Activity

You should refer to the Political Activity Policy for additional requirements and considerations.

Limitations, Guidelines and Preclearance for Items of Value Provided to Private Sector Counterparty Representatives Gifts, Meals and Entertainment, Travel and Lodging

Gifts, meals and entertainment must always be reasonable, infrequent, customary under the circumstances, and not intended (nor giving the appearance of intending) to influence the individual to secure an improper advantage for Oaktree. Oaktree employees must follow the guidelines outlined above under section IV of this Policy.

It is permissible to pay travel and lodging expenses for Private Sector Counterparty Representatives where it is required for a legitimate business purpose, such as improving Oaktree's image, promoting Oaktree's business, products or services, or establishing or maintaining good business relations. The expenses must be reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, taking into account the purpose of the travel, the standards of the destination and the general anti- bribery principles set out in the Oaktree Anti-Corruption Policy. Such expenses must never be provided for the purpose of seeking an improper advantage for Oaktree. In addition, Private Sector Counterparty Representatives should generally not be provided with "complimentary" travel on private aircraft owned or chartered by Oaktree. Generally, only economy class tickets should be provided.

Donations and Stakeholder/Community Relations Expenses

As mentioned above under section IV of this Policy, charitable or political donations made on behalf of Oaktree or an Oaktree strategy and/or in an individual capacity at the request of an Outside Party, including a Private Sector Counterparty Representative or a Public Official, require pre-approval from an Approving Officer and the Chief Executive Officer. To make this determination, you should consider if a Public Official or Private Sector Counterparty Representative or a family member sit on the board of the charity or have a role in its management or if a Public Official or Private Sector Counterparty Representative or a family member is associated with the charity.

Expense Reimbursement Requirements

All reimbursement and check requests associated with gifts, meals, entertainment, travel and lodging expenses provided for a Public Official or Private Sector Counterparty Representative should be submitted using Oaktree's standard expense report and in the case of a Public Official indicate on the expense report that the item is being provided to a Public Official. A copy of the pre-approved Request for Prior Approval of Gifts, Meals, Entertainment, Travel, and Lodging for Public Officials form shall be attached to the expense report. It is vital that the recording of the expenditures associated with such expenses is accurate and clearly reflects the true purpose of the expenditure.

Reporting Obligations

Any gifts, meals, entertainment, travel and lodging provided by an employee to a Public Official must be reported on a quarterly basis through the completion of the Quarterly Report of Gifts, Meals, Entertainment, Travel and Lodging for Public Officials via My Compliance Center.

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VI. OAKTREE PORTFOLIO COMPANY GIFTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND DISCOUNTS

Gifts, Meals, Entertainment, Travel and Lodging

Oaktree recognizes the value of permitting investment teams to sample and familiarize themselves with the services offered and items produced and/or sold by associated portfolio companies. As such, while employees are prohibited from soliciting anything of value from representatives of Oaktree portfolio companies, unsolicited gifts and entertainment may be accepted (excluding a gift of cash or securities), subject to the following:

•The acceptance of gifts, meals. entertainment, travel or lodging must not be detrimental to the portfolio company's business.

•In order to receive a gift, entertainment, travel or lodging from a portfolio company, the Oaktree employee should typically have a direct and ongoing association with the portfolio company.

•Items produced by portfolio companies and given to Oaktree employees to sample/test are not subject to the

$500 limit that applies to gifts received from other Outside Parties. However, any items produced and gifted by portfolio companies to Related Persons are subject to the $500 limit.

∙Unsolicited business meals provided by a portfolio company are permitted and should generally not exceed $250 per person.

∙Entertainment sponsored or offered by a portfolio company are subject to the standard gifts and entertainment requirements noted above, including any travel and lodging associated with the event (e.g., $2,500 limit per person per portfolio company in a calendar year).

•Standard gifts, entertainment, travel and lodging reporting requirements via My Compliance Center apply. ∙ Travel and lodging that you receive in your capacity as a board member and in connection with your

attendance at Board meetings are not subject to the above-referenced restrictions and reporting requirements.

Discounts

Oaktree employees are permitted to accept standard discounts offered by portfolio companies subject to the permission of the portfolio manager of the relevant investment strategy. Available discounts must be applied consistently to all employees or specified groups at the same amount/level and unique or special discounts for a particular employee and their Related Persons, including discounts greater than the standard discounts, are prohibited. Portfolio managers may elect to limit the recipients to only those employees on the investment deal team or to only those employees within their specific investment strategy. Portfolio managers may consider the terms and implications of the discount, including whether the offering of such discounts may detrimentally impact the portfolio company's business due to factors such as the frequency or time period that the discount is offered. Any questions on portfolio company discounts should be directed to GiftsandEntertainment@oaktreecapital.com.

VII. PERIODIC REPORTING AND ANNUAL COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION

Periodic Compliance Reporting

As outlined above, employees are required to complete gifts, meals, entertainment, travel and lodging related certifications on a quarterly basis and/or when requested.

Annual Compliance Certification

As part of the annual certification of compliance with Oaktree's Code of Ethics, employees will be required to certify that (i) they have received, have read and understand the terms of this Policy and any amendments thereto and that they recognize the responsibilities and obligations incurred by their being subject to this Policy, and (ii) they are in compliance with the requirements of this Policy.

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political activity policy

I.INTRODUCTION

The Political Activity Policy (referred to herein as the "Policy") applies to all employees of Oaktree (as defined in the Code of Ethics).

Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer has been designated as the individual with responsibility to explain and implement this Policy for Oaktree and all its employees and to provide to all such persons this Policy and any amendments thereto. Receipt of this Policy satisfies Oaktree's obligation to notify all employees of their obligations.

standards of conduct

It is Oaktree's policy to comply fully with campaign finance and other "pay-to-play" laws. Various jurisdictions and government agencies have enacted pay-to-play laws, which are intended to limit financial institutions, including investment advisers, and their employees from making contributions to, or soliciting contributions for, a government official who can influence the governmental entity's selection of investment advisers. These pay-to-play-laws may prohibit an investment adviser from receiving compensation from a government entity after the investment adviser or certain of its employees engage in Political Activity (as defined below). Some of these restrictions are triggered by political contributions made as long as five years prior to the award of an investment management mandate. In addition, some public pension plans have more restrictive rules regarding Political Activity. Since Oaktree maintains and seeks to develop business relationships with these types of entities, failure to comply with the pay-to-play laws could result in a loss of client investment management mandates and/or possible sanctions and penalties. Employees are not permitted to engage in Political Activity for the purpose of obtaining new business or retaining existing business, including in connection with potential or existing investors or transactions.

Each employee is responsible for monitoring his or her Political Activity (in consultation with the Compliance department) to be certain that it complies with the relevant laws that govern individual contributions.

II.DEFINITIONS

As referenced throughout this Policy, "Access Persons" include all Oaktree employees, except certain persons specified by Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer who (i) do not devote substantially all working time to the activities of Oaktree and (ii) do not have access to information about the day-to-day investment activities of Oaktree.

"Approving Officer" means an officer of Oaktree named on the separate "List of Approving Officers and Chief Compliance Officer". The List of Approving Officers and Chief Compliance Officer is maintained on Oaktree Central.

As referenced throughout this Policy, "Political Activity" includes the following activities:

∙Campaign contributions (e.g. direct monetary donations, indirect monetary donations such as campaign paraphernalia purchases);

∙Political campaign-related solicitation activity;

∙Participation as a committee or board member of a politically active non-profit organization (e.g., a 501(c)(4) entity), political action committee (a "PAC"), independent-expenditure committee (e.g. a Super PAC) or any other political committee or organization. Such activity would also constitute an outside business ctivity, subject to the pre-approval requirements outlined in the Outside Activities Policy; and

∙Monetary or in-kind benefits, to, or for the benefit of, among others, any government official, candidate running for office, political party, legislative leadership, politically active non-profit organizations, ballot measure committees, independent expenditure-only committees or PACs.

"Related Person" of an Access Person for purposes of this Policy includes the following:

•A husband, wife, domestic partner or minor child of the Access Person;

•A relative sharing the same household as the Access Person;

•Any person who is significantly dependent on the Access Person for financial support; or

•Anyone else if the Access Person:

(i)obtains benefits substantially equivalent to ownership of securities;

(ii)can obtain ownership of securities immediately or within 60 days; or

(iii)can vote or dispose of securities.

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III.PROHIBITIONS

Engaging in Political Activity directly or indirectly for the benefit of incumbents or candidates running for U.S. state or local office.

IV. PRECLEARANCE PROCEDURES

All employees, Related Persons and any Oaktree entity must obtain pre-approval from the Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer prior to engaging in Political Activity.

Pre-approval is not required, however, for campaign volunteering, so long as the activity does not include soliciting or coordinating campaign contributions. Therefore, administrative work for a campaign that does not involve the solicitation or coordination of campaign contributions does not require pre-approval. To obtain pre-approval of proposed Political Activity, you must complete and submit a Request for Prior Approval of Political Activity via My Compliance Center.

Post-approval of Political Activity is not permitted. Participating in Political Activity before receiving approval constitutes a violation of this Policy. See "Reporting of Violations and Sanctions" in Oaktree's Code of Ethics for further discussion regarding the types of sanctions that may be imposed as a result of violations of this Policy.

V.PERIODIC REPORTING AND ANNUAL COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION

periodic compliance reporting

All employees are also required to report Political Activity on a quarterly basis and when requested from time to time. Quarterly disclosure of such items should be made on the Quarterly Report of Political Activity via My Compliance Center. You should also refer to Article III - Service as Director or Officer in the Outside Activity Policy and Article V - Gifts, Meals, Entertainment, Travel and Lodging for Public Officials in the Gifts, Meals, Entertainment, Travel and Lodging Policy for a discussion of related Oaktree policies and procedures.

annual compliance certification

As part of the annual certification of compliance with Oaktree's Code of Ethics, Access Persons will be required to certify that (i) they have received, have read and understand the terms of this Policy and any amendments thereto and that they recognize the responsibilities and obligations incurred by their being subject to this Policy, and (ii) they are in compliance with the requirements of this Policy.

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outside activity policy

I.INTRODUCTION

The Outside Activity Policy (referred to herein as the "Policy") applies to all employees of Oaktree (as defined in the Code of Ethics).

Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer has been designated as the individual with responsibility to explain and implement this Policy for Oaktree and all its Access Persons and to provide to all such persons this Policy and any amendments thereto. Receipt of this Policy satisfies Oaktree's obligation to notify all employees of their obligations.

II.DEFINITIONS

As referenced throughout this Policy, "Access Persons" include all Oaktree employees, except certain persons specified by Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer who (i) do not devote substantially all working time to the activities of Oaktree and (ii) do not have access to information about the day-to-day investment activities of Oaktree.

"Approving Officer" means an officer of Oaktree named on the separate "List of Approving Officers and Chief Compliance Officer". The List of Approving Officers and Chief Compliance Officer is maintained on Oaktree Central.

"Related Person" of an Access Person for purposes of this Policy includes the following:

•A husband, wife, domestic partner or minor child of the Access Person;

•A relative sharing the same household as the Access Person;

•Any person who is significantly dependent on the Access Person for financial support; or

•Anyone else if the Access Person:

(i)obtains benefits substantially equivalent to ownership of securities;

(ii)can obtain ownership of securities immediately or within 60 days; or

(iii)can vote or dispose of securities.

III.OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT

Each Oaktree employee is expected to devote his or her full time and ability to Oaktree's interests during regular working hours and such additional time as may be properly required. Oaktree discourages employees from holding outside employment, including consulting.

An employee may not engage in outside employment and/or business ownership that: (a) interferes, competes, or conflicts with Oaktree's interests; (b) encroaches on normal working time or otherwise impairs performance; (c) implies sponsorship or support of an outside organization by Oaktree; or (d) reflects directly or indirectly adversely on Oaktree. This Policy also prohibits outside employment in the securities brokerage industry. Employees must abstain from negotiating, approving or voting on any transaction between Oaktree and any outside organization with which they are affiliated, whether as a representative of Oaktree or the outside organization, except in the ordinary course of their providing services for Oaktree and on a fully disclosed basis.

If you are considering taking outside employment or starting a business, you must obtain preclearance from your supervisor and Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer. Employees should submit a Request for Outside Business Activity form via My Compliance Center, and the request will be routed to the appropriate parties for review and approval.

If you have an approved second job, you are not eligible to receive compensation during an absence from work which is the result of an injury on the second job and outside employment will not be considered an excuse for poor job performance, absenteeism, tardiness or refusal to work overtime. Should any of these situations occur, approval may be withdrawn and you may be subject to discipline, including dismissal.

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IV. SERVICE AS DIRECTOR OR OFFICER

Each employee is required to submit a Director and Officer Position disclosure form via My Compliance Center to (a) notify the employee's supervisor or the relevant portfolio manager and Oaktree's Compliance department about serving as a director or officer of a portfolio company of funds and accounts managed by Oaktree and (b) obtain approval from the employee's supervisor and Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer to serve as a director or officer in all other circumstances except as described below. Depending on the circumstances, the form will be routed to the appropriate parties for any necessary approvals and/or notifications.

You do not need approval, nor do you need to notify Oaktree, to serve on the board of your family's private corporation (or your Related Person's family's private corporation) or any charitable, professional civic or non-profit entities (excluding 501(c)(4) organizations that participate in political campaign activity as described in the Political Activity Policy) that are not clients of Oaktree and have no business relations with Oaktree. (You should note, however, that if you are involved with the investment activities of such an entity, that entity may become your Related Person and be subject to the Personal Investment Transactions Policy.) In addition, you do not need to seek approval or report board appointments in the following circumstances: (i) appointments in connection with special purpose vehicles to the extent that the entity is a non-operational holding company that was created to structure an investment opportunity for the accounts and funds managed by Oaktree; (ii) appointments in connection with any entity created by Oaktree to serve, directly or indirectly, as the general partner (or equivalent body) of any accounts and funds managed by Oaktree; and (iii) appointments in connection with any corporate entity formed by Oaktree within its corporate structure.

Upon notification of the appropriate parties and/or receipt of approval to serve in an outside director or officer position, procedures may be implemented to safeguard against potential conflicts of interest, such as placing securities of the company on a restricted list. You may be required to relinquish your position if it is concluded that it is in the interest of Oaktree or its clients. You must also reference the Political Activity Policy, which discusses requirements to obtain pre-approval from an Approving Officer to serve as a committee or board member of a politically active non- profit organization (e.g., a 501(c)(4) entity), PAC, or any other political committee or organization.

If you serve in a director or officer capacity which does not require advance approval or notification, but circumstances later change which would require such approval or notification (e.g., the company enters into business relations with Oaktree or becomes a client), you must then obtain the necessary approvals and/or notify the appropriate parties. Employees should submit a Director and Officer Position disclosure form via My Compliance Center. You should consult with Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer to determine whether your activities will trigger any requirements under the Personal Investment Transactions Policy.

V.FIDUCIARY APPOINTMENTS

No employee may accept appointments as executor, trustee, guardian, conservator, general partner or other fiduciary, or any appointment as a consultant in connection with fiduciary or money management matters which involve selecting, recommending or approving investments in specific securities, without the pre-approval of Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer. Where an Access Person has sole or overriding control or authority in selecting, recommending and approving investments in securities, such transactions are subject to the Personal Investment Transactions Policy.

This Policy does not apply to (i) appointments involving personal or family estate planning or (ii) service on the board of a charitable, civic, or non- profit organization where the Access Person does not act as an investment adviser for the entity's assets and has no sole or overriding control or authority in selecting, recommending and approving investments in securities. To the extent an Access Person is appointed to serve on the investment committee of a charitable, civic, or non-profit organization that is also a client of Oaktree, such appointments must be disclosed by submitting a Request for Outside Business Activity form via My Compliance Center so that any potential conflicts can be analyzed and monitored to the extent applicable. Note that while an Access Person's outside business activity

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of handling personal or family estate planning does not require pre-approval, any securities transactions for which the Access Person has discretionary authority are subject to the Personal Transactions Investment Policy.

VI. COMPENSATION, CONSULTING FEES AND HONORARIUMS

If you have received proper approval to serve as a director or officer of an outside organization or to engage in outside employment, you may retain all compensation paid for such service unless otherwise provided by the terms of the approval. Generally, you may not retain compensation (whether in the form of cash, stock options, shares of restricted stock or other non-cash compensation) received for services on boards of directors or as officers of corporations where you serve in the course of your employment activities with Oaktree and in such instances, it is your responsibility to inform Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer of your receipt of any such compensation and the terms thereof. In certain limited situations (e.g., the form of compensation cannot be structured for the benefit of a fund), the Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer may grant an exception to this policy. You may retain honorariums received by you for publications, public speaking appearances, instructional courses at educational institutions, and similar activities. You should direct any questions concerning the permissible retention of compensation to Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer.

VII. PARTICIPATING IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS

If voluntary efforts require corporate time, you should obtain pre-approval from your supervisor. Should the voluntary efforts involve fundraising or solicitation activity in connection with a campaign for a government official, you must follow the policies and procedures outlined under the Political Activity Policy and seek pre-approval of such activity. If you wish to accept an appointive office, or run for elective office, you must first obtain approval from your supervisor and then Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer. If approval is given, you must campaign for an office on your own time and may not use Oaktree's property or services for such purpose without proper reimbursement to Oaktree. In all cases, employees participating in such political activities do so as individuals and not as representatives of Oaktree. To prevent any interpretation of sponsorship or endorsement by Oaktree, you must not use either Oaktree's name or address in material you mail or funds you collect, nor, except as necessary in biographical information, should Oaktree be identified in any advertisements or literature.

VIII. SERVING AS TREASURER OF CLUBS, CHURCHES, LODGES, OR SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS

An employee may act as treasurer of clubs, churches, lodges, or similar organizations. However, you should keep funds belonging to such organizations in separate accounts and not commingle them in any way with your personal funds or Oaktree's. You should consult with Oaktree's Chief Compliance Officer or an Approving Officer to determine whether your activities will trigger requirements under the Personal Investment Transactions Policy.

IX. PERIODIC REPORTING AND ANNUAL COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION

periodic compliance reporting

All employees are required to report Outside Business Activity on a semi-annual basis, and when otherwise requested from time to time by Oaktree. Employees are also required to report Director and Officer Positions a on a quarterly basis, and when otherwise requested from time to time by Oaktree. Disclosure of such items should be made via My Compliance Center.

annual compliance certification

As part of the annual certification of compliance with Oaktree's Code of Ethics, Access Persons will be required to certify that (i) they have received, have read and understand the terms of this Policy and any amendments thereto and that they recognize the responsibilities and obligations incurred by their being subject to this Policy, and (ii) they are in compliance with the requirements of this Policy.

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