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Invesco Advisers, Inc.
PO Box 4333
Houston, TX 77210-4333
11 Greenway Plaza, Suite 100
Houston, TX 77046-1173
713 626 1919
www.invesco.com
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April 30, 2010
Via EDGAR
Vincent Di Stefano
Division of Investment Management
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20549
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Re: |
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AIM Funds Group
File Nos: 811-01540 and 002-27334 |
Dear Mr. Di Stefano:
On behalf of AIM Funds Group (the Registrant), below you will find the Registrants
responses to the comments conveyed by you on March 24, 2010, with regard to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 107 (the Amendment) to the Registrants registration statement on Form N-1A. The
Amendment was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on February 11,
2010, pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and Rule 485(a)(1) under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) and is scheduled to go effective April
30, 2010.
For your convenience, we have summarized each of your comments in bold and have set forth the
Registrants response immediately below each comment.
General Comments Prospectuses
1. Comment: Delete
the footnote to the fee table regarding the redemption fee. You may add
this as a parenthetical phrase to the Shareholder Fees table.
Response: The requested change has been made.
2. Comment: Delete the footnote following the Expense Example regarding the conversion of
Class B shares.
Response: The requested change has been made.
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3. Comment: Track Item 4(b)(2)(i) of Form N-1A more closely.
Response: We respectfully submit that the existing language in the section, Performance
Information tracks Item 4(b)(2)(i), but the language has been relocate to the beginning of the
section.
4. Comment: Remove the disclosure beginning with The Funds performance reflects payment of sales
loads... to the end of the paragraph preceding the Average Annual Total Returns table.
Response: The requested changes have been made; however, we retained the sentence, The
benchmarks may not reflect payment of fees, expenses or taxes. We determined that some benchmarks
such as the MSCI indexes do, in fact, deduct for foreign taxes. Further, a Fund may be compared to
multiple indexes some of which may or may not deduct for taxes.
5. Comment: Delete the phrase Return Before Taxes in the Average Annual Total Returns
table as it is not required by Form N-1A.
Response: The requested change has been made.
6. Comment: Delete the inception date column from the Average Annual Total Return table.
Consider including the inception date in parentheses next to the name of the class.
Response: The requested change has been made.
7. Comment: In the section entitled Performance Information, delete the sentences
appearing under the table, Average Annual Total Returns, concerning benchmarks and since
inception performance since these are not required by Form N-1A.
Response: We deleted the reference to the benchmarks and since inception performance. We did
not delete the footnote regarding hypothetical performance because we believe the same is required
by Instruction 3(b) to Item 4.
8. Comment: The section entitled, Objective and Strategies, indicates that The Funds
investment objective may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. The
Fund will provide shareholders with advance notice of any change to the Funds investment
objective. Please add disclosure indicating that shareholders will have 60 days notice of any
such change.
Response: The requested disclosure has not been added as the 60-day notice
requirement applies only to a change in a Funds 80% names rule policy.
AIM Basic Balanced Fund
1. Comment: Re-word the last sentence of the footnote to the Annual Fund Operating
Expenses table to clearly indicate that the fee waiver is contractual and committed to for a
specific period. The current wording seems to indicate that the waiver is voluntary.
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Response: The last sentence of the second footnote has been restated as follows: The Board
of Trustees or Invesco Advisers, Inc. may mutually agree to terminate the fee waiver at any time
after April 30, 2011.
2. Comment: The principal strategies section of the prospectus states that the Fund
invests 25% of its total assets in convertible securities. Does this amount include junk bonds?
Response: No, the amount the fund invests in convertible securities does not include junk
bonds.
3. Comment: In the section entitled, Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund, is the
word concentrated being used as defined by the 40 Act? If not, consider changing the wording to
avoid confusion.
Response: The sentence has been revised to read, The portfolio managers seek to achieve
strong long-term performance by constructing a diversified, but typically focused equity portfolio
that offers....
4. Comment: Include currency risk in Foreign Securities Risk in the sections, Principal
Risks of Investing in the Fund and Investment Objectives, Strategies, Risks and Portfolio
Holdings.
Response: We respectfully submit that the existing language in Foreign Securities Risk
includes currency risk by stating, The Funds foreign investments will be affected by changes in
the foreign countrys exchange rates in the section, Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.
In the section, Investment Objectives, Strategies, Risks and Portfolio Holdings, the existing
Foreign Securities Risk also includes The dollar value of the Funds foreign investments will be
affected by changes in the exchange rates between the dollar and the currencies in which those
investments are traded.
5. Comment: Consider whether Market Capitalization Risk should be replaced by Small-
and Mid-Capitalization Risk in the sections entitled, Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund,
and Investment Objectives, Strategies, and Portfolio Holdings Risks.
Response: Market Capitalization Risk has been deleted as a principal risk of the Fund.
AIM European Small Company Fund
1. Comment: Include the capitalization range of small European issuers in Principal
Investment Strategies of the Fund and Investment Objectives, Strategies, and Portfolio Holdings.
Response: The requested change has been made.
2. Comment: The word, derivatives, is used in the section, Principal Investment
Strategies of the Fund. Describe which derivatives are principally used by the Fund and include
appropriate risk disclosure.
Response: Derivatives are not used as a principal investment strategy of the Fund. Rather,
the mention of derivatives is to indicate that, if they are used, they will count towards meeting
the 80% requirement of Rule 35d-1. Accordingly, no further disclosure has been added.
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3. Comment: In the sections entitled, Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund and
Investment Objectives, Strategies, Risks and Portfolio Holdings, the prospectus states: The
Fund invests primarily in equity securities. In what types of equity securities will the Fund
invest?
Response: The equity securities in which the Fund can invest are discussed in the Funds
Statement of Additional Information.
4. Comment: Consider adding Non-diversification Risk in Principal Investment Strategies
Risks of Investing in the Fund and Investment Objectives, Strategies, Risks and Portfolio
Holdings Risks.
Response: The requested change has been made.
5. Comment: In Exchange-Traded Funds Risk, discuss the possibility of duplication of
fees.
Response: The following sentence has been included in Exchange-Traded Funds Risk: ETFs
may involve duplication of management fees and certain other expenses, as the Fund indirectly bears
its proportionate share of any expenses paid by the ETFs in which it invests.
6. Comment: Consider whether Market Capitalization Risk should be replaced by Small-
and Mid-Capitalization Risk in the sections entitled, Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund,
and Investment Objectives, Strategies, and Portfolio Holdings Risks.
Response: Market Capitalization Risk has been renamed Small- and Mid-Capitalization Risk.
AIM Global Core Equity Fund
1. Comment: State in the sections, Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund and
Investment Objectives, Strategies, Risks and Portfolio Holdings, that the Fund invests at least
40% in non-U.S. securities under normal market conditions.
Response: The Fund anticipates investing a substantial portion of its assets in a number of
foreign countries; however, the Fund is not aware of any publicly-expressed Staff position
requiring at least 40% of its assets be so invested.
2. Comment: In the sections entitled, Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund and
Investment Objectives, Strategies, Risks and Portfolio Holdings, the prospectus states: The
Fund invests primarily in equity securities. In what types of equity securities will the Fund
invest?
Response: The equity securities in which the Fund can invest are discussed in the Funds
Statement of Additional Information.
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AIM International Small Company Fund
1. Comment: Include the capitalization range and definition of small international
issuers in Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund and Investment Objectives, Strategies,
and Portfolio Holdings.
Response: The requested change has been made.
2. Comment: In Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund and Investment Objectives,
Strategies, Risks and Portfolio Holdings Risks, Convertible Securities Risk does not seem to
correspond to strategies.
Response: Convertible Securities Risk has been removed as a principal risk of the Fund
because convertible securities are no longer a principal investment of the Fund.
3. Comment: Consider whether Market Capitalization Risk should be replaced by Small- and
Mid-Capitalization Risk in the sections entitled, Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund, and
Investment Objectives, Strategies, and Portfolio Holdings Risks.
Response: Market Capitalization Risk has been renamed Small- and
Mid-Capitalization Risk.
AIM Mid Cap Basic Value Fund
1. Comment: Include the capitalization range of mid-capitalization issuers in Principal
Investment Strategies of the Fund and Investment Objectives, Strategies, and Portfolio Holdings.
Response: The requested change has been made.
6. Comment: In the section entitled, Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund, is the
word concentrated being used as defined by the 40 Act? If not, consider changing the wording to
avoid confusion.
Response: The sentence has been revised to read, The portfolio managers seek to achieve
strong long-term performance by constructing a diversified, but typically focused equity portfolio
that offers....
2. Comment: In Exchange-Traded Funds Risk, discuss the possibility of duplication of
fees.
Response: The following sentence has been included in Exchange-Traded Funds Risk: ETFs
may involve duplication of management fees and certain other expenses, as the Fund indirectly bears
its proportionate share of any expenses paid by the ETFs in which it invests.
3. Comment: Consider whether Market Capitalization Risk should be replaced by Small- and
Mid-Capitalization Risk in the sections entitled, Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund, and
Investment Objectives, Strategies, and Portfolio Holdings Risks.
Response: Market Capitalization Risk has been renamed Small- and
Mid-Capitalization Risk.
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AIM Select Equity Risk
1. Comment: In the sections entitled, Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund and
Investment Objectives, Strategies, Risks and Portfolio Holdings, the prospectus states: The
Fund invests primarily in equity securities. In what types of equity securities will the Fund
invest?
Response: The equity securities in which the Fund can invest are discussed in the Funds
Statement of Additional Information.
2. Comment: Consider whether Market Capitalization Risk should be replaced by Small-
and Mid-Capitalization Risk in the sections entitled, Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund,
and Investment Objectives, Strategies, and Portfolio Holdings Risks.
Response: Market Capitalization Risk has been deleted as a principal risk of the Fund.
AIM Small Cap Equity Fund
1. Comment: Include the capitalization range of small-capitalization issuers in
Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund and Investment Objectives, Strategies, and Portfolio
Holdings.
Response: The requested change has been made.
2. Comment: In the sections entitled, Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund and
Investment Objectives, Strategies, Risks and Portfolio Holdings, the prospectus states: The
Fund invests primarily in equity securities. In what types of equity securities will the Fund
invest?
Response: The equity securities in which the Fund can invest are discussed in the Funds
Statement of Additional Information.
3. Comment: What is meant by the bolded phrases in the following statement from Principal
Investment Strategies of the Fund in the prospectus?
In selecting investments, the portfolio managers utilize a disciplined portfolio
construction process that aligns the Fund with the S&P Small Cap 600 Index. The
security selection process is based on a three-step process that includes
fundamental, valuation and timeliness analysis focused...
Response: The above statement has been replaced by the following:
In selecting investments, the portfolio managers utilize a disciplined portfolio
construction process that diversifies the Fund based on the industry group
diversification of the S&P Small Cap 600 Index and generally maintains a maximum
deviation from index industry groups of 350 basis points. The security selection
process is based on a three-step process that includes fundamental, valuation and
timeliness analysis focused on identifying high quality, fundamentally sound
issuers operating in an attractive industry; attractively valued securities given
their growth potential over a one- to two-year horizon; and the timeliness of a
purchase, respectively. The timeliness analysis includes a review of relative
price strength, trading volume characteristics and trend
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analysis to look for signs of deterioration. If a stock shows signs of
deterioration, it is generally not considered as a candidate for the portfolio.
4. Comment: In Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund and Investment Objectives,
Strategies, Risks and Portfolio Holdings Risks, Convertible Securities Risk does not seem to
correspond to strategies.
Response: Convertible Securities Risk has been removed as a principal risk of the Fund
because convertible securities are no longer a principal investment of the Fund.
SAI General Comments
1. Comment: Under the Fund Restrictions heading of the SAI, please include narrative
disclosure as to what is permitted under the 1940 Act at the present time.
Response: The following narrative disclosure has been added to the Non-Fundamental
Restrictions to clarify the Funds fundamental restriction regarding borrowing:
In complying with the fundamental restriction regarding borrowing money and issuing senior
securities, the Fund may borrow money in an amount not exceeding 33 1/3% of its total assets
(including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings).
2. Comment: In the Fund Policies section, define concentration specifically rather than
referring to the definition in the 1940 Act.
Response: A more specific definition of concentration has been included.
We urge all persons who are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of the disclosure in the
filings reviewed by the staff to be certain that they have provided all information investors
require. Since the Fund and its management are in possession of all facts relating to the Funds
disclosure, they are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of the disclosures they have made.
In connection with responding to our comments, please provide, in writing, a statement from the
company acknowledging that: the Fund is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the
disclosure in the filings; Staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments in
the filings reviewed by the staff do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with
respect to the filing; and the Fund may not assert this action as defense in any proceeding
initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.
Please do not hesitate to contact me at (713) 214-1968 if you have any questions or wish to
discuss any of the responses presented above.
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Very truly yours,
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/s/ Stephen R. Rimes
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Stephen R. Rimes, Esq. |
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Assistant General Counsel |
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