DEF 14A
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e90456.txt
PROXY FOR MONEY MARKET
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant To Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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THE PHOENIX EDGE SERIES FUND
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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THE PHOENIX EDGE SERIES FUND
155 Federal Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
December 21, 2009
Dear Variable Contract owner:
You are a Variable Contract owner of a variable annuity contract or variable
life insurance policy (each one a "Variable Contract and together "Variable
Contracts") issued by a separate account (each one a "Separate Account" and
together "Separate Accounts") of Phoenix Life Insurance Company, PHL Variable
Insurance Company or Phoenix Life and Annuity Company (collectively, "Phoenix").
Shares of the Phoenix Money Market Series (the "Series"), a series of The
Phoenix Edge Series Fund (the "Fund"), have been purchased at your direction by
Phoenix through one or more of the Separate Accounts to support contract values
or fund benefits payable under your Variable Contract. Phoenix (through its
Separate Accounts through which your Variable Contract was issued) is the record
owner of Series shares held in connection with your Variable Contract.
We routinely review the investment options offered to our variable life and
annuity policyholders. As such, the Board of Trustees of the Fund ("Board") has
decided to liquidate the Series' assets and distribute the proceeds and reinvest
them in another sub account, subject to your instructions.
As record owner of such Series shares, Phoenix has been asked by the Fund's
Trustees to approve proposals to liquidate the Series and distribute the
liquidation proceeds to the Series' respective shareholders. In this regard, and
as is more fully explained in the attached proxy statement, the Series is
holding a meeting of its shareholders to consider approval of a plan to
liquidate the Series (the "Plan"). As you may know, your Variable Contract gives
you the right to instruct Phoenix on how to vote the Series shares supporting
your Variable Contract at any meeting of the Series' shareholders at which
shareholders are being asked to vote. WE ARE WRITING TO YOU TO ASK THAT YOU
INSTRUCT US, EITHER BY TELEPHONE, OR BY MAIL, IN ORDER THAT WE MAY VOTE ON YOUR
BEHALF AT THE MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF THE SERIES.
Under the Plan, the Series will, by the liquidation date: (1) sell its portfolio
securities for cash or permit them to mature and reduce any other assets to cash
or cash equivalents, (2) pay any liabilities, and (3) distribute any net
investment income in the form of dividends. The Plan also provides that, as of
the liquidation date, the Series will distribute its assets to shareholders by
redeeming their shares for cash, and that the Fund will then wind up the Series'
operations and terminate its existence.
Prior to the proposed liquidation, you may instruct Phoenix to transfer your
contract value currently allocated to the Series into other investment options
available under your Variable Contract.
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THEREFORE, A SECOND REASON THAT WE ARE WRITING TO YOU IS TO ASK THAT YOU PROVIDE
US WITH TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS IN ORDER THAT WE MAY TRANSFER YOUR CONTRACT VALUE
CURRENTLY INVESTED IN THE SERIES TO ANOTHER INVESTMENT OPTION OR OPTIONS UNDER
YOUR VARIABLE CONTRACT. WE HAVE SUPPLIED CONTACT INFORMATION AT THE END OF THIS
LETTER SO THAT YOU MAY PROVIDE US WITH YOUR TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS.
The proposed Series replacement in the Separate Account with Federated Prime
Money Fund II (the "Federated Fund") is described in greater detail in the
attached proxy statement, but here are some additional facts about the
liquidation that may be useful to you:
1. The liquidation of the Series which is scheduled to occur on January
22, 2010 will have no impact on your right to transfer contract values
among and between other investment options offered under your Variable
Contract. Prior to the liquidation of the Series, you may make one or
more transfers of contract value out of a subaccount investing in the
Series free of any otherwise applicable transfer charge at any time
and without that transfer counting as one of a limited number of
transfers permitted during any period or permitted during any period
free of charge. Likewise, for the thirty-day period after the
liquidation, you may also make one transfer of the contract value out
of the subaccount investing in the Federated Fund free of any
otherwise applicable transfer charge and without the transfer counting
as one of a limited number of transfers permitted during any period or
permitted during any period free of charge.
2. The termination of this Series will not alter your rights or the
obligations of Phoenix under your Variable Contract.
3. The liquidation, as well as contract value transfers in anticipation of
or subsequent to the liquidation, will not create federal income tax
liability for you in connection with your Variable Contract.
4. If you do not provide transfer instructions prior to the liquidation,
then immediately following the distribution of proceeds on the same
date, Phoenix will reinvest the liquidation proceeds attributable to
your Variable Contract (i.e., your Variable Contract value allocated to
the Series immediately prior to the liquidation) in the subaccount of
the applicable Separate Account that invests in shares of Federated
Fund, an investment portfolio of the Federated Insurance Series that
will be offered under your Variable Contract as of the same liquidation
date.
Phoenix Variable Advisors, Inc. ("PVA"), the Fund's investment advisor, proposed
the liquidation because, due to the recent low interest rate environment, it has
been forced to waive all investment management fees from the Series and to make
out-of-pocket expense reimbursements in order to prevent negative yields and
preserve the Series' $10.00 per share net asset value. PVA believes that it will
not be able to continue to waive its fees and make reimbursements to the Series
indefinitely, which will continue to be a practical necessity if interest rates
remain low.
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At a recent meeting, the Fund's Board, after carefully considering the merits of
PVA's proposal, determined that it is in the best interests of the Series, its
shareholders and the Variable Contract owners indirectly invested in the Series
to liquidate the Series. In making this determination, the Board considered
information provided by PVA on the liquidation, including the Series' yield and
expenses, PVA's fee waivers and capital contributions, and the prospects for
changes in current market conditions. Among other matters, the Board also
considered: (1) the range of alternative investment options available to
Variable Contract owners; (2) the fact that Variable Contract owners would be
encouraged to provide instructions to transfer contract value to alternative
investment options; and (3) the fact that, if Variable Contract owners do not
provide transfer instructions, their contract value would be transferred to the
Federated Fund, a fund with an investment objective, investment policies and, at
least as long as existing fees waivers for the Federated Fund remain in effect
until April 30, 2011, fee and expenses that are similar to those of the Series.
In addition, the board of trustees considered the fact that transfers will not
create adverse tax consequences for Variable Contract owners.
The Board recommends that you read the enclosed materials carefully and then
instruct Phoenix to vote FOR the liquidation proposal for the Series.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT NOW TO PROVIDE US WITH YOUR VOTING
INSTRUCTIONS. PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS ON THE ENCLOSED VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM(S)
TO INSTRUCT US BY TELEPHONE OR BY SIGNING AND RETURNING THE VOTING INSTRUCTION
FORM(S) IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE PRE-PAID ENVELOPE. TO REQUEST MORE INFORMATION,
PLEASE CALL US AT THE TELEPHONE NUMBER SHOWN BELOW.
YOUR CONTRACT VALUE TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS ALSO ARE IMPORTANT. PLEASE PROVIDE US
WITH YOUR TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS BY CALLING THE TELEPHONE NUMBER BELOW.
PHOENIX VARIABLE PRODUCTS CUSTOMER SERVICE: Please call us at 1-800-541-0171 to
request more information or to make transfer arrangements for your Variable
Contract.
As the year draws to the close, we would like to thank you for your business,
and wish you and your families' peace, health and prosperity in 2010.
Sincerely,
/s/ Philip K. Polkinghorn
Philip K. Polkinghorn
President
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THE PHOENIX EDGE SERIES FUND
PHOENIX MONEY MARKET SERIES
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
December 21, 2009
TO VARIABLE CONTRACT OWNERS OF VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS OR VARIABLE LIFE
INSURANCE POLICIES ("EACH ONE A VARIABLE CONTRACT AND TOGETHER, "VARIABLE
CONTRACTS") ISSUED BY PHOENIX LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, PHL VARIABLE INSURANCE
COMPANY AND PHOENIX LIFE AND ANNUITY COMPANY (EACH AN "INSURANCE COMPANY" AND,
COLLECTIVELY, "PHOENIX") ENTITLED TO GIVE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH
A SEPARATE ACCOUNT OF PHOENIX.
Notice is hereby given that a Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") of
the Phoenix Money Market Series (the "Series") of The Phoenix Edge Series Fund
(the "Fund") will be held on January 20, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time, at the
offices of Phoenix at One American Row, Hartford, Connecticut 06102-5056.
The Meeting will be held for the following purpose:
1. To approve or disapprove a plan of liquidation to liquidate the assets
of the Series and distribute the liquidation proceeds to the Series'
shareholders as described in the accompanying proxy statement;
2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
Meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof.
THE FUND'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS OF THE SERIES VOTE TO
APPROVE THE PLAN OF LIQUIDATION FOR THE SERIES.
Certain separate accounts (each one a "Separate Account" and together "Separate
Accounts") of Phoenix supporting variable contracts issued by Phoenix are the
only shareholders of the Series. However, Phoenix hereby solicits, and agrees to
vote the shares of the Series at the Meeting in accordance with, timely
instructions received from Variable Contracts owners having contract values
allocated to a Separate Account invested in such shares. Each Insurance Company
will vote all of its shares of the Series held by a Separate Account in the same
proportion (for, against or abstain) as those shares held by the Separate
Account for which the Insurance Company receives timely instructions from
persons entitled to give voting instructions.
As a Variable Contract owner of record at the close of business on December 14,
2009, you have the right to instruct Phoenix as to the manner in which shares of
the Series attributable to your Variable Contract should be voted. To assist you
in giving your instructions, a Voting Instruction Form is enclosed. In addition,
a Proxy Statement is attached to this Notice and describes the matter to be
voted upon at the Meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof.
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YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE
FOLLOW THE STEPS ON THE ENCLOSED VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM TO PROVIDE VOTING
INSTRUCTIONS BY TELEPHONE OR BY MAIL.
By Order of the Board of Trustees
/s/ Kathleen A. McGah
Kathleen A. McGah
Secretary
December 21, 2009
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THE PHOENIX EDGE SERIES FUND
155 Federal Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
December 21, 2009
PROXY STATEMENT
This Proxy Statement (the "Proxy Statement") is being furnished on behalf of the
Board of Trustees (the "Board") of The Phoenix Edge Series Fund (the "Fund") by
Phoenix Life Insurance Company, PHL Variable Insurance Company or Phoenix Life
and Annuity Company (each an "Insurance Company" and, collectively, "Phoenix")
to owners ("each one a Variable Contract and together, Variable Contract
owners") of certain variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance
policies ("each one a Variable Contract and together "Variable Contract owners")
issued by Phoenix and having contract values on the record date allocated to
separate accounts (each one a "Separate Account" and together a "Separate
Account") of Phoenix invested in shares of the Phoenix Money Market Series (the
"Series"), an investment portfolio of the Fund.
This Statement is being furnished in connection with the solicitation of voting
instructions from Variable Contract owners for use at a special meeting of
holders of shares of the Series (the "Meeting"). The Meeting is to be held on
January 20, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time, at the offices of Phoenix at One
American Row, Hartford, Connecticut 06102-5056, for the purposes set forth below
and in the accompanying Notice of Special Meeting. The approximate mailing date
of this Statement and the Voting Instruction Form is December 29, 2009.
At the Meeting, shareholders will be asked:
1. To approve or disapprove a plan of liquidation to liquidate
the assets of the Series and distribute the liquidation
proceeds to the Series' shareholders as described in the
accompanying proxy statement;
2. To transact such other business as may properly come before
the Meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof.
The Phoenix Separate Account is the only holder of shares of the Series.
However, each Insurance Company has agreed to vote the shares of the Series at
the Meeting in accordance with the timely instructions received from Variable
Contract owners issued by such Insurance Company having contract value allocated
to its Separate Accounts and invested in Series shares on the record date. Each
Insurance Company will vote all of its shares of the Series held by a Separate
Account in the same proportion (for, against or abstain) as those shares of the
Separate Account for which the Insurance Company receives timely instructions
from persons entitled to give voting instructions.
The Fund is a business trust that was organized under Massachusetts law on
February 18, 1986, and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") as an open-end management investment company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
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(the "1940 Act"). The Fund issues 18 series of shares, each series representing
a fractional undivided interest in a particular investment portfolio and having
a different investment objective and different investment policies. The proposed
liquidation would result in the liquidation of one such series, the Series, and
the proceeds of the liquidation being distributed to the appropriate Separate
Account. At all times prior to the proposed liquidation, Variable Contract
owners may instruct Phoenix to transfer their contract value currently allocated
to the subaccount investing in the Series into other investment options
available under their Variable Contracts. If a Variable Contract owner does not
provide timely transfer instructions, the liquidation proceeds equal to the
Variable Contract owner's contract value allocated to the Series immediately
prior to the liquidation will be transferred to the subaccount investing in
Federated Prime Money Fund II (the "Federated Fund"), an investment portfolio of
Federated Insurance Series that will be offered under the Variable Contracts as
of the date of the liquidation.
EARLIER THIS YEAR EACH CONTRACT OWNER RECEIVED THE SERIES' ANNUAL REPORT TO
SHAREHOLDERS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008 AND SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO
SHAREHOLDERS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2009. ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THESE
REPORTS ALSO ARE AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE BY CALLING PHOENIX AT 1-800-541-0171.
YOU MAY ALSO REQUEST AN ADDITIONAL COPY OF THE SERIES' ANNUAL AND SEMI-ANNUAL
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS BY WRITING TO THE FUND, C/O PHOENIX, 31 TECH VALLEY
DRIVE, EAST GREENBUSH, NY 12061.
GENERAL VOTING INFORMATION
This Statement is being furnished to Variable Contract owners on behalf of the
Board of the Fund in connection with the solicitation by Phoenix of voting
instructions from Variable Contract owners indirectly invested in the Series in
connection with a meeting of the Series' shareholders to be held on January 20,
2010. The Board has called the Meeting to consider the matter indicated on the
cover page of this Proxy Statement. The Separate Account is the only holder of
Series shares. Each Insurance Company will vote the Series shares at the
relevant meetings in accordance with the instructions timely received from
persons entitled to give voting instructions under Variable Contracts funded
through the Separate Account. Variable Contract owners (and in some cases
annuitants and/or beneficiaries) have the right to instruct Phoenix as to the
number of shares (and fractional shares) that have an aggregate value on the
record date equal to the contract value on the record date under that Variable
Contract allocated to the subaccount of each Separate Account holding the shares
of the Series. Each Insurance Company will vote all of the shares of the Series
held by a Separate Account in the same proportion (for, against or abstain) as
those shares held by the Separate Account for which the Insurance Company
receives timely instructions from persons entitled to give voting instructions.
In other words, Phoenix will vote shares attributable to Variable Contracts as
to which no voting instructions are received in the same proportion as those for
which instructions are received.
If a properly executed Voting Instruction Form is received that does not specify
a choice, Phoenix will consider its timely receipt as an instruction to vote in
favor of the Proposal. In certain circumstances, Phoenix has the right to
disregard voting instructions from certain Variable Contract owners. Phoenix
does not believe that these circumstances exist with respect to matters
currently before Series shareholders. Variable Contract owners may revoke
previously submitted voting instructions given to Phoenix at any time prior to
the Meeting by
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notifying the Secretary of the Fund in writing at One American Row, Hartford,
Connecticut 06102-5056 and may revote by mail, telephone, or physical attendance
at the meeting. The Secretary of the Fund will send the Variable Contract owner
a new Voting Instruction Form, upon request.
The Board has fixed December 14, 2009 as the record date for the determination
of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting. As of December
14, 2009, the Series had 15,911,402,803 shares outstanding.
None of the trustees or executive officers of the Fund beneficially owns,
directly or indirectly, any shares of the Fund. To the best knowledge of Phoenix
and the Board, there are no Variable Contract owners, as of December 14, 2009,
who have the right to instruct Phoenix as to 5% or more of the Series' shares.
To be counted, Phoenix must receive a Variable Contract owner's voting
instructions either by calling 1-888-221-0697 or via a properly executed Voting
Instruction Form mailed to Proxy Tabulator, P.O. Box 9170, Farmingdale, NY
11735 by 5:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) on January 19, 2010 or by attendance at the meeting.
Each share of beneficial interest of the Series is entitled to one vote.
Fractional shares are entitled to a proportionate fractional vote, which will be
counted. A Variable Contract owner may vote his beneficial shares attributable
to the Series by his ownership of units in the Separate Account that funds a
Variable Contract. The presence in person or by proxy of a majority of the
outstanding shares of the Series will constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business at the Meeting. However, because the Separate Account holds of record
all the outstanding shares of the Series, all such shares will be present at the
Meeting. Approval of the proposed liquidation requires the "affirmative vote of
a majority of the outstanding shares" of the Series at the close of business on
the record date. An affirmative vote of a majority of the Series' outstanding
shares is defined by the 1940 Act, as the lesser of (i) 67% or more of the
voting securities of the Series present in person or by proxy at the Meeting, if
the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Series
are present in person or by proxy at the Meeting or (ii) more than 50% of the
outstanding voting securities of the Series. Because "affirmative" votes are
necessary to approve the liquidation, a voting instruction to "abstain" on the
proposed liquidation has the same effect as an instruction to vote "against" the
liquidation. There are expected to be no broker non-votes for the proposal since
Phoenix knows the identity of the Variable Contract owners. Shareholders present
at the Meeting may adjourn the meeting for various reasons including the
following: (1) insufficient votes are cast in favor of a proposal to approve the
proposal, or (2) Phoenix receives voting instructions from so few Variable
Contract owners that it cannot in good faith vote shares for which instructions
are not received in proportion to those for which instructions are received.
Neither the Commission nor Phoenix requires any specific minimum percentage of
Variable Contract owners to vote in order for an Insurance Company to vote
shares for which voting instructions are not received. Phoenix seeks to obtain a
reasonable level of turnout given the particular circumstances, which
circumstances may include the proportion of voting instructions actually
received voting "for" the proposal. Adjourned meetings may be held within a
reasonable time after the date originally set for the Meeting without further
notice to shareholders or Contract owners. Phoenix will vote: (1) shares
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represented by instructions to vote in favor of the proposal, in favor of
adjournment, (2) shares represented by instructions to vote against the
proposal, against an adjournment, and (3) remaining shares, in favor or against
adjournment in proportion to the shares voted pursuant to instructions.
Phoenix Variable Advisors, Inc. ("PVA"), the investment advisor to the Fund, or
its affiliates will bear all of the expenses of soliciting voting instructions.
The solicitation of instructions will be made primarily by mail but may include
(without cost to the Fund), telephone, electronic or oral communications by
employees of Phoenix or its affiliates. This Proxy Statement and Voting
Instruction Form(s) were first mailed to Contract owners on or about December
29, 2009.
THE PROPOSAL
SUMMARY
The Board has approved a plan of liquidation (the"Plan"), a form of which is
attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix A, pursuant to which the Series
would be liquidated and the liquidation proceeds of the Series would be
distributed to Phoenix and the Separate Account.
The proposed liquidation, if consummated, would result in: (1) any known or
reasonably ascertainable liabilities of the Series being paid by the Series, and
(2) the investments of the Series being sold for cash or permitted to mature,
followed by the distribution of the liquidation proceeds to each Insurance
Company in proportion to its share ownership in the Series. After the
distribution of the liquidation proceeds, the Fund would terminate the Series'
existence.
At all times prior to the proposed liquidation, Variable Contract owners may
instruct Phoenix to transfer their contract value currently allocated to the
subaccount investing in the Series into other investment options available under
their Variable Contracts. Each Insurance Company will transfer the liquidation
proceeds that are distributed to its Separate Account (i.e., any cash of the
Series remaining after transfers are made pursuant to Variable Contract owner
instructions) from subaccounts invested in the Series to subaccounts investing
in the Federated Fund. Consequently, if Variable Contract owners vote to approve
the liquidation, the Series will be liquidated and each Insurance Company will
reinvest the liquidation proceeds by purchasing shares of the Federated Fund.
Approval is being sought for the Plan only from Variable Contract owners who
have contract value allocated to the Series. If the Plan is not approved, then
the Meeting may be adjourned, as described above. If the Meeting is not
adjourned, or if the Plan is not approved at the reconvened meeting, then the
Series will not liquidate. In that event, Phoenix will not receive or reinvest
any cash proceeds from the Series, and the Board will consider what other
action, if any, may be appropriate.
REASONS FOR THE PROPOSED LIQUIDATION
Due to the recent low interest rate environment, the income generated from the
Series' investments has been less than the Series' fees and expenses. Therefore,
PVA has been forced to
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waive all investment management fees from the Series and to make out-of-pocket
expense reimbursements in order to prevent negative yields and preserve the
Series' $10.00 per share net asset value. PVA believes that it will not be able
to continue to waive its fees and make reimbursements to the Series
indefinitely, which will continue to be a practical necessity if interest rates
remain low. Prior to the liquidation, Variable Contract owners can direct that
their Contract value indirectly invested to the Series be transferred to
alternative investments made available under their Variable Contract. In light
of the foregoing factors, Phoenix and PVA believe that it would be in Variable
Contract owners' best interests to liquidate and dissolve the Series.
PLAN OF LIQUIDATION
Under the Plan, the Series will, by the liquidation date for the Series, which
is scheduled to occur on January 22, 2010, (1) sell its portfolio securities for
cash or permit them to mature and reduce any other assets to cash or cash
equivalents, (2) pay (or reserve sufficient amounts to pay) any known or
reasonably ascertainable liabilities, and (3) distribute any net investment
income and realized capital gains in the form of dividends. The Plan provides
that, as of the liquidation date, the Series will distribute its assets to
shareholders by redeeming their shares for cash, and that the Fund will then
wind up the Series' operations and terminate its existence.
At all times prior to the liquidation during which Variable Contract owners are
otherwise permitted to make transfers of Contract value, each Insurance Company
will permit Variable Contract owners to provide instructions to transfer their
contract value allocated to the Series into other investment options available
under their Variable Contract. For Variable Contracts as to which the Variable
Contract owner has not provided timely transfer instructions, an Insurance
Company will transfer Contract value to the subaccount that invests in shares of
the Federated Fund immediately following the distribution of liquidation
proceeds from the Series.
Variable Contract owners will not incur any transfer fees or other Variable
Contract charges under the Plan. All expenses related to the solicitation of
Variable Contract owner voting instructions, including the preparation of the
Plan and this Proxy Statement, have been or will be paid by PVA or an affiliate
of PVA. Under the Plan, the expense of liquidating the Series' investment
portfolio, including brokerage commissions, dealer spreads, custody charges and
other transaction expenses, will be borne by the Series.
EFFECTS ON VARIABLE CONTRACT OWNERS
The proposed liquidation will not in any way affect Variable Contract owners'
rights or the obligations of Phoenix under the Variable Contracts. At any time
prior to the proposed liquidation and for thirty days thereafter, Variable
Contract owners may make one or more transfers of contract value out of any
subaccount investing in the Series free of any otherwise applicable transfer
charge without that transfer counting as one of a limited number of transfers
permitted during any period or permitted during any period free of charge. If a
Variable Contract owner does not provide transfer instructions prior to the
liquidation, then Phoenix will immediately reinvest liquidation proceeds
attributable to the Variable Contract owner's Variable Contract in shares of the
Federated Fund.
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Furthermore, Phoenix has been advised by counsel that, if carried out, the
proposed liquidation, followed by the transfers of Contract value to the
alternative subaccounts for each Separate Account, will not create any federal
income tax liability for Variable Contract owners. Such counsel will deliver to
the Fund a written opinion to this effect before the proposed liquidation. In
seeking to ensure that Variable Contract owners will make their own investment
decisions as to the reinvestment of their contract values allocated to the
Series, Phoenix is requesting not only voting instructions as to the approval or
disapproval of the Plan, but is also requesting transfer instructions from
Variable Contract owners as to the reinvestment of their contract values
currently allocated to the subaccount of a Separate Account currently invested
in shares of the Series. Variable Contract owners may provide transfer
instructions as permitted under their Variable Contracts, including by calling
Phoenix Variable Products Customer Service at 1-800-541-0171; the Voting
Instruction Form enclosed with this Statement should not be used to attempt to
provide transfer instructions.
As of the liquidation date and on behalf of Variable Contract owners who have
not exercised their transfer rights prior to the liquidation date, Phoenix will
transfer contract value representing liquidation proceeds to the subaccount
investing in shares of the Federated Fund. Shortly after the proposed
liquidation, each Insurance Company will send to those of its Variable Contract
owners who did not provide transfer instructions and whose contract value
consequently was transferred to the Federated Fund following the liquidation, a
Variable Contract supplement explaining that their contract values have been
automatically transferred to the Federated Fund and again requesting that they
provide transfer instructions in the event that they do not want to remain
invested in such fund.
Because the Series and the Federated Fund are both money market funds that seek
to maintain a constant net asset value per share and the assets of which are
invested in accordance with the quality, maturity and diversification
requirements applicable to money market funds under Commission regulations, the
Series and the Federated Fund have similar investment objectives and policies,
as set forth in more detail in Appendix B. As set forth in the tables below, the
investment advisory fee for the Federated Fund is .50% and for the Series is
.40%. The other expenses for the Federated Fund are .53% (prior to fee waivers
and expense reimbursements) and for the Series are .21%. Also, the total net
expense ratio, after giving effect to waivers and reimbursements, of the
Federated Fund (0.67%) was slightly higher than the total expense ratio of the
Series (0.61%) for their respective fiscal years ended December 31, 2008. The
total expense ratio for the Series for the period ended September 30, 2009 is
0.65%. The expense ratio of the Federated Fund is expected to remain at
approximately 0.67% for so long as existing agreements by the investment advisor
to the Federated Fund and its affiliates to waive their fees and/or reimburse
Federated Fund expenses remain in effect. However, if such waiver/reimbursement
agreement is terminated, which may be as early as April 30, 2011, the expense
ratio of the Federated Fund could become substantially higher than the current
expense ratio of the Series.
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ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (deducted from fund assets)
(% of average daily net assets)
Phoenix Money Federated Prime Pro Forma
Market Series Money Fund II (after Liquidation)
Federated Prime
Money Fund II
Management Fees 0.40% 0.50% 0.50%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees None None None
Other Expenses(1) 0.21% 0.53% 0.40%
----- ----- ----
Total Annual Operating Expenses 0.61% 1.03% 0.90%
===== ===== =====
Total Waivers and Reduction of Expenses 0.00% 0.36% 0.23%
Net Actual Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.61%(2,3) 0.67%(4) 0.67%(5)
===== ===== =====
(1) In general, the "Other Expenses" shown in the table are based on actual
expenses paid during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. Expenses for the
Phoenix Money Market Series are likely to be higher for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2009 given lower asset levels. "Other Expenses" also reflects the
fees of the U.S. Department of Treasury Temporary Guarantee Program for Money
Market Funds (the "Guarantee Program") accrued to the Series and Federated Fund
during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009. Such guarantee program is no
longer in effect. The Federated Fund's "Other Expenses" also includes an
administrative services fee which is used to compensate insurance companies for
shareholder services.
(2) The Fund has entered into an expense limitation agreement with PVA whereby
PVA has agreed to reimburse the Series for expenses necessary or appropriate for
the operation of the Series (excluding advisory and management fees, Rule 12b-1
fees, taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection
with any merger or reorganization, the fee for the Guarantee Program, and
extraordinary expenses such as litigation expenses) to the extent that such
expenses exceed 0.25% of the Series' average net assets. This expense limitation
agreement is effective through April 30, 2010.
(3) The Total Waivers and Reduction of Expenses for the period ended September
30, 2009 was 0.08% and the Net Annual Operating Expenses was 0.65%.
(4) The percentages shown for the Federated Fund are based on expenses for the
entire fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. The Federated Fund's investment
advisor and its affiliates have voluntarily agreed to waive their fees and/or
reimburse expenses so that the total operating expenses of the Federated Fund
(after the waivers and reimbursements) will not exceed 0.67% for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 2009. Although these actions are voluntary, the Federated
Fund's investment advisor and its affiliates have agreed to continue these
waivers and/or reimbursements at least through April 30, 2011.
(5) The pro forma fees and expenses of the Federated Fund assumes that the
assets of the Series have been reinvested in the Federated Fund and are based on
the Federated Fund's expenses for the entire fiscal year ended December 31,
2008.
EXAMPLE: This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in
the indicate3d Funds with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in each respective Fund for the time
periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those
periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year
and that Phoenix Money Market Series' operating expenses are as shown in the
Table and remain the same, and that for Federated Prime Money Fund II and
Federated Prime Money Fund II- Pro Forma Combined, operating expenses are before
waivers and reduction as shown in the table and remain the same. Although your
actual costs and returns may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your
costs would be:
--------------------------------------------------- ---------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
--------------------------------------------------- ---------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
--------------------------------------------------- ---------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
Phoenix Money Market Series $62 $195 $340 $762
--------------------------------------------------- ---------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
Federated Prime Money Fund II $105 $328 $569 $1,259
--------------------------------------------------- ---------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
Federated Prime Money Fund II; Pro Forma Combined $92 $287 $498 $1,108
--------------------------------------------------- ---------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
7
This Proxy Statement sets forth information about the proposed liquidation that
a Variable Contract owner should know before giving voting instructions to
approve or disapprove the liquidation. Current prospectuses for the mutual funds
available as investment options under the Variable Contracts (including other
series of the Fund) have been sent to Variable Contract owners earlier this
year. These prospectuses set forth important information about the other mutual
funds that a Variable Contract owner should know before providing transfer
instructions relating to the reinvestment of their contract values currently
allocated to the Series. A statement of additional information related to each
of the prospectuses for the mutual funds has been filed with the Commission and
is available free of charge. Additional copies of the mutual fund prospectuses
as well as copies of the various statements of additional information may be
obtained without charge by calling Phoenix Variable Products Customer Service at
1-800-541-0171.
BOARD EVALUATION AND APPROVAL
On December 8, 2009, the Board of the Fund held a meeting called for the purpose
of considering, among other things, the circumstances facing the Series and the
possible liquidation of the Series. At the meeting, the Board considered
information provided by Phoenix and PVA regarding the Series, including the
Series' income and expenses, PVA's fee waivers and expense reimbursements with
respect to the Series, and the prospects for changes in current market
conditions that would enable Phoenix to stop waiving fees and making
reimbursements. The Board also considered the following relating factors to the
transfer of the liquidation proceeds to other available investment options and
concluded that the liquidation was reasonable under the circumstances and fair
to the Variable Contract owners: (1) the range of alternative investment options
available to Variable Contract owners in which they may transfer their contract
value prior to the liquidation; (2) the fact that Variable Contract owners would
be encouraged to provide instructions to transfer contract value to alternative
investment options; (3) the fact that, if Variable Contract owners do not
provide transfer instructions, their contract value would be transferred to the
Federated Fund, a money market fund with an investment objective and investment
policies that are similar to those of the Series; and (4) the fact that all such
transfers of contract value from the Series made prior to the liquidation date
and for thirty days thereafter will be free of any otherwise applicable transfer
charge and without the transfer counting as one of a limited number of transfers
permitted during any period or permitted during any period free of charge. At a
previous meeting, the Board had the opportunity to meet and examine the
portfolio manager and other Federated personnel related to the Federated Fund.
In addition, the Board considered that the investment advisor to the Federated
Fund has agreed to keep its current waivers/reimbursements of the Federated
Fund's expenses in place at least through April 30, 2011. The Board also
considered PVA's commitment to contribute to the Series after its investments
have been liquidated the amount of cash that may be necessary so that the
Series' net asset value per share is exactly $10.00 at the time the liquidation
proceeds are transferred to the Federated Fund. Finally, the Board considered
that, in the opinion of counsel for Phoenix, consummation of the liquidation,
followed by the transfers of variable contract value to the subaccount of each
Separate Account investing in the Federated Fund, will not create any federal
income tax liability for Variable Contract owners.
8
The Board discussed possible alternatives to the Plan, including consideration
of a possible merger of the Series with another investment company. The Board
concluded that the liquidation of the Series, as distinct from a merger of the
Series with a designated fund, would be in the best interests of Variable
Contract owners, as it best enables Variable Contract owners to provide
individualized instructions as to the transfer of the Series' liquidation
proceeds to other investment options available under the Variable Contracts.
Based upon its review, the Board concluded that the Plan is in the best
interests of the Series and its shareholders, as well as the Variable Contract
owners indirectly invested in the Series. Accordingly, after consideration of
the above and such other factors and information it considered relevant, the
Board including all of its trustees who are not interested under Section
2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 unanimously approved the Plan and
voted to recommend to the Series' shareholders that they approve the Plan.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT VARIABLE CONTRACT OWNERS INSTRUCT PHOENIX TO VOTE
"FOR" THE PLAN OF LIQUIDATION.
GENERAL INFORMATION
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Information about the mutual funds available as investment options under the
Variable Contracts is included in their current prospectuses, which have been
sent to owners earlier this year, and statements of additional information.
Copies of these materials are available, without charge, upon request. Copies of
the annual reports for the Series and the other mutual funds available as
investment options under the Variable Contracts, including the Federated Fund,
are also available upon request. To request a copy of a prospectus, statement of
additional information, or annual report, please call Phoenix Variable Products
Customer Service at 1-800-541-0171. Previously, on or about December 18, 2009
Phoenix mailed the Variable Contract owners a copy of the Federated Prime Money
Market Fund II prospectus, dated April 30, 2009.
Phoenix and the Fund know of no other matters to be brought before the Meeting,
but should any other matter requiring the vote of shareholders arise, each
Insurance Company will vote in accordance with its best judgment in the interest
of the Fund and the Series.
INVESTMENT ADVISOR AND SUBADVISOR
PVA, One American Row, Hartford, Connecticut 06102-5056, serves as the
investment manager to the Series. PVA has retained Goodwin Capital Advisers,
Inc. ("Goodwin"), an affiliate of PVA located at One American Row, Hartford,
Connecticut 06102-5056, as subadvisor to the Series. Goodwin furnishes an
investment program for the Series, makes day-to-day investment decisions for the
Series, and arranges for the execution of Series transactions. PVA pays
Goodwin's fees for the Series out of its investment management fee and monitors
Goodwin's services for the Series.
9
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation, 610 West Germantown Pike, Suite 460,
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, serves as the Fund's principal underwriter.
ADMINISTRATOR AND SUB-ADMINISTRATOR
VP Distributors, Inc., 100 Pearl Street, 9th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103 serves as
the Fund's administrator and, as such, is responsible for certain administrative
functions and the bookkeeping and pricing functions for the Series. PNC Global
Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc., 103 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809,
has been retained by VP Distributors, Inc. under a Sub-Administration Agreement
to perform certain of these services.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
The Fund does not hold annual meetings of shareholders. If the Liquidation is
not approved, shareholders wishing to submit proposals to be considered for
inclusion in proxy statement for a subsequent shareholder meeting of the Series
should send their written proposals to the Secretary of the Fund at One American
Row, Hartford, Connecticut 06102-5056 so that they will be received by the Fund
in a reasonable time prior to that Meeting.
DISSENTER'S RIGHTS OF APPRAISAL
Taken together, Massachusetts law, the Fund's declaration of trust, and
interpretations of the 1940 Act by the Commission staff limit appraisal rights
for a shareholder of a registered open-end management investment company such as
the Fund to those provided by Rule 22c-1 under the 1940 Act (which, in effect,
requires for transactions such as the proposed liquidations that shares be
valued at their net asset value per share determined as of the close of regular
trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the liquidation date).
INQUIRIES
Variable Contract owners may make inquiries by calling Phoenix Variable Products
Customer Service at 1-800-541-0171.
10
APPENDIX A
PLAN OF LIQUIDATION
FOR THE
PHOENIX MONEY MARKET SERIES
OF
THE PHOENIX EDGE SERIES FUND
The following Plan of Liquidation (the "Plan") of Phoenix Money Market
Series (the "Series"), a series of The Phoenix Edge Series Fund (the "Fund"), a
business trust organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts that is registered as an open-end management investment company
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company
Act"), is intended to accomplish the complete liquidation and dissolution of the
Series in conformity with the provisions of the Fund's Declaration of Trust
dated February 18, 1986, as amended, and under Massachusetts law.
WHEREAS, the Fund's Board of Trustees (the "Board") has determined that
it is advisable and in the best interests of the Series and its Shareholders to
liquidate and to dissolve the Series, and the Board, on December 8, 2009,
considered the matter and decided to recommend the termination of the Series
pursuant to this Plan and subsequent reinvestment of the proceeds of such
liquidation in accordance with applicable no-action relief granted by the staff
of the Securities and Exchange Commission (see, e.g., Northwestern National Life
Insurance Company (Apr. 10, 1995));
WHEREAS, shares of the Series are offered exclusively through certain
separate accounts of Phoenix Life Insurance Company, PHL Variable Insurance
Company, and Phoenix Life and Annuity Company (collectively, the "Insurance
Companies") as funding vehicles for certain variable annuity contracts and
variable life insurance policies (collectively, "Variable Contracts") they have
issued or will issue, and shares of the Series are held only by separate
accounts of the Insurance Companies.
NOW, THEREFORE, the liquidation of the Series shall be carried out in
the manner hereinafter set forth:
ARTICLE I
LIQUIDATION DATE
The liquidation of the Series shall occur on January 22, 2010, or such
other date as the Board may establish. The date of such liquidation is
hereinafter called the "Liquidation Date."
11
ARTICLE II
LIQUIDATION OF ASSETS AND PAYMENT OF LIABILITIES
By the Liquidation Date, the Series will sell its portfolio securities
for cash or permit them to mature, reduce any other assets to cash or cash
equivalents, pay (or reserve sufficient amounts to pay) any known or reasonably
ascertainable liabilities of the Series incurred or expected to be incurred
prior to the Liquidation Date.
ARTICLE III
LIQUIDATION OF SERIES
Provided that all of the conditions precedent to the liquidation
described in Article VI are fulfilled, then, as of the Liquidation Date, the
Series will distribute its assets to shareholders by redeeming their shares for
cash (such cash to be reinvested in accordance with Article IV), and the shares
of the Series shall be cancelled, and the Series shall engage in no other
business except to wind up its operations and completely terminate.
ARTICLE IV
REINVESTMENT OF PROCEEDS
Immediately following the distribution of liquidation proceeds to
shareholders, each Insurance Company will reinvest the proceeds distributed to
each of their separate accounts by transferring the proceeds from the
subaccounts that hold Series shares to subaccounts that hold shares of the
Federated Prime Money Fund II, a portfolio of Federated Insurance Series.
ARTICLE V
DIVIDEND DECLARATION
The Board (or appropriate Fund officers acting under the authority of
the Board) will declare and pay a dividend on or before the Liquidation Date on
Series shares representing substantially all of the Series' accrued but
undistributed net investment income through the Liquidation Date as well as any
other dividend necessary to enable the Series to avoid any liability for federal
income and excise taxes.
ARTICLE VI
OTHER CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE LIQUIDATION
The Board will call a meeting of the holders of Series shares in order
to submit to such holders this Plan for their approval or disapproval. Prior to
the Liquidation Date, the holders of Fund shares shall meet and approve the Plan
by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Series as
defined in the Investment Company Act.
12
Prior to any meeting of the holders of Series shares, the Fund shall
distribute to such holders entitled to vote at such meeting (and to investors
indirectly invested in such shares) a proxy statement and other proxy materials
(including voting instruction forms) that complies in all material respects with
the applicable provisions of Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
At all times prior to the Liquidation Date and for thirty days
thereafter during which owners of Variable Contracts are permitted to make
transfers of contract value, each Insurance Company will permit owners of
Variable Contracts to transfer their contract value allocated to the Series into
other investment options available under their Variable Contract free of any
otherwise applicable transfer charge and without that transfer counting as one
of a limited number of transfers permitted during any period or permitted during
any period free of charge.
Prior to the Liquidation Date, the Fund will receive an opinion from
tax counsel substantially to the effect that no gain or loss will be recognized
by owners of Variable Contracts indirectly invested in the Series upon
consummation of the Plan, followed by the transfer of Variable Contract value to
alternative subaccounts of any Insurance Company separate account.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
At any time prior to the Liquidation Date, the Liquidation may be
postponed or abandoned by the Board (or appropriate Fund officers acting under
the authority of the Board). In the event that it is abandoned, the Plan shall
become void and have no effect, without liability on the part of any Insurance
Company, Phoenix Variable Advisors, Inc. ("PVA"), the Fund, the holders of
Series shares, the holders of other series of Fund shares, the Federated Fund or
Federated Investors, Inc. The Board shall have the power to authorize such
variations from or amendments to the provisions of this Plan (other than the
terms of the liquidation distribution) as may be necessary or appropriate to
effect the liquidation, dissolution and termination of the Series in accordance
with the purposes intended to be accomplished by this Plan.
PVA or its parent company will pay the expenses of carrying out this
Plan, including the costs of soliciting voting instructions from owners of
Variable Contracts indirectly invested in the Series, but excluding the cost (if
any) of liquidating Series portfolio investments in preparation for and in
connection with the Liquidation, which will be borne by the Series.
As soon after the Liquidation Date as is reasonably practicable, the
Fund will: (1) prepare and file all federal and other tax returns and reports of
the Series required by law with respect to all periods ending on or before the
Liquidation Date, (2) to the extent assets have been reserved therefor, pay
federal and other taxes due thereon, but not paid by the Liquidation Date, (3)
prepare and file any other required regulatory reports, including but not
limited to any Form N-SAR Report and Rule 24f-2 notices with respect to the
Series, and (4) take any other steps necessary or proper to effect the
termination or dissolution of the Series under federal or state law.
13
This Plan and all amendments hereto shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
14
SUMMARY INFORMATION ABOUT
THE PHOENIX MONEY MARKET SERIES OF THE PHOENIX EDGE SERIES FUND
AND THE
FEDERATED PRIME MONEY FUND II, A PORTFOLIO OF FEDERATED INSURANCE SERIES
The following information is extracted from the May 1, 2009 prospectus of the
Series and the April 30, 2009 prospectus of the Federated Fund. Variable
Contract owners should review such prospectuses before filling out their
transfer request forms or making any other investment decision with respect to
these funds.
15
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE; PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, RESTRICTIONS AND RISKS:
THE PHOENIX EDGE SERIES FUND - PHOENIX MONEY MARKET SERIES
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
As high a level of current income as is consistent with the preservation of
capital and maintenance of liquidity.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
o The Series seeks to maintain a stable $10.00 per share price.
o The Series will invest in a diversified portfolio of high quality money
market instruments with maturities of 397 days or less. The average
maturity of the Series' portfolio securities, based on their dollar
value, will not exceed 90 days.
o At least 95% of the Series' assets will be invested in securities in
the highest short-term rating category. Generally, investments will be
limited to securities in the two highest short-term rating categories.
o The Series may invest more than 25% of its assets in the domestic
banking industry.
o The subadvisor for the Series will seek a high level of return
relative to the market by selecting securities for the Series'
portfolio in anticipation of, or in response to, changing economic
conditions and money market conditions and trends.
o The Series may forego purchasing securities with the highest available
yield due to considerations of liquidity and safety of principal.
The Series will invest exclusively in the following instruments:
o Obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies,
authorities and instrumentalities, including U.S. Treasury obligations
and securities issued by:
- the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA),
- the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC),
- the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA),
- Student Loan Marketing Association (SLMA),
- other federal agencies;
o Obligations issued by banks and savings and loan associations,
including dollar-denominated obligations of foreign branches of U.S.
banks and U.S. branches of foreign banks, including certificates of
deposits and bankers acceptances;
o Dollar-denominated obligations guaranteed by banks or savings and loan
associations;
o Federally insured obligations of other banks or savings and loan
associations;
o Commercial paper;
o Short-term corporate obligations; and
o Repurchase agreements.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
An investment in the Series is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the Series seeks
to preserve the value of your investment at $10.00 per share, it is possible to
lose money by investing in the Series.
16
Neither the Series nor the advisor or subadvisor can assure you that a
particular yield, return or level of income will be achieved. Changing market
conditions, the relatively short maturities of the Series' investments and
substantial redemptions may all negatively affect the Series.
The Series' investments are subject generally to market risk and the risk of
selecting underperforming securities and asset classes, which may adversely
affect the Series and lead to a reduced yield.
The Series' focus is to optimize current income. The subadvisor intends to
select investments that provide higher returns relative to overall money market
investment returns while preserving capital and maintaining liquidity. If the
advisor misjudges the return potential of the Series' investments, the Series'
returns may be lower than prevailing returns, and the Series' income available
for distribution to shareholders may be less. Similarly, if the subadvisor
misjudges the ability of the issuer of a portfolio security to make scheduled
interest or other income payments to the Series, the Series' income available
for distribution to shareholders may decrease or the Series' net asset value may
fall below $10.00 per share.
Other principal risks of investing in the Series, which could adversely affect
its net asset value, yield and total return, are:
CONCENTRATION RISK. The Series many concentrate in the banking industry. A fund
that concentrates in a single industry may be more susceptible to any single
economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence that specifically affects
that industry. The investment portfolio of a fund may be especially sensitive to
economic and market factors and risks that specifically affect an industry.
Additionally, the banking industry is subject to greater government regulation
than some other industries. Therefore, changes in regulatory policies for the
banking industry may have a material effect on the value of securities issued by
companies in that industry. Furthermore, to the extent that the Series invests a
substantial portion of its assets in related industries or sectors, it may have
greater risk because companies in those industries or sectors may share common
characteristics and may react similarly to market developments.
FIXED INCOME SECURITIES RISK. The primary risks associated with investments in
fixed-income securities include interest rate risk and credit risk.
INTEREST RATE RISK. The value of fixed-income securities will be
directly affected by trends in interest rates. For example, in times of
rising interest rates, the value of these types of securities tends to
decrease. When interest rates fall, the value of these securities tends
to rise. Interest rate changes have a greater effect on the price of
fixed-income securities with longer durations and maturities. Interest
rate risk will affect the price of a fixed income security more if the
security has a longer maturity because changes in interest rates are
increasingly difficult to predict over longer periods of time. Fixed
income securities with longer maturities will therefore be more
volatile than other fixed income securities with shorter maturities.
Conversely, fixed income securities with shorter maturities will be
less volatile but generally provide lower returns than fixed income
securities with longer maturities. The maturity requirements for the
Series are intended to limit interest rate risk.
17
CREDIT RISK. If the issuer of a portfolio security is unable or
unwilling to make timely interest or other income payments to the
Series, the Series' income available for distribution to shareholders
and the Series' yield may decrease. Credit risk for debt obligations
generally increases as the credit rating declines. Thus, when the
credit rating declines, there is an increased chance the issuer may not
be able to make principal and interest payments on time. The credit
quality requirements sent forth above are intended to limit credit
risk.
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES INVESTMENT RISK. Obligations issued or guaranteed by the
U.S. Government, its agencies, authorities and instrumentalities only guarantee
or insure principal and interest will be timely paid to holders of the
securities. The entities do not guarantee that the value of the obligations (or
the Series' shares) will increase, and the value of these obligations may
decrease due to interest rate changes or for other reasons. In addition, not all
U.S. Government securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United
States.
MARKET RISK. The value of your shares is based on the market value of the
Series' investments. However, the value of the Series' investments that support
your share value can decrease as well as increase. Although the Series seeks to
preserve the value of your investment at $10.00 per share, if between the time
you purchase shares and the time you sell shares the value of the Series'
investments decreases, you will lose money. If your financial circumstances are
likely to require you to sell your shares at any particular time, rather than
holding them indefinitely, you run the risk that your sale of shares will occur
when share values have declined.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RISK. The subadvisor will buy, sell and trade securities in
anticipation of, or in response to, changing economic and money market
conditions and trends. This, and the short-term nature of money market
instruments, may result in a high portfolio turnover rate. Higher portfolio
turnover rates may increase costs to the Series which may negatively affect the
Series' performance.
SECURITIES SELECTION RISK. There is the possibility that the specific securities
held by the Series will underperform the securities held by other funds in the
same asset class or the benchmark that is representative of the general
performance of the asset class because of the subadvisor's choice of portfolio
securities.
18
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE; PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, RESTRICTIONS AND RISKS:
FEDERATED INSURANCE SERIES - FEDERATED PRIME MONEY FUND II
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Federated Fund is a money market fund that seeks to maintain a stable net
asset value (NAV) of $1.00 per share. The Federated Fund's investment objective
is to provide current income consistent with stability of principal and
liquidity.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
The Federated Fund invests primarily in a portfolio of high-quality,
fixed-income securities issued by banks, corporations and the U.S. government,
maturing in 397 days or less. The Federated Fund will have a dollar-weighted
average portfolio maturity of 90 days or less. The Federated Fund's investment
advisor, Federated Investment Management Company ("Federated"), actively manages
the Federated Fund's portfolio, seeking to limit the credit risk taken by the
Federated Fund and to select investments with enhanced yields.
Federated performs a fundamental credit analysis to develop an approved list of
issuers and securities that meet Federated's standard for minimal credit risk.
Federated monitors the credit risks of all portfolio securities on an ongoing
basis by reviewing periodic financial data and ratings of nationally recognized
statistical rating organizations (NRSROs).
Federated targets a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity range based upon
its interest rate outlook. Federated formulates its interest rate outlook by
analyzing a variety of factors, such as current and expected U.S. economic
growth; current and expected interest rates and inflation; and the Federal
Reserve Board's monetary policy. Federated structures the portfolio by investing
primarily in variable rate instruments and commercial paper to achieve a limited
barbell structure. In this structure, the maturities of the Federated Fund's
investments tend to be concentrated towards the shorter and longer ends of the
maturity range of the Federated Fund's investments, rather than evenly spread
across the range. Federated generally adjusts the portfolio's dollar-weighted
average maturity by increasing or decreasing the maturities of the investments
at the longer end of the barbell. Federated generally shortens the portfolio's
maturity when it expects interest rates to rise and extends the maturity when it
expects interest rates to fall. This strategy seeks to enhance the returns from
favorable interest rate changes and reduce the effect of unfavorable changes.
The Federated Fund may invest 25% or more of its assets in commercial paper
issued by finance companies.
The Federated Fund will invest principally in the following instruments:
o Obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government agencies or
other government-sponsored enterprises acting under federal authority
including obligations supported by the full faith and credit of the
United States, obligations that receive support through federal
subsidies, loans and other benefits, and obligations with no explicit
financial support but that are regarded as having implied support
because the federal government sponsors their activities.
19
o Bank instruments such as bank accounts, time deposits, certificates of
deposit and banker's acceptances;
o Commercial paper;
o Corporate debt securities;
o Demand instruments (securities that require the issuer or a third party
to repurchase the securities for its face value upon demand);
o Insurance contracts such as guaranteed investment contracts, funding
agreements and annuities;
o Municipal Securities - such as securities issued by states, counties,
cities and other political subdivisions and authorities;
o Asset-backed securities payable from pools of obligations other than
mortgages;
o Foreign securities;
o Repurchase agreements; and
o Securities of other investment companies.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
Although there are many factors which may affect an investment in the Federated
Fund, the principal risks of investing in the Federated Fund are described
below:
CREDIT RISK. Credit risk is the possibility that an issuer will default
on a security by failing to pay interest or principal when due. If an
issuer defaults, the Federated Fund may lose money.
Many fixed-income securities receive credit ratings from NRSROs such as
Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investors Service. These NRSROs assign
ratings to securities by assessing the likelihood of issuer default.
Lower credit ratings correspond to higher perceived credit risk. Credit
ratings do not provide assurance against default or other loss of
money. If a security has not received a rating, the Fund must rely
entirely on the Federated's credit assessment.
Fixed-income securities generally compensate for greater credit risk by
paying interest at a higher rate. The difference between the yield of a
security and the yield of a U.S. Treasury security with a comparable
maturity (the spread) measures the additional interest paid for risk.
Spreads may increase generally in response to adverse economic or
market conditions. A security's spread may also increase if the
security's rating is lowered, or the security is perceived to have an
increased credit risk. An increase in the spread will cause the price
of the security to decline.
Credit risk includes the possibility that a party to a transaction
involving the Federated Fund will fail to meet its obligations. This
could cause the Federated Fund to lose the benefit of the transaction
or prevent the Federated Fund from selling or buying other securities
to implement its investment strategy.
INTEREST RATE RISK. Prices of fixed-income securities rise and fall in
response to changes in the interest rate paid by similar securities.
Generally, when interest rates rise, prices of fixed-income securities
fall. However, market factors, such as the demand for particular
20
fixed-income securities, may cause the price of certain fixed-income
securities to fall while the prices of other securities rise or remain
unchanged.
Interest rate changes have a greater effect on the price of
fixed-income securities with longer maturities. Money market funds try
to minimize this risk by purchasing short-term securities.
SECTOR RISK. A substantial part of the Federated Fund's portfolio may
be comprised of securities issued by finance companies or companies
with similar characteristics. In addition, a substantial part of the
Federated Fund's portfolio may be comprised of securities issued by
companies whose credit is enhanced by banks or companies with similar
characteristics. As a result, the Federated Fund will be more
susceptible to any economic, business, political or other developments
which generally affects these entities. Developments affecting finance
companies, banks or companies with similar characteristics might
include changes in interest rates, changes in the economic cycle
affecting credit losses, and regulatory changes.
RISK OF FOREIGN INVESTING. Foreign securities pose additional risks because
foreign economic or political conditions may be less favorable than those of the
United States. Securities in foreign markets may also be subject to taxation
policies that reduce returns for U.S. investors.
Foreign companies may not provide information (including financial statements)
as frequently or to as great an extent as companies in the United States.
Foreign companies may also receive less coverage than U.S. companies by market
analysts and the financial press. In addition, foreign countries may lack
uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards or regulatory
requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. These factors may
prevent the Federated Fund and Federated from obtaining information concerning
foreign companies that is as frequent, extensive and reliable as the information
available concerning companies in the United States.
Foreign countries may have restrictions on foreign ownership of securities or
may impose exchange controls, capital flow restrictions or repatriation
restrictions which could adversely affect the liquidity of the Federated Fund's
investments.
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VOTING INSTRUCTIONS CARD
Instructions to Variable Contract Owner for Voting Shares of
The Phoenix Edge Series Fund
These proposals are discussed in detail in the attached Proxy
Statement. The Board of Trustees of the Fund is soliciting the enclosed proxy.
As a convenience, you can now vote in any one of four ways:
o By telephone, with a toll-free call to the Fund's proxy tabulator,
at 1-888-221-0697;
o By mail, using this Voting Instructions Card and postage-paid
envelope; or
o In person, at the Meeting.
We encourage you to vote by telephone. These voting methods will reduce
the time and costs associated with this proxy solicitation. Whichever method you
choose, please read the enclosed proxy statement before you vote. If you vote by
telephone, you need not return the instruction card by mail.
PLEASE RESPOND - IN ORDER TO AVOID THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE OF FURTHER
SOLICITATION, WE ASK THAT YOU VOTE PROMPTLY. YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT.
The undersigned, being the owner of a variable life insurance policy or
variable annuity contract ("Variable Contract owner") issued by Phoenix Life
Insurance Company or one of its subsidiaries (together, "Phoenix"), hereby
instructs Phoenix to cause the shares of the Phoenix Money Market Series (the
"Series"), a series of The Phoenix Edge Series Fund (the "Fund"), allocable to
Policyholder's or Contract owner's account identified on this Voting
Instructions Card, to be voted at the Special Meeting of Shareholders of the
Series to be held on January 20, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time at One American
Row, Hartford, Connecticut and at any and all adjournments or postponements
thereof, in the manner directed on the reverse with respect to the matters
described in the accompanying Notice of Special Meeting and Proxy Statement for
said Meeting which have been received by the undersigned.
The voting instruction will be voted as marked. IF NOT MARKED, THIS
VOTING INSTRUCTION WILL BE VOTED "FOR" THE PROPOSALS. If you do not vote or this
Voting Instructions Card is not returned properly executed, your votes will be
cast by Phoenix on behalf of the pertinent separate account in the same
proportion as it votes shares held by that separate account for which it has
received instructions.
THE PROXY FOR WHICH VOTING INSTRUCTIONS ARE BEING REQUESTED IS BEING
SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE FUND, WHICH RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR"
EACH OF THE PROPOSALS.
Please fill in box(es) as shown using black or blue ink or No. 2 pencil. PLEASE
DO NOT USE FINE POINT PENS. [x]
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Phoenix Money Market Series
---------------------------------
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposal:
-----------
LIQUIDATION OF SERIES [ ] [ ] [ ]
To approve or disapprove the Plan of Liquidation for the Series
OTHER BUSINESS [ ] [ ] [ ]
To consider and act upon any other business as may properly come before the
meeting and any adjournments thereof.
--------------------------------------------------
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS CARD PROMPTLY USING
THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
Signature of Participant Date Signature of Joint Owner(s) Date
PLEASE DATE AND SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME APPEARS HEREON. IF SHARES ARE
REGISTERED IN MORE THAN ONE NAME, ALL PARTICIPANTS SHOULD SIGN THIS VOTING
INSTRUCTION; BUT IF ONE PARTICIPANT SIGNS, THIS SIGNATURE BINDS THE OTHER
PARTICIPANT(S). WHEN SIGNING AS AN ATTORNEY, EXECUTOR, ADMINISTRATOR, AGENT,
TRUSTEE, GUARDIAN, OR CUSTODIAN FOR A MINOR, PLEASE GIVE FULL TITLE AS SUCH. IF
A CORPORATION, PLEASE SIGN IN FULL CORPORATE NAME BY AN AUTHORIZED PERSON. IF A
PARTNERSHIP, PLEASE SIGN IN PARTNERSHIP NAME BY AN AUTHORIZED PERSON.
23