A. Organization
Formed in October 2019, NIS is the successor registered investment adviser to National
Investment Services, Inc. (“NIS, Inc.”). NIS, Inc. was formed in November 1993 and began
operations on April 1, 1994. NIS is a majority-owned asset management subsidiary of Resolute
Investment Managers, Inc. (“Resolute”). Resolute is an indirect subsidiary of Resolute TopCo, Inc.,
which is owned primarily by various institutional investment funds that are managed by financial
institutions and other investment advisory firms.
B. Advisory Services
NIS is primarily an institutional-oriented investment management firm that manages client
portfolios across a variety of fixed income strategies, as well as a preferred stock strategy. NIS
manages separate accounts, as well as private funds. The firm also provides subadvisory services
to a mutual fund and to a collective investment trust.
Any reference to the private funds within this Brochure is for informational purposes only and is
intended to address required disclosures about NIS’s business practices and the conflicts
associated with managing the private funds. References to the private funds in this Brochure is
solely intended and included to the extent NIS believes it is necessary to meet its disclosure
obligations. Only qualified investors are able to invest in the private funds, and they should read
that fund’s confidential private placement memorandum before investing. No reference within
this Brochure should be viewed as an offer to sell or an offer to buy an interest in the private
funds.
C. Specific Client Needs and Restrictions
Whether or not NIS tailors portfolios to individual client needs depends on the type of client.
Institutional clients typically have investment policy statements that contain parameters and
restrictions that require varying degrees of portfolio customization. Each of the private funds is
managed in accordance with the private fund’s offering documents which are provided to
investors prior to investment in the private fund.
If a client has particular investment restrictions or parameters that they want NIS to adhere to,
the firm will generally accept the assignment (subject to minimum account values) as long as the
restrictions or parameters do not unnecessarily hinder NIS’s ability to properly manage the
account in line with the applicable strategy.
At the direction of certain clients and in accordance with their investment policy statement or
guidelines, NIS currently manages certain clients’ accounts in a manner that adheres to prescribed
social and governance criteria. NIS will consider client-specific guidelines or restrictions on a case-
by-case basis.
D. Investment Advisory Agreements
NIS enters into individually-negotiated investment advisory agreements with its clients (i.e., non-
uniform agreements). Since the firm does not negotiate uniform terms with all clients, some
clients obtain more favorable terms relating to, for example, management or performance fees,
“MFN” rights, key-man, notices, customized
reporting and client service requirements, consent,
indemnity, and exculpation rights. Further, certain understandings with investors include
investment-related restrictions that potentially impact the investment parameters of an entire
private fund, thereby affecting other investors in the same private fund. Varying investment
advisory agreement terms could create preferences or priorities for certain clients or investors as
compared to other clients or investors. Clients are not entitled to identical or similar terms as
other clients. Clients not offered certain potentially more favorable terms do not have any right
of claim against NIS, its affiliates, the private funds, or any other clients or investors.
NIS’s investment advisory agreements may not be assigned by either party without the consent
of the other party, except that NIS may, upon written notice to clients and without limiting any
client’s termination rights under their investment advisory agreement, assign the agreement to
any affiliate. To the extent certain clients have agreed and to the extent consistent with applicable
law or Securities and Exchange Commission pronouncements, such consent may take the form of
a so-called implied or negative consent.
E. Investment Company
NIS has been engaged by American Beacon Funds (“ABF”) and American Beacon Advisors, Inc.
(“ABA”) to subadvise the American Beacon NIS Core Plus Bond Fund (the “NIS AmB Fund”). NIS’s
subadvisory activities with respect to the NIS AmB Fund are overseen by ABF and ABA.
F. Collective Investment Trusts
NIS has been retained by the trustee of a group collective investment trust to assist in the
management of the assets of certain separate funds (the “CIT funds”) that comprise the trust.
The trustee oversees NIS’s investment decisions for the CIT funds.
G. Limitations on NIS’s Liability
NIS’s management or advisory agreements with its clients typically contain provisions that may
act as a waiver, release or limitation on certain rights clients may have against the firm arising
from its services. In substance, the agreements usually state that NIS, and its employees and
affiliates, are not liable for any loss arising out of NIS’s advice or for any other act or omission
taken with respect to its services, except for any act or omission which constitutes willful
malfeasance, fraud, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties.
Notwithstanding the liability limiting nature of these provisions, clients should be aware that
federal and state securities laws may impose liabilities on NIS under certain circumstances.
Therefore, nothing in those or any other provisions in the agreements will have the effect of
waiving, releasing, or limiting any rights a client may have under those laws or under any other
laws that are not permitted to be waived by contract.
H. Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2023, the regulatory assets under management of NIS were approximately
$9,848,742,000. The firm has discretionary authority over all of the assets that it manages.