Vanguard Bond ETF to Make Big Distribution

Vanguard has updated its estimated 2009 capital gains distributions. Interestingly, three ETFs will make gains distributions, including a more than $11 short-term gain from the Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury ETF, roughly 11% of NAV and market price as of Nov. 24.

The family has launched seven new bond funds and ETFs. Dan Culloton, associate director of fund analysis, wrote about the new offerings when they were first announced in August. The new funds are Short-Term Government Bond Index VGSH, Intermediate-Term Government Bond Index VGIT, Long-Term Government Bond Index VGLT, Short-Term Corporate Bond Index VCSH, Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index VCIT, Long-Term Corporate Bond Index VCLT, and Mortgage-Backed Securities Index VMBS. The expense ratio for the funds' ETF and Signal (mutual fund) share classes is 0.15%, low for their respective categories.

Evergreen Changes Bond Fund Subadvisor
Evergreen announced in April that it anticipated proposing that Wells Capital Management Incorporated replace Tattersall Advisory Group Inc. as subadvisor for Evergreen Core Plus Bond ,  Evergreen Core Bond , and Evergreen Short Intermediate Bond .  Wells Fargo (WFC) owns Evergreen.

It has now filed to name Wells the interim subadvisor for these funds, effective Dec. 1, with the goal of making the arrangement permanent pending shareholder approval in mid-April 2010.

Evergreen Core Bond and Short Intermediate Bond will be managed by Troy Ludgood, Thomas O'Connor, Lynne A. Royer, and William C. Stevens. Evergreen Core Plus Bond will be managed by Michael Bray, D. James Newton II, Thomas M. Price, and Janet S. Rilling.

Hartford Adds Managers, Changes Fund Names
Hartford MidCap Growth (HSMAX) will change its name to Hartford Small/Mid Cap Equity on Feb. 1, 2010. The fund will also change its benchmark from the Russell Midcap Growth Index to the Russell 2500 Index. Portfolio manager Kurt Cubbage also will join the fund's management team of Hugh Whelan and Paul Bukowski.

Carlos Feged will join Mark Niland and James Serhant as a manager of Hartford High Yield (HAHAX) on Dec. 1.

Joseph Portera will become a portfolio manager of Hartford Strategic Income (HSNAX) with Michael Bacevich, Michael Gray, Mark Niland, and Nasri Toutoungi on Dec. 1.

Portera and Christopher Zeppieri also will join the portfolio-management team of Hartford Total Return Bond (ITBAX) alongside Nasri Toutoungi.

On Dec.11, the name of Hartford Global Equity  will change to Hartford Global Research.

Etc.
On Dec. 1,  HighMark Geneva Growth (PNMAX) will be renamed HighMark Geneva Mid Cap Growth to better reflect the fund's investment objective. All else will remain unchanged, including the fund's strategy, ticker, and minimum investment.

Pending shareholder approval, ING SmallCap Value Multi-Manager  will merge into ING Small Company (AESAX).

John Boich is off the portfolio-management team of Rydex/SGI Alpha Opportunity (SAOAX), Rydex/SGI Global (SEQAX), and Rydex/SGI Global 130/30 Strategy .

Makoto Sumino is off the portfolio-management team of GE International Equity  and Elfun International Equity (EGLBX).

Bryan Dingle replaces Thomas Mitchell on the management team of Federated Real Return Bond (RRFAX).

Mutual fund analyst David Falkoff contributed to this report.