JNL Series Trust

12/13/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/13/2024 09:24

Summary Prospectus by Investment Company (Form 497K)

Summary Prospectus - April 29, 2024, as amended December 13, 2024
JNL/PPM America High Yield Bond Fund
Class A
Class I
Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund's Prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. You can find the Fund's Prospectus and other information about the Fund, including the Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") and most recent reports to shareholders, online at https://www.jackson.com/fund-literature.html. You can also get this information at no cost by calling 1-800-644-4565 (Annuity and Life Service Center), 1-800-599-5651 (NY Annuity and Life Service Center), 1-800-777-7779 (for contracts purchased through a bank or financial institution) or 1-888-464-7779 (for NY contracts purchased through a bank or financial institution), or by sending an email request to [email protected]. The current Prospectus dated April 29, 2024, as amended, and SAI dated October 21, 2024, are incorporated by reference into (which means they legally are a part of) this Summary Prospectus.
Investment Objective. The investment objective of the Fund is to maximize current income. As a secondary objective, the Fund seeks capital appreciation.
Expenses. This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund.
The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.
You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Class A
Management Fee
0.34%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees
0.30%
Other Expenses1
0.11%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses2
0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
0.76%
1
"Other Expenses" include an Administrative Fee of 0.10% which is payable to Jackson National Asset Management, LLC ("JNAM" or "Adviser").
2
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect expenses of investing in other investment companies. Accordingly, the expense ratio presented in the Financial Highlights section of the prospectus will not correlate to the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses disclosed above.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Class I
Management Fee
0.34%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees
0.00%
Other Expenses1
0.11%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses2
0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
0.46%
1
"Other Expenses" include an Administrative Fee of 0.10% which is payable to Jackson National Asset Management, LLC ("JNAM" or "Adviser").
2
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect expenses of investing in other investment companies. Accordingly, the expense ratio presented in the Financial Highlights section of the prospectus will not correlate to the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses disclosed above.

Expense Example. This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period; and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
JNL/PPM America High Yield Bond Fund Class A
1 year
3 years
5 years
10 years
$78
$243
$422
$942

JNL/PPM America High Yield Bond Fund Class I
1 year
3 years
5 years
10 years
$47
$148
$258
$579

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio). The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above, affect the Fund's performance.
Period
1/1/2023 - 12/31/2023
58
%

Principal Investment Strategies. The Fund invests under normal circumstances at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in high-yield, high-risk debt securities ("junk bonds") and related investments that are rated below investment grade (i.e., rated below BBB- or Baa3) by at least one major credit rating agency, or, if not rated by any credit rating agency, determined to be below investment-grade quality by PPM America, Inc. ("Sub-Adviser"). Below investment grade securities could include split-rated securities, which are securities that are rated as investment grade by at least one credit rating agency but rated below investment grade by another agency. Below investment grade securities offer a higher yield, but generally carry more risks than higher rated securities with similar maturities. As a result, an investment in below investment grade securities is considered speculative.
The Fund may also invest up to 20% of its total assets in equity securities (other than preferred stock, in which the Fund may invest without limit). The Fund may invest in securities sold pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Rule 144A securities are restricted securities that can be resold to qualified institutional buyers but not to the general public. The Fund may also invest in bank loans.
The Fund may also invest up to 35% of its total assets in securities of foreign issuers. To the extent that the Fund invests in emerging market debt rated below BBB- or Baa3 by at least one major credit rating agency, or, if not rated by any credit rating agency, determined by Sub-Adviser to be below investment-grade quality, this will be considered as an investment in a high-yield security for purposes of the 80% investment minimum requirement.
Additionally, the Fund has the ability to invest in other investment companies, such as exchange-traded funds ("ETFs"), money market funds, unit investment trusts and open-end and closed-end funds, including affiliated investment companies. For purposes of satisfying the 80% requirement, the Fund may invest in high yield ETFs comprised of the securities described above. The Fund generally uses high yield ETFs as a tool to obtain exposure to the securities in which it primarily invests.
In seeking to maximize income, the Sub-Adviser seeks to identify the best relative value investment opportunities across various debt sectors by analyzing overall economic conditions within and among these sectors. In pursuing capital appreciation, the Sub-Adviser looks for those companies that it believes have the highest potential for improving credit fundamentals. In light of the risks associated with high yield securities, the Sub-Adviser takes various factors into consideration in evaluating the creditworthiness of an issuer.
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund's shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:
•
Credit risk - Credit risk is the actual or perceived risk that the issuer of a bond, borrower, guarantor, counterparty, or other entity responsible for payment will not pay interest and principal payments when due. The price of a debt instrument can decline in response to changes in the financial condition of the issuer, borrower, guarantor, counterparty, or other entity responsible for payment. The Fund could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, or the counterparty to a derivatives contract, repurchase agreement or a loan of portfolio securities, is unable or unwilling to make timely principal and/or interest payments, or to otherwise honor its obligations.
•
High-yield bonds, lower-rated bonds, and unrated securities risk - High-yield bonds, lower-rated bonds, and unrated securities are broadly referred to as "junk bonds," and are considered below "investment-grade" by national ratings agencies. Junk bonds are subject to the increased risk of an issuer's inability to meet principal and interest payment obligations. As a result, an investment in junk bonds is considered speculative. High-yield bonds may be subject to liquidity risk, and the Fund may not be able to sell a high-yield bond at the price at which it is currently valued.
•
Issuer risk - The value of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the market as a whole. A security's value may decline for reasons that directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, corporate governance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer's goods or services.
•
Market risk - Portfolio securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, public health issues, including widespread disease and virus epidemics or pandemics, war, terrorism or natural disasters, among others. Adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may not have the same impact on all types of securities. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.
•
Liquidity risk - Investments in securities that are difficult to purchase or sell (illiquid or thinly-traded securities) may reduce returns if the Fund is unable to sell the securities at an advantageous time or price or achieve its desired level of exposure to a certain sector. Liquidity risk arises, for example, from small average trading volumes, trading restrictions, or temporary suspensions of trading. To meet redemption requests, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
•
Distressed debt risk - The Fund may invest in securities of issuers that are, or are about to be, involved in reorganizations, financial restructurings, or bankruptcy (also known as "distressed debt"). Such distressed debt securities involve substantial risk in addition to the risks of investing in lower-grade debt securities. To the extent that the Fund invests in distressed debt, the Fund is subject to the risk that it may lose a portion or all or its investment in the distressed debt and may incur higher expenses trying to protect its interests in distressed debt.
•
Income risk - The Fund is subject to the risk that the income generated from the Fund's investments may decline in the event of falling interest rates. Income risk may be high if the Fund's income is predominantly based on short-term interest rates, which can fluctuate significantly over short periods. The Fund's distributions to shareholders may decline when interest rates fall.
•
Corporate loan, sovereign entity loan, and bank loan risk - Commercial banks, sovereign entities, and other financial institutions or institutional investors make corporate loans to companies or sovereign entities that need capital to grow, restructure, or for infrastructure projects. These instruments are commonly referred to as "loans" or "bank loans." Borrowers generally pay interest on corporate loans at "floating" rates that change in response to changes in market interest rates such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") or the prime rates of U.S. banks. As a result, the value of such loan investments is generally less exposed to the adverse effects of interest rate fluctuations than investments that pay a fixed rate of interest. However, the market for certain loans may not be sufficiently liquid, and the Fund may have difficulty selling them. It may take longer than seven days for transactions in loans to settle. As a result, sale proceeds related to the sale of loans may not be available to make additional investments until a substantial period after the sale of the loans. Certain loans may be classified as "illiquid" securities. Additionally, because a loan may not be considered a security, the Fund may not be afforded the same legal protections afforded securities under federal securities laws. Thus, the Fund generally must rely on contractual provisions in the loan agreement and common-law fraud protections under applicable state law.
•
Senior loans risk - The senior loans in which the Fund invests are usually rated below investment grade. The amount of public information with respect to loans may be less extensive than that available for registered or exchange listed securities. An economic downturn generally leads to a higher non-payment rate, and a senior loan may lose significant value before a default occurs. A secured senior loan may not be adequately collateralized. Moreover, any specific collateral used to secure a senior loan may decline in value or become illiquid, which would adversely affect the senior loan's value.
•
Managed portfolio risk - As an actively managed portfolio, the Fund's portfolio manager(s) make decisions to buy and sell holdings in the Fund's portfolio. Because of this, the value of the Fund's investments could decline because the financial condition of an issuer may change (due to such factors as management performance, reduced demand or overall market changes), financial markets may fluctuate or overall prices may decline, the Sub-Adviser's investment techniques could fail to achieve the Fund's investment objective or negatively affect the Fund's investment performance, or legislative, regulatory, or tax developments may affect the investment techniques available to the Sub-Adviser of the Fund. There is no guarantee that the investment objective of the Fund will be achieved.
•
Debt securities ratings risk - The use of credit ratings in evaluating debt securities can involve certain risks, including the risk that the credit rating may not reflect the issuer's current financial condition or events since the security was last rated by a rating agency. Credit ratings may be influenced by conflicts of interest or based on historical data that no longer apply or are accurate.
•
Equity securities risk - Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-related securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased or held by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.
•
Rule 144A securities risk - Rule 144A securities are securities offered as exempt from registration with the SEC, but may be treated as liquid securities because there is a market for such securities. Rule 144A securities may have an active trading market, but carry the risk that the active trading market may not continue. To the extent that institutional buyers become, for a time, uninterested in purchasing Rule 144A securities, investing in such securities could increase the Fund's level of illiquidity.
•
Interest rate risk - When interest rates increase, fixed-income securities generally will decline in value. Long-term fixed income securities normally have more price volatility than short-term fixed income securities. The value of certain equity investments, such as utilities and real estate-related securities, may also be sensitive to interest rate changes.
•
Call risk - Call risk is the risk that, during a period of falling interest rates, the issuer may redeem a security by repaying it early, which may reduce the Fund's income if the proceeds are reinvested at lower interest rates.
•
Foreign securities risk - Investments in, or exposure to, foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with U.S. investments. These risks include, among others, adverse fluctuations in foreign currency values, possible imposition of foreign withholding or other taxes on income payable on the securities, as well as adverse political, social and economic developments, such as political upheaval, acts of terrorism, financial troubles, sanctions or the threat of new or modified sanctions, or natural disasters. Many foreign securities markets, especially those in emerging market countries, are less stable, smaller, less liquid, and less regulated than U.S. securities markets, and the costs of trading in those markets is often higher than in U.S. securities markets. There may also be less publicly available information about issuers of foreign securities compared to issuers of U.S. securities. In addition, the economies of certain foreign markets may not compare favorably with the economy of the United States with respect to issues such as growth of gross national product, reinvestment of capital, resources and balance of payments position.
•
Exchange-traded funds investing risk - An investment in an ETF generally presents the following risks: (i) the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies; (ii) the risk that an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective; (iii) price fluctuation, resulting in a loss to the Fund; (iv) the risk that an ETF may trade at a discount to its net asset value; (v) the risk that an active market for an ETF's shares may not develop or be maintained; and (vi) the risk that an ETF may no longer meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which that ETF is listed. When the Fund invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the ETF's fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund's fees and expenses.
•
Investment in other investment companies risk - As with other investments, investments in other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds, are subject to market risk. In addition, if the Fund acquires shares of investment companies, including ones affiliated with the Fund, shareholders bear both their proportionate share of expenses in the Fund (including management and advisory fees) and, indirectly, the expenses of the investment companies in which the Fund invests. To the extent that shares of the Fund are held by an affiliated fund, the ability of the Fund itself to invest in other investment companies may be limited.
•
Second lien loans risk - Second lien loans generally are subject to similar risks as those associated with investments in senior loans. Because second lien loans are subordinated and thus lower in priority of payment to senior loans, they are subject to the additional risk that the cash flow of the borrower and property securing the loan or debt, if any, may be insufficient to meet scheduled payments after giving effect to the senior secured obligations of the borrower.
•
Prepayment risk - During periods of falling interest rates, a debt security with a high interest rate may be prepaid before its expected maturity date. The Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment that may have lower yields than the yield on the prepaid debt security. In addition, prepayment rates are difficult to predict and the potential impact of prepayment on the price of a debt instrument depends on the terms of the instrument.
•
Settlement risk - Settlement risk is the risk that a settlement in a transfer system does not take place as expected. Loan transactions often settle on a delayed basis compared with securities and the Fund may not receive proceeds from the sale of a loan for a substantial period after the sale, potentially impacting the ability of the Fund to make additional investments or meet redemption obligations. It may take longer than seven days for transactions in loans to settle. In order to meet short-term liquidity needs, the Fund may draw on its cash or other short-term positions, maintain short-term or other liquid assets sufficient to meet reasonably anticipated redemptions, or maintain a credit facility.
•
Leverage risk - Certain derivative transactions involve the use of leverage and may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions at disadvantageous times to satisfy its obligations. The effect of using leverage is to amplify the Fund's gains and losses in comparison to the amount of the Fund's assets (that is, assets other than borrowed assets) at risk, which may cause the Fund's portfolio to be more volatile. If the Fund uses leverage, the Fund has the risk of capital losses that exceed the net assets of the Fund.
•
Investment in money market funds risk - Although a money market fund is designed to be a relatively low risk investment, it is not free of risk. An investment in a money market fund is not insured or guaranteed by a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although such funds seek to maintain a net asset value of $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in a money market fund.
•
Portfolio turnover risk - Frequent changes in the securities held by the Fund, including investments made on a shorter-term basis or in derivative instruments or in instruments with a maturity of one year or less at the time of acquisition, may increase transaction costs, which may reduce performance.


Performance. The performance information shown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index and an additional index that the Adviser believes more closely reflects the market segments in which the Fund invests. The Fund's past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.
Effective June 24, 2019, the Fund was combined with JNL/PPM America Long Short Credit Fund ("Acquired Fund"), a series of Jackson Variable Series Trust, with the Fund as the surviving Fund. The performance shown is the Fund's historic performance and does not reflect the performance of the Acquired Fund.
Effective April 29, 2024, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Index replaced the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index as the Fund's broad-based securities market index in accordance with new regulatory disclosure requirements. The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index is included as an additional index for the Fund because the Adviser believes it more closely reflects the market segments in which the Fund invests.
Effective December 31, 2024, for consistency with the Fund's principal investment strategies, the Fund will replace the ICE Bank of America U.S. High Yield Constrained Index (Net) with the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index as the Fund's secondary benchmark.

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A
Best Quarter (ended 6/30/2020): 8.58%; Worst Quarter (ended 3/31/2020): -13.60%

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class I
Best Quarter (ended 6/30/2020): 8.56%; Worst Quarter (ended 3/31/2020): -13.47%

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2023
1 year
5 year
10 year
JNL/PPM America High Yield Bond Fund (Class A)
12.83
%
4.88
%
3.49
%
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
5.53
%
1.10
%
1.81
%
ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
13.47
%
5.19
%
4.51
%

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2023
1 year
5 year
10 year
JNL/PPM America High Yield Bond Fund (Class I)
13.16
%
5.20
%
3.76
%
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
5.53
%
1.10
%
1.81
%
ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
13.47
%
5.19
%
4.51
%

Portfolio Management.
Investment Adviser to the Fund:
Jackson National Asset Management, LLC ("JNAM")
Sub-Adviser:
PPM America, Inc. ("PPM")
Portfolio Managers:
Name:
Joined Fund Management Team In:
Title:
Adam Spielman
June 2018
Portfolio Manager, PPM
Karl Petrovich
April 2018
Portfolio Manager, PPM
John Broz
May 2019
Portfolio Manager, PPM

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares
Only separate accounts of Jackson National Life Insurance Company ("Jackson") or Jackson National Life Insurance Company of New York ("Jackson NY") and series, including fund of funds, of registered investment companies in which either or both of those insurance companies invest may purchase shares of the Fund. You may invest indirectly in the Fund through your purchase of a variable annuity or life insurance contract issued by a separate account of Jackson or Jackson NY that invests directly, or through a fund of funds, in this Fund. Any minimum initial or subsequent investment requirements and redemption procedures are governed by the applicable separate account through which you invest indirectly.
This Fund serves as an underlying investment by insurance companies, affiliated investment companies, and retirement plans for funding variable annuity and life insurance contracts and retirement plans.
Tax Information
The Fund expects to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and does not expect to make regular distributions (other than in redemption of Fund shares) to shareholders, which generally are the participating insurance companies investing in the Fund through separate accounts of Jackson or Jackson NY and mutual funds owned directly or indirectly by such separate accounts. You should consult the prospectus of the appropriate separate account or description of the plan for a discussion of the U.S. federal income tax consequences to you of your contract, policy, or plan.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Financial Intermediaries
If you invest in the Fund under a variable insurance contract or a plan that offers a variable insurance contract as a plan option through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a financial institution), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's Website for more information.