companies organized as real estate
investment trusts (“REITs”), securities of Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (“SPACs”), and “when-issued” securities are not eligible for inclusion in the Underlying Index.
In seeking to track the investment results (before fees and expenses) of the Underlying
Index, the portfolio managers primarily utilize a “full replication” methodology, pursuant to which the Fund generally invests in all of the securities comprising the Underlying Index in proportion to their weightings in the Underlying
Index.
The Fund can invest in derivative instruments, including futures contracts. The Fund can use exchange-traded futures contracts, including index futures, to gain exposure to
equity securities represented in the Underlying Index while managing cash balances.
The Fund intends to be diversified in approximately the same proportion as
the Underlying Index is diversified. The Fund may be “non-diversified,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act), solely as a result of a change in relative market capitalization or index weighting of one or more constituents of the
Underlying Index. As a “non-diversified” fund, the Fund can invest a greater percentage of its assets in a small group of issuers or in any one issuer than a diversified fund can. Shareholder approval will not be sought when the
Fund crosses from diversified to non-diversified status due solely to a change in the relative market capitalization or index weighting of one or more constituents of the Underlying Index. As of August 31, 2024,
the Underlying Index is non-diversified, and therefore as of that same date, the Fund is managed as
non-diversified solely in accordance with the Underlying Index.
The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e., invest more than 25% of
the value of its total assets) in securities of issuers in any one industry or group of
industries only to the extent that the Underlying Index reflects a concentration in that industry or group of industries. The Fund will not otherwise concentrate its investments in securities of issuers in any one industry or group of industries. As of August 31, 2024, the Fund had significant exposure to the information
technology sector. The Fund’s portfolio holdings, and the extent to which it concentrates, are likely to change over time.
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
As with any mutual fund investment, loss of money is a risk of investing. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency. The risks associated with an investment in the Fund can increase during times of significant market
volatility. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are:
Market Risk. The market values of the Fund’s investments, and therefore the value of the Fund’s shares, will
go up and down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Market risk may affect a single issuer, industry or section of the economy, or it may affect the market as a whole. The value of the Fund’s investments may
go up or down due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to the particular issuer, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for revenues or corporate
earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, regional or global instability, natural or environmental disasters, widespread disease or other public health issues, war, military conflict, acts of terrorism, economic crisis
or adverse investor sentiment generally. During a general downturn in the financial markets, multiple asset classes may decline in value. When markets perform well, there can be no assurance that specific investments held by the
Fund will rise in value.
Investing in Stocks
Risk. The value of the Fund’s portfolio may be affected by changes in the stock markets. Stock markets may experience significant short-term volatility and
may fall or rise sharply at times. Adverse events in any part of the equity or fixed-income markets may have unexpected negative effects on other market segments. Different stock markets may behave differently from each
other and U.S. stock markets may move in the opposite direction from one or more foreign stock markets.
The prices of individual
stocks generally do not all move in the same direction at the same time. However, individual stock prices tend to go up and down more dramatically than those of certain other types of investments, such as bonds. A variety of
factors can negatively affect the price of a particular company’s stock. These factors may include, but are not limited to: poor earnings reports, a loss of customers, litigation against the company, general unfavorable
performance of the company’s sector or industry, or changes in government regulations affecting the company or its industry. To the extent that securities of a particular type are emphasized (for example foreign stocks,
stocks of small- or mid-cap companies, growth or value stocks, or stocks of companies in a particular industry), Fund share values may fluctuate more in response to events affecting the market for those types of
securities.
Index Risk. Unlike many investment companies, the Fund does not utilize an investing strategy that seeks returns in excess of its Underlying Index. Therefore, the Fund would
not necessarily buy or sell a security unless that security is added to or removed from, respectively, the Underlying Index, even if that security generally is underperforming. Additionally, the Fund generally
rebalances its portfolio in accordance with the Underlying Index, and, therefore, any changes to the Underlying Index’s rebalance schedule will typically result in corresponding changes to the Fund’s rebalance
schedule.
Industry Concentration Risk. In following its methodology, the Underlying Index from time to time may be concentrated to a significant degree in securities of issuers
operating in a single industry or group of industries. To the extent that the Underlying Index concentrates in the securities of issuers in a particular industry or group of industries, the Fund will also concentrate its
investments to approximately the same extent. By concentrating its investments in an industry or group of industries, the Fund faces more risks than if it were diversified broadly over numerous industries or groups of industries. Such
industry-based risks, any of which may adversely affect the companies in which the Fund invests, may include, but are not limited to, legislative or regulatory changes, adverse market conditions and/or increased competition
within the industry or group of industries. In addition, at times, such industry or group of industries may be out of favor and underperform other industries, groups of industries or the market as a whole.
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Information Technology Sector Risk. Information technology companies are subject to intense competition and their products are at risk of rapid obsolescence, which make the prices of securities issued by these companies particularly
volatile. Product obsolescence can result from rapid technological developments, frequent new
product introduction, unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of
qualified personnel. Factors that may also significantly affect the market value of securities of issuers in the information technology sector include the failure to obtain, or delays in obtaining, financing or regulatory
approvals, product incompatibility, changing consumer preferences, increased government scrutiny,
high required corporate capital expenditure for research and development or infrastructure and development of new products. Information technology companies are also heavily dependent on patent and other intellectual
property rights, and the loss or impairment of these rights may adversely affect the company's
profitability.
Non-Diversification Risk. To the extent the Fund becomes non-diversified the Fund may invest a greater portion of its assets in the
obligations or securities of a small number of issuers or any single issuer than a diversified
fund can. In such circumstances, a change in the value of one or a few issuers’ securities will therefore affect the value of the Fund more than if it was a diversified fund.
Depositary Receipts Risk. Investing in
depositary receipts involves the same risks as direct investments in foreign securities. In addition, the underlying issuers of certain depositary receipts are under no obligation to distribute shareholder
communications or pass through any voting rights