in interest rates, changes
in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers, general market liquidity, exchange trading suspensions and closures, geopolitical events, natural disasters, and public
health risks. Interest rates and inflation rates may change frequently and drastically due to various factors and the Fund’s investments may be adversely impacted.
Information Technology Sector Risk — The value of stocks of information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is
particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation, and competition, both domestically and
internationally, including competition from competitors with lower production costs. In addition, many information technology companies have limited product lines, markets, financial
resources or personnel. The prices of information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend
to be more volatile and less liquid than the overall market. Information technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or
impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the information technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and
competition for the services of qualified personnel. Companies in the application software industry, in particular, may also be negatively affected by the risk that subscription
renewal rates for their products and services decline or fluctuate, leading to declining revenues. Companies in the systems software industry may be adversely affected by, among other
things, actual or perceived security vulnerabilities in their products and services, which may result in individual or class action lawsuits, state or federal enforcement actions and other
remediation costs. Companies in the computer software industry may also be affected by the availability and price of computer software technology components.
Mid-Capitalization Company Risk - Mid-capitalization companies often have narrower markets for their goods and/or services, more limited
product lines, services, markets, managerial and financial resources, less stable earnings, or are dependent on a small management group. In addition, because these stocks are not
well known to the investing public, do not have significant institutional ownership and are followed by relatively few security analysts, there will normally be less publicly
available information concerning these securities compared to what is available for the securities of larger companies. As a result, the price of mid-capitalization companies can be more
volatile and they may be less liquid than large-capitalization companies, which could increase the volatility of the Fund’s portfolio.
Large-Capitalization Company Risk — Large-capitalization companies typically have significant financial resources, extensive product lines and
broad markets for their goods and/or services. However, they may be less able to adapt to changing market conditions or to respond quickly to competitive challenges or to
changes in business, product, financial, or market conditions and may not be able to maintain growth at rates that may be achieved by
well-managed smaller and mid-size companies, which may affect the companies’ returns.
Liquidity Risk — Holdings of the Fund may be difficult
to buy or sell or may be illiquid, particularly during times of market
turmoil. There is no assurance that a security or derivative instrument that is deemed liquid when purchased will continue to be liquid. Illiquid securities may be difficult to value, especially in
changing or volatile markets. If the Fund is forced to buy or sell an illiquid security or derivative instrument at an unfavorable time or price, the Fund may be adversely impacted. Certain
market conditions or restrictions may prevent the Fund from limiting losses,
realizing gains or achieving its investment objective. In certain market
conditions the Fund may be one of many market participants that is attempting to transact in the securities of the Index. Under such circumstances, the market for securities of the Index may lack
sufficient liquidity for all market participants' trades. Therefore, the Fund may have more difficulty transacting in the securities or financial instruments and the Fund's
transactions could exacerbate illiquidity and price volatility in the securities of the Index.
To the extent that the instruments utilized by the Fund are thinly traded or have a limited market, the Fund may be unable to meet its investment
objective due to a lack of available investments or counterparties. During such periods, the Fund’s ability to issue additional Creation Units may be adversely affected.
As a result, the Fund’s shares could trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value and/or the bid-ask spread of the Fund’s shares could widen. Under such circumstances, the
Fund may be unable to rebalance its exposure properly which may result in significantly more or less exposure and losses to the Fund. In such an instance, the Fund may increase its
transaction fee, change its investment objective by, for example, seeking to track an
alternative index, reduce its exposure or close.
Early Close/Trading Halt Risk — An exchange or market may close or issue trading halts on specific securities or financial instruments. Under
such circumstances, the Fund may be unable to buy or sell certain portfolio securities or financial instruments, may be unable to rebalance its portfolio, may be unable to accurately price
its investments, and may disrupt the Fund’s creation/redemption process which means the Fund may be unable to achieve its investment objective and it may incur substantial losses.
Equity Securities Risk — Publicly issued equity securities, including common stocks, are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to
fluctuate over time. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which the Fund invests, and/or has exposure to, will cause the net asset value of the Fund to fluctuate.
Tax Risk — In order to qualify for the special
tax treatment accorded a regulated investment company (“RIC”) and its shareholders, the Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable
year from “qualifying income,” meet certain asset diversification tests at the end of each taxable quarter, and meet annual distribution requirements. The Fund’s pursuit of
its investment strategy will potentially be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify for such treatment and could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to so qualify.