rates, global demand for particular
products or resources, market instability, financial system instability, debt crises and
downgrades, embargoes, tariffs, sanctions and other trade barriers, regulatory events, other
governmental trade or market control programs and related geopolitical events. In addition, the
value of the Fund’s investments may be negatively affected by the occurrence of global events such as war, terrorism, environmental disasters, natural disasters or events, country instability, and infectious disease epidemics or
pandemics or the threat or potential of one or more such factors and occurrences.
Municipal Obligations and Securities Risk. Because the
Fund may invest in municipal obligations, including municipal securities, the Fund may be
susceptible to political, legislative, economic, regulatory, tax or other factors affecting issuers of these municipal obligations, such as state and local governments and their agencies. The risk of a municipal
obligation generally depends on the financial and credit status of the issuer. Changes in a
municipality’s financial health may make it difficult for the municipality to make interest and principal payments when due. This could decrease the Fund’s income or hurt the ability to preserve capital and liquidity. Under some
circumstances, municipal obligations might not pay interest unless the state legislature or
municipality authorizes money for that purpose.
The amount of public information available about municipal obligations is
generally less than for corporate equities or bonds, meaning that the investment performance of municipal obligations may be more dependent on the analytical abilities of the investment adviser than stock or
corporate bond investments. The secondary market for municipal obligations also tends to be less
well-developed and less liquid than many other securities markets, which may limit the Fund’s ability to sell its municipal obligations at attractive prices. The differences between the price at which an obligation can be
purchased and the price at which it can be sold may widen during periods of market distress. Less
liquid obligations can become more difficult to value and be subject to erratic price movements. In
addition, changes in U.S. federal tax laws or the activity of an issuer may adversely affect the
tax-exempt status of municipal obligations. Loss of tax-exempt status may result in a significant
decline in the values of such municipal obligations.
Municipal obligations may be more susceptible to downgrades or defaults during recessions or similar periods
of economic stress. In addition, since some municipal obligations may be secured or guaranteed by
banks and other institutions, the risk to the Fund could increase if the banking or financial sector suffers an economic downturn and/or if the credit ratings of the institutions issuing the guarantee are
downgraded or at risk of being downgraded by a national rating organization. Such a downward
revision or risk of being downgraded may have an adverse effect on the market prices of the bonds and thus the value of the Fund’s investments.
In addition to being downgraded, an insolvent municipality may file for bankruptcy. The reorganization of a
municipality’s debts may significantly affect the rights of creditors and the value of the
securities issued by the municipality and the value of the Fund’s investments. Interest on municipal obligations, while generally exempt from federal income tax, may not be exempt from federal alternative minimum tax.
Government Securities Risk. U.S. Government securities include securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies and instrumentalities (such as securities issued by the
Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac)
or other Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs)). U.S. Government securities are subject to
market risk, interest rate risk and credit risk. Securities, such as those issued or guaranteed by
Ginnie Mae or the U.S. Treasury, that are backed by the full faith and credit of the United
States are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when held to maturity
and the market prices for such securities will fluctuate. The income generated by investments may
not keep pace with inflation. Actions by governments and central banking authorities could result
in changes in interest rates. Periods of higher inflation could cause such authorities to raise interest rates, which may adversely affect the Fund and its investments. Notwithstanding that these securities are backed by the
full faith and credit of the United States, circumstances could arise that would prevent the
payment of interest or principal. This would result in losses to the Fund. Securities issued or
guaranteed by U.S. Government-related organizations, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are not
backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government and no assurance can be given that the
U.S. Government will provide financial support. Therefore, U.S. Government-related organizations may not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future. U.S. Government securities include zero coupon
securities, which tend to be subject to greater market risk than interest-paying securities of
similar maturities.
Tax Risk. The Fund may invest in securities whose interest is subject to federal income tax or the federal alternative
minimum tax. Consult your tax professional for more information.
Transactions Risk. The Fund could experience a loss and
its liquidity may be negatively impacted when selling securities to meet redemption requests. The
risk of loss increases if the redemption requests are unusually large or frequent or occur in
times of overall market turmoil or declining prices. Similarly, large purchases of Fund shares
may adversely affect the Fund’s performance to the extent that the Fund is delayed in investing new cash and is required to maintain a larger cash position than it ordinarily would.
Industry and Sector Focus Risk. At times, the Fund may increase the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector. The prices of securities of issuers in a particular industry or sector may be more susceptible to
fluctuations due to changes in economic or business conditions, government regulations,
availability of basic resources or supplies, contagion risk within a particular industry or sector or to other industries or sectors, or other events that affect that industry or sector more than securities of issuers in other
industries and sectors. To the extent that the Fund increases the relative emphasis of its
investments in a particular industry or sector, the value of the Fund’s shares may fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector.
Floating and Variable Rate Securities Risk. Floating and variable rate securities provide for a periodic adjustment in the interest rate paid on the securities. The rate adjustment intervals may be regular and range from daily up to annually,
or may be based on an event, such as a change in the prime rate. Floating and variable rate
securities may be subject to greater liquidity risk