of 0 to 10, with 0 being the most severe
controversy. All companies having faced very severe controversies pertaining to ESG issues, defined as companies with an MSCI ESG Controversy Score of 0, are ineligible for inclusion in the Underlying Index.
Companies not assessed an MSCI ESG Controversy Score are also excluded.
After applying these exclusionary screens to the Parent Index, the Index Provider uses data
provided by MSCI ESG Research LLC and other sources to assess companies for inclusion in the Underlying Index based on current emissions intensity and emissions reduction targets. The final portfolio of securities is constructed
according to certain constraints within the Underlying Index methodology that are designed to minimize the Parent Index's exposure to physical and transition risks of climate change:
■
at least a 10% average reduction per year in greenhouse gas (“GHG”)
emissions connected to a company’s revenue, taking into account Scope 1 and 2 emissions
relative to the GHG Intensity of the Parent Index as of November 2020. Scope 1 emissions are direct GHG emissions that occur from sources that are controlled or owned by an organization. Scope 2 emissions are indirect GHG emissions
generated in the production of electricity consumed by the organization. GHG Intensity measures a
company’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions relative to its sales.
■
at least a 7% average reduction per year in GHG emissions related to a company’s financing activities, taking into account Scope 1 and 2 emissions relative to the GHG
Intensity of the Parent Index as of November 2020. GHG Intensity measures a company's Scope 1 and 2
emissions relative to its enterprise value including cash.
■
at least a 20% increase, relative to the Parent Index, in the aggregate weight of companies having one or more active carbon emissions reduction target(s) approved by the Science
Based Targets initiative (“SBTi”), starting from November 2021.
In addition, the Underlying Index's country and sector weightings are constrained so as to minimize significant differences relative to the Parent Index. Sector weights are limited
to +/- 3% the weight of that sector in the Parent Index, and country weights are capped at +/- 5% of the weight of that country in the Parent Index.
As
of December 31, 2025, the Underlying Index was composed of 502 constituents with market capitalizations ranging from approximately $2.7 billion to $4.5 trillion.
The
Fund employs a “full replication” methodology in seeking to track the Underlying Index, meaning that the Fund generally invests in all of the securities comprising the Underlying Index in proportion to their weightings in the Underlying
Index.
The Fund is “non-diversified” and therefore is not required to meet certain diversification requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940
Act”).
Concentration Policy. The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e.,
invest more than 25% of the value of its net 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 October 31, 2025, the Fund had significant exposure to the information technology sector. The Fund's portfolio, and the extent to which it concentrates its investments, are likely
to change over time.
Principal Risks of Investing in the
Fund
The following summarizes the principal risks of investing in the Fund.
The Shares will change in value, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The Fund may not achieve its investment objective.
Market Risk. Securities in the Underlying Index are subject to market fluctuations. You should anticipate that the value of the Shares will decline, more or less, in correlation
with any decline in value of the securities in the Underlying Index. Additionally, natural or environmental disasters, widespread disease or other public health issues, war, military conflicts, acts
of terrorism, economic crises or other
events could result in increased premiums or discounts to the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”). Certain changes in the U.S. economy in particular, such as when the U.S. economy weakens or when its financial markets
decline, may have a material adverse effect on global financial markets as a whole, and on the securities to which the Underlying Index has exposure. Increasingly strained relations between the U.S. and foreign countries,
including as a result of economic sanctions and tariffs, may also adversely affect U.S. issuers, as well as non-U.S. issuers.
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 Underlying Index will rise in value.
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, its Underlying Index, even if
that security generally is underperforming. Additionally, the Fund generally rebalances its portfolio in accordance with its Underlying Index, and, therefore, any changes to its Underlying Index’s rebalance schedule will typically result in
corresponding changes to the Fund’s rebalance schedule.
Equity Risk. Equity risk is the risk that the value of
equity securities, including common stocks, may fall due to both changes in general economic
conditions that impact the market as a whole, as well as factors that directly relate to a specific company or its industry. Such general economic conditions include changes in interest rates, periods of market turbulence or instability, or general
and prolonged periods of economic decline and cyclical change. It is possible that a drop in the stock market may depress the price of most or all of the common stocks that the Fund holds. In addition, equity risk
includes the risk that investor sentiment toward one or more industries will become negative, resulting in those investors exiting their investments in those industries, which could cause a reduction in the value of
companies in those industries more broadly. Equity risk also includes the risk of large-capitalization companies, which may adapt more slowly to new competitive challenges or may be more mature and subject to more limited growth
potential, and consequently may underperform other segments of the equity market or the market as a
whole. The value of a company's common stock may fall solely because of factors, such as an
increase in production costs, that negatively impact other companies in the same region, industry or sector of the market. A company's common stock also may decline significantly in price over a short period of time due to factors
specific to that company, including decisions made by its management or lower demand for the company's products or services. For example, an adverse event, such as an unfavorable earnings report or the failure to
make anticipated dividend payments, may depress the value of common stock.
Mid-Capitalization Companies
Risk. Investing in securities of mid-capitalization companies typically involves greater risk than is associated with investing in securities of larger, more
established companies. Mid-capitalization companies’ securities may be more volatile and less liquid than those of larger, more established companies and may have returns that vary, sometimes significantly, from
the overall securities market. Mid-capitalization companies may have less experienced management, more limited product and market diversification, and fewer financial resources compared to larger capitalization
companies. Often mid-capitalization companies and the industries in which they focus are still evolving and, as a result, they may be more sensitive to changing market conditions.
Foreign Investment Risk. Investments in the securities of
non-U.S. issuers involve risks beyond those associated with investments in U.S. securities.
Foreign securities may have relatively low market liquidity, greater market volatility, decreased publicly available information and less reliable financial information about issuers, and inconsistent and potentially less stringent accounting, auditing and
financial reporting requirements and