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.
Industry Concentration Risk. In following its methodology,
the Underlying Index will be concentrated to a significant degree in securities of issuers
operating in a single industry or industry group. As a result, the Fund will also concentrate its investments in such industries or industry groups to approximately the same extent. By concentrating its investments in an industry or industry group, the Fund
faces more risks than if it were diversified broadly over numerous industries or industry groups. Such industry-based risks, any of which may adversely affect the companies in which the Fund invests, may include,
but are not limited to, the following: general economic conditions or cyclical market patterns that could negatively affect supply and demand in a particular industry; competition for resources; adverse labor
relations; political or world events; obsolescence of technologies; and increased competition or new product introductions that may affect the profitability or viability of companies in an industry. In addition, at times, such industry or
industry group may be out of favor and underperform other industries or the market as a whole.
Water Industry Risk. The Fund’s investments in the
water industry may underperform relative to the general market, other sectors or other asset
classes. The water industry can be significantly affected by the availability of water, the level of rainfall and the occurrence of other climatic and environmental events, changes in water consumption and water conservation. Furthermore,
because the Fund will focus its investments in the water industry, economic downturns and global and domestic events affecting the water industry will have a greater impact on the Fund than would be the case if
the Fund’s investments were more diversified. These events may include governmental regulation and institutional change, inflation, an increase in the cost of raw materials, an increase in interest rates,
technological advances, changes in consumer sentiment and spending and changes in government
spending.
Industrials Sector Risk. Changes in government regulation, world events and economic conditions may adversely affect companies in the industrials sector. In addition, these companies are at risk for environmental and product liability
damage claims. Industrial companies also may be adversely affected by commodity price volatility, changes in
exchange rates, imposition
of import controls, increased competition, depletion of resources, technological developments, labor relations and changes in the supply of and demand for their specific products or services or for industrials sector products
in general.
Utilities Sector Risk. Companies in the utilities sector are subject to a variety of factors that may adversely affect their
business or operations, including high interest costs associated with capital construction and
improvement programs; difficulty in raising adequate capital in periods of high inflation and unsettled capital markets; governmental regulation of rates the utility company can charge to customers; costs associated with compliance
with environmental and other regulations; effects of economic slowdowns and surplus capacity; and
increased competition. Certain utility companies have experienced full or partial deregulation in recent years. Deregulation may subject utility companies to greater competition and may adversely affect their profitability. In addition,
deregulation may eliminate restrictions on the profits of certain utility companies, but may also subject these companies to greater risk of loss.
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.
Small- and Mid-Capitalization Companies Risk. Investing in
securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies involves greater risk than customarily is
associated with investing in larger, more established companies. Stocks of small- and mid-capitalization companies tend to be more vulnerable to changing market conditions, may have little or no operating history or track record of
success, and may have more limited product lines and markets, less experienced management and fewer
financial resources than larger companies. These companies’ securities may be more volatile
and less liquid than those of more established companies. They may be more sensitive to changes in a company’s earnings expectations and may experience more abrupt and erratic price movements. Smaller companies’ securities
often trade in lower volumes and in many instances, are traded over-the-counter or on a regional securities exchange, where the frequency and volume of trading is substantially less than is typical for securities of larger
companies traded on national securities exchanges. Therefore, the securities of smaller companies may be subject to wider price fluctuations and it might be harder for the Fund to dispose of its holdings at an acceptable
price when it wants to sell them. Since small- and mid-capitalization companies typically reinvest a high proportion of their earnings in their business, they may not pay dividends for some time, particularly if they are newer
companies. It may take a substantial period of