analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, either may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may
invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index, as determined by the Adviser to be in
the best interest of the Fund in pursuing its objective.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes) in the securities comprising the index it seeks to track. Prior to any change in this 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days' notice. In addition, in seeking to track the Index, the Fund may invest in equity
securities that are not included in the Index. The Fund may also invest in cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments (including money market funds advised by the Adviser) for cash management purposes. In seeking to track the Index, the Fund's assets may be
concentrated in an industry or group of industries, but only to the extent that the Index concentrates in a particular industry or group of industries. Futures contracts (a type of derivative instrument) may be used by the Fund in seeking performance that corresponds to the Index and in managing cash flows.
The Index is designed to measure the performance of 100 of the largest domestic and international non-financial companies, based
on market capitalization, listed on U.S. Nasdaq-affiliated exchanges. Non-financial companies are all companies except for those classified as “financials” companies according to Industry Classification Benchmark (ICB), a product of FTSE International Limited. The selection universe for the Index includes all common stocks, tracking stocks and American Depositary
Receipts (“ADRs”), including New York Registry Shares. Real estate investment trusts (REITs), Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs)
and “when-issued” securities, as well as securities issued by companies who have filed for bankruptcy, are not eligible for inclusion in the
Index. To be included in the Index, a security must generally (i) have a three-month average daily value traded of at least $5 million and (ii) have traded for at least three full calendar months, not including the month of initial listing, on an eligible exchange (such as any U.S. Nasdaq-affiliated exchange, New York Stock Exchange, NYSE American, or Cboe BZX).
Certain newly listed issuers, such as those that are listed via an initial public offering
(“IPO”) or ones that were recently listed on an eligible exchange, may be added to the Index on an expedited (“fast entry”) basis if, among other things, they satisfy all applicable eligibility criteria and their market capitalization ranks within
the top 40 Index constituents. Such issuers will be evaluated as of the end of their seventh trading day and added to the Index after 15 trading days (except that if the 15th
trading day falls in the same month as a scheduled reconstitution or rebalance, then such issuers will either be added to the Index as part of the scheduled reconstitution or rebalance or no sooner than five trading days after the scheduled reconstitution or rebalance, as applicable per the Index methodology). An issuer listed on an eligible exchange for less than three full calendar months may also be added to the
Index at a scheduled reconstitution or rebalance if it satisfies all other applicable eligibility criteria and ranks within the top 40 Index constituents as of the applicable reference date. A fast entry addition to the Index will not require removal of another security and may temporarily increase the Index constituent count to more than 100.
The Index is modified market capitalization weighted. The Index is reconstituted annually in December and rebalanced quarterly in March, June, and September, and may also experience additional constituent changes in accordance with its methodology. At the
December reconstitution, no security may exceed 15% of the Index. At the quarterly rebalance, no issuer may exceed 24% of the weight of the Index. A special reweighting may be conducted at any time if certain weighting restrictions are exceeded based on
end-of-day values. As of May 31, 2026, a significant portion of the Fund comprised companies in the technology and consumer discretionary sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of May 31, 2026, the Index comprised 101 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by Nasdaq, Inc. (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the
Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
As with all investments, there are certain risks of investing in the Fund. Fund Shares will
change in value, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not insured or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general
economic conditions, general market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investment in securities markets. Investment markets can be volatile and prices of investments can change
substantially due to various factors including, but not limited to, economic growth or recession, changes in interest rates, inflation, changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers, and general market liquidity. The Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Local, regional or global
events such as war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, trade policy changes or disputes, the threat or actual imposition of tariffs, natural disasters, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments.