similar to that of
the Northern Trust 1250 Index (the “Parent Index”), a float-adjusted market-capitalization weighted index of U.S. domiciled large- and mid-capitalization companies. Beta represents the market
sensitivity, relative to a given market index and time period, and is one measure of
volatility.
To derive the Underlying Index, NTI, acting in its
capacity as the index provider (the “Index Provider”), begins with all
securities in the Parent Index and then removes those securities that rank in the lowest quintile of quality based on a proprietary scoring model, as well as those which do not pay a dividend. The core components of
the proprietary quality scoring model are based on quantitative ranking of various
metrics obtained from company filings. These scores have three components: (i) management efficiency (e.g., corporate finance activities); (ii) profitability (e.g., reliability and sustainability of
financial performance); and (iii) cash flow (e.g., cash flow generation). The Index
Provider then uses an optimization process to select and weight eligible securities in order to (a) maximize the overall quality score relative to the Parent Index; (b) attain an aggregate dividend yield in excess
of the Parent Index; and (c) achieve the desired beta target. The optimization process
also includes sector, industry group, single-security weight, liquidity and turnover constraints to assist in reducing the Underlying Index’s overall active risk exposure to any one single factor. As of
December 31, 2025, there were 120 issues in the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index
is reconstituted quarterly. The Fund generally reconstitutes its portfolio in accordance with the Underlying Index.
NTI uses a “passive” or indexing approach to try to achieve
the Fund’s investment objective. Unlike many investment companies, the Fund does
not try to “beat” its Underlying Index and does not seek temporary defensive positions when markets decline or appear overvalued.
NTI uses a representative sampling strategy to manage the Fund. “Representative sampling” is investing in a representative sample of securities
that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Underlying Index. The Fund
may or may not hold all of the securities that are included in the Underlying Index.
The Fund reserves the right to invest in substantially all of the securities in its Underlying Index in approximately the same proportions (i.e., replication) if NTI determines that it is in the
best interest of the Fund.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets (exclusive of
collateral held from securities lending) in the securities of the Underlying
Index. The Fund may
also invest up to 20% of its assets in cash and cash equivalents, including shares of money market funds advised by NTI or its affiliates, futures contracts and options on futures contracts, as well
as securities not included in the Underlying Index, but which NTI believes will help
the Fund track its Underlying Index.
The Underlying Index is
created and sponsored by NTI, as the Index Provider. NTI also serves as the investment
adviser to the Fund. The Index Provider determines the composition and relative
weightings of the securities in the Underlying Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Underlying Index.
The Fund may lend securities representing up to one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets (including the value of the collateral
received).
Industry Concentration
Policy. The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its total
assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same
extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated. As of December 31, 2025, the Underlying Index was concentrated in the Information Technology sector. The components of the Underlying Index, and
the degree to which these components represent certain industries or sectors, may
change over time.
As with any investment, you could lose all or part of your investment in the Fund, and the
Fund’s performance could trail that of other investments. The Fund is subject to certain risks, including the principal risks noted below, any of which may adversely affect the
Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”), trading price, yield, total return and ability to meet its investment objective. Each risk noted below is considered a principal risk of investing in
the Fund, regardless of the order in which it appears. The significance of each risk
factor below may change over time and you should review each risk factor carefully.
Equity Securities Risk is the risk that the values of the equity securities owned by the Fund may be more volatile and underperform other asset classes and the general securities markets.
Mid Cap Stock Risk is the risk that stocks of mid-sized companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market
movements than stocks of larger, more established companies, and may lack sufficient
market liquidity. Mid-sized companies may have limited product lines or financial
resources, and may be dependent upon a particular niche