the composite of
factors (quality, value, and momentum) while minimizing the overall risk of the Underlying Index relative to the Eligible Universe.
To derive the Underlying Index, NTI, acting in its capacity as index provider (the “Index Provider”), ranks all constituents of the Eligible
Universe using a Northern Trust proprietary blended multi-factor score. This score is
designed to measure companies based on the quantitative assessment of their respective
(a) quality (i.e., a factor that seeks to identify companies that exhibit financial strength and stability relative to the Eligible Universe); (b) value (i.e., a factor reflecting the current
worth a company relative to its own historical value, book value or valuation versus
peers); and (c) momentum (i.e., a factor that reflects market sentiment and changes in security price over a given time period). The Index Provider then uses an optimization process to select and weight
eligible securities in order to maximize the overall blended multi-factor score
relative to the Eligible Universe and to manage systematic risk utilizing several
constraints. The optimization also includes sector, industry, single-security weight, beta (i.e. market sensitivity, relative to the Eligible Universe), liquidity, constituent and turnover
constraints so that these index characteristics vary within acceptable bands relative to the Eligible Universe. The Underlying Index is reconstituted on a quarterly basis. The Fund generally
reconstitutes its portfolio in accordance with the Underlying Index. As of December 31,
2025, the Underlying Index was comprised of 170 securities with a market capitalization ranging from $12.4 billion to $4.5 trillion.
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” the index it tracks 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.
The Fund generally will invest under normal circumstances at least 80% of its total assets (exclusive of collateral held from securities lending) in the
securities of its 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, 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.
Concentration Risk is the risk that, if the Fund is concentrated in a particular industry or group of industries, the
Fund is likely to present more risks than a fund that is broadly diversified over
several industries or groups of industries. Compared to the broad market, an individual
industry may be more strongly affected by changes in the economic climate, broad market
shifts, moves in a particular dominant stock or regulatory changes.