that every security in the Underlying Index or Fund will have ESG characteristics or that companies that have historically exhibited such characteristics
will continue to exhibit such characteristics. There is also the risk that the Fund may
have indirect exposure to companies that have been excluded from the Underlying Index through its use of certain derivative instruments.
Currently, there is a lack of common industry standards relating to the development and application
of ESG criteria, which may make it difficult to compare the Fund’s principal
investment strategies with the investment strategies of other funds that integrate certain ESG criteria. The subjective value that investors may assign to certain types of ESG characteristics may differ
substantially from that of the assessment by the Index Provider or a data provider.
Investors can differ in their views of what constitutes positive or negative ESG
characteristics. As a result, the Fund may invest in companies that do not reflect the beliefs and values of any particular investor. A company included in the Underlying Index may not exhibit
positive or favorable ESG characteristics. The companies selected by the Index Provider
as demonstrating certain ESG characteristics may not be the same companies selected by other index providers or investment managers as exhibiting those characteristics.
The Index Provider relies on various sources of information regarding an issuer, including information that may be based on assumptions and estimates. ESG
information from third-party data providers may be incomplete, inaccurate or
unavailable. Neither the Fund nor NTI can offer assurances that the Underlying Index’s methodology or sources of information will provide an accurate assessment of the issuers of the securities included
in the Fund’s Underlying Index. The Index Provider uses third-party data that it
believes to be reliable, but it does not guarantee the accuracy of such third-party data. Data can vary across providers or within industries. ESG standards differ by region and industry, and a company’s
ESG practices or the Index Provider’s or data providers’ assessment of a company’s ESG practices may change over time. Regulatory changes or interpretations regarding the definitions
and/or use of ESG criteria could have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s
ability to invest in accordance with its investment policies and/or achieve its investment objective.
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 of the market, or may be dependent upon a
small or inexperienced management group. Securities of smaller companies may trade less
frequently and in lower volume than the securities of larger companies, which could lead to higher transaction costs. Generally the smaller the company size, the greater the risk.
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.
•Information Technology Sector Risk is the risk that securities of technology companies may be subject to greater price volatility than securities of
companies in other sectors. These securities may fall in and out of favor with
investors rapidly, which may cause sudden selling and dramatically lower market prices. Technology securities also may be affected adversely by changes in technology, consumer and business
purchasing patterns, government scrutiny or regulation, legal action and/or obsolete
products or services.
Market Risk is the risk that the value of the Fund’s investments may increase or decrease in response to
expected, real or perceived economic, political or financial events in the U.S. or
global markets. The frequency and magnitude of such changes in value cannot be predicted. Certain securities and other investments held by the Fund may experience increased volatility, illiquidity, or other
potentially adverse effects in response to changing market conditions, inflation,
elevated levels of government debt, changes in interest rates, lack of liquidity in the bond or equity markets, or volatility in the equity markets. Market disruptions caused by local or regional events such as
financial institution failures, changes in trade regulation or economic sanctions,
internal unrest and discord, war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness (including epidemics and pandemics) or other public health issues, recessions or other events or adverse investor sentiment
could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments. Such events could
result in the Fund’s shares trading at increased premiums or discounts to the Fund’s NAV. During periods