Investment decisions within
strategies and asset classes are implemented either by the portfolio managers of the Fund’s
underlying strategies who select individual securities for the Fund or with the Fund’s
purchase of underlying funds.
The frequency with which the Fund buys and
sells underlying investments will vary from year to year, depending on, but not limited to:
market conditions, performance of the underlying investments, and changes in the adviser’s investment views.
The Fund’s Main Investment Risks
The Fund is subject to management risk and may not achieve its objective if the adviser’s expectations regarding particular instruments or markets are not
met.
The Fund is exposed to the risks summarized below through
both its direct investments and its investments in underlying funds.
An investment in this Fund or any other fund may not provide a complete investment program. The suitability of an investment in the Fund
should be considered based on the investment objective, strategies and risks described in this prospectus, considered in light of all of the other investments in your
portfolio, as well as your risk tolerance, financial goals and time horizons. You may want to consult with a financial advisor to determine if this Fund is suitable for you.
The Fund is subject to the main risks noted below, any of which may
adversely affect the Fund’s performance and ability to meet its investment objective.
General Market Risk. Economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one country or region will adversely impact
markets or issuers in other countries or regions. Securities in the Fund’s portfolio may
underperform in comparison to securities in general financial markets, a particular financial
market or other asset classes due to a number of factors, including inflation (or expectations for
inflation), deflation (or expectations for deflation), interest rates, global demand for
particular products or resources, market instability, financial system instability, debt crises and
downgrades, embargoes, tariffs, trade wars, retaliatory trade measures, sanctions and other trade
barriers, supply chain disruptions, regulatory events, other governmental trade or market control
programs and related geopolitical events. In addition, the value of the Fund’s investments may be negatively affected by the occurrence of global events such as war, terrorism, environmental disasters, natural disasters
or events, country instability, and infectious disease epidemics or pandemics or the threat or
potential of one or more such factors and occurrences.
Equity Market Risk. The price of equity securities may rise or fall because of changes in the broad market or changes in a company’s financial condition, sometimes rapidly
or unpredictably. These price movements may result from factors affecting individual companies,
sectors or industries selected for the Fund’s portfolio or the securities market as a whole, such as changes in economic or political conditions. When the value of the Fund’s securities goes down, your
investment in the Fund decreases in value.
Foreign Securities and Emerging Markets Risk. Investments in foreign issuers and foreign securities (including depositary receipts) are subject to additional risks, including political and economic risks, unstable governments, civil
conflicts and war, greater volatility, decreased market liquidity, expropriation and
nationalization risks, sanctions or other measures by the United States or other governments,
currency fluctuations, higher transaction costs, delayed settlement, possible foreign controls on
investment, and less stringent investor protection and disclosure standards of foreign markets. In certain markets where securities and other instruments are not traded “delivery versus payment,” the Fund may not
receive timely payment for securities or other instruments it has delivered or receive delivery
of securities paid for and may be subject to increased risk that the counterparty will fail to make payments or delivery when due or default completely. Foreign market trading hours, clearance and settlement procedures, and holiday
schedules may limit the Fund’s ability to buy and sell securities.
The Fund may focus its investments in a single country or small group of
countries and be subject to greater volatility than a more geographically diversified fund.
Events and evolving conditions in certain economies or markets may alter the risks associated with investments tied to countries or regions that historically were perceived
as comparatively stable becoming riskier and more volatile. These risks are magnified in
countries in “emerging markets.” Emerging market countries typically have less-established market economies than developed countries and may face greater social, economic, regulatory and political uncertainties. In
addition, emerging markets typically present greater illiquidity and price volatility concerns
due to smaller or limited local capital markets and greater difficulty in determining market valuations of securities due to limited public information on issuers.
Certain emerging market countries may be subject to less stringent requirements regarding accounting, auditing, financial reporting and record keeping and therefore,
material information related to an investment may not be available or reliable. Additionally, the
Fund may have substantial difficulties exercising its legal rights or enforcing a counterparty’s legal obligations in certain jurisdictions outside of the United States, in particular in emerging market countries, which can
increase the risks of loss. From time to time, certain companies in which the Fund invests may
operate in, or have dealings with, countries subject to sanctions or embargoes imposed by the U.S. government and the United Nations and/or in countries the U.S. government identified as state sponsors of terrorism. One
or more of these companies may be subject to constraints under U.S. law or regulations that could
negatively affect the company's performance. Additionally, one or more of these companies could
suffer damage to its reputation if the market identifies it as a company that invests or deals with countries that the U.S. government identifies as state sponsors of terrorism or subjects to sanctions.
Large Cap Company Risk. Because the Fund invests in large cap company securities, it may underperform other funds during periods when the Fund’s large cap securities are out of favor.
Smaller Company Risk. Investments in securities of smaller companies (mid cap and small cap companies) may be riskier, less liquid, more volatile and more vulnerable to
economic, market and industry changes than securities of larger, more established companies. The
securities of smaller companies