Investment Process: In
managing the Fund, the adviser employs a three-step process that combines research, valuation and
stock selection. The adviser takes an in-depth look at company prospects, which is designed to
provide insight into a company’s real growth potential. The research findings allow the adviser to rank the companies in each sector group according to their relative value.
As part of its investment process, the adviser seeks to assess the impact of environmental, social and
governance (ESG) factors on many issuers in the universe in which the Fund may invest. The
adviser’s assessment is based on an analysis of key opportunities and risks across industries to seek to identify financially material issues with respect to the Fund’s investments in issuers and ascertain key issues
that merit engagement with issuers. These assessments may not be conclusive, and securities of
issuers that may be negatively impacted by such factors may be purchased and retained by the Fund while the Fund may divest or not invest in securities of issuers that may be positively impacted by such
factors.
On behalf of the Fund, the adviser then buys and sells
equity securities, using the research and valuation rankings as a basis. In general, the adviser
buys equity securities that are identified as attractively valued and considers selling them when they appear to be overvalued. Along with attractive valuation, the adviser often considers a number of other
criteria:
●
catalysts that could trigger a rise in a stock’s price
●
high potential reward compared to potential risk
●
temporary mispricings caused by apparent market over-reactions.
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.
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 net asset value (NAV), market price, performance and ability to meet its investment objective.
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.
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.
Large Cap Company Risk. Because the Fund invests principally in large cap company securities, it may underperform other funds during periods when the Fund’s large cap securities are out of favor.
Mid Cap Company Risk. Investments in mid cap companies may be riskier, less liquid, more volatile and more vulnerable to economic, market and industry changes than investments in larger, more established companies. The securities
of smaller companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than securities of larger
companies. As a result, changes in the price of securities issued by such companies may be more sudden or erratic than the prices of other equity securities, especially over the short term.
Value Investing Risk. A value stock may decrease in price or may not increase in price as anticipated by the adviser if other
investors fail to recognize the company’s value or the factors that the adviser believes
will cause the stock price to increase do not occur.
Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in foreign issuers and foreign securities (including depositary receipts) are subject to additional risks, including political and
economic risks, unstable governments, greater volatility, decreased market liquidity, civil
conflicts and war, currency fluctuations, sanctions or other measures by the United States or
other governments, expropriation and nationalization risks, higher transaction costs, delayed
settlement, possible foreign controls on investment and less stringent investor protection and disclosure standards of foreign markets. The securities markets of many foreign countries are relatively small, with a limited number
of companies representing a small number of industries. 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. 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.