itself). The principles of the UN Global Compact represent a set of values that the UN believes responsible businesses should incorporate into their operations in order to meet fundamental responsibilities in the areas of human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption. In applying these screens to the selected Net Zero Committed Companies, the Sub-Adviser uses a proprietary screening tool, as well as, and in combination with, certain data provided by a third-party data provider. As of the date of this prospectus, the Sub-Adviser receives such data provided by MSCI ESG Research ("MSCI"). The proprietary screening tool excludes issuers from the investment universe in which the Fund may invest that do not meet the Sub-Adviser's investment criteria. Such screens are based on issuers' involvement in the tobacco production industry and the controversial weapons industry and their compliance with UN Global Compact principles. MSCI collects data about companies' revenues from the production and distribution of tobacco, their support of the tobacco industry and their revenues from, or involvement with, the controversial weapons industry. The proprietary screening tool relies on this MSCI data in order to assess companies for inclusion in the portfolio. Both the proprietary screening tool and the third-party data provider are continuously assessed and reviewed by the Sub-Adviser for screening outcomes. The third-party vendor used by the Sub-Adviser, as well as the number of vendors used, is subject to change over time.
After applying these environmental and social screens, the Sub-Adviser further assesses the remaining Net Zero Committed Companies selected for the Fund's portfolio based on their current GHG emissions intensity, a measurement of a company's Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions relative to its revenues ("GHG Intensity"). The Sub-Adviser's assessments of a company's GHG emissions and revenues are based on data received from a third-party data provider. As of the date of this prospectus, the Sub-Adviser receives such data from ISS Climate Solution ("ISS"). Scope 1 emissions are direct GHG emissions that occur from sources that are controlled or owned by a company. Scope 2 emissions are indirect GHG emissions generated in the production of electricity consumed by the company. ISS collects, reviews and analyzes the Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions data and revenue data of each company, and the Sub-Adviser uses ISS' data to calculate the weighted average of each company's respective scope emissions (CO2 equivalents) per USD million of revenue. Based on this calculation, the Sub-Adviser assigns a GHG Intensity level to each company. The Sub-Adviser weights the Net Zero Committed Companies in the Fund's portfolio based on their GHG Intensity levels; companies with the lowest GHG Intensity will have greater weights in the portfolio and companies with the highest GHG Intensity will have lower weights.
The Net Zero Committed Companies selected for the portfolio based on the above assessments are also individually evaluated based on the Sub-Adviser's proprietary multi-factor quantitative investment process, which reviews each such company for value, momentum and quality investment factors, as described below:
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Value: This investment factor aims to capture the potential outperformance of companies that are perceived to be "inexpensive" relative to sector or market averages.
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Momentum: This investment factor aims to capture the potential continued outperformance of those stocks whose historical share price performance or earnings growth have exceeded sector or market averages.
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Quality: This investment factor aims to capture the potential outperformance of stocks that demonstrate a stronger balance sheet relative to sector or market averages.
The Sub-Adviser uses its proprietary multi-factor investment process to further rank the Net Zero Committed Companies in the Fund's portfolio according to their attractiveness with respect to each of the abovementioned factors, and then looks to give greater weightings to companies with the highest value, momentum and quality rankings. The process uses an equal-risk contribution ("ERC") weighting scheme, which assigns weights to each factor, so that each factor contributes equally to the
portfolio's overall risk profile. Applying an ERC weighting scheme is different from an equal weighting scheme because ERC weighting seeks to ensure broad factor diversification at any point in time; it aims to diversify risk by reducing exposure to a single factor. Therefore, the resulting portfolio of selected companies does not reflect an equal weighting of the value, momentum, and quality factors, but rather reflects an adjusted weighting that, in the Sub-Adviser's view, reflects equal contribution to the portfolio's overall risk profile from each such factor.
While the Sub-Adviser will invest in what it considers to be Net Zero Committed Companies, it is not required to invest in every company that meets the associated criteria. Investing on the basis of carbon emissions criteria is qualitative and subjective by nature. There can be no assurance that every Fund investment will meet carbon emissions criteria, or that will do so at all times, or that the carbon emissions criteria or any judgment exercised by the Sub-Adviser will reflect the beliefs or values of any particular investor. The Sub-Adviser monitors the above characteristics and the decarbonization of the Net Zero Committed Companies in the Fund's portfolio and determines, on an ongoing basis, based on its proprietary assessment whether the company continues to qualify as a Net Zero Committed Company. The Sub-Adviser will consider selling a security when it no longer meets its investment criteria or if a more attractive alternative is identified. The Fund may forego opportunities to buy or sell certain investments based on its selection criteria, which may affect the Fund's exposure to those investments. As a result, the Fund's results may be lower than other funds that do not seek to invest based on environmental and social criteria.
The Fund is "non-diversified" and therefore is not required to meet certain diversification requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
The following summarizes the principal risks of investing in the Fund.
The Shares will change in value, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The Fund may not achieve its investment objective.
Market Risk. Securities held by the Fund are subject to market fluctuations. You should anticipate that the value of the Shares will decline, more or less, in correlation with any decline in value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio. Additionally, natural or environmental disasters, widespread disease or other public health issues, war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, economic crises or other events could result in increased premiums or discounts to the Fund's net asset value ("NAV"). Certain changes in the U.S. economy in particular, such as when the U.S. economy weakens or when its financial markets decline, may have a material adverse effect on global financial markets as a whole, and on the securities to which the Fund has exposure. Increasingly strained relations between the U.S. and foreign countries, including as a result of economic sanctions and tariffs, may also adversely affect U.S. issuers, as well as non-U.S. issuers.
During a general downturn in the financial markets, multiple asset classes may decline in value. When markets perform well, there can be no assurance that specific investments held by the Fund will rise in value.
Management Risk. The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed portfolio. In managing the Fund's portfolio holdings, the Sub-Adviser applies investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these actions will produce the desired results.
Equity Risk. Equity risk is the risk that the value of equity securities, including common stocks, may fall due to both changes in general economic conditions that impact the market as a whole, as well as factors that directly relate to a specific company or its industry. Such general economic conditions include changes in interest rates, periods of market turbulence or instability, or general and prolonged periods of economic decline and cyclical change. It is possible that a drop in the stock market may depress the price of most or all of the common stocks that the Fund holds. In addition, equity risk includes the risk that investor sentiment