measures similar to those of the Underlying Index. The Fund may or may not
hold all of the securities in the Underlying Index.
The
Fund generally invests at least 90% of its assets in securities of the Underlying Index and in depositary receipts representing securities of the Underlying Index. The Fund may invest the remainder of its assets in certain futures, options and swap
contracts, cash and cash equivalents, including money market funds advised by BFA or its affiliates, as well as in securities not included in the Underlying Index, but which BFA believes will help the Fund track the Underlying Index. The Fund seeks
to track the investment results of the Underlying Index before the fees and expenses of the Fund.
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).
The Underlying Index is sponsored by an organization (the
“Index Provider”) that is independent of the Fund and BFA. 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’s Index Provider is MSCI.
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. For purposes of this limitation, securities of the U.S. government (including its agencies and instrumentalities) and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S.
government securities are not considered to be issued by members of any
industry.
Summary of Principal Risks
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 the principal risks noted below, any of which may adversely affect the Fund's net asset value per share (“NAV”), trading
price, yield, total return and ability to meet its investment objective.
Asset Class Risk.
Securities in the Underlying Index or in the Fund's portfolio may underperform in comparison to the general securities markets or other asset classes.
Concentration Risk.
To the extent that the Fund's investments are concentrated in a particular issuer or issuers, country, group of countries, region, market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class, the Fund
may be susceptible to loss due to adverse occurrences affecting that issuer or issuers, country, group of countries, region, market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class.
Equity Securities Risk
.
Equity securities are subject to changes in value and their values may be more volatile than those of other asset classes.
Financials Sector Risk
.
Performance of companies in the financials sector may be adversely impacted by many factors, including, among others, government regulations, economic conditions, credit rating downgrades, changes in
interest rates, and decreased liquidity in credit markets. This sector has experienced