To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests substantially all of its assets in equity securities comprising the Solactive GBS Developed Markets ex United States Large & Mid Cap USD Index NTR (index), depositary receipts based on securities comprising the index, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) providing exposure to such securities, and derivatives with economic characteristics similar to such securities or the index. The fund's derivatives investments may include futures, currency forwards, total return swaps and structured notes. Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities, ETFs providing exposure to such securities, and derivatives with economic characteristics similar to such securities. Depositary receipts are considered equity securities for purposes of the 80% investment policy.

The Solactive GBS Developed Markets ex United States Large & Mid Cap USD Index NTR is a free float market capitalization weighted index designed to measure the performance of developed market (excluding the United States) large- and mid-capitalization companies. The index's universe of eligible securities includes equity securities issued by developed market companies (excluding the United States), listed on a developed market exchange, and that meet certain tradability requirements. Securities included in the index may be denominated in foreign currencies. To determine if a company is a developed market company, the index considers the company's country of primary listing, incorporation, domicile, and risk. At each reconstitution, eligible securities are ranked by total market capitalization in descending order and securities representing approximately the top 85% free float market capitalization of each developed market country are included in the index. As of December 31, 2023, the index considers the following countries to be developed market countries (excluding the United States): Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom. The index reconstitutes semi-annually in May and November. As of December 31, 2023, the index was comprised of 1,033 securities. Under normal circumstances, the fund generally invests in all of the stocks in the index in proportion to their weighting in the index. However, the fund may invest in a representative sample of the index if replicating the index could be detrimental or disadvantageous to shareholders, such as when there are practical difficulties or substantial costs involved in compiling a portfolio of equity securities to replicate the index, in instances in which a security in the index becomes temporarily illiquid, unavailable or less liquid, or as a result of legal restrictions or limitations (such as tax diversification requirements) that apply to the fund but not the index.

In seeking to track the index, the fund's assets may be concentrated in (i.e., more than 25% of the fund's assets invested in) an industry or group of industries, but only to the extent that the index concentrates in a particular industry or group of industries. In addition, a significant portion of the fund's assets will generally be focused in a country or region to the extent the index is focused in a particular country or region. As of December 31, 2023, approximately 22.44% of the index consisted of securities of issuers in the financials sector. Additionally, as of December 31, 2023, the index had significant exposure to issuers located in Japan and the European region.

The fund is classified as diversified under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (1940 Act); however, the fund may become non-diversified solely as a result of changes in the composition of the index (e.g., changes in weightings of one or more component securities). When the fund is non-diversified, it may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers.