Market. Stock prices may be volatile or have reduced liquidity in response to real or perceived impacts of factors including, but not limited to, economic conditions, changes in market interest rates, and political events. Stock markets tend to be cyclical, with periods when stock prices generally rise and periods when stock prices generally decline. Any given stock market segment may remain out of favor with investors for a short or long period of time, and stocks as an asset class may underperform bonds or other asset classes during some periods. Additionally, legislative, regulatory or tax policies or developments in these areas may adversely impact the investment techniques available to a manager, add to costs and impair the ability of an Underlying Fund to achieve its investment objectives. Market Capitalization: Stocks fall into three broad market capitalization categories - large, mid, and small. Investing primarily in one category carries the risk that, due to current market conditions, that category may be out of favor with investors. If valuations of large-capitalization companies appear to be greatly out of proportion to the valuations of mid- or small-capitalization companies, investors may migrate to the stocks of mid- and small-sized companies causing a fund that invests in these companies to increase in value more rapidly than a fund that invests in larger companies. Investing in mid- and small-capitalization companies may be subject to special risks associated with narrower product lines, more limited financial resources, smaller management groups, more limited publicly available information, and a more limited trading market for their stocks as compared with larger companies. As a result, stocks of mid- and small-capitalization companies may be more volatile and may decline significantly in market downturns. Market Disruption and Geopolitical: An Underlying Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Due to the increasing interdependence among global economies and markets, conditions in one country, market, or region might adversely impact markets, issuers and/or foreign exchange rates in other countries, including the U.S. War, terrorism, global health crises and pandemics, and other geopolitical events have led, and in the future may lead, to increased market volatility and may have adverse short- or long-term effects on U.S. and world economies and markets generally. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted, and may continue to result, in significant market volatility, exchange trading suspensions and closures, declines in global financial markets, higher default rates, and a substantial economic downturn in economies throughout the world. Natural and environmental disasters and systemic market dislocations are also highly disruptive to economies and markets. Those events as well as other changes in non-U.S. and domestic economic, social, and political conditions also could adversely affect individual issuers or related groups of issuers, securities markets, interest rates, credit ratings, inflation, investor sentiment, and other factors affecting the value of the investments of an Underlying Fund and the Underlying Fund. Any of these occurrences could disrupt the operations of an Underlying Fund and of the Underlying Fund’s service providers. Mid-Capitalization Company: Investments in mid-capitalization companies may involve greater risk than is customarily associated with larger, more established companies due to the greater business risks of a limited operating history, smaller size, limited markets and financial resources, narrow product lines, less management depth, and more reliance on key personnel. Consequently, the securities of mid-capitalization companies may have limited market stability and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than securities of larger, more established growth companies or the market averages in general. Money Market Regulatory: Changes in government regulations may adversely affect the value of a security held by an Underlying Fund. In addition, the SEC has adopted amendments to money market fund regulation, which permit an Underlying Fund to impose discretionary or default liquidity fees or temporary suspensions of redemption due to declines in an Underlying Fund’s weekly liquid assets. As of the date of this Program Description, the Board has elected not to subject an Underlying Fund to such liquidity fees or temporary suspensions of redemptions. These changes may result in reduced yields for money market funds, including an Underlying Fund, which may invest in other money market funds. The SEC or other regulators may adopt additional money market fund reforms, which may impact the structure and operation or performance of an Underlying Fund. Mortgage- and/or Asset-Backed Securities: Defaults on, or low credit quality or liquidity of the underlying assets of the asset-backed (including mortgage-backed) securities may impair the value of these securities and result in losses. There may be limitations on the enforceability of any security interest or collateral granted with respect to those underlying assets and the value of collateral may not satisfy the obligation upon default. These securities also present a higher degree of prepayment and extension risk and interest rate risk than do other types of debt instruments. Municipal Obligations: The municipal securities market is volatile and can be significantly affected by adverse tax, legislative, or political changes and the financial condition of the issuers of municipal securities. Among other risks, investments in municipal securities are subject to the risk that the issuer may delay payment, restructure its debt, or refuse to pay interest or repay principal on its debt. Non-Diversification (Index): Depending on the composition of the Index, an Underlying Fund may at any time, with respect to 75% of an Underlying Fund’s total assets, invest more than 5% of the value of its total assets in the securities of any one issuer. As a result, an Underlying Fund would at that time be “non-diversified,” as defined in the 1940 Act. A “non-diversified” mutual fund may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer than may a “diversified” mutual fund. A “non-diversified” investment company is subject to the risks of focusing investments in a small number of issuers, industries or foreign currencies, including being more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence than a more diversified portfolio might be. An Underlying Fund may significantly underperform other mutual funds or investments due to the poor performance of relatively few stocks, or even a single stock, and an Underlying Fund’s shares may experience significant fluctuations in value. Operational: An Underlying Fund, its service providers, and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems to conduct business functions. These systems are subject to a number of different threats or risks that could adversely affect an Underlying Fund and its shareholders, despite the efforts of an Underlying Fund and its service providers to adopt technologies, processes, and practices intended to mitigate these risks. Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect an Underlying Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by an Underlying Fund may adversely affect an Underlying Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses or impairing the Underlying Fund’s operations. Information relating to an Underlying Fund’s investments has been and will in the future be delivered electronically. There are risks associated with electronic delivery including, but not limited to, that e-mail messages are not secure and may contain computer viruses or other defects, may not be accurately replicated on other systems, or may be intercepted, deleted or interfered with, without the knowledge of the sender or the intended recipient.
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Samples: Description and Participation Agreement, www.raymondjames.com
Market. Stock prices may be volatile or have reduced liquidity in response to real or perceived impacts of factors including, but not limited to, economic conditions, changes in market interest rates, and political events. Stock markets tend to be cyclical, with periods when stock prices generally rise and periods when stock prices generally decline. Any given stock market segment may remain out of favor with investors for a short or long period of time, and stocks as an asset class may underperform bonds or other asset classes during some periods. Additionally, legislative, regulatory or tax policies or developments in these areas may adversely impact the investment techniques available to a manager, add to costs and impair the ability of an Underlying Fund to achieve its investment objectives. Market Capitalization: Stocks fall into three broad market capitalization categories - large, mid, and small. Investing primarily in one category carries the risk that, due to current market conditions, that category may be out of favor with investors. If valuations of large-capitalization companies appear to be greatly out of proportion to the valuations of mid- or small-capitalization companies, investors may migrate to the stocks of mid- and small-sized companies causing a fund that invests in these companies to increase in value more rapidly than a fund that invests in larger companies. Investing in mid- and small-capitalization companies may be subject to special risks associated with narrower product lines, more limited financial resources, smaller management groups, more limited publicly available information, and a more limited trading market for their stocks as compared with larger companies. As a result, stocks of mid- and small-capitalization companies may be more volatile and may decline significantly in market downturns. Market Disruption and Geopolitical: An Underlying Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Due to the increasing interdependence among global economies and markets, conditions in one country, market, or region might adversely impact markets, issuers and/or foreign exchange rates in other countries, including the U.S. War, terrorism, global health crises and pandemics, and other geopolitical events have led, and in the future may lead, to increased market volatility and may have adverse short- or long-term effects on U.S. and world economies and markets generally. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted, and may continue to result, in significant market volatility, exchange trading suspensions and closures, declines in global financial markets, higher default rates, and a substantial economic downturn in economies throughout the world. Natural and environmental disasters and systemic market dislocations are also highly disruptive to economies and markets. Those events as well as other changes in non-U.S. and domestic economic, social, and political conditions also could adversely affect individual issuers or related groups of issuers, securities markets, interest rates, credit ratings, inflation, investor sentiment, and other factors affecting the value of the investments of an Underlying Fund and the Underlying Fund. Any of these occurrences could disrupt the operations of an Underlying Fund and of the Underlying Fund’s service providers. Mid-Capitalization Company: Investments in mid-capitalization companies may involve greater risk than is customarily associated with larger, more established companies due to the greater business risks of a limited operating history, smaller size, limited markets and financial resources, narrow product lines, less management depth, and more reliance on key personnel. Consequently, the securities of mid-capitalization companies may have limited market stability and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than securities of larger, more established growth companies or the market averages in general. Money Market Regulatory: Changes in government regulations may adversely affect the value of a security held by an Underlying Fund. In addition, the SEC has adopted amendments to money market fund regulation, which permit an Underlying Fund to impose discretionary or default liquidity fees or temporary suspensions of redemption due to declines in an Underlying Fund’s weekly liquid assets. As of the date of this Program Description, the Board has elected not to subject an Underlying Fund to such liquidity fees or temporary suspensions of redemptions. These changes may result in reduced yields for money market funds, including an Underlying Fund, which may invest in other money market funds. The SEC or other regulators may adopt additional money market fund reforms, which may impact the structure and operation or performance of an Underlying Fund. Mortgage- and/or Asset-Backed Securities: Defaults on, or low credit quality or liquidity of the underlying assets of the asset-backed (including mortgage-backed) securities may impair the value of these securities and result in losses. There may be limitations on the enforceability of any security interest or collateral granted with respect to those underlying assets and the value of collateral may not satisfy the obligation upon default. These securities also present a higher degree of prepayment and extension risk and interest rate risk than do other types of debt instruments. Money Market Regulatory: Changes in government regulations may adversely affect the value of a security held by Voya Government Money Market Portfolio. In addition, the SEC has adopted amendments to money market fund regulation, which permit an Underlying Fund to impose discretionary or default liquidity fees or temporary suspensions of redemption due to declines in an Underlying Fund’s weekly liquid assets. As of the date of this Program Description, the Board of Trustees of Voya Government Money Market Portfolio has elected not to subject an Underlying Fund to such liquidity fees or temporary suspensions of redemptions. These changes may result in reduced yields for money market funds, including an Underlying Fund, which may invest in other money market funds. The SEC or other regulators may adopt additional money market fund reforms, which may impact the structure and operation or performance of an Underlying Fund. Municipal Obligations: The municipal securities market is volatile and can be significantly affected by adverse tax, legislative, or political changes and the financial condition of the issuers of municipal securities. Among other risks, investments in municipal securities are subject to the risk that the issuer may delay payment, restructure its debt, or refuse to pay interest or repay principal on its debt. NonOther Investment Companies: The main risk of investing in other investment companies, including exchange-Diversification traded funds (Index): Depending on “ETFs”), is the composition risk that the value of the Indexsecurities underlying an investment company might decrease. Shares of investment companies that are listed on an exchange may trade at a discount or premium from their net asset value. You will pay a proportionate share of the expenses of those other investment companies (including management fees, administration fees, and custodial fees) in addition to the expenses of an Underlying Fund. The investment policies of the other investment companies may not be the same as those of an Underlying Fund; as a result, an investment in the other investment companies may be subject to additional or different risks than those to which an Underlying Fund is typically subject. Prepayment and Extension: Many types of debt instruments are subject to prepayment and extension risk. Prepayment risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt instrument will pay back the principal earlier than expected. This may occur when interest rates decline. Prepayment may expose an Underlying Fund to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. Also, if a debt instrument subject to prepayment has been purchased at a premium, the value of the premium would be lost in the event of prepayment. Extension risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt instrument will pay back the principal later than expected. This may occur when interest rates rise. This may negatively affect performance, as the value of the debt instrument decreases when principal payments are made later than expected. Additionally, an Underlying Fund may be prevented from investing proceeds it would have received at any time, with respect a given time at the higher prevailing interest rates. Prepayment and Extension for Floating Rate Loans: Many types of debt instruments are subject to 75% prepayment and extension risk. Prepayment risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt instrument will pay back the principal earlier than expected. This may occur when interest rates decline. Prepayment may expose an Underlying Fund’s total assetsFund to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. Also, invest more than 5% of if a debt instrument subject to prepayment has been purchased at a premium, the value of its total assets the premium would be lost in the securities event of prepayment. Extension risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt instrument will pay back the principal later than expected. This may occur when interest rates rise. This may negatively affect performance, as the value of the debt instrument decreases when principal payments are made later than expected. Additionally, an Underlying Fund may be prevented from investing proceeds it would have received at a given time at the higher prevailing interest rates. Loans typically do not have call protection and may be prepaid partially or in full at any one issuertime without penalty. As Real Estate: Investing in real estate companies and Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) may subject an Underlying Fund to risks similar to those associated with the direct ownership of real estate, including losses from casualty or condemnation, changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, market interest rates, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, and operating expenses in addition to terrorist attacks, war, or other acts that destroy real property. Investments in REITs are affected by the management skill and creditworthiness of the REIT. An Underlying Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests. Repurchase Agreements: In the event that the other party to a resultrepurchase agreement defaults on its obligations, an Underlying Fund would at that time generally seek to sell the underlying security serving as collateral for the repurchase agreement. However, the value of collateral may be “non-diversified,” as defined in insufficient to satisfy the 1940 Act. A “non-diversified” mutual fund may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer than may a “diversified” mutual fund. A “non-diversified” investment company is subject to the risks of focusing investments in a small number of issuers, industries or foreign currencies, including being more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence than a more diversified portfolio might be. An Underlying Fund may significantly underperform other mutual funds or investments due to the poor performance of relatively few stocks, or even a single stock, and an Underlying Fund’s shares may experience significant fluctuations in value. Operational: An Underlying Fund, its service providers, and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems to conduct business functions. These systems are subject to a number of different threats or risks that could adversely affect an Underlying Fund and its shareholders, despite the efforts of an Underlying Fund and its service providers to adopt technologies, processes, and practices intended to mitigate these risks. Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect an Underlying Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by counterparty's obligation and/or an Underlying Fund may adversely affect encounter delay and incur costs before being able to sell the security. Such a delay may involve loss of interest or a decline in price of the security, which could result in a loss. In addition, if an Underlying Fund is characterized by a court as an unsecured creditor, it would be at risk of losing some or all of the principal and its shareholders, including by causing losses or impairing the Underlying Fund’s operations. Information relating to an Underlying Fund’s investments has been and will interest involved in the future be delivered electronicallytransaction. There are risks associated with electronic delivery including, but not limited to, Restricted Securities: Securities that e-mail messages are not secure registered for sale to the public under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are referred to as “restricted securities.” These securities may be sold in private placement transactions between issuers and their purchasers and may contain computer viruses be neither listed on an exchange nor traded in other established markets. Many times these securities are subject to legal or other defectscontractual restrictions on resale. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more volatile, less liquid and more difficult to value than publicly traded securities. The price realized from the sale of these securities could be less than the amount originally paid or less than their fair value if they are resold in privately negotiated transactions. In addition, these securities may not be accurately replicated on subject to disclosure and other systemsinvestment protection requirements that are afforded to publicly traded securities. Certain investments may include investment in smaller, or less seasoned issuers, which may be intercepted, deleted or interfered with, without the knowledge of the sender or the intended recipientinvolve greater risk.
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Market. Stock prices may be volatile or have reduced liquidity in response to real or perceived impacts of factors including, but not limited to, economic conditions, changes in market interest rates, and political events. Stock markets tend to be cyclical, with periods when stock prices generally rise and periods when stock prices generally decline. Any given stock market segment may remain out of favor with investors for a short or long period of time, and stocks as an asset class may underperform bonds or other asset classes during some periods. Additionally, legislative, regulatory or tax policies or developments in these areas may adversely impact the investment techniques available to a manager, add to costs and impair the ability of an Underlying Fund to achieve its investment objectives. Market Capitalization: Stocks fall into three broad market capitalization categories - large, mid, and small. Investing primarily in one category carries the risk that, due to current market conditions, that category may be out of favor with investors. If valuations of large-capitalization companies appear to be greatly out of proportion to the valuations of mid- or small-capitalization companies, investors may migrate to the stocks of mid- and small-sized companies causing a fund that invests in these companies to increase in value more rapidly than a fund that invests in larger companies. Investing in mid- and small-capitalization companies may be subject to special risks associated with narrower product lines, more limited financial resources, smaller management groups, more limited publicly available information, and a more limited trading market for their stocks as compared with larger companies. As a result, stocks of mid- and small-capitalization companies may be more volatile and may decline significantly in market downturns. Market Disruption and Geopolitical: An Underlying Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Due to the increasing interdependence among global economies and markets, conditions in one country, market, or region might adversely impact markets, issuers and/or foreign exchange rates in other countries, including the U.S. WarWars, terrorism, global health crises and pandemics, and other geopolitical events have led, and in the future may lead, to increased market volatility and may have adverse short- or long-term effects on U.S. and world economies and markets generally. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted, and may continue to result, in significant market volatility, exchange trading suspensions and closures, declines in global financial markets, higher default rates, and a substantial economic downturn in economies throughout the world. Natural and environmental disasters and systemic market dislocations are also highly disruptive to economies and markets. Those events as well as other changes in non-U.S. and domestic economic, social, and political conditions also could adversely affect individual issuers or related groups of issuers, securities markets, interest rates, credit ratings, inflation, investor sentiment, and other factors affecting the value of the investments of an Underlying Fund and the Underlying Fund. Any of these occurrences could disrupt the operations of an Underlying Fund and of the Underlying Fund’s service providers. Mid-Capitalization Company: Investments in mid-capitalization companies may involve greater risk than is customarily associated with larger, more established companies due to the greater business risks of a limited operating history, smaller size, limited markets and financial resources, narrow product lines, less management depth, and more reliance on key personnel. Consequently, the securities of mid-capitalization companies may have limited market stability and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than securities of larger, more established growth companies or the market averages in general. Money Market Regulatory: Changes in government regulations may adversely affect the value of a security held by an Underlying Fund. In addition, the SEC has adopted amendments to money market fund regulation, which permit an Underlying Fund to impose discretionary or default liquidity fees or temporary suspensions of redemption due to declines in an Underlying Fund’s weekly liquid assets. As of the date of this Program Description, the Board has elected not to subject an Underlying Fund to such liquidity fees or temporary suspensions of redemptions. These changes may result in reduced yields for money market funds, including an Underlying Fund, which may invest in other money market funds. The SEC or other regulators may adopt additional money market fund reforms, which may impact the structure and operation or performance of an Underlying Fund. Mortgage- and/or Asset-Backed Securities: Defaults on, or low credit quality or liquidity of the underlying assets of the asset-asset- backed (including mortgage-backed) securities may impair the value of these securities and result in losses. There may be limitations on the enforceability of any security interest or collateral granted with respect to those underlying assets and the value of collateral may not satisfy the obligation upon default. These securities also present a higher degree of prepayment and extension risk and interest rate risk than do other types of debt instruments. Municipal Obligations: The municipal securities market is volatile and can be significantly affected by adverse tax, legislative, or political changes and the financial condition of the issuers of municipal securities. Among other risks, investments in municipal securities are subject to the risk that the issuer may delay payment, restructure its debt, or refuse to pay interest or repay principal on its debt. Non-Diversification (Index): Depending on the composition of the Index, an Underlying Fund may at any time, with respect to 75% of an Underlying Fund’s total assets, invest more than 5% of the value of its total assets in the securities of any one issuer. As a result, an Underlying Fund would at that time be “non-diversified,” as defined in the 1940 Act. A “non-diversified” mutual fund may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer than may a “diversified” mutual fund. A “non-non- diversified” investment company is subject to the risks of focusing investments in a small number of issuers, industries or foreign currencies, including being more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence than a more diversified portfolio might be. An Underlying Fund may significantly underperform other mutual funds or investments due to the poor performance of relatively few stocks, or even a single stock, and an Underlying Fund’s shares units may experience significant fluctuations in value. OperationalOther Investment Companies: An The main risk of investing in other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), is the risk that the value of the securities underlying an investment company might decrease. Shares of investment companies that are listed on an exchange may trade at a discount or premium from their net asset value. You will pay a proportionate share of the expenses of those other investment companies (including management fees, administration fees, and custodial fees) in addition to the expenses of an Underlying Fund. The investment policies of the other investment companies may not be the same as those of an Underlying Fund; as a result, its service providers, an investment in the other investment companies may be subject to additional or different risks than those to which an Underlying Fund is typically subject. Prepayment and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems to conduct business functions. These systems Extension: Many types of debt instruments are subject to prepayment and extension risk. Prepayment risk is the risk that the issuer of a number of different threats or risks that could adversely affect debt instrument will pay back the principal earlier than expected. This may occur when interest rates decline. Prepayment may expose an Underlying Fund and its shareholdersto a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. Also, despite if a debt instrument subject to prepayment has been purchased at a premium, the efforts value of an Underlying Fund and its service providers to adopt technologiesthe premium would be lost in the event of prepayment. Extension risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt instrument will pay back the principal later than expected. This 216847 may occur when interest rates rise. This may negatively affect performance, processesas the value of the debt instrument decreases when principal payments are made later than expected. Additionally, and practices intended to mitigate these risks. Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect an Underlying Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by an Underlying Fund may adversely affect be prevented from investing proceeds it would have received at a given time at the higher prevailing interest rates. Real Estate: Investing in real estate companies and Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) may subject an Underlying Fund and its shareholdersto risks similar to those associated with the direct ownership of real estate, including losses from casualty or condemnation, changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, market interest rates, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, and operating expenses in addition to terrorist attacks, war, or other acts that destroy real property. Investments in REITs are affected by causing losses or impairing the management skill and creditworthiness of the REIT. An Underlying Fund’s operationsFund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests. Information relating Repurchase Agreements: In the event that the other party to a repurchase agreement defaults on its obligations, an Underlying Fund’s investments has been Fund would generally seek to sell the underlying security serving as collateral for the repurchase agreement. However, the value of collateral may be insufficient to satisfy the counterparty's obligation and/or an Underlying Fund may encounter delay and will incur costs before being able to sell the security. Such a delay may involve loss of interest or a decline in price of the security, which could result in a loss. In addition, if an Underlying Fund is characterized by a court as an unsecured creditor, it would be at risk of losing some or all of the principal and interest involved in the future be delivered electronicallytransaction. There are risks associated with electronic delivery including, but not limited to, Restricted Securities: Securities that e-mail messages are not secure registered for sale to the public under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are referred to as “restricted securities.” These securities may be sold in private placement transactions between issuers and their purchasers and may contain computer viruses be neither listed on an exchange nor traded in other established markets. Many times these securities are subject to legal or other defectscontractual restrictions on resale. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more volatile, less liquid and more difficult to value than publicly traded securities. The price realized from the sale of these securities could be less than the amount originally paid or less than their fair value if they are resold in privately negotiated transactions. In addition, these securities may not be accurately replicated on subject to disclosure and other systemsinvestment protection requirements that are afforded to publicly traded securities. Certain investments may include investment in smaller, or less seasoned issuers, which may be intercepted, deleted or interfered with, without the knowledge of the sender or the intended recipientinvolve greater risk.
Appears in 1 contract
Samples: accept.individuals.voya.com
Market. Stock prices may be volatile or have reduced liquidity in response to real or perceived impacts of factors including, but not limited to, economic conditions, changes in market interest rates, and political events. Stock markets tend to be cyclical, with periods when stock prices generally rise and periods when stock prices generally decline. Any given stock market segment may remain out of favor with investors for a short or long period of time, and stocks as an asset class may underperform bonds or other asset classes during some periods. Additionally, legislative, regulatory or tax policies or developments in these areas may adversely impact the investment techniques available to a manager, add to costs and impair the ability of an Underlying Fund to achieve its investment objectives. Market Capitalization: Stocks fall into three broad market capitalization categories - large, mid, and small. Investing primarily in one category carries the risk that, due to current market conditions, that category may be out of favor with investors. If valuations of large-capitalization companies appear to be greatly out of proportion to the valuations of mid- or small-capitalization companies, investors may migrate to the stocks of mid- and small-sized companies causing a fund that invests in these companies to increase in value more rapidly than a fund that invests in larger companies. Investing in mid- and small-capitalization companies may be subject to special risks associated with narrower product lines, more limited financial resources, smaller management groups, more limited publicly available information, and a more limited trading market for their stocks as compared with larger companies. As a result, stocks of mid- and small-capitalization companies may be more volatile and may decline significantly in market downturns. Market Disruption Master Limited Partnership: Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”) are limited partnerships in which ownership interests are publicly traded. MLPs often own or own interests in properties or businesses that are related to oil and Geopolitical: An Underlying Fund is gas industries, including pipelines. MLP may also invest in other types of investments, including credit-related investments. Investments held by MLPs may be illiquid. Certain MLP units may trade infrequently and in limited volume and may be subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt more abrupt or erratic price movements than securities markets and of larger or more broadly based companies. Investments in MLPs may adversely affect global economies and markets. Due to the increasing interdependence among global economies and markets, conditions in one country, market, or region might adversely impact markets, issuers and/or foreign exchange rates in other countries, including the U.S. War, terrorism, global health crises and pandemics, and other geopolitical events have led, and in the future may lead, to increased market volatility and may have adverse short- or long-term effects on U.S. and world economies and markets generally. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted, and may continue to result, in significant market volatility, exchange trading suspensions and closures, declines in global financial markets, higher default rates, and a substantial economic downturn in economies throughout the world. Natural and environmental disasters and systemic market dislocations are also highly disruptive to economies and markets. Those events as well as other changes in non-U.S. and domestic economic, social, and political conditions also could adversely affect individual issuers or related groups of issuers, securities markets, interest rates, credit ratings, inflation, investor sentiment, and other factors affecting the value of the investments ability of an Underlying Fund and the Underlying Fund. Any of these occurrences could disrupt the operations of an Underlying Fund and of the Underlying Fund’s service providersto qualify for special tax treatment as a regulated investment company. Mid-Capitalization Company: Investments in mid-capitalization companies may involve greater risk than is customarily associated with larger, more established companies due to the greater business risks of a limited operating history, smaller size, limited markets and financial resources, narrow product lines, less management depth, and more reliance on key personnel. Consequently, the securities of mid-capitalization companies may have limited market stability and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than securities of larger, more established growth companies or the market averages in general. Mortgage- and/or Asset-Backed Securities: Defaults on, or low credit quality or liquidity of the underlying assets of the asset-backed (including mortgage-backed) securities may impair the value of these securities and result in losses. There may be limitations on the enforceability of any security interest or collateral granted with respect to those underlying assets and the value of collateral may not satisfy the obligation upon default. These securities also present a higher degree of prepayment and extension risk and interest rate risk than do other types of debt instruments. Money Market Regulatory: Changes in government regulations may adversely affect the value of a security held by an Underlying Fund. In addition, the SEC has adopted amendments to money market fund regulation, which permit an Underlying Fund to impose discretionary or default liquidity fees or temporary suspensions of redemption due to declines in an Underlying Fund’s weekly liquid assets. As of the date of this Program Description, the Board has elected not to subject an Underlying Fund to such liquidity fees or temporary suspensions of redemptions. These changes may result in reduced yields for money market funds, including an Underlying Fund, which may invest in other money market funds. The SEC or other regulators may adopt additional money market fund reforms, which may impact the structure and operation or performance of an Underlying Fund. Mortgage- and/or Asset-Backed Securities: Defaults on, or low credit quality or liquidity of the underlying assets of the asset-backed (including mortgage-backed) securities may impair the value of these securities and result in losses. There may be limitations on the enforceability of any security interest or collateral granted with respect to those underlying assets and the value of collateral may not satisfy the obligation upon default. These securities also present a higher degree of prepayment and extension risk and interest rate risk than do other types of debt instruments. Municipal Obligations: The municipal securities market is volatile and can be significantly affected by adverse tax, legislative, or political changes and the financial condition of the issuers of municipal securities. Among other risks, investments in municipal securities are subject to the risk that the issuer may delay payment, restructure its debt, or refuse to pay interest or repay principal on its debt. Non-Diversification (Index): Depending on the composition of the Index, an Underlying Fund may at any time, with respect to 75% of an Underlying Fund’s total assets, invest more than 5% of the value of its total assets in the securities of any one issuer. As a result, an Underlying Fund would at that time be “non-diversified,” as defined in the 1940 Act. A “non-diversified” mutual fund may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer than may a “diversified” mutual fund. A “non-diversified” investment company is subject to the risks of focusing investments in a small number of issuers, industries or foreign currencies, including being more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence than a more diversified portfolio might be. An Underlying Fund may significantly underperform other mutual funds or investments due to the poor Natural Resources/Commodity Securities: The operations and financial performance of relatively few stocks, or even a single stock, and an Underlying Fund’s shares companies in natural resources industries may experience significant fluctuations in valuebe directly affected by commodity prices. This risk is exacerbated for those natural resources companies that own the underlying commodity. Operational: An Underlying Fund, its service providers, and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems to conduct business functions. These systems are subject to a number of different threats or risks that could adversely affect an Underlying Fund and its shareholders, despite the efforts of an Underlying Fund and its service providers to adopt technologies, processes, and practices intended to mitigate these risks. Cyber-attacks, disruptions, or failures that affect an Underlying Fund’s service providers, counterparties, market participants, or issuers of securities held by an Underlying Fund may adversely affect an Underlying Fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses or impairing the Underlying Fund’s operations. Information relating to an Underlying Fund’s investments has been and will in the future be delivered electronically. There are risks associated with electronic delivery including, but not limited to, that e-mail messages are not secure and may contain computer viruses or other defects, may not be accurately replicated on other systems, or may be intercepted, deleted or interfered with, without the knowledge of the sender or the intended recipient.
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Samples: Participation Agreement
