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Investment in the Portfolio entails certain risks. Investment returns and principal value of the Portfolio will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Some of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio include:
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Using top-down and bottom-up investment processes to select equity securities globally that we believe offer superior long-term growth characteristics.
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Seeking to invest in “disruptive” innovation leaders, which are companies that we believe are at the forefront of global innovation in their respective industries.
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The Portfolio aims to be region and sector agnostic, although the focus on disruptive innovation leaders may result in a high concentration of investment in one or more regions or industries.
Portfolio Management Team
Investment Risks to Consider
These and other risks are described in the Portfolio's prospectus
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Convertible securities risk: As convertible securities are structured as bonds that typically can, or must, be repaid with a predetermined quantity of equity shares, rather than cash, they carry both equity risk and the credit and default risks typical of bonds.
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China market risk: The Fund may invest in domestic securities of issuers located in China and so may be directly affected by volatility in securities markets in China and changes in the economic and political climate in China generally. The legal and regulatory framework for capital markets in China may not be as well developed as those of developed countries and entails additional risks.
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Concentration risk: The Fund’s portfolio may, at times, be highly concentrated. It should be noted at least 80% of the NAV will be invested in equity or equity related securities in companies located in or having large business activity in Europe. Such concentration may increase the losses suffered by the Fund or reduce its ability to hedge its exposure and to dispose of depreciating assets.
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Currency risk: Investments may be denominated in one or more currencies which are different from the Portfolio’s base currency. Currency movements in the investments may significantly affect the net asset value of the Portfolio.
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Depositary receipts risk: Depositary receipts (certificates that represent securities held on deposit by financial institutions) carry liquidity and counterparty risks. Depositary receipts, such as American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), European Depositary Receipts (EDRs) and P-Notes, can trade below the value of their underlying securities. Owners of depositary receipts may lack some of the rights (such as voting rights) they would have if they owned the underlying securities directly.
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Derivatives risk: The Portfolio may include financial derivative instruments. These may be used to obtain, increase or reduce exposure to underlying assets and may create gearing; their use may result in greater fluctuations of the net asset value.
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Emerging-markets risk: Where the Portfolio invests in emerging markets, these assets are generally smaller and more sensitive to economic and political factors, and may be less easily traded, which could cause a loss to the Portfolio.
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Equity securities risk: The value of equity investments may fluctuate in response to the activities and results of individual companies or because of market and economic conditions. These investments may decline over short- or long-term periods.
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Hedging risk: Hedging may be used when managing the Fund, as well as for currency hedge share classes to eliminate the potential for gains along with the risk for loss. Measures designed to offset specific risks may work imperfectly, may not be feasible at times or may fail completely. As there is no segregation of liabilities between the share classes, there is a remote risk that, under certain circumstances, currency hedging transactions could result in liabilities with might affect the NAV of the other share classes and their assets may be used to cover those liabilities incurred.
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Market risk: Prices and yields of many securities can change frequently, sometimes with significant volatility, and can fall, based on a wide variety of factors, for example government policy or change in technology. he effects of market risk can be immediate or gradual, short-term or long-term, or narrow or broad.
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Real estate investment trust (REIT) risk: Investing in equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REITS, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. REITS depend on management skills, are not diversified, subject to heavy cashflow dependency, default by borrowers and self-liquidation and subject to interest-rate risks.
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Secondary Market Risk: ETF share classes are subject to risks relating to listing, liquidity, trading and settlement. There can be no guarantee that once the Shares are listed or traded on a stock exchange they will remain listed or traded on that stock exchange. As the market price at which the Shares are traded on the Secondary Market may differ from the Net Asset Value per Share, investors may pay more than the then current Net Asset Value when buying ETF Shares and may receive less than the current Net Asset Value when selling them.
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Securities lending risk: If a Portfolio lends securities, it takes on counterparty risk with respect to the borrower as well as the risk that any collateral from the counterparty may prove insufficient to cover all costs and liabilities incurred.
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Small/mid-cap equities risk: Equity securities (primarily stocks) of small and mid-size companies can be more volatile and less liquid than equities of larger companies. Small and mid-size companies often have fewer financial resources, shorter operating histories and less diverse business lines and as a result can be at greater risk of long-term or permanent business setbacks. Initial public offerings (IPOs) can be highly volatile and can be hard to evaluate because of a lack of trading history and relative lack of public information.
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Sustainability risk: Sustainability risk means an environmental, social, or governance event or condition that, if it occurs, could potentially or actually cause a material negative impact on the value of a Portfolio’s investment. Sustainability risks may have an impact on long-term risk adjusted returns for investors. Assessment of sustainability risks is complex and may be based on environmental, social, or governance data which is difficult to obtain and incomplete, estimated, out of date or otherwise materially inaccurate. Even when identified, there can be no guarantee that these data will be correctly assessed.