The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net
assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at the time of purchase)
(“Net Assets”) in a diversified portfolio of equity investments in mid-cap issuers. Mid-cap issuers are companies with middle market capitalizations which are generally within the capitalization range of the Russell
Midcap® Growth Index at the time of investment. As of December 1, 2025, the capitalization range of the Russell Midcap® Growth Index was between $1 billion and $100 billion; however, this capitalization range will change over time and with market conditions. The
Fund may also invest in securities outside of the then-existing mid-cap issuer capitalization range of companies constituting the Russell Midcap® Growth Index at the time of investment. Although the Fund invests primarily in publicly traded U.S. securities, it may invest up to 25% of its Net Assets in foreign securities, including securities of
issuers in countries with emerging markets or economies (“emerging countries”) and securities quoted in foreign currencies. The Fund may also invest in privately held companies and companies that only recently
began to trade publicly.
The Fund’s fundamental equity growth investment process involves evaluating potential investments based on specific characteristics believed to indicate a high-quality
business with sustainable growth, including strong business franchises, favorable long-term prospects, and excellent management. The Investment Adviser will also consider valuation of companies when determining
whether to buy and/or sell securities. The Investment Adviser may integrate environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) factors alongside traditional fundamental factors as part of its
fundamental research process. No one factor or consideration is determinative in the stock selection process. The Investment Adviser may decide to sell a position for various reasons, including when a company’s
fundamental outlook deteriorates, because of valuation and price considerations, for risk management purposes, or when a company is deemed to be misallocating capital or a company no longer fits within the Fund’s
definition of a mid-cap company. In addition, the Investment Adviser may sell a position in order to meet shareholder redemptions.
The Investment Adviser measures the Fund’s performance against the Russell Midcap® Growth Index.
Principal Risks of the Fund |
Loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any government agency. The Fund should not be relied upon as a complete investment program.
There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Investments in the Fund involve substantial risks which prospective investors should consider
carefully before investing. The Fund's principal risks are presented below in alphabetical order, and not in the order of importance or
potential exposure.
Foreign and Emerging Countries Risk. Foreign securities may be subject to risk of loss because of more or less foreign government regulation; less public information; less stringent investor protections; less stringent accounting,
corporate governance, financial reporting and disclosure standards; and less economic, political and social stability in the countries in which the Fund invests. The imposition of sanctions, exchange controls (including
repatriation restrictions), confiscations, trade restrictions (including tariffs) and other government restrictions by the United States and other governments, or from problems in share registration, settlement or custody,
may also result in losses. The type
and severity of sanctions and other similar measures, including counter sanctions and other retaliatory
actions, that may be imposed could vary broadly in scope, and their impact is impossible to predict. For example, the imposition of sanctions and other similar measures could, among other things, cause a decline in the
value and/or liquidity of securities issued by the sanctioned country or companies located in or economically tied to the sanctioned country and increase market volatility and disruption in the
sanctioned country and throughout the world. Sanctions and other similar measures could limit or prevent the Fund from buying and selling securities (in the sanctioned country and other markets), significantly delay
or prevent the settlement of securities transactions, and significantly impact the Fund’s liquidity and performance. Foreign risk also involves the risk of negative foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations,
which may cause the value of securities denominated in such foreign currency (or other instruments through which the Fund has exposure to foreign currencies) to decline in value. Currency exchange rates
may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. These risks are more pronounced in connection with the Fund’s investments in securities of issuers located in, or otherwise economically tied to, emerging
countries.
Investment Style Risk. Different investment styles (e.g., “growth”, “value” or “quantitative”) tend to shift in and out of
favor depending upon market and economic conditions and investor sentiment. The Fund may
outperform or underperform other funds that invest in similar asset classes but employ different investment styles. Growth investing is an example of an investment style. Growth companies are often expected by investors to increase their
earnings at a certain rate. When these expectations are not met, investors can punish the stocks inordinately even if earnings showed an absolute increase.
Large Shareholder Transactions Risk. The Fund may experience adverse effects when certain large shareholders purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Fund. Such large shareholder redemptions, which may occur rapidly or
unexpectedly, may cause the Fund to sell portfolio securities at times when it would not otherwise do so, which may negatively impact the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) and liquidity.
Similarly, large Fund share purchases may adversely affect the Fund’s performance to the extent that the Fund is delayed in investing new cash or otherwise maintains a larger cash position than it ordinarily would. These transactions may
also increase transaction costs. In addition, a large redemption could result in the Fund’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio.
Market Risk. The value of the securities in which the Fund invests may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies, particular sectors, governments or
countries and/or general economic conditions throughout the world due to increasingly interconnected global economies and financial markets. Events such as war, military conflict, geopolitical disputes, acts
of terrorism, social or political unrest, natural disasters, recessions, inflation, rapid interest rate changes, supply chain disruptions, tariffs and other restrictions on trade, sanctions or the spread of
infectious illness or other public health threats, or the threat or potential of one or more such events and developments, could also significantly impact the Fund and its investments.
Mid-Cap and Small-Cap Risk. Investments in mid-capitalization and small-capitalization companies involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established
companies. These securities may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements and may lack sufficient market liquidity, and these issuers often face greater business risks.