“Representative sampling” is an indexing strategy
that involves investing in a representative sample of securities that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Underlying Index. The securities selected are expected to have, in the aggregate, investment characteristics (based on
factors such as market capitalization and industry weightings), fundamental characteristics (such as return variability and yield) and liquidity 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 or in depositary receipts representing securities in the Underlying Index. The Fund may invest the remainder of its assets in securities not included in the Underlying Index,
but which BFA believes will help the Fund track the Underlying Index, and in other investments, including futures contracts, options on futures contracts, options and swaps related to its Underlying Index, as well as cash and cash equivalents,
including shares of money market funds advised by BFA or its affiliates.
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, which may include large-, mid- or small-capitalization companies, 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 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, region, country, market, industry or asset class, the Fund may be susceptible to loss due to adverse occurrences
affecting that issuer, region, country, market, industry or asset class.
Consumer Staples Sector Risk. The consumer staples sector may be