Investment involves risks. Please refer to the offering document for details including the risk factors.
1. Market risk
The market values of securities owned by the Fund will tend to go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, due to factors affecting individual issuers, particular industries or sectors within securities markets, or because of general market conditions. During a general downturn in the securities markets, multiple asset classes (including different sectors of the same asset class) may decline in value at the same time. Similarly, when markets perform well, there can be no assurance that securities held by the Fund will participate in the advance. Because the securities the Fund holds fluctuate in price in this manner, the Fund’s value may go down as well as up and investors may be adversely affected.
2. Interest rate securities risk
Interest rates changes tend to be driven by prevailing economic, political and regulatory conditions as well as issuer-specific factors, impacting longer term securities more than short-term securities. A fixed income security’s value will generally increase in value when interest rates fall and decrease in value when interest rates rise. Movements in interest rates may therefore adversely affect the valuation of the Fund’s fixed income securities (such as bonds) and the Fund’s net asset value on a daily basis, in addition to impacting the amount of interest income earned by the Fund. Conditions in the banking sector may also adversely affect interest rates and the prices of fixed income securities.
3. Credit risk
This Fund invests only in obligations backed by the U.S. Government. Default can occur if an issuer fails to make principal and interest payments when due, which may result in a substantial loss to the Fund. Debt securities are also exposed to the risk of being downgraded, which can adversely affect and/or result in a substantial loss to the Fund.
4. Liquidity risk
The Fund may not be able to easily sell securities due to adverse market conditions or reduced value or creditworthiness of issuers in which it invests. The inability of the Fund to sell securities or positions may also impede the ability of the Fund to meet redemption requests in a timely manner. Certain securities may also be illiquid due to limited trading markets or contractual restrictions on their resale. Reduced liquidity due to these factors may have an adverse impact on the net asset value of the Fund.
5. Valuation risk
Valuation of the Fund’s investments may involve uncertainties and judgmental determinations. Independent pricing information may not always be available. If valuations prove to be incorrect, the investors of the Fund may be adversely affected.
6. Prepayment risk
The Fund may invest in debt securities where the issuer can repay the principal, in whole or in part, prior to the security’s maturity. When the Fund reinvests the prepayments of principal it receives, it may receive a rate of interest that is lower than the rate on the existing security, potentially lowering the Fund’s income. Securities subject to prepayment may offer less potential for gains during a declining interest rate environment and have greater price volatility. The value and performance of the Fund may be adversely affected as a result.
7. Single country risk
The Fund’s investments are concentrated in a single country. The value of the Fund may be more volatile than that of a fund having a more diverse portfolio of investments and may be more susceptible to adverse economic, political, policy, foreign exchange, liquidity, tax, legal or regulatory events affecting the country in which it invests.
8. Foreign currency risk
The total return for a share class that is denominated in a different currency (the “alternative currency”) from the base currency of the Fund may be affected, either positively or negatively, by changes in the exchange rate between the Fund’s base currency and the alternative currency.
9. Dividend policy risk
The Fund’s dividend policy allows for payment of dividends out of capital or effectively out of capital. Where this is done, it amounts to a return or withdrawal of part of an investor’s original investment or from any capital gains attributable to that original investment. Any distributions involving payment of dividends out of the Fund’s capital or payment of dividends effectively out of the Fund’s capital (as the case may be) may result in an immediate reduction of the net asset value per share.
10. Counterparty risk
The Fund may be exposed to the credit/default risks of its counterparties and the Fund/investors may be adversely impacted.
11. Securitisation risk
A securitisation is composed of multiple tranches, usually spanning from the equity tranche (highest risk) to the senior tranche (the lowest risk). The performance of each tranche is determined by the performance of the underlying assets or “collateral pool”. The collateral pool can encompass securities with different credit qualities, including high-yield securities and junk bonds, and the credit rating of the tranche is not reflective of the quality of the underlying assets. A securitization may be highly illiquid and prone to substantial price volatility. These instruments may be subject to greater credit, liquidity and interest rate risk compared to other debt securities. They are often exposed to extension and prepayment risks and risks that the payment obligations relating to the underlying assets are not met, which may adversely impact the returns of the securities.