Common use of Emerging Markets Risk Clause in Contracts

Emerging Markets Risk. The Fund may invest in securities of companies in an “emerging market.” An “emerging market” country is any country that is considered to be an emerging or developing country by the World Bank. Investments in emerging market securities involve a greater degree of risk than, and special risks in addition to the risks associated with, investments in domestic securities or in securities of foreign, developed countries. Foreign investment risk may be particularly high to the extent that the Fund invests in securities of issuers based or doing business in emerging market countries or invests in securities denominated in the currencies of emerging market countries. Investing in securities of issuers based or doing business in emerging markets entails all of the risks of investing in securities of foreign issuers noted above, but to a heightened degree. These heightened risks include: (i) greater risks of expropriation, confiscatory taxation, nationalization and less social, political and economic stability; (ii) the smaller size of the market for such securities and a lower volume of trading, resulting in a lack of liquidity and in price volatility; (iii) certain national policies which may restrict the Fund’s investment opportunities, including restrictions on investing in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to relevant national interests and requirements that government approval be obtained prior to investment by foreign persons; (iv) certain national policies that may restrict the Fund’s repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities, including temporary restrictions on foreign capital remittances; (v) the lack of uniform accounting and auditing standards and/or standards that may be significantly different from the standards required in the United States; (vi) less publicly available financial and other information regarding issuers; (vii) potential difficulties in enforcing contractual obligations; and (viii) higher rates of inflation, higher interest rates and other economic concerns. Also, investing in emerging market countries may entail purchases of securities of issuers that are insolvent, bankrupt, in default or otherwise of questionable ability to satisfy their payment obligations as they become due, subjecting the Fund to a greater amount of credit risk and/or high yield risk. Foreign Currency Risk. The Fund may invest in companies whose securities are denominated or quoted in currencies other than U.S. dollars or have significant operations or markets outside of the United States. In such instances, the Fund will be exposed to currency risk, including the risk of fluctuations in the exchange rate between U.S. dollars (in which the Fund’s shares are denominated and the distributions are paid by the Fund) and such foreign currencies. Therefore, to the extent the Fund does not hedge its foreign currency risk or the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ are ineffective, the value of the Fund’s assets and income could be adversely affected by currency rate movements.