Strategic Focus

The Fund invests primarily in micro- to mid-cap companies economically tied to the United States (“domestic companies”) or to other countries (“foreign companies”), using a geography-focused framework intended to identify companies that the Adviser believes are particularly well-positioned for long-term growth. Under normal market conditions, the Adviser invests the Fund’s assets primarily in equity securities (including common stock, preferred stock, and securities convertible into common stock) of companies with market capitalizations of less than $5 billion at the time of purchase.

The Fund typically invests in securities issued by companies that, taken together, are economically tied to at least ten countries, including the United States. The Fund invests a significant portion of its total assets (at least 40% under normal market conditions; at least 30% under market conditions that are not normal) at the time of purchase in securities issued by companies that, taken together, are economically tied to at least three countries outside the United States, including emerging and frontier market countries. The Adviser considers a company to be economically tied to a country if at least one of the following attributes exists: the company (1) is organized in such country, (2) is headquartered in such country, (3) has its primary stock exchange listing in a market located in such country, or (4) during the company’s most recent fiscal year, derived at least 50% of its revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in such country or has at least 50% of its assets in such country. Foreign companies may be traded on U.S. exchanges or non-U.S. exchanges and may be denominated in U.S. dollars or foreign currencies.

Foreign companies include companies whose exclusive economic tie to the United States is the trading of an American Depositary Receipt (ADR) on a U.S. exchange or over the counter in the United States. Depositary receipts include sponsored and unsponsored depositary receipts, are typically issued by a financial institution (for ADRs, typically a U.S. financial institution) and evidence ownership interests in a security or a pool of securities (for ADRs, securities issued by a non-U.S. issuer) that have been deposited typically with that institution.

Analytical Approach

The Adviser uses a process of quantitative screening of the financial trends and health of each company in its investment universe, followed by “bottom up” fundamental analysis to identify growth companies that it believes to be among the “best-in-class” in their global peer group. This fundamental analysis generally includes a comparative study of the company and its peers, including the company’s financial performance, its management, its competitors, its industry, its competitive advantage, its approach to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) topics, the geographic region(s) to which it is economically tied, and talking with the management team. In performing such analysis, the Adviser seeks to evaluate each company’s long-term potential. The Adviser also travels extensively to visit companies and expects to speak directly with senior management.

The Adviser uses a proprietary analytical framework that may include factors that the Adviser believes are relevant, such as: local economic development priorities, shareholder rights, management oversight and transparency, board membership and structure, accounting standards, environmental policies, social justice policies, and labor relations. These sustainability criteria are collectively one of many factors that the Adviser uses as part of its fundamental analysis of a company. These factors are assessed quantitatively and qualitatively, as applicable, through the Adviser’s research and engagement process.

The Adviser incorporates the results of this analysis into its overall decision-making but does not necessarily include or exclude a particular company solely based on the Adviser’s assessment of any single criterion, including that company’s ESG factors. The Adviser generally applies its sustainability analysis to companies in which the Fund invests, but not to the cash or cash equivalent positions in the Fund’s portfolio.

The Fund may also invest in growth companies that the Adviser believes have hit a temporary setback (for example, announced an unexpected expense or delayed contract, missed sales targets for the quarter, or experienced an unplanned management change, etc.), and therefore have a particularly appealing valuation relative to their long-term growth potential. The Fund may also invest in early-stage companies and Initial Public Offerings (IPOs).