Strategy. The Japan Exchange Group, Inc. and JPX Market Innovation & Research, Inc. (collectively referred to as the JPX Group ) and Nikkei Inc. (the Nikkei ) are the Funds index providers (collectively, the Index Provider ). The Fund seeks to track the investment results of the JPX-Nikkei 400 Net Total Return Index (the Underlying Index ), which is composed of (i) common stocks whose main market is the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market, Standard Market or Growth Market and (ii) securities listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market, Standard Market or Growth Market that are not common stocks but are regarded by the Index Provider as equivalent to common stocks, in each case if the inclusion in the Underlying Index … Show more… The Japan Exchange Group, Inc. and JPX Market Innovation & Research, Inc. (collectively referred to as the JPX Group ) and Nikkei Inc. (the Nikkei ) are the Funds index providers (collectively, the Index Provider ). The Fund seeks to track the investment results of the JPX-Nikkei 400 Net Total Return Index (the Underlying Index ), which is composed of (i) common stocks whose main market is the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market, Standard Market or Growth Market and (ii) securities listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market, Standard Market or Growth Market that are not common stocks but are regarded by the Index Provider as equivalent to common stocks, in each case if the inclusion in the Underlying Index is deemed to be particularly necessary as determined by the Index Provider. Companies deemed particularly necessary refer to companies that the Index Provider determines to have high appeal for investors and to meet requirements of global investment standards, such as efficient use of capital and investor-focused management perspectives. The Index Provider selects 400 constituents, based on: (i) trading value over the past three years, (ii) market value on the selection base date (the end of June), (iii) scoring by stock by three-year average returns on equity, cumulative operating profit and market value on the selection base date using specified weightings and (iv) qualitative factors tied to corporate governance and disclosure. The currency of the component securities of the Underlying Index is the Japanese yen ( JPY ). The Underlying Index will include large-, mid- and small-capitalization companies and may change over time. As of March 31, 2025, a significant portion of the Underlying Index is represented by securities of companies in the consumer discretionary industry or sector. The components of the Underlying Index are likely to change over time. BFA uses an indexing approach to try to achieve the Funds investment objective. The Fund does not try to beat the index it tracks and does not seek temporary defensive positions when markets decline or appear overvalued. Indexing may eliminate the chance that the Fund will substantially outperform the Underlying Index but also may reduce some of the risks of active management, such as poor security selection. Indexing seeks to achieve lower costs and better after-tax performance by aiming to keep portfolio turnover low in comparison to actively managed investment companies. BFA uses a representative sampling indexing strategy to manage the Fund. Representative sampling is an indexing strategy that involves investing in a representative sample of securities that collectively has an investment profile similar to that of an applicable 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 an applicable underlying index. The Fund may or may not hold all of the securities in the Underlying Index. The Fund generally will invest at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of its Underlying Index and in investments that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the component securities of its Underlying Index ( i.e ., depositary receipts representing securities of the Underlying Index) and may invest up to 20% of its assets in certain futures, options and swap contracts, cash and cash equivalents, including shares of money market funds advised by BFA or its affiliates, as well as in securities not included in the Underlying Index, but which BFA believes will help the Fund track the Underlying Index. Cash and cash equivalent investments associated with a derivative position will be treated as part of that position for the purposes of calculating the percentage of investments included in the Underlying Index. The Fund seeks to track the investment results of the Underlying Index before fees and expenses of the Fund. The Fund may lend securities representing up to one-third of the value of the Fund's total assets (including the value of any collateral received). The Index Provider 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. 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 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. Show less