All mutual funds take investment risks. Therefore, even though the Fund is a money market fund that seeks to maintain a stable NAV, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The primary factors that may negatively impact the Fund's ability to maintain a stable NAV, delay the payment of redemptions by the Fund, or reduce the Fund's daily dividends include:
■ Issuer Credit Risk. It is possible that interest or principal on securities will not be paid when due. Money market funds try to minimize this risk by purchasing higher-quality securities.
■ Counterparty Credit Risk. A party to a transaction involving the Fund may fail to meet its obligations. This could cause the Fund to lose money or to lose the benefit of the transaction or prevent the Fund from selling or buying other securities to implement its investment strategies.
■ Risk Related to the Economy. The value of the Fund's portfolio may decline in tandem with a drop in the overall value of the markets in which the Fund invests and/or other markets. Economic, political and financial conditions, industry or economic trends and developments or public health risks, such as epidemics or pandemics, may, from time to time, and for varying periods of time, cause the Fund to experience volatility, illiquidity, shareholder redemptions, or other potentially adverse effects.
■ Liquidity Fees Risk. Pursuant to Rule 2a-7, the Fund may impose discretionary liquidity fees on redemptions subject to a determination by the Fund's Board, or its delegate, that such a liquidity fee is in the Fund's best interests. Such determination will be based on current market conditions and the Fund's particular circumstances, and it is expected that such fee would be imposed, if at all, during periods of extraordinary market stress. If the Fund's Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, or its delegate, determines that imposing a liquidity fee is in the Fund's best interests, the Fund will impose a discretionary liquidity fee not to exceed 2% of the value of the shares redeemed. The liquidity fee would be applied to all Fund redemptions and would remain in effect until the Fund's Board, or its delegate, determines that the fee is no longer in the Fund's best interests. If the Fund imposes a liquidity fee, depending on how the redemption order is communicated, the proceeds delivered may be for an amount that is less than the original redemption.
■ Interest Rate Risk. Prices of fixed-income securities generally fall when interest rates rise. Recent and potential future changes in monetary policy made by central banks and/or their governments are likely to affect the level of interest rates. Very low or negative interest rates magnify interest rate risk. During periods when interest rates are low or there are negative interest rates, the Fund's yield (and total return) also is likely to be lower or the Fund may be unable to maintain a positive return, or yield, or a stable NAV.
■ Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund will experience significant net redemptions of Fund Shares at a time when it cannot find willing buyers for its portfolio securities or can only sell its portfolio securities at a material loss.