IBLC

About IBLC

The Fund seeks to track the investment results of the NYSE FactSet Global Blockchain Technologies Index (the “Underlying Index”), which is a rules-based, modified float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted equity index that measures the performance of equity securities issued by U.S. and non-U.S. companies that are involved in the development, innovation, and utilization of blockchain and crypto technologies. The Fund may invest in non-U.S. companies, including those located in emerging markets, without any limits consistent with the Underlying Index. ICE Data Indices, LLC, or its affiliates (the “Index Provider” or “IDI”), uses FactSet’s Revere Business Industry Classification System (“RBICS”) classifications to determine the eligible universe. The Index Provider defines “blockchain” as technologies characterized by a shared, peer-to-peer, decentralized, and immutable ledger ideally suited for recording information. Information on the blockchain is secured through a validation process involving cryptography known as “mining,” which integrates a new set of information (known as a “block”) with all previous blocks on the ledger (thus creating a chain). One use of blockchain is “cryptocurrency,” which is a digital asset that typically uses blockchain’s decentralized and secured ledger as a method of verifying transactions and ownership. The Fund's investments will include companies involved in (a) cryptocurrency mining, (b) cryptocurrency trading and exchanges, (c) crypto-mining systems and/or (d) blockchain technology. IDI begins with common equity securities (including depositary receipts) that have a market capitalization of $100 million or greater and a three-month average daily trading value (“ADTV”) of $1 million or greater and are from one of 43 eligible countries (as disclosed in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”)). From this starting universe, IDI selects, as “Tier 1” securities, companies generating 50% or more revenue from the following RBICS Focus Level 6 industries: Blockchain Technology; Cryptocurrency Mining; and Cryptocurrency Trading and Exchanges. Tier 1 also includes securities in the RBICS Focus Level 6 industry Multi-Type Business and Personal Systems that are also classified in FactSet's proprietary Revere Hierarchy Focus industry Crypto-mining Systems. In order to capture those companies that design and manufacture graphics processing unit (GPU) chips necessary for mining, IDI next selects, as “Tier 2” securities, companies in the RBICS Focus Level 6 Video Multimedia Semiconductor industry. Additionally for Tier 2, IDI selects the securities of companies that have blockchain-related ancillary businesses identified with the following Revere Hierarchy Focus industries: Blockchain Technology; Cryptocurrency Mining; Cryptocurrency Trading/Exchanges; and Crypto-mining Systems. The Fund will not invest in cryptocurrency (i) directly or (ii) indirectly through the use of derivatives on such assets. The Underlying Index will have a minimum of 35 constituents at selection and will include all Tier 1 securities and a minimum of 10 Tier 2 securities, selected in descending order of float-adjusted market capitalization. The component securities of the Underlying Index are weighted by float-adjusted market capitalization with Tier 1 securities allocated a minimum weight of 75% in aggregate, subject to capping constraints. Each Tier 1 security is capped at 12%, and each Tier 2 security is capped at 4% of the Underlying Index, each at rebalance. Securities with weights greater than 4.5% shall not in aggregate exceed 45% of the Underlying Index weight at rebalance. Additionally, for any Tier 1 security whose constituent weight is greater than 10 times its three-month ADTV, its weight is determined by its liquidity weight instead of by float-adjusted market capitalization. The Index Provider determines the liquidity weight of a security as follows: index weight assigned to a security based on the relative three-month median daily value traded of the security compared to that measure for the overall index. The Underlying Index is reviewed and reconstituted in March and September each year. Constituent weights of the Underlying Index are rebalanced quarterly. The Underlying Index includes large-, mid- and small-capitalization companies and may change over time. As of March 31, 2024, a significant portion of the Underlying Index is represented by securities of companies in the blockchain, financials and technology industries or sectors. The components of the Underlying Index are likely to change over time. BFA uses an indexing approach to try to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Unlike many investment companies, 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 Underlying Index is owned, maintained and administered by the Index Provider, which 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.