portfolio, GMO also considers position size, sector and industry exposure, country and region exposure, currencies, market capitalization, liquidity, and transaction costs. GMO also may consider ESG (environmental, social and governance) criteria. For example, GMO generally avoids investing the Fund's assets in companies engaged in the manufacture, supply, or distribution of cluster munitions, as well as companies primarily involved in the mining and production of thermal coal. At times, the Fund may have substantial exposure to a single asset class, industry, sector, country, region, issuer, or currency and companies with similar market capitalizations. The Fund may invest in securities of companies of any market capitalization. The factors GMO considers and investment methods GMO uses can change over time.
As an alternative to investing directly in equities, the Fund may invest in exchange-traded and over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives and exchange-traded funds ("ETFs"). The Fund also may invest in derivatives and ETFs in an attempt to obtain or adjust elements of its long or short investment exposure. Derivatives used may include options, futures, forward currency contracts, and swap contracts. In addition, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities.
The Fund also may invest in GMO U.S. Treasury Fund, a mutual fund advised by GMO, in money market funds unaffiliated with GMO, and directly in the types of investments typically held by money market funds.
Principal risks of investing in the Fund
The value of the Fund's shares changes with the value of the Fund's investments. Many factors can affect this value, and you may lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. For a more complete discussion of these risks, see "Additional Information about the Funds' Investment Strategies, Risks, and Expenses" and "Description of Principal Risks."
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Market Risk - Equities - The market price of an equity in the Fund's portfolio may decline due to factors affecting the issuer or its industry or the economy and equity markets generally. If the Fund purchases an equity for less than its fundamental fair (or intrinsic) value as assessed by GMO, the Fund runs the risk that the market price of the equity will not appreciate or will decline (for example, if GMO's assessment proves to be incorrect or the market fails to recognize the equity's intrinsic value). The Fund also may purchase equities that typically trade at higher multiples of current earnings than other securities, and the market prices of these equities often are more sensitive to changes in future earnings expectations and interest rates than the market prices of equities trading at lower multiples. Declines in stock market prices generally are likely to reduce the net asset value of the Fund's shares.
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Non-U.S. Investment Risk - The market prices of many non-U.S. securities fluctuate more than those of U.S. securities. Many non-U.S. securities markets are less stable, smaller, less liquid, and less regulated than U.S. securities markets, and the cost of trading in those markets often is higher than in U.S. securities markets. In addition, non-U.S. securities issuers often are not subject to as much regulation as U.S. issuers, and the reporting, recordkeeping, accounting, custody, and auditing standards to which those issuers are subject often are not as rigorous as U.S. standards. In addition, the Fund is subject to taxation by countries other than the United States, including potentially on a retroactive basis, on (i) capital gains it realizes or dividends, interest, or other amounts it realizes or accrues in respect of non-U.S. investments; (ii) transactions in those investments; and (iii) repatriation of proceeds generated from the sale or other disposition of those investments. Also, the Fund needs a license to invest directly in securities traded in many non-U.S. securities markets, and the Fund is subject to the risk that its license is terminated or suspended. In some non-U.S. securities markets, prevailing custody and trade settlement practices (e.g., the requirement to pay for securities prior to receipt) expose the Fund to credit and other risks. Further, adverse changes in investment regulations, capital requirements or exchange controls could adversely affect the value of the Fund's investments. The risks above (such as substantial price fluctuations and market instability, illiquidity and lack of regulation) and other risks (e.g., nationalization, expropriation or other confiscation of assets of non-U.S. issuers, difficulties enforcing legal judgments or contractual rights and geopolitical risks) tend to be higher for investments in the securities of issuers tied economically to emerging countries. The economies of emerging countries often depend predominantly on only a few industries or commodities and often are more volatile than the economies of developed countries.
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Currency Risk - Fluctuations in exchange rates can adversely affect the market value of the Fund's foreign currency holdings and investments denominated in foreign currencies.
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Management and Operational Risk - The Fund runs the risk that GMO's investment techniques will fail to produce intended results. GMO uses quantitative models as part of its investment process. GMO's models may not accurately predict future market movements. In addition, GMO's models rely on assumptions and data that are subject to limitations (e.g., inaccuracies, staleness) that could adversely affect their predictive value. The Fund also runs the risk that GMO's assessment of an investment, including a security's fundamental fair (or intrinsic) value, is wrong or that deficiencies in GMO's or another service provider's internal systems or controls will cause losses for the Fund or impair Fund operations.
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Illiquidity Risk - Low trading volume, lack of a market maker, large position size, or legal restrictions increase the risk that the Fund or an underlying fund is limited or prevented from selling particular securities or closing derivative positions at desirable prices at a particular time or at all.
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Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risk - Geopolitical and other events (e.g., wars, pandemics, sanctions, terrorism, diplomatic tensions, dramatic changes in regulatory and/or foreign policy, cyberattacks, and rapid technological developments such as artificial