Research Affiliates Deletions 

The NIXT Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) is designed to mirror the performance of an index composed of U.S. small and mid-capitalization equities that have recently been delisted from their primary benchmark indices, all while undergoing a rigorous quality assessment. The underlying strategy aims to capitalize on a potential long-term rebound in the value of these previously underperforming or overlooked companies. The index's investment universe originates from the top 500 and top 1000 U.S. companies within the RAFI Global Equity Investable Universe (GEIU), which are constituents of the Cap-Weight 500 and Cap-Weight 1000 benchmark indices. Utilizing a five-year look-back period, the methodology identifies the smallest companies or those that have fallen out of these benchmarks. These identified firms are then scored and ranked based on several quality indicators, including debt coverage ratio, equity and debt issuance activities, changes in leverage, total shareholder payouts, and net payouts. The top 80% of these quality-screened companies are subsequently admitted to the index, where they are equally weighted. Once included, a company typically maintains its position for a five-year duration, unless its market capitalization recovers sufficiently to allow re-entry into one of the original benchmark indices. The index undergoes its annual reconstitution process in April, with rebalancing of weights occurring in May.