Amana Developing World Fund

Market risk: The value of the Fund’s shares rises and falls as the market value of the securities in which the Fund invests goes up and down. Consider investing in the Fund only if you are willing to accept the risk that you may lose money. Fund share prices, yields, and total returns will change with the fluctuations in the securities markets as well as the fortunes of the industries and companies in which the Fund invests. 

Investment strategy risk: Islamic principles restrict the Fund’s ability to invest in certain market sectors, such as financial companies and conventional fixed-income securities. The adviser believes that Islamic and sustainable investing may mitigate security-specific risks, but the screens used in connection with these strategies reduce the investable universe, which may limit investment opportunities and adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Because Islamic principles preclude the use of interest-paying instruments, cash positions do not earn interest income but, to the extent the Fund invests cash in murabaha or wakala, the Fund will share in the distribution of profits (as opposed to the payment of interest) related to any murabaha or wakala investments.

Equity securities risk: Equity securities may experience significant volatility in response to economic or market conditions or adverse events that affect a particular industry, sector, or company. Larger companies may have slower rates of growth as compared to smaller, faster-growing companies. Smaller companies may have more limited financial resources, products, or services, and tend to be more sensitive to changing economic or market conditions.

Developing world and foreign investing risk: Investments in the securities of foreign issuers may involve risks in addition to those normally associated with investments in the securities of US issuers. All foreign investments are subject to risks of: (1) foreign political and economic instability; (2) adverse movements in foreign exchange rates; (3) currency devaluation; (4) the imposition or tightening of exchange controls or other limitations on repatriation of foreign capital; (5) changes in foreign governmental attitudes toward private investment, including potential nationalization, increased taxation, or confiscation of assets; and (6) differing reporting, accounting, and auditing standards of foreign countries. In developing markets, these risks are magnified by less mature political systems and weaker corporate governance standards than typically found in the developed world.

Murabaha risk: A murabaha transaction involves a purchase and deferred-payment resale of an asset. The asset is typically purchased by an Islamic bank as agent for the Fund. The bank, acting as the Fund's agent, immediately resells the asset to a previously identified third party who agrees to repay the Fund's cost for the asset plus a profit. Murabaha investments are subject to market risk (fluctuating prices and exchange rates), credit risk, and operational risk (errors in processes).

Wakala risk: When the Fund invests in wakala, it will be subject to the credit risk of the bank acting as agent, and the risk that the bank will not manage the investment in a profitable manner.

Interest rate risk: The Fund does not invest in interest bearing investments However, since murabaha and wakala are Islamic fixed-income investments, the financial and economic data associated with interest bearing investments similarly affect the yields and returns on murabaha and wakala. Changes in interest rates impact prices of fixed-income and related investments.  When interest rates rise, the value of fixed-income investments (paying a lower rate of interest) generally will fall.  Investments with shorter terms may have less interest rate risk, but generally have lower returns and, because of the more frequent maturity dates, may involve higher re-investment costs.

Credit risk: Corporate and sovereign issuers of the notes and certificates in which the Fund invests may not be able or willing to make payments when due, which may lead to default or restructuring of the investment. In addition, if the market perceives deterioration in the creditworthiness of an issuer, the value and liquidity of the issuer’s securities may decline.

Subsidiary investment risk: By investing in the Subsidiary, the Fund is subject to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. Those investments are similar to the investments that are permitted to be held by the Fund and are subject to the same risks that would apply to similar investments if held directly by the Fund. The Subsidiary is organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands and is not registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Accordingly, the Fund will not receive all of the protections offered to shareowners of registered investment companies. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as intended, which may negatively affect the Fund and its shareowners.

Tax risk: To qualify as a regulated investment company (“RIC”), the Fund must meet certain requirements concerning the source of its income. The Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary is intended to provide exposure to murabaha and wakala in a manner that is consistent with the “qualifying income” requirement applicable to RICs. Failure to qualify as a RIC could subject the Fund to adverse tax consequences, including a federal income tax on its net income at regular corporate rates, as well as a tax to shareowners on such income when distributed as an ordinary dividend.

The tax treatment of the Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary may be adversely affected by future legislation, court decisions, Treasury Regulations, and/or guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service that could affect the character, timing, and/ or amount of the Fund’s taxable income or any gains or distributions made by the Fund.