The asset management industry is facing transformative pressures and trends from a variety of different sources, including increased fee pressure; a continued shift away from actively managed fundamental equities and fixed income strategies towards alternative, passive index and smart beta strategies; increased demands from clients and distributors for client engagement and services; a trend towards institutions concentrating on fewer relationships and partners and reducing the number of investment managers they work with; increased regulatory activity and scrutiny of many aspects of the asset management industry, including ESG practices and related matters, transparency/unbundling of fees, inducements, conflicts of interest, capital, liquidity, solvency, leverage, operational risk management, controls and compensation; addressing the key emerging markets in the world, such as China and India, which often have populations with different needs, preferences and horizons than the more developed U.S. and European markets; advances in technology and digital wealth and distribution tools and increasing client interest in interacting digitally with their investment portfolios; and growing crypto asset markets that remain subject to substantial volatility and significant regulatory uncertainty. As a result of these trends and pressures, the asset management industry is facing an increased level of disruption. If we are unable to adapt our strategy and business to adequately address these trends and pressures, we may be unable to satisfactorily meet client needs, our competitive position may weaken, and our AUM, revenues, and net income may be adversely affected.