FlexShares Global Quality FlexShares Global Quality (GQRE) Exchange: NYSE ARCA

The Underlying Index is designed to measure the performance of companies that exhibit certain quality, valuation and momentum characteristics within a universe of publicly-traded equity securities of U.S. and non-U.S. real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate companies. Eligible securities are selected for inclusion in the Underlying Index to maximize fundamental or “quality” factors, such as strength in profitability, management expertise, cash flow and other factors, as well as value and momentum factors, as determined by NTI (in its capacity as the index provider (the “Index Provider”)), pursuant to its index methodology. A company must meet the following criteria to be eligible for inclusion in the Underlying Index: (a) it must be an equity owner or operator of real estate; (b) it must be classified under the business sector of “Real Estate” by Thompson Reuters Business Classifications or have registered as a real estate investment trust under its applicable local tax code; and (c) the liquidity of the company’s stock must be commensurate with that of other institutionally held real estate securities, as determined by the Index Provider pursuant to its index methodology. The following types of securities are not included in the Underlying Index: mortgage REITs, real estate finance companies, mortgage brokers and bankers, commercial and residential real estate brokers and real estate agents and home builders, as well as companies that have more than 50% of their assets in direct mortgage investments. In addition to tracking the performance of the Underlying Index, the Investment Adviser seeks to minimize portfolio turnover and tax inefficiencies. The Underlying Index is governed by published, objective rules for security selection, exclusion, rebalancing and adjustments for corporate actions. The Underlying Index is reconstituted on a quarterly basis.As of December 31, 2018, the Underlying Index was comprised of 140 issues with market capitalizations ranging from $380.8 million to $52 billion. As of December 31, 2018, the top five countries (by weighting) represented in the Underlying Index were the United States (50.0%), Hong Kong (11.2%), Japan (9.4%), Australia (6.7%) and Great Britain (5.8%). The composition of the Underlying Index will change over time.NTI uses a “passive” or 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.NTI uses a representative sampling strategy to manage the Fund. “Representative sampling” is investing in a representative sample of securities that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Underlying Index. The Fund may or may not hold all of the securities that are included in the Underlying Index. The Fund reserves the right to invest in substantially all of the securities in its Underlying Index in approximately the same proportions (i.e., replication) if NTI determines that it is in the best interest of the Fund.Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets (exclusive of collateral held from securities lending) in the securities of the Underlying Index and in American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) (collectively “Depositary Receipts”) based on the securities in the Underlying Index. The Fund may also invest up to 20% of its assets in cash and cash equivalents, including shares of money market funds advised by NTI or its affiliates, futures contracts, options on futures contracts and forward currency contracts, as well as securities not included in the Underlying Index, but which NTI believes will help the Fund track its Underlying Index.The Underlying Index is created and sponsored by NTI, as the Index Provider. NTI also serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. 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.The Fund may lend securities representing up to one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets (including the value of the collateral received).The Fund is “non-diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and may invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” funds.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. As of January 31, 2019, the Fund was concentrated in the following industry: Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (75.9%). The components of the Underlying Index, and the degree to which these components represent certain industries, may change over time.