The Adviser is an investment adviser registered with the SEC and has been an investment adviser since 1955. The Adviser provides investment advisory services to registered investment companies, private funds, other pooled investment vehicles and other investment accounts. The Adviser was founded in 1955 by John van Eck to manage an international equity fund. In 1968, the Adviser began offering investments in gold shares and subsequently, provided investor access to areas of the market, including emerging markets and global resources among others. The Adviser provides investment advisory services to registered investment companies and other pooled investment vehicles based on the investment objectives and restrictions as set forth in each prospectus or each pooled investment vehicle’s offering document. In addition, the Adviser provides investment advisory services to institutional investors through investment accounts based on the individual investment objectives, client restrictions and guidelines of each client, as outlined by the client, and other factors deemed relevant by the client and disclosed to the Adviser. In some instances, clients have similar investment objectives but are charged different fees. The variation in fee structure charged to clients is generally reflective of the differing levels of service required to be provided to that client and the complexity of managing the client’s account. The Adviser will be paid a fee at a certain annual rate of assets under management within the ranges described below under “Fees and Compensation,” and may also charge a performance-based fee. The Adviser has entered into arrangements with asset management firms or other firms (collectively, “Model Program Sponsors”) where the Adviser provides a model securities portfolio (each a “Model Portfolio”) to the Model Program Sponsors (the “Model Programs”) for use by the Model Program Sponsor or a third-party manager in managing the accounts of participants in the Model Program. In addition, the Adviser provides investment advice to certain asset management or other firms’ unified account programs (“UMA Program Sponsors” and together with the Model Program Sponsors, the “Program Sponsors” and participants in such Programs, “Program Participants”). In a Model Program, the Adviser generally is responsible only for providing an updated Model Portfolio to Program Sponsors on a periodic basis. The Model Program Sponsors or third-party managers (and not the Adviser) are responsible

for directing that securities transactions will be executed on behalf of the model participant and for effecting trades based on the Model Portfolio as they deem appropriate for each Model Portfolio Program Participant. The Adviser does not control and is not aware of, any restrictions permitted or implemented by Program Sponsors or third-party managers. The Adviser is typically paid a fee based on the amount of assets of the Program Participants’ accounts that are managed pursuant to the Adviser’s Model Portfolio(s). Model Portfolios can reflect the same or similar strategies used by the Adviser in managing other advisory accounts or funds. Such a Model Portfolio could include the same or similar holdings as an advisory account or fund managed in the same strategy; however, the manner in which the Adviser executes a strategy through these programs could differ from how that same or a similar strategy is executed for a fund or an advisory client (e.g., by investing in ADRs rather than directly in the securities of an issuer) and Model Portfolios in the same or similar strategy provided to different Model Program Sponsors could differ based on the circumstances of each Model Program. The services to be performed by the Program Sponsor, the Adviser and others in these programs, and related fees and expenses charged to Program Participants, are generally detailed in the relevant agreements between or among the participants, the Model Program Sponsor or UMA Program Sponsor, as applicable, the Adviser, and/or any other parties and, where relevant the Program Sponsor’s Form ADV, Part 2A, Appendix 1 or other Program brochure for Program Sponsors that are registered as investment advisers (collectively, the “Program Documents”). The Adviser is generally not required (and generally will not) make any recommendation or determination as to the suitability of a Program for any current or prospective Program Participant. Such persons should carefully review the terms of the Program Documents with the Program Sponsor to understand the terms, services, minimum account size and any additional fees or expenses that are associated with their participation in a Program prior to making an investment decision. The Adviser does not currently participate as a manager in wrap fee programs, though it may do so in the future. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser managed approximately $70.4 billion of client assets on a discretionary basis and no assets on a non-discretionary basis.