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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 31, 2021

 

Securities Act File No. 333-148826

Investment Company Act File No. 811-22175

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-1A

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 [X]
   
Pre-Effective Amendment No. [  ]
Post Effective Amendment No. 310 [X]

 

and/or

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 [X]

 

  Amendment No. 311 [X]

 

(Check appropriate box or boxes)

 

ALPS ETF TRUST

 (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

1290 Broadway
Suite 1000
Denver, Colorado 80203

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(303) 623-2577
Registrant’s Telephone Number

 

Jennifer Craig
ALPS Fund Services, Inc.
1290 Broadway
Suite 1000
Denver, Colorado 80203

 (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

Copy to:

Adam T. Teufel, Esq.
Dechert LLP
1900 K Street, NW

Washington, D.C. 20006

 

It is proposed that this filing will become effective:

 

[  ] Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) 
[X] On September 1, 2021 pursuant to paragraph (b) 
[  ] 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) 
[  ] 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) 
[  ] On (date)  pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) 
[  ] On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.

 

If appropriate, check the following box:

 

[  ] This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment

 

 

 

September 1, 2021

 

ALPS ETF Trust

 

ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF (NYSE ARCA: JRNY)

 

An ALPS Advisors Solution

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

Table of Contents

     
Summary Section 2
Introduction—ALPS ETF Trust 5
ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF 5
Additional Information About the Fund’s Principal Investment Risks 5
Secondary Investment Strategies 6
Additional Risk Considerations 6
Investment Advisory Services 8
Purchase and Redemption of Shares 9
How to Buy and Sell Shares 9
Frequent Purchases and Redemptions 12
Fund Service Providers 12
Federal Income Taxation 12
Other Information 13
Financial Highlights 13
For More Information Back Cover

 

 

 

SUMMARY SECTION

 

ALPS GLOBAL TRAVEL BENEFICIARIES ETF (THE “FUND”)

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The Fund seeks investment results that replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the performance of the S-Network Global Travel Index (ticker symbol TRAVEL) (the “Underlying Index”).

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund (“Shares”). Investors purchasing or selling Shares in the secondary market may be subject to fees and expenses (including customary brokerage commissions) charged by their broker and other fees to financial intermediaries. These fees and expenses are not included in the expense example below.

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

   
Management Fees 0.65%
Other Expenses(1) 0.00%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.65%

 

(1) Other Expenses are estimated for the current fiscal year

 

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the costs of investing in other funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same each year.

 

  One
Year
Three
Years
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: $66 $208

 

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. Because the Fund is newly organized, there is no portfolio turnover to report.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

ALPS Advisors, Inc. (the “Adviser”) will seek investment results that replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index utilizes a rules-based methodology developed by S-Network Global Indexes Inc. (the “Index Provider”), which is designed to identify exchange-traded stocks of companies that are materially engaged in the global travel industry, including four segments: Airlines & Airport Services; Hotels, Casinos, Cruise Lines; Booking & Rental Agencies; and Ancillary Beneficiaries, which is based on the research of the Index Provider (each a “Segment” and together, the “Segments”). Companies in the Ancillary Beneficiaries Segment are those which may not be principally engaged in the global travel industry but instead are deemed to benefit from global travel. The Index Provider creates the Ancillary Beneficiaries Segment from among the companies in the SNG5500 Index that are deemed to benefit from global travel but are not in the other Segments, based on the research of the Index Provider and subject to a proprietary Ancillary Beneficiary score developed by the Index Provider, which assesses and scores companies based on their engagement with the travel industry. Examples of potential Ancillary Beneficiaries include technology companies that provide software to facilitate travel; food services companies; aircraft parts and services providers; and retailers of personal products and luxury goods associated with travel. The Underlying Index is designed to identify companies in each Segment that are recognized for their superior quality growth characteristics and allocated to represent global exposure similar to that of the S-Network Global 5500 Index (“SNG5500 Index”). The Underlying Index defines significant revenue from one of the Segments as: (1) revenues representing more than 20% of the company’s total revenues and such revenues are independently reported in the company’s financial reports, (2) applicable revenues are likely to have a material impact on the company’s overall share price performance, or (3) the company’s applicable business is likely to have a significant impact on the sector as a whole.

 

 

 

The Underlying Index is compiled by the Index Provider and may be comprised of U.S. and non-U.S. companies, including foreign and emerging markets companies. In order to be eligible for inclusion in the Underlying Index’s Index Universe (defined herein), a company’s stock must be traded on one or more major global securities exchanges and is principally engaged in or derives significant revenue from one of the Segments. In addition, a company’s stock must have a minimum market capitalization of at least $100 million, a three-month minimum average daily trading volume of $1 million, and a minimum free float factor of 18%. All equity securities meeting the above criteria are selected for inclusion in the Index Universe. From the Index Universe, the Underlying Index methodology selects and weights twenty stocks in each Segment, subject to a minimum of one constituent per geographic region (U.S. & Canada, Europe, Pacific (ex-Canada), and Emerging) and a 65% maximum weight per geographic region.

 

The Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities that comprise the Underlying Index and generally will invest in all of the securities that comprise the Underlying Index in proportion to their weightings in the Underlying Index.

 

The Underlying Index is rebalanced and reconstituted quarterly on the third Friday of the last month in each calendar quarter.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS

 

Investors should consider the following risk factors and special considerations associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause you to lose money.

 

Equity Risk. The values of equity securities, such as common stocks and preferred stock, may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, inflation (or expectations for inflation), changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. Equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities.

 

Investment Risk. An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest.

 

Market Risk. Economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one country or region will adversely impact markets or issuers in other countries or regions. The values of equity securities, such as common stocks and preferred stock, may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political and social conditions, inflation (or expectations for inflation), deflation (or expectations for deflation), changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, global demand for particular products or resources, market instability, debt crises and downgrades, embargoes, tariffs, sanctions and other trade barriers, regulatory events, other governmental trade or market control programs and related geopolitical events, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. Equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities.

 

 

 

Travel Industry Risk. The Fund is subject to investment and operational risks associated with the travel industry. Companies engaged in the travel industry may be adversely affected by a downturn in economic conditions that can result in decreased demand for travel. These companies may be significantly impacted by the performance of the overall economy, changing consumer tastes and demands, consumer discretionary income levels, intense competition, technological developments, and government regulation. Additionally, uncertainty regarding international travel and other events such as political or social violence, terrorist attacks, and biological outbreaks may significantly impact the travel and vacation industry. For example, the outbreak of COVID-19, a novel coronavirus disease, has negatively affected travel and travel-related companies throughout the world, including those companies in which the Fund invests. The effects of this pandemic to public health and business and market conditions may continue to have a significant negative impact on the performance of the Fund’s investments. The full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, or other future epidemics or pandemics, is currently unknown.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Methodology Risk. The Index Provider uses certain quantitative and qualitative methodologies to help assess the criteria of issuers to be included in the Underlying Index, including information that may be based on assumptions and estimates. Neither the Fund nor the Adviser can offer assurances that the quantitative and qualitative methodologies will provide an accurate assessment of included issuers. The Underlying Index’s natural language processing algorithm (“NLP algorithm”) may not identify companies that would otherwise have been included in the Underlying Index if the publicly available data for those companies had not used the key words analyzed by the algorithm. The NLP algorithm has a limited ability to recognize key words in context of relevant business exposure to travel, and the frequency of key words is not necessarily indicative of relevancy. In addition, the NLP algorithm may identify companies for inclusion in the Underlying Index that may derive only a small portion of revenue or profits from travel.

 

Sector Risk. Sector risk is the possibility that certain sectors of the economy may underperform other sectors or the market as a whole. The Fund may, from time to time, invest a significant portion of its assets in companies within a particular sector and its performance may suffer if that sector underperforms the overall stock market.

 

Concentration Risk. The Fund seeks to track the Underlying Index, which itself currently is concentrated in the consumer discretionary sector and the industrials sector and may have concentration in certain other industries or sectors, as well as regions, economies or markets. Underperformance or increased risk in such other concentrated areas may result in underperformance or increased risk in the Fund.

 

Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk. The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in securities issued by companies in the consumer discretionary sector in order to track the Underlying Index’s allocation to that sector. These companies may be adversely affected by fluctuations in supply and demand and changes in consumer spending.

 

Industrials Sector Risk. The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in securities issued by companies in the industrials sector in order to track the Underlying Index’s allocation to that sector. Stock prices for the types of companies included in the industrial sector are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products in general. Government regulation, world events and economic conditions, technological developments and liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities will likewise affect the performance of these companies.

 

Foreign Investment Risk. The Fund’s investments in non U.S. issuers may involve unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers, including, among others, less liquidity generally, greater market volatility than U.S. securities and less complete financial information than for U.S. issuers. In addition, adverse political, economic or social developments could undermine the value of the Fund’s investments or prevent the Fund from realizing the full value of its investments. For example, the rights and remedies associated with investments in a fund that tracks an index comprised of foreign securities may be different than a fund that tracks an index of domestic securities. Finally, the value of the currency of the country in which the Fund has invested could decline relative to the value of the U.S. dollar, which may affect the value of the investment to U.S. investors.

 

Emerging Markets Risk. Countries with emerging markets may have relatively unstable governments; may present heightened risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership, less liquidity and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets; and may have economies based on only a few industries, making them more vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions and more sensitive to debt burdens, inflation rates or adverse news and events.

 

Non-Correlation Risk. The Fund’s return may not match the return of the Underlying Index for a number of reasons, including operating expenses incurred by the Fund not applicable to the Underlying Index, costs in buying and selling securities, asset valuation differences and differences between the Fund’s portfolio and the Underlying Index resulting from legal restrictions, cash flows or operational inefficiencies.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The value of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole.

 

Small-, Mid- and Large-Capitalization Company Risk. Smaller and mid-size companies often have narrower markets, less liquidity, more limited managerial and financial resources and a less diversified product offering than larger, more established companies. As a result, their performance can be more volatile, which may increase the volatility of the Fund’s portfolio. The large capitalization companies in which the Fund invests may underperform other segments of the equity market or the equity market as a whole.

 

 

 

Underlying Segment Risk. The Fund will be exposed to the additional risks associated with its investments in companies of each Segment of the Underlying Index.

 

·Airline & Airport Services Risk. Airlines and airport service companies may be adversely affected by a downturn in economic conditions. Due to the discretionary nature of business and leisure travel spending, coupled with the high debt and cost structure of the airline industry, a downturn in economic conditions of the U.S. economy and economies in other regions of the world that results in decreased demand for air travel may significantly and negatively affect the revenues and profitability of airlines and airport service companies. Airlines may also be significantly affected by changes in fuel prices, which may be very volatile. Due to the competitive nature of this industry, such companies may not be able to pass on increased fuel prices to customers by increasing fares. Airlines may also be significantly affected by the imposition of tariffs and/or changes in labor relations, insurance costs, and the imposition by the United States or other countries of taxes, tariffs or regulations applicable to airline travel, aircraft manufacturing, or aircraft sales. The trend in the United States has been to deregulate the transportation industry, which could have a favorable long-term effect, but future government decisions could adversely affect companies in this industry. Airlines may also be highly dependent on aircraft or related equipment from a small number of suppliers, and consequently, issues affecting the availability, reliability, safety, or longevity of such aircraft or equipment (e.g., the inability of a supplier to meet aircraft demand or the grounding of an aircraft due to safety concerns) may have a significant effect on the operations and profitability of airlines. Airlines are subject to various risks that may cause significant losses, which include risks related to uncertainty in travel (due to global, regional or local events), passenger safety, security, and privacy, changing consumer demands, shortages of experienced personnel, consumer perception of risk (for example, due to terrorist attacks, pandemics, and political or social violence), and changing or increased regulations.

 

·Hotels, Casinos and Cruise Line Risk. Hotels, casinos and cruise lines may be adversely affected by a downturn in economic conditions. Due to the discretionary nature of leisure spending, coupled with the high debt and cost structure of the hotel, casino and cruise line industries, a downturn in economic conditions of the U.S. economy and economies in other regions of the world that results in decreased demand for these accommodations may significantly and negatively affect the revenues and profitability of these industries. These companies may also be significantly affected by changes in labor relations, insurance costs, and the imposition of taxes, tariffs or regulations applicable to hospitality services and the purchase or sale of hotels or real estate, cruises, ship manufacturing or ship sales. Cruise line companies may also be significantly affected by changes in fuel prices, which may be very volatile. Due to the competitive nature of this industry, such companies may not be able to pass on increased prices to customers by increasing fares. Companies in these industries are subject to various risks that may cause significant losses, which includes risks related to uncertainty in travel (due to global, regional or local events), guest safety, security, and privacy, changing consumer demands, shortages of experienced personnel, consumer perception of risk (for example, due to terrorist attacks, pandemics, and political or social violence), and changing or increased regulations.

 

·Booking & Rental Agencies Risk. The booking and rental agency industry is highly competitive and relies heavily on consumer spending for success. The prices of securities of companies in this industry may fluctuate widely due to general economic conditions, consumer spending and the availability of disposable income, changing consumer tastes and preferences and consumer demographics. Companies involved in this industry may also be affected by the availability and expense of liability insurance. Legislative or regulatory changes and increased government supervision also may affect companies in the industry.

 

Index Management Risk. Unlike many investment companies, the Fund is not “actively” managed. Therefore, it would not necessarily sell a security because the security’s issuer was in financial trouble unless that security is removed from the Underlying Index.

 

New Fund Risk. The Fund currently has fewer assets than larger funds, and like other relatively new funds, large inflows and outflows may impact the Fund’s market exposure for limited periods of time. This impact may be positive or negative, depending on the direction of market movement during the period affected.

 

Fluctuation of Net Asset Value. The net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund’s Shares will generally fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s holdings. The market prices of the Shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in NAV as well as the relative supply of and demand for the Shares on the listing exchange. The Adviser cannot predict whether the Shares will trade below, at or above their NAV.

 

FUND PERFORMANCE

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund has not yet commenced investment operations. When the Fund has completed a full calendar year of investment operations, this section will include charts that show annual total returns, highest and lowest quarterly returns and average annual total returns (before and after taxes) compared to the Underlying Index and a benchmark index selected for the Fund. Updated performance information, when available, will be available online at www.alpfunds.com or by calling 855.724.0450.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

 

ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“ALPS Advisors” or the “Adviser”) is the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

Ryan Mischker, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management & Research, and Andrew Hicks, Senior Vice President of Index Management of ALPS Advisors, Inc., are responsible for the day to day management of the Fund. Mr. Mischker and Mr. Hicks have each served in such capacity since inception of the Fund.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

Individual Shares may only be purchased and sold in secondary market transactions through a broker or dealer at a market price. Shares are listed for trading on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol JRNY and, because Shares trade at market prices rather than NAV, Shares may trade at a price greater than or less than NAV.

 

An investor may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Shares of the Fund (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Shares (ask) when buying or selling Shares in the secondary market (the “bid/ask spread”).

 

Recent information, including information about the Fund’s NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and the bid/ask spreads, is included on the Fund’s website at www.alpsfunds.com.

 

 

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The Fund’s distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

 

PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

If you purchase Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the Adviser or other related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Shares or related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

INTRODUCTION—ALPS ETF TRUST

 

ALPS ETF Trust (the “Trust”) is an investment company consisting of multiple separate exchange-traded funds. This Prospectus relates to the ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF. ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“ALPS Advisors”) is the investment adviser for the Fund (the “Adviser”).

 

The Fund’s shares (the “Shares”) are listed on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca”). The Fund’s Shares trade at market prices that may differ from the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Shares. Unlike mutual funds, the Fund issues and redeems Shares on a continuous basis, at NAV, only in large specified blocks of Shares, each of which is called a “Creation Unit.” Creation Units are issued and redeemed principally in-kind and/or for cash. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, Shares are not redeemable by the Fund.

 

 

 

ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks investment results that replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the performance of the S-Network Global Travel Index (the “Underlying Index”). The Board of Trustees of the Trust may change the Fund’s investment objective and other non-fundamental policies without shareholder approval. The Fund has adopted a policy that requires the Fund to provide shareholders with at least 60 days’ notice prior to any material change in the Fund’s investment objective.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

The Board of Trustees may change the Fund’s investment strategy and non-fundamental policies without shareholder approval, except as otherwise indicated.

 

Underlying Index Construction

 

The Underlying Index utilizes a rules-based methodology developed by S-Network Global Indexes Inc. (the “Index Provider”), which is designed to identify exchange-traded stocks of companies that are materially engaged in the global travel industry, including four segments: Airlines & Airport Services; Hotels, Casinos, Cruise Lines; Booking & Rental Agencies; and Ancillary Beneficiaries, which is based on the research of the Index Provider (each a “Segment” and together, the “Segments”). Companies in the Ancillary Beneficiaries Segment are those which may not be principally engaged in the global travel industry but instead are deemed to benefit from global travel. The Index Provider creates the Ancillary Beneficiaries Segment from among the companies in the SNG5500 Index that are deemed to benefit from global travel but are not in the other Segments, based on the research of the Index Provider and subject to a proprietary Ancillary Beneficiary score developed by the Index Provider, which assesses and scores companies based on their engagement with the travel industry. Examples of potential beneficiaries include technology companies that provide software to facilitate travel; food services companies; aircraft parts and services providers; and retailers of personal products and luxury goods associated with travel. The Underlying Index is designed to identify companies in each Segment that are recognized for their superior quality growth characteristics and allocated to represent regional exposure similar to that of the S-Network Global 5500 Index (“SNG5500 Index”). The Underlying Index defines significant revenue from one of the Segments as: (1) revenues representing more than 20% of the company’s total revenues and such revenues are independently reported in the company’s financial reports, (2) applicable revenues are likely to have a material impact on the company’s overall share price performance, or (3) the company’s applicable business is likely to have a significant impact on the sector as a whole.

 

The Underlying Index is compiled by the Index Provider and may be comprised of U.S. and non-U.S. companies, including foreign and emerging markets companies. In order to be eligible for inclusion in the Underlying Index’s Index Universe, a company’s stock must be traded on one or more major global securities exchanges and is principally engaged in or derives significant revenue from one of the Segments. In addition, a company’s stock must have a minimum market capitalization of at least $100 million, a three-month minimum average daily trading volume of $1 million, and a minimum free float factor of 18%. All equity securities meeting the above criteria are selected for inclusion in the index universe (“Index Universe”). From the Index Universe, the Underlying Index methodology selects and weights twenty stocks in each Segment, subject to a minimum of one constituent per geographic region (U.S. & Canada, Europe, Pacific (ex-Canada), and Emerging) and a 65% maximum weight per geographic region.

.

 

 

From among stocks that meet the above requirements, Underlying Index constituents are selected by ranking of their quality- and growth-modified float market capitalizations using the following steps:

 

1)Calculate the company’s quality score (“Quality Score”)
a.Calculate the ratio of free cash flow to revenue for each of the last five years
b.Calculate the arithmetic average of the five values from (a)
c.Calculate the z-score of (b) relative to the other companies’ averages
d.Calculate the s-score of the z-score from (c) — i.e., the cumulative probability of the z-score, assuming a normal distribution
e.In cases of missing or erroneous data, set the s-score to zero

 

2)Calculate the company’s growth score (“Growth Score”)
a.Calculate the future short-term growth in earnings per share
b.Subtract the one-year-prior earnings per share (“EPS”) from the one-year-forward EPS estimate
c.Divide the difference from (b) by the absolute value of the one-year-prior EPS
d.Calculate the z-score of (c) relative to the other companies’ values
e.Calculate the s-score of the z-score from (d)
f.In cases of missing or erroneous data, set the s-score to zero

 

3)Calculate the company’s Quality/Growth Score:

4)Modify the stock’s float-adjusted market capitalization by multiplying by its Quality/Growth Score
5)Select for inclusion in the Underlying Index the top 20 eligible stocks in each segment by modified float market capitalization from (4), subject to a minimum of one constituent in the Underlying Index per region. If the minimum is not met initially for a region, then select the eligible stock with the greatest modified float market capitalization from that region and include it in its relevant Segment, replacing the lowest-ranking stock in that Segment from the initial selection, if needed.

 

The selected constituents are weighted as follows:

1)Calculate a new quality- and growth-modified float market capitalization for each constituent using its Quality/Growth Score from the selection process together with its float-adjusted market capitalization as of the close of trading on the day prior to the second Friday of the rebalancing month (the “Weight Date”).
2)Calculate interim within-region weights for all the constituents within each of four regions — US & Canada, Europe, Pacific (ex-Canada), and Emerging — based on the constituents’ new modified float market caps from (1) and S-Network Country assignments
3)Set each region’s total weight to the corresponding region’s weight in the SNG5500 Index, subject to a cap of 65% weight per region, with Canada shifted from the SNG5500 Index’s Pacific region to form the “US & Canada” region
4)Limit the individual constituents’ Underlying Index weights to a maximum of 4.5% and a minimum of 0.25%
5)Redistribute any excess weight from (4) proportionally within the region(s) of the stocks whose weights were limited

 

 

 

The constituents in the Underlying Index will be selected based on prices as of the close of trading on the Weight Date.

 

For purposes of the geographic region weightings, the Underlying Index assigns companies to a country, as follows:

 

1) If “country of domicile” and “country of incorporation” are the same, the company country classification is determined as country of incorporation. (Country of incorporation defines legal and regulatory jurisdiction; country of domicile reflects where the senior management is located.)

 

2) If they do not match and the “country of incorporation” is a country of convenience, then the country assignment is the country of domicile as long as it is not also a country of convenience.

 

3) If a company fails the tests in 2, then the “country of primary listing” is used, provided more than 30% of the company’s revenues are generated in the same location/region as that of the country of primary listing.

 

4) If a company then fails test 3, then the company’s country classification is determined as the country in which the greatest percentage of its revenue is generated.

 

The Underlying Index is rebalanced and reconstituted quarterly on the third Friday of the last month in each calendar quarter. Underlying Index changes take place at each rebalancing date, except in the event of certain corporate actions, such as mergers, acquisitions, and delistings. In such cases, the change is applied on the effective date of the action, unless otherwise determined by the Index Provider. Share increases and decreases are reflected on the rebalancing date. Additions and deletions to the Underlying Index are made 1) at the close of trading on the quarterly reconstitution date and 2) in the event of the deletion of a constituent stock due to a corporate action. When a stock is deleted, a replacement will be added on the next rebalancing date.

 

The Underlying Index was developed by the Index Provider with an inception date of March 15, 2019. The Index Provider serves as calculation agent. Underlying Index values are distributed to the public via the Chicago Mercantile Exchange throughout the day, between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern time the following day, at 15 second intervals under the symbol “TRAVEL.” The Index Provider is not affiliated with the Adviser.

 

Additional Information About the Fund’s Principal Investment Risks

 

Investors should consider the following additional information about the Fund’s principal investment risks.

 

Equity Risk. The values of equity securities, such as common stocks and preferred stock, may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, inflation (or expectations for inflation), changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. Equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities.

 

Investment Risk. An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest.

 

Market Risk. Economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one country or region will adversely impact markets or issuers in other countries or regions. A principal risk of investing in the Fund is market risk, which is the risk that the value of the securities held by the Fund will fall due to general market, economic, political and social conditions, perceptions regarding the industries in which the issuers of securities held by the Fund participate, or factors relating to specific companies in which the Fund invests. For example, an adverse event, such as an unfavorable earnings report, may depress the value of equity securities of an issuer held by the Fund; the price of common stock of an issuer may be particularly sensitive to general movements in the stock market; or a drop in the stock market may depress the price of most or all of the common stocks and other equity securities held by the Fund. Securities in the Fund’s portfolio may underperform in comparison to securities in general financial markets, a particular financial market or other asset classes due to a number of factors, including inflation (or expectations for inflation), deflation (or expectations for deflation), interest rates, global demand for particular products or resources, market instability, debt crises and downgrades, embargoes, tariffs, sanctions and other trade barriers, regulatory events, other governmental trade or market control programs and related geopolitical events. In addition, the value of the Fund’s investments may be negatively affected by the occurrence of global events such as war, terrorism, environmental disasters, natural disasters or events, country instability, and infectious disease epidemics or pandemics.

 

 

 

For example, the outbreak of COVID-19, a novel coronavirus disease, has negatively affected economies, markets and individual companies throughout the world, including those in which the Fund invests. The effects of this pandemic to public health and business and market conditions, including exchange trading suspensions and closures may continue to have a significant negative impact on the performance of the Fund’s investments, increase the Fund’s volatility, negatively impact the Fund’s arbitrage and pricing mechanisms, exacerbate pre-existing political, social and economic risks to the Fund, and negatively impact broad segments of businesses and populations. The Fund’s operations may be interrupted as a result, which may contribute to the negative impact on investment performance. In addition, governments, their regulatory agencies, or self-regulatory organizations may take actions in response to the pandemic that affect the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that could have a significant negative impact on the Fund’s investment performance. The full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, or other future epidemics or pandemics, is currently unknown.

 

In addition, common stock of an issuer in the Fund’s portfolio may decline in price if the issuer fails to make anticipated dividend payments because, among other reasons, the issuer of the security experiences a decline in its financial condition. Common stock is subordinated to preferred stocks, bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure, in terms of priority to corporate income, and therefore will be subject to greater dividend risk than preferred stocks or debt instruments of such issuers. While broad market measures of common stocks have historically generated higher average returns than fixed income securities, common stocks have also experienced significantly more volatility in those returns.

 

Travel Industry Risk. The Fund is subject to investment and operational risks associated with the travel industry. Companies engaged in the travel industry may be adversely affected by a downturn in economic conditions that can result in decreased demand for travel. These companies may be significantly impacted by the performance of the overall economy, changing consumer tastes and demands, consumer discretionary income levels, intense competition, technological developments, and government regulation. Additionally, uncertainty regarding international travel and other events such as political or social violence, terrorist attacks, and biological outbreaks may significantly impact the travel and vacation industry. Beginning in the first quarter of 2020, financial markets in the United States and around the world experienced extreme, and in many cases unprecedented, volatility and severe losses due to the global pandemic caused by COVID-19. The pandemic has resulted in a wide range of social and economic disruptions, including closed borders and reduced, or prohibited, domestic or international travel. Some sectors of the economy and individual issuers, including travel-related companies, have experienced particularly large losses. Such disruptions may continue for an extended period of time or reoccur in the future to a similar or greater extent. Conversely, travel-related companies may outperform in the near-term as the effects of the global pandemic recede due to pent-up demand from consumers of travel-related products and services, and such outperformance may not be sustainable over the medium- to long-term.

 

 

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Methodology Risk. The Index Provider uses certain quantitative and qualitative methodologies to help assess the criteria of issuers to be included in the Underlying Index, including information that may be based on assumptions and estimates, as well as proprietary analytical methods that may not perform as intended. The Underlying Index’s natural language processing algorithm (“NLP algorithm”) may not identify companies that would otherwise have been included in the Underlying Index if the publicly available data for those companies had not used the key words analyzed by the algorithm. The NLP algorithm has a limited ability to recognize key words in context of relevant business exposure to travel, and the frequency of key words is not necessarily indicative of relevancy. In addition, the NLP algorithm may identify companies for inclusion in the Underlying Index that may derive only a small portion of revenue or profits from travel.

 

There is no assurance that the calculation methodology or sources of information will provide an accurate assessment of the Index’s companies or that the Index will identify all travel-related companies. Errors in Underlying Index data, Underlying Index computations or the construction of the Underlying Index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, which may have an adverse impact on the Fund and its shareholders.

 

Neither the Fund nor the Adviser can offer assurances that the quantitative and qualitative methodologies will provide an accurate assessment of included issuers.

 

Sector Risk. Sector risk is the possibility that certain sectors of the economy may underperform other sectors or the market as a whole. The Fund may, from time to time, invest a significant portion of its assets in companies within a particular sector and its performance may suffer if that sector underperforms the overall stock market.

 

Concentration Risk. The Fund seeks to track the Underlying Index, which itself currently is concentrated in the consumer discretionary sector and the industrials sector and may have concentration in certain other industries or sectors, as well as regions, economies or markets. Underperformance or increased risk in such other concentrated areas may result in underperformance or increased risk in the Fund.

 

Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk. Companies engaged in the consumer discretionary sector are subject to fluctuations in supply and demand. These companies may also be adversely affected by changes in consumer spending as a result of world events, political and economic conditions, commodity price volatility, changes in exchange rates, imposition of import controls, increased competition, depletion of resources and labor relations.

 

Industrials Sector Risk. Stock prices for the types of companies included in the industrials sector are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrials sector products in general. Government regulation, world events and economic conditions, technological developments and liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities will likewise affect the performance of these companies. Aerospace and defense companies, a component of the industrial sector, can be significantly affected by government spending policies because companies involved in this industry rely to a significant extent on U.S. and foreign government demand for their products and services. Thus, the financial condition of, and investor interest in, aerospace and defense companies are heavily influenced by governmental defense spending policies which are typically under pressure from efforts to control the U.S. (and other) government budgets. Transportation stocks, a component of the industrials sector, are cyclical and have occasional sharp price movements which may result from changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor agreement and insurance costs.

 

 

 

Foreign Investment Risk. The Fund’s investments in non U.S. issuers may involve unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers, including, among others, less liquidity generally, greater market volatility than U.S. securities and less complete financial information than for U.S. issuers. In addition, adverse political, economic or social developments could undermine the value of the Fund’s investments or prevent the Fund from realizing the full value of its investments. For example, the rights and remedies associated with investments in a fund that tracks an index comprised of foreign securities may be different than a fund that tracks an index of domestic securities. Finally, the value of the currency of the country in which the Fund has invested could decline relative to the value of the U.S. dollar, which may affect the value of the investment to U.S. investors.

 

Emerging Markets Risk. The Fund is subject to emerging markets risk. Emerging market countries are countries that major international financial institutions, such as the World Bank, generally consider to be less economically mature than developed nations. Emerging market countries can include every nation in the world except the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and most countries located in Western Europe. Investing in foreign countries, particularly emerging market countries, entails the risk that news and events unique to a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers. Countries with emerging markets may have relatively unstable governments, may present the risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets. The economies of emerging markets countries also may be based on only a few industries, making them more vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, including sanctions and other trade barriers, and more sensitive to debt burdens or inflation rates. Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible at times. Certain investments may take more than seven days to settle. To the extent a substantial portion of the Fund’s Underlying Index consists of securities from underlying issuers located in particular geographic areas, natural disasters, such as volcano eruptions, tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, typhoons, epidemics or other such events, could have significant impact on the performance and/or risk of the Fund.

 

Non-Correlation Risk. The Fund’s return may not match the return of the Underlying Index for a number of reasons, including operating expenses incurred by the Fund not applicable to the Underlying Index, costs in buying and selling securities, asset valuation differences and differences between the Fund’s portfolio and the Underlying Index resulting from legal restrictions, cash flows or operational inefficiencies. Tax withholdings imposed by foreign countries may also contribute to differences between the Fund’s return and the return of the Underlying Index.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The value of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole.

 

Small-, Mid-, and Large Capitalization Company Risk. Investing in securities of smaller and medium capitalization companies involves greater risk than customarily is associated with investing in larger, more established companies. A small capitalization is defined as a company with market capitalization between $300 million and $2 billion. A medium capitalization company is defined as a company with a market capitalization between $2 billion and $10 billion. These companies’ securities may be more volatile and less liquid than those of more established companies. These securities may have returns that vary, sometimes significantly, from the overall securities market. Often small and medium capitalization companies and the industries in which they focus are still evolving and, as a result, they may be more sensitive to changing market conditions. The large capitalization companies in which the Fund invests may underperform other segments of the equity market or the equity market as a whole.

 

 

 

Underlying Segment Risk. The Fund will be exposed to the additional risks associated with its investments in companies of each Segment of the Underlying Index.

 

Airline & Airport Services Risk. Airlines and airport service companies may be adversely affected by a downturn in economic conditions. Due to the discretionary nature of business and leisure travel spending, coupled with the high debt and cost structure of the airline industry, a downturn in economic conditions of the U.S. economy and economies in other regions of the world that results in decreased demand for air travel may significantly and negatively affect the revenues and profitability of airlines and airport service companies. Airlines may also be significantly affected by changes in fuel prices, which may be very volatile. Due to the competitive nature of this industry, such companies may not be able to pass on increased fuel prices to customers by increasing fares. Airlines may also be significantly affected by the imposition of tariffs and/or changes in labor relations, insurance costs, and the imposition by the United States or other countries of taxes, tariffs or regulations applicable to airline travel, aircraft manufacturing, or aircraft sales. The trend in the United States has been to deregulate the transportation industry, which could have a favorable long-term effect, but future government decisions could adversely affect companies in this industry. Airlines may also be highly dependent on aircraft or related equipment from a small number of suppliers, and consequently, issues affecting the availability, reliability, safety, or longevity of such aircraft or equipment (e.g., the inability of a supplier to meet aircraft demand or the grounding of an aircraft due to safety concerns) may have a significant effect on the operations and profitability of airlines. Airlines are subject to various risks that may cause significant losses, which include risks related to uncertainty in travel (due to global, regional or local events), passenger safety, security, and privacy, changing consumer demands, shortages of experienced personnel, consumer perception of risk (for example, due to terrorist attacks, pandemics, and political or social violence), and changing or increased regulations.

 

Hotels, Casinos and Cruise Line Risk. Hotels, casinos and cruise lines may be adversely affected by a downturn in economic conditions. Due to the discretionary nature of leisure spending, coupled with the high debt and cost structure of the hotel, casino and cruise line industries, a downturn in economic conditions of the U.S. economy and economies in other regions of the world that results in decreased demand for these accommodations may significantly and negatively affect the revenues and profitability of these industries. These companies may also be significantly affected by changes in labor relations, insurance costs, and the imposition of taxes, tariffs or regulations applicable to hospitality services and the purchase or sale of hotels or real estate, cruises, ship manufacturing or ship sales. Cruise line companies may also be significantly affected by changes in fuel prices, which may be very volatile. Due to the competitive nature of this industry, such companies may not be able to pass on increased prices to customers by increasing fares. Companies in these industries are subject to various risks that may cause significant losses, which includes risks related to uncertainty in travel (due to global, regional or local events), guest safety, security, and privacy, changing consumer demands, shortages of experienced personnel, consumer perception of risk (for example, due to terrorist attacks, pandemics, and political or social violence), and changing or increased regulations.

 

Booking & Rental Agencies Risk. The booking and rental agency industry is highly competitive and relies heavily on consumer spending for success. The prices of securities of companies in this industry may fluctuate widely due to general economic conditions, consumer spending and the availability of disposable income, changing consumer tastes and preferences and consumer demographics. Companies involved in this industry may also be affected by the availability and expense of liability insurance. Legislative or regulatory changes and increased government supervision also may affect companies in the industry.

 

 

 

Index Management Risk. Unlike many investment companies, the Fund is not “actively” managed. Therefore, it would not necessarily sell a security because the security’s issuer was in financial trouble unless that security is removed from the Underlying Index.

 

New Fund Risk. The Fund currently has fewer assets than larger funds, and like other relatively new funds, large inflows and outflows may impact the Fund’s market exposure for limited periods of time. This impact may be positive or negative, depending on the direction of market movement during the period affected.

 

Fluctuation of Net Asset Value. The NAV of the Fund’s Shares will generally fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s holdings. The market prices of the Shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in NAV as well as the relative supply of and demand for the Shares on the NYSE Arca. The Adviser cannot predict whether the Shares will trade below, at or above their NAV. Price differences may be due, in large part, to the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for the Shares will be closely related to, but not identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of the Fund’s holdings trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time. In addition, transactions by large shareholders may account for a large percentage of the trading volume on the NYSE Arca and may, therefore, have a material effect on the market price of the Fund’s Shares.

 

Secondary Investment Strategies

 

As a principal investment strategy, the Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its net assets in component securities that comprise the Underlying Index. As a non-principal investment strategy, the Fund may invest its remaining assets in other instruments in seeking performance that corresponds to the Underlying Index, and to manage cash flows. Such instruments may include American Depositary Receipts, money market instruments, including repurchase agreements or other funds which invest exclusively in money market instruments, convertible securities, structured notes (notes on which the amount of principal repayment and interest payments are based on the movement of one or more specified factors, such as the movement of a particular stock or stock index), and in swaps, options and futures contracts. The Adviser anticipates that it may take approximately two business days (i.e., each day the NYSE is open) for additions and deletions to the Underlying Index to be reflected in the portfolio composition of the Fund.

 

The Fund may borrow money from a bank up to a limit of 10% of the value of its assets, but only for temporary or emergency purposes. The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions desiring to borrow securities to complete transactions and for other purposes. In connection with such loans, the Fund receives liquid collateral equal to at least 102% of the value of the portfolio securities being lent. This collateral is marked to market on a daily basis, and will be maintained in an amount equal to at least 100% of the value of the portfolio securities being lent.

 

The Fund operates as an index fund and is not actively managed. The Fund employs a “passive management” – or indexing – investment to seek investment results that correspond generally, before fees and expenses to the performance of the Underlying Index. Because the Fund uses a passive management approach to seek to achieve its investment objective, the Fund does not take temporary defensive positions during periods of adverse market, economic or other conditions.

 

Under normal conditions, the Fund generally will invest in all of the securities that comprise the Underlying Index in proportion to their weightings in the Underlying Index; however, under various circumstances, it may not be possible or practicable to purchase all of the securities in the Underlying Index in those weightings. In those circumstances, the Fund may purchase a sample of the securities in the Underlying Index or utilize various combinations of other available investment techniques in seeking performance which corresponds to the performance of the Underlying Index. The Fund seeks to track the Underlying Index, which itself may be concentrated in certain industries or sectors. As a result, the Fund will also be concentrated to the extent the Underlying Index is so concentrated. The Fund may sell securities that are represented in the Underlying Index or purchase securities that are not yet represented in the Underlying Index in anticipation of their removal from or addition to the Underlying Index.

 

 

 

The investment objective and policies described herein constitute non-fundamental policies that may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Certain other fundamental policies of the Fund are set forth in the Statement of Additional Information under “Investment Restrictions.”

 

Additional Risk Considerations

 

In addition to the risks described previously, there are certain other risks related to investing in the Fund.

 

Trading Issues. Trading in Shares on the NYSE Arca may also be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the NYSE Arca, make trading in Shares inadvisable. In addition, trading in Shares on the NYSE Arca is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to the NYSE Arca “Circuit breaker” rules. If a trading halt or unanticipated early closing of NYSE Arca occurs, a shareholder may be unable to purchase or sell Shares of the Fund. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the NYSE Arca necessary to maintain the listing of the Fund will continue to be met or will remain unchanged.

 

While the creation/redemption feature is designed to help the Shares trade close to the Fund’s NAV, market prices are not expected to correlate exactly to the Fund’s NAV due to timing reasons, supply and demand imbalances and other factors. In addition, disruptions to creations and redemptions, adverse developments impacting market makers, authorized participants or other market participants, high market volatility or lack of an active trading market for the Shares (including through a trading halt) may result in market prices for Shares of the Fund that differ significantly from its NAV or to the intraday value of the Fund’s holdings. If an investor purchases Shares at a time when the market price is at a premium to the NAV of the Shares or sells at a time when the market price is at a discount to the NAV of the Shares, then the investor may sustain losses.

 

When you buy or sell Shares of the Fund through a broker, you will likely incur a brokerage commission or other charges imposed by brokers. In addition, the market price of Shares, like the price of any exchange-traded security, includes a “bid/ask spread” charged by the market makers or other participants that trade the particular security. The spread of the Fund’s Shares varies over time based on the Fund’s trading volume and market liquidity and may increase if the Fund’s trading volume, the spread of the Fund’s underlying securities, or market liquidity decrease. In times of severe market disruption, including when trading of the Fund’s holdings may be halted, the bid/ask spread may increase significantly. This means that Shares may trade at a discount to the Fund’s NAV, and the discount is likely to be greatest during significant market volatility. During such periods, you may be unable to sell your Shares or may incur significant losses if you sell your Shares. There are various methods by which investors can purchase and sell shares of the Fund and various orders that may be placed. Investors should consult their financial intermediary before purchasing or selling shares of the Fund.

 

Shareholder Risk. Certain shareholders, including other funds advised by the Adviser, may from time to time own a substantial amount of the Fund’s Shares. In addition, a third party investor, the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser, an authorized participant, a market maker or another entity may invest in the Fund and hold its investment for a limited period of time. There can be no assurance that any large shareholder would not redeem its investment. Redemptions by shareholders could have a negative impact on the Fund. In addition, transactions by large shareholders may account for a large percentage of the trading volume on the Fund’s listing exchange and may, therefore, have a material effect on the market price of the Shares.

 

 

 

Authorized Participant Concentration Risk. Only an authorized participant may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with the Fund. The Fund has a limited number of intermediaries that act as authorized participants, and none of these authorized participants are or will be obligated to engage in creation or redemption transactions. To the extent that these intermediaries exit the business or are unable to or choose not to proceed with creation and/or redemption orders (including in situations where authorized participants have limited or diminished access to capital required to post collateral), with respect to the Fund and no other authorized participant is able to step forward to create or redeem, Shares may trade at a discount to NAV and possibly face trading halts and/or delisting (that is, investors would no longer be able to trade shares in the secondary market). The authorized participant concentration risk may be heightened in scenarios where authorized participants have limited or diminished access to the capital required to post collateral.

 

No Guarantee of Active Trading Market Risk. While Shares are listed on NYSE Arca, there can be no assurance that active trading markets for the Shares will be maintained by market makers or authorized participants. Decisions by market makers or authorized participants to reduce their role or “step away” from these activities in times of market stress may inhibit the effectiveness of the arbitrage process in maintaining the relationship between the underlying value of the Fund’s holdings and the Fund’s NAV. Such reduced effectiveness could result in the Fund’s Shares trading at a discount to its NAV and also in greater than normal intraday bid/ask spreads for the Fund’s Shares. Additionally, in stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings. This adverse effect on liquidity for the Fund’s shares in turn could lead to differences between the market price of shares and underlying value of those shares.

 

Securities Lending. Although the Fund will receive collateral in connection with all loans of its securities holdings, the Fund would be exposed to a risk of loss should a borrower default on its obligation to return the borrowed securities (e.g., the loaned securities may have appreciated beyond the value of the collateral held by the Fund). In the event of a bankruptcy of the borrower, the Fund could experience losses or delays in recovering the loaned securities. Loans of securities also involve a risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities or deliver the proper amount of collateral, which may result in a loss to the Fund. In addition, the Fund will bear the risk of loss of any cash collateral that it invests.

 

Operational Risk. The Fund is exposed to operational risk arising from a number of factors, including, but not limited to, human error, processing and communication errors, errors of the Fund’s service providers, counterparties or other third-parties, failed or inadequate processes and technology or system failures. The Fund seeks to reduce these operational risks through controls and procedures. However, these measures do not address every possible risk and may be inadequate for those risks that they are intended to address.

 

These risks are described further in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Investment Advisory Services

 

Investment Adviser

ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“ALPS Advisors” or the “Adviser”) acts as the Fund’s investment adviser pursuant to an advisory agreement with the Trust on behalf of the Fund (the “Advisory Agreement”). The Adviser, located at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203, is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser. As of December 31, 2020, the Adviser provided supervisory and management services on approximately $14.9 billion assets through closed-end funds, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser manages the investment and reinvestment of the Fund’s assets and administers the affairs of the Fund subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees.

 

 

 

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser a unitary fee for the services and facilities it provides payable on a monthly basis at the annual rate of 0.65% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. From time to time, the Adviser may waive all or a portion of its fee. The Adviser’s unitary management fee is designed to pay substantially all the Fund’s expenses and to compensate the Adviser for providing services for the Fund.

 

Out of the unitary management fee, the Adviser pays substantially all expenses of the Fund, including the cost of sub-advisory, transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit, trustees and other services, except for interest expenses, distribution fees or expenses, brokerage expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses such as litigation and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business.

 

The Fund enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Fund’s investment adviser, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of those contractual arrangements.

 

This Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information provide information concerning the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Fund. The Fund may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this Prospectus nor the Statement of Additional Information is intended to give rise to any contract rights or other rights in any shareholder, other than any rights conferred by federal or state securities laws.

 

Approval of Advisory Agreement

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Advisory Agreement will be available in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders for the period ending November 30, 2021.

 

Manager of Managers Structure

The Trust and the Adviser operate under a manager-of-managers structure under an order issued by the SEC (the “Order”). The Order permits the Adviser to enter into, terminate or materially amend sub-advisory agreements without shareholder approval. This means the Adviser has the ultimate responsibility, subject to oversight by the Board of Trustees, to oversee a sub-adviser and recommend the hiring, termination and replacement of a sub-adviser.

 

The Trust will furnish to shareholders of the Fund all information about a new sub-adviser or sub-advisory agreement that would be included in an information statement within 90 days after the addition of the new sub-adviser or the implementation of any material change in the sub-advisory agreement. The Order enables the Fund to operate with greater efficiency and without incurring the expense and delays associated with obtaining further shareholder approval of sub-advisory agreements. The Order does not permit investment advisory fees paid by a Fund to be increased or change the Adviser’s obligation under the Advisory Agreement, including the Adviser’s responsibility to monitor and oversee sub-advisory services furnished to a Fund, without further shareholder approval. Pursuant to the Order, the Adviser is not required to disclose its contractual fee arrangement with any sub-adviser.

 

The Adviser will not enter into a sub-advisory agreement with any sub-adviser that is an affiliated person, as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”), of the Trust or the Adviser other than by reason of serving as a sub-adviser to one or more funds without such agreement, including the compensation to be paid thereunder, being approved by the shareholders of the Fund. The Adviser compensates each sub-adviser out of its management fee.

 

 

 

Portfolio Management

Ryan Mischker is Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management & Research of ALPS Advisors, and has been a Portfolio Manager for the Fund since its inception in 2018. Prior to joining ALPS Advisors, Mr. Mischker served as Compliance Manager of ALPS Fund Services, Inc., where he was primarily responsible for managing all post-trade monitoring for IRS, SEC and registration statement investment guidelines and restrictions. Mr. Mischker has over 20 years of financial services experience and graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a B.S. in Finance and B.A. in Economics.

 

Mr. Hicks is Senior Vice President of Index Management at ALPS Advisors and has been a Portfolio Manager of the Funds since June 2018. He joined the firm as a Portfolio Manager in 2015. Prior to ALPS, Mr. Hicks was a senior equity trader and global research analyst with Virtus Investment Partners and SCM Advisors, an affiliate of Virtus. Mr. Hicks began his career in semiconductor equity research at Citi, and he earned an accounting degree from Miami University (Ohio) while interning each summer on the American Stock Exchange in New York City.

 

The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the portfolio managers’ compensation structure, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities of the Fund.

 

Purchase and Redemption of Shares

 

General

The Shares are issued or redeemed by the Fund at NAV per Share only in Creation Unit size. See “How to Buy and Sell Shares.”

 

Most investors buy and sell Shares of the Fund in secondary market transactions through brokers. Shares of the Fund are listed for trading in the secondary market on the NYSE Arca. Shares can be bought and sold throughout the trading day like other publicly traded shares. There is no minimum investment. Although Shares are generally purchased and sold in “round lots” of 100 Shares, brokerage firms typically permit investors to purchase or sell Shares in smaller “odd lots,” at no per share price differential. When buying or selling Shares through a broker, you will incur customary brokerage commissions and charges, and you may pay some or all of the spread between the bid and the offered price in the secondary market on each leg of a round trip (purchase and sale) transaction. The Fund trades on the NYSE Arca at prices that may differ to varying degrees from the daily NAV of the Shares. Given that the Fund’s Shares can be issued and redeemed in Creation Units, large discounts and premiums to NAV should not be sustained for long. The Fund trades under the NYSE Arca ticker symbol JRNY.

 

Share prices are reported in dollars and cents per Share.

 

Investors may acquire Shares directly from the Fund, and shareholders may tender their Shares for redemption directly to the Fund, only in Creation Units, as discussed in the “How to Buy and Sell Shares” section below.

 

Book-Entry

Shares are held in book-entry form, which means that no stock certificates are issued. The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee is the record owner of all outstanding Shares of the Fund and is recognized as the owner of all Shares for all purposes (except for tax purposes).

 

Investors owning Shares are beneficial owners as shown on the records of DTC or its participants. DTC serves as the securities depository for all Shares. Participants in DTC include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other institutions that directly or indirectly maintain a custodial relationship with DTC. As a beneficial owner of Shares, you are not entitled to receive physical delivery of stock certificates or to have Shares registered in your name, and you are not considered a registered owner of Shares. Therefore, to exercise any right as an owner of Shares, you must rely upon the procedures of DTC and its participants. These procedures are the same as those that apply to any other stocks that you hold in book-entry or “street name” form.

 

 

 

How to Buy and Sell Shares

 

Pricing Fund Shares

The trading price of the Fund’s Shares on the NYSE Arca may differ from the Fund’s daily NAV and can be affected by market forces of supply and demand, economic conditions and other factors.

 

The NYSE Arca disseminates the approximate value of Shares of the Fund every fifteen seconds. The approximate value calculations are based on local market prices and may not reflect events that occur subsequent to the local market’s close. As a result, premiums and discounts between the approximate value and the market price could be affected. This approximate value should not be viewed as a “real-time” update of the NAV per Share of the Fund because the approximate value may not be calculated in the same manner as the NAV, which is computed once a day, generally at the end of the business day. The Fund is not involved in, or responsible for, the calculation or dissemination of the approximate value and the Fund does not make any warranty as to its accuracy.

 

The NAV per Share for the Fund is determined once daily as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, each day the NYSE is open for trading, provided that (a) any assets or liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar shall be translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing market rates on the date of valuation as quoted by one or more major banks or dealers that makes a two-way market in such currencies (or a data service provider based on quotations received from such banks or dealers); and (b) U.S. fixed income assets may be valued as of the announced closing time for trading in fixed income instruments on any day that the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association announces an early closing time. NAV per Share is determined by dividing the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities, cash and other assets (including accrued interest), less all liabilities (including accrued expenses), by the total number of Shares outstanding.

 

Equity securities are valued at the last reported sale price on the principal exchange on which such securities are traded, as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE on the day the securities are being valued or, if there are no sales, at the mean of the most recent bid and asked prices.

 

Equity securities that are traded in over the counter markets are valued at the last quoted sales price in the markets in which they trade or, if there are no sales, at the mean of the most recent bid and asked prices. For securities traded on NASDAQ, the NASDAQ Official Closing Price generally will be used. Mutual funds, such as government money market funds, are valued at their last closing net asset value. Short-term securities with a maturity of 60 days or less are valued on the basis of amortized cost provided such amount approximates market value. Securities for which market quotations (or other market valuations such as those obtained from a pricing service) are not readily available, including restricted securities, are valued by a method that the Trustees believe accurately reflects fair value. Securities will be valued at fair value when market quotations (or other market valuations such as those obtained from a pricing service) are not readily available or are deemed unreliable, such as when a security’s value or meaningful portion of the Fund’s portfolio is believed to have been materially affected by a significant event. Such events may include a natural disaster, an economic event like a bankruptcy filing, a trading halt in a security, an unscheduled early market close or a substantial fluctuation in domestic and foreign markets that has occurred between the close of the principal exchange and the NYSE. In such a case, the value for a security is likely to be different from the last quoted market price. This, in turn, could lead to differences between the market price of the Fund’s shares and the underlying value of those shares. In addition, due to the subjective and variable nature of fair market value pricing, it is possible that the value determined for a particular asset may be materially different from the value realized upon such asset’s sale.

 

 

 

Debt securities are valued at market value. Market value generally means a valuation (i) obtained from an exchange, a pricing service or a major market maker (or dealer), (ii) based on a price quotation or other equivalent indication of value supplied by an exchange, a pricing service or a major market maker (or dealer) or (iii) based on amortized cost. The Fund’s debt securities are thus valued by reference to a combination of transactions and quotations for the same or other securities believed to be comparable in quality, coupon, maturity, type of issue, call provisions, trading characteristics and other features deemed to be relevant. To the extent the Fund’s debt securities are valued based on price quotations or other equivalent indications of value provided by a third-party pricing service, any such third-party pricing service may use a variety of methodologies to value some or all of the Fund’s debt securities to determine the market price. For example, the prices of securities with characteristics similar to those held by the Fund may be used to assist with the pricing process. In addition, the pricing service may use proprietary pricing models.

 

Trading in securities on many foreign securities exchanges and over the counter markets is normally completed before the close of business on each U.S. business day. In addition, securities trading in a particular country or countries may not take place on all U.S. business days or may take place on days that are not U.S. business days. Changes in valuations on certain securities may occur at times or on days on which a Fund’s net asset value is not calculated and on which a Fund does not effect sales, redemptions and exchanges of its Shares.

 

Creation Units

Investors such as market makers, large investors and institutions who wish to deal in Creation Units (large specified blocks of Shares) directly with the Fund must have entered into an authorized participant agreement (such investors being “Authorized Participants” or “APs”) with ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. (the “Distributor”), and accepted by the transfer agent, or purchase through a dealer that has entered into such an agreement. Set forth below is a brief description of the procedures applicable to purchase and redemption of Creation Units. For more detailed information, see “Creation and Redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations” in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

How to Buy Shares

In order to purchase Creation Units of the Fund, an investor must generally deposit a designated portfolio of securities (the “Deposit Securities”) (and/or an amount in cash in lieu of some or all of the Deposit Securities) and generally make a cash payment referred to as the “Cash Component.” For those APs that are not eligible for trading a Deposit Security, and in such other circumstances as the Adviser believes are in the best interests of the Fund, custom orders are available. The list of the names and the amounts of the Deposit Securities is made available by the Fund’s custodian through the facilities of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (the “NSCC”) immediately prior to the opening of business each day of the NYSE Arca. The Cash Component represents the difference between the NAV of a Creation Unit and the market value of the Deposit Securities. In the case of custom orders, cash in lieu may be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Securities that either the AP may not be eligible to trade or the Adviser believes are in the best interests of the Fund not to accept in kind.

 

Orders must be placed in proper form by or through a participant of the DTC (“DTC Participant”) that has entered into an agreement with the Distributor, and accepted by the transfer agent, with respect to purchases and redemptions of Creation Units (collectively, “Authorized Participant” or “AP”). All standard orders must be placed for one or more whole Creation Units of Shares of the Fund and must be received by the Distributor in proper form no later than the close of regular trading on the NYSE (ordinarily 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) (“Closing Time”) in order to receive that day’s closing NAV per Share. In the case of custom orders, as further described in the Statement of Additional Information, the order must be received by the Distributor no later than one hour prior to Closing Time in order to receive that day’s closing NAV per Share. A custom order may be placed by an Authorized Participant in the event that the Trust permits or requires the substitution of an amount of cash to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security which may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery or which may not be eligible for trading by such AP or the investor for which it is acting or any other relevant reason.

 

 

 

A fixed creation transaction fee of $500 per transaction (the “Creation Transaction Fee”) is applicable to each transaction regardless of the number of Creation Units purchased in the transaction. An additional variable charge for cash creations or partial cash creations may also be imposed to compensate the Fund for the costs associated with buying the applicable securities. The Fund may adjust these fees from time to time based on actual experience. The price for each Creation Unit will equal the daily NAV per Share times the number of Shares in a Creation Unit plus the fees described above and, if applicable, any transfer taxes.

 

Shares of the Fund may be issued in advance of receipt of all Deposit Securities subject to various conditions, including a requirement to maintain cash at least equal to 115% of the market value of the missing Deposit Securities on deposit with the Trust.

 

For more detailed information, see “Creation and Redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations” in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Legal Restrictions on Transactions in Certain Stocks

An investor subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular stock required to be deposited in connection with the purchase of a Creation Unit may, at the Fund’s discretion, be permitted to deposit an equivalent amount of cash in substitution for any stock which would otherwise be included in the Deposit Securities applicable to the purchase of a Creation Unit. For more detailed information, see “Creation and Redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations” in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Redemption of Shares

Shares may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their NAV and only on a day the NYSE Arca is open for business. The Fund’s custodian makes available immediately prior to the opening of business each day of the NYSE Arca, through the facilities of the NSCC, the list of the names and the amounts of the Fund’s portfolio securities that will be applicable that day to redemption requests in proper form (“Fund Securities”). Fund Securities received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities, which are applicable to purchases of Creation Units. Unless cash redemptions or partial cash redemptions are available or specified for the Fund as set forth below, the redemption proceeds consist of the Fund Securities, plus cash in an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of Shares being redeemed as next determined after receipt by the transfer agent of a redemption request in proper form, and the value of the Fund Securities (the “Cash Redemption Amount”), less the applicable redemption fee and, if applicable, any transfer taxes. Should the Fund Securities have a value greater than the NAV of Shares being redeemed, a compensating cash payment to the Fund equal to the differential, plus the applicable redemption fee and, if applicable, any transfer taxes will be required to be arranged for, by or on behalf of the redeeming shareholder.

 

An order to redeem Creation Units of the Fund may only be effected by or through an Authorized Participant. An order to redeem must be placed for one or more whole Creation Units and must be received by the transfer agent in proper form no later than the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) in order to receive that day’s closing NAV per Share. In the case of custom orders, as further described in the Statement of Additional Information, the order must be received by the transfer agent no later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern time.

 

 

 

A fixed redemption transaction fee of $500 per transaction (the “Redemption Transaction Fee”) is applicable to each redemption transaction regardless of the number of Creation Units redeemed in the transaction. An additional variable charge for cash redemptions or partial cash redemptions may also be imposed to compensate the Fund for the costs associated with selling the applicable securities. The Fund may adjust these fees from time to time based on actual experience. The Fund reserves the right to effect redemptions wholly or partially in cash. A shareholder may request a cash redemption or partial cash redemption in lieu of securities, however, the Fund may, in its discretion, reject any such request.

 

For more detailed information, see “Creation and Redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations” in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

The Adviser or its affiliates may make payments to broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries (each, an “Intermediary”) related to marketing activities and presentations, educational training programs, the support of technology platforms and/ or reporting systems, or their making shares of the Fund and certain other series of the Trust available to their customers. Such payments, which may be significant to the intermediary, are not made by the Fund. Rather, such payments are made by the Adviser or its affiliates from their own resources, which come directly or indirectly in part from fees paid by the Trust, including the Fund. Payments of this type are sometimes referred to as revenue-sharing payments. An Intermediary may make decisions about which investment options it recommends or makes available, or the level of services provided, to its customers based on the revenue-sharing payments it is eligible to receive. Therefore, such payments to an Intermediary create conflicts of interest between the Intermediary and its customers and may cause the Intermediary to recommend the Fund or other series of the Trust over another investment. More information regarding these payments is contained in the SAI. Please contact your salesperson or other investment professional for more information regarding any such payments his or her firm may receive from the Adviser or its affiliates.

 

Distributions

Dividends and Capital Gains. Fund shareholders are entitled to their share of the Fund’s income and net realized gains on its investments. The Fund pays out substantially all of its net earnings to its shareholders as “distributions.”

 

The Fund typically earns income dividends from stocks. These amounts, net of expenses, are passed along to Fund shareholders as “income dividend distributions.” The Fund realizes capital gains or losses whenever it sells securities. Net long-term capital gains are distributed to shareholders as “capital gain distributions.”

 

Income dividends, if any, are distributed to shareholders annually. Net capital gains are distributed at least annually. Dividends may be declared and paid more frequently to improve Underlying Index tracking and to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Some portion of each distribution may result in a return of capital (which is a return of the shareholder’s investment in a fund). Fund shareholders will be notified regarding the portion of the distribution that represents a return of capital.

 

Distributions in cash may be reinvested automatically in additional whole Shares only if the broker through which the Shares were purchased makes such option available.

 

Frequent Purchases and Redemptions

 

The Fund imposes no restrictions on the frequency of purchases and redemptions. The Board of Trustees evaluated the risks of market timing activities by the Fund’s shareholders when they determined that no restriction or policy was necessary. The Board noted that the Fund’s Shares can only be purchased and redeemed directly from the Fund in Creation Units by APs and that the vast majority of trading in the Fund’s Shares occurs on the secondary market. Because the secondary market trades do not involve the Fund directly, it is unlikely those trades would cause many of the harmful effects of market timing, including dilution, disruption of portfolio management, increases in the Fund’s trading costs and the realization of capital gains. To the extent the Fund may effect the purchase or redemption of Creation Units in exchange wholly or partially for cash, the Board noted that such trades could result in dilution to the Fund and increased transaction costs, which could negatively impact the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective. However, the Board noted that direct trading by APs is critical to ensuring that the Fund’s Shares trade at or close to NAV. In addition, the Fund imposes fixed and variable transaction fees on purchases and redemptions of Creation Units to cover the custodial and other costs incurred by the Fund in effecting trades.

 

 

 

Fund Service Providers

 

ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS”) is the administrator and fund accounting agent of the Fund.

 

State Street Bank and Trust Company is the custodian and transfer agent for the Fund.

 

Dechert LLP serves as counsel to the Fund.

 

Deloitte & Touche LLP serves as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for auditing the annual financial statements of the Fund.

 

INDex Provider

 

The Index Provider was founded in 1997 to serve as a consultancy to the financial services industry. Since its founding, the Index Provider has specialized in indexes, indexation and index-based products, including ETFs. The Index Provider is not affiliated with the Trust, the Adviser or the Distributor. The Adviser has entered into a license agreement with the Index Provider to use the Underlying Index. The Adviser pays licensing fees to the Index Provider from the Adviser’s own resources.

 

Disclaimers

 

The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by the Index Provider. The Index Provider makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly or the ability of the Fund to track the performance of the physical commodities market. The Index Provider’s only relationship to the Adviser or the Fund is the licensing of certain service marks and trade names of the Index Provider and of the Underlying Index that is determined, composed and calculated by the Index Provider without regard to the Adviser or the Fund. The Index Provider has no obligation to take the needs of the Adviser or the Fund or the owners of the Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating each Underlying Index. The Index Provider is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Fund to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund is to be converted into cash. The Index Provider has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.

 

S-NETWORK DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE S-NETWORK GLOBAL TRAVEL INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND S-NETWORK SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. S-NETWORK MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY LICENSEE, OWNERS OF THE ALPS GLOBAL TRAVEL BENEFICIARIES ETF, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE S-NETWORK GLOBAL TRAVEL INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. S-NETWORK MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE S-NETWORK GLOBAL TRAVEL INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL S-NETWORK HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

 

 

 

S-Network and S-Network Global Travel Index are service marks of S-Network Global Indexes, Inc. (“S-Network”) and have been licensed for use by ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“ALPS”). The ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF is not issued, sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S-Network or its affiliates. S-Network makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the purchasers or owners of ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF particularly or the ability of the Index to track general market performance. S-Network’s only relationship to ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF is the licensing of the service marks and the Index, which is determined, composed and calculated by S-Network without regard to ALPS or ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF. S-Network is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF issued by ALPS. S-Network has no obligation or liability in connection with the issuance, administration, marketing or trading of ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF.

 

The Adviser does not guarantee the accuracy and/or the completeness of the Underlying Index or any data included therein, and the Adviser shall have no liability for any errors, omissions or interruptions therein. Errors in respect of the quality, accuracy and completeness of the data used to compile the Underlying Index may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, particularly where the indices are less commonly used as benchmarks by funds or managers. Such errors may negatively or positively impact the Fund and its shareholders. For example, during a period where the Underlying Index contains incorrect constituents, the Fund would have market exposure to such constituents and would be underexposed to the Underlying Index’s other constituents. The Adviser makes no warranty, express or implied, as to results to be obtained by the Fund, owners of the Shares of the Fund or any other person or entity from the use of the Underlying Index or any data included therein. The Adviser makes no express or implied warranties, and expressly disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use with respect to the Underlying Index or any data included therein. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall the Adviser have any liability for any special, punitive, direct, indirect, or consequential damages (including lost profits) arising out of matters relating to the use of the Underlying Index, even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

 

Apart from scheduled rebalances, the Index Provider or its agents may carry out additional ad hoc rebalances to the Underlying Index in order, for example, to correct an error in the selection of index constituents. When the Underlying Index is rebalanced and the Fund in turn rebalances its portfolio to attempt to increase the correlation between the Fund’s portfolio and the Underlying Index, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio rebalancing will be borne directly by the Fund and its shareholders. Therefore, errors and additional ad hoc rebalances carried out by the Index Provider or its agents to the Underlying Index may increase the costs to and the tracking error risk of the Fund.

 

 

 

Federal Income Taxation

 

As with any investment, you should consider how your investment in Shares will be taxed. The tax information in this Prospectus is provided as general information. You should consult your own tax professional about the tax consequences of an investment in Shares.

 

Unless your investment in the Shares is made through a tax-exempt entity or tax-deferred retirement account, such as an IRA plan, you need to be aware of the possible tax consequences when:

 

  The Fund makes distributions,
  You sell your Shares listed on the NYSE Arca, and
  You purchase or redeem Creation Units.

 

Taxes on Distributions

Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid annually. The Fund may also pay a special distribution at the end of the calendar year to comply with federal tax requirements. In general, your distributions are subject to federal income tax when they are paid, whether you take them in cash or reinvest them in the Fund. Dividends paid out of the Fund’s income and net short term capital gains, if any, are taxable as ordinary income. Distributions of net long term capital gains, if any, in excess of net short term capital losses are taxable as long term capital gains, regardless of how long you have held the Shares.

 

The maximum individual rate applicable to long term capital gains is either 15% or 20%, depending on whether the individual’s income exceeds certain threshold amounts. In addition, some ordinary dividends declared and paid by the Fund to non-corporate shareholders may qualify for taxation at the lower reduced tax rates applicable to long term capital gains, provided that holding period and other requirements are met by the Fund and the shareholder. Most of the income of the Fund is not expected to qualify for the lower tax rates.

 

An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from the Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund Shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds certain threshold amounts.

 

Distributions in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits are treated as a tax free return of capital to the extent of your basis in the Shares, and as capital gain thereafter.

 

A distribution will reduce the Fund’s NAV per Share and may be taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gain even though, from an investment standpoint, the distribution may constitute a return of capital.

 

If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, or if you are a foreign entity, the Fund’s ordinary income dividends (which include distributions of net short-term capital gains) will generally be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax, unless a lower treaty rate applies or unless such income is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the applicability of the U.S. withholding tax.

 

The Fund generally would be required to withhold a percentage of your distributions and proceeds if you have not provided a taxpayer identification number (generally your social security number) or otherwise provide proof of an applicable exemption from backup withholding. The backup withholding rate for an individual is 24%.

 

 

 

Taxes on Exchange-Listed Shares Sales

Currently, any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Shares is generally treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the Shares have been held for more than one year and as short-term capital gain or loss if the Shares have been held for one year or less. The ability to deduct capital losses may be limited.

 

Taxes on Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units

An Authorized Participant who exchanges equity securities for Creation Units generally will recognize a gain or a loss. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the market value of the Creation Units at the time of the exchange and the exchanger’s aggregate basis in the securities surrendered and the Cash Component paid. A person who exchanges Creation Units for equity securities will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the exchanger’s basis in the Creation Units and the aggregate market value of the securities received and the Cash Redemption Amount. The Internal Revenue Service, however, may assert that a loss realized upon an exchange of securities for Creation Units cannot be deducted currently under the rules governing “wash sales,” or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position. Persons exchanging securities should consult their own tax advisor with respect to whether the wash sale rules apply and when a loss might be deductible.

 

If you purchase or redeem Creation Units, you will be sent a confirmation statement showing how many and at what price you purchased or sold Shares.

 

The foregoing discussion summarizes some of the possible consequences under current federal tax law of an investment in the Fund. It is not a substitute for personal tax advice. You may also be subject to state and local taxation on Fund distributions, and sales of Fund Shares. Consult your personal tax advisor about the potential tax consequences of an investment in Fund Shares under all applicable tax laws. Changes in applicable tax authority could materially affect the conclusions discussed above and could adversely affect the Fund, and such changes often occur.

 

Other Information

 

For purposes of the 1940 Act, the Fund is treated as a registered investment company. Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act restricts investments by investment companies in the securities of other investment companies, including Shares of the Fund. In reliance on an SEC exemptive order or rules under Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act, registered investment companies may invest in exchange-traded funds offered by the Trust beyond the limits of Section 12(d)(1) subject to certain terms and conditions, including that such registered investment companies enter into an agreement with the Trust.

 

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

The Fund’s portfolio holdings will be disclosed each day on its website at www.alpsfunds.com. A description of the Trust’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

 

Premium/Discount Information

Information regarding how often the Shares of the Fund traded on the Exchange at a price above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a discount) the NAV of the Fund during the most recently completed calendar year and subsequent quarters, when available, is available at www.alpsfunds.com.

 

Financial Highlights

 

The Fund has not yet commenced operations and therefore does not have a financial history.

 

 

 

For More Information

 

Existing Shareholders or Prospective Investors
•   Call your financial professional
•   www.alpsfunds.com
Dealers
•   www.alpsfunds.com
•   Distributor Telephone: 866.759.5679
   
Investment Adviser
ALPS Advisors, Inc.
1290 Broadway
Suite 1000
Denver, Colorado 80203

Distributor
ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc.
1290 Broadway
Suite 1000
Denver, Colorado 80203

Custodian
State Street Bank and Trust Company
225 Franklin Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110

Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036

Transfer Agent
State Street Bank and Trust Company
225 Franklin Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Deloitte & Touche LLP
1601 Wewatta Street
Suite 400
Denver, Colorado 80202
A Statement of Additional Information dated September 1, 2021, which contains more details about the Fund, is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this Prospectus, which means that it is legally part of this Prospectus.

You will find additional information about the Fund in its annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, when available. The annual report will explain the market conditions and investment strategies affecting the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.

You can ask questions or obtain a free copy of the Fund’s shareholder reports, prospectus, Form N-CSR, Form N-CEN, or the Statement of Additional Information by calling 866.759.5679. Free copies of the Fund’s shareholder reports, prospectus, and the Statement of Additional Information are available from our website at www.alpsfunds.com.

The Fund sends only one report to a household if more than one account has the same address. Contact the transfer agent if you do not want this policy to apply to you.

Information about the Fund, including its reports and the Statement of Additional Information, has been filed with the SEC. It can be reviewed on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s internet site (http://www.sec.gov). You can also request copies of these materials, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the SEC’s e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

PROSPECTUS

Distributor
ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc.
1290 Broadway
Suite 1000
Denver, Colorado 80203

September 1, 2021

 

 

 

 

Investment Company Act File No. 811-22175.

 

 

 

 

Investment Company Act File No. 811-22175

ALPS ETF Trust

 

Fund Ticker Principal Listing Exchange
ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF JRNY NYSE Arca, Inc.

 

Statement of Additional Information

Dated September 1, 2021

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus dated September 1, 2021 for the ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF (the “Fund”), a series of the ALPS ETF Trust (the “Trust”), as it may be revised from time to time. Capitalized terms used herein that are not defined have the same meaning as in the Prospectus, unless otherwise noted. A copy of the Prospectus may be obtained without charge by writing to the Trust’s distributor, ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. (the “Distributor”), or by calling toll free 866.759.5679.

 

The Fund’s most recent Annual Report, when available, is incorporated by reference into this SAI and can be obtained free of charge, by calling the toll-free number printed above.

Table of Contents 

 

  Page
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUND 2
EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING 2
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS AND POLICIES 3
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS 4
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND RISKS 4
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND RISKS MANAGEMENT 13
MANAGEMENT 16
BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS 27
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TRUST 28
CREATION AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNIT AGGREGATIONS 34
TAXES 39
FEDERAL TAX TREATMENT OF FUTURES CONTRACTS 43
DETERMINATION OF NAV 44
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS 44
INDICATIVE INTRA-DAY VALUE 44
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION 45
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 45
APPENDIX A - PROXY VOTING POLICY A-1

 

 

 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUND

 

The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on September 13, 2007 and is authorized to have multiple series or portfolios. The Trust is an open-end management investment company, registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The offering of the Fund’s shares is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). This SAI relates to the ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF (the “Fund”). The Fund is an exchange-traded fund (commonly referred to as an “ETF”). ETFs are funds that trade like other publicly-traded securities. Similar to shares of a mutual fund, each share of the Fund represents a partial ownership in an underlying portfolio of securities. The shares of the Fund are referred to herein as “Shares” or “Fund Shares.”

 

The 1940 Act classifies management investment companies as either diversified or non-diversified. The Fund is classified as “diversified.” The Fund is managed by ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“ALPS Advisors” or the “Adviser”).

 

The Fund will offer and issue Shares at net asset value (“NAV”) only in aggregations of a specified number of Shares (each a “Creation Unit” or a “Creation Unit Aggregation”), generally in exchange for a basket of securities (the “Deposit Securities”), together with the deposit of a specified cash payment (the “Cash Component”). The Trust reserves the right to offer a “cash” option for creations and redemptions of Fund Shares. In each instance of such cash creations or redemptions, transaction fees may be imposed that will be higher than the transaction fees associated with in kind creations or redemptions. In all cases, such fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities.

 

The Fund Shares are listed on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca” or the “Exchange”) under the trading symbol JRNY. Fund Shares will trade on the Exchange at market prices that may be below, at or above NAV. Shares are redeemable only in Creation Unit Aggregations and, generally, in exchange for portfolio securities and a specified cash payment. Creation Units are aggregations of 25,000 Shares. In the event of the liquidation of the Fund, the Trust may transact in Shares in less than Creation Unit quantities.

 

Fund Shares may be issued in advance of receipt of Deposit Securities subject to various conditions including a requirement to maintain on deposit with the Trust cash at least equal to 115% of the market value of the missing Deposit Securities. See the “Creation and Redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations” section.

 

EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING

 

Shares of the Fund have been approved for listing and trading on the Exchange. The Fund Shares trade on the Exchange at prices that may differ to some degree from its NAV. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of Shares of the Fund will continue to be met. The Exchange may, but is not required to, remove the Shares of the Fund from listing if, (i) the Exchange becomes aware that the Fund is no longer eligible to operate in reliance on Rule 6c-11 under the 1940 Act; (ii) the Fund no longer complies with the requirements set forth in the applicable rule governing the listing of the Fund on the Exchange; (iii) following the initial 12-month period beginning at the commencement of trading of the Fund, there are fewer than 50 beneficial holders of the Shares of the Fund; or (iv) such other event shall occur or condition exist that, in the opinion of the Exchange, makes further dealings on the Exchange inadvisable. The Exchange will remove the Fund Shares from listing and trading upon termination of the Fund.

 

 

 

As in the case of other stocks traded on the Exchanges, broker’s commissions on transactions will be based on negotiated commission rates at customary levels.

 

The Trust reserves the right to adjust the price levels of the Shares in the future to help maintain convenient trading ranges for investors. Any adjustments would be accomplished through stock splits or reverse stock splits, which would have no effect on the net assets of the Fund.

 

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS AND POLICIES

 

The investment restrictions set forth below have been adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) as fundamental policies that cannot be changed with respect to the Fund without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The investment objective of the Fund and all other investment policies or practices of the Fund are considered by the Trust not to be fundamental and accordingly may be changed without shareholder approval. For purposes of the 1940 Act, a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” means the lesser of the vote of (i) 67% or more of the Shares of the Fund present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding Shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Shares of the Fund.

 

Except for restriction (2) and (4)(iii) below, any limitation that involves a maximum percentage shall not be considered violated unless an excess over the percentage occurs immediately after, and is caused by, an acquisition or encumbrance of securities or assets of, or borrowings by, the Fund. With respect to the Fund’s fundamental investment restriction (7) below, asset coverage of at least 300% (as defined in the 1940 Act), inclusive of any amounts borrowed, must be maintained at all times.

 

As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund (except as otherwise noted below) may not:

 

(1) Invest 25% or more of the value of its total assets in securities of issuers in any one industry or group of industries, except to the extent that the Underlying Index that the Fund replicates concentrates in an industry or group of industries. This restriction does not apply to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.

 

(2) Borrow money, except that the Fund may (i) borrow money from banks for temporary or emergency purposes (but not for leverage or the purchase of investments) up to 10% of its total assets and (ii) make other investments or engage in other transactions permissible under the 1940 Act that may involve a borrowing, provided that the combination of (i) and (ii) shall not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund’s total assets (including the amount borrowed), less the Fund’s liabilities (other than borrowings).

 

(3) Act as an underwriter of another issuer’s securities, except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio securities.

 

(4) Make loans to other persons, except through (i) the purchase of debt securities permissible under the Fund’s investment policies, (ii) repurchase agreements or (iii) the lending of portfolio securities, provided that no such loan of portfolio securities may be made by the Fund if, as a result, the aggregate of such loans would exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund’s total assets.

 

 

 

(5) Purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the Fund (i) from purchasing or selling options, futures contracts or other derivative instruments, or (ii) from investing in securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities).

 

(6) Purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prohibit the Fund from purchasing or selling securities or other instruments backed by real estate or of issuers engaged in real estate activities).

 

(7) Issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act.

 

In addition to the foregoing fundamental investment policies, the Fund is also subject to the following non-fundamental restrictions and policies, which may be changed at any time by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. The Fund may not:

 

(1) Sell securities short, unless the Fund owns or has the right to obtain securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold short at no added cost, and provided that transactions in options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, or other derivative instruments are not deemed to constitute selling securities short.

 

(2) Purchase securities on margin, except that the Fund may obtain such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of transactions; and provided that margin deposits in connection with futures contracts, options on futures contracts or other derivative instruments shall not constitute purchasing securities on margin.

 

(3) Purchase securities of open-end or closed-end investment companies except in compliance with the 1940 Act.

 

(4) Invest in illiquid securities if, as a result of such investment, more than 15% of the Fund’s net assets would be invested in illiquid securities.

 

(5) Invest in direct interests in oil, gas or other mineral exploration programs or leases; however, the Fund may invest in securities of issuers that engage in these activities.

 

INVESTMENT POLICIES

 

The investment objective and principal investment strategies for the Fund are provided in its Prospectus. The investment objective of the Fund is a non-fundamental policy that can be changed by the Board of Trustees without approval by shareholders. The Fund may not invest in all of the investments listed below. The Fund uses investment techniques commonly used by other exchange traded funds.

 

INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS

 

A discussion of the risks associated with an investment in the Fund is contained in the Fund’s Prospectus under the headings “Principal Investment Risks,” “Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund” and “Additional Risk Considerations.” The discussion below supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, such sections of the Fund’s Prospectus.

 

 

 

General Considerations and Risks

 

Investment in the Fund should be made with an understanding that the value of the portfolio of securities held by the Fund may fluctuate in accordance with changes in the financial condition of the issuers of the portfolio securities, the value of common stocks generally and other factors.

 

The Fund is not actively managed by traditional methods and therefore the adverse financial condition of any one issuer will not result in the elimination of its securities from the portfolio securities held by the Fund unless the securities of such issuer are removed from its Underlying Index.

 

An investment in the Fund should also be made with an understanding that the Fund will not be able to replicate exactly the performance of its Underlying Index because the total return generated by its portfolio securities will be reduced by transaction costs incurred in adjusting the actual balance of such securities and other Fund expenses, whereas such transaction costs and expenses are not included in the calculation of its Underlying Index. It is also possible that for short periods of time, the Fund may not fully replicate the performance of its Underlying Index due to the temporary unavailability of certain Underlying Index securities in the secondary market or due to other extraordinary circumstances. Such events are unlikely to continue for an extended period of time because the Fund is required to correct such imbalances by means of adjusting the composition of its portfolio securities.

 

Holders of common stocks incur more risk than holders of preferred stocks and debt obligations because common stockholders, as owners of the issuer, have generally inferior rights to receive payments from the issuer in comparison with the rights of creditors of, or holders of debt obligations or preferred stocks issued by, the issuer. Further, unlike debt securities which typically have a stated principal amount payable at maturity (whose value, however, will be subject to market fluctuations prior thereto), or preferred stocks which typically have a liquidation preference and which may have stated optional or mandatory redemption provisions, common stocks have neither a fixed principal amount nor a maturity. Common stock values are subject to market fluctuations as long as the common stock remains outstanding.

 

Dividend Risk. There is no guarantee that the issuer of the stocks held by the Fund will declare dividends in the future or that if declared, they will either remain at current levels or increase over time.

 

Loans of Portfolio Securities. The Fund may lend its investment securities to approved borrowers. Any gain or loss on the market price of the securities loaned that might occur during the term of the loan would be for the account of the Fund. These loans cannot exceed 33 1/3% of the Fund’s total assets.

 

Approved borrowers are brokers, dealers, domestic and foreign banks, or other financial institutions that meet credit or other requirements as established by the securities lending agent, so long as the terms, the structure and the aggregate amount of such loans are not inconsistent with the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder or interpretations of the SEC, which require that (a) the borrowers pledge and maintain with the Fund collateral consisting of cash, an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a bank, or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government having a value at all times of not less than 102% of the value of the securities loaned (on a “mark-to-market” basis, and maintained in an amount equal to at least 100% of the value of the portfolio securities being lent); (b) the loan be made subject to termination by the Fund at any time; and (c) the Fund receives reasonable interest on the loan. From time to time, the Fund may return a part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral received from securities loaned to the borrower and/or a third party securities lending agent that is unaffiliated with the Fund and that is acting as a finder.

 

Risks of Securities Lending. The Fund will not have the right to vote securities while they are on loan, but it will recall securities on loan if the Adviser determines that the shareholder meeting is called for purposes of voting on material events that could have a material impact on the Fund’s loaned securities and for which the vote could be material to the Fund. The Fund would receive income in lieu of dividends on loaned securities and may, at the same time, generate income on the loan collateral or on the investment of any cash collateral.

 

 

 

Securities lending involves a risk of loss because the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. If the borrower defaults on its obligation to return the securities loaned because of insolvency or other reasons, the Fund could experience delays and costs in recovering securities loaned or gaining access to the collateral. If the Fund is not able to recover the securities loaned, the Fund may sell the collateral and purchase a replacement security in the market. Lending securities entails a risk of loss to the Fund if, and to the extent that, the market value of the loaned securities increases and the collateral is not increased accordingly. Securities lending also involves exposure to operational risk (the risk of loss resulting from errors in the settlement and accounting process) and “gap risk” (the risk that the return on cash collateral reinvestments will be less than the fees paid to the borrower).

 

Any cash received as collateral for loaned securities may be invested in Money Market Instruments (as defined below). The Fund bears the risk of such investments. Investing this cash subjects that investment to market appreciation or depreciation. For purposes of determining whether the Fund is complying with its investment policies, strategies and restrictions, the Fund or the Adviser will consider the loaned securities as assets of the Fund, but will not consider any collateral received as the Fund asset. The Fund will bear any loss on the investment of cash collateral. The Fund may have to pay the borrower a fee based on the amount of cash collateral. The Fund may pay lending fees to a party arranging the loan.

 

Regulations adopted by the global prudential regulators require counterparties that are part of U.S. or foreign global systemically important banking organizations to include contractual restrictions on close-out and cross-default in agreements relating to qualified financial contracts. Securities lending agreements are included in the category of qualified financial contracts (as well as repurchase agreements). The restrictions prevent the Fund from closing out a qualified financial contract during a specified time period (e.g., two days) if the counterparty is subject to resolution proceedings and prohibit the Fund from exercising default rights during that period due to a receivership or similar proceeding of an affiliate of the counterparty. Implementation of these requirements may increase credit and other risks to the Fund.

 

Senior Securities. In general, the Fund may not issue any class of senior security, except within the limitations of the 1940 Act. These limitations allow the Fund to (i) borrow from banks, provided that immediately following any such borrowing there is an asset coverage of at least 300% (the “Asset Coverage Requirement”) for all Fund borrowings, and (ii) engage in trading practices which could be deemed to involve the issuance of a senior security, including but not limited to futures, provided that the Fund earmarks or segregates liquid assets in accordance with applicable SEC regulations and interpretations.

 

Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements, which are agreements pursuant to which securities are acquired by the Fund from a third party with the understanding that they will be repurchased by the seller at a fixed price on an agreed date. These agreements may be made with respect to any of the portfolio securities in which the Fund is authorized to invest. Repurchase agreements may be characterized as loans secured by the underlying securities. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with (i) member banks of the Federal Reserve System having total assets in excess of $500 million and (ii) securities dealers (“Qualified Institutions”). The Adviser will monitor the continued creditworthiness of Qualified Institutions.

 

The use of repurchase agreements involves certain risks. For example, if the seller of securities under a repurchase agreement defaults on its obligation to repurchase the underlying securities, as a result of its bankruptcy or otherwise, the Fund will seek to dispose of such securities, which action could involve costs or delays. If the seller becomes insolvent and subject to liquidation or reorganization under applicable bankruptcy or other laws, the Fund’s ability to dispose of the underlying securities may be restricted. Finally, it is possible that the Fund may not be able to substantiate its interest in the underlying securities. To minimize this risk, the securities underlying the repurchase agreement will be held by the custodian at all times in an amount at least equal to the repurchase price, including accrued interest. If the seller fails to repurchase the securities, the Fund may suffer a loss to the extent proceeds from the sale of the underlying securities are less than the repurchase price.

 

 

 

The resale price reflects the purchase price plus an agreed upon market rate of interest. The collateral is marked-to-market daily.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements, which involve the sale of securities with an agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and interest payment and have the characteristics of borrowing. The securities purchased with the funds obtained from the agreement and securities collateralizing the agreement will have maturity dates no later than the repayment date. Generally, the effect of such transactions is that the Fund can recover all or most of the cash invested in the portfolio securities involved during the term of the reverse repurchase agreement, while in many cases the Fund is able to keep some of the interest income associated with those securities. Such transactions are advantageous if the Fund has an opportunity to earn a greater rate of return on the cash derived from these transactions than the interest cost of obtaining the same amount of cash. Opportunities to realize earnings from the use of the proceeds equal to or greater than the interest required to be paid may not always be available and the Fund intends to use the reverse repurchase technique only when the Adviser believes it will be advantageous to the Fund. The use of reverse repurchase agreements may exaggerate any interim increase or decrease in the value of the Fund’s assets. The custodian bank will maintain a separate account for the Fund with securities having a value equal to or greater than such commitments. Under the 1940 Act, reverse repurchase agreements are considered loans.

 

Money Market Instruments. The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in high-quality money market instruments on an ongoing basis to provide liquidity. The instruments in which the Fund may invest include: (i) short-term U.S. Treasury securities issued by the U.S. Government; (ii) repurchase agreements; and (iii) government money market mutual funds.

 

Investment Companies. The Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies (including money market funds and business development companies). Under the 1940 Act, the Fund’s investment in investment companies is limited to, subject to certain exceptions: (i) 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of any one investment company, (ii) 5% of the Fund’s total assets with respect to any one investment company and (iii) 10% of the Fund’s total assets of investment companies in the aggregate. Subject to Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act, the Fund may invest in certain investment companies beyond the 3%/5%/10% limitations described above, subject to applicable conditions.

 

In October 2020, the SEC adopted certain regulatory changes and took other actions related to the ability of an investment company to invest in another investment company. These changes include, among other things, amendments to Rule 12d1-1 under the 1940 Act, the rescission of Rule 12d1-2 under the 1940 Act, the adoption of new Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act, and the rescission of certain exemptive relief issued by the SEC permitting such investments in excess of statutory limits, including such exemptive relief issued to the Trust. These regulatory changes may adversely impact each Fund’s investment strategies and operations.

 

Illiquid Securities. The Fund will not purchase any securities that are illiquid investments (as defined in Rule 22e-4(a)(8) of the 1940 Act) at the time of purchase. Illiquid securities include securities subject to contractual or other restrictions on resale and other instruments that lack readily available markets. The Fund’s investments in restricted and illiquid securities, if any, may entail greater risk than investments in other types of securities. These securities may be more difficult to sell, particularly in times of market turmoil. Additionally, the market for certain investments deemed liquid at the time of purchase may become illiquid under adverse market or economic conditions. Illiquid securities may be more difficult to value. If the Fund is forced to sell an illiquid security to fund redemptions or for other cash needs, it may be forced to sell the security at a loss or for less than its fair value.

 

 

 

Futures and Options. The Fund may utilize exchange-traded futures and options contracts.

 

Futures contracts generally provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified commodity at a specified future time and at a specified price. Stock index futures contracts are settled daily with a payment by one party to the other of a cash amount based on the difference between the level of the stock index specified in the contract from one day to the next. Futures contracts are standardized as to maturity date and underlying instrument and are traded on futures exchanges.

 

Futures traders are required to make a good faith margin deposit in cash or U.S. government securities with a broker or custodian to initiate and maintain open positions in futures contracts. A margin deposit is intended to assure completion of the contract (delivery or acceptance of the underlying commodity or payment of the cash settlement amount) if it is not terminated prior to the specified delivery date. Brokers may establish deposit requirements which are higher than the exchange minimums. Futures contracts are customarily purchased and sold on margin deposits which may range upward from less than 5% of the value of the contract being traded.

 

After a futures contract position is opened, the value of the contract is marked-to-market daily. If the futures contract price changes to the extent that the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, payment of additional “variation” margin will be required. Conversely, a change in the contract value may reduce the required margin, resulting in a repayment of excess margin to the contract holder. Variation margin payments are made to and from the futures broker for as long as the contract remains open. In such case, the Fund would expect to earn interest income on its margin deposits. Closing out an open futures position is done by taking an opposite position (“buying” a contract which has previously been “sold,” or “selling” a contract previously “purchased”) in an identical contract to terminate the position. Brokerage commissions are incurred when a futures contract position is opened or closed.

 

The Fund may use exchange-traded futures and options, together with positions in cash and money market instruments, to simulate full investment in its Underlying Index. Under such circumstances, the Adviser may seek to utilize other instruments that it believes to be correlated to the Fund’s Underlying Index or a subset of the Underlying Index.

 

An option on a futures contract, as contrasted with the direct investment in such a contract, gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in the underlying futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option. Upon exercise of an option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer’s futures margin account that represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract exceeds (in the case of a call) or is less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option on the futures contract. The potential for loss related to the purchase of an option on a futures contract is limited to the premium paid for the option plus transaction costs. Because the value of the option is fixed at the point of purchase, there are no daily cash payments by the purchaser to reflect changes in the value of the underlying contract; however, the value of the option changes daily and that change would be reflected in the NAV of the Fund. The potential for loss related to writing call options on equity securities or indices is unlimited. The potential for loss related to writing put options is limited only by the aggregate strike price of the put option less the premium received.

 

 

 

The Fund may purchase and write put and call options on futures contracts that are traded on a U.S. exchange as a hedge against changes in value of its portfolio securities, or in anticipation of the purchase of securities, and may enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate existing positions. There is no guarantee that such closing transactions can be effected.

 

Restrictions on the Use of Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. Pursuant to a claim for exemption filed with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) on behalf of the Fund, neither the Fund nor the Trust is deemed to be a “commodity pool” or “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”), respectively, under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), and they are not subject to registration or regulation as such under the CEA. The Adviser is not deemed to be a “commodity trading advisor” with respect to its services as an investment adviser to the Fund. The CFTC has adopted certain regulatory changes that will subject the adviser of an investment company to registration with the CFTC as a CPO if the investment company is unable to comply with certain trading and marketing limitations. With respect to investments in swap transactions, commodity futures, commodity options or certain other derivatives used for purposes other than bona fide hedging purposes, an investment company must meet one of the following tests under the amended regulations in order to claim an exemption from being considered a “commodity pool” or CPO. First, the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish the investment company’s positions in such investments may not exceed five percent (5%) of the liquidation value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such investments). Alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of such instruments, determined at the time of the most recent position established, may not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the liquidation value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). In addition to meeting one of the foregoing trading limitations, the investment company may not market itself as a commodity pool or otherwise as a vehicle for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options or swaps and derivatives markets. In the event that the Adviser were required to register as a CPO with respect to the Fund, the disclosure and operations of the Fund would need to comply with all applicable CFTC regulations. Compliance with these additional registration and regulatory requirements would increase operational expenses. Other potentially adverse regulatory initiatives could also develop.

 

Swap Agreements. Swap agreements are contracts between parties in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to the other party (the “Counterparty”) based on the change in market value or level of a specified rate, index or asset. In return, the Counterparty agrees to make periodic payments to the first party based on the return of a different specified rate, index or asset. Swap agreements will usually be done on a net basis, the Fund receiving or paying only the net amount of the two payments. The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to each swap is accrued on a daily basis and an amount of cash or highly liquid securities having an aggregate value at least equal to the accrued excess is maintained in an account at the Trust’s custodian bank.

 

The use of interest rate and index swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. These transactions generally do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets or principal.

 

The use of swap agreements involves certain risks. For example, if the Counterparty under a swap agreement defaults on its obligation to make payments due from it, as a result of its bankruptcy or otherwise, the Fund may lose such payments altogether, or collect only a portion thereof, which collection could involve costs or delays.

 

Risks of Derivatives. Derivatives are financial contracts whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index, and may relate to stocks, bonds, interest rates, currencies or currency exchange rates, commodities, and related indexes. The various derivative instruments that the Fund may use are described in more detail under “Futures and Options,” “Swap Agreements” and “Currency Transactions” in this Statement of Additional Information. The Fund may, but is not required to, use derivative instruments for risk management purposes or as part of its investment strategies.

 

 

 

The Fund’s use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of risks including liquidity risk, market risk, credit risk, default risk, counterparty risk and management risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate exactly with the change in the value of the underlying asset, rate or index. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that the Fund will engage in these transactions to reduce exposure to other risks when that would be beneficial.

 

Participation in the options or futures markets, as well as the use of various swap instruments and forward contracts, involves investment risks and transaction costs to which the Fund would not be subject absent the use of these strategies. Risks inherent in the use of options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, forwards and swaps include: (i) imperfect correlation between the price of options and futures contracts and options thereon and movements in the prices of the securities being hedged; (ii) the fact that skills needed to use these strategies are different from those needed to select non-derivative portfolio securities; (iii) the potential absence of a liquid secondary market for any particular instrument at any time; (iv) the possible need to defer closing out certain positions to avoid adverse tax consequences; (v) for swaps, additional credit risk and the risk of counterparty default and the risk of failing to correctly evaluate the creditworthiness of the company on which the swap is based; and (vi) the possible inability of the Fund to purchase or sell a portfolio security at a time that otherwise would be favorable for it to do so, or the possible need for the Fund to sell the security at a disadvantageous time, due to the requirement that the Fund maintain “cover” or collateral securities in connection with the use of certain derivatives.

 

The Fund could lose the entire amount it invests in futures. The loss from investing in other derivatives is potentially unlimited. There also is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for futures contracts and options in which the Fund may invest. The Fund limits its investment in futures contracts so that the notional value (meaning the stated contract value) of the futures contracts does not exceed the net assets of the Fund.

 

Furthermore, regulatory requirements for the Fund to set aside assets to meet their obligations with respect to derivatives may result in the Fund being unable to purchase or sell securities when it would otherwise be favorable to do so, or in the Fund needing to sell securities at a disadvantageous time. The Fund may also be unable to close out its derivatives positions when desired. Investments in derivatives can cause the Fund to be more volatile and can result in significant losses.

 

Because the markets for certain derivative instruments (including markets located in foreign countries) are relatively new and still developing, suitable derivatives transactions may not be available in all circumstances. Upon the expiration of a particular contract, the Adviser may wish to retain the Fund’s position in the derivative instrument by entering into a similar contract, but may be unable to do so if the counterparty to the original contract is unwilling to enter into the new contract and no other suitable counterparty can be found. There is no assurance that the Fund will engage in derivatives transactions at any time or from time to time. The Fund’s ability to use derivatives may also be limited by certain regulatory and tax considerations.

 

 

 

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) and related regulatory developments require the clearing and exchange-trading of certain standardized over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivative instruments that the CFTC and SEC defined as “swaps” and “security-based swaps,” respectively. Mandatory exchange-trading and clearing is occurring on a phased-in basis based on the type of market participant and CFTC approval of contracts for central clearing and exchange trading. In a cleared swap, the Fund’s ultimate counterparty is a central clearinghouse rather than a swap dealer, bank or other financial institution. The Fund enters into cleared swaps through an executing broker. Such transactions are then submitted for clearing and, if cleared, will be held at regulated futures commission merchants (“FCMs”) that are members of the clearinghouse that serves as the central counterparty. When the Fund enters into a cleared swap, it must deliver to the central counterparty (via an FCM) an amount referred to as “initial margin.” Initial margin requirements are determined by the central counterparty, but an FCM may require additional initial margin above the amount required by the central counterparty. During the term of the swap agreement, a “variation margin” amount may also be required to be paid by the Fund or may be received by the Fund in accordance with margin controls set for such accounts, depending upon changes in the price of the underlying reference asset subject to the swap agreement. At the conclusion of the term of the swap agreement, if the Fund has a loss equal to or greater than the margin amount, the margin amount is paid to the FCM along with any loss in excess of the margin amount. If the Fund has a loss of less than the margin amount, the excess margin is returned to the Fund. If the Fund has a gain, the full margin amount and the amount of the gain is paid to the Fund.

 

Central clearing is designed to reduce counterparty credit risk compared to uncleared swaps because central clearing interposes the central clearinghouse as the counterparty to each participant’s swap, but it does not eliminate those risks completely. There is also a risk of loss by the Fund of the initial and variation margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of the FCM with which the Fund has an open position in a swap contract. The assets of the Fund may not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of the FCM or central counterparty because the Fund might be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds and margin segregated on behalf of an FCM’s customers or central counterparty’s clearing members. If the FCM does not provide accurate reporting, the Fund is also subject to the risk that the FCM could use the Fund’s assets, which are held in an omnibus account with assets belonging to the FCM’s other customers, to satisfy its own financial obligations or the payment obligations of another customer to the central counterparty. Certain swaps have begun trading on exchanges called swap execution facilities. Exchange-trading is expected to increase liquidity of swaps trading.

 

In addition, with respect to cleared swaps, the Fund may not be able to obtain as favorable terms as it would be able to negotiate for an uncleared swap. In addition, an FCM may unilaterally impose position limits or additional margin requirements for certain types of swaps in which the Fund may invest. Central counterparties and FCMs generally can require termination of existing cleared swap transactions at any time, and can also require increases in margin above the margin that is required at the initiation of the swap agreement. Margin requirements for cleared swaps vary on a number of factors, and the margin required under the rules of the clearinghouse and FCM may be in excess of the collateral required to be posted by the Fund to support its obligations under a similar uncleared swap. However, regulators are expected to adopt rules imposing certain margin requirements, including minimums, on uncleared swaps in the near future, which could change this comparison.

 

The Fund is also subject to the risk that, after entering into a cleared swap with an executing broker, no FCM or central counterparty is willing or able to clear the transaction. In such an event, the central counterparty would void the trade. Before the Fund can enter into a new trade, market conditions may become less favorable to the Fund.

 

In October 2020, the SEC adopted a final rule related to the use of derivatives, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements and certain other transactions by registered investment companies. In connection with the final rule, the SEC and its staff will rescind and withdraw applicable guidance and relief regarding asset segregation and coverage transactions reflected in a fund’s asset segregation and cover practices discussed herein. Subject to certain exceptions, the final rule requires a fund to trade derivatives and other transactions that create future payment or delivery obligations subject to a value-at-risk (“VaR”) leverage limit and certain derivatives risk management program and reporting requirements. Generally, these requirements apply unless a fund satisfies a “limited derivatives users” exception that is included in the final rule. Under the final rule, when a fund trades reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions, including certain tender option bonds, it needs to aggregate the amount of indebtedness associated with the reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions with the aggregate amount of any other senior securities representing indebtedness (e.g., bank borrowings, if applicable) when calculating a fund’s asset coverage ratio or treat all such transactions as derivatives transactions. Reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions aggregated with other indebtedness do not need to be included in the calculation of whether a fund satisfies the limited derivatives users exception, but for funds subject to the VaR testing requirement, reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions must be included for purposes of such testing whether treated as derivatives transactions or not. The SEC also provided guidance in connection with the final rule regarding the use of securities lending collateral that may limit securities lending activities. Compliance with these new requirements will be required after an eighteen-month transition period as of August 2022. Following the compliance date, these requirements may limit the ability of a fund to use derivatives, short sales, and reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions as part of its investment strategies. These requirements may increase the cost of a fund’s investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect investors. The Adviser cannot predict the effects of these regulations on the funds. The Adviser intend to monitor developments and seek to manage each fund in a manner consistent with achieving the fund’s investment objective.

 

 

 

Risks of Futures and Options Transactions. Positions in futures contracts and options may be closed out only on an exchange which provides a secondary market therefore. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract or option at any specific time. Thus, it may not be possible to close a futures or options position. In the event of adverse price movements, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments to maintain its required margin. In such situations, if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily margin requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In addition, the Fund may be required to make delivery of the instruments underlying futures contracts it has sold.

 

The Fund will minimize the risk that it will be unable to close out a futures or options contract by only entering into futures and options for which there appears to be a liquid secondary market.

 

The risk of loss in trading futures contracts or uncovered call options in some strategies (e.g., selling uncovered index futures contracts) is potentially unlimited. The Fund does not plan to use futures and options contracts, when available, in this manner. The risk of a futures position may still be large, as traditionally measured, due to the low margin deposits required. In many cases, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and substantial loss or gain to the investor relative to the size of a required margin deposit. The Fund, however, intends to utilize futures and options contracts in a manner designed to limit their risk exposure to that which is comparable to what they would have incurred through direct investment in securities. Utilization of futures transactions by the Fund involves the risk of imperfect or even negative correlation to its Underlying Index if the index underlying the futures contracts differs from the Underlying Index. There is also the risk of loss by the Fund of margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of a broker with whom the Fund has an open position in the futures contract or option.

 

 

 

Certain financial futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day’s settlement price at the end of a trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular type of contract, no trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movement during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses, because the limit may prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. Futures contract prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and subjecting some futures traders to substantial losses.

 

Risks of Swap Agreements. Bi-lateral swap agreements are subject to the risk that the swap counterparty will default on its obligations. If such a default occurs, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction, but such remedies may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws which could affect the Fund’s rights as a creditor. Some interest rate and credit default swaps are currently subject to central clearing and exchange trading. Although exchange-trading and clearing decreases the counterparty risk involved in bi-laterally negotiated contracts and increase market liquidity, exchange-trading and clearing will not make the contracts risk-free.

 

The use of interest-rate and index swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. The use of a swap requires an understanding not only of the referenced asset, reference rate, or index but also of the swap itself, without the benefit of observing the performance of the swap under all possible market conditions. These transactions generally do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets or principal.

 

It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including government regulation, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

 

Where swap agreements are two party contracts that may be subject to contractual restrictions on transferability and termination and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, they may be considered to be illiquid and subject to the Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities. To the extent that a swap is not liquid, it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses. Like most other investments, swap agreements are subject to the risk that the market value of the instrument will change in a way detrimental to the Fund’s interest.

 

Bi-lateral swap agreements may be subject to contractual restrictions on transferability and termination and may have terms of greater than seven days, and thus, may be considered to be illiquid and subject to the Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities. To the extent that a swap is not liquid, it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses. Like most other investments, swap agreements are subject to the risk that the market value of the instrument will change in a way detrimental to the Fund’s interest.

 

Cybersecurity Risk. In connection with the increased use of technologies such as the Internet and the dependence on computer systems to perform necessary business functions, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security, and related risks due to the possibility of cyber-attacks or other incidents. Cyber incidents may result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. Cyber-attacks include, but are not limited to, infection by computer viruses or other malicious software code, gaining unauthorized access to systems, networks, or devices that are used to service the Fund’s operations through hacking or other means for the purpose of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or causing operational disruption. Cyber-attacks may also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks (which can make a website unavailable) on the Fund’s website. In addition, authorized persons could inadvertently or intentionally release confidential or proprietary information stored on the Fund’s systems.

 

 

 

Cyber-attacks have the potential to interfere with the processing of Authorized Participant transactions and shareholder transactions on the Exchanges. Furthermore, cyber security failures or breaches by the Fund’s service providers (including, but not limited to, the adviser, distributor, custodian, transfer agent, financial intermediaries, and sub-adviser (if applicable)) may cause disruptions and impact the service providers’ and the Fund’s business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business and the Fund to process transactions, inability to calculate the Fund’s net asset value, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result of successful cyber-attacks against, or security breakdowns of, the Fund or its third party service providers.

 

The Fund may incur substantial costs to prevent or address cyber incidents in the future. In addition, there is a possibility that certain risks have not been adequately identified or prepared for. Furthermore, the Fund cannot directly control any cyber security plans and systems put in place by third party service providers. Cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Fund’s investment in such securities to lose value.

 

Future Developments. The Board may, in the future, authorize the Fund to invest in securities and investments other than those listed in this SAI and in the Fund’s Prospectus, provided they are consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and do not violate any fundamental investment restrictions or policies, and do not present material risks other than those listed in this SAI and/or the Fund’s Prospectus, as those may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND RISKS

 

A discussion of the risks associated with an investment in the Fund is contained in the Prospectus. The discussion below supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus.

 

GENERAL

 

Investment in the Fund should be made with an understanding that the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities may fluctuate in accordance with changes in the financial condition of the issuers of the portfolio securities, the value of securities generally and other factors.

 

An investment in the Fund should also be made with an understanding of the risks inherent in an investment in securities, including the risk that the financial condition of issuers may become impaired or that the general condition of the securities markets may deteriorate (either of which may cause a decrease in the value of the portfolio securities and thus in the value of Shares). Securities are susceptible to general market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and perceptions of their issuers change. These investor perceptions are based on various and unpredictable factors including expectations regarding government, economic, monetary and fiscal policies, inflation and interest rates, economic expansion or contraction, and global or regional political, economic and banking crises.

 

Holders of common stocks incur more risk than holders of preferred stocks and debt obligations because common stockholders, as owners of the issuer, have generally inferior rights to receive payments from the issuer in comparison with the rights of creditors of, or holders of debt obligations or preferred stocks issued by, the issuer. Further, unlike debt securities which typically have a stated principal amount payable at maturity (whose value, however, will be subject to market fluctuations prior thereto), or preferred stocks which typically have a liquidation preference and which may have stated optional or mandatory redemption provisions, common stocks have neither a fixed principal amount nor a maturity. Common stock values are subject to market fluctuations as long as the common stock remains outstanding.

 

 

 

The existence of a liquid trading market for certain securities may depend on whether dealers will make a market in such securities. There can be no assurance that a market will be made or maintained or that any such market will be or remain liquid. The price at which securities may be sold and the value of the Fund Shares will be adversely affected if trading markets for the Fund’s portfolio securities are limited or absent or if bid/ask spreads are wide.

 

COMMON STOCK RISK

 

Common stock held by the Fund may fall in value due to general market and economic conditions (market risk) and in response to the fortunes of individual companies (company risk). Therefore, the value of an investment in the Fund holding common stock may decrease. The market as a whole can decline for many reasons, including adverse political, social or economic developments here or abroad, changes in investor psychology, or heavy institutional selling. Also, certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, infectious disease epidemics, terrorist attacks, war, country instability and other geopolitical events, can have a dramatic adverse effect on stock markets. Changes in the financial condition of a company or other issuer, changes in specific market, economic, political, and regulatory conditions that affect a particular type of investment or issuer, and changes in general market, economic, political, and regulatory conditions can adversely affect the price of equity securities. These developments and changes can affect a single issuer, issuers within a broad market sector, industry or geographic region, or the market in general.

 

TAX RISKS

 

As with any investment, you should consider how your investment in Shares of the Fund will be taxed. The tax information in the Prospectus and this Statement is provided as general information. You should consult your own tax professional about the tax consequences of an investment in Shares of the Fund.

 

CONTINUOUS OFFERING

 

The method by which Creation Units of Shares are created and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. Because new Creation Units of Shares are issued and sold by the Trust on an ongoing basis, at any point a “distribution,” as such term is used in the Securities Act, may occur. Broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities on their part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner which could render them statutory underwriters and subject them to the prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the Securities Act. For example, a broker-dealer firm or its client may be deemed a statutory underwriter if it takes Creation Units after placing an order with the Distributor, breaks them down into constituent Shares, and sells such Shares directly to customers, or if it chooses to couple the creation of a supply of new Shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for Shares. A determination of whether one is an underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act must take into account all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its client in the particular case, and the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to a categorization as an underwriter.

 

Broker-dealer firms should also note that dealers who are not “underwriters” but are effecting transactions in Shares, whether or not participating in the distribution of Shares, are generally required to deliver a prospectus. This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(3) of the Securities Act is not available in respect of such transactions as a result of Section 24(d) of the 1940 Act. Firms that incur a prospectus-delivery obligation with respect to Shares of the Fund are reminded that under Securities Act Rule 153, a prospectus-delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the Securities Act owed to an Exchange member in connection with a sale on the Exchange is satisfied by the fact that the Fund’s prospectus is available at the applicable listing Exchange upon request. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in Rule 153 is only available with respect to transactions on an Exchange.

 

 

 

Market Disruptions Risk

 

The Fund is subject to investment and operational risks associated with financial, economic and other global market developments and disruptions, including those arising from war, terrorism, market manipulation, government interventions, defaults and shutdowns, political changes or diplomatic developments, public health emergencies (such as the spread of infectious diseases, pandemics and epidemics) and natural/environmental disasters, which can all negatively impact the securities markets and cause the Fund to lose value. These events can also impair the technology and other operational systems upon which the Fund’s service providers, including the Fund’s investment adviser and sub-adviser, as applicable, rely, and could otherwise disrupt the Fund’s service providers’ ability to fulfill their obligations to the Fund.

 

The recent spread of an infectious respiratory illness caused by a novel strain of coronavirus (known as COVID-19) has caused volatility, severe market dislocations and liquidity constraints in many markets, including markets for the securities the Fund holds, and may adversely affect the Fund’s investments and operations. The transmission of COVID-19 and efforts to contain its spread have resulted in travel restrictions and disruptions, closed international borders, enhanced health screenings at ports of entry and elsewhere, disruption of and delays in healthcare service preparation and delivery, quarantines, event and service cancellations or interruptions, disruptions to business operations (including staff furloughs and reductions) and supply chains, and a reduction in consumer and business spending, as well as general concern and uncertainty that has negatively affected the economy. These disruptions have led to instability in the market place, including equity and debt market losses and overall volatility, and the jobs market. The impact of COVID-19, and other infectious illness outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics that may arise in the future, could adversely affect the economies of many nations or the entire global economy, the financial well-being and performance of individual issuers, borrowers and sectors and the health of the markets generally in potentially significant and unforeseen ways. This crisis or other public health crises may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks in certain countries or globally.

 

The foregoing could lead to a significant economic downturn or recession, increased market volatility, a greater number of market closures, higher default rates and adverse effects on the values and liquidity of securities or other assets. Such impacts, which may vary across asset classes, may adversely affect the performance of the Fund. In certain cases, an exchange or market may close or issue trading halts on specific securities or even the entire market, which may result in the Fund being, among other things, unable to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments or to accurately price their investments. These and other developments may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund’s holdings.

 

MANAGEMENT

 

Trustees and Officers

 

The general supervision of the duties performed by the Adviser for the Fund under the Investment Advisory Agreement is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees. The Trust currently has four Trustees. Three Trustees have no affiliation or business connection with the Adviser or any of its affiliated persons and do not own any stock or other securities issued by the Adviser. These are the “non-interested” or “independent” Trustees (“Independent Trustees”). The other Trustee (the “Interested Trustee”) is an “interested person” of the Trust (as defined by the 1940 Act) due to his prior affiliation with the Adviser.

 

 

 

The Independent Trustees of the Trust, their term of office and length of time served, their principal business occupations during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Fund Complex overseen by each Independent Trustee, and other directorships, if any, held by the Trustee are shown below.

 

Independent Trustees

 

Name, Address &
Year of Birth*
Position(s) Held
with Trust
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served**
Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past
5 Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustees***
Other
Directorships
Held by Trustees
Mary K. Anstine,
1940
Trustee Since March 2008 Ms. Anstine is Trustee/Director of AV Hunter Trust and Colorado Uplift Board. 34 Ms. Anstine is a Trustee of ALPS Variable Investment Trust (7 funds); Financial Investors Trust (31 funds); Reaves Utility Income Fund; and Segall Bryant & Hamill Trust (14 funds).
Name, Address &
Year of Birth*
Position(s) Held
with Trust
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served**
Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past
5 Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustees***
Other
Directorships
Held by Trustees
Jeremy W. Deems,
1976
Trustee Since March 2008 Mr. Deems is the Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of Green Alpha Advisors, LLC, a registered investment advisor, and Co-Portfolio Manager of the Shelton Green Alpha Fund. 34 Mr. Deems is a Trustee of ALPS Variable Investment Trust (7 funds); Financial Investors Trust (31 funds); and Reaves Utility Income Fund; and Clough Funds Trust (1 fund).

 

 

 

Name, Address &
Year of Birth*
Position(s) Held
with Trust
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served**
Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past
5 Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustees***
Other
Directorships
Held by Trustees
Rick A. Pederson,
1952
Trustee Since March 2008 Mr. Pederson is Partner, Bow River Capital Partners (private equity management), 2003 - present; Board Member, Prosci Inc. (private business services) 2013-2016; Advisory Board Member, Citywide Banks (Colorado community bank) 2014- 2017; Board Member, Strong-Bridge Consulting, 2015-2019; Board Member, IRI/ODMS Holdings LLC, 2017 – 2019; Director, National Western Stock Show (not for profit) 2010 - present; Director, History Colorado (not for profit) 2015-present; Director, Citywide Bank Advisory Board 2017-present; Trustee, Boettcher Foundation, 2018 -present. 18 Mr. Pederson is Trustee of Segall Bryant & Hamill Trust (14 funds) and Principal Real Estate Income Fund (1 fund).

 

* The business address of the Trustee is c/o ALPS Advisors, Inc., 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203.
** This is the period for which the Trustee began serving the Trust. Each Trustee serves an indefinite term, until his successor is elected.
*** The Fund Complex includes all series of the Trust and any other investment companies for which ALPS Advisors, Inc. provides investment advisory services.

 

 

 

The Trustee who is an “interested person” of the Trust, his term of office and length of time served, his principal business occupations during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Fund Complex overseen by the Interested Trustee and the other directorships, if any, held by the Trustee, are shown below.

 

Interested Trustee

 

Name, Address and
Year of Birth of
Interested Trustee*
Position(s) Held
with Trust
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served**
Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past
5 Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustees***
Other
Directorships
Held by Trustees
Edmund J. Burke,
1961
Trustee Since December 2017. Mr. Burke joined ALPS in 1991 and served as the President and Director of ALPS Holdings, Inc., and ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“AAI”), and Director of ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ADI”), ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“AFS”), and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. (“APSD”). Mr. Burke retired from ALPS in June 2019. 29 Mr. Burke is a Trustee of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund (1 fund); Clough Global Equity Fund (1 fund); Clough Global Opportunities Fund (1 fund); Clough Funds Trust (1 fund); Liberty All-Star Equity Fund (1 fund); Director of the Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc. (1 fund) and Financial Investors Trust (31 funds).

 

* The business address of the Trustee is c/o ALPS Advisors, Inc., 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203.
** This is the period for which the Trustee began serving the Trust. Each Trustee serves an indefinite term, until his successor is elected.
*** The Fund Complex includes all series of the Trust and any other investment companies for which ALPS Advisors, Inc. provides investment advisory services.

 

 

 

Officers

 

Name, Address and
Year of Birth of
Officer
Position(s) Held
with Trust
Length of
Time Served*
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
Laton Spahr, 1975 President Since June 2021 Mr. Spahr joined ALPS in 2019 and currently services as President and Portfolio Manager of AAI. Prior to his current role, Mr. Spahr was a Senior Vice President and Strategy Leader of the Value & Income Team for OppenheimerFunds from 2013 to 2019.
Matthew Sutula, 1985 Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) Since December 2019 Mr. Sutula joined ALPS in 2012 and currently serves as Chief Compliance Officer of AAI. Prior to his current role, Mr. Sutula served as interim Compliance Officer of the Trust (September 2019 to December 2019). Compliance Manager and Senior Compliance Analyst for AAI, as well as Compliance Analyst for AFS. Prior to joining ALPS, he spent seven years at Morningstar, Inc. in various analyst roles supporting the registered investment company databases. Mr. Sutula is also Chief Compliance Officer of Principal Real Estate Income Fund, ALPS Variable Investment Trust, RiverNorth Opportunities Fund, Inc., Liberty All-Star Equity Fund and Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc.
Kathryn Burns, 1976 Treasurer Since September 2018 Ms. Burns serves as Vice President, Director of Fund Operations of AAI since 2018. From 2013 to 2018, she served as Vice President and Fund Controller at AFS. Prior to joining ALPS, she worked at Old Mutual Capital where she served as Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer (2010 – 2012) and Regulatory Reporting Manager and Assistant Treasurer to the Old Mutual Funds Trusts (2006 – 2012). She also served as a CPA for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Ms. Burns also serves as Treasurer of Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc. and as President of ALPS Variable Investment Trust, Principal Real Estate Income Fund and RiverNorth Opportunities Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

Jennifer Craig, (1973) Assistant Secretary Since December 2020 Ms. Craig joined ALPS in 2007 and is currently Assistant Vice President and Paralegal Manager of ALPS. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Craig is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Craig is also Secretary of Principal Real Estate Income Fund, Assistant Secretary of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Financial Investors Trust, Liberty All-Star Equity Fund and Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc. and Clerk of Goehring & Rozencwajg Investment Funds.

 

* The business address of each Officer is c/o ALPS Advisors, Inc., 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203. Each Officer is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act.
** This is the period for which the Officer began serving the Trust. Each Officer serves an indefinite term, until her/her successor is elected.

 

Additional Information About the Trustees’ Qualifications and Experience

 

The following is a brief discussion of the specific education, experience, qualifications, or skills that led to the conclusion, as of the date of this SAI, that each person identified below should serve as a Trustee for the Trust.

 

Mary K. Anstine

 

Ms. Anstine has been an Independent Trustee of the Trust since March 25, 2008. Currently retired, Ms. Anstine has over 30 years of financial services experience. Most recently, she was President and CEO of HealthONE Alliance, Denver, Colorado from 1994 through 2004. From 1964 to 1994, Ms. Anstine held positions leading up to Executive Vice President of First Interstate Bank. She was selected to serve as a Trustee of the Trust based on her business and financial services experience.

 

Jeremy W. Deems

 

Mr. Deems has been an Independent Trustee of the Trust since March 25, 2008. In 2007, Mr. Deems co-founded Green Alpha Advisors, LLC, a registered investment adviser, for which he currently serves as Co-Founder, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to co-founding Green Alpha Advisors, Mr. Deems was CFO and Treasurer of Forward Management, LLC, investment advisor to the Forward Funds, ReFlow Management Co., LLC, ReFlow Fund, LLC, a private investment fund, and Sutton Place Management, LLC, an administrative services company, from 1998 to June 2007. Mr. Deems received a B.S. and a MBA in finance from Saint Mary’s College of California and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He was selected to serve as a Trustee of the Trust based on his business, financial services, accounting and investment management experience.

 

 

 

Rick A. Pederson

 

Mr. Pederson has served as an Independent Trustee of the Trust since March 2008. He currently serves on the Trust’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and on the Audit Committee. Mr. Pederson has been a long-time manager of private equity and real estate investment funds, and has served on the boards of several private companies and not-for-profit entities. He was selected to serve as a Trustee of the Trust based on his business and financial services experience.

 

Edmund J. Burke

 

Mr. Burke has been an Interested Trustee of the Trust since December 11, 2017. Mr. Burke joined ALPS Fund Services, Inc., the Fund’s administrator, in 1991 and retired in 2019. He previously served as Director of ALPS Holdings, Inc., ALPS Fund Services, Inc., ALPS Advisors, Inc., ALPS Distributors, Inc., the Fund’s principal underwriter, and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. Mr. Burke has over 20 years of financial services and investment management experience. Before joining ALPS, Mr. Burke was a Regional Vice President for the Pioneer Funds in Boston and has also worked with Fidelity. Mr. Burke has a B.A. in Economics from the University of New Hampshire. He was selected to serve as a Trustee of the Trust based on his business, financial services and investment management experience.

 

Leadership Structure and Oversight Responsibilities

 

Overall responsibility for oversight of the Fund rests with the Trustees. The Trust has engaged the Adviser to manage the Fund on a day-to day basis. The Board is responsible for overseeing the Adviser and other service providers in the operations of the Fund in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, applicable provisions of state and other laws and the Trust’s charter. The Board is currently composed of four members, three of whom are Independent Trustees. The Board meets at regularly scheduled quarterly meetings each year. In addition, the Board may hold special in-person or telephonic meetings or informal conference calls to discuss specific matters that may arise or require action between regular meetings. As described below, the Board has established a Nominating and Governance Committee and an Audit Committee, and may establish ad hoc committees or working groups from time to time, to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities.

 

The Board has appointed Mr. Pederson, an Independent Trustee, to serve in the role of Chairman. The Chairman’s role is to preside at all meetings of the Board and to act as a liaison with the Adviser, other service providers, counsel and other Trustees generally between meetings. The Chairman may also perform such other functions as may be delegated by the Board from time to time. The Board has determined not to appoint a lead independent trustee. The Board reviews matters related to its leadership structure annually. The Board has determined that the Board’s leadership structure is appropriate given the Trust’s characteristics and circumstances. These characteristics include, but are not limited to, the fact that the Chairman of the Board is an Independent Trustee, the Trust’s multiple series of funds, the Trust’s net assets, the services provided by the Trust’s service providers, and the formal and informal functions of the various Independent Trustees both during and between Board meetings.

 

Risk oversight forms part of the Board’s general oversight of the Fund and is addressed as part of various Board and Committee activities. As part of its regular oversight of the Fund, the Board, directly or through either Committee, interacts with and reviews reports from, among others, Fund management, the Adviser, the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Fund’s legal counsel and the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund regarding risks faced by the Fund. The Board, with the assistance of Fund management and the Adviser, reviews investment policies and risks in connection with its review of the Fund’s performance. The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer who oversees the implementation and testing of the Fund’s compliance program and reports to the Board regarding compliance matters for the Fund and its principal service providers. In addition, as part of the Board’s periodic review of the Fund’s advisory and other service provider agreements, the Board may consider risk management aspects of these service providers’ operations and the functions for which they are responsible.

 

 

 

None of the Independent Trustees own securities in the Adviser or the Distributor, nor do they own securities in any entity directly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser or the Distributor.

 

The Board met seven times during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020.

 

Audit Committee. The Board has an Audit Committee which considers such matters pertaining to the Trust’s books of account, financial records, internal accounting controls and changes in accounting principles or practices as the Trustees may from time to time determine. The Audit Committee also considers the engagement and compensation of the independent registered public accounting firm (“Firm”) and ensures receipt from the Firm of a formal written statement delineating relationships between the Firm and the Trust, consistent with Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Rule 3526. The Audit Committee also meets privately with the representatives of the Firm to review the scope and results of audits and other duties as set forth in the Audit Committee’s Charter. The Audit Committee members, each of whom are Independent Trustees are: Ms. Anstine and Messrs. Deems (Chairman) and Pederson. The Audit Committee met three times during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020.

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee meets periodically to advise and assist the Board in selecting nominees to serve as trustees of the Trust. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes the Board generally benefits from diversity of background, experience and views among its members, and considers this a factor in evaluating the composition of the Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also advises and assists the Board in establishing, implementing and executing policies, procedures and practices that assure orderly and effective governance of the Trust and effective and efficient management of all business and financial affairs of the Trust. Members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are currently: Ms. Anstine (Chairman) and Messrs. Deems and Pederson. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board met one time during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020.

 

Shareholder Nominations. The Board will consider shareholder nominees for Trustees. All nominees must possess the appropriate characteristics, skills and experience for serving on the Board. In particular, the Board and its Independent Trustees will consider each nominee’s integrity, educational, professional background, understanding of the Trust’s business on a technical level and commitment to devote the time and attention necessary to fulfill a Trustee’s duties. All shareholders who wish to recommend nominees for consideration as Trustees shall submit the names and qualifications of the candidates to the Secretary of the Trust by writing to: ALPS ETF Trust, 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado, 80203.

 

As of December 31, 2020, the dollar range of equity securities in the Fund beneficially owned by the Interested Trustee were as follows:

 

 

 

Interested Trustee Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in the Fund
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in All Registered Investment
Companies Overseen by Trustee
in Family of Investment Companies
Edmund J. Burke None None

 

As of December 31, 2020 the dollar range of equity securities in the Fund beneficially owned by Independent Trustees were as follows:

 

Independent Trustees Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in the Fund
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in All Registered Investment
Companies Overseen by Trustee
in Family of Investment Companies
Mary K. Anstine None None
Jeremy W. Deems None None
Rick Pederson None None

 

Remuneration of Trustees and Officers

 

Effective July 1, 2020, each Trustee receives (1) a quarterly retainer of $10,000, (2) a per meeting fee of $5,000, (3) $1,500 for any special meeting held outside of a regularly scheduled board meeting, and (4) reimbursement for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses relating to attendance at meetings. Prior to July 1, 2020, each Independent Trustee received (1) a quarterly retainer of $5,000, (2) a per meeting fee of $3,750, (3) $1,500 for any special meeting held outside of a regularly scheduled board meeting, and (4) reimbursement for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses relating to attendance at meetings. Prior to January 1, 2020, Mr. Burke received no compensation or expense reimbursements from the Trust. From January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020, Mr. Burke received (1) a quarterly retainer of $5,000, (2) a per meeting fee of $3,750, (3) $1,500 for any special meeting held outside of a regularly scheduled board meeting, and (4) reimbursement for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses relating to attendance at meetings. In addition, each of Messrs. Pederson and Deems receives a quarterly retainer of $2,000, respectively, in connection with their respective roles as Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Audit Committee. The following chart provides certain information about the Trustee fees paid by the Trust for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020:

 

 

 

  Aggregate
Compensation
From the Trust
Pension Or Retirement
Benefits Accrued As
Part of Fund Expenses
Estimated Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement
Aggregate Compensation
From The Trust
And Fund Complex
Paid To Trustees(1)
Mary K. Anstine, Trustee $45,750 $0 $0 $216,750
Edmund J. Burke, Trustee $35,500 $0 $0 $199,250
Jeremy W. Deems, Trustee $53,750 $0 $0 $237,750
Rick A. Pederson, Trustee $53,750 $0 $0 $90,750

 

(1) The Fund Complex includes all series of the Trust and any other investment companies for which ALPS Advisors, Inc. provides investment advisory services.

 

Officers who are employed by the Adviser receive no compensation or expense reimbursements from the Trust.

 

Adviser. The Fund is managed by the Adviser. The Adviser, a wholly owned subsidiary of ALPS Holdings, Inc. (“ALPS Holdings”), subject to the authority of the Board, is responsible for the overall management and administration of the Fund’s business affairs. The Adviser commenced business operations in December 2006 upon the acquisition of an existing investment advisory operation and is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser. The Adviser’s principal address is 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80203. The Adviser is an affiliate of ALPS Fund Services, Inc., who serves as the Fund’s administrator, and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., who serves as Distributor to the Fund.

 

Located in Denver, Colorado, ALPS Holdings was founded in 1985 as a provider of fund administration and fund distribution services. Since then, ALPS Holdings has added additional services, including fund accounting, transfer agency, shareholder services, active distribution, legal, tax and compliance services. As of December 31, 2020, ALPS Advisors, Inc. managed $14.9 billion in assets. ALPS Holdings is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (“SS&C”), a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, which acquired ALPS Holdings’ parent company DST Systems, Inc. in a transaction which closed on April 16, 2018.

 

Investment Advisory Agreement.

 

Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and the Trust, the Adviser is responsible for all expenses of the Fund, including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit, trustees and other services, except interest expenses, distribution fees or expenses, brokerage expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses such as litigation and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business.

 

Under the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser acts as investment adviser and, subject to the supervision of the Board, directs the investments of the Fund in accordance with its investment objective, policies and limitations, either directly or through its supervision of a sub-adviser. The Adviser also assists in supervising the Trust’s operations and provides all necessary office facilities and personnel for servicing the Fund’s investments.

 

In addition, the Adviser, subject to the supervision of the Board, provides the management services necessary for the operation of the Trust. These services include providing facilities for maintaining the Trust’s organization; supervising relations with custodians, transfer and pricing agents, administrators, accountants, underwriters and other persons dealing with the Trusts; and furnishing reports, evaluations and analyses on a variety of subjects to the Board.

 

Subject to the supervision of the Board, the Adviser may select and contract at its own expense with sub-advisers to invest and re-invest the investment, securities and cash. The Adviser continues to have responsibility for all investment advisory services furnished pursuant to any sub-advisory agreement. The Adviser manages the Fund in a “manager-of-managers” style, which contemplates that the Adviser, among other things, monitors and supervises a sub-adviser’s performance; provides investment management evaluation services including quantitative and qualitative analysis as well as periodic in-person, telephonic, and written consultations with a sub-adviser; communicates performance expectations and evaluations to a sub-adviser; determines whether each sub-advisory agreement should be renewed, modified, or terminated; and provides reports to the Board covering the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions and determinations with respect to a sub-adviser.

 

 

 

For the Adviser’s services to the Fund, the Fund has agreed to pay an annual management fee equal to a 0.65% of its average daily net assets.

 

Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser will not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the performance of the Investment Advisory Agreement, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its duties and obligations thereunder. The initial term of the Investment Advisory Agreement is two years and continues thereafter only if approved annually by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees. The Investment Advisory Agreement terminates automatically upon assignment and is terminable at any time without penalty as to the Fund by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, or by vote of the holders of a majority of that Fund’s outstanding voting securities on 60 days written notice to the Adviser, or by the Adviser on 60 days written notice to the Fund.

 

Other Accounts Managed by the Portfolio Managers; Compensation of the Portfolio Managers.

 

Information regarding the other accounts managed by the Fund’s portfolio managers as of December 31, 2020, is set forth below:

 

  Accounts Managed Accounts With Respect to Which
the Advisory Fee is based on the
Performance of the Account
Name of Portfolio Manager Category of Account Number of
Accounts in Category
Total Assets in
Accounts in Category
Number of
Accounts in Category
Total Assets in
Accounts in Category
Andy Hicks Registered Investment Companies 14 $6.8 billion N/A N/A
  Other Pooled investment vehicles N/A N/A N/A N/A
  Other Accounts N/A N/A N/A N/A
Ryan Mischker Registered Investment Companies 14 $6.8 billion N/A N/A
  Other Pooled investment vehicles N/A N/A N/A N/A
  Other Accounts N/A N/A N/A N/A

 

 

 

Conflicts of Interests. The portfolio manager’s management of “other accounts” may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with management of the Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other. The other accounts consist of separately managed private clients (“Other Accounts”) and comingled funds. The Other Accounts might have similar investment objectives as the Fund, be compared to the same performance benchmark as the Fund, or otherwise hold, purchase, or sell securities that are eligible to be held, purchased, or sold by the Fund.

 

Knowledge of the Timing and Size of Fund Trades: A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the portfolio manager’s day-to-day management of the Fund. The portfolio manager knows the size and timing of trades for the Fund and the Other Accounts, and may be able to predict the market impact of Fund trades. It is theoretically possible that the portfolio manager could use this information to the advantage of Other Accounts it manages and to the possible detriment of the Fund, or vice versa.

 

Investment Opportunities: The Adviser provides investment supervisory services for a number of investment products that have varying investment guidelines. The portfolio manager works across different investment products. Differences in the compensation structures of the Adviser’s investment products may give rise to a conflict of interest by creating an incentive for the Adviser to allocate the investment opportunities it believes might be the most profitable to the client accounts where it might benefit the most from the investment gains.

 

Portfolio Manager Compensation Structure Disclosure. The Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund as described below. Mr. Mischker and Mr. Hicks, who are also responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, are paid a base salary, plus a discretionary bonus. The bonus for Mr. Mischker and Mr. Hicks is determined by the business unit’s revenue and profitability as well as the individual’s contribution to the business unit. The bonus for Mr. Mischker and Mr. Hicks is discretionary and is not based specifically on portfolio performance.

 

Securities Ownership of the Portfolio Managers. The portfolio managers did not own any shares of the Fund as of the date of this SAI.

 

Administrator. ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS Fund Services”) serves as the Trust’s administrator. Pursuant to an administration agreement, ALPS Fund Services provides certain administrative, bookkeeping and accounting services to the Trust, including calculating the NAV of Shares, net income, and realized capital gains or losses. For the services, ALPS Fund Services receives a fee, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Adviser from the management fee. ALPS Fund Services is located at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203.

 

Custodian and Transfer Agent. State Street Bank and Trust Company (“SSB”) serves as custodian for the Fund pursuant to a Custodian Agreement. As custodian, SSB holds the Fund’s assets. SSB also serves as transfer agent for the Fund pursuant to a Transfer Agency and Service Agreement. As compensation for the foregoing services, SSB receives certain out-of-pocket costs, transaction fees and asset-based fees which are accrued daily and paid monthly by the Adviser from the management fee.

 

 

 

Distributor. ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. is the distributor of the Fund Shares. Its principal address is 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203. The Distributor has entered into a Distribution Agreement with the Trust pursuant to which it distributes Fund Shares. Shares are continuously offered for sale by the Fund through the Distributor only in Creation Unit Aggregations, as described in the Prospectus and below under the heading “Creation and Redemption of Creation Units.”

 

Financial Intermediary Compensation. The Adviser and/or its subsidiaries or affiliates (“ALPS Entities”) may pay certain broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries (“Intermediaries”) for certain activities related to the Fund (“Payments”). Any Payments made by ALPS Entities will be made from their own assets and not from the assets of the Fund. Although a portion of ALPS Entities’ revenue comes directly or indirectly in part from fees paid by the Fund, Payments do not increase the price paid by investors for the purchase of shares of, or the cost of owning, the Fund. ALPS Entities may make Payments for Intermediaries to participate in activities that are designed to make registered representatives, other professionals and individual investors more knowledgeable about the Fund or for other activities, such as participation in marketing activities and presentations, educational training programs, the support of technology platforms and/or reporting systems. ALPS Entities may also make Payments to Intermediaries for certain printing, publishing and mailing costs associated with the Fund or materials relating to exchange-traded funds in general. In addition, ALPS Entities may make Payments to Intermediaries that make Shares available to their clients or for otherwise promoting the Fund. Payments of this type are sometimes referred to as revenue-sharing payments.

 

Payments to an Intermediary may be significant to the Intermediary, and amounts that Intermediaries pay to your salesperson or other investment professional may also be significant for your salesperson or other investment professional. Because an Intermediary may make decisions about which investment options it will recommend or make available to its clients or what services to provide for various products based on payments it receives or is eligible to receive, Payments create conflicts of interest between the Intermediary and its clients and these financial incentives may cause the Intermediary to recommend the Fund over other investments. The same conflict of interest exists with respect to your salesperson or other investment professional if he or she receives similar payments from his or her Intermediary firm.

 

ALPS Entities may determine to make Payments based on any number of metrics. For example, ALPS Entities may make Payments at year-end or other intervals in a fixed amount, an amount based upon an Intermediary’s services at defined levels or an amount based on the Intermediary’s net sales of one or more Funds in a year or other period, any of which arrangements may include an agreed-upon minimum or maximum payment, or any combination of the foregoing. The Adviser anticipates that the Payments paid by ALPS Entities in connection with the Fund will be immaterial to ALPS Entities in the aggregate for the current fiscal year. Please contact your salesperson or other investment professional for more information regarding any Payments his or her Intermediary firm may receive. Any payments made by the ALPS Entities to an Intermediary may create the incentive for an Intermediary to encourage customers to buy shares of the Fund.

 

Aggregations. Fund Shares in less than Creation Unit Aggregations are not distributed by the Distributor. The Distributor will deliver the Prospectus and, upon request, this SAI to persons purchasing Creation Unit Aggregations and will maintain records of both orders placed with it and confirmations of acceptance furnished by it. The Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

 

 

 

The Distribution Agreement for the Fund provides that it may be terminated as to the Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on at least 60 days written notice by the Trust to the Distributor (i) by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or (ii) by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund. The Distribution Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).

 

The Distributor may also enter into agreements with securities dealers (“Soliciting Dealers”) who will solicit purchases of Creation Unit Aggregations of Fund Shares. Such Soliciting Dealers may also be Participating Parties (as defined in “Procedures for Creation of Creation Unit Aggregations” below) and DTC Participants of the Depository Trust Company (the “DTC”) (as defined in “DTC Acts as Securities Depository” below).

 

Index Provider. S-Network Global Indexes Inc. (the “Index Provider”) is the index provider for the Fund. The Index Provider creates and maintains proprietary, quantitative portfolio strategies that are licensed to product sponsors and serve as the basis of investment products such as exchange-traded funds.

 

The Index Provider is not affiliated with the Trust, the Adviser or the Distributor. The Index Provider has entered into a License Agreement with the Adviser to use the Underlying Index. The use of the Underlying Index by the Adviser and the Fund is subject to the terms of the License Agreement, which imposes certain limitations and conditions on the Fund’s ability to use the Underlying Index. The Adviser pays licensing fees to the Index Provider from the Adviser’s management fees or other resources.

 

Index Provider uses a rules-based methodology (the “Index Methodology”) to construct and maintain the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index and the Index Methodology, including a list of the component securities of the Underlying Index, can be found on the Fund’s website at .

 

LICENSE AGREEMENT AND DISCLAIMERS

 

The information contained herein regarding the Underlying Index was provided by the Index Provider.

 

The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by the Index Provider. The Index Provider makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly or the ability of the Fund to track the performance of the physical commodities market. The Index Provider’s only relationship to the Adviser or the Fund is the licensing of certain service marks and trade names of the Index Provider and of the Underlying Index that is determined, composed and calculated by the Index Provider without regard to the Adviser or the Fund. The Index Provider has no obligation to take the needs of the Adviser or the Fund or the owners of the Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating each Underlying Index. The Index Provider is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Fund to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund is to be converted into cash. The Index Provider has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.

 

S-NETWORK DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE S-NETWORK GLOBAL TRAVEL INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND S-NETWORK SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. S-NETWORK MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY LICENSEE, OWNERS OF THE ALPS GLOBAL TRAVEL BENEFICIARIES ETF, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE S-NETWORK GLOBAL TRAVEL INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. S-NETWORK MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE S-NETWORK GLOBAL TRAVEL INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL S-NETWORK HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

 

 

 

S-Network and S-Network Global Travel Index are service marks of S-Network Global Indexes, Inc. (“S-Network”) and have been licensed for use by ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“ALPS”). The ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF is not issued, sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S-Network or its affiliates. S-Network makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the purchasers or owners of ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF particularly or the ability of the Index to track general market performance. S-Network’s only relationship to ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF is the licensing of the service marks and the Index, which is determined, composed and calculated by S-Network without regard to ALPS or ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF. S-Network is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF issued by ALPS. S-Network has no obligation or liability in connection with the issuance, administration, marketing or trading of ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF.

 

The Adviser does not guarantee the accuracy and/or the completeness of the Underlying Index or any data included therein, and the Adviser shall have no liability for any errors, omissions or interruptions therein. Errors in respect of the quality, accuracy and completeness of the data used to compile the Underlying Index may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, particularly where the indices are less commonly used as benchmarks by funds or managers. Such errors may negatively or positively impact the Fund and its shareholders. For example, during a period where the Underlying Index contains incorrect constituents, the Fund would have market exposure to such constituents and would be underexposed to the Underlying Index’s other constituents. The Adviser makes no warranty, express or implied, as to results to be obtained by the Fund, owners of the Shares of the Fund or any other person or entity from the use of the Underlying Index or any data included therein. The Adviser makes no express or implied warranties, and expressly disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use with respect to the Underlying Index or any data included therein. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall the Adviser have any liability for any special, punitive, direct, indirect, or consequential damages (including lost profits) arising out of matters relating to the use of the Underlying Index, even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

 

Apart from scheduled rebalances, the Index Provider or its agents may carry out additional ad hoc rebalances to the Underlying Index in order, for example, to correct an error in the selection of index constituents. When the Underlying Index is rebalanced and the Fund in turn rebalances its portfolio to attempt to increase the correlation between the Fund’s portfolio and the Underlying Index, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio rebalancing will be borne directly by the Fund and its shareholders. Therefore, errors and additional ad hoc rebalances carried out by the Index Provider or its agents to the Underlying Index may increase the costs to and the tracking error risk of the Fund.

 

Securities Lending

 

Pursuant to a securities lending agreement (the “Securities Lending Agreement”) between the Fund and State Street Bank and Trust Company (in such capacity, the “Securities Lending Agent”), the Fund may lend its securities through the Securities Lending Agent to certain qualified borrowers. The Securities Lending Agent administers the Fund’s securities lending program. These services include arranging the securities loans with approved borrowers and collecting fees and rebates due to the Fund from each borrower. The Securities Lending Agent also collects and maintains collateral intended to secure the obligations of each borrower and marks to market daily the value of loaned securities. If a borrower defaults on a loan, the Securities Lending Agent is authorized to exercise contractual remedies and, pursuant to the terms of the Securities Lending Agreement, has agreed to indemnify the Fund for losses due to a borrower’s failure to return a lent security, which exclude losses associated with collateral reinvestment. The Securities Lending Agent may also invest cash received as collateral in pre-approved investments in accordance with the Securities Lending Agreement. The Securities Lending Agent maintains records of loans made and income derived therefrom and makes available such records that the Fund deem necessary to monitor the securities lending program.

 

 

 

As of the date of this SAI, the Fund has not engaged in securities lending.

 

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

 

The policy of the Trust regarding purchases and sales of securities is that primary consideration will be given to obtaining the most favorable prices and efficient executions of transactions. Consistent with this policy, when securities transactions are effected on a stock exchange, the Trust’s policy is to pay commissions that are considered fair and reasonable without necessarily determining that the lowest possible commissions are paid in all circumstances. In seeking to determine the reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid in any transaction, the Adviser relies upon its experience and knowledge regarding commissions generally charged by various brokers. The sale of Fund Shares by a broker-dealer is not a factor in the selection of broker-dealers.

 

In seeking to implement the Trust’s policies, the Adviser effects transactions with those brokers and dealers that the Adviser believes provide the most favorable prices and are capable of providing efficient executions. None of the Adviser, or its affiliates currently participate in soft dollar transactions.

 

The Adviser assumes general supervision over placing orders on behalf of the Fund for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities. If purchases or sales of portfolio securities by the Fund and one or more other investment companies or clients supervised by the Adviser are considered at or about the same time, transactions in such securities may be allocated among the Fund, the several investment companies and clients in a manner deemed equitable to all by the Adviser. In some cases, this procedure could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security as far as the Fund is concerned. However, in other cases, it is possible that the ability to participate in volume transactions and to negotiate lower brokerage commissions will be beneficial to the Fund. The primary consideration is prompt execution of orders at the most favorable net price.

 

As of the date of this SAI, the Fund has not paid brokerage commissions.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TRUST

 

The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act. The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on September 13, 2007 and consists of multiple separate portfolios or series.

 

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares in one or more series or “funds.” The Board of Trustees of the Trust has the right to establish additional series in the future, to determine the preferences, voting powers, rights and privileges thereof and to modify such preferences, voting powers, rights and privileges without shareholder approval.

 

 

 

Each Share issued by the Fund has a pro rata interest in the assets of the Fund. Fund Shares have no preemptive, exchange, subscription or conversion rights and are freely transferable. Each Share is entitled to participate equally in dividends and distributions declared by the Board with respect to the Fund, and in the net distributable assets of the Fund on liquidation.

 

Each Share has one vote with respect to matters upon which a shareholder vote is required consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder. Shares of all funds of the Trust vote together as a single class except as otherwise required by the 1940 Act, or if the matter being voted on affects only a particular fund, and, if a matter affects a particular fund differently from other funds, the shares of that fund will vote separately on such matter.

 

The Declaration of Trust may, except in limited circumstances, be amended or supplemented by the Trustees without shareholder vote. The holders of Fund Shares are required to disclose information on direct or indirect ownership of Fund Shares as may be required to comply with various laws applicable to the Fund, and ownership of Fund Shares may be disclosed by the Fund if so required by law or regulation.

 

The Trust is not required and does not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders. Shareholders owning more than 51% of the outstanding shares of the Trust have the right to call a special meeting to remove one or more Trustees or for any other purpose.

 

The Trust does not have information concerning the beneficial ownership of Shares held by DTC Participants (as defined below).

 

Shareholders may make inquiries by writing to the Trust, c/o the Distributor, 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203.

 

Control Persons. As of the date of this SAI, no entity owns of record 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

 

Book Entry Only System. The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “Book Entry.”

 

DTC Acts as Securities Depository for Fund Shares. Shares of the Fund are represented by securities registered in the name of DTC or its nominee and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC.

 

DTC, a limited-purpose trust company, was created to hold securities of its participants (the “DTC Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among the DTC Participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the DTC Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC. More specifically, DTC is owned by a number of its DTC Participants and by the NYSE Arca and FINRA. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (the “Indirect Participants”).

 

Beneficial ownership of Shares is limited to DTC Participants, Indirect Participants and persons holding interests through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in Shares (owners of such beneficial interests are referred to herein as “Beneficial Owners”) is shown on, and the transfer of ownership is effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to DTC Participants) and on the records of DTC Participants (with respect to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners that are not DTC Participants). Beneficial Owners will receive from or through the DTC Participant a written confirmation relating to their purchase and sale of Shares.

 

 

 

Conveyance of all notices, statements and other communications to Beneficial Owners is effected as follows. Pursuant to the Depositary Agreement between the Trust and DTC, DTC is required to make available to the Trust upon request and for a fee to be charged to the Trust a listing of the Shares of the Fund held by each DTC Participant. The Trust shall inquire of each such DTC Participant as to the number of Beneficial Owners holding Shares, directly or indirectly, through such DTC Participant. The Trust shall provide each such DTC Participant with copies of such notice, statement or other communication, in such form, number and at such place as such DTC Participant may reasonably request, in order that such notice, statement or communication may be transmitted by such DTC Participant, directly or indirectly, to such Beneficial Owners. In addition, the Trust shall pay to each such DTC Participant a fair and reasonable amount as reimbursement for the expenses attendant to such transmittal, all subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

 

Fund distributions shall be made to DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., as the registered holder of all Fund Shares. DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any such distributions, shall immediately credit DTC Participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in Shares of the Fund as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. Payments by DTC Participants to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners of Shares held through such DTC Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in a “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such DTC Participants.

 

The Trust has no responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or notices to Beneficial Owners, or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in such Shares, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests, or for any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and the DTC Participants or the relationship between such DTC Participants and the Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners owning through such DTC Participants.

 

DTC may decide to discontinue providing its service with respect to Shares at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Trust and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the Trust shall take action to find a replacement for DTC to perform its functions at a comparable cost.

 

Proxy Voting. The Board has delegated responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Fund to the Adviser. The Adviser will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures, which are included in Appendix A of this SAI. The Board will periodically review the Fund’s proxy voting record.

 

The Trust is required to disclose annually the Fund’s complete proxy voting record on Form N-PX covering the period July 1 through June 30 and file it with the SEC no later than August 31. Form N-PX for the Fund also will be available at no charge upon request by calling 1-866-675-2639 or by writing to ALPS ETF Trust at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203. The Fund’s Form N-PX also is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

Quarterly Portfolio Schedule. The Trust is required to disclose a complete schedule of the Fund’s portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-CSR after its second and fourth quarters. Disclosure of the Fund’s complete holdings is required to be made monthly on Form N-PORT no later than 60 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, with information reported on Form N-PORT for the third month of the fiscal quarter made publicly available by the SEC 60 days after the end of the Fund’s fiscal quarter. Form N-CSR and Form N-PORTs for the Fund will be available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Form N-CSR will be available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-866-675-2639 or by writing to ALPS ETF Trust at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203.

 

 

 

Portfolio Holdings Policy. The Trust has adopted a policy regarding the disclosure of information about the Trust’s portfolio holdings. The Fund and its service providers may not receive compensation or any other consideration (which includes any agreement to maintain assets in the Fund or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the Adviser or any affiliated person of the Adviser) in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information of the Trust. The Trust’s policy is implemented and overseen by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust, subject to the oversight of the Board. Periodic reports regarding these procedures will be provided to the Board. The Board must approve all material amendments to this policy. The Fund’s complete portfolio holdings are publicly disseminated each day the Fund is open for business through financial reporting and news services, including publicly accessible Internet web sites. In addition, a basket composition file, which includes the security names and share quantities to deliver in exchange for Fund shares, together with estimates and actual cash components, is publicly disseminated daily prior to the opening of the Fund’s listing Exchange via the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”). The basket represents one Creation Unit of the Fund. The Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor will not disseminate non-public information concerning the Trust.

 

Codes of Ethics. Pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act, the Board has adopted a Code of Ethics for the Trust and approved Codes of Ethics adopted by the Adviser and the Distributor (collectively the “Codes”). The Codes are intended to ensure that the interests of shareholders and other clients are placed ahead of any personal interest, that no undue personal benefit is obtained from the person’s employment activities and that actual and potential conflicts of interest are avoided.

 

The Codes apply to the personal investing activities of Trustees and officers of the Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor (“Access Persons”). Rule 17j-1 and the Codes are designed to prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by Access Persons. Under the Codes, Access Persons are permitted to engage in personal securities transactions, but are required to report their personal securities transactions for monitoring purposes. The Codes permit personnel subject to the Codes to invest in securities subject to certain limitations, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund. In addition, certain Access Persons are required to obtain approval before investing in initial public offerings or private placements. The Codes are on file with the SEC, and are available to the public.

 

CREATION AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNIT AGGREGATIONS

 

Creation. The Trust issues and sells Shares of the Fund only in Creation Unit Aggregations on a continuous basis through the Distributor, without a sales load, at its NAV next determined after receipt, on any Business Day (as defined below), of an order in proper form.

 

A “Business Day” is any day on which the NYSE is open for business. As of the date of this SAI, the NYSE observes the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

 

Deposit of Securities and Deposit or Delivery of Cash. The consideration for purchase of Creation Unit Aggregations of the Fund (except as noted below) generally consists of an in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities — the “Deposit Securities” — per each Creation Unit Aggregation (“Fund Securities”) and an amount of cash — the “Cash Component” — computed as described below. Together, the Deposit Securities and/or the Cash Component constitute the “Fund Deposit,” which represents the minimum initial and subsequent investment amount for a Creation Unit Aggregation of the Fund.

 

 

 

The Cash Component is sometimes also referred to as the Balancing Amount. The Cash Component serves the function of compensating for any differences between the NAV per Creation Unit Aggregation and the aggregate market value of the Deposit Amount (as defined below). The Cash Component is an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the Fund Shares (per Creation Unit Aggregation) and the “Deposit Amount” — an amount equal to the market value of the Deposit Securities. If the Cash Component is a positive number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit Aggregation exceeds the Deposit Amount), the creator will deliver the Cash Component. If the Cash Component is a negative number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit Aggregation is less than the Deposit Amount), the creator will receive the Cash Component.

 

The Custodian, through the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) (discussed below), makes available on each Business Day, prior to the opening of business on the Fund’s listing Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern time), the list of the names and the required number of shares of each Deposit Security and the amount of the Cash Component to be included in the current Fund Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous Business Day) for the Fund when effecting creations wholly or partly in-kind.

 

Such Fund Deposit is applicable, subject to any adjustments as described below, in order to effect creations of Creation Unit Aggregations of the Fund until such time as the next-announced composition of the Deposit Securities is made available.

 

The identity and number of shares of the Deposit Securities required for a Fund Deposit for the Fund changes as rebalancing adjustments and corporate action events are reflected within the Fund from time to time by the Adviser with a view to the investment objective of the Fund. The composition of the Deposit Securities may also change in response to adjustments to the weighting or composition of the component stocks of the Underlying Index. In addition, the Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of an amount of cash - i.e., a “cash in lieu” amount - to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security that may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery or that may not be eligible for transfer through the systems of DTC or, if applicable, the Clearing Process (discussed below), or which might not be eligible for trading by an Authorized Participant (as defined below) or the investor for which it is acting or other relevant reason. Brokerage commissions incurred in connection with the acquisition of Deposit Securities not eligible for transfer through the systems of DTC and hence not eligible for transfer through the Clearing Process (discussed below) will be at the expense of the Fund and will affect the value of all Shares; but the Adviser, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, may adjust the transaction fee within the parameters described above to protect ongoing shareholders. The adjustments described above will reflect changes known to the Adviser on the date of announcement to be in effect by the time of delivery of the Fund Deposit, in the composition of the Underlying Index or resulting from certain corporate actions.

 

In addition to the list of names and numbers of securities constituting the current Deposit Securities of the Fund Deposit, the Custodian, through the NSCC, also makes available on each Business Day, the estimated Cash Component, effective through and including the previous Business Day, per outstanding Creation Unit Aggregation of the Fund.

 

Procedures for Creation of Creation Unit Aggregations. To be eligible to place orders with the Distributor and to create a Creation Unit Aggregation of the Fund, an entity must be (i) a “Participating Party,” i.e., a broker-dealer or other participant in the clearing process through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC (the “Clearing Process”), a clearing agency that is registered with the SEC; or (ii) a DTC Participant (see the Book Entry Only System section), and, in each case, must have executed an agreement with the Distributor, with respect to creations and redemptions of Creation Unit Aggregations (“Participant Agreement”) (discussed below). A Participating Party and DTC Participant are collectively referred to as an “Authorized Participant.” Investors should contact the Distributor for the names of Authorized Participants that have signed a Participant Agreement. All Fund Shares, however created, will be entered on the records of DTC in the name of Cede & Co. for the account of a DTC Participant. Only U.S. equity securities are eligible to be cleared through the Clearing Process. Therefore, the Fund will only be eligible to utilize the Clearing Process for U.S. equity securities.

 

 

 

All orders to create Creation Unit Aggregations, whether through the Clearing Process (through a Participating Party) or outside the Clearing Process (through a DTC Participant), must be received by the Distributor no later than the closing time of the regular trading session on the Exchange (“Closing Time”) (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) in each case on the date such order is placed in order for creation of Creation Unit Aggregations to be effected based on the NAV of Shares of the Fund as next determined on such date after receipt of the order in proper form. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust may, but is not required to, permit Custom Orders until 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, or until the market close (in the event the Exchange closes early). In the case of custom orders, the order must be received by the Distributor no later than 3:00 p.m., Eastern time on the trade date. A custom order may be placed by an Authorized Participant in the event that the Trust permits or requires the substitution of an amount of cash to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security which may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery or which may not be eligible for trading by such Authorized Participant or the investor for which it is acting or other relevant reason. The date on which an order to create Creation Unit Aggregations (or an order to redeem Creation Unit Aggregations, as discussed below) is placed is referred to as the “Transmittal Date.” Orders must be transmitted by an Authorized Participant by telephone or other transmission method acceptable to the Distributor pursuant to procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement, as described below (see the “Placement of Creation Orders Using Clearing Process” and the “Placement of Creation Orders Outside Clearing Process” sections). Severe economic or market disruptions or changes, or telephone or other communication failure may impede the ability to reach the Distributor or an Authorized Participant.

 

All orders from investors who are not Authorized Participants to create Creation Unit Aggregations shall be placed with an Authorized Participant, as applicable, in the form required by such Authorized Participant. In addition, the Authorized Participant may request the investor to make certain representations or enter into agreements with respect to the order, e.g., to provide for payments of cash, when required. Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not have executed a Participant Agreement and that, therefore, orders to create Creation Unit Aggregations of the Fund have to be placed by the investor’s broker through an Authorized Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement. In such cases there may be additional charges to such investor. At any given time, there may be only a limited number of broker-dealers that have executed a Participant Agreement. Those placing orders for Creation Unit Aggregations through the Clearing Process should afford sufficient time to permit proper submission of the order to the Distributor prior to the Closing Time on the Transmittal Date. Orders for Creation Unit Aggregations that are affected outside the Clearing Process are likely to require transmittal by the DTC Participant earlier on the Transmittal Date than orders effected using the Clearing Process. Those persons placing orders outside the Clearing Process should ascertain the deadlines applicable to DTC and the Federal Reserve Bank wire system by contacting the operations department of the broker or depository institution effectuating such transfer of Deposit Securities and Cash Component.

 

With respect to the Fund’s investments in non-U.S. securities, if any, the Custodian shall cause the sub-custodian of the Fund to maintain an account into which the Authorized Participant shall deliver, on behalf of itself or the party on whose behalf it is acting, the securities included in the designated Fund Deposit (or the cash value of all or part of such securities, in the case of a permitted or required cash purchase or “cash in lieu” amount), with any appropriate adjustments as advised by the Trust. Deposit Securities must be delivered to an account maintained at the applicable local sub-custodian(s). Orders to purchase Creation Unit Aggregations must be received by the Distributor from an Authorized Participant on its own or another investor’s behalf by the closing time of the regular trading session on the Fund’s listing Exchange on the relevant Business Day. However, when a relevant local market is closed due to local market holidays, the local market settlement process will not commence until the end of the local holiday period. Settlement must occur by 2:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the contractual settlement date.

 

 

 

The Authorized Participant must also make available no later than 2:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the contractual settlement date, by means satisfactory to the Trust, immediately-available or same-day funds estimated by the Trust to be sufficient to pay the Cash Component next determined after acceptance of the purchase order, together with the applicable purchase transaction fee. Any excess funds will be returned following settlement of the issue of the Creation Unit Aggregation.

 

Placement of Creation Orders Using Clearing Process. The Clearing Process is the process of creating or redeeming Creation Unit Aggregations through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC. Fund Deposits (when eligible to utilize the Clearing Process) made through the Clearing Process must be delivered through a Participating Party that has executed a Participant Agreement. The Participant Agreement authorizes the Distributor to transmit through the Custodian to NSCC, on behalf of the Participating Party, such trade instructions as are necessary to effect the Participating Party’s creation order. Pursuant to such trade instructions to NSCC, the Participating Party agrees to deliver the requisite Deposit Securities and the Cash Component to the Trust, together with such additional information as may be required by the Distributor. An order to create Creation Unit Aggregations through the Clearing Process is deemed received by the Distributor on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Distributor not later than the Closing Time on such Transmittal Date and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed.

 

Placement of Creation Orders Outside Clearing Process. Fund Deposits made outside the Clearing Process (including all Fund Deposits not eligible to utilize the Clearing Process) must be delivered through a DTC Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement pre-approved by the Adviser and the Distributor. A DTC Participant who wishes to place an order creating Creation Unit Aggregations to be effected outside the Clearing Process does not need to be a Participating Party, but such orders must state that the DTC Participant is not using the Clearing Process and that the creation of Creation Unit Aggregations will instead be effected through a transfer of securities and cash directly through DTC. The Fund Deposit transfer must be ordered by the DTC Participant on the Transmittal Date in a timely fashion so as to ensure the delivery of the requisite number of Deposit Securities through DTC to the account of the Fund by no later than 11:00 a.m., Eastern time, of the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date.

 

All questions as to the number of Deposit Securities to be delivered, and the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) for the deposit of any tendered securities, will be determined by the Trust, whose determination shall be final and binding. The amount of cash equal to the Cash Component must be transferred directly to the Custodian through the Federal Reserve Bank wire transfer system in a timely manner so as to be received by the Custodian no later than 2:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the next Business Day immediately following such Transmittal Date. An order to create Creation Unit Aggregations outside the Clearing Process is deemed received by the Distributor on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Distributor not later than the Closing Time on such Transmittal Date; and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. However, if the Custodian does not receive both the required Deposit Securities and the Cash Component by 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., respectively, on the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date, such order will be canceled. Upon written notice to the Distributor, such canceled order may be resubmitted the following Business Day using a Fund Deposit as newly constituted to reflect the then current Deposit Securities and Cash Component. The delivery of Creation Unit Aggregations so created will occur no later than the second (2nd) Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Distributor.

 

Additional transaction fees may be imposed with respect to transactions effected outside the Clearing Process (through a DTC Participant) (when otherwise eligible to use the Clearing Process) and in the circumstances in which any cash can be used in lieu of Deposit Securities to create Creation Units. (See Creation Transaction Fee section below).

 

 

 

Creation Unit Aggregations may be created in advance of receipt by the Trust of all or a portion of the applicable Deposit Securities as described below. In these circumstances, the initial deposit will have a value greater than the NAV of the Fund Shares on the date the order is placed in proper form since, in addition to available Deposit Securities, cash must be deposited in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Cash Component, plus (ii) 115% of the market value of the undelivered Deposit Securities (the “Additional Cash Deposit”). The order shall be deemed to be received on the Business Day on which the order is placed provided that the order is placed in proper form prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on such date, and federal funds in the appropriate amount are deposited with the Custodian by 11:00 a.m., Eastern time, the following Business Day. If the order is not placed in proper form by 4:00 p.m. or federal funds in the appropriate amount are not received by 11:00 a.m. the next Business Day, then the order may be deemed to be canceled and the Authorized Participant shall be liable to the Fund for losses, if any, resulting therefrom. An additional amount of cash shall be required to be deposited with the Trust, pending delivery of the missing Deposit Securities to the extent necessary to maintain the Additional Cash Deposit with the Trust in an amount at least equal to 115% of the daily marked to market value of the missing Deposit Securities. To the extent that missing Deposit Securities are not received by 1:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the second Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Distributor or in the event a marked-to-market payment is not made within one Business Day following notification by the Distributor that such a payment is required, the Trust may use the cash on deposit to purchase the missing Deposit Securities. Authorized Participants will be liable to the Trust and the Fund for the costs incurred by the Trust in connection with any such purchases. These costs will be deemed to include the amount by which the actual purchase price of the Deposit Securities exceeds the market value of such Deposit Securities on the day the purchase order was deemed received by the Distributor plus the brokerage and related transaction costs associated with such purchases. The Trust will return any unused portion of the Additional Cash Deposit once all of the missing Deposit Securities have been properly received by the Custodian or purchased by the Trust and deposited into the Trust. In addition, a transaction fee, as described below, will be charged in all cases. The delivery of Creation Unit Aggregations so created will occur no later than the second Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Distributor.

 

Acceptance of Orders for Creation Unit Aggregations. The Trust reserves the absolute right to reject a creation order transmitted to it by the Distributor in respect of the Fund if: (i) the order is not in proper form; (ii) the investor(s), upon obtaining the Fund Shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding shares of any Fund; (iii) the Deposit Securities delivered are not as disseminated for that date by the Custodian, as described above; (iv) acceptance of the Deposit Securities would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Fund; (v) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (vi) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would otherwise, in the discretion of the Trust or the Adviser, have an adverse effect on the Trust or the rights of beneficial owners; or (vii) in the event that circumstances outside the control of the Trust, the Custodian, the Distributor and the Adviser make it for all practical purposes impossible to process creation orders. Examples of such circumstances include acts of God; public service or utility problems such as fires, floods, extreme weather conditions and power outages resulting in telephone, telecopy and computer failures; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving computer or other information systems affecting the Trust, the Adviser, the Distributor, DTC, NSCC, the Custodian or sub-custodian or any other participant in the creation process, and similar extraordinary events. The Distributor shall notify a prospective creator of a Creation Unit and/or the Authorized Participant acting on behalf of such prospective creator of its rejection of the order of such person. The Trust, the Custodian, any sub-custodian and the Distributor are under no duty, however, to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the delivery of Fund Deposits nor shall any of them incur any liability for the failure to give any such notification.

 

 

 

All questions as to the number of shares of each security in the Deposit Securities and the validity, form, eligibility, and acceptance for deposit of any securities to be delivered shall be determined by the Trust, and the Trust’s determination shall be final and binding.

 

Creation and Redemption Transaction Fee. Authorized Participants may be required to pay a creation or redemption fee for purchasing or redeeming Creation Units. Creation and redemption transactions for the Fund are subject to a creation or redemption fee, payable to SSB, in the amount listed below irrespective of the size of the order.

 

An additional variable charge may be imposed for creations effected outside the Clearing Process (with respect to Funds that could utilize the Clearing Process).

 

In addition, in the case of cash creations or where the Trust permits or requires an Authorized Participant to substitute cash in lieu of depositing a portion of the Deposit Securities, the Authorized Participant may be assessed an additional variable charge to compensate the Fund for the costs associated with purchasing the applicable securities. The Trust may adjust these fees from time to time based upon actual experience. As a result, in order to seek to replicate the in-kind creation order process, the Trust expects to purchase, in the secondary market or otherwise gain exposure to, the portfolio securities that could have been delivered as a result of an in-kind creation order pursuant to local law or market convention, or for other reasons (“Market Purchases”). In such cases where the Trust makes Market Purchases, the Trust may require the Authorized Participant to reimburse the Trust for, among other things, any difference between the market value at which the securities and/or financial instruments were purchased by the Trust and the cash in lieu amount (which amount, at the Adviser’s discretion, may be capped), applicable registration fees, brokerage commissions and certain taxes. The Adviser may adjust the transaction fee to the extent the composition of the creation securities changes or cash in lieu is added to the Cash Component to protect ongoing shareholders. Investors are responsible for the costs of transferring the securities constituting the Deposit Securities to the account of the Trust. To the extent the transaction expenses associated with Market Purchases are not fully reimbursed by the Authorized Participant through the transaction fee or otherwise, the Fund will bear such transaction expenses.

 

The standard creation or redemption transaction fee for the Fund is $500.

 

Redemption of Fund Shares in Creation Units Aggregations. Fund Shares may be redeemed only in Creation Unit Aggregations at the Fund’s NAV next determined after receipt of a redemption request in proper form by the Fund through the Transfer Agent and only on a Business Day. The Fund will not redeem Shares in amounts less than Creation Unit Aggregations. Beneficial owners must accumulate enough Shares in the secondary market to constitute a Creation Unit Aggregation in order to have such Shares redeemed by the Trust. There can be no assurance, however, that there will be sufficient liquidity in the public trading market at any time to permit assembly of a Creation Unit Aggregation. Investors should expect to incur brokerage and other costs in connection with assembling a sufficient number of Fund Shares to constitute a redeemable Creation Unit Aggregation.

 

An Authorized Participant submitting a redemption request is deemed to represent to the Trust that it (or its client) (i) has full legal authority and legal right to tender for redemption the requisite number of Shares of the Fund and to receive the entire proceeds of the redemption, and (ii) if such Shares submitted for redemption have been loaned or pledged to another party or are the subject of a repurchase agreement, securities lending agreement or any other arrangement effecting legal or beneficial ownership of such Shares being tendered there are no restrictions precluding the tender and delivery of such Shares (including borrowed Shares, if any) for redemption, free and clear of liens, on the redemption settlement date. The Trust reserves the right to verify these representations at its discretion, but will typically require verification with respect to a redemption request from the Fund in connection with higher levels of redemption activity and/or short interest in the Fund. If the Authorized Participant, upon receipt of a verification request, does not provide sufficient verification of its representations as determined by the Trust, the redemption request will not be considered to have been received in proper form and may be rejected by the Trust.

 

 

 

With respect to the Fund that effects redemptions wholly or partly in-kind, the Custodian, through the NSCC, makes available prior to the opening of business on the Fund’s listing Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern time) on each Business Day, the identity of the Fund Securities that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption requests received in proper form (as described below) on that day. Fund Securities received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities that are applicable to creations of Creation Unit Aggregations.

 

Unless cash redemptions (or partial cash redemptions) are available or specified for the Fund, the redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit Aggregation generally consist of Fund Securities — as announced on the Business Day of the request for redemption received in proper form — plus or minus cash in an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the Fund Shares being redeemed, as next determined after a receipt of a request in proper form, and the value of the Fund Securities (the “Cash Redemption Amount”), less a redemption transaction fee as listed below. In the event that the Fund Securities have a value greater than the NAV of the Fund Shares, a compensating cash payment equal to the difference is required to be made by or through an Authorized Participant by the redeeming shareholder.

 

The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed (i) for any period during which the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); (ii) for any period during which trading on the NYSE is suspended or restricted; (iii) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of the Shares of the Fund or determination of the Fund’s NAV is not reasonably practicable; or (iv) in such other circumstances as is permitted by the SEC.

 

Redemption Transaction Fee. A redemption transaction fee is imposed to offset transfer and other transaction costs that may be incurred by the Fund. An additional variable charge for cash redemptions (when cash redemptions are available or specified) for the Fund may be imposed to compensate the Fund for the costs associated with selling the applicable securities. The Fund may adjust these fees from time to time based on actual experience. As a result, in order to seek to replicate the in-kind redemption order process, the Trust expects to sell, in the secondary market, the portfolio securities that will not be delivered as part of an in-kind redemption order (“Market Sales”). In such cases where the Trust makes Market Sales, the Authorized Participant will reimburse the Trust for, among other things, any difference between the market value at which the securities were sold by the Trust and the cash in lieu amount (which amount, at the Adviser’s discretion, may be capped), applicable registration fees, brokerage commissions and taxes. To the extent applicable, brokerage commissions incurred in connection with the Trust’s sale of portfolio securities will be at the expense of the Fund and will affect the value of all Shares of the Fund; but the Adviser may adjust the transaction fee to the extent the composition of the redemption securities changes or cash in lieu is added to the Cash Redemption Amount to protect ongoing shareholders. Investors who use the services of a broker or other such intermediary may be charged a fee for such services. The standard redemption transaction fees for the Fund otherwise are the same as the standard creation fees set forth above. In no event will a redemption transaction fee exceed 2% of the amount redeemed. Investors will also bear the costs of transferring the Fund Securities from the Trust to their account or on their order. To the extent the transaction expenses associated with Market Sales are not fully reimbursed by the Authorized Participant through the transaction fee or otherwise, the Fund will bear such transaction expenses.

 

Placement of Redemption Orders Using Clearing Process. Orders to redeem Creation Unit Aggregations through the Clearing Process (for Funds eligible to utilize the Clearing Process) must be delivered through a Participating Party that has executed the Participant Agreement. An order to redeem Creation Unit Aggregations using the Clearing Process is deemed received by the Trust on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Transfer Agent not later than 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on such Transmittal Date, and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed; such order will be effected based on the NAV of the Fund as next determined. An order to redeem Creation Unit Aggregations using the Clearing Process made in proper form but received by the Trust after 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, will be deemed received on the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date and will be effected at the NAV next determined on such next Business Day. The requisite Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount will be transferred by the second NSCC Business Day following the date on which such request for redemption is deemed received.

 

 

 

Placement of Redemption Orders Outside Clearing Process. Orders to redeem Creation Unit Aggregations outside the Clearing Process (including all redemption orders for Funds not eligible to utilize the Clearing Process) must be delivered through a DTC Participant that has executed the Participant Agreement. A DTC Participant who wishes to place an order for redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations to be effected outside the Clearing Process does not need to be a Participating Party, but such orders must state that the DTC Participant is not using the Clearing Process and that redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations will instead be effected through transfer of Fund Shares directly through DTC. An order to redeem Creation Unit Aggregations outside the Clearing Process is deemed received by the Trust on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Transfer Agent not later than 4:00 p.m., Eastern time on such Transmittal Date; (ii) such order is accompanied or followed by the requisite number of Shares of the Fund, which delivery must be made through DTC to the Custodian no later than 11:00 a.m., Eastern time (for the Fund Shares), on the next Business Day immediately following such Transmittal Date (the “DTC Cut-Off-Time”) and 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time for any Cash Component, if any owed to the Fund; and (iii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. After the Trust has deemed an order for redemption outside the Clearing Process received, the Trust will initiate procedures to transfer the requisite Fund Securities which are expected to be delivered within two Business Days and the Cash Redemption Amount, if any owed to the redeeming Beneficial Owner to the Authorized Participant on behalf of the redeeming Beneficial Owner by the second Business Day following the Transmittal Date on which such redemption order is deemed received by the Trust. With respect to Funds that invest in non-U.S. securities, however, due to the schedule of holidays in certain countries, the delivery of in-kind redemption proceeds may take longer than two Business Days after the day on which the redemption request is received in proper form. In such cases, the local market settlement procedures will not commence until the end of the local holiday periods. In addition, for Funds that invest in non-U.S. securities, in connection with taking delivery of shares of Fund Securities upon redemption of shares of the Fund, a redeeming Beneficial Owner, or Authorized Participant action on behalf of such Beneficial Owner must maintain appropriate security arrangements with a qualified broker-dealer, bank or other custody provider in each jurisdiction in which any of the Fund Securities are customarily traded, to which account such Fund Securities will be delivered.

 

The calculation of the value of the Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered/received upon redemption will be made by the Custodian according to the procedures set forth under Determination of NAV computed on the Business Day on which a redemption order is deemed received by the Trust. Therefore, if a redemption order in proper form is submitted to the Transfer Agent by a DTC Participant not later than Closing Time on the Transmittal Date, and the requisite number of Shares of the Fund are delivered to the Custodian prior to the DTC Cut-Off-Time, then the value of the Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered/received will be determined by the Custodian on such Transmittal Date. If, however, either (i) the requisite number of Shares of the relevant Fund are not delivered by the DTC Cut-Off-Time, as described above, or (ii) the redemption order is not submitted in proper form, then the redemption order will not be deemed received as of the Transmittal Date. In such case, the value of the Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered/received will be computed on the Business Day following the Transmittal Date provided that the Fund Shares of the relevant Fund are delivered through DTC to the Custodian by 11:00 a.m. the following Business Day pursuant to a properly submitted redemption order.

 

 

 

For Funds that effect redemptions wholly or partly in-kind, if it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Fund Securities, the Trust may in its discretion exercise its option to redeem such Fund Shares in cash, and the redeeming Beneficial Owner will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash. In addition, an investor may request a redemption in cash that the relevant Fund may, in its sole discretion, permit. In either case, the investor will receive a cash payment equal to the NAV of its Fund Shares based on the NAV of Shares of the relevant Fund next determined after the redemption request is received in proper form (minus a redemption transaction fee and additional charge for requested cash redemptions specified above, to offset the Fund’s brokerage and other transaction costs associated with the disposition of Fund Securities). The Fund may also, in its sole discretion, upon request of a shareholder, provide such redeemer a portfolio of securities that differs from the exact composition of the Fund Securities, or cash in lieu of some securities added to the Cash Component, but in no event will the total value of the securities delivered and the cash transmitted differ from the NAV. Redemptions of Fund Shares for Fund Securities will be subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and the relevant Fund (whether or not it otherwise permits cash redemptions) reserves the right to redeem Creation Unit Aggregations for cash to the extent that the Trust could not lawfully deliver specific Fund Securities upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Fund Securities under such laws. An Authorized Participant or an investor for which it is acting subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular security included in the Fund Securities applicable to the redemption of a Creation Unit Aggregation may be paid an equivalent amount of cash. The Authorized Participant may request the redeeming Beneficial Owner of the Fund Shares to complete an order form or to enter into agreements with respect to such matters as compensating cash payment, beneficial ownership of shares or delivery instructions.

 

Regular Holidays. The Fund generally intends to effect deliveries of Creation Units and Portfolio Securities on a basis of “T” plus two Business Days (i.e., days on which the national securities exchange is open). The Fund may effect deliveries of Creation Units and Portfolio Securities on a basis other than T plus two or T plus one in order to accommodate local holiday schedules, to account for different treatment among foreign and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and ex-dividend dates, or under certain other circumstances. The ability of the Trust to effect in-kind creations and redemptions within two Business Days of receipt of an order in good form is subject, among other things, to the condition that, within the time period from the date of the order to the date of delivery of the securities, there are no days that are holidays in the applicable foreign market. For every occurrence of one or more intervening holidays in the applicable foreign market that are not holidays observed in the U.S. equity market, the redemption settlement cycle will be extended by the number of such intervening holidays. In addition to holidays, other unforeseeable closings in a foreign market due to emergencies may also prevent the Trust from delivering securities within normal settlement period.

 

The securities delivery cycles currently practicable for transferring Portfolio Securities to redeeming investors, coupled with foreign market holiday schedules, will require a delivery process longer than seven calendar days for each such Fund, in certain circumstances. The timing of settlement may also be affected by proclamation of new holidays, the treatment by market participants of certain days as “informal holidays” (e.g., days on which no or limited securities transactions occur, as a result of substantially shortened trading hours), the elimination of existing holidays or changes in local securities delivery practices.

 

TAXES

 

The following discussion is applicable to the Fund. The Fund intends to qualify for and has elected or intends to elect to be treated as a separate regulated investment company (a “RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the “Code”). As a RIC, the Fund will not be subject to U.S. Federal income tax on the portion of its taxable investment income and capital gains that it distributes to its shareholders. To qualify for treatment as a RIC, a company must annually distribute at least 90% of its net investment company taxable income (which includes dividends, interest and net short-term capital gains) and meet several other requirements relating to the nature of its income and the diversification of its assets. If the Fund fails to qualify for any taxable year as a RIC, all of its taxable income will be subject to tax at regular corporate income tax rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and such distributions generally will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary dividends to the extent of the relevant Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits.

 

 

 

The Fund is treated as a separate corporation for federal income tax purposes. The Fund therefore is considered to be a separate entity in determining its treatment under the rules for RICs described herein and in the Prospectus.

 

The Fund will be subject to a 4% excise tax on certain undistributed income if it does not distribute to its shareholders in each calendar year at least 98% of its ordinary income (taking into account certain deferrals and elections) for the calendar year plus 98.2% of its net capital gains for twelve months ended October 31 of such year. The Fund intends to declare and distribute dividends and distributions in the amounts and at the times necessary to avoid the application of this 4% excise tax.

 

As a result of tax requirements, the Trust on behalf of the Fund has the right to reject an order to purchase Shares if the purchaser (or group of purchasers) would, upon obtaining the Shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding Shares of such Fund and if, pursuant to section 351 of the Code, that Fund would have a basis in the Deposit Securities different from the market value of such securities on the date of deposit. The Trust also has the right to require information necessary to determine beneficial Share ownership for purposes of the 80% determination.

 

The Fund may make investments that are subject to special federal income tax rules, such as investments in repurchase agreements, money market instruments, convertible securities and structured notes. Those special tax rules can, among other things, affect the timing of income or gain, the treatment of income as capital or ordinary and the treatment of capital gain or loss as long-term or short-term. The application of these special rules would therefore also affect the character of distributions made by the relevant Fund. The Fund may need to borrow money or dispose of some of its investments earlier than anticipated in order to meet its distribution requirements.

 

Certain of the Fund’s investments may be subject to special U.S. federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (i) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (ii) convert lower-taxed long-term capital gain into higher-taxed short-term capital gain or ordinary income, (iii) convert an ordinary loss or a deduction into a capital loss, the deductibility of which is more limited, (iv) adversely affect when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, (v) adversely alter the intended characterization of certain complex financial transactions (vi) cause the Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash and (vii) produce non-qualifying income for purposes of the income test required to be satisfied by a RIC. The application of these rules could cause the Fund to be subject to U.S. federal income tax or the nondeductible 4% excise tax and, under certain circumstances, could affect the Fund’s status as a RIC. The Fund will monitor its investments and may make certain tax elections in order to mitigate the effect of these provisions.

 

The Fund may invest in stocks of foreign companies that are classified under the Code as passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”). In general, a foreign company is classified as a PFIC if at least 50% of its assets constitute investment-type assets or 75% or more of its gross income is investment-type income. In general under the PFIC rules, an “excess distribution” received with respect to PFIC stock is treated as having been realized ratably over the period during which the Fund held the PFIC stock. The Fund itself will be subject to tax on the portion, if any, of the excess distribution that is allocated to the Fund’s holding period in prior taxable years (and an interest factor will be added to the tax, as if the tax had actually been payable in such prior taxable years) even though the Fund distributes the corresponding income to shareholders. Excess distributions include any gain from the sale of PFIC stock as well as certain distributions from a PFIC. All excess distributions are taxable as ordinary income.

 

 

 

The Fund may be able to elect alternative tax treatment with respect to PFIC stock. Under an election that currently may be available, the Fund generally would be required to include in its gross income its share of the earnings of a PFIC on a current basis, regardless of whether any distributions are received from the PFIC. If this election is made, the special rules, discussed above, relating to the taxation of excess distributions, would not apply. Alternatively, the Fund may be able to elect to mark to market its PFIC stock, resulting in the stock being treated as sold at fair market value on the last business day of each taxable year. Any resulting gain would be reported as ordinary income, and mark-to-market losses and any loss from an actual disposition of the Fund Shares would be deductible as ordinary losses to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains included in income in prior years.

 

Because the application of the PFIC rules may affect, among other things, the character of gains, the amount of gain or loss and the timing of the recognition of income with respect to PFIC stock, as well as subject the Fund itself to tax on certain income from PFIC stock, the amount that must be distributed to shareholders, and which will be taxed to shareholders as ordinary income or long-term capital gain, may be increased or decreased substantially as compared to a fund that did not invest in PFIC stock. Note that distributions from a PFIC are not eligible for the reduced rate of tax on “qualified dividends.”

 

Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present tax issues for the Fund. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether and to what extent the Fund should recognize market discount on a debt obligation, when the Fund may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent the Fund may take deductions for bad debts or worthless securities and how the Fund should allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by the Fund in order to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a RIC.

 

Under Section 988 of the Code, special rules are provided for certain transactions in a foreign currency other than the taxpayer’s functional currency (i.e., unless certain special rules apply, currencies other than the U.S. dollar). In general, foreign currency gains or losses from futures contracts that are not “regulated futures contracts” will be treated as ordinary income or loss under Section 988 of the Code. Also, certain foreign exchange gains or losses derived with respect to foreign fixed income securities are also subject to Section 988 treatment. In general, therefore, Section 988 gains or losses will increase or decrease the amount of the Fund’s investment company taxable income available to be distributed to shareholders as ordinary income, rather than increasing or decreasing the amount of the Fund’s net capital gain.

 

Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. Tax conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of stock or securities of foreign corporations, or if at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the close of each quarter of its taxable year is represented by interests in other RICs, that Fund may elect to “pass through” to its shareholders the amount of foreign taxes paid or deemed paid by that Fund. If this election is made, a shareholder generally subject to tax will be required to include in gross income (in addition to taxable dividends actually received) its pro rata share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund, and may be entitled either to deduct (as an itemized deduction) his or her pro rata share of foreign taxes in computing his taxable income or to use it (subject to limitations) as a foreign tax credit against his or her U.S. federal income tax liability. No deduction for foreign taxes may be claimed by a shareholder who does not itemize deductions. Each shareholder will be notified after the close of the Fund’s taxable year whether the foreign taxes paid by the Fund will “pass-through” for that year. Various other limitations, including a minimum holding period requirement, apply to limit the credit and/or deduction for foreign taxes for purposes of regular federal tax and/or alternative minimum tax.

 

 

 

The Fund may gain commodity exposure through investment in exchange traded funds that are treated as RICs or “qualified publicly traded partnerships” or grantor trusts for U.S. federal income tax purposes. An exchange traded fund that seeks to qualify as a RIC may gain commodity exposure through investment in commodity-linked notes and in subsidiaries that invest in commodity-linked instruments. Although the IRS has issued numerous favorable private letter rulings to certain RICs that gain commodity exposure in this manner, such rulings can be relied on only by the taxpayers to whom they are issued. Moreover, the IRS has currently suspended the issuance of private letter rulings relating to the tax treatment of income and gains generated by investments in commodity index-linked notes. The IRS also issued regulations that generally treat the Fund’s income inclusion with respect to a subsidiary as qualifying income if there is a distribution out of the earnings and profits of the subsidiary that are attributable to such income inclusion, or if the Fund’s income inclusion is derived in connection with the Fund’s business of investing in stocks, securities, or currencies. Future IRS guidance could limit the ability of an exchange traded fund that qualifies as a RIC to gain commodity exposure regardless of whether that exchange traded fund previously received a favorable IRS private letter ruling with respect to such investment activity. Investments by the Fund in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” and grantor trusts that engage in commodity trading must be monitored and limited so as to enable the Fund to satisfy certain asset diversification and qualifying income tests for qualification as a RIC. Failure to satisfy either test would jeopardize the Fund’s status as a RIC. Loss of such status could materially adversely affect the Fund.

 

Under tax legislation, individuals (and certain other non-corporate entities) are generally eligible for a 20% deduction with respect to taxable ordinary REIT dividends. Applicable Treasury regulations allow the Fund to pass through to its shareholders such taxable ordinary REIT dividends. Accordingly, individual (and certain other non-corporate) shareholders of the Fund that have received such taxable ordinary REIT dividends may be able to take advantage of this 20% deduction with respect to any such amounts passed through.

 

Under recently issued Treasury regulations, certain distributions reported by the Fund as section 163(j) interest dividends may be treated as interest income by shareholders for purposes of the tax rules applicable to interest expense limitations under Code section 163(j). Such treatment by the shareholder is generally subject to holding period requirements and other potential limitations, although the holding period requirements are generally not applicable to dividends declared by money market funds and certain other funds that declare dividends daily and pay such dividends on a monthly or more frequent basis. The amount that the Fund is eligible to report as a Section 163(j) dividend for a tax year is generally limited to the excess of the Fund’s business interest income over the sum of the Fund’s (i) business interest expense and (ii) other deductions properly allocable to the Fund’s business interest income.

 

Distributions from the Fund’s net investment income, including net short-term capital gains, if any, and distributions of income from securities lending, are taxable as ordinary income. Distributions reinvested in additional Shares of the Fund through the means of a dividend reinvestment service will be taxable dividends to Shareholders acquiring such additional Shares to the same extent as if such dividends had been received in cash. Distributions of net long-term capital gains, if any, in excess of net short-term capital losses are taxable as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long shareholders have held the Shares.

 

 

 

Dividends declared by the Fund in October, November or December and paid to shareholders of record of such months during the following January may be treated as having been received by such shareholders in the year the distributions were declared.

 

Long-term capital gains tax of non-corporate taxpayers are generally taxed at a maximum rate of either 15% or 20%, depending on whether the taxpayer’s income exceeds certain threshold amounts. In addition, some ordinary dividends declared and paid by the Fund to non-corporate shareholders may qualify for taxation at the lower reduced tax rates applicable to long-term capital gains, provided that holding period and other requirements are met by the Fund and the shareholder. The Fund will report to shareholders annually the amounts of dividends received from ordinary income, the amount of distributions received from capital gains and the portion of dividends which may qualify for the dividends received deduction. In addition, the Fund will report the amount of dividends to non-corporate shareholders eligible for taxation at the lower reduced tax rates applicable to long-term capital gains.

 

An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from the Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund Shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds certain threshold amounts.

 

The sale, exchange or redemption of Shares may give rise to a gain or loss. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the Shares have been held for more than one year. Otherwise, the gain or loss on the taxable disposition of Shares will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. A loss realized on a sale or exchange of Shares of the Fund may be disallowed if other substantially identical Shares are acquired (whether through the automatic reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within a sixty-one (61) day period beginning thirty (30) days before and ending thirty (30) days after the date on which the Shares are disposed. In such a case, the basis of the Shares acquired must be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. Any loss upon the sale or exchange of Shares held for six (6) months or less is treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends received by the shareholders (including undistributed capital gain included in income). Distribution of ordinary income and capital gains may also be subject to state and local taxes.

 

Reporting to you and the IRS annually on Form 1099-B not only the gross proceeds of Fund Shares you sell or redeem but also their cost basis is required. Shareholders should contact their intermediaries with respect to reporting of cost basis and available elections with respect to their accounts.

 

If, for any calendar year, the total distributions made exceed the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will, for federal income tax purposes, be treated as a tax free return of capital to each shareholder up to the amount of the shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, and thereafter as gain from the sale of shares. The amount treated as a tax free return of capital will reduce the shareholder’s adjusted basis in his or her shares, thereby increasing the shareholder’s potential gain or reducing the shareholder’s potential loss on the subsequent sale of the shares.

 

Distributions of ordinary income paid to shareholders who are nonresident aliens or foreign entities (“Foreign Shareholders”) that are not effectively connected to the conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. will generally be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax unless a reduced rate of withholding or a withholding exemption is provided under applicable treaty law. However, Foreign Shareholders will generally not be subject to U.S. withholding or income tax on gains realized on the sale of Shares or on dividends from capital gains unless (i) such gain or capital gain dividend is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. or (ii) in the case of a non-corporate shareholder, the shareholder is present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale or capital gain dividend and certain other conditions are met. Gains on the sale of Shares and dividends that are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. will generally be subject to U.S. federal net income taxation at regular income tax rates.

 

 

 

The Fund is not required to withhold any amounts with respect to distributions to foreign shareholders that are properly reported by the Fund as “interest-related dividends” or “short-term capital gain dividends,” provided that the income would not be subject to federal income tax if earned directly by the foreign shareholder. However, no assurance can be given as to whether any of the Fund’s distributions will be eligible for this exemption from withholding of U.S. federal income tax or, if eligible, will be reported as such by the Fund. Nonresident shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors concerning the applicability of the U.S. withholding tax.

 

Withholding is required (at a 30% rate) with respect to payments of taxable dividends made to certain non-U.S. entities that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive new reporting and withholding requirements designed to inform the U.S. Department of the Treasury of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts. Shareholders may be requested to provide additional information to the Fund to enable the applicable withholding agent to determine whether withholding is required.

 

Non-U.S. Shareholders may also be subject to U.S. estate tax with respect to their shares of the Fund.

 

Some shareholders may be subject to a withholding tax on distributions of ordinary income, capital gains and any cash received on redemption of Creation Units (“backup withholding”). Generally, shareholders subject to backup withholding will be those for whom no certified taxpayer identification number is on file with the Fund or who, to the Fund’s knowledge, have furnished an incorrect number. When establishing an account, an investor must certify under penalty of perjury that such number is correct and that such investor is not otherwise subject to backup withholding. Any tax withheld as a result of backup withholding does not constitute an additional tax imposed on the record owner of the account and may be claimed as a credit on the record owner’s federal income tax return. The backup withholding rate is currently 24%. The ability to deduct capital losses may be limited.

 

The foregoing discussion is a summary only and is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Purchasers of Shares should consult their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of investing in such Shares, including under federal, state, local and other tax laws. Finally, the foregoing discussion is based on applicable provisions of the Code, regulations, judicial authority and administrative interpretations in effect on the date hereof. Changes in applicable authority could materially affect the conclusions discussed above, possibly retroactively.

 

FEDERAL TAX TREATMENT OF FUTURES CONTRACTS

 

The Fund is required for federal income tax purposes to mark to market and recognize as income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on certain futures contracts as of the end of the year as well as those actually realized during the year. Gain or loss from futures contracts on broad-based indexes required to be marked to market will be 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Application of this rule may alter the timing and character of distributions to shareholders. The Fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on futures contracts to the extent of any unrecognized gains on offsetting positions held by the relevant Fund.

 

In order for the Fund to continue to qualify for federal income tax treatment as a RIC, at least 90% of its gross income for a taxable year must be derived from qualifying income, i.e., dividends, interest, income derived from loans or securities, gains from the sale of securities or of foreign currencies or other income derived with respect to the relevant Fund’s business of investing in securities (including net income derived from an interest in certain “qualified publicly traded partnerships”). It is anticipated that any net gain realized from the closing out of futures contracts will be considered gain from the sale of securities or derived with respect to the relevant Fund’s business of investing in securities and therefore will be qualifying income for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement.

 

 

 

The Fund distributes to shareholders at least annually any net capital gains which have been recognized for federal income tax purposes, including unrealized gains at the end of the Fund’s fiscal year on futures transactions. Such distributions are combined with distributions of capital gains realized on the Fund’s other investments and shareholders are advised on the nature of the distributions.

 

DETERMINATION OF NAV

 

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “Net Asset Value.”

 

The NAV per Share of the Fund is computed by dividing the value of the net assets of the relevant Fund (i.e., the value of its total assets less total liabilities) by the total number of Shares of the relevant Fund outstanding, rounded to the nearest cent. Expenses and fees, including without limitation, the management and administration fees, are accrued daily and taken into account for purposes of determining NAV. The NAV per Share is calculated by the Custodian and determined as of the close of the regular trading session on the NYSE (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on each day that such exchange is open.

 

In computing the Fund’s NAV, the relevant Fund’s securities holdings traded on a national securities exchange are valued based on their last sale price. Price information on listed securities is taken from the exchange where the security is primarily traded. Securities regularly traded in an over-the-counter market are valued at the latest quoted sale price in such market or in the case of the NASDAQ, at the NASDAQ official closing price. Other portfolio securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available are valued based on fair value as determined in good faith in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board.

 

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “Dividends, Distributions and Taxes.”

 

General Policies. Dividends from the Fund’s net investment income, if any, are declared and paid annually. Distributions of net realized securities gains, if any, generally are declared and paid once a year, but the Trust may make distributions on a more frequent basis. The Trust reserves the right to declare special distributions if, in its reasonable discretion, such action is necessary or advisable to preserve the status of the Fund as a RIC or to avoid imposition of income or excise taxes on undistributed income.

 

Dividends and other distributions on Fund Shares are distributed, as described below, on a pro rata basis to Beneficial Owners of such Shares. Dividend payments are made through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners then of record with proceeds received from the relevant Fund.

 

Dividend Reinvestment Service. No reinvestment service is provided by the Trust. Broker-dealers may make available the DTC book-entry Dividend Reinvestment Service for use by Beneficial Owners of the Fund for reinvestment of their dividend distributions. Beneficial Owners should contact their broker to determine the availability and costs of the service and the details of participation therein. Brokers may require Beneficial Owners to adhere to specific procedures and timetables.

 

 

 

INDICATIVE INTRA-DAY VALUE

 

The approximate value of the Fund’s investments on a per-Share basis, the Indicative Intra-Day Value (“IIV”), is disseminated by the Fund’s listing Exchange every 15 seconds during hours of trading on the Exchange. The IIV should not be viewed as a “real-time” update of NAV because the IIV will be calculated by an independent third party calculator and may not be calculated in the exact same manner as NAV, which is computed daily.

 

The Exchange calculates the IIV during hours of trading on the Exchange by dividing the “Estimated Fund Value” as of the time of the calculation by the total number of outstanding Shares. “Estimated Fund Value” is the sum of the estimated amount of cash held in the Fund’s portfolio and the estimated value of the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio. In determining the estimated value for each of the component securities, the IIV will use last sale, market prices or other methods that would be considered appropriate for pricing equity securities held by registered investment companies. This may result in the use of stale values in certain circumstances that might adversely affect the usefulness of IIV as an indicator of the underlying value of the Fund’s Actual Portfolio. Although the Fund provides the independent third party calculator with information to calculate the IIV, the Fund is not involved in the actual calculation of the IIV and is not responsible for the calculation or dissemination of the IIV. The Fund makes no warranty as to the accuracy of the IIV.

 

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

 

Counsel. Dechert LLP, 1095 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10036, is counsel to the Trust.

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. Deloitte & Touche LLP, serves as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. They audit the Fund’s financial statements and perform other related audit services.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

As of the date of this SAI, the Fund has not commenced investment operations. When available, you can obtain copies of the Fund’s Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report at no charge by writing or telephoning the Fund at the address or number on the front page of this SAI.

 

 

 

APPENDIX  A

 

ALPS Advisors, Inc.

Proxy Voting Policy, Procedures and Guidelines

 

1. POLICY STATEMENT & GENERAL BACKGROUND

 

a. Overview

 

An investment adviser that exercises voting authority over clients’ proxies must adopt written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that those proxies are voted in the best economic interests of clients. An adviser’s policies and procedures must address how the adviser resolves material conflicts of interest between its interests and those of its clients. An investment adviser must comply with certain record keeping and disclosure requirements with respect to its proxy voting responsibilities. In addition, an investment adviser to ERISA accounts has an affirmative obligation to vote proxies for an ERISA account, unless the client expressly retains proxy voting authority.

 

b. Policy Summary

 

AAI has adopted and implemented the following policies and procedures, which it believes are reasonably designed to: (1) ensure that proxies are voted in the best economic interest of clients and (2) address material conflicts of interest that may arise. AAI will provide clients with a copy of its policies and procedures, as they may be updated from time to time, upon request. Information regarding AAI’s proxy voting decisions is confidential. Therefore, the information may be shared on a need to know basis only, including within AAI. Advisory clients may obtain information on how their proxies were voted by AAI. However, AAI will not selectively disclose its investment company clients’ proxy voting records to third parties; the investment company clients’ proxy records will be disclosed to shareholders by publicly-available annual filings or each investment company’s proxy voting record for 12-month periods ending June 30th.

 

 

 

With respect to investment companies registered under the 1940 Act, any assignment of voting authority over the Funds’ voting securities is typically delegated to ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“AAI”) as the Funds’ investment adviser, or the Funds’ sub-adviser by the respective Funds’ Board of Trustees/Directors.

 

Voting Delegated to Sub-Advisers

If the Funds’ day-to-day investment decisions are performed by the Funds’ investment sub-adviser(s), Funds’ Board of Trustees/Directors may elect to delegate the responsibility of voting proxies to such sub-adviser to be voted in accordance to the sub-adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures in conformance with Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. For securities in the portfolio of a Fund that is managed by more than one sub-adviser, each sub-adviser shall make voting decisions pursuant to their own proxy voting policies and procedures, as adopted in conformance with the Advisers Act for their respective portions of the Fund’s portfolio, unless directed otherwise. In addition, proxy voting authority may be delegated to AAI where it serves as the Funds’ sub-adviser.

 

c. Policy

 

All proxies regarding client securities for which AAI has authority to vote will, unless AAI determines in accordance with policies stated below to refrain from voting, be voted in a manner considered by AAI to be in the best interest of AAI’s clients. The best interest of clients is defined for this purpose as the interest of enhancing or protecting the economic value of client accounts, considered as a group rather than individually, as AAI determines in its sole and absolute discretion. There may also be instances where a fund relies upon Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act, and by law, the fund may be required to vote proxies in the same proportion as the vote of all other shareholders of the acquired fund (i.e., “echo vote”). In the event a client believes that its other interests require a different vote, AAI will vote as the client clearly instructs, provided AAI receives such instructions in time to act accordingly.

 

AAI endeavors to vote, in accordance with this Policy, all proxies of which it becomes aware, subject to the following general exceptions (unless otherwise agreed) when AAI expects to routinely refrain from voting:

 

  i. Proxies will usually not be voted in cases where the security has been loaned from the client’s account and subsequently, AAI determines that the type of proxy issue is not material to shareholders. AAI will utilize the below considerations to determine if a security then on loan should be recalled for voting purposes. Decisions will generally be made on a case-by-case basis depending on whether, in AAI’s judgment,:

 

  the matter to be voted on has critical significance to the potential value of the security in question;

 

  the security represents a significant holding and whether the security is considered a long-term holding; and

 

 

 

  AAI believes it can recall the security in time to cast the vote.

 

  ii. Proxies will usually not be voted in cases where AAI deems the costs to the client and/or the administrative inconvenience of voting the security outweigh the benefit of doing so (e.g., international issuers who impose share blocking restrictions).

 

AAI seeks to avoid the occurrence of actual or apparent material conflicts of interest in the proxy voting process by voting in accordance with predetermined voting guidelines and observing other procedures that are intended to guard against and manage conflicts of interest (refer to Section 2.b., Conflicts of Interest, below).

 

2. OPERATING PROCEDURES & CONTROL ACTIVITIES

 

Where proxy voting is delegated to the sub-adviser, the sub-adviser will adopt proxy voting policies and procedures in accordance in conformance with Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. AAI has adopted the following proxy voting procedures and controls for any client securities which AAI has authority to vote on:

 

a. Proxy Committee

 

AAI has established a Proxy Committee whose standing members are determined by AAI’s Chief Compliance Officer. These members participate as voting authorities on the Proxy Committee. Each standing member may designate a senior portfolio manager or a senior analyst officer to act as a substitute in a given matter on their behalf. Additionally, the Proxy Committee regularly involves other associates who participate as needed to enable effective execution of the Committee’s responsibilities.

 

The Proxy Committee’s functions include, but are not limited to:

 

  i. Providing input and/or recommendations on the vote direction on proposals where special or individual consideration is requested;
  ii. review periodically these Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures to ensure consistency with internal policies, client disclosures and regulatory requirements;
  iii. development and modification of Voting Procedures, as stated in Section 2.d., as it deems appropriate or necessary.

 

b. Conflicts of Interest

 

For purposes of this policy, a material conflict of interest is a relationship or activity engaged in by AAI, an AAI affiliate, or an AAI associate that creates an incentive (or appearance thereof) to favor the interests of AAI, the affiliate, or associate, rather than the clients’ interests. For example, AAI may have a conflict of interest if either AAI has a significant business relationship with a company that is soliciting a proxy, or if an AAI associate involved in the proxy voting decision-making process has a significant personal or family relationship with the particular company. A conflict of interest is considered to be “material” to the extent that a reasonable person could expect the conflict to influence AAI’s decision on the particular vote at issue. In all cases where there is deemed to be a material conflict of interest, AAI will seek to resolve it in the clients’ best interests.

 

AAI follows the proxy guidelines and uses other research services provided by Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”) or another independent third party. In providing proxy voting services to AAI, ISS provides vote recommendations on a pre-determined policy. Generally, AAI will vote proxies based on ISS’ pre-determined voting policy. In doing so, AAI demonstrates that its vote would not be a product of a conflict of interest as AAI would have little or no discretion on how the proxy was voted.

 

 

 

AAI has undertaken a review of ISS’ conflicts of interest procedures, and will continue to monitor them on an ongoing basis. In the event that AAI determines that it would be appropriate to use another third party, it will undertake a similar conflicts of interest assessment review.

 

c. Proxy Voting Guidelines

 

i. AAI’s Proxy Voting Guidelines – General Practices

 

The Proxy Committee has adopted the guidelines for voting proxies specified in Appendix A of this policy. AAI will use an independent, third-party vendor to implement its proxy voting process as AAI’s proxy voting agent. In general, whenever a vote is solicited, ISS or another independent third party will execute the vote according to AAI’s Voting Guidelines.

 

ii. Ability to Vote Proxies Other than as Provided by Voting Guidelines

 

A portfolio manager or other party involved with a client’s account may conclude that the best interest of the firm’s client, as defined above, requires that a proxy be voted in a manner that differs from the predetermined proxy Voting Guidelines. In this situation, he or she will submit to AAI’s Compliance Department the proposed proxy vote(s) and a written explanation of the reason(s) for voting in a manner that differs from the predetermined proxy Voting Guidelines.

 

A research analyst or portfolio manager must disclose in writing any inappropriate attempt to influence their recommendation or any other personal interest that they have with the issuer.

 

iii. Other Proxy Proposals

 

For the following categories of proposals either the Proxy Committee will determine how proxies related to all such proposals will be voted, or the proxies will be voted in accordance with ISS’ or a an individual client’s guidelines.

 

  New Proposals. For each new type of proposal that is expected to be proposed to shareholders of multiple companies, the Proxy Committee will develop a Voting Guideline which will be incorporated into this Policy.

 

  Accounts Adhering to Taft Hartley Principles. All proposals for these accounts will be voted according to the Taft Hartley Guidelines developed by ISS.

 

  Accounts Adhering to Socially Responsible Principles. All proposals for these accounts will be voted according to the Socially Responsible Guidelines developed by ISS or as specified by the client.

 

  Proxies of International Issuers which Block Securities Sales between the Time a Shareholder submits a Proxy and the Vote. In general, AAI will refrain from voting such securities. However, in the exceptional circumstances that AAI determines that it would be appropriate to vote such proxies, all proposals for these securities will be voted only on the specific instruction of the Proxy Committee and to the extent practicable in accordance with the Voting Guidelines set forth in this Policy.

 

  Proxies of Investment Company Shares. Proposals on issues other than those provided in Section 2.c.i will be voted on the specific instruction of the Proxy Committee.

 

 

 

  Executive/Director Compensation. Except as provided in Section 2.c.i, proposals relating to compensation of any executive or director will be voted as recommended by ISS or as otherwise directed by the Proxy Committee.

 

  Preemptive Rights. Proposals to create or eliminate shareholder preemptive rights. In evaluating these proposals the Proxy Committee will consider the size of the company and the nature of its shareholder base.

 

d. Voting Procedures

 

The Proxy Committee has developed the following procedures to aid the voting of proxies according to the Voting Guidelines. The Proxy Committee may revise these procedures from time to time, as it deems necessary or appropriate to affect the purposes of this Policy.

 

  i. AAI will use an independent, third-party vendor, to implement its proxy voting process as AAI’s proxy voting agent. This retention is subject to AAI continuously assessing the vendor’s independence from AAI and its affiliates, and the vendor’s ability to perform its responsibilities (and, especially, its responsibility to vote client proxies in accordance with AAI’s proxy voting guidelines) free of any actual, potential or apparent material conflicts of interests that may arise between the interests of the vendor, its affiliates, the vendor’s other clients and the owners, officers or employees of any such firm, on the one hand, and AAI’s clients, on the other hand. As means of performing this assessment, AAI will require various reports and notices from the vendor, as well as periodic audits of the vendor’s voting record and other due diligence.

 

  ii. ISS will provide proxy analysis and record keeping services in addition to voting proxies on behalf of AAI in accordance with this Policy.

 

  iii. On a daily basis, AAI or designee will send to ISS a holdings file detailing each equity holding held in all accounts over which AAI has voting authority.

 

  iv. AAI will complete a Vote Authorization Registration with ISS for any new client, which will describe how ballots will be executed on behalf of the client. In addition, AAI will complete and provide the client’s custodian bank with a Letter of Authorization. The letter will serve as notice that AAI has retained ISS to act as the voting agent for the securities held in the client’s account and will instruct the custodian bank to forward all ballots, meeting notices, and other proxy materials to ISS.

 

  v. ISS will receive proxy material information from Proxy Edge or the custodian bank for the account. This will include issues to be voted upon, together with a breakdown of holdings for AAI accounts. ISS will then reconcile information it receives from Proxy Edge and custodian banks. Any discrepancies will be promptly noted and resolved by ISS, with notice to AAI.

 

  vi. Whenever a vote is solicited, ISS will execute the vote according to AAI’s Voting Guidelines which will be delivered by AAI to ISS as set forth in Appendix A of these policies and procedures and anytime there is a material change to these guidelines.

 

  If ISS is unsure how to vote a particular proxy, ISS will issue a request for voting instructions to AAI over a secure website. AAI personnel will check this website regularly. The request will be accompanied by a recommended vote. The recommended vote will be based upon ISS’ understanding of the Voting Guidelines previously delivered to ISS. AAI will promptly provide ISS with any amendments or modifications to the Voting Guidelines if necessary. AAI will return a final instruction to vote to ISS, which ISS will record with Proxy Edge or the custodian bank as our agent.

 

  vii. Each time that ISS sends AAI a request to vote, the request will be accompanied by the recommended vote determined in accordance with AAI’s Voting Guidelines. ISS will vote as indicated in the request unless the client has reserved discretion, the Portfolio Manager(s) determines that the best interest of clients requires another vote, or the proposal is a matter as to which the Proxy Committee affords special, individual consideration. In such situations, ISS will vote based on the direction of the client, Portfolio Manager(s) or the Proxy Committee, as the case may be. The interests of AAI’s Taft Hartley or Socially Responsible clients may impact a proposal that normally should be voted in a certain way. ISS will inform AAI of all proposals having impact on its Taft Hartley and or Socially Responsible clients.

 

  viii. ISS will have procedures in place to ensure that a vote is cast on every security holding maintained by AAI on which a vote is solicited unless otherwise directed by the Proxy Committee. On a yearly basis, or as required by our clients, AAI will receive a report from ISS detailing AAI’s voting for the previous period.

 

 

 

e. Proxy Advisory Firm Oversight

 

i. Initial Assessment

 

In selecting a third-party proxy advisory firm, AAI will perform an initial due diligence review to ensure that voting determinations are made in the best interests of AAI clients and in accordance with these policies and procedures. AAI’s review will include, but is not limited to, assessing:

 

  The necessary resources to fulfill the proxy voting responsibilities;
  Policies and procedures with respect to obtaining issuer and client input on proxy voting policies; and
  Transparency regarding voting recommendations and research methodologies.

 

ii. Ongoing Reviews

 

In addition to the initial evaluation of a proxy advisory firm, AAI will conduct ongoing assessments of the proxy advisory firm’s business. Such reviews will occur at periodic intervals and will include, but are not limited to:

 

  Summary of material changes, if any, to the proxy advisory firm’s business and how such changes impact the services provided to AAI and its clients;
  Methodology updates to guidelines and voting recommendations; and
  Disclosure of conflicts of interest.

 

f. Securities Lending

 

Each Fund advised by AAI, where authorized by its respective Board, may engage in securities lending transactions, to the extent permitted by the Fund’s investment policies and limitations. The Adviser will be required to monitor for scheduled or anticipated proxy votes relating to securities on loan and determine whether the securities should be recalled from loan on the relevant record date. There may be situations where the Adviser may not be able to recall the security in time to cast the vote.

 

g. Supervision

 

Managers and supervisory personnel are responsible for ensuring that their associates understand and follow this policy and any applicable procedures adopted by the business group to implement the policy. The Proxy Committee has ultimate responsibility for the implementation of this Policy.

 

h. Escalation

 

With the exception of conflicts of interest-related matters, issues arising under this policy should be escalated to AAI’s CCO, or designee. Issues involving potential or actual conflicts of interest should be promptly communicated to Compliance or Legal. Compliance will notify the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer(s), if a material conflict of interest is deemed to have arisen.

 

i. Monitoring

 

AAI’s Compliance Department is primarily responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the proxy voting process. The Compliance Department’s monitoring will take into account the following elements: (1) periodic review of ISS votes to ensure that ISS is accurately voting consistent with AAI’s Proxy Guidelines and such voting recommendations are based on accurate and complete information; and (2) review of the Funds’ N-PX report to ensure that it’s filed in a timely and accurate manner. Additionally, AAI will review ISS’ conflicts of interest policies.

 

 

 

AAI’s Compliance Committee monitors proxy matters for its clients including monitoring material conflicts of interest identified.

 

j. Availability of Proxy Policy and Voting Record

 

A summary disclosure regarding the provisions of this Policy will be available in AAI’s Form ADV, to the extent AAI is required to prepare Part 2 to Form ADV. Upon receipt of a Client’s request for more information, AAI will provide to the Client a copy of this Policy and/or how AAI voted proxies for the Client pursuant to this Policy for up to a one-year period.

 

AAI will not selectively disclose its investment company clients’ proxy voting records; rather, AAI will disclose such information by publicly available annual filings. AAI will create and maintain records of each investment company’s proxy record for 12-month periods ended June 30th. AAI will compile the following information for each matter relating to a portfolio security considered at any shareholder meeting during the period covered by the annual report and which the company was entitled to vote:

 

  The name of the issuer of the security;
  The exchange ticker symbol of the portfolio security (if symbol is available through reasonably practicable means);
  The Council on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures number for the portfolio security (if number is available through reasonably practicable means);
  The shareholder meeting date;
  A brief identification of the matter voted on;
  Whether the matter was proposed by the issuer or by a security holder;
  Whether the company cast its vote on the matter;
  How the company cast its vote (e.g., for or against proposal, or abstain; for or withhold regarding the election of directors); and
  Whether the company cast its vote for or against management.

 

k. Other Recordkeeping Requirements

 

Business groups and support partners are responsible for maintaining all records necessary to evidence compliance with this policy. The records must be properly maintained and readily accessible in order to evidence compliance with this policy.

 

These records include:

 

  Proxy Committee Meeting Minutes and Other Materials (routine oversight matters are discussed within AAI’s Compliance Committee meetings and will be documented within the Compliance Committee’s materials);
  Analysis and Supporting Materials of Investment Management Personnel Concerning Proxy Decisions and Recommendations;
  Conflicts of Interest Review Documentation, including Conflicts of Interest Forms; and
  Client Communications Regarding Proxy Matters.

 

Records should be retained for a period of not less than six years. Records must be retained in an appropriate office of AAI for the first three years.

 

 

 

APPENDIX A

 

Summary of Proxy Voting Guidelines

 

AAI has adopted Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc.’s (“ISS”) standard benchmark proxy voting guidelines and ISS’ sustainability proxy voting guidelines. AAI will apply the most appropriate guidelines to ensure proxy votes are voted consistent with proxy voting policies and procedures and in the best interests of clients.

 

ISS has created multiple guidelines to cover various markets, including, but not limited to: U.S., Canada, Europe, United Kingdom, Asia, Africa and Australia. AAI retains the right to override any of ISS’ guidelines on a case-by-case basis. A concise summary of ISS’ current Proxy Voting Guidelines can be found at: http://www.issgovernance.com/policy.

 

 

 

 

Item 28. Exhibits

 

(a) (1) Certificate of Trust of Registrant dated September 13, 2007.(1)
     
  (2) Declaration of Trust of Registrant dated September 13, 2007.(2)
     
  (3) Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of Registrant dated September 14, 2015.(5)
     
(b)   By-Laws of Registrant dated September 13, 2007.(2)
     
(c)   Provisions of instruments defining rights of security holders are contained in Articles 4 and 7 of the Declaration of Trust (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a) of this filing).
     
(d) (1) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Advisors, Inc. dated May 31, 2018 with respect to the ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF RiverFront Strategic Income Fund, Alerian MLP ETF, RiverFront Dynamic Unconstrained Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic Core Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF, RiverFront Dynamic US Flex-Cap ETF.(7)
     
  (2) Amendment dated June 29, 2018 to the Investment Advisory Agreement dated May 31, 2018 with respect to the ALPS REIT Dividend Dogs ETF (f/k/a Cohen & Steers Global Realty Majors ETF), ALPS Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, Barron’s 400 ETF, ALPS Emerging Sector Dividend Dogs ETF and ALPS Clean Energy ETF.(7)
     
  (3) Amendment dated August 21, 2018 to the Investment Advisory Agreement dated May 31, 2018 with respect to the ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF, Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF, ALPS Medical Breakthroughs ETF, and ALPS Disruptive Technologies ETF.(7)
     
  (4) Amendment dated November 1, 2018 to the Investment Advisory Agreement dated May 31, 2018.(7)
     
  (5) Amendment dated January 2, 2020 to the Investment Advisory Agreement dated May 31, 2018 with respect to the ALPS REIT Dividend Dogs ETF.(8)
     
  (6) Amendment dated February 1, 2021 to the Investment Advisory Agreement dated May 31, 2018 with respect to the ALPS Active REIT ETF.(10)
     
  (7) Amendment dated July 1, 2021 to the Investment Advisory Agreement dated May 31, 2018 with respect to the ALPS Hillman Active Value ETF and Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF.(12)
     
  (8) Amendment dated August 27, 2021 to the Investment Advisory Agreement dated May 31, 2018 with respect to the ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF is filed herewith.
     
  (9) Sub-Advisory Agreement dated June 10, 2013 between the Trust and RiverFront Investment Group, LLC, with respect to the RiverFront Strategic Income Fund.(4)
     
  (10) Amendment dated March 31, 2016 to the Sub-Advisory Agreement dated June10, 2013 between the Trust and RiverFront Investment Group, LLC, with respect to the RiverFront Strategic Income Fund.(4)

 

 

 

  (11) Amendment dated July 1, 2016 to the Sub-Advisory Agreement dated June10, 2013 between the Trust and RiverFront Investment Group, LLC, with respect to the RiverFront Strategic Income Fund.(4)
     
  (12) Sub-Advisory Agreement dated May 31, 2018 among the Trust, ALPS Advisors, Inc. and RiverFront Investment Group, LLC, with respect to the RiverFront Dynamic Unconstrained Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic Core Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF and RiverFront Dynamic US Flex-Cap ETF.(7)
     
  (13) Amendment dated November 1, 2018 to the Sub-Advisory Agreement dated June10, 2013 among the Trust, ALPS Advisors, Inc. and RiverFront Investment Group, LLC, with respect to the RiverFront Strategic Income Fund.(7)
     
  (14) Sub-Advisory Agreement dated February 1, 2021 among the Trust, ALPS Advisors, Inc. and GSI Capital Advisors LLC, with respect to the ALPS Active REIT ETF.(10)
     
  (15) Sub-Advisory Agreement dated July 1, 2021 among the Trust, ALPS Advisors, Inc. and Hillman Capital Management, Inc., with respect to the ALPS Hillman Active Value ETF.(12)
     
  (16) Fee Waiver Letter Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Advisors, Inc. with respect to the ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF (11).
     
(e) (1) Distribution Agreement dated April 16, 2018 between the Trust and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. with respect to ALPS REIT Dividend Dogs ETF (f/k/a Cohen & Steers Global Realty Majors ETF), ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF, Barron’s 400 ETF, ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Emerging Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Medical Breakthroughs ETF, RiverFront Strategic Income Fund, Alerian MLP ETF, Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF, RiverFront Dynamic Unconstrained Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic Core Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF, RiverFront Dynamic US Flex-Cap ETF, and ALPS Disruptive Technologies ETF.(7)
     
  (2) Amendment dated June 29, 2018 to Distribution Agreement dated April 16, 2018 between the Trust and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. with respect to the ALPS Clean Energy ETF.(7)
     
  (3) Amendment dated February 1, 2021 to Distribution Agreement dated April 16, 2018 between the Trust and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. with respect to the ALPS Active REIT ETF.(10)
     
  (4) Amendment dated July 1, 2021 to Distribution Agreement dated April 16, 2018 between the Trust and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. with respect to the ALPS Hillman Active Value ETF.(12)
     
  (5) Amendment dated August 27, 2021 to Distribution Agreement dated April 16, 2018 between the Trust and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. with respect to the ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF is filed herewith.
     
  (6) Form of Authorized Participant Agreement.(10)
     
(f)   None.

 

 

 

(g) (1) Master Custodian Agreement between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust dated June 30, 2015 with respect to the Alerian Energy Infrastructure Fund, Alerian MLP ETF, ALPS Emerging Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF, ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Medical Breakthroughs ETF, ALPS Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, Barron’s 400 ETF, ALPS REIT Dividend Dogs ETF (f/k/a Cohen & Steers Global Reality Majors ETF) and RiverFront Strategic Income Fund.(4)
     
  (2) Amendment dated June 2, 2016 to Master Custodian Agreement between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated June 30, 2015 with respect to the RiverFront Dynamic Unconstrained Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic Core Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF and RiverFront Dynamic US Flex-Cap ETF.(4)
     
  (3) Amendment dated December 29, 2017 to Master Custodian Agreement between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated June 30, 2015 with respect to the ALPS Disruptive Technologies ETF.(5)
     
  (4) Amendment dated June 29, 2018 to Master Custodian Agreement between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated June 30, 2015 with respect to the ALPS Clean Energy ETF.(7)
     
  (5) Amendment dated February 1, 2021 to Master Custodian Agreement between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated June 30, 2015 with respect to the ALPS Active REIT ETF.(10)
     
  (6) Amendment dated July 1, 2021 to Master Custodian Agreement between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated June 30, 2015 with respect to the ALPS Hillman Active Value ETF.(12)
     
  (7) Amendment dated August 27, 2021 to Master Custodian Agreement between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated June 30, 2015 with respect to the ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF is filed herewith.
     
(h) (1) Amended and Restated Administration Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. dated March 6, 2017 with respect to Alerian Energy Infrastructure Fund, Alerian MLP ETF, ALPS Emerging Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF, ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Medical Breakthroughs ETF, ALPS Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, Barron’s 400 ETF, ALPS REIT Dividend Dogs ETF (f/k/a Cohen & Steers Global Reality Majors ETF, RiverFront Strategic Income Fund, RiverFront Dynamic Unconstrained Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic Core Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF and RiverFront Dynamic US Flex-Cap ETF.(4)
     
  (2) Amendment dated December 29, 2017 to the Amended and Restated Administration Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. dated March 6, 2017 with respect to the ALPS Disruptive Technologies ETF.(5)
     
  (3) Amendment dated June 29, 2018 to the Amended and Restated Administration Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. dated March 6, 2017 with respect to the ALPS Clean Energy ETF.(7)
     

 

 

 

  (4) Amendment dated February 1, 2021 to the Amended and Restated Administration Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. dated March 6, 2017 with respect to the ALPS Active REIT ETF.(10)

 

  (5) Amendment dated July 1, 2021 to the Amended and Restated Administration Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. dated March 6, 2017 with respect to the ALPS Hillman Active Value ETF.(12)
     
  (6) Amendment dated August 27, 2021 to the Amended and Restated Administration Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. dated March 6, 2017 with respect to the ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF is filed herewith.
     
  (7) Report Modernization Addendum dated June 4, 2018 to the Amended and Restated Administration Agreement dated March 6, 2017 between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. with respect to with respect to Alerian Energy Infrastructure Fund, Alerian MLP ETF, ALPS Emerging Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF, ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Medical Breakthroughs ETF, ALPS Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, Barron’s 400 ETF, ALPS REIT Dividend Dogs ETF (f/k/a Cohen & Steers Global Reality Majors ETF, RiverFront Strategic Income Fund, RiverFront Dynamic Unconstrained Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic Core Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF, RiverFront Dynamic US Flex-Cap ETF, ALPS Disruptive Technologies ETF and ALPS Clean Energy ETF. (9)
     
  (8) Amendment dated June 28, 2018 to the Report Modernization Addendum dated June 4, 2018 to the Amended and Restated Administration Agreement dated March 6, 2017 between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc.(9)
     
  (9) Amendment dated February 1, 2021 to the Report Modernization Addendum dated June 4, 2018 to the Amended and Restated Administration Agreement dated March 6, 2017 between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. related to the ALPS Active REIT ETF.(10)
     
  (10) Amendment dated July 1, 2021 to the Report Modernization Addendum dated June 4, 2018 to the Amended and Restated Administration Agreement dated March 6, 2017 between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. related to the ALPS Hillman Active Value ETF.(12)
     
  (11) Amendment dated August 27, 2021 to the Report Modernization Addendum dated June 4, 2018 to the Amended and Restated Administration Agreement dated March 6, 2017 between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. related to the ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF is filed herewith.
     
  (12) Liquidity Risk Management Addendum dated December 1, 2018 to the Amended and Restated Administration Agreement dated March 6, 2017 among the Trust, ALPS Fund Services, Inc. and ALPS Advisors, Inc. with respect to the Alerian Energy Infrastructure Fund, Alerian MLP ETF, ALPS Emerging Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF, ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Medical Breakthroughs ETF, ALPS Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, Barron’s 400 ETF, ALPS REIT Dividend Dogs ETF (f/k/a Cohen & Steers Global Reality Majors ETF), RiverFront Strategic Income Fund, RiverFront Dynamic Unconstrained Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic Core Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF, RiverFront Dynamic US Flex-Cap ETF, ALPS Disruptive Technologies ETF and ALPS Clean Energy ETF.(9)
     

 

 

 

  (12) Amendment dated January 2, 2020 to the Liquidity Risk Management Addendum dated December 1, 2018 to the Amended and Restated Administration Agreement dated March 6, 2017 among the Trust, ALPS Fund Services, Inc. and ALPS Advisors, Inc.(9)

 

  (13) Amendment dated February 1, 2021 to the Liquidity Risk Management Addendum dated December 1, 2018 to the Amended and Restated Administration Agreement dated March 6, 2017 among the Trust, ALPS Fund Services, Inc. and ALPS Advisors, Inc. related to the ALPS Active REIT ETF.(10)
     
  (14) Amendment dated July 1, 2021 to the Liquidity Risk Management Addendum dated December 1, 2018 to the Amended and Restated Administration Agreement dated March 6, 2017 among the Trust, ALPS Fund Services, Inc. and ALPS Advisors, Inc. related to the ALPS Hillman Active Value ETF.(12)
     
  (15) Amendment dated August 27, 2021 to the Liquidity Risk Management Addendum dated December 1, 2018 to the Amended and Restated Administration Agreement dated March 6, 2017 among the Trust, ALPS Fund Services, Inc. and ALPS Advisors, Inc. related to the ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF is filed herewith.
     
  (16) Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust dated June 30, 2015 with respect to the Alerian Energy Infrastructure Fund, Alerian MLP ETF, ALPS Emerging Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF, ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Medical Breakthroughs ETF, ALPS Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, Barron’s 400 ETF, ALPS REIT Dividend Dogs ETF (f/k/a Cohen & Steers Global Reality Majors ETF) and RiverFront Strategic Income Fund.(4)
     
  (17) Amendment dated June 2, 2016 to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated June 30, 2015 with respect to the RiverFront Dynamic Unconstrained Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic Core Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF and RiverFront Dynamic US Flex-Cap ETF.(4)
     
  (18) Amendment dated December 29, 2017 to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated June 30, 2015 with respect to the ALPS Disruptive Technologies ETF.(5)
     
  (18) Amendment dated June 29, 2018 to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated June 30, 2015 with respect to the ALPS Clean Energy ETF.(7)
     
  (19) Amendment dated February 1, 2021 to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated June 30, 2015 with respect to the ALPS Active REIT ETF.(10)
     
  (20) Amendment dated July 1, 2021 to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated June 30, 2015 with respect to the ALPS Hillman Active Value ETF.(12)
     
  (21) Amendment dated August 27, 2021 to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated June 30, 2015 with respect to the ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF is filed herewith.
     

 

 

 

  (22) Fund Accounting Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. with respect to the Alerian Energy Infrastructure Fund, Alerian MLP ETF, ALPS Emerging Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF, ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Medical Breakthroughs ETF, ALPS Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, Barron’s 400 ETF, ALPS REIT Dividend Dogs ETF (f/k/a Cohen & Steers Global Reality Majors ETF), RiverFront Strategic Income Fund.(4)

 

  (23) Amendment dated June 2, 2016 to the Fund Accounting Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. with respect to the RiverFront Dynamic Unconstrained Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic Core Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF and RiverFront Dynamic US Flex-Cap ETF.(4)
     
  (24) Amendment dated December 29, 2017 to the Fund Accounting Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. with respect to the ALPS Disruptive Technologies ETF.(5)
     
  (25) Amendment dated June 29, 2018 to the Fund Accounting Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. with respect to the ALPS Clean Energy ETF.(7)
     
  (26) Amendment dated February 1, 2021 to the Fund Accounting Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. with respect to the ALPS Active REIT ETF.(10)
     
  (27) Amendment dated July 1, 2021 to the Fund Accounting Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. with respect to the ALPS Hillman Active Value ETF.(12)
     
  (28) Amendment dated August 27, 2021 to the Fund Accounting Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. with respect to the ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF is filed herewith.
     
(i) (1) Opinion and Consent of Dechert LLP with respect to the ALPS REIT Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF, Barron’s 400 ETF, ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Emerging Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Medical Breakthroughs ETF, RiverFront Strategic Income Fund, Alerian MLP ETF, Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF, RiverFront Dynamic Unconstrained Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic Core Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF, RiverFront Dynamic US Flex-Cap ETF, ALPS Disruptive Technologies ETF and ALPS Clean Energy ETF (11).
     
  (2) Opinion and Consent of Dechert LLP with respect to the ALPS Active REIT ETF.(10)
     
  (3) Opinion and Consent of Dechert LLP with respect to the ALPS Hillman Active Value ETF.(12)
     
  (4) Opinion and Consent of Dechert LLP with respect to the ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF is filed herewith.
     
(j) (1) Consent of independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the ALPS REIT Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF, Barron’s 400 ETF, ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Emerging Sector Dividend Dogs ETF, ALPS Medical Breakthroughs ETF, RiverFront Strategic Income Fund, Alerian MLP ETF, Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF, RiverFront Dynamic Unconstrained Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic Core Income ETF, RiverFront Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF, RiverFront Dynamic US Flex-Cap ETF, ALPS Disruptive Technologies ETF and ALPS Clean Energy ETF (11).
     

 

 

 

  (2) Reserved.

 

(k)   Not applicable.
     
(l)   Not applicable.
     
(m)   Not applicable.
     
(n)   Not applicable.
     
(p) (1) Code of Ethics for the Trust.(2)
     
  (2) Code of Ethics for ALPS Holdings, Inc. revised as of July 1, 2020 (11).
     
  (3) Code of Ethics for RiverFront Investment Group, LLC. (11).
     
  (4) Code of Ethics for GSI Capital Advisors LLC.(10)
     
  (5) Code of Ethics for Hillman Capital Management, Inc.(12)
     
(q)   Powers of Attorney for Mary K. Anstine, Jeremy W. Deems, Edmund J. Burke and Rick A. Pederson (11).

 

(1) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on January 23, 2008.
(2) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on May 1, 2008.
(3) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 154 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on March 29, 2013.
(4) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 286 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on March 30, 2017.
(5) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 289 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on December 27, 2017.
(6) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 291 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on March 30, 2018.
(7) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 296 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on March 29, 2019.
(8) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 298 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on January 28, 2020.
(9) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 299 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on March 27, 2020.
(10) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 305 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on February 12, 2021.
(11) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 306 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on March 30, 2021.
(12) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 309 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on June 25, 2021.

 

 

 

Item 29. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant.

 

None.

 

Item 30. Indemnification.

 

Reference is made to Article Eight of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust which is incorporated by reference herein:

 

The Registrant (also, the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware business trust is operated pursuant to a Declaration of Trust, dated September 13, 2007 (the “Declaration of Trust”), that permits the Registrant to indemnify every person who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust, including persons who serve at the request of the Trust as directors, trustees, officers, employees or agents of another organization in which the Trust has an interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”), shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been such a Trustee, director, officer, employee or agent and against amounts paid or incurred by him in settlement thereof. This indemnification is subject to the following conditions:

 

No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person:

 

(a) For any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders arising out of a final adjudication by the court of other body before which the proceeding was brought that the Covered Person engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office;

 

(b) With respect to any matter as to which the Covered Person shall have been finally adjudicated not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his or her action was in the best interests of the Trust; or

 

(c) In the event of a settlement of other disposition not involving a final adjudication (as provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 8.5.2) and resulting in a payment by a Covered Person, unless there has been either a determination that such Covered Person did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of this office by the court or other body approving the settlement or other disposition, or a reasonable determination, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that he or she did not engage in such conduct, such determination being made by : (i) a vote of a majority of the Disinterested Trustees (as such term is defined in Section 8.5.5) acting on the matter); or (ii) a writer opinion of independent legal counsel.

 

The rights of indemnification under the Declaration of Trust may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, and shall be severable, shall not affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Covered Person, and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. Nothing contained in the Declaration of Trust shall affect any rights to indemnification to which Trust personnel other than Covered Persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.

 

Expenses of preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit or proceeding subject to a claim for indemnification under Section 8.5 of the Declaration of Trust shall be advanced by the Trust prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the recipient to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to indemnification under Section 8.5 of the Declaration of Trust, provided that either: Covered Person, unless there has been either a determination that such Covered Person did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of this office by the court or other body approving the settlement or other disposition, or a reasonable determination, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that he or she did not engage in such conduct, such determination being made by : (i) a vote of a majority of the Disinterested Trustees (as such term is defined in Section 8.5.5) acting on the matter (provided that a majority of Disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter); or (ii) a written opinion of independent legal counsel.

 

 

 

(a) Such undertaking is secured by a surety bond or some other appropriate security or the Trust shall be insured against losses arising out of any such advances; or

 

(b) A majority of the Disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the Disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter) or independent legal counsel in a written opinion shall determine, based upon a review of the readily available facts (as opposed to the facts available upon a full trial), that there is reason to believe that the recipient ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.

 

As used in Section 8.5 of the Declaration of Trust, the following words shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

(a) A “Disinterested Trustee” is one (i) who is not an Interested Person of the Trust (including anyone, as such Disinterested Trustees, who has been exempted from being an Interested Person by any rule, regulation or order of the Commission), and (ii) against whom none of such actions, suits or other proceedings or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending;

 

(b) “Claim,” “action,” “suite” or “proceeding” shall apply to all claims, actions, suits, proceedings (civil, criminal, administrative or other, including appeals), actual or threatened; and

 

(c) “Liability” and “expenses” shall include without limitation, attorneys’ fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.

 

Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Advisers

 

ALPS ADVISORS, INC.

 

Name* Position with ALPS Advisors, Inc. Other Business Connections Type of Business
Laton Spahr President, Director See Trustee and Officer Table in the SAI Fund Servicing
Rahul Kanwar Authorized Representative None Fund Servicing
Eric T. Parsons Vice President, Controller, Assistant Treasurer Vice President, Corporate Controller, ALPS Holdings, Inc., and Vice President, Controller, Assistant Treasurer ALPS Distributors, Inc., ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Fund Servicing
Joseph J. Frank** Secretary Secretary, ALPS Holdings, Inc., ALPS Distributors, Inc., ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., ALPS Fund Services, Inc. and Red Rocks Capital LLC. Fund Servicing
Patrick J. Pedonti** Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary, ALPS Holdings, Inc., ALPS Distributors, Inc., ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., ALPS Fund Services, Inc. and Red Rocks Capital LLC. Fund Servicing

 

 

 

William R. Parmentier, Jr. Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer Not Applicable Not Applicable
Matthew Sutula Chief Compliance Officer See Trustee and Officer Table in the SAI Fund Servicing
Richard C. Noyes Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary Not Applicable Fund Servicing
Mark T. Haley Vice President Not Applicable Not Applicable
Ryan Mischker Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management and Research Not Applicable Not Applicable
Andy Hicks Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management and Research Not Applicable Not Applicable
Eric Hewitt Director, Research & Strategy Not Applicable Not Applicable
Robert McClure Director, Research & Strategy Not Applicable Not Applicable
Alex Hagmeyer Director of Quantitative Research Not Applicable Not Applicable
Richard Baker Vice President, Portfolio Strategy Not Applicable Not Applicable
Kathryn Burns Vice President, Director of Fund Operations Not Applicable Fund Servicing
Hilary Quinn Vice President Vice President, ALPS Distributors, Inc., ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Fund Servicing
Jill Kerschen Vice President, Fund Operations Not Applicable Not Applicable
Jennifer Craig Assistant Vice President Assistant Vice President, ALPS Distributors, Inc., ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Fund Servicing
Dan Sen Assistant Vice President, Sr. Advisory Analyst Not Applicable Not Applicable
Charles Perkins Assistant Vice President, Associate Portfolio Manager Not Applicable Not Applicable

 

* The principal business address for each of the ALPS Advisors, Inc. representatives is: 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203.

 

 

 

RIVERFRONT INVESTMENTS, LLC

 

Name* Position with
RiverFront Investments LLC
Other Business
Connections
Type of
Business
Rod Smyth Chairman Virginia Retirement System (VRS) – Chairman, Investment Advisory Committee (Compensated) Financial Services
Doug Sandler, CFA Head of Global Strategy Trolley Fund, LLC, Consultant to Private Fund, advising small local businesses (Volunteer) For-Profit
Pete Quinn President & CEO Mr. Mac Foundation (Volunteer) Charitable Foundation
Karrie Southall, CIPM Chief Operating Officer Women in ETFs, Co-Head of Global Finance and Operations Committee (Volunteer) Non-Profit
    We. Inc., Co-Treasurer for Global Governance Committee (Volunteer) Non-Profit
    St. Catherine’s Alumni Board Member (Volunteer) Non-Profit
Timothy Anderson, CFA Global Fixed Income Co-Chief Investment Officer None N/A
Adam Grossman, CFA Global Equity CIO Board Member, Redeemer Lutheran Church (Volunteer) Non-profit
Chris Konstantinos, CFA Chief Investment Strategist Treasurer and Foundation Member, Children’s Home Society, (Volunteer) Non-Profit
Kevin Nicholson Global Fixed Income Co-Chief Investment Officer Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Foundation/Investment Committee Member-Review 3rd party money manager performance and style as a member of the investment committee. Mega Mentors/ Assistant Treasurer/Development Committee Member-Track financials and assists with finding new funding sources. Non-profit organization

 

 

 

Julie Gibbs Chief Compliance Officer N/A N/A
Michael J. Schroeder Board Member Director of RiverFront Investment Holding Group, LLC Financial Services
    Director of RiverFront Investment Group, LLC Financial Services
    Director of Hillard Lyons Trust Company Financial Services
    Director of Sanitas Brewing Company Brewery
Steven G. Booth Board Member Director of Hillard Lyons Trust Company Financial Services
    Director of RiverFront Investment Group, LLC Financial Services
    Director of RiverFront Investment Holding Group, LLC Financial Services
John Taft Board Member Director of Hillard Lyons Trust Company Financial Services
    Director of RiverFront Investment Group, LLC Financial Services
    Director of RiverFront Investment Holding Group, LLC Financial Services
    Senior Advisor of LFE Capital Financial Services

 

* The principal business address for each of the RiverFront representatives is: 1214 East Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23219.

 

 

 

GSI CAPITAL ADVISORS LLC

 

Name* Position with
GSI Capital Advisors LLC
Other Business
Connections
Type of
Business
Craig Leupold Chief Executive Officer N/A N/A
Nicholas Tannura Chief Investment Officer N/A N/A

 

* The principal business address for each of the GSI Capital representatives is: 23 Corporate Plaza, Suite 150, Newport Beach, CA 92660.

 

HILLMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.

 

Name* Position with
Hillman Capital Management, Inc.
Other Business
Connections
Type of
Business
Mark A. Hillman CEO and CIO None N/A
Trevor Lee Analyst None N/A
Jeffrey T. Long Director, Systems, Operations and Trading None N/A
Peter W. Beebe President Owner/Managing Principal of Asset Growth Partners, LLC Not an operating company. A vehicle for receiving payments from the sale of a previous business
C. Frank Watson CCO CEO and owner of Fairview Investment Services, Fairview Investment Administration, Filepoint, Fairview Performance Services and Fairview Cyber Back office services to registered investment advisers
Lindsey G. Vaughan, CFA Managing Director N/A N/A

 

* The principal business address for each of the Hillman Capital Management, Inc. representatives is: 7255 Woodmont Ave Suite 260, Bethesda, MD 20814.

 

 

 

Item 32. Principal Underwriters.

 

ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributors, Inc. acts as the distributor for the Registrant and the following investment companies: ALPS Variable Investment Trust, Clough Funds Trust, Financial Investors Trust, and Select Sector SPDRs Trust.

 

(b) To the best of Registrant’s knowledge, the directors and executive officers of ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., are as follows:

 

Name* Position with Underwriter Positions with Fund
Stephen J. Kyllo Director, President, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Compliance Officer None
Richard C. Noyes Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary None
Daniel Dolan Senior Vice President None
Kevin J. Ireland Senior Vice President None
Patrick J. Pedonti** Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary None
Eric T. Parsons Vice President, Controller and Assistant Treasurer None
Joseph J. Frank** Secretary None
Liza Orr Vice President, Senior Counsel None
Jed Stahl Vice President, Senior Counsel None
Terence Digan Vice President None
James Stegall Vice President None
Gary Ross Senior Vice President None
Hilary Quinn Vice President None
Jennifer Craig Assistant Vice President See Officers Table in SAI

 

* Except as otherwise noted, the principal business address for each of the above directors and executive officers is 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203.
** The principal business address for Messrs. Pedonti and Frank is 333 W. 11th Street, 5th Floor, Kansas City, Missouri 64105.

 

(c) Not applicable.

 

Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records

 

All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules thereunder are maintained at the following offices: (1) ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203; (2) ALPS Advisors, Inc. at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203; (3) State Street Bank and Trust Company, 1 Iron Street – CCB0700, Boston, MA 02210; (4) RiverFront Investments, LLC, 9011 Arboretum Parkway, Suite 110, Richmond, VA 23236; (5) GSI Capital Advisors LLC, 23 Corporate Plaza, Suite 150, Newport Beach, CA 92660; and (6) Hillman Capital Management, Inc.; 7255 Woodmont Ave Suite 260, Bethesda, MD 20814.

 

 

 

Item 34. Management Services

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 35. Undertakings.

 

Not applicable.

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 310 of its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Denver, and State of Colorado, on the 31st day of August 2021.

 

  ALPS ETF TRUST  
     
  By: /s/ Laton Spahr  
    Laton Spahr  
    President  

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Signatures   Title   Date
         
/s/ Mary K. Anstine   Trustee   August 31, 2021
Mary K. Anstine*        
         
/s/ Jeremy W. Deems   Trustee   August 31, 2021
Jeremy W. Deems*        
         
/s/ Rick A. Pederson   Trustee   August 31, 2021
Rick A. Pederson*        
         
/s/ Edmund J. Burke   Trustee   August 31, 2021
Edmund J. Burke*        
         
/s/ Laton Spahr   President   August 31, 2021
Laton Spahr        
         
/s/ Kathryn Burns   Treasurer   August 31, 2021
Kathryn Burns        

 

* Signature affixed by Jennifer Craig pursuant to a power of attorney dated March 8, 2021 previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 207 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on March 30, 2021.

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibits
(d)(8) Amendment dated August 27, 2021 to the Investment Advisory Agreement dated May 31, 2018 with respect to the ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF
(e)(5) Amendment dated August 27, 2021 to Distribution Agreement dated April 16, 2018 between the Trust and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. with respect to the ALPS Global Travel BeneficiariesETF
(g)(7) Amendment dated August 27, 2021 to Master Custodian Agreement between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated June 30, 2015 with respect to the ALPS Global Travel BeneficiariesETF
(h)(6) Amendment dated August 27, 2021 to the Amended and Restated Administration Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. dated March 6, 2017 with respect to the ALPS Global Travel BeneficiariesETF
(h)(11) Amendment dated August 27, 2021 to the Report Modernization Addendum dated June 4, 2018 to the Amended and Restated Administration Agreement dated March 6, 2017 between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. related to the ALPS Global Travel BeneficiariesETF
(h)(15) Amendment dated August 27, 2021 to the Liquidity Risk Management Addendum dated December 1, 2018 to the Amended and Restated Administration Agreement dated March 6, 2017 among the Trust, ALPS Fund Services, Inc. and ALPS Advisors, Inc. related to the ALPS Global Travel BeneficiariesETF
(h)(21) Amendment dated August 27, 2021 to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated June 30, 2015 with respect to the ALPS Global Travel BeneficiariesETF
(h)(28) Amendment dated August 27, 2021 to the Fund Accounting Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. with respect to the ALPS Global Travel BeneficiariesETF
(i)(4) Opinion and Consent of Dechert LLP with respect to the ALPS Global Travel BeneficiariesETF