485APOS 1 d567336d485apos.htm ALPS ETF TRUST ALPS ETF TRUST

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 12, 2013

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. 173

  x
  and/or  
 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

  x
  Amendment No. 174   x
 

 

(Check appropriate box or boxes)

 

ALPS ETF TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

1290 Broadway

Suite 1100

Denver, Colorado 80203

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(303) 623-2577

Registrant’s Telephone Number

 

Tané T. Tyler, Esq.

ALPS Fund Services, Inc.

1290 Broadway

Suite 1100

Denver, Colorado 80203

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

Copy to:

Stuart M. Strauss, Esq.

Dechert LLP

1095 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10036

 

It is proposed that this filing will become effective:

 

  ¨

Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

  ¨

On (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)

  x

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


ALPS ETF TRUST

RiverFront Strategic Income Fund (RIGS)

PROSPECTUS

 

[            ], 2013

 

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

  
     Page  

SUMMARY SECTION

     1   

INTRODUCTION - ALPS ETF TRUST

     6   

TAX-ADVANTAGED PRODUCT STRUCTURE

     6   

RIVERFRONT STRATEGIC INCOME FUND

     8   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND’s PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS

     8   

SECONDARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

     11   

ADDITIONAL RISK CONSIDERATIONS

     11   

INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES

     13   

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

     15   

HOW TO BUY AND SELL SHARES

     15   

FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS

     19   

FUND SERVICE PROVIDERS

     19   

FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION

     19   

OTHER INFORMATION

     21   

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

     22   

FOR MORE INFORMATION

     23   


SUMMARY SECTION

RiverFront Strategic Income Fund (the “Fund”)

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks total return, with an emphasis on income as the source of that total return.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares (“Shares”) of the Fund. Investors purchasing or selling Shares in the secondary market may be subject to costs (including customary brokerage commissions) charged by their broker. These costs 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 fees1

     0.46%   

Other expenses

     0.00%   

Acquired fund fees and expenses2

     [    ]%   

Total annual Fund operating expenses

     [0.46]%   

Fee waiver3

     0.24%   

Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver

     [0.22]%   

 

1

The Fund’s management fees consist of a fee of 0.22% paid to the Fund’s investment adviser and a fee of 0.24 % paid to the Fund’s sub-adviser.

2

Acquired fund fees and expenses refer to the Fund’s pro rata portion of the management fees and operating expenses of the funds in which the Fund expects to invest, and are based on estimated amounts.

3

The Fund’s sub-adviser has agreed to waive all of its 0.24 % annual sub-advisory fee payable by the Fund until at least [            ], 2014.

Example

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then 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 (the cost for the one-year figure in the Example reflects the sub-advisory fee waiver that is in effect until [            ], 2014, as set forth in the footnotes to the fee table; the cost for the three-year figure in the Example does not reflect the fee waivers after such date). Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

    

One Year

  

Three Years

  $ [    ]    $ [    ]

 

1


Portfolio Turnover

The Fund will pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it purchases and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover will cause the Fund to incur additional 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, may affect the Fund’s performance.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in a global portfolio of fixed income securities of various maturities, ratings and currency denominations. The Fund intends to utilize various investment strategies in a broad array of fixed income sectors. The Fund will allocate its investments based upon the analysis of RiverFront Investment Group, LLC (“RiverFront”, or the “Sub-Adviser”) of the pertinent economic and market conditions, as well as yield, maturity and currency considerations.

The Fund may purchase fixed income securities issued by U.S. or foreign corporations or financial institutions, including debt securities of all types and maturities, convertible securities and preferred stocks. The Fund also may purchase securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or foreign governments (including foreign states, provinces and municipalities) or their agencies and instrumentalities (“government entities”) or issued or guaranteed by international organizations designated or supported by multiple government entities to promote economic reconstruction or development (“supranational entities”). The Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) issued or guaranteed by federal agencies and/or U.S. government sponsored instrumentalities, such as the Government National Mortgage Administration (“Ginnie Mae”), the Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”), the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”). The MBS in which the Fund may invest may also include collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”). The Fund may purchase or sell securities on a when issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis. The Fund may also invest in other exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and/or closed-end funds which invest in fixed income securities.

The Fund has not established any credit rating criteria for the fixed income securities in which it may invest, and it may invest entirely in high yield securities (“junk bonds”). Junk bonds are debt securities that are rated below investment grade by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSROs”), or are unrated securities that the Sub-Adviser believes are of comparable quality. The Sub-Adviser considers the credit ratings assigned by NRSROs as one of several factors in its independent credit analysis of issuers.

The Fund may invest without limitation in U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers and securities denominated in foreign currencies, and in securities of issuers located in emerging markets. In certain circumstances, the Sub-Adviser may attempt to offset a portion or all of the foreign currency exposure in these securities by entering into contracts with banks, brokers or dealers to purchase or sell securities or foreign currencies at a future date (“forward contracts”).

The average maturity or duration of the Fund’s portfolio of fixed income securities will vary based on the Sub-Adviser’s assessment of economic and market conditions, as well as current and anticipated changes in interest rates; however, the Sub-Adviser intends to manage the Fund’s portfolio so that it has an average duration of between two and ten years, under normal circumstances. Duration measures the price sensitivity of a security to interest rate changes. The longer the duration, the more sensitive the Fund’s portfolio will be to a change in interest rates. As the value of a security changes over time, so will its duration, which in turn will affect the Fund’s duration.

 

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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. The following specific risk factors have been identified for the Fund. See also the sections “Additional Information about the Fund’s Principal Investment Risks” and “Additional Risk Considerations” for additional information about the Fund’s risk factors.

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

Credit/Default Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers or guarantors of debt instruments or the counterparty to a derivatives contract, repurchase agreement or loan of portfolio securities is unable or unwilling to make timely interest and/or principal payments or otherwise honor its obligations. Debt instruments are subject to varying degrees of credit risk, which may be reflected in credit ratings. Securities issued by the U.S. government have limited credit risk. Credit rating downgrades and defaults (failure to make interest or principal payment) may potentially reduce the Fund’s income and Share price.

Interest Rate Risk. As interest rates rise, the value of fixed income securities held by the Fund are likely to decrease. Changes in interest rates may also affect the Fund’s share price; a sharp rise in interest rates could cause the Fund’s share price to fall. Securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to interest rate changes, making them more volatile than securities with shorter durations. Duration is an estimate of a security’s sensitivity to changes in prevailing interest rates that is based on certain factors that may prove to be incorrect. It is therefore not an exact measurement and may not be able to reliably predict a particular security’s price sensitivity to changes in interest rates.

Junk Bond Risk. The Fund may invest in junk bonds that are considered speculative. Junk bonds are subject to the increased risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payment obligations. These securities may be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as specific corporate developments, interest rate sensitivity, negative perceptions of the junk bond markets generally and less secondary market liquidity.

Call Risk/Prepayment Risk. During periods of falling interest rates, an issuer of a callable bond may exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation earlier than expected. This may result in the Fund reinvesting proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund’s income.

Income Risk. Income risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause the Fund’s income to decline.

Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell. Such securities may become illiquid under adverse market or economic conditions and/or due to specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer. If the Fund invests in illiquid securities or securities that become illiquid, Fund returns may be reduced because the Fund may be unable to sell the illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price.

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risks. In addition to other risks commonly associated with investing in debt securities, MBS are subject to “prepayment risk” and “extension risk.” Prepayment risk is the risk that, when interest rates fall, certain types of obligations will be paid off by the obligor more quickly than originally anticipated, and the Fund may have to invest the proceeds in securities with lower yields. Mortgage-backed securities are priced with an expectation of some anticipated level of prepayment of principal. Extension risk is the risk that, when interest rates rise, certain obligations will be paid off by the obligor more slowly than anticipated causing the value of these securities to fall. MBS are also subject to

 

3


the risk of default on the underlying mortgages, particularly during periods of economic downturn. Reduced investor demand for mortgage loans and mortgage-related securities may adversely affect the liquidity and market value of MBS.

Foreign Investment Risk. For U.S. investors, 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, greater market volatility than U.S. securities; less complete financial information; and adverse political, economic or social developments.

Emerging Markets Risk. The Fund may invest in securities and instruments that are economically tied to emerging market countries, i.e., countries that major international financial institutions generally consider to be less economically mature than developed nations. 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. Emerging markets countries may have relatively unstable governments; may present the risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership 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 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.

Currency Risk. The Fund’s investments may be denominated in foreign currencies. The value of foreign currencies may fluctuate relative to the value of the U.S. dollar, affecting the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s assets. The Sub-Adviser does not intend, under normal circumstances, to attempt to hedge against currency risk. The Sub-Adviser may, in certain circumstances, attempt to reduce this risk by entering into foreign currency forward contracts, but its attempts may not be successful. Furthermore, such transactions may reduce or preclude the opportunity for gain if the value of the currency should move in the direction opposite to the position taken.

Risk of Investment in Other Investment Companies. Subject to the limitations set forth in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), or as otherwise permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the Fund may acquire shares in other investment companies, including ETFs. The market value of the shares of other investment companies may be less than their NAVs. As an investor in investment companies, the Fund would bear its ratable share of that entity’s expenses, while continuing to pay its own advisory and administration fees and other expenses, causing Fund shareholders to absorb duplicate levels of fees with respect to investments in other investment companies.

Convertible Securities Risk. The Fund’s investments in convertible securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with both fixed income securities and common stocks. To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

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. The value of securities of smaller issuers can be more volatile than that of larger issuers.

Management Risk. The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed portfolio. In managing the Fund’s portfolio securities, the Sub-Adviser will apply investment techniques and risk

 

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analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these will produce the desired results. The Sub-Adviser’s decisions relating to the Fund’s duration [and its maturity] will also affect the Fund’s yield, and in unusual circumstances will affect its share price. To the extent that the Sub-Adviser anticipates interest rates imprecisely, the Fund’s yield at times could lag those of other similarly managed funds.

Non-Diversified Fund Risk. The Fund is considered non-diversified and can invest a greater portion of assets in securities of individual issuers than a diversified fund. As a result, changes in the market value of a single investment could cause greater fluctuations in Share price than would occur in a diversified fund.

Risk of Deviation between Market Price and NAV. Although it is expected that the market price of the shares of the Fund will approximate the Fund’s NAV when purchased and sold in the secondary market, there may be times when the market price of the shares is more than the NAV intra-day (premium) or less than the NAV intra-day (discount). This risk is heightened in times of market volatility or periods of steep market declines. In addition, unlike conventional ETFs, the Fund is not an index fund. The Fund is actively managed and does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index. Index based ETFs have generally traded at prices which closely correspond to net asset value (“NAV”) per Share. Actively managed ETFs have a limited trading history and, therefore, there can be no assurance as to whether and/or the extent to which the Shares will trade at premiums or discounts to NAV.

Risk of Cash Transactions. In certain instances, unlike most ETFs, the Fund may effect creations and redemptions partly or wholly for cash, rather than in-kind. As a result, an investment in the Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in a more conventional ETF. Moreover, cash transactions may have to be carried out over several days if the securities market is relatively illiquid and may involve considerable brokerage fees and taxes. These brokerage fees and taxes, which will be higher than if the Fund sold and redeemed its Shares principally in-kind, will be passed on to purchasers and redeemers of Creation Units in the form of creation and redemption transaction fees. In addition, these factors may result in wider spreads between the bid and the offered prices of the Fund’s Shares than for more conventional ETFs.

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 a benchmark index selected for the Fund.

Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser

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

Portfolio Managers

Michael Jones, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, CFA, Tim Anderson, Chief Fixed Income Officer, CFA, Kevin Nicholson, Director of Portfolio Risk Strategy, of RiverFront, are the co-portfolio managers of the Fund. Each has served as a portfolio manager to the Fund since its inception.

 

5


PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

The Trust will issue and redeem Shares at NAV only in a large specified number of Shares called a “Creation Unit” or multiples thereof. A Creation Unit consists of 50,000 Shares. Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of in kind securities and/or cash. As a practical matter, only authorized participants may purchase or redeem these Creation Units. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, the Shares are not redeemable securities of the Fund. The prices at which creations and redemptions occur are based on the next calculation of NAV after an order is received in proper form by the Fund’s distributor.

Individual Shares of the Fund may only be purchased and sold in secondary market transactions through brokers. Shares of the Fund listed for trading on NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “NYSE Arca”) under the trading symbol RIGS, and because Shares will trade at market prices rather than NAV, Shares of the Fund may trade at a price greater than or less than NAV.

Tax Information

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

INTRODUCTION—ALPS ETF TRUST

The ALPS ETF Trust (the “Trust”) is an investment company currently consisting of ten separate exchange-traded funds. This Prospectus relates to the RiverFront Strategic Income Fund. The Fund seeks total return with an emphasis on income as the source of that total return. ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“ALPS Advisors” or the “Adviser”) is the Adviser to the Fund. RiverFront Investment Group, LLC (“RiverFront” or the “Sub-Adviser”) is the Sub-Adviser to the Fund.

The Fund’s Shares are listed on the NYSE Arca. The Fund’s Shares trade at market prices that may differ to some degree from the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Shares. Unlike conventional mutual funds, the Fund issues and redeems Shares on a continuous basis, at NAV, only in large specified blocks of 50,000 Shares, each of which is called a “Creation Unit.” Creation Units are issued and redeemed principally in-kind for portfolio securities, and the Fund reserves the right to effect redemptions wholly or partially in cash. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, Shares are not redeemable securities of the Fund.

TAX-ADVANTAGED PRODUCT STRUCTURE

Unlike interests in many conventional mutual funds, the Shares are traded throughout the day on a national securities exchange, whereas mutual fund interests are typically only bought and sold at closing net asset values. The Shares have been designed to be tradable in the secondary market on a national securities exchange on an intra-day basis, and to be created and redeemed in-kind and/or for cash in Creation Units at each day’s next calculated NAV. To the extent Creation Units are created and redeemed in-kind, these arrangements may protect ongoing shareholders from adverse effects on the Fund’s portfolio that could arise from frequent cash creation and redemption transactions, although the Fund reserves the right to effect redemptions wholly or partially in cash. In a conventional mutual fund, redemptions can have an adverse tax impact on taxable shareholders because of the mutual fund’s need to sell portfolio securities to obtain cash to meet fund redemptions. These sales may generate taxable gains for the shareholders of the mutual fund, whereas to the extent Creation Units are redeemed in-kind, the Shares’ in-kind redemption mechanism generally will not lead to a tax event for the Fund or its ongoing shareholders. However, in certain instances, unlike most ETFs, the Fund may effect creations and redemptions partly or wholly for cash, rather than in-kind. As a result, an investment in the Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in a more conventional ETF.

 

6


As an actively managed Fund, the Fund may have a higher level of turnover in its portfolio securities, which could result in less tax efficiency than an investment in an index-based exchange-traded fund.

 

7


RIVERFRONT STRATEGIC INCOME FUND

Investment Objective

The Board of Trustees of the Trust may change the Fund’s investment objective and strategies and other policies without shareholder approval, except as otherwise indicated.

Additional Information about the Fund’s Principal Investment Risks

Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its assets in securities that are offered pursuant to Rule 144A (“Rule 144A”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”). Rule 144A securities are securities which, while privately placed, are eligible for purchase and resale pursuant to Rule 144A. This rule permits certain qualified institutional buyers, such as the Fund, to trade in privately placed securities even though such securities are not registered under the Securities Act. The Sub-Adviser will evaluate the liquidity of Rule 144A securities prior to investing in such securities and monitor their liquidity thereafter. However, such securities may become illiquid under adverse market or economic conditions and/or due to specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer. If the Fund invests in illiquid securities or securities that become illiquid, Fund returns may be reduced because the Fund may be unable to sell the illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price.

Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risks. MBS (residential and commercial) and asset-backed securities represent interests in “pools” of mortgages or other assets, including consumer loans or receivables held in trust. The characteristics of these MBS and asset-backed securities differ from traditional fixed income securities. Like traditional fixed income securities, the value of MBS or asset-backed securities typically increases when interest rates fall and decreases when interest rates rise. However, a main difference is that the principal on MBS or asset-backed securities may normally be prepaid at any time, which will reduce the yield and market value of these securities. Therefore, MBS and asset-backed backed securities are subject to “prepayment risk” and “extension risk.” Because of prepayment risk and extension risk, mortgage-backed securities react differently to changes in interest rates than other fixed income securities.

Prepayment risk is the risk that, when interest rates fall, certain types of obligations will be paid off by the obligor more quickly than originally anticipated and the Fund may have to invest the proceeds in securities with lower yields. In periods of falling interest rates, the rate of prepayments tends to increase (as does price fluctuation) as borrowers are motivated to pay off debt and refinance at new lower rates. During such periods, reinvestment of the prepayment proceeds by the management team will generally be at lower rates of return than the return on the assets which were prepaid. Prepayment reduces the yield to maturity and the average life of the MBS or asset-backed securities. The maturity of certain securities, such as MBS and ABS, is calculated using the security’s weighted-average life. Estimated prepayment rates for these securities are used in this calculation. If actual prepayment rates differ from the estimates used in calculating the weighted-average life, the Fund’s yield and/or share price could be negatively affected.

Extension risk is the risk that, when interest rates rise, certain obligations will be paid off by the obligor more slowly than anticipated causing the value of these securities to fall. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of MBS and asset-backed securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates. The value of longer-term securities generally changes more in response to changes in interest rates than shorter-term securities. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, MBS and asset-backed securities may exhibit additional volatility and may lose value.

 

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Small movements in interest rates (both increases and decreases) may quickly and significantly reduce the value of certain MBS. In addition, because prepayment rates of individual mortgage pools vary widely, the maturity of a particular pool cannot be predicted precisely. The Fund’s investments in asset-backed securities are subject to risks similar to those associated with MBS, as well as additional risks associated with the nature of the assets and the servicing of those assets. These securities also are subject to the risk of default on the underlying mortgage or assets, particularly during periods of economic downturn.

MBS may be either pass-through securities or CMOs. Pass-through securities represent a right to receive principal and interest payments collected on a pool of mortgages, which are passed through to security holders. CMOs are created by dividing the principal and interest payments collected on a pool of mortgages into several revenue streams (tranches) with different priority rights to portions of the underlying mortgage payments. The Fund will not invest in CMO tranches which represent a right to receive interest only (“IOs”), principal only (“POs”) or an amount that remains after other floating-rate tranches are paid (an inverse floater). If the Fund invests in CMO tranches (including CMO tranches issued by government agencies) and interest rates move in a manner not anticipated by Fund management, it is possible that the Fund could lose all or substantially all of its investment.

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, 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. Financial reporting standards for companies based in foreign markets differ from those in the United States. In addition, the underlying issuers of certain depositary receipts, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, are under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications to the holders of such receipts, or to pass through to them any voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

Emerging Markets Risk. The Fund may invest in securities and instruments that are economically tied to emerging market countries. The Sub-Adviser generally considers an instrument to be economically tied to an emerging market country if the issuer or guarantor is a government of an emerging market country (or any political subdivision, agency, authority or instrumentality of such government), if the issuer or guarantor is organized under the laws of an emerging market country, or if the currency of settlement of the security is a currency of an emerging market country. 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 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.

Foreign Currency Risk. The Fund’s investments may be denominated in foreign currencies. The value of foreign currencies may fluctuate relative to the value of the U.S. dollar. Since the Fund may invest in such non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities, and therefore may convert the value of such securities into U.S. dollars, changes in currency exchange rates can increase or decrease the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s assets. The Sub-Adviser does not intend, under normal circumstances, to attempt to hedge against

 

9


currency risk. The Sub-Adviser may, in certain circumstances, attempt to reduce this risk by entering into forward contracts with banks, brokers or dealers. A foreign currency forward contract is a negotiated agreement between the contracting parties to exchange a specified amount of currency at a specified future time at a specified rate. The rate can be higher or lower than the spot rate between the currencies that are the subject of the contract. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts may be used to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange rates or to gain or modify exposure to a particular currency. Hedging the Fund’s currency risks involves the risk of mismatching the Fund’s objectives under a forward or futures contract with the value of securities denominated in a particular currency. Furthermore, such transactions reduce or preclude the opportunity for gain if the value of the currency should move in the direction opposite to the position taken. There is an additional risk to the effect that currency contracts create exposure to currencies in which the Fund’s securities are not denominated. Unanticipated changes in currency prices may result in poorer overall performance for the Fund than if it had not entered into such contracts. In addition, certain market conditions may make it impossible or uneconomical to hedge against currency risk.

Risk of Investment in Other Investment Companies. Subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act, or as otherwise permitted by the SEC, the Fund may acquire shares in other ETFs and/or closed-end funds which invest in fixed income securities. The market value of the shares of other investment companies may differ from their NAVs. In addition, the shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount to their NAV. As an investor in investment companies, the Fund would bear its ratable share of that entity’s expenses, including its investment advisory and administration fees, while continuing to pay its own advisory and administration fees and other expenses. As a result, shareholders will be absorbing duplicate levels of fees with respect to investments in other investment companies.

The securities of certain other closed-end funds in which the Fund may invest may be leveraged. As a result, the Fund may be indirectly exposed to leverage through an investment in such securities. An investment in securities of other investment companies that use leverage may expose the Fund to higher volatility in the market value of such securities and the possibility that the Fund’s long-term returns on such securities (and, indirectly, the long-term returns of the Shares) will be diminished.

Risk of Deviation between Market Price and NAV. As with all ETFs, Fund shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of the shares of the Fund will approximate the Fund’s NAV, there may be times when the market price and the NAV vary significantly. Thus, you may pay more (or less) than NAV intra-day when you buy shares in the secondary market, and you may receive more (or less) than NAV when you sell those shares in the secondary market. In addition, unlike conventional ETFs, the Fund is not an index fund. The Fund is actively managed and does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index. Index based ETFs have generally traded at prices which closely correspond to NAV per Share. Actively managed ETFs have a limited trading history and, therefore, there can be no assurance as to whether and/or the extent to which the Shares will trade at premiums or discounts to NAV.

Risk of Cash Transactions. In certain instances, the Fund may effect creations and redemptions partly or wholly for cash, rather than in-kind. As a result, an investment in the Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in a more conventional ETF. ETFs generally are able to make in-kind redemptions and avoid being taxed on gain on the distributed portfolio securities at the Fund level. Because the Fund may effect redemptions partly or wholly for cash, rather than in-kind distributions, it may be required to sell portfolio securities in order to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds. If the Fund recognizes gain on these sales, this generally will cause the Fund to recognize gain it might not otherwise have recognized, or to recognize such gain sooner than would otherwise be required if it were to distribute portfolio securities in-kind. The Fund generally intends to distribute these gains to shareholders to avoid being taxed on this gain at the Fund level and otherwise comply with the special tax rules that apply to it.

 

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This strategy may cause shareholders to be subject to tax on gains they would not otherwise be subject to, or at an earlier date than, if they had made an investment in a different ETF. Moreover, cash transactions may have to be carried out over several days if the securities market is relatively illiquid and may involve considerable brokerage fees and taxes. These brokerage fees and taxes, which will be higher than if the Fund sold and redeemed its Shares principally in-kind, will be passed on to purchasers and redeemers of Creation Units in the form of creation and redemption transaction fees. In addition, these factors may result in wider spreads between the bid and the offered prices of the Fund’s Shares than for more conventional ETFs.

SECONDARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

In addition to the instruments described above under “Summary Section—Principal Investment Strategies”, the Fund may also invest in money market instruments, including repurchase agreements or other funds which invest exclusively in money market instruments, 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 bond or bond index), and in swaps, options and futures contracts. The Fund may also invest, to a limited extent, in municipal securities. The Fund may invest up to 5% of its assets in MBS (which may include commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”)) or other asset-backed securities issued or guaranteed by private entities. The Fund may also invest in money market instruments or other short-term fixed income instruments as part of a temporary defensive strategy to protect against temporary market declines.

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.

The investment objective, strategies and policies described herein constitute non-fundamental policies that may be changed by the Board of Trustees of the Trust 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.

Municipal Securities Risk. Municipal securities are subject to the risk that litigation, legislation or other political events, local business or economic conditions or the bankruptcy of the issuer could have a significant effect on an issuer’s ability to make payments of principal and/or interest. In addition, there is a risk that, as a result of the current economic crisis, the ability of any issuer to pay, when due, the principal or interest on its municipal bonds may be materially affected.

Municipal securities can be significantly affected by political changes as well as uncertainties in the municipal market related to taxation, legislative changes or the rights of municipal security holders. Because many securities are issued to finance similar projects, especially those relating to education, health care, transportation and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal market. In addition, changes in the financial condition of an individual municipal insurer can affect the overall municipal market.

 

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Municipal securities backed by current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific assets can be negatively affected by the discontinuance of the taxation supporting the project or assets or the inability to collect revenues for the project or from the assets. If the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) determines that an issuer of a municipal security has not complied with applicable tax requirements, interest from the security could become taxable and the security could decline significantly in value.

The market for municipal bonds may be less liquid than for taxable bonds. There may also be less information available on the financial condition of issuers of municipal securities than for public corporations. This means that it may be harder to buy and sell municipal securities, especially on short notice, and municipal securities may be more difficult for the Fund to value accurately than securities of public corporations.

Risks of Private MBS and Asset-Backed Securities. The residential mortgage market in the United States has experienced difficulties that may adversely affect the performance and market value of certain of the Fund’s mortgage-related investments issued or guaranteed by private entities. Delinquencies and losses on residential mortgage loans (especially subprime and second-lien mortgage loans) generally have increased since 2007 and may continue to increase, and a decline in or flattening of housing values (as has recently been experienced and may continue to be experienced in many housing markets) may exacerbate such delinquencies and losses. Reduced investor demand for mortgage loans and mortgage-related securities and increased investor yield requirements have caused limited liquidity in the secondary market for mortgage-related securities, which can adversely affect the market value of mortgage-related securities. It is possible that such limited liquidity in such secondary markets could continue or worsen. This means that it may be harder to buy and sell MBS, especially on short notice, and MBS may be more difficult for the Fund to value accurately than other fixed income instruments.

Certain CMBS are issued in several classes with different levels of yield and credit protection. The Fund’s investments in CMBS with several classes may be in the lower classes that have greater risks than the higher classes, including greater interest rate, credit and prepayment risks.

Asset-backed securities entail certain risks not presented by MBS, including the risk that in certain states it may be difficult to perfect the liens securing the collateral backing certain asset-backed securities. In addition, certain asset-backed securities are based on loans that are unsecured, which means that there is no collateral to seize if the underlying borrower defaults. Certain MBS in which the Fund may invest may also provide a degree of investment leverage, which could cause the Fund to lose all or substantially all of its investment.

Trading Issues. Trading in Shares on the NYSE Arca may 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. 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.

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 Sub-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 stocks of the Index trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time.

 

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However, given that the Shares can be purchased and redeemed in Creation Units (unlike shares of many closed-end funds, which frequently trade at appreciable discounts from, and sometimes premiums to, their NAV), the Sub-Adviser believes that large discounts or premiums to the NAV of the Shares should not be sustained.

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 addition, the Fund will bear the risk of loss of any cash collateral that it invests.

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

INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES

Investment Adviser

ALPS Advisors, Inc. (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 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203, is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser. As of March 31, 2013, the Investment Adviser provided supervisory and management services on approximately $8.97 billion in 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 to the extent requested by the Board of Trustees.

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser an annual management fee for the services and facilities it provides equal to 0.22% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Sub-Adviser

RiverFront acts as the Fund’s Sub-Adviser pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement with the Trust (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”). RiverFront, established in April 2008 by the former Chief Investment Officer, Chief Investment Strategist and Chief Equity Strategist at Wachovia Securities, is located at 1214 East Cary Street Richmond, VA 23219. RiverFront is majority-owned by its employees but is affiliated with Baird Financial Corporation (“Baird”) as a result of Baird’s minority equity interest and representation on RiverFront’s board of directors. RiverFront provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management services to high net worth individuals and institutions using stocks, bonds and ETFs. As of [    ], RiverFront had approximately $[    ] billion in assets under management.

Pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement with the Trust on behalf of the Fund, RiverFront furnishes an investment program for the Fund and manages the investment operations and composition of the Fund. The Fund pays the Sub-Adviser a sub-advisory fee for the services it provides, payable on a monthly basis at the annual rate of 0.24% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. However, the Sub-Adviser has agreed to waive all of its sub-advisory fee until at least [            ], 2014.

 

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Approval of Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement will be provided in the Fund’s [annual] report to shareholders for the period ended [    ].

Portfolio Management

The Sub-Adviser furnishes an investment program for the Fund, manages the investment portfolio of the Fund and directs the purchase and sale of the Fund’s investment securities.

The portfolio managers are primarily responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Fund. The individuals listed below are members of the investment management team at RiverFront that manages the Fund’s investments. As described below, each member has a different role on the team, and decisions as to the purchases and sales of securities are considered by the relevant members of the team as indicated below.

Michael Jones, CFA

Mr. Jones co-manages the Fund and in that capacity is primarily responsible for making strategic asset allocation decisions for the Fund. He has been Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of RiverFront since co-founding the firm in April 2008. Previously, Mr. Jones was Chief Investment Officer for Wachovia Securities since 2002. He has more than 25 years of investment experience. Mr. Jones received his BA from the College of William and Mary and his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Tim Anderson, CFA

Mr. Anderson co-manages the Fund and in that capacity is primarily responsible for determining the specific fixed income securities and alternative investments (and related ETFs) to buy and sell for the Fund. Mr. Anderson has been Chief Fixed Income Officer of RiverFront since June 2008. Previously, he was Chief Fixed Income Strategist for Wachovia Securities since 2004. Prior to 2004, he was the senior high yield trader for Calamos Investments and high yield portfolio manager for Harris Investment Management. He has more than 22 years of investment experience. Mr. Anderson received his BS from DePaul University and his MBA from the University of Chicago.

Kevin Nicholson

Mr. Nicholson is the firm’s Portfolio Risk Manager and in this role he works closely with all the portfolio managers to implement the RiverFront risk management disciplines. Mr. Nicholson is the Director of Portfolio Risk Strategy for RiverFront. Previously, he served as a Senior Fixed Income Portfolio Manager at Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC and its predecessor firms where he managed both taxable and tax-exempt portfolios. Mr. Nicholson earned a BA in Business and Economics from Randolph-Macon College and his MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University.

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.

 

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PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

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.

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 net asset value 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 net asset value per Share for the Fund is determined once daily as of the close of the 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.

The Fund’s 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

 

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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. 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 NASDAQ Official Closing Price as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE on the day the securities are valued or, if there are no sales, at the mean of the most recent bid and asked prices. 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. 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.

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 the Fund’s net asset value is not calculated and on which the 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 directly with the Fund must have entered into an authorized participant agreement with the distributor and 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 Authorized Participants that are not eligible for trading a Deposit Security, and in such other circumstances as the Sub-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 NSCC immediately prior to the opening of business each day of the NYSE Arca. The Cash Component represents the difference between the net asset value 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 the Authorized Participant may not be eligible to trade or the Sub-Adviser believes are in the best interests of the Fund not to accept in kind.

 

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Orders must be placed in proper form by or through a participant of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC Participant”) that has entered into an agreement with the Trust, the distributor and 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 Authorized Participant or the investor for which it is acting or any other relevant reason. See “Creation and Redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations” in the Statement of Additional Information.

A fixed creation transaction fee of $[    ] 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. See “Creation and Redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations” in the Statement of Additional Information. 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. See “Creation and Redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations” in the Statement of Additional Information.

Legal Restrictions on Transactions in Certain Securities

An investor subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular security 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 security which would otherwise be included in the Deposit Securities applicable to the purchase of a Creation Unit. For more details, 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

 

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

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 $[    ] 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 buying 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. See “Creation and Redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations” in the Statement of Additional Information.

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 interest from debt securities. 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 monthly. Net capital gains are distributed at least annually. Dividends may be declared and paid more frequently to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. In addition, the Fund intends to distribute at least annually amounts representing the full dividend yield net of expenses on the underlying investment securities as if the Fund owned the underlying investment securities for the entire dividend period. As a result, some portion of each distribution may result in a return of capital (which is a return of the shareholder’s investment in the Fund). Section 19(a) of the 1940 Act, and Rule 19a-1 thereunder require the Fund to provide a written statement accompanying any such distribution that adequately discloses its source or sources to the extent the source includes something other than net investment income. Thus, if the source of the dividend or other distribution were the original capital contribution of the shareholder, and the payment amounted to a return of capital, the Fund would be required to provide written disclosure to that effect. Nevertheless, persons who periodically receive the payment of a dividend or other distribution may be under the impression that they are receiving net profits when they are not. Shareholders should read any written disclosure provided pursuant to Section 19(a) and Rule 19a-1 carefully, and should not assume that the source of any distribution from the Fund is net profit.

 

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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. The Fund also employs fair valuation pricing to minimize potential dilution from market timing. 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. Finally, the Sub-Adviser monitors orders from APs for patterns of abusive trading and the Fund reserves the right to not accept orders from APs that the Sub-Adviser has determined may be disruptive to the management of the Fund, or otherwise not in the Fund’s best interests.

FUND SERVICE PROVIDERS

ALPS Fund Services, Inc. is the administrator of the Fund.

The Bank of New York Mellon is the custodian, fund accounting agent and transfer agent for the Fund.

Dechert LLP serves as counsel to the Fund.

[    ] 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.

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.

 

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Taxes on Distributions

Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid monthly. 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 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.

For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, 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 will not qualify for the lower tax rates.

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 net asset value 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 more than 50% of the Fund’s total assets at the end of its taxable year consist of foreign securities, the Fund intends to elect to “pass through” to its investors certain foreign income taxes paid by the Fund, with the result that each investor will (i) include in gross income, as an additional dividend, even though not actually received, the investor’s pro rata share of the Fund’s foreign income taxes, and (ii) either deduct (in calculating U.S. taxable income) or credit (in calculating U.S. federal income), subject to certain limitations, the investor’s pro rata share of the Fund’s foreign income taxes.

For distributions with respect to taxable years of regulated investment companies beginning before January 1, 2012, the Fund is not required to withhold any amounts with respect to distributions to foreign shareholders that are properly designated 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 the Fund may withhold tax on these amounts regardless of the fact that it is not required to do so. Any amounts withheld from payments made to a shareholder may be refunded or credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS. Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the specific tax consequences described above.

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 currently 28%.

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.

 

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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.

Under current federal tax laws, any capital gain or loss realized upon redemption of Creation Units is generally treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the Shares have been held for more than one year and as a short-term capital gain or loss if the Shares have been held for one year or less.

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

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.

OTHER IN FORMATION

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. Registered investment companies are permitted to invest in the Fund beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1) subject to certain terms and conditions set forth in an SEC exemptive order issued to the Trust, including that such investment companies enter into an agreement with the Fund.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

The Fund’s portfolio holdings will be disclosed each day on its website at www.alpsetfs.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 its exchange at a price above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a discount) the net asset value of the Fund will be available at www.alpsetfs.com.

 

21


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

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

 

22


FOR MORE INFORMATION

Existing Shareholders or Prospective Investors

 

   

Call your broker

 

   

www.alpsetfs.com

Dealers

 

   

www.alpsetfs.com

 

   

Distributor Telephone:

 

Investment Adviser

 

ALPS Advisors, Inc.

1290 Broadway, Suite 1100

Denver, CO 80203

  

Sub-Adviser

 

RiverFront Investment Group, LLC

1214 East Cary Street

Richmond, Virginia 23219

Distributor

 

ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc.

1290 Broadway

Suite 1100

Denver, Colorado 80203

  

Custodian

 

The Bank of New York Mellon

101 Barclay Street

New York, New York 10286

  

Transfer Agent

 

The Bank of New York Mellon

101 Barclay Street

New York, New York 10286

Legal Counsel

 

Dechert LLP

1095 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10036

  

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

[                     ]

 

23


[ALPS® LOGO]

A Statement of Additional Information dated [            ], 201, 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. The annual report explains 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 or the Statement of Additional Information by calling [                    ]. Free copies of the Fund’s shareholder reports and the Statement of Additional Information are available from our website at www.alpsetfs.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 and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC or on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s internet site (http://www.sec.gov). Information on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 202.551.8090. 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) or by writing the Public Reference section of the SEC, 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.

PROSPECTUS

Distributor

ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc.

1290 Broadway

Suite 1100

Denver, Colorado 80203

[            ], 2013

Investment Company Act File No. 811-22175.


Investment Company Act File No. 811-22175

ALPS ETF Trust

RIVERFRONT STRATEGIC INCOME FUND (RIGS)

Statement of Additional Information

Dated [            ], 2013

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus dated [            ], 2013 for the RiverFront Strategic Income 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., or by calling toll free [                    ].

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

      Page  

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUND

     1   

EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING

     1   

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS AND POLICIES

     2   

INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS

     3   

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND RISKS

     13   

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

     29   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TRUST

     31   

CREATION AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNIT AGGREGATIONS

     34   

TAXES

     52   

FEDERAL TAX TREATMENT OF FUTURES AND OPTIONS CONTRACTS

     53   

DETERMINATION OF NAV

     54   

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

     54   

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

     55   

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     55   


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 Trust currently consists of 17 investment portfolios. This SAI relates to the RiverFront Strategic Income Fund (the “Fund”). The Fund is “non-diversified” and, as such, the Fund’s investments are not required to meet certain diversification requirements under the 1940 Act. The shares of the Fund are referred to herein as “Shares” or “Fund Shares.”

The Fund is managed by ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“ALPS Advisors” or the “Adviser”). RiverFront Investment Group, LLC (“RiverFront”) is the investment sub-adviser for the Fund (the “Sub-Adviser”).

The Fund offers and issues 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”)(and/or an amount in cash in lieu of some or all of the Deposit Securities), together with the deposit of a specified cash payment (the “Cash Component”). The Fund’s Shares will be listed on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “NYSE Arca”). Fund Shares trade on the NYSE Arca 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 50,000 Shares. In the event of the liquidation of the Fund, the Trust may lower the number of Shares in a Creation Unit.

The Trust reserves the right to offer a partial or whole “cash” option for creations and redemptions of Fund Shares. 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. 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.

EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING

There can be no assurance that the requirements of the NYSE Arca necessary to maintain the listing of Shares of the Fund will continue to be met. The NYSE Arca may, but is not required to, remove the Shares of the Fund from listing if (i) following the initial 12-month period beginning at the commencement of trading of the Fund, there are fewer than 50 beneficial owners of the Shares of the Fund for 30 or more consecutive trading days; or (ii) such other event shall occur or condition exist that, in the opinion of the NYSE Arca, makes further dealings on the NYSE Arca inadvisable. The NYSE Arca will remove the Shares of the Fund from listing and trading upon termination of such Fund.

As in the case of other stocks traded on the NYSE Arca, 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

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Fund is to seek total return with an emphasis on income as the source of that total return.

Investment Restrictions

The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or the “Trustees”) has adopted as fundamental policies the Fund’s respective investment restrictions, numbered (1) through (7) below. The Fund, as a fundamental policy, 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. 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.

Except for restriction (2), if a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase in percentage resulting from a change in market value of the investment or the total assets, or the sale of a security out of the portfolio, will not constitute a violation of that restriction.

The foregoing fundamental investment policies cannot be changed as to the Fund without approval by holders of a “majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting shares.” As defined in the 1940 Act, this means the vote of (i) 67% or more of the Fund’s Shares present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the Fund’s Shares are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Fund’s Shares, whichever is less.

 

2


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

(5) 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.

The investment objective of the Fund is a non-fundamental policy that can be changed by the Board of Trustees without approval by shareholders.

INVESTMENT POLIC IES AND RISKS

Debt Obligations. The Fund may invest in debt obligations traded in U.S. or foreign markets. Such debt obligations include, among others, bonds, notes, debentures and variable rate demand notes. In choosing corporate debt securities on behalf of the Fund, the Sub-Adviser may consider (i) general economic and financial conditions; and (ii) the specific issuer’s (a) business and management, (b) cash flow, (c) earnings coverage of interest and dividends, (d) ability to operate under adverse economic conditions, (e) fair market value of assets and (f) other considerations deemed appropriate.

The Fund may invest up to 100% of its total assets in debt securities that are rated below investment grade (i.e., “junk bonds”) by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSROs”), or are unrated securities that the Sub-Adviser believes are of comparable quality. Junk bonds are considered speculative with respect to their capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. While generally providing greater income and opportunity for gain, non-investment grade debt securities are subject to greater risks than higher-rated securities.

Companies that issue junk bonds are often highly leveraged and may not have more traditional methods of financing available to them. During an economic downturn or recession, highly leveraged issuers of high-yield securities may experience financial stress, and may not have sufficient revenues to meet their interest payment obligations. Economic downturns tend to disrupt the market for junk bonds, lowering their values and increasing their price volatility. The risk of issuer default is higher with respect to junk bonds because such issues may be subordinated to other creditors of the issuer.

 

3


The credit rating from an NRSRO of a junk bond does not necessarily address its market value risk, and ratings may from time to time change to reflect developments regarding the issuer’s financial condition. The lower the rating of a junk bond, the more speculative its characteristics.

The Fund may have difficulty selling certain junk bonds because they may have a thin trading market. The lack of a liquid secondary market may have an adverse effect on the market price and the Fund’s ability to dispose of particular issues and may also make it more difficult for the Fund to obtain accurate market quotations in valuing these assets. In the event the Fund experiences an unexpected level of net redemptions, the Fund could be forced to sell its junk bonds at an unfavorable price. Prices of junk bonds have been found to be less sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates and more sensitive to adverse economic changes and individual corporate developments than those of higher-rated debt securities.

U.S. Government Obligations. The Fund may invest in U.S. government obligations. Obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities include bills, notes and bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury, as well as “stripped” or “zero coupon” U.S. Treasury obligations representing future interest or principal payments on U.S. Treasury notes or bonds. Stripped securities are sold at a discount to their “face value,” and may exhibit greater price volatility than interest-bearing securities because investors receive no payment until maturity. Obligations of certain agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government, such as the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury; others, such as those of the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others, such as those of the former Student Loan Marketing Association (“SLMA”), are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency’s obligations; still others, although issued by an instrumentality chartered by the U.S. Government, like the Federal Farm Credit Bureau (“FFCB”), are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. The U.S. Government may choose not to provide financial support to U.S. Government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities if it is not legally obligated to do so, in which case, if the issuer were to default, the Funds holding securities of such issuer might not be able to recover their investment from the U.S. Government.

Convertible Securities. The Fund may invest in convertible securities. Convertible securities include bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks and other securities that may be converted into a prescribed amount of common stock or other equity securities at a specified price and time. The holder of convertible securities is entitled to receive interest paid or accrued on debt, or dividends paid or accrued on preferred stock, until the security matures or is converted. The value of a convertible security depends on interest rates, the yield of similar nonconvertible securities, the financial strength of the issuer and the seniority of the security in the issuer’s capital structure. Convertible securities may be illiquid and may be required to convert at a time and at a price that is unfavorable to the Fund. To the extent that the Fund invests in convertible securities with credit ratings below investment grade, such securities may have a higher likelihood of default, although this may be somewhat offset by the convertibility feature.

Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities. The Fund may invest in mortgage-backed and asset- backed securities. Mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) are mortgage-related securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities, or issued by nongovernment entities. Mortgage-related securities represent pools of mortgage loans assembled for sale to investors by various government agencies such as Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) and government-related organizations such as Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), as well as by nongovernment issuers such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, mortgage bankers and private mortgage insurance companies. Although certain mortgage-related securities are guaranteed by a third party or otherwise similarly secured, the market value of the security, which may fluctuate, is not so secured.

 

4


There are a number of important differences among the agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government that issue mortgage-related securities and among the securities they issue. Mortgage-related securities issued by GNMA include GNMA Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates (also known as “Ginnie Maes”), which are guaranteed as to the timely payment of principal and interest. That guarantee is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. GNMA is a corporation wholly owned by the U.S. Government within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Mortgage-related securities issued by FNMA include FNMA Guaranteed Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates (also known as “Fannie Maes”) and are guaranteed as to payment of principal and interest by FNMA itself and backed by a line of credit with the U.S. Treasury. FNMA is a government-sponsored entity wholly owned by public stockholders. Mortgage-related securities issued by FHLMC include FHLMC Mortgage Participation Certificates (also known as “Freddie Macs”) guaranteed as to payment of principal and interest by FHLMC itself and backed by a line of credit with the U.S. Treasury. FHLMC is a government-sponsored entity wholly owned by public stockholders.

On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury announced a federal takeover of FNMA and FHLMC, placing the two federal instrumentalities in conservatorship. Under the takeover, the U.S. Treasury agreed to acquire $1 billion of senior preferred stock of each instrumentality and obtained warrants for the purchase of common stock of each instrumentality. Under these Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements (SPAs), the U.S. Treasury has pledged to provide up to $100 billion per instrumentality as needed, including the contribution of cash capital to the instrumentalities in the event their liabilities exceed their assets. On May 6, 2009, the U.S. Treasury increased its maximum commitment to each instrumentality under the SPAs to $200 billion per instrumentality. On December 24, 2009, the U.S. Treasury further amended the SPAs to allow the cap on Treasury’s funding commitment to increase as necessary to accommodate any cumulative reduction in FNMA’s and FHLMC’s net worth through the end of 2012. On August 17, 2012, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the SPAs to terminate the requirement that FNMA and FHLMC each pay a 10% dividend annually on all amounts received under the funding commitment. Instead, they will transfer to the U.S. Treasury on a quarterly basis all profits earned during a quarter that exceed a capital reserve amount of $3 billion. It is anticipated that the new amendment would put FNMA and FHLMC in a better position to service their debt. At the start of 2013, the unlimited support the U.S. Treasury extended to the two companies expired – FNMA’s bailout is capped at $125 billion and FHLMC has a limit of $149 billion.

The actions of the U.S. Treasury are intended to ensure that FNMA and FHLMC maintain a positive net worth and meet their financial obligations preventing mandatory triggering of receivership. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Treasury initiatives will be successful.

In the basic mortgage pass-through structure, mortgages with similar issuer, term and coupon characteristics are collected and aggregated into a “pool” consisting of multiple mortgage loans. The pool is assigned a CUSIP number and undivided interests in the pool are traded and sold as pass-through securities. The holder of the security is entitled to a pro rata share of principal and interest payments (including unscheduled prepayments) from the pool of mortgage loans.

An investment in a specific pool of pass-through securities requires an analysis of the specific prepayment risk of mortgages within the covered pool (since mortgagors typically have the option to prepay their loans). The level of prepayments on a pool of mortgage securities is difficult to predict and can impact the subsequent cash flows and value of the mortgage pool. In addition, when trading specific mortgage pools, precise execution, delivery and settlement arrangements must be negotiated for each transaction. These factors combine to make trading in mortgage pools somewhat cumbersome.

For the foregoing and other reasons, the Fund may seek to obtain exposure to U.S. agency mortgage pass-through securities primarily through the use of “to-be-announced” or “TBA transactions.” “TBA” refers

 

5


to a commonly used mechanism for the forward settlement of U.S. agency mortgage pass-through securities, and not to a separate type of mortgage-backed security. Most transactions in mortgage pass-through securities occur through the use of TBA transactions. TBA transactions generally are conducted in accordance with widely-accepted guidelines which establish commonly observed terms and conditions for execution, settlement and delivery. In a TBA transaction, the buyer and seller decide on general trade parameters, such as agency, settlement date, par amount, and price. The actual pools delivered generally are determined two days prior to settlement date.

Default by or bankruptcy of a counterparty to a TBA transaction would expose the Fund to possible loss because of adverse market action, expenses or delays in connection with the purchase or sale of the pools of mortgage pass-through securities specified in the TBA transaction. To minimize this risk, the Fund will enter into TBA transactions only with established counterparties (such as major broker-dealers) and the Sub-Adviser will monitor the creditworthiness of such counterparties. In addition, the Fund may accept assignments of TBA transactions from Authorized Participants (as defined below) from time to time. The Fund’s use of “TBA rolls” may cause the Fund to experience higher portfolio turnover, higher transaction costs and to pay higher capital gain distributions to shareholders (which may be taxable) than other funds.

The Fund intends to invest cash pending settlement of any TBA transactions in money market instruments, repurchase agreements, commercial paper (including asset-backed commercial paper) or other high-quality, liquid short-term instruments, which may include money market funds affiliated with the Adviser or Sub-Adviser.

Other asset-backed securities are structured like MBS, but instead of mortgage loans or interests in mortgage loans, the underlying assets may include items such as motor vehicle installment sales or installment loan contracts, leases of various types of real and personal property, and receivables from credit card agreements and from sales of personal property. Asset-backed securities typically have no U.S. Government backing. Additionally, the ability of an issuer of asset-backed securities to enforce its security interest in the underlying assets may be limited.

If the Fund purchases a mortgage-backed or other asset-backed security at a premium, that portion may be lost if there is a decline in the market value of the security whether resulting from changes in interest rates or prepayments in the underlying collateral. As with other interest-bearing securities, the prices of such securities are inversely affected by changes in interest rates. Although the value of a mortgage-backed or other asset-backed security may decline when interest rates rise, the converse is not necessarily true, since in periods of declining interest rates the mortgages and loans underlying the securities are prone to prepayment, thereby shortening the average life of the security and shortening the period of time over which income at the higher rate is received. When interest rates are rising, the rate of prepayment tends to decrease, thereby lengthening the period of time over which income at the lower rate is received. For these and other reasons, a mortgage-backed or other asset-backed security’s average maturity may be shortened or lengthened as a result of interest rate fluctuations and, therefore, it is not possible to predict accurately the security’s return.

Municipal Securities. The Fund may invest in securities issued by states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of states and multi-state agencies or authorities. Municipal securities share the attributes of debt/fixed income securities in general, but are generally issued by states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of states and multi-state agencies or authorities. The municipal securities which the Fund may purchase include general obligation bonds and limited obligation bonds (or revenue bonds), including industrial development bonds issued pursuant to former federal tax law. General obligation bonds are obligations involving the credit of an issuer possessing taxing power and are payable from such issuer’s general revenues and not from any particular source. Limited obligation bonds are payable only

 

6


from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source. Tax-exempt industrial development bonds generally are also revenue bonds and thus are not payable from the issuer’s general revenues. The credit and quality of industrial development bonds are usually related to the credit of the corporate user of the facilities. Payment of interest on and repayment of principal of such bonds is the responsibility of the corporate user (and/or any guarantor). In addition, the Fund may invest in lease obligations. Lease obligations may take the form of a lease or an installment purchase contract issued by public authorities to acquire a wide variety of equipment and facilities.

Preferred Stock. The Fund may invest in preferred stock. Preferred stock, unlike common stock, often offers a stated dividend rate payable from a corporation’s earnings. If interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stocks may be less attractive, causing the price of preferred stocks to decline. Preferred stock may have mandatory sinking fund provisions, as well as call/redemption provisions prior to maturity, a negative feature when interest rates decline. Dividends on some preferred stock may be “cumulative,” requiring all or a portion of prior unpaid dividends to be paid before dividends are paid on the issuer’s common stock. Preferred stock also generally has a preference over common stock on the distribution of a corporation’s assets in the event of liquidation of the corporation, and may be “participating,” which means that it may be entitled to a dividend exceeding the stated dividend in certain cases. In some cases an issuer may offer auction rate preferred stock, which means that the dividend to be paid is set by auction and will often be reset at stated intervals. The rights of preferred stocks on the distribution of a corporation’s assets in the event of a liquidation are generally subordinate to the rights associated with a corporation’s debt securities.

Bank Instruments. The Fund may invest in certificates of deposit (“CDs”), time deposits and bankers’ acceptances from U.S. banks. A bankers’ acceptance is a bill of exchange or time draft drawn on and accepted by a commercial bank. A CD is a negotiable interest-bearing instrument with a specific maturity. CDs are issued by banks and savings and loan institutions in exchange for the deposit of funds and normally can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. A time deposit is a nonnegotiable receipt issued by a bank in exchange for the deposit of funds. Like a CD, it earns a specified rate of interest over a definite period of time; however, it cannot be traded in the secondary market.

Participation Interests. The Fund may purchase participations in corporate loans. Participation interests generally will be acquired from a commercial bank or other financial institution (a “Lender”) or from other holders of a participation interest (a “Participant”). The purchase of a participation interest either from a Lender or a Participant will not result in any direct contractual relationship with the borrowing company (the “Borrower”). The Fund generally will have no right directly to enforce compliance by the Borrower with the terms of the credit agreement. Instead, the Fund will be required to rely on the Lender or the Participant that sold the participation interest, both for the enforcement of the Fund’s rights against the Borrower and for the receipt and processing of payments due to the Fund under the loans. Under the terms of a participation interest, the Fund may be regarded as a member of the Participant, and thus the Fund is subject to the credit risk of both the Borrower and a Participant. Participation interests are generally subject to restrictions on resale. Generally, the Fund considers participation interests to be illiquid and therefore subject to the Fund’s percentage limitations for investments in illiquid securities.

Commercial Instruments. The Fund may invest in commercial interests, including commercial paper and other short-term corporate instruments. Commercial paper consists of short-term promissory notes issued by corporations. Commercial paper may be traded in the secondary market after its issuance.

Variable or Floating Rate Instruments. The Fund may invest in securities that have variable or floating interest rates which are readjusted on set dates (such as the last day of the month or calendar quarter) in the case of variable rates or whenever a specified interest rate change occurs in the case of a floating rate

 

7


instrument. Variable or floating interest rates generally reduce changes in the market price of securities from their original purchase price because, upon readjustment, such rates approximate market rates. Accordingly, as interest rates decrease or increase, the potential for capital appreciation or depreciation is less for variable or floating rate securities than for fixed rate obligations. Many securities with variable or floating interest rates purchased by the Fund are subject to payment of principal and accrued interest (usually within seven days) on the Fund’s demand. The terms of such demand instruments require payment of principal and accrued interest by the issuer, a guarantor and/or a liquidity provider. The investment adviser will monitor the pricing, quality and liquidity of the variable or floating rate securities held by the Fund.

Zero-Coupon and Pay-in-Kind Securities. The Fund may invest in zero-coupon or pay-in-kind securities. These securities are debt securities that do not make regular cash interest payments. Zero-coupon securities are sold at a deep discount to their face value. Pay-in-kind securities pay interest through the issuance of additional securities. Because zero-coupon and pay-in-kind securities do not pay current cash income, the price of these securities can be volatile when interest rates fluctuate. While these securities do not pay current cash income, federal tax law requires the holders of zero-coupon and pay-in-kind securities to include in income each year the portion of the original issue discount (or deemed discount) and other non-cash income on such securities accrued during that year. In order to qualify as a “regulated investment company” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and to avoid certain excise taxes, the Fund may be required to distribute a portion of such discount and income and may be required to dispose of other portfolio securities, which could occur during periods of adverse market prices, in order to generate sufficient cash to meet these distribution requirements.

Delayed Delivery Transactions. The Fund may use delayed delivery transactions as an investment technique. Delayed delivery transactions, also referred to as forward commitments, involve commitments by the Fund to dealers or issuers to acquire or sell securities at a specified future date beyond the customary settlement for such securities. These commitments may fix the payment price and interest rate to be received or paid on the investment. The Fund may purchase securities on a delayed delivery basis to the extent that it can anticipate having available cash on the settlement date. Delayed delivery agreements will not be used as a speculative or leverage technique.

Investment in securities on a delayed delivery basis may increase the Fund’s exposure to market fluctuation and may increase the possibility that the Fund will incur short-term gains subject to federal taxation or short-term losses if the Fund must engage in portfolio transactions in order to honor a delayed delivery commitment. Until the settlement date, the Fund will segregate liquid assets of a dollar value sufficient at all times to make payment for the delayed delivery transactions. Such segregated liquid assets will be marked-to-market daily, and the amount segregated will be increased if necessary to maintain adequate coverage of the delayed delivery commitments.

The delayed delivery securities, which will not begin to accrue interest or dividends until the settlement date, will be recorded as an asset of the Fund and will be subject to the risk of market fluctuation. The purchase price of the delayed delivery securities is a liability of the Fund until settlement. The Fund may enter into buy/sell back transactions (a form of delayed delivery agreement). In a buy/sell back transaction, the Fund enters a trade to sell securities at one price and simultaneously enters a trade to buy the same securities at another price for settlement at a future date.

When-Issued Securities. The Fund may purchase when-issued securities. Purchasing securities on a “when-issued” basis means that the date for delivery of and payment for the securities is not fixed at the date of purchase, but is set after the securities are issued. The payment obligation and, if applicable, the interest rate that will be received on the securities are fixed at the time the buyer enters into the commitment. The Fund will only make commitments to purchase such securities with the intention of actually acquiring such securities, but the Fund may sell these securities before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable.

 

8


Securities purchased on a when-issued basis and the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio are subject to changes in market value based upon the public’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and, if applicable, the changes in the level of interest rates. Therefore, if the Fund is to remain substantially fully invested at the same time that it has purchased securities on a when-issued basis, there will be a possibility that the market value of the Fund’s assets will fluctuate to a greater degree. Furthermore, when the time comes for the Fund to meet its obligations under when-issued commitments, the Fund will do so by using then available cash flow, by sale of the segregated liquid assets, by sale of other securities, or although it would not normally expect to do so, by directing the sale of when-issued securities themselves (which may have a market value greater or less than the Fund’s payment obligation).

Investment in securities on a when-issued basis may increase the Fund’s exposure to market fluctuation and may increase the possibility that the Fund will incur short-term gains subject to federal taxation or short-term losses if the Fund must sell another security in order to honor a when-issued commitment. The Fund will employ techniques designed to reduce such risks. If the Fund purchases a when-issued security, the Fund will segregate liquid assets in an amount equal to the when-issued commitment. If the market value of such segregated assets declines, additional liquid assets will be segregated on a daily basis so that the market value of the segregated assets will equal the amount of the Fund’s when-issued commitments.

Rule 144A Securities. The Fund may invest in Rule 144A securities. Rule 144A securities are securities which, while privately placed, are eligible for purchase and resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. This rule permits certain qualified institutional buyers, such as the Fund, to trade in privately placed securities even though such securities are not registered under the Securities Act. As set forth under “Illiquid Securities”, the Fund may invest up to an aggregate amount of 15% of its net assets in (a) illiquid securities and (b) Rule 144A securities. The Sub-Adviser, under supervision of the Board, will consider whether securities purchased under Rule 144A are illiquid and thus subject to the Fund’s restriction on illiquid securities. Determination of whether a Rule 144A security is liquid or not is a question of fact. In making this determination, the Sub-Adviser will consider the trading markets for the specific security taking into account the unregistered nature of a Rule 144A security. In addition, the Sub-Adviser could consider the (i) frequency of trades and quotes; (ii) number of dealers and potential purchasers; (iii) dealer undertakings to make a market; and (iv) nature of the security and of market place trades (for example, the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of transfer). The Sub-Adviser will also monitor the liquidity of Rule 144A securities, and if, as a result of changed conditions, the Sub-Adviser determines that a Rule 144A security is no longer liquid, the Sub-Adviser will review the Fund’s holdings of illiquid securities to determine what, if any, action is required to assure that the Fund complies with its restriction on investment of illiquid securities. Investing in Rule 144A securities could increase the amount of the Fund’s investments in illiquid securities if qualified institutional buyers are unwilling to purchase such securities.

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, and subject to the review of, the Trust’s Board, 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

 

9


not less than 102% of the value of the securities loaned (on a “mark-to-market” basis); (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 that is unaffiliated with the Fund and that is acting as a finder.

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 Sub-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 only 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.

Investment Companies. The Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies (including money market funds). Under the 1940 Act, or as otherwise permitted by the SEC, 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.

 

10


Illiquid Securities. The Fund may invest up to an aggregate amount of 15% of its net assets in (a) illiquid securities and (b) Rule 144A securities. Illiquid securities include securities subject to contractual or other restrictions on resale and other instruments that lack readily available markets.

Currency Transactions. The Fund may enter into foreign currency forward and foreign currency futures contracts to facilitate local securities settlements or to protect against currency exposure in connection with its distributions to shareholders.

A forward currency contract is an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. A currency futures contract is a contract involving an obligation to deliver or acquire the specified amount of a specific currency, at a specified price and at a specified future time. Futures contracts may be settled on a net cash payment basis rather than by the sale and delivery of the underlying currency.

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. 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, 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.

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

 

11


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. In February 2012, the CFTC adopted certain regulatory changes that may subject the Investment Adviser to register with the CFTC as a commodity pool operator (“CPO”) if the Fund is unable to comply with certain trading and marketing limitations on its investments in futures and certain other instruments. With respect to investments in swap transactions, commodity futures, commodity options or certain other derivatives used for purposes other than bona fide hedging purposes, the Fund 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 Fund’s positions in such investments may not exceed five percent (5%) of the liquidation value of the Fund’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 Fund’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 Fund 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 is 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. A related CFTC proposal to harmonize applicable CFTC and SEC regulations could, if adopted, mitigate certain disclosure and operational burdens if CPO registration were required.

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.

 

12


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.

General Considerations and Risks

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

An 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 fixed income securities in general and other factors that affect the market.

An investment in the Fund should also be made with an understanding of the risks inherent in an investment in fixed income securities, including the risk that the financial condition of issuers may become impaired or that the general condition of the market may deteriorate (either of which may cause a decrease in the value of the portfolio securities and thus in the value of Fund Shares). Fixed income securities are susceptible to general market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence 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 or banking crises.

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’s 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.

Risks of Mortgage-Related Securities. Investment in MBS poses several risks, including prepayment, market and credit risk. Prepayment risk reflects the risk that borrowers may prepay their mortgages faster than expected, thereby affecting the investment’s average life and perhaps its yield. Whether or not a mortgage loan is prepaid is almost entirely controlled by the borrower. Borrowers are most likely to exercise prepayment options at the time when it is least advantageous to investors, generally prepaying mortgages as interest rates fall, and slowing payments as interest rates rise. Beside the effect of prevailing interest rates, the rate of prepayment and refinancing of mortgages may also be affected by home value appreciation, ease of the refinancing process and local economic conditions.

Market risk reflects the risk that the price of the security may fluctuate over time. The price of MBS may be particularly sensitive to prevailing interest rates, the length of time the security is expected to be outstanding and the liquidity of the issuer. In a period of unstable interest rates, or under a variety of other circumstances, there may be decreased demand for certain types of MBS, and the Fund invested in such securities wishing to sell them may find it difficult to find a buyer, which may in turn decrease the price at which they may be sold.

Credit risk reflects the risk that the Fund may not receive all or part of its principal because the issuer or credit enhancer has defaulted on its obligations. Obligations issued by U.S. Government-related entities are guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest, but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government except to the extent previously described. The performance of private label MBS,

 

13


issued by private institutions, is based on the financial health of those institutions. With respect to GNMA certificates, although GNMA guarantees timely payment even if homeowners delay or default, tracking the “pass-through” payments may, at times, be difficult.

Risks of Currency Transactions. Foreign exchange transactions involve a significant degree of risk and the markets in which foreign exchange transactions are effected are highly volatile, highly specialized and highly technical. Significant changes, including changes in liquidity prices, can occur in such markets within very short periods of time, often within minutes. Foreign exchange trading risks include, but are not limited to, exchange rate risk, maturity gap, interest rate risk, and potential interference by foreign governments through regulation of local exchange markets, foreign investment or particular transactions in foreign currency. If the Fund utilizes foreign exchange transactions at an inappropriate time or judges market conditions, trends or correlations incorrectly, foreign exchange transactions may not serve their intended purpose and may lower the Fund’s return. The Fund could experience losses if the value of its currency forwards, options and futures positions were poorly correlated with its other investments or if it could not close out its positions because of an illiquid market. In addition, the Fund could incur transaction costs, including trading commissions, in connection with certain foreign currency transactions.

Risks of Futures and Options Transactions. There are several risks accompanying the utilization of futures contracts and options on futures contracts. First, while the Fund plans to utilize futures contracts only if an active market exists for such contracts, there is no guarantee that a liquid market will exist for the contract at a specified time.

Furthermore, because, by definition, futures contracts project price levels in the future and not current levels of valuation, market circumstances may result in a discrepancy between the price of the future and the movement in the underlying security or index. 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 deliver the instruments underlying futures contracts it has sold.

The risk of loss in trading futures contracts or uncovered call options in some strategies (e.g., selling uncovered stock index futures contracts) is potentially unlimited. The Fund does not plan to use futures and options contracts in this way. 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 levels comparable to direct investment in securities.

Utilization of futures and options on futures by the Fund involves the risk of imperfect or even negative correlation to the underlying security or 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; however, this risk is substantially minimized because (a) of the regulatory requirement that the broker has to “segregate” customer funds from its corporate funds, and (b) in the case of regulated exchanges in the United States, the clearing corporation stands behind the broker to make good losses in such a situation. The purchase of put or call options could be based upon predictions by the Sub-Adviser as to anticipated trends, which predictions could prove to be incorrect and a part or all of the premium paid therefore could be lost.

Because the futures market imposes less burdensome margin requirements than the securities market, an increased amount of participation by speculators in the futures market could result in price fluctuations. Certain financial futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices

 

14


during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the maximum amount by which 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. It is possible that futures contract prices could move to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and subjecting the Fund to substantial losses. In the event of adverse price movements, the Fund would be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin.

Although the Fund intends to enter into futures contracts only if there is an active market for such contracts, there is no assurance that an active market will exist for the contracts at any particular time.

Risks of Swap Agreements. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make. Swap agreements are also subject to the risk that the swap counterparty will default on its obligations. If such a default were to occur, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. However, such remedies may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws which could affect the Fund’s rights as a creditor (e.g., the Fund may not receive the net amount of payments that it contractually is entitled to receive). The Fund, however, intends to utilize swaps in a manner designed to limit its risk exposure to levels comparable to direct investments in securities.

MANAGEMENT

Trustees and Officers

The general supervision of the duties performed by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser for the Fund under the Investment Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement, respectively, 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, the Sub-Adviser, the Distributor or any of their 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 affiliated with the Distributor.

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 (defined below) overseen by each Independent Trustee, and other directorships, if any, held by the Trustee are shown below.

Independent Trustees

 

  Name, Address  

      & Age*      

    

  

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, age 72

  

Trustee

  

Since March 2008

   Ms. Anstine was President/Chief Executive Officer of HealthONE   

34

   Ms. Anstine is a Trustee of Financial Investors Variable Insurance

 

15


  Name, Address  

      & Age*      

    

  

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

    

         Alliance, Denver, Colorado, and former Executive Vice President of First Interstate Bank of Denver. Ms. Anstine is also Trustee/Director of the following: AV Hunter Trust; Colorado Uplift Board. Ms. Anstine was formerly a Director of the Trust Bank of Colorado (later purchased and now known as Northern Trust Bank), HealthONE and Denver Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and a member of the American Bankers Association Trust Executive Committee.       Trust (6 funds); Financial Investors Trust (26 funds); Reaves Utility Income Fund; and Westcore Trust (12 funds).

  Jeremy W.

  Deems, age 36

  

Trustee

  

Since March 2008

   Mr. Deems is the Co-Founder, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Green Alpha Advisors, LLC. Prior to joining Green Alpha Advisors, Mr. Deems was CFO and    34    Mr. Deems is a Trustee of Financial Investors Variable Insurance Trust (6 funds); Financial Investors Trust (26 funds); and Reaves Utility Income Fund.

 

16


  Name, Address  

      & Age*      

    

  

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

    

         Treasurer of Forward Management, LLC, ReFlow Management Co., LLC, ReFlow Fund, LLC, a private investment fund, and Sutton Place Management, LLC, an administrative services company, from 2004 to June 2007. Prior to this, Mr. Deems served as Controller of Forward Management, LLC, ReFlow Management Co., LLC, ReFlow Fund, LLC and Sutton Place Management, LLC.      

  Rick A.

  Pederson, age 60

  

Trustee

  

Since March 2008

  

Mr. Pederson is President, Foundation Properties, Inc. (a real estate investment management company), 1994 – present;

Partner, Bow River Capital Partners (investment manager), 2003 – present; Principal, The Pauls Corporation (real estate

   17    Mr. Pederson is Trustee of Westcore Trust (12 funds)

 

17


  Name, Address  

      & Age*      

    

  

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

    

         development), 2008 – present; Director, Guaranty Bank and Trust (a community bank), 1999 – 2007; Winter Park Recreational Association (an entity that operates, maintains and develops Winter Park Resort), 2002 – 2008; Neenan Co. (an integrated real estate development, architecture and construction company), 2002 – present; NexCore Properties LLC (a real estate investment company), 2004 – 2011; Urban Land Conservancy (a not-for-profit organization), 2004 – present.      

 

*

The business address of the Trustee is c/o ALPS Advisors, Inc., 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, 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. or RiverFront Investment Group, LLC provides investment advisory services.

The Trustee who is affiliated with the Adviser or affiliates of the Adviser and executive officers 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.

 

18


Interested Trustee

 

  Name, Address and

  Age 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

  Thomas A. Carter,

  age 46

  

Trustee and President

  

Since

March 2008

   Mr. Carter joined ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS”) in 1994 and is currently President and Director of ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“AAI”), ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ADI”) and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. (“APSD”) and Executive Vice President and Director of ALPS and ALPS Holdings, Inc. (“AHI”). Because of his position with AHI, ALPS, ADI, APSD and AAI, Mr. Carter is deemed an affiliate of the Fund as defined under the 1940 Act. Before joining ALPS, Mr. Carter was with Deloitte & Touche LLP, where he worked with a diverse group of clients, primarily within the financial services industry. Mr. Carter is a Certified Public Accountant and received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Colorado at Boulder.    23   

Mr. Carter is a Trustee of Financial Investors Variable Insurance Trust (6 funds)

 

*

The business address of the Trustee is c/o ALPS Advisors, Inc., 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, 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. or RiverFront Investment Group, LLC provides investment advisory services.

 

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Officers

 

Name, Address and Age of

Executive Officer

  

Position(s) Held

with Trust

  

Length of Time
Served*

  

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5

Years

Melanie Zimdars, age 36

  

Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)

  

Since

December 2009

   Ms. Zimdars currently serves as a Deputy Chief Compliance Officer with ALPS. Prior to joining ALPS in September 2009, Ms. Zimdars served as Principal Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary for the Wasatch Funds from February 2007 to December 2008. From November 2006 to February 2007, she served as Assistant Treasurer for the Wasatch Funds and served as a Senior Compliance Officer for Wasatch Advisors, Inc. since 2005. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Zimdars is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Zimdars is also the CCO of EGA Emerging Global Shares Trust, Financial Investors Variable Insurance Trust, Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc., Liberty All-Star Equity Fund and BPV Family of Funds.

Patrick D. Buchanan,

age 41

  

Treasurer

  

Since June 2012

   Mr. Buchanan is Vice President of AAI. Mr. Buchanan joined ALPS in 2007 and because of his position with ALPS, he is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act.

 

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Name, Address and Age of

Executive Officer

  

Position(s) Held

with Trust

  

Length of Time
Served*

  

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5

Years

     William Parmentier,

age 60

  

Vice President

  

Since March 2008

   Mr. Parmentier is Chief Investment Officer, AAI (since 2006); President and Chief Executive Officer of the Liberty All-Star Funds (since April 1999); Senior Vice President (2005-2006), Banc of America Investment Advisors, Inc. Because of his position with AAI, Mr. Parmentier is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act.

Tané T. Tyler,

age 47

  

Secretary

   Since December 2008    Ms. Tyler is Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of ALPS. Ms. Tyler joined ALPS in 2004, and because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Tyler is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Tyler also serves as Secretary, Liberty All-Star Equity Fund and Liberty All-Star Growth Fund. She also served as Secretary, Reaves Utility Income Fund from December 2004–2007; Secretary, Westcore Funds from February 2005–2007; Secretary, First Funds from November 2004 to January 2007; Secretary, Financial Investors Variable Insurance Trust from December 2004–December 2006; Vice President and Associate Counsel, Oppenheimer Funds from January 2004 to August 2004; Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, INVESCO Funds from September 1991 to December 2003.

 

*

The business address of each Officer is c/o ALPS Advisors, Inc., 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203.

 

**

This is the period for which the Officer began serving the Trust. Each Officer serves an indefinite term, until his/her successor is elected.

 

21


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 of Forward Management, LLC, investment advisor to the Forward Funds and Sierra Club Mutual Funds, where he was also co-portfolio manager to the Sierra Club Stock Fund. In addition, he was the CFO of ReFlow Management Co., LLC. Prior to joining Forward and ReFlow, he served as Regional Marketing Assistant within the Investment Consulting Services Group at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. 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 been an Independent Trustee of the Trust since March 25, 2008. He currently serves as President of Foundation Properties, Inc., a real estate investment manager, is a Partner at Bow River Capital Partners, an investment manager. Mr. Pederson is also Principal of the Pauls Corporation, a real estate development, and Director of Neenan Co., an integrated real estate development, architecture and construction company, NexCore Properties LLC, a real estate investment company, and Urban Land Conservancy, a not-for-profit organization. He has previously served as a Director at Guaranty Bank and Trust, a community bank, and Winter Park Recreational Association, an entity that operates, maintains and develops Winter Park Resort. He was selected to serve as a Trustee of the Trust based on his business and financial services experience.

 

22


Thomas A. Carter

Mr. Carter has been an Interested Trustee and Chairman of the Trust since March 25, 2008. Since joining ALPS Fund Services, Inc. in 1994, Mr. Carter joined ALPS Fund Services, Inc., the Fund’s administrator, in 1994 and currently serves as President of ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., the Fund’s principal underwriter, and ALPS Advisors, Inc Before joining ALPS, Mr. Carter was with Deloitte & Touche LLP, where he worked with a diverse group of clients, primarily within the financial services industry. Mr. Carter is a Certified Public Accountant and received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He was selected to serve as a Trustee of the Trust based on his business, accounting, 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 and Sub-Adviser. ALPS Advisors, as Adviser, provides oversight and supervision of RiverFront in the performance of its duties as Sub-Advisor. RiverFront, as Sub-Adviser, furnishes an investment program for the Fund and manages the investment operations and composition of the Fund. The Board is responsible for overseeing the Adviser and Sub-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 Independent Trustees have also engaged independent legal counsel to assist them in performing their oversight responsibilities.

The Board has appointed Thomas A. Carter, an Interested 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 and Sub-Adviser, other service providers, counsel and other Trustees generally between meetings. The Chairman and 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 include the Trust’s multiple series of fund shares, each fund’s single portfolio of assets, each fund’s net assets and the services provided by the funds’ service providers.

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 a Committee, interacts with and reviews reports from, among others, Fund management, the Adviser and Sub-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 and Sub-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, sub-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.

 

23


As of December 31, 2012, the Trustees and officers of the Fund did not own any equity securities of the Fund, because it had not yet commenced investment operations as of that date. Additionally, none of the Independent Trustees own securities in the Adviser, Sub-Adviser or Distributor, nor do they own securities in any entity directly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser, Sub-Adviser or Distributor.

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, 2012.

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, but has not adopted any specific policy in this regard. 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 twice during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2012.

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 1100, Denver, Colorado, 80203.

 

24


Remuneration of Trustees and Officers

Each Independent Trustee receives (1) a quarterly retainer of $3,500, (2) a per meeting fee of $1,500, (3) $750 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. The following chart provides certain information about the Trustee fees paid by the Trust for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2012:

 

      Aggregate
Compensation
From the Trust
   Pension Or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued
As Part of
Portfolio
Expenses
   Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement
   Aggregate
Compensation
From The Trust And
Portfolio Complex
Paid To
Trustees(1)

Mary K. Anstine, Trustee

   $21, 500    $0    $0    $76,000

Jeremy W. Deems, Trustee

   $21, 500    $0    $0    $76,000

Rick A. Pederson, Trustee

   $21, 500    $0    $0    $21, 500

 

(1)

The Fund Complex includes all series of the Trust and any other investment companies for which ALPS Advisors, Inc. or RiverFront Investment Group, LLC provides investment advisory services.

Officers who are employed by ALPS Advisors, Inc. receive no compensation or expense reimbursements from the Trust.

Investment 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 1100, Denver, CO 80203. The Adviser is an affiliate of ALPS Fund Services, Inc., who serves as the Funds’ administrator, and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., who serves as Distributor to the Funds.

Located in Denver, Colorado, ALPS Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of DST Systems, Inc., was founded in 2005 and assumed the business of ALPS Financial Services, which 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 March 31, 2013, ALPS Advisors, Inc. manages over $8.97 billion in assets.

RiverFront.

The Trust has delegated daily management of the Fund to RiverFront. The Sub-Adviser is engaged to manage the investments of the Fund in accordance with its investment objective, policies and limitations and investment guidelines established by the Board. The Sub-Adviser is located at 1214 East Cary Street Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Advisory Agreement. Pursuant to an Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and the Trust, the Fund has agreed to pay the Adviser an annual management fee equal to 0.22% of its average daily net assets.

Under the 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 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 Advisory Agreement is two years and continues thereafter only if approved annually by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees. The Agreement terminates automatically

 

25


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.

Sub-Advisory Agreement. Pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement with the Trust on behalf of the Fund, the Sub-Adviser furnishes the investment program for the Fund and manages the investment and reinvestment of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis under the supervision of the Adviser. Pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Sub-Adviser a sub-advisory fee for the services it provides, payable on a monthly basis at the annual rate of 0.24% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. However, the Sub-Adviser has agreed to waive all of its sub-advisory fee until at least [            ], 2014.

Portfolio Managers

The Fund is managed by RiverFront’s portfolio management team.

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

The following table lists the number and types of other accounts advised by the primary portfolio managers indicated below and assets under management in those accounts as of May 31, 2013:

 

    

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

Michael Jones, CFA

   Registered Investment Companies            
  

Other Pooled investment vehicles

           
  

Other Accounts

           

Tim Anderson, CFA

   Registered Investment Companies            
  

Other Pooled investment vehicles

           
  

Other Accounts

           

Kevin Nicholson

   Registered Investment Companies            
  

Other Pooled investment vehicles

           
  

Other Accounts

           

[Please note that the team does not manage accounts with performance based fees.]

 

26


Potential conflicts of interest may arise when the Fund’s portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to one or more other funds or other accounts, as is the case for the portfolio managers listed in the table above.

The Sub-Adviser and the Fund have adopted compliance policies and procedures that are designed to address various conflicts of interest that may arise for the Sub-Adviser and the individuals that it employs. For example, the Sub-Adviser seeks to minimize the effects of competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by assigning portfolio managers to manage funds and accounts that share a similar investment style. The Sub-Adviser has also adopted trade allocation procedures that are designed to facilitate the fair allocation of limited investment opportunities among multiple funds and accounts. There is no guarantee, however, that the policies and procedures adopted by the Sub-Adviser and the Fund will be able to detect and/or prevent every situation in which an actual or potential conflict may appear.

These potential conflicts include:

Allocation of Limited Time and Attention. A portfolio manager who is responsible for managing multiple funds and/or accounts may devote unequal time and attention to the management of those funds and/or accounts. As a result, the portfolio manager may not be able to formulate as complete a strategy or identify equally attractive investment opportunities for each of those accounts as might be the case if he or she were to devote substantially more attention to the management of a single fund. The effects of this potential conflict may be more pronounced where funds and/or accounts overseen by a particular portfolio manager have different investment strategies.

Allocation of Limited Investment Opportunities. If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for multiple funds and/or accounts, the opportunity may be allocated among these several funds or accounts, which may limit a fund’s ability to take full advantage of the investment opportunity.

Pursuit of Differing Strategies. At times, a portfolio manager may determine that an investment opportunity may be appropriate for only some of the funds and/or accounts for which he or she exercises investment responsibility, or may decide that certain of the funds and/or accounts should take differing positions with respect to a particular security. In these cases, the portfolio manager may place separate transactions for one or more funds or accounts which may affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment or benefit of one or more other funds and/or accounts.

Selection of Brokers/Dealers. Portfolio managers may be able to select or influence the selection of the brokers and dealers that are used to execute securities transactions for the funds and/or account that they supervise. In addition to executing trades, some brokers and dealers provide portfolio managers with brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act), which may result in the payment of higher brokerage fees than might have otherwise been available. These services may be more beneficial to certain funds or accounts than to others. Although the payment of brokerage commissions is subject to the requirement that the portfolio manager determine in good faith that the commissions are reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided to the fund, a portfolio manager’s decision as to the selection of brokers and dealers could yield disproportionate costs and benefits among the funds and/or accounts that he or she manages.

Variation in Compensation. A conflict of interest may arise where the financial or other benefits available to the portfolio manager differ among the funds and/or accounts that he or she manages. If the structure of the investment adviser’s management fee and/or the portfolio manager’s compensation differs among funds and/or accounts (such as where certain funds or accounts pay higher management fees or

 

27


performance-based management fees), the portfolio manager might be motivated to help certain funds and/or accounts over others. The portfolio manager might be motivated to favor funds and/or accounts in which he or she has an interest or in which the investment adviser and/or its affiliates have interests. Similarly, the desire to maintain or raise assets under management or to enhance the portfolio manager’s performance record or to derive other rewards, financial or otherwise, could influence the portfolio manager to lend preferential treatment to those funds and/or accounts that could most significantly benefit the portfolio manager.

Related Business Opportunities. The Sub-Adviser or its affiliates may provide more services (such as distribution or recordkeeping) for some types of funds or accounts than for others. In such cases, a portfolio manager may benefit, either directly or indirectly, by devoting disproportionate attention to the management of funds and/or accounts that provide greater overall returns to the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates.

Securities Ownership of the Portfolio Managers. Because the Fund is newly organized, the portfolio managers do not own shares of the Fund.

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. ALPS Fund Services is located at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203.

ALPS Fund Services is responsible for all expenses of the Fund, including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services (“Fund Expenses”), except for the fees paid to the Sub-Adviser, 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.

Custodian and Transfer Agent. The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY”), located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286, serves as custodian for the Fund pursuant to a Custodian Agreement. As custodian, BNY holds the Fund’s assets, calculates the net asset value of Shares and calculates net income and realized capital gains or losses. BNY also serves as transfer agent of the Fund pursuant to a Transfer Agency Agreement. As compensation for the foregoing services, BNY receives certain out-of-pocket costs, transaction fees and asset-based fees which are accrued daily and paid monthly by ALPS Fund Services.

Distributor. ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. (“ALPS”) is the Distributor of the Fund’s Shares. Its principal address is 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, 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 Unit Aggregations.”

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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

 

28


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 (as defined in “DTC Acts as Securities Depository” below).

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

Investment Decisions and Portfolio Transactions

Investment decisions for the Fund are made with a view to achieving its investment objective. Investment decisions are the product of many factors in addition to basic suitability for the particular client involved (including the Fund). Some securities considered for investment by the Fund may also be appropriate for other clients served by the Sub-Adviser. Thus, a particular security may be bought or sold for certain clients even though it could have been bought or sold for other clients at the same time. If a purchase or sale of securities consistent with the investment policies of the Fund and one or more of these clients is considered at or about the same time, transactions in such securities will be allocated among the Fund and clients in a manner deemed fair and reasonable by the Sub-Adviser. Particularly when investing in less liquid or illiquid securities, such allocation may take into account the asset size of the Fund in determining whether the allocation of an investment is suitable. The Sub-Adviser may aggregate orders for the Fund with simultaneous transactions entered into on behalf of its other clients so long as price and transaction expenses are averaged either for the portfolio transaction or for that day. Likewise, a particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one or more clients are selling the security. In some instances, one client may sell a particular security to another client. It also sometimes happens that two or more clients simultaneously purchase or sell the same security, in which event each day’s transactions in such security are, insofar as possible, averaged as to price and allocated between such clients in a manner which in the Sub-Adviser’s opinion is equitable to each and in accordance with the amount being purchased or sold by each. There may be circumstances when purchases or sales of portfolio securities for one or more clients will have an adverse effect on other clients, including the Fund.

Brokerage and Research Services

The Sub-Adviser places orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities, options and futures contracts and buys and sells such securities, options and futures for the Fund through a substantial number of brokers and dealers. In so doing, the Sub-Adviser uses its best efforts to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, except to the extent it may be permitted to pay higher brokerage commissions as described below. In seeking the most favorable price and execution, the Sub-Adviser, having in mind the Fund’s best interests, considers all factors it deems relevant, including, by way of illustration, price, the size of the transaction, the nature of the market for the security, the amount of the commission, the timing of the transaction taking into account market prices and trends, the reputation, experience and financial stability of the broker-dealer involved and the quality of service rendered by the broker-dealer in that or other transactions.

The Sub-Adviser places orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio investments for the Fund’s accounts with brokers or dealers selected by it in its discretion. In effecting purchases and sales of portfolio securities for the accounts of the Fund, the Sub-Adviser will seek the best price and execution of the

 

29


Fund’s orders. In doing so, the Fund may pay higher commission rates than the lowest available when the Sub-Adviser believes it is reasonable to do so in light of the value of the brokerage and research services provided by the broker effecting the transaction, as discussed below. Although the Fund may use a broker-dealer that sells Fund shares to effect transactions for the Fund’s portfolios, the Fund will not consider the sale of Fund shares as a factor when selecting broker-dealers to execute those transactions.

There is generally no stated commission in the case of fixed-income securities and other securities traded on a principal basis in the over-the-counter markets, but the price paid by the Fund usually includes an undisclosed dealer commission or markup. In underwritten offerings, the price paid by the Fund includes a disclosed, fixed commission or discount retained by the underwriter or dealer. Transactions on U.S. stock exchanges and other agency transactions involve the payment by the Fund of negotiated brokerage commissions. Such commissions vary among different brokers. Also, a particular broker may charge different commissions according to such factors as the difficulty and size of the transaction. Transactions in non-U.S. securities generally involve the payment of fixed brokerage commissions, which are generally higher than those in the United States. The purchase by the Fund of participations or assignments may be pursuant to privately negotiated transactions pursuant to which the Fund may be required to pay fees to the seller or forego a portion of payments in respect of the participation agreement.

Advisers or sub-advisers of investment companies and other institutional investors receive research and brokerage products and services (together, “services”) from broker-dealers which execute portfolio transactions for the clients of such advisers. Consistent with this practice, the Sub-Adviser receives brokerage and research products and services from many broker-dealers with which the Sub-Adviser places the Fund’s portfolio transactions. These services, which in some cases may also be purchased for cash, may include, among other things, such items as general economic and security market reviews, industry and company reviews, evaluations of securities, recommendations as to the purchase and sale of securities, and services related to the execution of securities transactions. The advisory fees paid by the Fund are not reduced because the Sub-Adviser receives such services even though the receipt of such services relieves the Sub-Adviser from expenses it might otherwise bear. Research and brokerage services provided by broker-dealers chosen by the Sub-Adviser to place the Fund’s portfolio transactions may be useful to the Sub-Adviser in providing services to the Sub-Adviser’s other clients, although not all of these services may be necessarily useful and of value to the Sub-Adviser in managing the Fund. Conversely, brokerage and research products and services provided to the Sub-Adviser by broker-dealers in connection with trades executed on behalf of other clients of the Sub-Adviser may be useful to the Sub-Adviser in managing the Fund, although not all of these brokerage and research products and services may be necessarily useful and of value to the Sub-Adviser in managing such other clients.

In reliance on the “safe harbor” provided by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), a Sub-Adviser may cause the Fund to pay a broker-dealer which provides “brokerage and research services” (as defined for purposes of Section 28(e)) to the Sub-Adviser an amount of commission for effecting a securities transaction for the Fund in excess of the commission which another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that the commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by the broker-dealer viewed in terms of either a particular transaction or the Sub-Adviser’s overall responsibilities to the advisory accounts for which it exercises investment discretion.

The Sub-Adviser may place orders for the purchase and sale of exchange-listed portfolio securities with a broker-dealer that is an affiliate of the Sub-Adviser where, in the judgment of the Sub-Adviser, such firm will be able to obtain a price and execution at least as favorable as other qualified broker-dealers. Pursuant to rules of the SEC, a broker-dealer that is an affiliate of the Sub-Adviser may receive and retain compensation for effecting portfolio transactions for the Fund on a securities exchange if the commissions

 

30


paid to such an affiliated broker-dealer by the Fund on exchange transactions do not exceed “usual and customary brokerage commissions.” The rules define “usual and customary” commissions to include amounts which are “reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time.” As required by applicable SEC rules, the Board has adopted procedures which are reasonably designed to provide that any commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to an affiliated broker are consistent with the foregoing standards.

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.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares in one or more series or “funds.” The Trust currently is comprised of 17 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, including the Fund, 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 1100, 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.”

 

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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 New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), 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.

 

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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 of Trustees of the Trust has delegated responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Fund to the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser votes such proxies in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures, which are included in Appendix A of this SAI. The Board of Trustees 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 is available at no charge upon request by calling 1-866-513-5856 or by writing to ALPS ETF Trust at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203. The Fund’s Form N-PX will also be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Quarterly Portfolio Schedule. The Trust is required to disclose, after its first and third fiscal quarters, the complete schedule of the Fund’s portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-Q. The Trust also discloses a complete schedule of the Fund’s portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-CSR after its second and fourth quarters. Form N-Q and Form N-CSR for the Fund are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Form N-Q and Form N-CSR may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-202-551-5850. The Fund’s Form N-Q and Form N-CSR are available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-866-513-5856 or by writing to ALPS ETF Trust at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, 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, ALPS Advisors, Inc. or any of their affiliated persons) in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information of the Fund. The Trust’s policy is implemented and overseen by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust, subject to the oversight of the Board of Trustees. Periodic reports regarding these procedures will be provided to the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The Board of Trustees of the Trust 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 NYSE Arca via the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”). The basket represents one Creation Unit of the Fund. The Trust, the Adviser, Sub-Adviser and ALPS will not disseminate non-public information concerning the Trust.

Codes of Ethics. Pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act, the Board of Trustees has adopted a Code of Ethics for the Trust and approved Codes of Ethics adopted by the Adviser, Sub-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, the Sub-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

 

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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 generally consists of the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities — the “Deposit Securities” — (and/or an amount of cash in lieu of some or all of the Deposit Securities) per each Creation Unit Aggregation constituting a substantial replication, or representation, of the securities included in the Fund’s portfolio as selected by the Sub-Adviser (“Fund Securities”) and an amount of cash — the “Cash Component” — computed as described below. Together, the Deposit Securities (and/or an amount of cash in lieu of some or all of the Deposit Securities) and 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 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 NSCC (discussed below), makes available on each Business Day, prior to the opening of business on the NYSE Arca (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern time), the list of the names and the required number of shares of each Deposit Security to be included in the current Fund Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous Business Day) for the Fund.

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 Sub-Adviser with a view to the investment objective of the Fund. The Trust intends to require the substitution of an amount of cash (i.e., a “cash in lieu” amount) to replace any Deposit Security that is a TBA transaction. The amount of cash contributed will be equal to the price of the TBA

 

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transaction listed as a Deposit Security. In addition, the Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of 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 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 will be at the expense of the Fund and will affect the value of all Shares; but the Sub-Adviser, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, may adjust the transaction fee within the parameters described below to protect ongoing shareholders. The adjustments described above will reflect changes known to the Sub-Adviser on the date of announcement to be in effect by the time of delivery of the Fund Deposit or resulting from certain corporate actions.

In addition to the list of names and numbers of securities constituting the current Deposit Securities of a 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 a DTC Participant (see the Book Entry Only System section), and must have executed an agreement with the Distributor, with respect to creations and redemptions of Creation Unit Aggregations (“Participant Agreement”) (discussed below). A DTC Participant which has executed a Participation Agreement is also 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.

All orders to create Creation Unit Aggregations must be received by the Distributor no later than the closing time of the regular trading session on the NYSE (“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. 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. 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 persons placing orders 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.

 

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Placement of Creation Orders. Fund Deposits must be delivered through a DTC Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement pre-approved by the Adviser and the Distributor. 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 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 third (3rd) Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Distributor.

Additional transaction fees may be imposed in 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 third 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

 

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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 listed below, will be charged in all cases. The delivery of Creation Unit Aggregations so created will occur no later than the third 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 Transaction Fee. Investors will be required to pay a fixed creation transaction fee, described below, payable regardless of the number of creations made each day. Investors are responsible for the costs of transferring the securities constituting the Deposit Securities to the account of the Trust. 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. As a result, in order to seek to replicate the in-kind creation order process, the Trust expects to purchase, in the secondary market, the securities that were not delivered as part of an in-kind creation order (“Market Purchases”). In such cases where the Trust makes Market Purchases, the Authorized Participant will reimburse the Trust for, among other things, any difference between the market value at which the securities were purchased by the Trust and the cash in lieu amount (which amount, at the Sub-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 purchase of portfolio securities will be at the expense of the Fund and will affect the value of all Shares of the Fund; but the Sub-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 who use the services of a broker or other such intermediary may be charged a fee for such services.

The Standard Creation/Redemption Transaction Fee for the Fund will be $[        ].

 

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Redemption of Fund Shares in Creation Units Aggregations. Fund Shares may be redeemed only in Creation Unit Aggregations at their 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.

With respect to the Fund, the Custodian, through the NSCC, makes available prior to the opening of business on the NYSE Arca (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 Fund reserves the right to effect redemptions wholly or partially in cash.

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. Investors will also bear the costs of transferring the Fund Securities from the Trust to their account or on their order. An additional variable charge for cash redemptions or partial cash redemptions 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. 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 Sub-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 Sub-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 are the same as the creation fees set forth above.

 

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Placement of Redemption Orders. Orders to redeem Creation Unit Aggregations must be delivered through a DTC Participant that has executed the Participant Agreement. An order to redeem Creation Unit Aggregations 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 received, the Trust will initiate procedures to transfer the requisite Fund Securities which are expected to be delivered within three 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 third Business Day following the Transmittal Date on which such redemption order is deemed received by the Trust.

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.

If it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Fund Securities or is otherwise in the best interests of the Fund, 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 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 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.

 

39


Regular Holidays. The Fund generally intends to effect deliveries of Creation Units and Portfolio Securities on a basis of “T” plus three 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 three or T plus two 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 three 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 the Fund, in certain circumstances. The holidays applicable to the Fund during such periods are listed below, as are instances where more than seven days will be needed to deliver redemption proceeds. Although certain holidays may occur on different dates in subsequent years, the number of days required to deliver redemption proceeds in any given year is not expected to exceed the maximum number of days listed below for the Fund. The 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, could affect the information set forth herein at some time in the future.

The dates in calendar year 2013 in which the regular holidays affecting the relevant securities markets of the below listed countries are as follows:

2

2013

 

Argentina

              

January 1

  

May 1

  

November 6

  

March 28

  

June 17

  

December 24

  

March 29

  

July 9

  

December 25

  

April 1

  

August 19

  

December 31

  

Australia

              

January 1

  

April 1

  

June 10

  

November 5

January 28

  

April 25

  

August 5

  

December 25

March 4

  

May 6

  

August 14

  

December 26

March 11

  

May 20

  

September 30

  

March 29

  

June 3

  

October 7

  

Austria

              

January 1

  

May 9

  

November 1

  

December 31

March 29

  

May 20

  

December 24

  

April 1

  

May 30

  

December 25

  

May 1

  

August 15

  

December 26

  

 

40


Bahamas

              

January 1

  

June 7

  

December 25

  

March 29

  

July 10

  

December 26

  

April 1

  

August 5

     

May 20

  

October 12

     

Barbados

              

January 1

  

April 28

  

August 5

  

January 21

  

May 1

  

November 30

  

March 29

  

May 20

  

December 25

  

April 1

  

August 1

     

Belarus

              

January 1

  

May 1

  

July 3

  

January 7

  

May 9

  

November 7

  

March 8

  

May 14

  

December 25

  

Belgium

              

January 1

  

May 9

  

November 1

  

March 29

  

May 10

  

November 11

  

April 1

  

May 20

  

December 25

  

May 1

  

August 15

  

December 26

  

Bermuda

              

January 1

  

August 1

  

December 25

  

March 29

  

August 2

  

December 26

  

May 24

  

September 2

     

June 17

  

November 11

     

Brazil

              

January 1

  

March 29

  

November 15

  

December 31

January 25

  

May 1

  

November 20

  

February 11

  

May 30

  

December 24

  

February 12

  

July 9

  

December 25

  

Canada

              

January 1

  

May 20

  

September 2

  

December 26

January 2

  

June 24

  

October 14

  

February 18

  

July 1

  

November 11

  

March 29

  

August 5

  

December 25

  

Cayman Islands

              

January 1

  

April 1

  

November 11

  

January 21

  

May 20

  

December 25

  

February 13

  

June 10

  

December 26

  

March 29

  

July 1

     

 

41


Chile

              

January 1

  

May 27

  

November 1

  

March 29

  

August 15

  

December 25

  

May 1

  

September 18

  

December 26

  

May 21

  

September 19

  

December 31

  

China

              

January 1

  

February 14

  

May 7

  

October 3

January 21

  

February 15

  

May 27

  

October 4

February 7

  

February 18

  

July 4

  

October 7

February 8

  

May 1

  

September 2

  

October 14

February 11

  

May 2

  

September 30

  

November 11

February 12

  

May 3

  

October 1

  

November 28

February 13

  

May 6

  

October 2

  

December 25

Colombia

              

January 1

  

May 1

  

August 7

  

December 31

January 7

  

May 13

  

August 19

  

March 25

  

June 3

  

October 14

  

March 28

  

June 10

  

November 11

  

March 29

  

July 1

  

December 25

  

Croatia

              

January 1

  

May 30

  

October 8

  

January 6

  

June 20

  

November 1

  

March 31

  

June 25

  

December 25

  

May 1

  

August 5

     

Denmark

              

January 1

  

April 26

  

December 24

  

March 28

  

May 9

  

December 25

  

March 29

  

May 20

  

December 26

  

April 1

  

June 5

  

December 31

  

Egypt*

              

January 1

  

May 5

  

August 8

  

October 16

January 7

  

May 6

  

August 11

  

November 4

January 24

  

July 1

  

October 6

  

November 5

April 25

  

July 23

  

October 14

  

May 1

  

August 7

  

October 15

  

*  The Egyptian market is closed every Friday.

  

Finland

              

January 1

  

May 9

  

December 25

  

March 29

  

June 21

  

December 26

  

April 1

  

December 6

  

December 31

  

May 1

  

December 24

     

 

42


France

              

January 1

  

May 8

  

November 11

  

March 29

  

May 9

  

December 25

  

April 1

  

August 15

  

December 26

  

May 1

  

November 1

     

Germany

              

January 1

  

May 1

  

August 15

  

December 25

February 11

  

May 9

  

October 3

  

December 26

March 29

  

May 20

  

November 1

  

December 31

April 1

  

May 30

  

December 24

  

Greece

              

January 1

  

April 1

  

June 14

  

December 26

March 18

  

May 1

  

August 16

  

March 25

  

May 3

  

October 28

  

March 29

  

May 6

  

December 25

  

Hong Kong

              

January 1

  

April 1

  

June 12

  

October 14

February 11

  

April 4

  

July 1

  

December 24

February 12

  

May 1

  

September 20

  

December 25

March 29

  

May 17

  

October 1

  

December 26

        

December 31

Hungary

              

January 1

  

May 20

  

November 1

  

March 15

  

August 19

  

December 24

  

April 1

  

August 20

  

December 25

  

May 1

  

October 23

  

December 26

  

India

              

January 25

  

April 19

  

July 1

  

September 30

January 26

  

April 20

  

August 9

  

October 2

March 27

  

April 23

  

August 10

  

October 16

March 29

  

May 1

  

August 15

  

November 4

April 1

  

May 25

  

August 22

  

November 5

April 11

  

June 29

  

September 9

  

November 14

        

November 15

December 25

Indonesia

              

January 1

  

May 1

  

August 19

  

December 25

January 25

  

May 9

  

August 20

  

December 26

March 12

  

June 7

  

October 23

  

December 30

March 15

  

August 7

  

October 15

  

December 31

March 29

  

August 8

  

November 4

  

April 1

April 11

  

August 12

August 13

  

November 5

December 24

  

 

43


Ireland

              

January 1

  

May 1

  

October 28

  

December 27

March 18

  

May 6

  

December 24

  

March 29

  

June 3

  

December 25

  

April 1

  

August 5

  

December 26

  

Israel*

              

February 24

  

April 14

  

September 6

  

March 25

  

April 15

  

September 13

  

March 26

  

May 14

  

September 25

  

March 31

  

May 15

  

September 26

  

April 1

  

July 16

     

*       The Israeli market is closed every Friday.

  

Italy

              

January 1

  

May 1

  

December 25

  

March 29

  

August 15

  

December 26

  

April 1

  

November 1

  

December 31

  

April 25

  

December 24

     

Japan

              

January 1

  

February 11

  

May 6

  

October 14

January 2

  

March 20

  

July 15

  

November 4

January 3

  

April 29

  

September 6

  

December 23

January 14

  

May 3

  

September 23

  

December 31

Kazakhstan

              

January 1

  

May 1

  

August 5

  

January 7

  

May 30

  

October 8

  

March 8

  

June 20

     

March 21

  

June 25

     

Lithuania

              

January 1

  

May 1

  

August 15

  

February 16

  

May 5

  

November 1

  

March 11

  

June 2

  

December 25

  

March 31

  

June 24

  

December 26

  

April 1

  

July 6

     

Luxembourg

              

January 1

  

May 1

  

August 15

  

December 25

March 29

  

May 9

  

November 1

  

December 26

April 1

  

May 20

  

December 24

  

Malaysia

              

January 1

  

May 1

  

June 1

  

October 15

January 24

  

May 24

  

August 7

  

November 4

February 1

  

May 25

  

August 8

  

November 5

February 11

  

May 30

  

August 9

  

December 25

February 12

  

May 31

  

August 31

  

 

44


Malta

              

January 1

  

May 1

     

February 10

  

June 7

     

March 19

  

June 29

     

March 31

  

August 15

     

Mexico

              

January 1

  

March 18

  

March 29

  

November 18

February 4

  

March 21

  

May 1

  

November 20

February 5

  

March 28

  

September 16

  

December 12

        

December 25

The Netherlands

              

January 1

  

April 30

  

May 20

  

March 29

  

May 1

  

December 25

  

April 1

  

May 9

  

December 26

  

Norway

              

January 1

  

April 1

  

May 17

  

December 25

March 28

  

May 1

  

May 20

  

December 26

March 29

  

May 9

  

December 24

  

December 31

Panama

              

January 1

  

August 15

  

December 2

  

January 9

  

November 3

  

December 8

  

March 29

  

November 5

  

December 25

  

May 1

  

November 10

     

Peru

              

January 1

  

May 1

  

October 8

  

December 25

March 28

  

July 29

  

November 1

  

December 31

March 29

  

August 30

  

December 24

  

The Philippines

              

January 1

  

April 8

  

August 8

  

December 24

February 25

  

May 1

  

August 9

  

December 25

March 28

  

May 13

  

August 21

  

December 30

March 29

  

June 12

  

November 1

  

December 31

Poland

              

January 1

  

May 3

  

November 11

  

March 29

  

May 30

  

December 25

  

April 1

  

August 15

  

December 26

  

May 1

  

November 1

     

Portugal

              

January 1

  

April 25

  

November 1

  

February 12

  

May 1

  

December 24

  

March 29

  

May 30

  

December 25

  

April 1

  

August 15

  

December 26

  

 

45


Qatar*

              

August 8

        

October 15

        

December 18

        

*  The Qatari market is closed every Friday.

  

Russia

              

January 1

  

January 8

  

May 9

  

December 26

January 2

  

January 9

  

May 10

  

January 3

  

February 25

  

June 12

  

January 4

  

March 8

  

November 4

  

January 7

  

May 1

  

December 25

  

Singapore

              

January 1

  

May 1

  

August 9

  

December 25

February 11

  

May 24

  

October 15

  

February 12

  

May 25

  

November 2

  

March 29

  

August 8

  

November 4

  

South Africa

              

January 1

  

May 1

  

December 16

  

March 21

  

June 17

  

December 24

  

March 29

  

August 9

  

December 25

  

April 1

  

September 24

  

December 26

  

South Korea

              

January 1

  

May 17

  

September 19

  

February 11

  

June 6

  

September 20

  

March 1

  

July 17

  

October 3

  

April 5

  

August 15

  

December 25

  

May 1

  

September 18

  

December 31

  

Spain

              

January 1

  

March 29

  

May 15

  

December 25

January 7

  

April 1

  

August 15

  

December 26

March 19

  

May 1

  

November 1

  

March 28

  

May 2

  

December 6

  

Sri Lanka

              

January 1

  

March 27

  

July 22

  

November 3

January 14

  

March 29

  

August 8

  

November 17

January 24

  

April 25

  

August 21

  

December 17

February 4

  

May 1

  

September 19

  

December 25

February 25

  

May

  

October 15

  

March 10

  

June 23

  

October 18

  

Sweden

              

January 1

  

May 9

  

December 25

  

March 29

  

June 6

  

December 26

  

April 1

  

June 21

  

December 31

  

May 1

  

December 24

     

 

46


Switzerland

              

January 1

  

May 1

  

August 15

  

December 26

January 2

  

May 9

  

September 5

  

December 31

March 19

  

May 20

  

November 1

  

March 29

  

May 30

  

December 24

  

April 1

  

August 1

  

December 25

  

Thailand

              

January 1

  

April 16

  

July 1

  

December 5

February 25

  

May 1

  

July 23

  

December 10

April 8

  

May 6

  

August 12

  

December 31

April 15

  

May 27

  

October 23

  

Trinidad and Tobago

              

January 1

  

May 30

  

August 31

  

December 26

March 29

  

June 19

  

September 24

  

March 30

  

August 1

  

November 3

  

April 1

  

August 8

  

December 25

  

Turkey

              

January 1

  

August 9

  

October 16

  

October 29

April 23

  

August 30

  

October 17

  

August 7

  

October 14

  

October 18

  

August 8

  

October 25

  

October 28

  

Ukraine

              

January 1

  

May 1

  

June 23

  

January 7

  

May 5

  

June 28

  

March 8

  

May 9

  

August 24

  

The United Kingdom

              

January 1

  

May 27

     

March 29

  

August 26

     

April 1

  

December 25

     

May 6

  

December 26

     

Uruguay

              

January 1

  

March 29

  

June 19

  

November 2

January 6

  

April 19

  

July 18

  

December 25

February 11

  

May 1

  

August 25

  

March 28

  

May 18

  

October 14

  

Venezuela

              

January 1

  

April 1

  

July 24

  

February 11

  

May 1

  

October 12

  

March 28

  

June 24

  

December 25

  

March 29

  

July 5

     

 

47


Vietnam

              

January 1

  

April 30

     

February 10

  

May 1

     

April 19

  

September 2

     

Redemption. The longest redemption cycle for each Fund is a function of the longest redemption cycles among the countries whose stocks comprise such Fund. In the calendar year 2013, the dates of the regular holidays affecting the following securities markets present the worst-case redemption cycle for each Fund is as follows*:

 

2013

              

Country

  

Trade Date

  

Settlement Date

  

Number of Days to Settle

Argentina

  

3/25/13

3/26/13

3/27/13

  

4/02/13

4/03/13

4/04/13

  

8

8

8

Austria

   12/19/13    12/27/13    8
   12/20/13    12/30/13    10
   12/23/13    01/02/14    10

China

  

02/04/13

02/05/13

  

02/19/13

02/20/13

  

15

15

   02/06/13    02/21/13    15
   04/26/13    05/08/13    12
   04/29/13    05/09/13    10
   04/30/13    05/10/13    10
  

09/25/13

09/26/13

09/27/13

  

10/08/13

10/09/13

10/10/13

  

13

13

13

Czech Republic

  

12/19/03

12/20/13

12/23/13

  

12/27/13

12/30/13

01/02/14

  

8

10

10

Denmark

  

03/25/13

03/26/13

  

04/02/13

04/03/13

  

8

8

  

03/27/13

10/08/13

  

04/04/13

10/17/13

  

8

9

  

12/19/13

12 /20/13

12/23/13

  

12/27/13

12 /30/13

01/02/14

  

8

10

10

 

48


Egypt

  

10/08/13

10/09/13

10/10/13

10/29/13

10/30/13

10/31/13

  

10/17/13

10/18/13

10/21/13

11/06/13

11/07/13

11/08/13

  

9

9

11

8

8

8

Finland

  

12/19/13

12/20/13

  

12/27/13

12/30/13

  

8

10

   12/21/13    01/02/14    10

Germany

  

12 /19/13

12/20/13

12/23/13

  

12 /27/13

12/30/13

01/02/14

  

8

10

10

Hungary

  

12/19/13

12/20/13

12/21/13

  

12/27/13

12/30/13

12/31/13

  

8

10

8

Indonesia

   08/02/13    08/14/13    12
  

08/05/13

08/06/13

  

08/15/13

08/16/13

  

10

10

Ireland

  

12/19/13

12 /20/13

12/23/13

  

12/30/13

12 /31/13

01/02/14

  

11

11

10

Italy

  

12/19/13

12/20/13

12/23/13

  

12/27/13

12/30/13

01/02/14

  

8

10

10

Lithuania

   12/20/13    12/30/13    10
   12/23/13    12/31/13    8
   12/24/13    01/02/14    9

Luxembourg

   12/19/13    12/27/13    8
   12/20/13    12/30/13    10
   12/23/13    12/31/13    8

Malaysia

   08/02/13    08/12/13    10
   08/05/13    08/13/13    8
   08/06/13    08/14/13    8

Norway

  

03/25/13

03/26/13

03/27/13

12 /19/13

12/20/13

12/23/13

  

04/02/13

04/03/13

04/04/13

12 /27/13

12/30/13

01/02/14

  

8

8

8

8

10

10

 

49


Philippines

   12 /23/13    01/02/14    10

Portugal

   12/19/13    12/27/13    8
   12/20/13    12/30/13    10
   12/23/13    12/31/13    8

Qatar

   10/09/13    10/18/13    9
   10/10/13    10/21/13    11
   10/11/13    10/22/13    11

South Africa

   03/14/13    03/22/13    8
   03/15/13    03/25/13    10
   03/18/13    03/26/13    8
   03/19/13    03/27/13    8
   03/20/13    03/28/13    8
   03/22/13    04/02/13    11
   03/25/13    04/03/13    8
   03/26/13    04/04/13    8
   03/27/13    04/05/13    8
   03/28/13    04/08/13    11
   04/24/13    05/02/12    8
   04/25/13    05/03/13    8
   04/26/13    05/06/13    10
   04/29/13    05/07/13    8
   04/30/13    05/08/13    8
   06/10/13    06/18/13    8
   06/11/13    06/19/13    8
   06/12/13    06/20/13    8
   06/13/13    06/21/13    8
   06/14/13    06/24/13    10
   08/02/13    08/12 /13    12
   08/05/13    08/13/13    8
   08/06/13    08/14/13    8
   08/07/13    08/15/13    8
   08/08/13    08/16/13    8
   09/17/13    09/25/13    8
   09/18/13    09/26/13    8
   09/19/13    09/27/13    8
   09/20/13    09/30/13    10
   09/23/13    10/01/13    8
   12/11/13    12/19/13    8
   12/12/13    12/20/13    8
  

12/13/13

12 /18/13

12/19/13

12/20/13

12/23/13

12/24/13

  

12/23/13

12 /27/13

12/30/13

12/31/13

01/02/14

01/03/14

  

10

9

11

11

10

10

 

50


Spain

   03/25/13    04/02/13    8
   03/26/13    04/03/13    8
   03/27/13    04/04/13    8

Sri Lanka

   10/11/13    10/21/13    10
   10/14/13    10/22/13    8

Sweden

   12/19/13    12/27/13    8
   12/20/13    12/30/13    10
   12/23/13    01/02/14    10

Switzerland

   12/19/13    12/27/13    8
   12/20/13    12/30/13    10
   12/23/13    01/02/14    10

Taiwan

   02/05/13    02/15/13    10
   02/06/13    02/18/13    12

Turkey

   10/10/13    10/21/13    11
   10/11/13    10/22/13    11

 

*

Holidays are subject to change without further notice.

 

51


TAXES

The Fund intends to qualify for and to elect to be treated as a separate regulated investment company (a “RIC”) under Subchapter M of 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 gain 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 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 regulated investment company, 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 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 98.2% of its ordinary income 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 the Fund and if, pursuant to section 351 of the Code, the 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.

For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, the maximum individual rate applicable to “qualified dividend income” and 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 will not qualify for the lower tax rates. 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 individual shareholders eligible for taxation at the lower reduced tax rates applicable to long-term capital gains.

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.

 

52


Distributions reinvested in additional Shares of the Fund through the means of the dividend reinvestment service (see below) will nevertheless be taxable dividends to shareholders acquiring such additional Shares to the same extent as if such dividends had been received in cash.

Distributions of ordinary income paid to shareholders who are nonresident aliens or foreign entities 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, shareholders who are nonresident aliens or foreign entities 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 an individual 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. For distributions with respect to taxable years of regulated investment companies beginning before January 1, 2014, the Fund is not required to withhold any amounts with respect to distributions to foreign shareholders that are properly designated 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 the Fund may withhold tax on these amounts regardless of the fact that it is not required to do so. Any amounts withheld from payments made to a shareholder may be refunded or credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS. Nonresident shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors concerning the applicability of the U.S. withholding tax and the potential application of the U.S. estate tax.

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.

Dividends and interest received by the Fund may give rise to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes.

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 AND OPTIONS 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

 

53


well as those actually realized during the year. Gain or loss from futures and options 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, options contracts and swaps to the extent of any unrecognized gains on offsetting positions held by the 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 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 or options contracts will be considered gain from the sale of securities or derived with respect to the 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 or options 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 Fund (i.e., the value of its total assets less total liabilities) by the total number of Shares of the Fund outstanding, rounded to the nearest cent. Expenses and fees, including without limitation, the management 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 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 net investment income, if any, are declared and paid monthly. 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.

 

54


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 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.

MISCELLANEOUS I NFORMATION

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

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. [ ] 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.

 

55


APPENDIX A

[RiverFront’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures to be provided]


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)
   (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. with respect to the Cohen & Steers Global Realty Majors ETF.(13)
      (2)    Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Advisors, Inc. with respect to the ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF.(13)
      (3)    Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Advisors, Inc. with respect to Jefferies | TR/J CRB Global Commodity Equity Index Fund.(13)
      (4)    Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Advisors, Inc. with respect to the Alerian MLP ETF.(13)
      (5)    Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Advisors, Inc. with respect to the RiverFront Strategic Income Fund (to be filed by subsequent amendment).
      (6)    Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Trust and RiverFront Investment Group, LLC with respect to the RiverFront Strategic Income Fund (to be filed by subsequent amendment).
      (7)    Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Advisors, Inc. with respect to the U.S. Equity High Volatility Put Write Index Fund.(12)


    (8)    Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between ALPS Advisors, Inc. and Rich Investment Solutions, LLC with respect to the U.S. Equity High Volatility Put Write Index Fund.(12)
    (9)    Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Advisors, Inc. with respect to the Sector Dividend Dogs ETF.(9)
    (10)    Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Advisors, Inc. with respect to the VelocityShares Tail Risk Hedged Large Cap ETF and VelocityShares Volatility Hedged Large Cap ETF.(11)
    (11)    Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Advisors, Inc. with respect to the ALPS/GS Momentum Builder Growth Markets Equities and US Treasuries Index ETF, ALPS/GS Momentum Builder Multi-Asset Index ETF, ALPS/GS Momentum Builder Asia ex-Japan Equities and US Treasuries Index ETF and ALPS/GS Risk-Adjusted Return US Large Cap Index ETF.(10)
    (12)    Form of Amendment to Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Advisors, Inc. with respect to the VelocityShares Emerging Markets DR ETF, VelocityShares Russia Select DR ETF and Velocity Shares Emerging Asia DR ETF.(11)
    (13)    Form of Amendment to Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Advisors, Inc. with respect to the NYSE Arca U.S. Equity Synthetic Reverse Convertible Index Fund (to be filed by subsequent amendment).
    (14)    Form of Amendment to Sub-Advisory Agreement between ALPS Advisors, Inc. and Rich Investment Solutions LLC, with respect to the NYSE Arca U.S. Equity Synthetic Reverse Convertible Index Fund (to be filed by subsequent amendment).
    (15)    Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Advisors, Inc. with respect to the Barron’s 400 ETF.(15)


     (16)    Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Advisors, Inc. with respect to the ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF.(16)
  (e)    (1)    Distribution Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc.(13)
     (2)    Form of Authorized Participant Agreement.(13)
     (3)    Form of Amendment to Distribution Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. with respect to the ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF.(16)
     (4)    Form of Amendment to Distribution Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. with respect to the RiverFront Strategic Income Fund (to be filed by subsequent amendment).
  (f)       None.
  (g)    (1)    Custody Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York.(4)
     (2)    Form of Amendment to Custody Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York with respect to the ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF.(3)
     (3)    Foreign Custody Manager Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York.(4)
     (4)    Amendment to Custody Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York with respect to the Jefferies | TR/J CRB Global Commodity Equity Index Fund.(5)
     (5)    Amendment to Foreign Custody Manager Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon with respect to the Jefferies | TR/J CRB Global Commodity Equity Index Fund.(5)
     (6)    Form of Amendment to Custody Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon with respect to the Alerian MLP ETF and the RiverFront Strategic Income Fund.(6)


    (7)    Form of Amendment to Foreign Custody Manager Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon with respect to the Alerian MLP ETF and the RiverFront Strategic Income Fund.(6)
    (8)    Form of Amendment to Custody Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon with respect to the Sector Dividend Dogs ETF.(9)
    (9)    Form of Amendment to Foreign Custody Manager Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon with respect to the Sector Dividend Dogs ETF.(9)
    (10)    Form of Amendment to Custody Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon with respect to the ALPS/GS Momentum Builder Growth Markets Equities and US Treasuries Index ETF, ALPS/GS Momentum Builder Multi-Asset Index ETF, ALPS/GS Momentum Builder Asia ex-Japan Equities and US Treasuries Index ETF, ALPS/GS Risk-Adjusted Return US Large Cap Index ETF, VelocityShares Tail Risk Hedged Large Cap ETF, VelocityShares Volatility Hedged Large Cap ETF, VelocityShares Emerging Markets DR ETF, VelocityShares Russia Select DR ETF, Velocity Shares Emerging Asia DR ETF, NYSE Arca U.S. Equity Synthetic Reverse Convertible Index Fund and U.S. Equity High Volatility Put Write Index Fund.(10).
    (11)    Form of Amendment to Foreign Custody Manager Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon with respect to the ALPS/GS Momentum Builder Growth Markets Equities and US Treasuries Index ETF, ALPS/GS Momentum Builder Multi-Asset Index ETF, ALPS/GS Momentum Builder Asia ex-Japan Equities and US Treasuries Index ETF, ALPS/GS Risk-Adjusted Return US Large Cap Index ETF, VelocityShares Tail Risk Hedged Large Cap ETF, VelocityShares Volatility Hedged Large Cap ETF, VelocityShares Emerging Markets DR ETF, VelocityShares Russia Select DR ETF, Velocity Shares Emerging Asia DR ETF, NYSE Arca U.S. Equity Synthetic Reverse Convertible Index Fund and U.S. Equity High Volatility Put Write Index Fund.(10)


     (12)    Form of Amendment to Custody Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon with respect to the Barron’s 400 ETF.(15)
     (13)    Form of Amendment to Foreign Custody Manager Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon with respect to the Barron’s 400
ETF.(15)
     (14)    Form of Amendment to Custody Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon with respect to the ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF.(16)
     (15)    Form of Amendment to Foreign Custody Manager Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon with respect to the ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF.(16)
  (h)    (1)    Administration Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc.(4)
     (2)    Form of Amendment to Administration Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. with respect to the ALPS Equal Sector Weight
ETF.(3)
     (3)    Administration Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. with respect to the Jefferies | TR/J CRB Global Commodity Equity Index
Fund.(5)
     (4)    Form of Administration Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. with respect to the Alerian MLP ETF.(6)
     (5)    Form of Administration Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. with respect to the RiverFront Strategic Income Fund (to be filed by subsequent amendment).
     (6)    Form of Administration Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. with respect to the U.S. Equity High Volatility Put Write Index Fund.(12)


    (7)    Form of Administration Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. with respect to the Sector Dividend Dogs ETF.(9)
    (8)    Form of Administration Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. with respect to the VelocityShares Tail Risk Hedged Large Cap ETF and VelocityShares Volatility Hedged Large Cap ETF.(11)
    (9)    Form of Administration Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. with respect to the ALPS/GS Momentum Builder Growth Markets Equities and US Treasuries Index ETF, ALPS/GS Momentum Builder Multi-Asset Index ETF, ALPS/GS Momentum Builder Asia ex-Japan Equities and US Treasuries Index ETF and ALPS/GS Risk-Adjusted Return US Large Cap Index ETF.(10)
    (10)    Form of Amendment to Administration Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. with respect to the VelocityShares Emerging Markets DR ETF, VelocityShares Russia Select DR ETF and Velocity Shares Emerging Asia DR ETF.(11)
    (11)    Form of Amendment to Administration Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. with respect to the NYSE Arca U.S. Equity Synthetic Reverse Convertible Index Fund (to be filed by subsequent amendment).
    (12)    Form of Administration Agreement with respect to the Barron’s 400 ETF.(15)
    (13)    Form of Administration Agreement and ALPS Fund Services with respect to ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF.(16)
    (14)    Transfer Agency Services Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York.(4)
    (15)    Form of Amendment to Transfer Agency Services Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York with respect to the ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF.(3)


    (16)    Amendment to Transfer Agency Services Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York with respect to the Jefferies | TR/J CRB Global Commodity Equity Index Fund.(5)
    (17)    Form of Amendment to Transfer Agency Services Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon with respect to the Alerian MLP ETF and the RiverFront Strategic Income Fund.(6)
    (18)    Form of Amendment to Transfer Agency Services Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon with respect to the Sector Dividend Dogs ETF.(9)
    (19)    Form of Amendment to Transfer Agency Services Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon with respect to the ALPS/GS Momentum Builder Growth Markets Equities and US Treasuries Index ETF, ALPS/GS Momentum Builder Multi-Asset Index ETF, ALPS/GS Momentum Builder Asia ex-Japan Equities and US Treasuries Index ETF, ALPS/GS Risk-Adjusted Return US Large Cap Index ETF, VelocityShares Tail Risk Hedged Large Cap ETF, VelocityShares Volatility Hedged Large Cap ETF, VelocityShares Emerging Markets DR ETF, VelocityShares Russia Select DR ETF, Velocity Shares Emerging Asia DR ETF, NYSE Arca U.S. Equity Synthetic Reverse Convertible Index Fund and U.S. Equity High Volatility Put Write Index Fund.(10)
    (20)    Form of Amendment to Transfer Agency Services Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon with respect to the Barron’s 400 ETF.(15)
    (21)    Form of Amendment to Transfer Agency Services Agreement between the Trust and the Bank of New York Mellon with respect to the ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF.(16)
    (22)    Fund Accounting Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of
New York.(4)


    (23)    Form of Amendment to Fund Accounting Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York with respect to the ALPS Equal Sector Weight
ETF.(3)
    (24)    Amendment to Fund Accounting Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York with respect to the Jefferies | TR/J CRB Global Commodity Equity Index Fund.(5)
    (25)    Form of Amendment to Fund Accounting Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon with respect to the Alerian MLP ETF and the RiverFront Strategic Income Fund.(6)
    (26)    Form of Amendment to Fund Accounting Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon with respect to the Sector Dividend Dogs ETF.(9)
    (27)    Form of Amendment to Fund Accounting Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon with respect to the ALPS/GS Momentum Builder Growth Markets Equities and US Treasuries Index ETF, ALPS/GS Momentum Builder Multi-Asset Index ETF, ALPS/GS Momentum Builder Asia ex-Japan Equities and US Treasuries Index ETF and ALPS/GS Risk-Adjusted Return US Large Cap Index ETF, VelocityShares Tail Risk Hedged Large Cap ETF, VelocityShares Volatility Hedged Large Cap ETF, VelocityShares Emerging Markets DR ETF, VelocityShares Russia Select DR ETF, Velocity Shares Emerging Asia DR ETF, NYSE Arca U.S. Equity Synthetic Reverse Convertible Index Fund and U.S. Equity High Volatility Put Write Index Fund. (10)
    (28)    Form of Amendment to Fund Accounting Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon with respect to the Barron’s 400 ETF.(15)
    (29)    Form of Amendment to Fund Accounting Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon with respect to the ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF.(16)


     (30)    Form of Chief Compliance Officer Services Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. with respect to the Barron’s 400 ETF.(15)
  (i)    (1)    Opinion and Consent of Dechert LLP with respect to the Cohen & Steers Global Realty Majors ETF, ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF, Jefferies | TR/J CRB Global Commodity Equity Index Fund, Alerian MLP ETF and ALPS Sector Dividend Dogs ETF.(13)
     (2)    Opinion and Consent of Dechert LLP with respect to the RiverFront Strategic Income Fund (to be filed by subsequent amendment).
     (3)    Opinion and Consent of Dechert LLP with respect to U.S. Equity High Volatility Put Write Index Fund.(12)
     (4)    Opinion and Consent of Dechert LLP with respect to Sector Dividend Dogs ETF.(9)
     (5)    Opinion and Consent of Dechert LLP with respect to the VelocityShares Tail Risk Hedged Large Cap ETF and VelocityShares Volatility Hedged Large Cap ETF. (14)
     (6)    Opinion and Consent of Dechert LLP with respect to the ALPS/GS Momentum Builder Growth Markets Equities and US Treasuries Index ETF, ALPS/GS Momentum Builder Multi-Asset Index ETF, ALPS/GS Momentum Builder Asia ex-Japan Equities and US Treasuries Index ETF and ALPS/GS Risk-Adjusted Return US Large Cap Index ETF.(10)
     (7)    Opinion and Consent of Dechert LLP with respect to the VelocityShares Emerging Markets DR ETF, VelocityShares Russia Select DR ETF and Velocity Shares Emerging Asia DR ETF.(11)
     (8)    Opinion and Consent of Dechert LLP with respect to the Barron’s 400 ETF.(15)
     (9)    Opinion and Consent of Dechert LLP with respect to the ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF.(16)


 

(j)

   (1)    Consent of independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Cohen & Steers Global Realty Majors ETF, ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF, Jefferies | TR/J CRB Global Commodity Equity Index Fund, Alerian MLP ETF and ALPS Sector Dividend Dogs ETF.(13)
 

(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. (includes ALPS Advisors, Inc. and ALPS Distributors, Inc., each a subsidiary of ALPS Holdings, Inc.) revised as of May 1, 2010.(7)
     (3)    Code of Ethics for Riverfront Investment Group, LLC (to be filed by subsequent amendment).
     (4)    Code of Ethics for Rich Investment Solutions, LLC.(13)
 

(q)

      Powers of Attorney for Mary K. Anstine, Jeremy W. Deems, and Rick A. Pederson.(3)

 

(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. 1 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on March 13, 2009.
(4) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on April 29, 2009.
(5) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on December 15, 2009.


(6) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on August 10, 2010.
(7) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on April 29, 2011.
(8) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on March 29, 2012.
(9) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 79 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on June 26, 2012.
(10) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 119 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on December 14, 2012.
(11) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 135 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on January 22, 2013.
(12) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 136 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on January 22, 2013.
(13) 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.
(14) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 159 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on April 16, 2013.
(15) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 165 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on May 24, 2013.
(16) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 169 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on June 25, 2013.

 

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
Edmund J. Burke    Director    President and Director, ALPS Holdings, Inc. and Director, ALPS Advisors, Inc., ALPS Distributors, Inc., ALPS Fund Services, Inc. and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc.    Fund Servicing
Thomas A. Carter    President, Director    See Trustee and Officer Table in the SAI    Fund Servicing
Jeremy O. May    Executive Vice President, Director    President and Director, ALPS Fund Services, Inc., Executive Vice President and Director, ALPS Holdings, Inc. and Director, ALPS Distributors and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc.    Fund Servicing
Michael Akins    Senior Vice President, Index Management    Not Applicable    Not Applicable
Tané T. Tyler    Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Assistant Secretary    See Trustee and Officer Table in the SAI    Fund Servicing
Bradley J. Swenson    Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer    Senior Vice President CCO, ALPS Holdings, Inc., ALPS Distributors, Inc., ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. and ALPS Fund Services, Inc.    Fund Servicing
Corey Dillon    Senior Vice President, Director of Institutional Advisory Services    Not Applicable    Not Applicable
Jeremy Held    Senior Vice President, Director of Research    Not Applicable    Not Applicable
Robert J. Szydlowski    Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer    Not Applicable    Not Applicable
William R. Parmentier, Jr.    Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer    Not Applicable    Not Applicable
Kenneth V. Hager    Vice President, Treasurer & Asst. Secretary    Not Applicable    Not Applicable
Mark T. Haley    Vice President    Not Applicable    Not Applicable
Erin E. Douglas    Vice President, Assistant General Counsel    Vice President, Senior Associate Counsel, ALPS Distributors, Inc. ALPS Fund Services, Inc. and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc.    Fund Servicing


JoEllen L. Legg    Vice President, Assistant General Counsel    Vice President, Senior Associate Counsel, ALPS Distributors, Inc. ALPS Fund Services, Inc. and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc.    Fund Servicing
Paul F. Leone    Vice President, Assistant General Counsel    Vice President, Assistant General Counsel, ALPS Distributors, Inc. ALPS Fund Services, Inc. and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc.    Fund Servicing
David T. Buhler    Vice President, Associate Counsel    Vice President, Associate Counsel, ALPS Distributors, Inc. ALPS Fund Services, Inc. and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc.    Fund Servicing
Rhonda A. Mills    Vice President, Associate Counsel    Vice President, Associate Counsel, ALPS Distributors, Inc. ALPS Fund Services, Inc. and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc.    Fund Servicing
Jennifer Welsh    Vice President, Associate Counsel    Vice President, Associate Counsel, ALPS Distributors, Inc. ALPS Fund Services, Inc. and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc.    Fund Servicing
Eric Parsons    Vice President, Controller, Assistant Treasurer    Vice President, Assistant Treasurer and Controller, ALPS Holdings, Inc., ALPS Distributors, Inc., ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. and ALPS Fund Services, Inc.    Fund Servicing
Patrick Buchanan    Vice President, Advisory Operations    See Trustee and Officer Table in the SAI    Not Applicable
Randall D. Young    Secretary    Not Applicable    Not Applicable
Gregg Wm. Givens    Assistant Treasurer    Not Applicable    Not Applicable

* The principal business address for each of the ALPS Advisors, Inc. representatives is: 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado, 80203.


RIVERFRONT INVESTMENTS, LLC

 

Name*   

Position with

RiverFront

Investments LLC

  

Other Business

Connections

  

Type of

Business

Paul Michael Jones, CFA    Chief Investment Officer, Founding Partner    None    N/A
Rod Smyth   

Chief Investment Strategist,

Founding Partner

  

Virginia Retirement System (VRS) – Chairman, Investment

Advisory Committee

   Financial Services
Doug Sandler, CFA    Chief Equity Officer, Founding Partner    None    N/A
Peter J. Quinn, Jr    Chief Operating Officer, Founding Partner    Virginia Business Bank (VBB) – Board Member    Financial Services
Timothy Anderson, CFA    Chief Fixed Income Strategist, Partner    None    N/A
Samuel Turner, CMT    Director Large Cap Portfolio Management, Partner    None    N/A
Paul Louie    Director Small/Mid Cap Portfolio Management, Partner    None    N/A
William Ryder, CFA, CMT    Director of Quantitative Strategy, Partner    None    N/A
Marc Cheatham    Director Technology & Operations, Partner    None    N/A
Chris Konstantinos    Portfolio Risk Manager    None    N/A

*The principal business address for each of the RiverFront representatives is: 9011 Arboretum Parkway, Suite 110, Richmond, VA 23236.

RICH INVESTMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC

 

Name*   

Position with Rich

Investment

Solutions, LLC

  

Other Business

Connections

   Type of  Business
Kevin Rich    President and Chief Compliance Officer    None    Investment Advisory
Jeff Klearman    Chief Investment Officer    None    Investment Advisory

*The principal business address for Rich Investment Solutions, LLC is 845 Third Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10022.


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 and Financial Investors 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
Edmund J. Burke    Director    None
Thomas A. Carter    President, Director    President, Trustee, Chairman
Jeremy O. May    Executive Vice President, Director    None
Kevin J. Ireland    Senior Vice President, Director of Institutional Sales    None
Mark R. Kiniry    Senior Vice President, National Sales Director – Investments    None
Bradley J. Swenson    Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer    None
Robert J. Szydlowski    Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer    None
Tané T. Tyler    Senior Vice President, Assistant Secretary, General Counsel    Secretary
Kenneth V. Hager    Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary    None
Eric Parsons    Vice President, Controller and Assistant Treasurer    None
Steven Price    Vice President, Deputy Chief Compliance Officer    None
James Stegall    Vice President, Institutional Sales Manager    None
Jeff Brainard    Vice President, Regional Sales Manager    None


Paul F. Leone    Vice President, Assistant General Counsel    None
Erin E. Douglas    Vice President, Assistant General Counsel    None
JoEllen Legg    Vice President, Assistant General Counsel    None
David T. Buhler    Vice President, Associate Counsel    None
Rhonda A. Mills    Vice President, Associate Counsel    None
Jennifer Welsh    Vice President, Associate Counsel    None
Randall D. Young    Secretary    None
Gregg Wm. Givens    Assistant Treasurer    None

* The principal business address for each of the above directors and executive officers is: 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203.

(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 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203; (2) ALPS Advisors, Inc. at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203; (3) The Bank of New York, 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286; (4) RiverFront Investments, LLC9011 Arboretum Parkway, Suite 110, Richmond, VA 23236; and (5) Rich Investment Solutions, LLC, 845 Third Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10022.

 

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 has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 173 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 12th day of July, 2013.

 

ALPS ETF TRUST
By:  

/s/ Thomas A. Carter

  Thomas A. Carter
  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    July 12, 2013
Mary K. Anstine*      

/s/ Jeremy W. Deems

   Trustee    July 12, 2013
Jeremy W. Deems*      

/s/ Rick A. Pederson

   Trustee    July 12, 2013
Rick A. Pederson*      

/s/ Thomas A. Carter

   Trustee and President    July 12, 2013
Thomas A. Carter      

/s/ Patrick D. Buchanan

   Treasurer    July 12, 2013
Patrick D. Buchanan      

*Signature affixed by Tané T. Tyler pursuant to a power of attorney dated December 8, 2008.


EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibits

None