485APOS 1 v310027_485apos.htm 485APOS

 

AS FILED WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON APRIL 20, 2012

 

File No. 333-156529

File No. 811-22263

 

 

 U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-1A

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933                                  x

 

PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. __ o

 

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 16    x

 

and/or

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940         x

 

AMENDMENT NO. 19    x

 

EXCHANGE TRADED CONCEPTS TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

3555 Northwest 58th Street

Suite 410

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Zip Code)

 

(405) 778-8377

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code )

 

J. Garrett Stevens

Exchange Traded Concepts Trust

3555 Northwest 58th Street

Suite 410

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

Copy to:

W. John McGuire, Esq.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

1111 Pennsylvania Ave, NW

Washington, DC 20004

 

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 (check appropriate box):

 

  ¨ Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
  ¨ On (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of Rule 485
  ¨ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485
  ¨ On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485
  ý 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
  ¨ 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.

 

 
 

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION

 

THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

 

Preliminary Prospectus dated April 20, 2012

 

Exchange Traded Concepts Trust

 

Prospectus

 

[], 2012

 

Yorkville High Income Composite MLP ETF | Ticker Symbol: YMLC

Yorkville High Income Infrastructure MLP ETF | Ticker Symbol: YMLI

 

Principal Listing Exchange for each Fund: NYSE Arca, Inc.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commissions has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 
 

 

About This Prospectus

 

This Prospectus has been arranged into different sections so that you can easily review this important information. For detailed information about the Funds, please see:

 

  Page
Fund Summaries 1
Yorkville High Income Composite MLP ETF 1
Yorkville High Income Infrastructure MLP ETF 11
Summary Information about Purchasing and Selling Shares and Taxes 20
Index/Trademark License/Disclaimers 21
Additional Risk Information 22
Additional Investment Strategies 31
Additional Risks 31
Information Regarding the Indexes 32
Portfolio Holdings 34
Fund Management 34
Portfolio Manager 35
Buying and Selling the Funds 35
Other Considerations 37
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes 37
Additional Information 40
How to Obtain More Information About the Funds X

 

 
 

 

Fund Summary – Yorkville High Income Composite MLP ETF

 

Investment Objective

 

The Yorkville High Income Composite MLP ETF (the “Composite Fund or the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Solactive High Income MLP Composite Index (the “Composite Index” or “Index”).

 

Fees and Expenses

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Shares”). This table and the Example below do not include the brokerage commissions that investors may pay on their purchases and sales of Fund Shares.

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)  
Management Fee XX%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees1 None
Other Expenses2 XX%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses XX%
1The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service (12b-1) Plan pursuant to which payments of up to 0.25% of average daily net assets may be made, however, the Board has determined that no such payments will be made during the first 12 months of operation. Thereafter, 12b-1 fees may only be imposed after approval by the Board of Trustees. Any forgone 12b-1 fees during the first 12 months will not be recoverable during any subsequent period.
2Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. Other Expenses do not reflect deferred income tax liability to be incurred by the Fund. The Fund will accrue deferred income tax liability for its future tax liability associated with the capital appreciation of its investments and the distributions received by the Fund on equity securities of Master Limited Partnerships and royalty trusts considered to be return of capital and for any net operating gains. The Fund’s accrued deferred tax liability will be reflected each day in the Fund’s net asset value per share. The Fund’s current and deferred tax liability, if any, will depend upon the Fund’s net investment gains and losses and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments and therefore may vary greatly from year to year depending on the nature of the Fund’s investments, the performance of those investments and general market conditions. Actual income tax expense, if any, will be incurred over many years, depending on if and when investment gains and losses are realized, the then current basis of the Fund’s assets and other factors.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then sell 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.

 

 
 

 

Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your cost would be:

 

1 Year 3 Years
$XX $XX

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in securities of the Index. The Index is a rules-based index designed to provide investors a means of tracking the performance of selected Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”) and royalty trusts structured as partnerships (“qualifying royalty trusts”), which are publicly traded on a U.S. securities exchange. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in securities of MLPs. This investment policy may be changed without shareholder approval, upon 60 days’ prior notice to shareholders.

 

The Index consists of MLPs operating with one of the following as a substantial business segment:

 

·transportation, operation of storage terminals and storage of refined petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene and heating oil;
·one or more of the following natural gas activities: gathering, compressing, treating, processing, marketing and fractionation of natural gas liquids;
·transportation and/or storage of natural gas and natural gas liquids;
·transportation of crude oil and/or refined petroleum products and other liquids;
·exploration and production of oil and/or natural gas;
·sale, distribution and retail marketing of propane and/or other natural gas liquids;
·marine transportation of one or more of the following: crude oil, dry bulk, refined products, liquefied natural gas (“LNG”), and other commodities; and
·direct mining, production and marketing of natural resources, including timber, fertilizers, coal and other minerals.

 

As of XX, the U.S. dollar-denominated market capitalizations of the Index components ranged from approximately $XX to approximately $XX .

 

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The Fund employs a “passive management” investment strategy in seeking to achieve its investment objective. The Fund generally will use a replication methodology, meaning it will invest in all of the securities comprising the Index in proportion to the weightings in the Index. However, the Fund may utilize a sampling methodology under various circumstances where it may not be possible or practicable to purchase all of the securities in the Index.

 

MLPs are publicly traded partnerships engaged in the transportation, storage, processing, refining, marketing, exploration, production, and mining of natural resources. By confining their operations to these specific activities, their interests, or units, are able to trade on public securities exchanges exactly like the shares of a corporation, without entity level taxation.

 

An MLP consists of a general partner and limited partners (or in the case of MLPs organized as limited liability companies, a managing member and members). The general partner or managing member typically controls the operations and management of the MLP and has an ownership stake in the MLP. The limited partners or members, through their ownership of limited partner or member interests, provide capital to the entity, are intended to have no role in the operation and management of the entity and receive cash distributions. The Fund will be a limited partner (or a member) in the MLPs in which it invests. The MLPs themselves generally do not pay United States federal income taxes. Thus, unlike investors in corporate securities, direct MLP investors are generally not subject to double taxation (i.e., corporate level tax and tax on corporate dividends). Currently, most MLPs operate in the energy and/or natural resources sectors.

 

To qualify as an MLP and to not be taxed as a corporation, a partnership must receive at least 90% of its income from qualifying sources as set forth in Section 7704(d) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). These qualifying sources include natural resource-based activities such as the processing, transportation and storage of mineral or natural resources and other commodities.

 

Royalty trusts are publicly traded investment vehicles that gather income on royalties and pay out almost all cash flows to stockholders as distributions. Royalty trusts typically have no physical operations and no management or employees. Typically royalty trusts own the rights to royalties on the production and sales of a natural resource, including oil, gas, minerals and timber. As these deplete, production and cash flows steadily decline, which may decrease distribution rates. Royalty trusts are, in some respects, similar to certain MLPs and include risks similar to those MLPs.

 

Of the XX partnerships and royalty trusts eligible for inclusion in the Index, approximately XX trade on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") and the rest trade on the NASDAQ National Market ("NASDAQ"). Partnerships and royalty trusts eligible for inclusion in the Index are subject to further liquidity screens before they may be included in the Index.

 

The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e. hold 25% or more of its total assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent that the Index concentrates in an industry or group of industries. [As of the date of the Prospectus, the Index is concentrated in the energy sector.]

 

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The Index is calculated and administered by Structured Solutions AG, which is not affiliated with the Fund, its investment adviser, Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (the “Adviser”), Yorkville ETF Advisors, LLC (the “Investment Sub-Adviser”) and Index Management Solutions, LLC (the “Trading Sub-Adviser”). Structured Solutions AG determines the components and the relative weightings of the securities in the Index subject to the Index rules and publishes information regarding the Index.

 

Principal Risks

 

As with all funds, a shareholder is subject to the risk that his or her investment could lose money. The principal risks affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

MLP Risk. Investments in common units of MLPs involve risks that differ from investments in common stock including risks inherent in the structure of MLPs, including (i) tax risks (described further below), (ii) risk related to limited control of management or the general partner or managing member (iii) limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP, except with respect to extraordinary transactions, and (iv) conflicts of interest between the general partner or managing member and its affiliates, on the one hand, and the limited partners or members, on the other hand, including those arising from incentive distribution payments or corporate opportunities, and cash flow risks, as described in more detail in this Prospectus.

 

MLP common units and other equity securities can be affected by macro-economic and other factors affecting the stock market in general, expectations of interest rates, investor sentiment towards MLPs or the energy sector, changes in a particular issuer’s financial condition, or unfavorable or unanticipated poor performance of a particular issuer (in the case of MLPs, generally measured in terms of distributable cash flow). Prices of common units of individual MLPs and other equity securities also can be affected by fundamentals unique to the partnership or company, including cash flow growth, cash generating power and distribution coverage.

 

MLP Tax Risk. Much of the benefit the Fund derives from its investment in equity securities of MLPs is a result of MLPs generally being treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Partnerships do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level. Rather, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership’s income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law, or a change in the business of a given MLP, could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP would be reduced and the after-tax return to the Fund with respect to its investment in such MLPs would be materially reduced. Thus, if any of the MLPs owned by the Fund were treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it could result in a reduction in the value of your investment in the Fund and lower income.

 

Energy Sector Risks. Many MLPs operate within the energy sector. Therefore, a substantial portion of the MLPs in which the Fund invests are engaged in the energy sector of the economy. As a result, a downturn in the energy sector of the economy, adverse political, legislative or regulatory developments or other events could have a larger impact on the Fund than on an investment company that does not invest a substantial portion of its assets in the energy sector. At times, the performance of securities of companies in the energy sector may lag the performance of other sectors or the broader market as a whole. In addition, there are several specific risks associated with investments in the energy sector, including the following:

 

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·the energy sector is highly regulated. MLPs operating in the energy sector are subject to significant regulation of nearly every aspect of their operations by federal, state and local governmental agencies;
·MLPs operating in the energy sector may be affected by fluctuations in the prices of energy commodities, including, for example, natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil and coal, in the short- and long-term;
·MLPs engaged in the exploration, development, management or production of energy commodities face the risk that commodity reserves are depleted over time, with the potential associated effect of causing the market value of the MLP to decline over time;
·MLPs operating in the energy sector could be adversely affected by reductions in the supply of or demand for energy commodities;
·extreme weather or other natural disasters could impact the value of MLPs operating in the energy sector;
·the abilities of MLPs operating in the energy sector to grow and to increase cash distributions to unitholders can be highly dependent on their ability to make acquisitions that result in an increase in cash flows;
·rising interest rates which could adversely impact the financial performance and/or the present value of cash flow of MLPs operating in the energy sector; and
·MLPs operating in the energy sector are subject to many dangers inherent in the production, exploration, management, transportation, processing and distribution of natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, refined petroleum and petroleum products and other hydrocarbons. In addition, threats of attack by terrorists on energy assets could impact the market for MLPs operating in the energy sector.

 

Industry Specific Risks. MLPs operating in the energy sector are also subject to risks that are specific to the industry they serve.

 

·Midstream. Midstream MLPs that provide crude oil, refined product and natural gas services are subject to supply and demand fluctuations in the markets they serve which may be impacted by a wide range of factors including fluctuating commodity prices, weather, increased conservation or use of alternative fuel sources, increased governmental or environmental regulation, depletion, rising interest rates, declines in domestic or foreign production, accidents or catastrophic events, increasing operating expenses and economic conditions, among others.
·Exploration and production. Exploration and production MLPs produce energy resources, including natural gas and crude oil. Exploration and production MLPs that own oil and gas reserves are particularly vulnerable to declines in the demand for and prices of crude oil and natural gas. Substantial downward adjustments in reserve estimates could have a material adverse effect on the value of such reserves and the financial condition of an MLP. Exploration and production MLPs seek to reduce cash flow volatility associated with commodity prices by executing multi-year hedging strategies that fix the price of gas and oil produced. There can be no assurance that the hedging strategies currently employed by theses MLPs are currently effective or will remain effective.

 

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·Marine shipping. Marine shipping MLPs are primarily marine transporters of natural gas, crude oil or refined petroleum products. Marine shipping companies are exposed to many of the same risks as other energy companies. The highly cyclical nature of the marine transportation industry may lead to volatile changes in charter rates and vessel values, which may adversely affect the revenues, profitability and cash flows of MLPs with marine transportation assets.
·Propane. Propane MLPs are distributors or propane to homeowners for space and water heating. MLPs with propane assets are subject to earnings variability based upon weather conditions in the markets they serve, fluctuating commodity prices, customer conservation and increased use of alternative fuels, increased governmental or environmental regulation, and accidents or catastrophic events, among others.
·Natural Resource. MLPs with coal, timber, fertilizer and other mineral assets are subject to supply and demand fluctuations in the markets they serve, which will be impacted by a wide range of domestic and foreign factors including fluctuating commodity prices, the level of their customers’ coal stockpiles, weather, increased conservation or use of alternative fuel sources, increased governmental or environmental regulation, depletion, declines in production, mining accidents or catastrophic events, health claims and economic conditions, among others.

 

Tax Status of the Fund. The Fund is treated as a regular corporation, or “C” corporation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This differs from most investment companies, which elect to be treated as “regulated investment companies” under the Code in order to avoid paying entity level income taxes. Under current law, the Fund is not eligible to elect treatment as a regulated investment company due to its investments primarily in MLPs. Accordingly, the Fund is subject to U.S. federal income tax on its taxable income at the graduated rates applicable to corporations (currently at a maximum rate of 35%) as well as state and local income taxes. As discussed below, the Fund expects that a portion of the distributions it receives from MLPs may be treated as a tax-deferred return of capital, thus reducing the Fund’s current tax liability. However, the amount of taxes currently paid by the Fund will vary depending on the amount of income and gains derived from investments and/or sales of MLP interests and such taxes will reduce your return from an investment in the Fund.

 

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Deferred Tax Risk. Cash distributions from an MLP to the Fund that exceed such Fund’s allocable share of such MLP’s net taxable income are considered a tax-deferred return of capital that will reduce the Fund’s adjusted tax basis in the equity securities of the MLP. These reductions in such Fund’s adjusted tax basis in the MLP equity securities will increase the amount of gain (or decrease the amount of loss) recognized by the Fund on a subsequent sale of the securities. The Fund will accrue deferred income taxes for any future tax liability associated with (i) that portion of MLP distributions considered to be a tax-deferred return of capital and for any net operating gains as well as (ii) capital appreciation of its investments. The Fund’s accrued deferred tax liability will be reflected each day in the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”). Increases in deferred tax liability will decrease NAV. Conversely, decreases in deferred tax liability will increase NAV. The Fund generally computes deferred income taxes based on the federal tax rate applicable to corporations, currently 35% and an assumed rate attributable to state taxes. A change in the federal tax rate applicable to corporations and, consequently, any change in the deferred tax liability of the Fund, may have a significant impact on the NAV of the Fund. The Fund’s current and deferred tax liability, if any, will depend upon the Fund’s net investment income gains and losses and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments and therefore may vary greatly from year to year depending on the nature of the Fund’s investments, the performance of these investments and general market conditions. The Fund will rely to some extent on information provided by the MLPs, which may not be timely, to estimate deferred tax liability for purposes of financial statement reporting and determining NAV. From time to time, the Adviser may modify the estimates or assumptions regarding the Fund’s deferred tax liability as new information becomes available. The Fund estimates regarding its deferred tax liability are made in good faith; however, the daily estimate of the Fund’s deferred tax liability used to calculate the Fund’s NAV could vary dramatically from the Fund’s actual tax liability. Actual income taxed, if any, will be incurred over many years depending on if, and when, investment gains and losses are realized, the then current basis of the Fund’s assets and other factors. Upon the sale of an MLP security, the Fund may be liable for previously deferred taxes. As a result, the determination of the Fund’s actual tax liability may have a material impact on the Fund’s NAV.

 

In the event the Fund is in a net deferred tax asset position, the Fund will evaluate all available information and consider the criterion established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board Codification Topic 740, Income Taxes (formerly Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109) in order to properly assess whether it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will be realized or whether a valuation allowance is required. See “Additional Risk Information—Principal Risks—Deferred Tax Asset Risk.”

 

Returns of Capital Distributions From the Fund Reduce the Tax Basis of Fund Shares. A portion of the Fund’s distributions are expected to be treated as a return of capital for tax purposes. Returns of capital distribution are not taxable income to you but reduce your tax basis in your Fund Shares. Such a reduction in tax basis will generally result in larger taxable gains and/or lower tax losses on a subsequent sale of Fund Shares. Shareholders who periodically receive the payment of dividends or other distributions consisting of a return of capital may be under the impression that they are receiving net profits from the Fund when, in fact, they are not. Shareholders should not assume that the source of distributions is from the net profits of the Fund.

 

Tax-Favored Treatment of Qualified Dividends is Scheduled to Expire. Distributions by the Fund will be treated as dividends for tax purposes to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits. Under current federal income tax law, if applicable holding period requirements are met, qualified dividend income received by individuals and other non corporate shareholders is taxed at long-term capital gain rates, which currently reach a maximum of 15%. However, the favorable tax treatment applicable to qualified dividends is scheduled to expire for tax years beginning after December 31, 2012 and, unless further Congressional action is taken, dividend income will thereafter be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the rates applicable to ordinary income (which rates are scheduled to increase at that time to a maximum rate of 39.6%).

 

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Liquidity Risk. Although MLPs trade on the NYSE, the NASDAQ and NYSE Amex Equities, certain MLP securities may trade less frequently than those of larger companies due to their smaller capitalizations. At times, due to limited trading volumes of certain MLPs, the prices of such MLPs may display abrupt or erratic movements. Moreover, it may be more difficult for the Fund to buy and sell significant amounts of such securities without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices. The Fund’s investment in securities that are less actively traded or over time experience decreased trading volume may restrict its ability to take advantage of other market opportunities or to dispose of securities at a fair price at the times when the Adviser believes it is desirable to do so. This also may affect adversely the Fund’s ability to make dividend distributions to you.

 

Potential Substantial After-Tax Tracking Error From Index Performance. As discussed above, the Fund will be subject to taxation on its taxable income. The NAV of Fund Shares will also be reduced by the accrual of any deferred tax liabilities. The Index, however, is calculated without any deductions for taxes. As a result, the Fund’s after tax performance could differ significantly from the Index even if the pretax performance of the Fund and the performance of the Index are closely correlated. See also, “Additional Risk Information—Tracking Error Risk.”

 

Risk of Cash Transactions. Unlike many exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), the Fund expects to effect redemptions principally 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. Other ETFs generally are able to make in-kind redemptions and avoid realized gains in connection with transactions designed to meet redemption requests. Because the Fund may effect redemptions principally 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. Such cash transactions may have to be carried out over several days if the securities market is relatively illiquid and may involve considerable brokerage fees. These brokerage fees, which will be higher than if the Fund redeemed its Shares in-kind, will be passed on to redeemers of Creation Units in the form of 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.

 

Royalty Trust Risk. The Fund may invest in royalty trusts. Royalty trusts are publicly traded investment vehicles that gather income on royalties and pay out almost all cash flows to stockholders as distributions. Royalty trusts typically have no physical operations and no management or employees. Typically royalty trusts own the rights to royalties on the production and sales of a natural resource. As these deplete, production and cash flows steadily decline, which may decrease distribution rates. Royalty trusts are exposed to many of the same risks as MLPs such as: (i) tax risks, (ii) risk related to limited control of the trustee and limited ability to remove or replace the trustee, (iii) risks related to the energy sector in general and (iv) risks that are specific to the industry in which underlying properties in which the royalty trust has an interest serve. In addition, the value of the equity securities of the royalty trusts in which the Fund invests may fluctuate in accordance with changes in the financial condition of those royalty trusts, the condition of equity markets generally, commodity prices, and other factors. Distributions on royalty trusts in which the Fund may invest will depend upon the declaration of distributions from the constituent royalty trusts, but there can be no assurance that those royalty trusts will pay distributions on their securities. Typically royalty trusts own the rights to royalties on the production and sales of a natural resource, including oil, gas, minerals and timber. As these deplete, production and cash flows steadily decline, which may decrease distributions. The declaration of such distributions generally depends upon various factors, including the operating performance and financial condition of the royalty trust and general economic conditions.

 

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Management Risk: Because the Fund may not fully replicate its Index and may hold fewer than the total number of securities in its Index and may hold securities not included in its Index, the Fund is subject to management risk. This is the risk that the Investment Sub-Adviser’s security selection process, which is subject to a number of constraints, may not produce the intended results. Moreover, the Investment Sub-Adviser is a newly formed investment adviser with no prior investment management experience.

 

Market Risk: The values of equity securities in the Index could decline generally or could underperform other investments.

 

Non-Diversification Risk: The Fund is non-diversified, meaning that, as compared to a diversified fund, it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in securities issued by or representing a small number of issuers. As a result, the performance of these issuers can have a substantial impact on the Fund’s performance.

 

Passive Investment Risk: The Fund is not actively managed and therefore the Fund would not sell shares of an equity security due to current or projected underperformance of a security, industry or sector, unless that security is removed from the Index or the selling of shares of that security is otherwise required upon a rebalancing of the Index as addressed in the Index methodology.

 

Non-Correlation Risk: The Fund’s returns may not match the return of the Index for reasons other than the risk of tracking error due to the effect of taxes. For example, the Funds incur some other operating expenses which are not applicable to the Index, as well as transaction costs in buying and selling securities, especially when rebalancing the Fund’s securities holdings to reflect Index composition changes.

 

Performance Information

 

The Fund is new, and therefore has no performance history. Once the Fund has completed a full calendar year of operations, a bar chart and table will be included that will provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing the variability of the Fund’s return based on net assets and comparing the variability of the Fund’s return to a broad measure of market performance.

 

Investment Advisers

 

Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. Yorkville ETF Advisors, LLC, the Investment Sub-Adviser, and Index Management Solutions, LLC, the Trading Sub-Adviser, serve as sub-advisers to the Fund.

 

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The Adviser has retained the Investment Sub-Adviser to be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund and the Trading Sub-Adviser to be responsible for trading portfolio securities on behalf of the Fund, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions as instructed by the Investment Sub-Adviser or in connection with any rebalancing or reconstitution of the Index, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees.

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Darren R. Schuringa, CFA, is a Portfolio Manager of Yorkville ETF Advisors, LLC and has served as portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception.

 

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund shares and tax information, please turn to “Summary Information about Purchasing and Selling Shares and Taxes” on page XX of the prospectus.

 

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Fund Summary – Yorkville High Income Infrastructure MLP ETF

 

Investment Objective

 

The Yorkville High Income Infrastructure MLP ETF (the “Infrastructure Fund or the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Solactive High Income MLP Infrastructure Index (the “Infrastructure Index” or the “Index”).

 

Fees and Expenses

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Shares”). This table and the Example below do not include the brokerage commissions that investors may pay on their purchases and sales of Fund Shares.

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)  
Management Fee XX%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees1 None
Other Expenses2 XX%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses XX%
1The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service (12b-1) Plan pursuant to which payments of up to 0.25% of average daily net assets may be made, however, the Board has determined that no such payments will be made during the first 12 months of operation. Thereafter, 12b-1 fees may only be imposed after approval by the Board of Trustees. Any forgone 12b-1 fees during the first 12 months will not be recoverable during any subsequent period.
2Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. Other Expenses do not reflect deferred income tax liability to be incurred by the Fund. The Fund will accrue deferred income tax liability for its future tax liability associated with the capital appreciation of its investments and the distributions received by the Fund on equity securities of Master Limited Partnerships considered to be return of capital and for any net operating gains. The Fund’s accrued deferred tax liability will be reflected each day in the Fund’s net asset value per share. The Fund’s current and deferred tax liability, if any, will depend upon the Fund’s net investment gains and losses and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments and therefore may vary greatly from year to year depending on the nature of the Fund’s investments, the performance of those investments and general market conditions. Actual income tax expense, if any, will be incurred over many years, depending on if and when investment gains and losses are realized, the then current basis of the Fund’s assets and other factors.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then sell 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.

 

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Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your cost would be:

 

1 Year 3 Years
$XX $XX

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in securities of the Index. The Index is a rules-based index designed to provide investors a means of tracking the performance of selected infrastructure Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”) which are publicly traded on a U.S. securities exchange. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in securities of MLPs. This investment policy may be changed without shareholder approval, upon 60 days’ prior notice to shareholders.

 

The Index consists of MLPs classified as “Infrastructure” MLPs. Infrastructure MLPs include all MLPs operating with one of the following as a substantial business segment:

 

·transportation, terminating and storage of refined petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene and heating oil;
·one or more of the following natural gas activities: gathering, compressing ,treating, processing, marketing and fractionation of natural gas liquids;
·transportation and/or storage of natural gas and natural gas liquids; and
·transportation of crude oil and/or refined petroleum products and other liquids.

 

As of XX, the U.S. dollar-denominated market capitalizations of the Index components ranged from approximately $XX to approximately $XX.

 

The Fund employs a “passive management” investment strategy in seeking to achieve its investment objective. The Fund generally will use a replication methodology, meaning it will invest in all of the securities comprising the Index in proportion to the weightings in the Index. However, the Fund may utilize a sampling methodology under various circumstances where it may not be possible or practicable to purchase all of the securities in the Index.

 

MLPs are publicly traded partnerships engaged in the transportation, storage, processing, refining, marketing, exploration, production, and mining of natural resources. By confining their operations to these specific activities, their interests, or units, are able to trade on public securities exchanges exactly like the shares of a corporation, without entity level taxation.

 

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An MLP consists of a general partner and limited partners (or in the case of MLPs organized as limited liability companies, a managing member and members). The general partner or managing member typically controls the operations and management of the MLP and has an ownership stake in the MLP. The limited partners or members, through their ownership of limited partner or member interests, provide capital to the entity, are intended to have no role in the operation and management of the entity and receive cash distributions. The Fund will be a limited partner (or a member) in the MLPs in which it invests. The MLPs themselves generally do not pay United States federal income taxes. Thus, unlike investors in corporate securities, direct MLP investors are generally not subject to double taxation (i.e., corporate level tax and tax on corporate dividends). Currently, most MLPs operate in the energy and/or natural resources sectors.

 

To qualify as an MLP and to not be taxed as a corporation, a partnership must receive at least 90% of its income from qualifying sources as set forth in Section 7704(d) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). These qualifying sources include natural resource-based activities such as the processing, transportation and storage of mineral or natural resources and other commodities.

 

Of the XX partnerships eligible for inclusion in the Index, approximately XX trade on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") and the rest trade on the NASDAQ National Market ("NASDAQ"). Partnerships eligible for inclusion in the Index are subject to further liquidity screens before they may be included in the Index.

 

The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e. hold 25% or more of its total assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent that the Index concentrates in an industry or group of industries. [As of the date of the Prospectus, the Index is concentrated in the energy sector.]

 

The Index is calculated and administered by Structured Solutions AG, which is not affiliated with the Fund, its investment adviser, Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (the “Adviser”), Yorkville ETF Advisors, LLC (the “Investment Sub-Adviser”) and Index Management Solutions, LLC (the “Trading Sub-Adviser”). Structured Solutions AG determines the components and the relative weightings of the securities in the Index subject to the Index rules and publishes information regarding the Index.

 

Principal Risks

 

As with all funds, a shareholder is subject to the risk that his or her investment could lose money. The principal risks affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

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MLP Risk. Investments in common units of MLPs involve risks that differ from investments in common stock including risks inherent in the structure of MLPs, including (i) tax risks (described further below), (ii) risk related to limited control of management or the general partner or managing member (iii) limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP, except with respect to extraordinary transactions, and (iv) conflicts of interest between the general partner or managing member and its affiliates, on the one hand, and the limited partners or members, on the other hand, including those arising from incentive distribution payments or corporate opportunities, and cash flow risks, as described in more detail in this Prospectus.

 

MLP common units and other equity securities can be affected by macro-economic and other factors affecting the stock market in general, expectations of interest rates, investor sentiment towards MLPs or the energy sector, changes in a particular issuer’s financial condition, or unfavorable or unanticipated poor performance of a particular issuer (in the case of MLPs, generally measured in terms of distributable cash flow). Prices of common units of individual MLPs and other equity securities also can be affected by fundamentals unique to the partnership or company, including cash flow growth, cash generating power and distribution coverage.

 

MLP Tax Risk. Much of the benefit the Fund derives from its investment in equity securities of MLPs is a result of MLPs generally being treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Partnerships do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level. Rather, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership’s income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law, or a change in the business of a given MLP, could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP would be reduced and the after-tax return to the Fund with respect to its investment in such MLPs would be materially reduced. Thus, if any of the MLPs owned by the Fund were treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it could result in a reduction in the value of your investment in the Fund and lower income.

 

Energy Sector Risks. Many MLPs operate within the energy sector. Therefore, a substantial portion of the MLPs in which the Fund invests are engaged in the energy sector of the economy. As a result, a downturn in the energy sector of the economy, adverse political, legislative or regulatory developments or other events could have a larger impact on the Fund than on an investment company that does not invest a substantial portion of its assets in the energy sector. At times, the performance of securities of companies in the energy sector may lag the performance of other sectors or the broader market as a whole. In addition, there are several specific risks associated with investments in the energy sector, including the following:

 

·the energy sector is highly regulated. MLPs operating in the energy sector are subject to significant regulation of nearly every aspect of their operations by federal, state and local governmental agencies;
·MLPs operating in the energy sector may be affected by fluctuations in the prices of energy commodities, including, for example, natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil, in the short- and long-term;
·MLPs engaged in the transportation or storage of energy commodities face the risk that commodity reserves are depleted over time, with the potential associated effect of causing the market value of the MLP to decline over time;
·MLPs operating in the energy sector could be adversely affected by reductions in the supply of or demand for energy commodities;

 

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·extreme weather or other natural disasters could impact the value of MLPs operating in the energy sector;
·the abilities of MLPs operating in the energy sector to grow and to increase cash distributions to unitholders can be highly dependent on their ability to make acquisitions that result in an increase in cash flows;
·rising interest rates which could adversely impact the financial performance and/or the present value of cash flow of MLPs operating in the energy sector; and
·MLPs operating in the energy sector are subject to many dangers inherent in the management, transportation, storage, gathering, compressing, treating, processing, marketing and fractionation of natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, refined petroleum and petroleum products and other hydrocarbons. In addition, threats of attack by terrorists on energy assets could impact the market for MLPs operating in the energy sector.

 

Industry Specific Risks. MLPs operating in the energy sector are also subject to risks that are specific to the industry they serve.

 

·Midstream. Midstream MLPs that provide crude oil, refined product and natural gas services are subject to supply and demand fluctuations in the markets they serve which may be impacted by a wide range of factors including fluctuating commodity prices, weather, increased conservation or use of alternative fuel sources, increased governmental or environmental regulation, depletion, rising interest rates, declines in domestic or foreign production, accidents or catastrophic events, increasing operating expenses and economic conditions, among others.
·Exploration and production. Exploration and production MLPs produce energy resources, including natural gas and crude oil. Exploration and production MLPs that own oil and gas reserves are particularly vulnerable to declines in the demand for and prices of crude oil and natural gas. Substantial downward adjustments in reserve estimates could have a material adverse effect on the value of such reserves and the financial condition of an MLP. Exploration and production MLPs seek to reduce cash flow volatility associated with commodity prices by executing multi-year hedging strategies that fix the price of gas and oil produced. There can be no assurance that the hedging strategies currently employed by theses MLPs are currently effective or will remain effective.
·Marine shipping. Marine shipping MLPs are primarily marine transporters of natural gas, crude oil or refined petroleum products. Marine shipping companies are exposed to many of the same risks as other energy companies. The highly cyclical nature of the marine transportation industry may lead to volatile changes in charter rates and vessel values, which may adversely affect the revenues, profitability and cash flows of MLPs with marine transportation assets.
·Propane. Propane MLPs are distributors or propane to homeowners for space and water heating. MLPs with propane assets are subject to earnings variability based upon weather conditions in the markets they serve, fluctuating commodity prices, customer conservation and increased use of alternative fuels, increased governmental or environmental regulation, and accidents or catastrophic events, among others.

 

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·Natural Resource. MLPs with coal, timber, fertilizer and other mineral assets are subject to supply and demand fluctuations in the markets they serve, which will be impacted by a wide range of domestic and foreign factors including fluctuating commodity prices, the level of their customers’ coal stockpiles, weather, increased conservation or use of alternative fuel sources, increased governmental or environmental regulation, depletion, declines in production, mining accidents or catastrophic events, health claims and economic conditions, among others.

 

Tax Status of the Fund. The Fund is treated as a regular corporation, or “C” corporation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This differs from most investment companies, which elect to be treated as “regulated investment companies” under the Code in order to avoid paying entity level income taxes. Under current law, the Fund is not eligible to elect treatment as a regulated investment company due to its investments primarily in MLPs. Accordingly, the Fund is subject to U.S. federal income tax on its taxable income at the graduated rates applicable to corporations (currently at a maximum rate of 35%) as well as state and local income taxes. As discussed below, the Fund expects that a portion of the distributions it receives from MLPs may be treated as a tax-deferred return of capital, thus reducing the Fund’s current tax liability. However, the amount of taxes currently paid by the Fund will vary depending on the amount of income and gains derived from investments and/or sales of MLP interests and such taxes will reduce your return from an investment in the Fund.

 

Deferred Tax Risk. Cash distributions from an MLP to the Fund that exceed such Fund’s allocable share of such MLP’s net taxable income are considered a tax-deferred return of capital that will reduce the Fund’s adjusted tax basis in the equity securities of the MLP. These reductions in such Fund’s adjusted tax basis in the MLP equity securities will increase the amount of gain (or decrease the amount of loss) recognized by the Fund on a subsequent sale of the securities. The Fund will accrue deferred income taxes for any future tax liability associated with (i) that portion of MLP distributions considered to be a tax-deferred return of capital and for any net operating gains as well as (ii) capital appreciation of its investments. The Fund’s accrued deferred tax liability will be reflected each day in the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”). Increases in deferred tax liability will decrease NAV. Conversely, decreases in deferred tax liability will increase NAV. The Fund generally computes deferred income taxes based on the federal tax rate applicable to corporations, currently 35% and an assumed rate attributable to state taxes. A change in the federal tax rate applicable to corporations and, consequently, any change in the deferred tax liability of the Fund, may have a significant impact on the NAV of the Fund. The Fund’s current and deferred tax liability, if any, will depend upon the Fund’s net investment income gains and losses and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments and therefore may vary greatly from year to year depending on the nature of the Fund’s investments, the performance of these investments and general market conditions. The Fund will rely to some extent on information provided by the MLPs, which may not be timely, to estimate deferred tax liability for purposes of financial statement reporting and determining NAV. From time to time, the Adviser may modify the estimates or assumptions regarding the Fund’s deferred tax liability as new information becomes available. The Fund estimates regarding its deferred tax liability are made in good faith; however, the daily estimate of the Fund’s deferred tax liability used to calculate the Fund’s NAV could vary dramatically from the Fund’s actual tax liability. Actual income taxed, if any, will be incurred over many years depending on if, and when, investment gains and losses are realized, the then current basis of the Fund’s assets and other factors. Upon the sale of an MLP security, the Fund may be liable for previously deferred taxes. As a result, the determination of the Fund’s actual tax liability may have a material impact on the Fund’s NAV.

 

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In the event the Fund is in a net deferred tax asset position, the Fund will evaluate all available information and consider the criterion established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board Codification Topic 740, Income Taxes (formerly Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109) in order to properly assess whether it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will be realized or whether a valuation allowance is required. See “Additional Risk Information—Principal Risks—Deferred Tax Asset Risk.”

 

Returns of Capital Distributions From the Fund Reduce the Tax Basis of Fund Shares. A portion of the Fund’s distributions are expected to be treated as a return of capital for tax purposes. Returns of capital distribution are not taxable income to you but reduce your tax basis in your Fund Shares. Such a reduction in tax basis will generally result in larger taxable gains and/or lower tax losses on a subsequent sale of Fund Shares. Shareholders who periodically receive the payment of dividends or other distributions consisting of a return of capital may be under the impression that they are receiving net profits from the Fund when, in fact, they are not. Shareholders should not assume that the source of distributions is from the net profits of the Fund.

 

Tax-Favored Treatment of Qualified Dividends is Scheduled to Expire. Distributions by the Fund will be treated as dividends for tax purposes to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits. Under current federal income tax law, if applicable holding period requirements are met, qualified dividend income received by individuals and other non corporate shareholders is taxed at long-term capital gain rates, which currently reach a maximum of 15%. However, the favorable tax treatment applicable to qualified dividends is scheduled to expire for tax years beginning after December 31, 2012 and, unless further Congressional action is taken, dividend income will thereafter be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the rates applicable to ordinary income (which rates are scheduled to increase at that time to a maximum rate of 39.6%).

 

Liquidity Risk. Although MLPs trade on the NYSE, the NASDAQ and NYSE Amex Equities, certain MLP securities may trade less frequently than those of larger companies due to their smaller capitalizations. At times, due to limited trading volumes of certain MLPs, the prices of such MLPs may display abrupt or erratic movements. Moreover, it may be more difficult for the Fund to buy and sell significant amounts of such securities without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices. The Fund’s investment in securities that are less actively traded or over time experience decreased trading volume may restrict its ability to take advantage of other market opportunities or to dispose of securities at a fair price at the times when the Adviser believes it is desirable to do so. This also may affect adversely the Fund’s ability to make dividend distributions to you.

 

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Potential Substantial After-Tax Tracking Error From Index Performance. As discussed above, the Fund will be subject to taxation on its taxable income. The NAV of Fund Shares will also be reduced by the accrual of any deferred tax liabilities. The Index, however, is calculated without any deductions for taxes. As a result, the Fund’s after tax performance could differ significantly from the Index even if the pretax performance of the Fund and the performance of the Index are closely correlated. See also, “Additional Risk Information—Tracking Error Risk.”

 

Risk of Cash Transactions. Unlike many exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), the Fund expects to effect redemptions principally 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. Other ETFs generally are able to make in-kind redemptions and avoid realized gains in connection with transactions designed to meet redemption requests. Because the Fund may effect redemptions principally 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. Such cash transactions may have to be carried out over several days if the securities market is relatively illiquid and may involve considerable brokerage fees. These brokerage fees, which will be higher than if the Fund redeemed its Shares in-kind, will be passed on to redeemers of Creation Units in the form of 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.

 

Management Risk: Because the Fund may not fully replicate its Index and may hold fewer than the total number of securities in its Index and may hold securities not included in its Index, the Fund is subject to management risk. This is the risk that the Investment Sub-Adviser’s security selection process, which is subject to a number of constraints, may not produce the intended results. Moreover, the Investment Sub-Adviser is a newly formed investment adviser with no prior investment management experience.

 

Market Risk: The values of equity securities in the Index could decline generally or could underperform other investments.

 

Non-Diversification Risk: The Fund is non-diversified, meaning that, as compared to a diversified fund, it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in securities issued by or representing a small number of issuers. As a result, the performance of these issuers can have a substantial impact on the Fund’s performance.

 

Passive Investment Risk: The Fund is not actively managed and therefore the Fund would not sell shares of an equity security due to current or projected underperformance of a security, industry or sector, unless that security is removed from the Index or the selling of shares of that security is otherwise required upon a rebalancing of the Index as addressed in the Index methodology.

 

Non-Correlation Risk: The Funds’ returns may not match the return of their respective Index for reasons other than the risk of tracking error due to the effect of taxes,. For example, the Funds incur some other operating expenses which are not applicable to the Index, as well as transaction costs in buying and selling securities, especially when rebalancing the Fund’s securities holdings to reflect Index composition changes.

 

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Performance Information

 

The Fund is new, and therefore has no performance history. Once the Fund has completed a full calendar year of operations, a bar chart and table will be included that will provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing the variability of the Fund’s return based on net assets and comparing the variability of the Fund’s return to a broad measure of market performance.

 

Investment Advisers

 

Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. Yorkville ETF Advisors, LLC, the Investment Sub-Adviser, and Index Management Solutions, LLC, the Trading Sub-Adviser, serve as sub-advisers to the Fund.

 

The Adviser has retained the Investment Sub-Adviser to be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund and the Trading Sub-Adviser to be responsible for trading portfolio securities on behalf of the Fund, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions as instructed by the Investment Sub-Adviser or in connection with any rebalancing or reconstitution of the Index, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees.

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Darren R. Schuringa, CFA, is a Portfolio Manager of Yorkville ETF Advisors, LLC and has served as portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception.

 

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Summary Information about Purchasing and Selling Shares and Taxes” on page XX of the prospectus.

 

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Summary Information about Purchasing and Selling Shares and

Taxes

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

Individual shares may only be purchased and sold on a national securities exchange through a broker-dealer. You can purchase and sell individual Shares of the Funds throughout the trading day like any publicly traded security. The Funds’ Shares are listed on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca”). The price of the Funds’ Shares is based on market price, and because exchange-traded fund shares trade at market prices rather than NAV, Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount). The Funds issue and redeemShares on a continuous basis, at NAV, only in blocks of at least 50,000 Shares (“Creation Units”). The consideration for a purchase of Creation Units of a Fund is the deposit or delivery of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Index. Redemptions of Creation Units are effected principally for cash. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, the Funds’ shares are not redeemable securities.

 

Tax Information

 

The Funds’ taxable distributions will generally be taxed as ordinary income. A portion of the Funds’ distributions is also expected to be treated as a return of capital for tax purposes. Return of capital distributions are not taxable to you, but reduce your tax basis in your Fund Shares. Such a reduction in tax basis will generally result in larger taxable gains and/or lower tax losses on a subsequent sale of Fund Shares. Shareholders who periodically receive the payment of dividends or other distributions consisting of a return of capital may be under the impression that they are receiving net profits from the Funds when, in fact, they are not. Shareholders should not assume that the source of the distributions is from the net profits of the Funds.

 

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Index/Trademark License/Disclaimers

 

The Indexes are calculated and administered by Structured Solutions AG (“Structured Solutions”). Structured Solutions is not affiliated with the Trust, the Adviser, the Investment Sub-Adviser, the Trading Sub-Adviser, the Funds’ administrator, custodian, transfer agent or distributor, or any of their respective affiliates. The Investment Sub-Adviser has entered into a license agreement with Structured Solutions pursuant to which the Investment Sub-Adviser pays a fee to use the Indexes. The Investment Sub-Adviser is sub-licensing rights to the Indexes to a Fund at no charge.

 

Shares of the Trust are not sponsored, promoted, sold or supported in any other manner by Structured Solutions nor does Structured Solutions offer any express or implicit guarantee or assurance either with regard to the results of using the Index and/or Index trade mark or the Index price at any time or in any other respect. The Indexes are calculated and published by Structured Solutions. Structured Solutions uses its best efforts to ensure that an Index is calculated correctly. Irrespective of its obligations towards the Trust, Structured Solutions has no obligation to point out errors in an Index to third parties including but not limited to investors and/or financial intermediaries of the financial instrument. Neither publication of an Index by Structured Solutions nor the licensing of an Index or Index trade mark for the purpose of use in connection with Shares of the Trust constitutes a recommendation by Structured Solutions to invest capital in Shares of the Trust nor does it in any way represent an assurance or opinion of Structured Solutions with regard to any investment in Shares of the Trust.

 

The Adviser and the Funds make no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of Shares of the Funds or any members of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in a Fund particularly.

 

Additional Information about Principal Investment Strategies

 

Additional Information About MLPs

 

MLPs are publicly traded partnerships engaged in the transportation, storage, processing, refining, marketing, exploration, production, and mining of minerals and natural resources. By confining their operations to these specific activities, their interests, or units, are able to trade on public securities exchanges exactly like the shares of a corporation, without entity level taxation. Partnerships and royalty trusts eligible for inclusion in an Index are subject to further liquidity screens before they may be included in an Index.

 

MLPs’ disclosures are regulated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and MLPs must file Form 10-Ks, Form 10-Qs, and notices of material changes like any publicly traded corporation. MLPs also must comply with certain requirements applicable to public companies under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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To qualify as an MLP and to not be taxed as a corporation, a partnership must receive at least 90% of its income from qualifying sources as set forth in Section 7704(d) of the Code. These qualifying sources include natural resource-based activities such as the exploration, development, mining, production, processing, refining, transportation, storage and marketing of mineral or natural resources. An MLP consists of a general partner and limited partners (or in the case of MLPs organized as limited liability companies, a managing member and members). The general partner or managing member typically controls the operations and management of the MLP and has an ownership stake in the MLP. The limited partners or members, through their ownership of limited partner or member interests, provide capital to the entity, are intended to have no role in the operation and management of the entity and receive cash distributions. The MLPs themselves generally do not pay United States federal income taxes. Thus, unlike investors in corporate securities, direct MLP investors are generally not subject to double taxation (i.e., corporate level tax and tax on corporate dividends). Currently, most MLPs operate in the energy and/or natural resources sectors.

 

General partner or managing member interests receive cash distributions, typically in an amount of up to 2% of available cash, which is contractually defined in the partnership or limited liability company agreement. In addition, holders of general partner or managing member interests typically receive incentive distribution rights (“IDRs”), which provide them with an increasing share of the entity’s aggregate cash distributions upon the payment of per common unit distributions that exceed specified threshold levels above the minimum quarterly distribution. Due to the IDRs, general partners of MLPs have higher distribution growth prospects than their underlying MLPs, but quarterly incentive distribution payments would also decline at a greater rate than the decline rate in quarterly distributions to common and subordinated unit holders in the event of a reduction in the MLP’s quarterly distribution. In addition, some MLPs permit the holder of IDRs to reset, under specified circumstances, the incentive distribution levels and receive compensation in exchange for the distribution rights given up in the reset.

 

Additional Risk Information

 

The following section provides additional information regarding certain of the principal risks identified under “Principal Risks” in each Fund’s “Fund Summary” section along with additional risk information.

 

Principal Risks

 

MLP Risk. An investment in MLP units involves risks that differ from a similar investment in equity securities, such as common stock, of a corporation. Holders of MLP units have the rights typically afforded to limited partners in a limited partnership. Holders of MLP units are subject to certain risks inherent in the structure of MLPs, including (i) tax risks (described further below), (ii) the limited ability to elect or remove management or the general partner or managing member (iii) limited voting rights, except with respect to extraordinary transactions, and (iv) conflicts of interest between the general partner or managing member and its affiliates, on the one hand, and the limited partners or members, on the other hand, including those arising from incentive distribution payments or corporate opportunities. General partners typically have limited fiduciary duties to an MLP, which could allow a general partner to favor its own interests over the MLP’s interests. In addition, general partners of MLPs often have limited call rights that may require unitholders to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price. MLPs may issue additional common units without unitholder approval, which would dilute the interests of existing unitholders, including a Fund’s ownership interest.

 

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MLP common units and other equity securities can be affected by macro-economic and other factors affecting the stock market in general, expectations of interest rates, investor sentiment towards MLPs or the energy sector, changes in a particular issuer’s financial condition, or unfavorable or unanticipated poor performance of a particular issuer (in the case of MLPs, generally measured in terms of distributable cash flow). Prices of common units of individual MLPs and other equity securities also can be affected by fundamentals unique to the partnership or company, including cash flow growth, cash generating power and distribution coverage.

 

The Funds derive a significant portion of their cash flow from investments in equity securities of MLPs. Therefore, the amount of cash that a Fund will have available to pay or distribute will depend on the ability of the MLPs that a Fund owns to make distributions to their partners and the tax character of those distributions. Neither the Funds nor the Adviser has control over the actions of underlying MLPs. The amount of cash that each individual MLP can distribute to its partners will depend on the amount of cash it generates from operations, which will vary from quarter to quarter depending on factors affecting the energy infrastructure market generally and on factors affecting the particular business lines of the MLP. Available cash will also depend on the MLPs’ level of operating costs (including incentive distributions to the general partner), level of capital expenditures, debt service requirements, acquisition costs (if any), fluctuations in working capital needs and other factors. The Funds expect to generate significant investment income, and a Fund’s investments may not distribute the expected or anticipated levels of cash, resulting in the risk that a Fund may not have the ability to make cash distributions as investors expect from MLP-focused investments.

 

MLP Tax Risk. The benefit you are expected to derive from the Funds’ investment in MLPs depends largely on the MLPs being treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. As a partnership, an MLP has no federal income tax liability at the entity level. If, as a result of a change in current law or a change in an MLP’s underlying business mix, an MLP were treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, the MLP would be obligated to pay federal income tax on its income at the corporate tax rate (currently at a maximum rate of 35%). If an MLP were classified as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, the amount of cash available for distribution would be reduced and part or all of the distributions a Fund receives might be taxed entirely as dividend income. Therefore, treatment of one or more MLPs as a corporation for federal income tax purposes could affect a Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective and would reduce the amount of cash available to pay or distribute to you.

 

The tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships could be subject to potential legislative, judicial or administrative changes and differing interpretations, possibly on a retroactive basis. For example, Congress has been evaluating proposals that could materially impact publicly traded partnerships, but to date has not taken action on any of them. Any modification to the federal income tax laws and interpretations thereof may or may not be applied retroactively. Any such changes could negatively impact the value of an investment in MLPs and therefore the value of your investment in a Fund. In addition, there have been proposals to reduce or eliminate tax incentives widely used by oil, gas and coal companies, and the imposition of new fees on certain energy producers. The elimination of such tax incentives and imposition of such fees could adversely affect MLPs and other natural resources sector companies in which a Fund invests and/or the natural resources sector generally.

 

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The Funds will be a limited partner in the MLPs in which it invests. As a result, it will be allocated a pro rata share of income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses from those MLPs. Historically, a significant portion of income from such MLPs has been offset by tax deductions. The Funds will incur a current tax liability on that portion of an MLP’s income and gains that is not offset by tax deductions and losses. The percentage of an MLP’s income and gains which is offset by tax deductions and losses will fluctuate over time for various reasons. A significant slowdown in acquisition activity by MLPs in an Index could result in a reduction of accelerated depreciation generated by new acquisitions, which may result in increased current income tax liability to a Fund.

 

Energy Sector Risks. Many MLPs operate within the energy sector. Therefore, a substantial portion of the MLPs in which a Fund invests are engaged in the energy sector of the economy. To the extent an Index includes securities of issuers in the energy sector; a Fund will invest in companies in such sector. As such, a Fund will be sensitive to changes in, and its performance will depend to a greater extent on, the overall condition of the energy sector. At times, the performance of companies in the energy sector may lag the performance of other sectors or the broader market as a whole. In addition, there are several specific risks associated with investments in the energy sector, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

·Regulatory Risk. The energy sector is highly regulated. MLPs operating in the energy sector are subject to significant regulation of nearly every aspect of their operations by federal, state and local governmental agencies. Such regulation can change rapidly or over time in both scope and intensity. For example, a particular by-product or process, including hydraulic fracturing, may be declared hazardous—sometimes retroactively—by a regulatory agency and unexpectedly increase production costs. Various governmental authorities have the power to enforce compliance with these regulations and the permits issued under them, and violators are subject to administrative, civil and criminal penalties, including civil fines, injunctions or both. Stricter laws, regulations or enforcement policies could be enacted in the future which would likely increase compliance costs and may materially adversely affect the financial performance of MLPs operating in the energy sector. There is an inherent risk that MLPs may incur material environmental costs and liabilities due to the nature of their businesses and the substances they handle, including substantial liabilities for environmental cleanup and restoration costs, claims made by neighboring landowners and other third parties for personal injury and property damage, and fines or penalties for related violations of environmental laws or regulations.

 

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·Commodity Price Risk. MLPs operating in the energy sector may be affected by fluctuations in the prices of energy commodities, including, for example, natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil and coal, in the short- and long-term. Fluctuations in energy commodity prices would impact directly companies that own such energy commodities and could impact indirectly companies that engage in transportation, storage, processing, distribution or marketing of such energy commodities. Fluctuations in energy commodity prices can result from changes in general economic conditions or political circumstances (especially of key energy producing and consuming countries); market conditions; weather patterns; domestic production levels; volume of imports; energy conservation; domestic and foreign governmental regulation; international politics; policies of OPEC; taxation; tariffs; and the availability and costs of local, intrastate and interstate transportation methods. The energy sector as a whole may also be impacted by the perception that the performance of energy sector companies is directly linked to commodity prices. High commodity prices may drive further energy conservation efforts, and a slowing economy may adversely impact energy consumption, which may adversely affect the performance of MLPs and other companies operating in the energy sector. Recent economic and market events have fueled concerns regarding potential liquidations of commodity futures and options positions.

 

·Depletion Risk. MLPs engaged in the exploration, development, management or production of energy commodities face the risk that commodity reserves are depleted over time, with the potential associated effect of causing the market value of the MLP to decline over time. Such companies seek to increase their reserves through expansion of their current businesses, acquisitions, further development of their existing sources of energy commodities, exploration of new sources of energy commodities or by entering into long-term contracts for additional reserves; however, there are risks associated with each of these potential strategies. If such companies fail to acquire additional reserves in a cost-effective manner and at a rate at least equal to the rate at which their existing reserves decline, their financial performance may suffer. Additionally, failure to replenish reserves could reduce the amount and affect the tax characterization of the distributions paid by such companies.

 

·Supply and Demand Risk. MLPs operating in the energy sector could be adversely affected by reductions in the supply of or demand for energy commodities. The volume of production of energy commodities and the volume of energy commodities available for transportation, storage, processing or distribution could be affected by a variety of factors, including depletion of resources; depressed commodity prices; catastrophic events; labor relations; increased environmental or other governmental regulation; equipment malfunctions and maintenance difficulties; import volumes; international politics, policies of OPEC; and increased competition from alternative energy sources. Alternatively, a decline in demand for energy commodities could result from factors such as adverse economic conditions (especially in key energy-consuming countries); increased taxation; increased environmental or other governmental regulation; increased fuel economy; increased energy conservation or use of alternative energy sources; legislation intended to promote the use of alternative energy sources; or increased commodity prices.

 

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·Weather Risks. Weather conditions and the seasonality of weather patterns play a role in the cash flows of certain MLPs operating in the energy sector. MLPs in the propane industry; for example, rely on the winter heating season to generate almost all of their cash flow. In an unusually warm winter season, propane MLPs experience decreased demand for their product. Although most MLPs can reasonably predict seasonal weather demand based on normal weather patterns, extreme weather conditions, such as the hurricanes that severely damaged cities along the U.S. Gulf Coast in recent years, demonstrate that no amount of preparation can protect an MLP from the unpredictability of the weather. The damage done by extreme weather also may serve to increase insurance premiums for energy assets owned by MLPs, could significantly increase the volatility in the supply of energy-related commodities and could adversely affect such companies’ financial condition and ability to pay distributions to shareholders.

 

·Acquisition Risk. The abilities of MLPs operating in the energy sector to grow and to increase cash distributions to unitholders can be highly dependent on their ability to make acquisitions that result in an increase in cash flows. In the event that MLPs are unable to make such accretive acquisitions because they are unable to identify attractive acquisition candidates and negotiate acceptable purchase contracts, because they are unable to raise financing for such acquisitions on economically acceptable terms, or because they are outbid by competitors, their future growth and ability to raise distributions will be limited. Furthermore, even if MLPs do consummate acquisitions that they believe will be accretive, the acquisitions may instead result in a decrease in cash flow. Any acquisition involves risks, including, among other things: mistaken assumptions about revenues and costs, including synergies; the assumption of unknown liabilities; limitations on rights to indemnity from the seller; the diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns; unforeseen difficulties operating in new product or geographic areas; and customer or key employee losses at the acquired businesses.

 

·Interest Rate Risk. Rising interest rates could adversely impact the financial performance and/or the present value of cash flow of MLPs operating in the energy sector by increasing their costs of capital. This may reduce their ability to execute acquisitions or expansion projects in a cost-effective manner. MLP valuations are based on numerous factors, including sector and business fundamentals, management expertise, and expectations of future operating results. However, MLP yields are also susceptible in the short-term to fluctuations in interest rates and the prices of MLP securities may decline when interest rates rise.

 

·Catastrophic Event Risk. MLPs operating in the energy sector are subject to many dangers inherent in the production, exploration, management, transportation, processing and distribution of natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, refined petroleum products and other hydrocarbons. These dangers include leaks, fires, explosions, damage to facilities and equipment resulting from natural disasters, inadvertent damage to facilities and equipment (such as those suffered by BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling platform in 2010) and terrorist acts. Since the September 11th terrorist attacks, the U.S. government has issued warnings that energy assets, specifically U.S. pipeline infrastructure, may be targeted in future terrorist attacks. These dangers give rise to risks of substantial losses as a result of loss or destruction of reserves; damage to or destruction of property, facilities and equipment; pollution and environmental damage; and personal injury or loss of life. Any occurrence of such catastrophic events could bring about a limitation, suspension or discontinuation of the operations of certain assets owned by such MLP. MLPs operating in the energy sector may not be fully insured against all risks inherent in their business operations and, therefore, accidents and catastrophic events could adversely affect such companies’ financial condition and ability to pay distributions to shareholders. We expect that increased governmental regulation to mitigate such catastrophic risk such as the recent oil spills referred to above, could increase insurance premiums and other operating costs for MLPs.

 

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Industry Specific Risks. MLPs operating in the energy sector are also subject to risks that are specific to the industry they serve. The MLP sector can also be negatively impacted by market perception that MLPs’ performance and distributions are directly tied to commodity prices. Furthermore, a significant decrease in the production of natural gas, oil or other energy commodities, due to a decline in production from existing facilities, import supply disruption or otherwise, would reduce revenue and operating income of MLPs and, therefore, the ability of MLPs to make distributions to partners. Changes in demand for transportation of commodities over longer distances and supply of vessels to carry those commodities may materially affect revenues, profitability and cash flows.

 

·Midstream. MLPs that operate midstream assets are subject to supply and demand fluctuations in the markets they serve which may be impacted by a wide range of factors including fluctuating commodity prices, weather, increased conservation or use of alternative fuel sources, increased governmental or environmental regulation, depletion, rising interest rates, declines in domestic or foreign production, accidents or catastrophic events, increasing operating expenses and economic conditions, among others. Further, MLPs that operate gathering and processing assets are subject to natural declines in the production of the oil and gas fields they serve. In addition, some gathering and processing contracts subject the owner of such assets to direct commodity price risk.

 

·Exploration and production. Exploration and production MLPs are particularly vulnerable to declines in the demand for and prices of crude oil and natural gas. Reductions in prices for crude oil and natural gas can cause a given reservoir to become uneconomic for continued production earlier than it would if prices were higher, resulting in the plugging and abandonment of, and cessation of production from, that reservoir. In addition, lower commodity prices not only reduce revenues but also can result in substantial downward adjustments in reserve estimates. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data, the accuracy of assumptions regarding future commodity prices and future exploration and development costs and engineering and geological interpretations and judgments. Different reserve engineers may make different estimates of reserve quantities and related revenue based on the same data. Actual oil and gas prices, development expenditures and operating expenses will vary from those assumed in reserve estimates, and these variances may be significant. Any significant variance from the assumptions used could result in the actual quantity of reserves and future net cash flow being materially different from those estimated in reserve reports. In addition, results of drilling, testing and production and changes in prices after the date of reserve estimates may result in downward revisions to such estimates. Substantial downward adjustments in reserve estimates could have a material adverse effect on a given exploration and production company’s financial position and results of operations. In addition, due to natural declines in reserves and production, exploration and production companies must economically find or acquire and develop additional reserves in order to maintain and grow their revenues and distributions. Exploration and production MLPs seek to reduce cash flow volatility associated with commodity prices by executing multi-year hedging strategies that fix the price of gas and oil produced. There can be no assurance that the hedging strategies currently employed by theses MLPs are currently effective or will remain effective.

 

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·Marine shipping. Marine shipping MLPs are primarily marine transporters of natural gas, crude oil or refined petroleum products. Marine shipping companies are exposed to many of the same risks as other energy companies. In addition, the highly cyclical nature of the marine transportation industry may lead to volatile changes in charter rates and vessel values, which may adversely affect the revenues, profitability and cash flows of such companies. Fluctuations in charter rates result from changes in the supply and demand for vessel capacity and changes in the supply and demand for certain energy commodities. The value of marine transportation vessels may fluctuate and could adversely affect the value of shipping company securities in a Fund’s portfolio. Declining marine transportation values could affect the ability of shipping companies to raise cash by limiting their ability to refinance their vessels, thereby adversely impacting such company’s liquidity. Shipping company vessels are at risk of damage or loss because of events such as mechanical failure, collision, human error, war, terrorism, piracy, cargo loss and bad weather. In addition, changing economic, regulatory and political conditions in some countries, including political and military conflicts, have from time to time resulted in attacks on vessels, mining of waterways, piracy, terrorism, labor strikes, boycotts and government requisitioning of vessels. These sorts of events could interfere with shipping lanes and result in market disruptions and a significant reduction in cash flow for the shipping companies.
   
·Propane. Propane MLPs are distributors or propane to homeowners for space and water heating. MLPs with propane assets are subject to earnings variability based upon weather conditions in the markets they serve, fluctuating commodity prices, customer conservation and increased use of alternative fuels, increased governmental or environmental regulation, and accidents or catastrophic events, among others.
   
·Natural Resource. MLPs with coal, timber, fertilizer and other mineral assets are subject to supply and demand fluctuations in the markets they serve, which will be impacted by a wide range of domestic and foreign factors including fluctuating commodity prices, the level of their customers’ coal stockpiles, weather, increased conservation or use of alternative fuel sources, increased governmental or environmental regulation, depletion, declines in production, mining accidents or catastrophic events, health claims and economic conditions, among others. In light of increased state and federal regulation, it has been increasingly difficult to obtain and maintain the permits necessary to mine coal. Further, such permits, if obtained, have increasingly contained more stringent, and more difficult and costly to comply with, provisions relating to environmental protection.

 

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Deferred Tax Asset Risk. To the extent a Fund accrues a net deferred tax asset, consideration will be given as to whether or not a valuation allowance is required. The need to establish a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets will be assessed periodically by a Fund based on the criterion established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board Codification Topic 740, Income Taxes (formerly Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109) (“ASC Topic 740”) that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In the assessment for a valuation allowance, consideration will be given to all positive and negative evidence related to the realization of the deferred tax asset. This assessment will consider, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability (which are highly dependent on future MLP cash distributions), the duration of statutory carryforward periods and the associated risk that operating loss carryforwards may expire unused. If a valuation allowance is required to reduce the deferred tax asset in the future, it could have a material impact on a Fund’s NAV and results of operations in the period it is recorded. To the extent a Fund accrues a net deferred tax asset in the future, such deferred tax assets may constitute a relatively high percentage of a Fund’s NAV. Any valuation allowance required against such deferred tax assets or future adjustments to a valuation allowance may reduce a Fund’s deferred tax assets and could have a material impact on a Fund’s NAV and results of operations in the period the valuation allowance is recorded or adjusted.

 

Royalty Trust Risk (Composite Fund Only). The Composite Fund may invest in royalty trusts. Royalty trusts are publicly traded investment vehicles that gather income on royalties and pay out almost all cash flows to stockholders as distributions. Royalty trusts typically have no physical operations and no management or employees. Typically royalty trusts own the rights to royalties on the production and sales of a natural resource. As these deplete, production and cash flows steadily decline, which may decrease distribution rates. Royalty trusts are exposed to many of the same risks as other MLPs such as: (i) tax risks, (ii) risk related to limited control of the trustee and limited ability to remove or replace the trustee, (iii) risks related to the energy sector in general and (iv) risks that are specific to the industry in which underlying properties in which the royalty trust has an interest serve. In addition, the value of the equity securities of the royalty trusts in which the Fund invests may fluctuate in accordance with changes in the financial condition of those royalty trusts, the condition of equity markets generally, commodity prices, and other factors. Distributions on royalty trusts in which the Fund may invest will depend upon the declaration of distributions from the constituent royalty trusts, but there can be no assurance that those royalty trusts will pay distributions on their securities. Typically royalty trusts own the rights to royalties on the production and sales of a natural resource, including oil, gas, minerals and timber. As these deplete, production and cash flows steadily decline, which may decrease distributions. The declaration of such distributions generally depends upon various factors, including the operating performance and financial condition of the royalty trust and general economic conditions.

 

In many circumstances, the royalty trusts in which the Fund may invest may have limited operating histories. The value of royalty trust securities in which the Fund invests will be influenced by factors that are not within a Fund’s control, including the financial performance of the respective issuers, interest rates, exchange rates and commodity prices (which will vary and are determined by supply and demand factors including weather and general economic and political conditions), the hedging policies employed by such issuers, issues relating to the regulation of the energy sector (and industries therein) and operational risks relating to the energy sector (and industries therein).

 

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Non-Diversification Risk. Each Fund is a non-diversified investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and will not elect to be treated as a regulated investment company under the Code. As a result, there are no regulatory requirements under the 1940 Act or the Code that limit the proportion of a Fund’s assets that may be invested in securities of a single issuer. Accordingly, a Fund may invest a greater portion of its assets in a more limited number of issuers than a diversified fund. The Funds will select their investments from the small pool of energy infrastructure MLPs consistent with their investment objective and policies. An investment in a Fund may present greater risk to an investor than an investment in a diversified portfolio because changes in the financial condition or market assessment of a single issuer may cause greater fluctuations in the value of a Fund’s Shares.

 

Passive Investment Risk. The Funds are not actively managed. Therefore, unless a specific security is removed from an Index or the selling of shares of that security is otherwise required upon a rebalancing of an Index as addressed in an Index methodology, a Fund generally would not sell a security because the security’s issuer was in financial trouble. If a specific security is removed from an Index, a Fund may be forced to sell such security at an inopportune time or for a price other than the security’s current market value. An investment in a Fund involves risks similar to those of investing in any equity securities traded on an exchange, such as market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic and political developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in security prices. It is anticipated that the value of Fund Shares will decline, more or less, in correspondence with any decline in value of an Index. An Index may not contain the appropriate mix of securities for any particular point in the business cycle of the overall economy, particular economic sectors, or narrow industries within which the commercial activities of the companies comprising the portfolio securities holdings of a Fund are conducted, and the timing of movements from one type of security to another in seeking to replicate an Index could have a negative effect on a Fund. Unlike with an actively managed fund, the Adviser does not use techniques or defensive strategies designed to lessen the effects of market volatility or to reduce the impact of periods of market decline. This means that, based on market and economic conditions, a Fund’s performance could be lower than other types of mutual funds that may actively shift their portfolio assets to take advantage of market opportunities or to lessen the impact of a market decline.

 

Tracking Error Risk. Tracking error refers to the risk that the Adviser may not be able to cause a Fund’s performance to match or correlate to that of an Index, either on a daily or aggregate basis. There are a number of factors that may contribute to a Fund’s tracking error, such as Fund expenses, imperfect correlation between a Fund’s investments and those of an Index, rounding of share prices, the timing or magnitude of changes to the composition of an Index, regulatory policies, and high portfolio turnover rate. The Funds incur a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Indexes and incurs costs associated with buying and selling securities, especially when rebalancing their securities holdings to reflect changes in the composition of an Index and raising cash to meet redemptions or deploying cash in connection with newly created Creation Units. In addition, mathematical compounding may prevent a Fund from correlating with the monthly, quarterly, annual or other period performance of its benchmark. Tracking error may cause a Fund’s performance to be less than expected. As discussed above, the Funds will be subject to taxation on their taxable income. The NAV of Fund Shares will also be reduced by the accrual of any deferred tax liabilities. An Index however is calculated without any deductions for taxes except to the extent of withholding taxes on distributions of foreign securities as addressed in an Index methodology. As a result, a Fund’s after tax performance could differ significantly from an Index even if the pretax performance of a Fund and the performance of an Index are closely correlated.

 

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Additional Investment Strategies

 

The Funds, using an “indexing” investment approach, seek to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of their respective Index. A number of factors may affect a Fund’s ability to achieve a high correlation with its Index, including the degree to which a Fund utilizes a sampling methodology. There can be no guarantee that a Fund will achieve a high degree of correlation.

 

Upon the recommendation of the Investment Sub-Adviser, the Trading Sub-Adviser may sell securities that are represented in an Index or purchase securities not yet represented in an Index, in anticipation of their removal from or addition to an Index. There may also be instances in which the Investment Sub-Adviser may choose to overweight securities in an Index, thus causing the Trading Sub-Adviser to purchase or sell securities not in an Index which the Investment Sub-Adviser believes are appropriate to substitute for certain securities in a Fund’s Index or utilize various combinations of other available investment techniques in seeking to track an Index. The Funds will not take defensive positions.

 

A Fund may change its investment objective and underlying index without shareholder approval.

 

Additional Risks

 

Trading Issues. Although Fund Shares are listed for trading on the NYSE Arca, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for such shares will develop or be maintained. Trading in Fund Shares 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 is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to NYSE Arca “circuit breaker” rules. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the NYSE Arca necessary to maintain the listing of a Fund will continue to be met or will remain unchanged or that the shares will trade with any volume, or at all.

 

Fluctuation of NAV. The NAV of Fund Shares will generally fluctuate with changes in the market value of a Fund’s securities holdings. The market prices of Shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in a Fund’s NAV and supply and demand of Shares on the NYSE Arca. It cannot be predicted whether Fund 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 Shares will be closely related to, but not identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of the securities of an Index trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time. The market prices of Fund Shares may deviate significantly from the NAV of the shares during periods of market volatility. While the creation/redemption feature is designed to make it likely that Fund Shares normally will trade close to a Fund’s NAV, disruptions to creations and redemptions may result in trading prices that differ significantly from such Fund’s NAV. If an investor purchases Fund Shares at a time when the market price is at a premium to the NAV of the Shares or sells at a time when the market price is at a discount to the NAV of the Shares, then the investor may sustain losses.

 

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Costs of Buying or Selling Shares. Investors buying or selling Fund Shares in the secondary market will pay brokerage commissions or other charges imposed by brokers as determined by that broker. Brokerage commissions are often a fixed amount and may be a significant proportional cost for investors seeking to buy or sell relatively small amounts of Shares. In addition, secondary market investors will also incur the cost of the difference between the price that an investor is willing to pay for Shares (the “bid” price) and the price at which an investor is willing to sell Shares (the “ask” price). This difference in bid and ask prices is often referred to as the “spread” or “bid/ask spread.” The bid/ask spread varies over time for Shares based on trading volume and market liquidity, and is generally lower if a Fund’s Shares have more trading volume and market liquidity and higher if a Fund’s Shares have little trading volume and market liquidity. Further, increased market volatility may cause increased bid/ask spreads. Due to the costs of buying or selling Shares, including bid/ask spreads, frequent trading of Shares may significantly reduce investment results and an investment in Shares may not be advisable for investors who anticipate regularly making small investments.

 

Information Regarding the Indexes

 

The Solactive High Income MLP Composite Index

 

The Solactive High Income MLP Composite Index is a rules-based index designed to provide investors a means of tracking the performance of selected MLPs and royalty trusts structured as partnerships (“qualifying royalty trusts”), which are publicly traded on a U.S. securities exchange. The Index is comprised of MLPs and qualifying royalty trusts that meet certain criteria relating to current yield, coverage ratio and distribution growth as determined by Structured Solutions. Market capitalization and liquidity screens will be applied in addition to the fundamental screens for current yield, coverage ratio and distribution growth to ensure sufficient market size and liquidity of the Index components.

 

To be eligible for inclusion in the Index, a company must be incorporated as an MLP or a qualifying royalty trust. MLPs include all MLPs operating with one of the following as a substantial business segment: transportation, operation of storage terminals and storage of refined petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene and heating oil; one or more of the following natural gas activities: gathering, compressing ,treating, processing, marketing and fractionation of natural gas liquids; transportation and/or storage of natural gas and natural gas liquids; transportation of crude oil and/or refined petroleum products and other liquids; exploration and production of oil and/or natural gas; sale, distribution and retail marketing of propane and other natural gas liquids; marine transportation of one or more of the following: crude oil, dry bulk, refined products, liquefied natural gas (“LNG”), and other commodities; direct mining, production and marketing of natural resources, including timber, fertilizers, coal and other minerals; and royalty trusts, which typically own the rights to royalties on the production and sales of a natural resource, including oil, gas, minerals and timber.

 

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As of                                , the Index was concentrated in the [energy sector]. As of                  , the Index included         MLPs and         qualifying royalty trusts.

 

Constituent securities of the Index must have a market capitalization of at least $400 million on a rebalancing date to be eligible for inclusion in the Index. Rebalancing occurs annually. Securities whose market capitalizations fall below $400 million upon the rebalancing of the Index will no longer be eligible for inclusion in the Index. As of                           , the average market capitalization of companies included in the Index was $                           . Securities must have a three-month average daily trading volume value of at least $1 million to be eligible for the Index. An MLP and/or qualifying royalty trust must have at least one distribution paid out to shareholders to be eligible for inclusion in the Index. Only securities whose shares trade on a recognized U.S. securities exchange will be eligible for inclusion in the Index.

 

The Solactive High Income Infrastructure MLP Index

 

The Solactive High Income Infrastructure MLP Index is a rules-based index designed to provide investors a means of tracking the performance of selected MLPs which are publicly traded on a U.S. securities exchange. The Index is comprised of MLPs that meet certain criteria relating to current yield, coverage ratio and distribution growth as determined by Structured Solutions. Market capitalization and liquidity screens will be applied in addition to the fundamental screens for current yield, coverage ratio and distribution growth to ensure sufficient market size and liquidity of the Index components.

 

To be eligible for inclusion in the Index, a company must be incorporated as an MLP and be classified as an “Infrastructure” MLP. Infrastructure MLPs include all MLPs operating with one of the following as a substantial business segment: transportation, terminating and storage of refined petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene and heating oil; one or more of the following natural gas activities: gathering, compressing, treating, processing, marketing and fractionation of natural gas liquids; transportation and/or storage of natural gas and natural gas liquids; transportation of crude oil and/or refined petroleum products and other liquids.

 

As of                               , the Index was concentrated in the [energy sector]. As of , the Index included XX MLPs.

 

Constituent securities of the Index must have a market capitalization of at least $400 million on a rebalancing date to be eligible for inclusion in the Index. Rebalancing occurs annually. Securities whose market capitalizations fall below $400 million upon the rebalancing of the Index will no longer be eligible for inclusion in the Index. As of                               , the average market capitalization of companies included in the Index was $                   . Securities must have a three-month average daily trading volume value of at least $1 million to be eligible for the Index. An MLP must have at least one distribution paid out to shareholders to be eligible for inclusion in the Index. Only securities whose shares trade on a recognized U.S. securities exchange will be eligible for inclusion in the Index.

 

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Each Index was created and is maintained by Structured Solutions. Structured Solutions is a leading company in the structuring and indexing business for institutional clients.

 

Portfolio Holdings

 

A description of the Funds’ policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of a Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).

 

Fund Management

 

Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC or the Adviser, an Oklahoma limited liability company, is located at 3555 Northwest 58th Street, Suite 410, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73112. The Adviser was formed in 2009 and has provided investment advisory services to other exchange-traded funds. The Adviser serves as investment adviser to the Funds and provides investment advice to the Funds and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Funds, subject to the direction and control of the Trust’s Board of Trustees and officers. The Adviser, in consultation with sub-advisers, also arranges for transfer agency, custody, fund administration and accounting, and other non-distribution related services necessary for the Funds to operate. The Adviser administers the Funds’ business affairs, provides office facilities and equipment and certain clerical, bookkeeping and administrative services, and provides its officers and employees to serve as officers or Trustees of the Trust.

 

For the services it provides to the Funds, the Funds pay the Adviser a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.XX% on the average daily net assets of the Funds, subject to a $XX minimum fee. Under the investment advisory agreement, the Adviser has agreed to pay all expenses incurred by the Funds except for interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, acquired fund fees and expenses, accrued deferred tax liability, extraordinary expenses, and distribution fees and expenses paid by the Trust under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Excluded Expenses”).

 

Yorkville ETF Advisors, LLC or the Investment Sub-Adviser, a Delaware limited liability company, is a newly formed investment adviser located at 950 Third Avenue, 23rd Floor, New York, New York 10022. Other than certain functions delegated to the Trading Sub-Adviser, as discussed further below, the Investment Sub-Adviser is responsible for making investment decisions for the Funds and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the investment program of the Funds, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board. Under a sub-advisory agreement, the Adviser pays the Investment Sub-Adviser a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.XX% on the average daily net assets of the Funds. The Investment Sub-Adviser has agreed to assume the Adviser’s responsibility to pay, or cause to be paid, all expenses of the Funds, except Excluded Expenses, not paid by the Adviser, including any portion of the minimum fee payable by the Funds to the Adviser that exceeds XX% of the Funds’ average daily net assets.

 

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Index Management Solutions LLC or the Trading Sub-Adviser, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of VTL Associates, LLC and is located at One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 2020, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. The Trading Sub-Adviser is responsible for trading portfolio securities on behalf of the Funds, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions as instructed by the Investment Sub-Adviser or in connection with any rebalancing or reconstitution of an Index, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees. Under a sub-advisory agreement, the Adviser pays the Trading Sub-Adviser a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of XX% on the average daily net assets of the Funds, subject to a $XX minimum fee.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreements with the Investment Sub-Adviser and the Trading Sub-Adviser will be available in the Funds’ Annual Report for the period ended November 30, 2012.

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Darren R. Schuringa, CFA, Portfolio Manager of Yorkville ETF Advisors, LLC (the “Portfolio Manager”), is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds. The Portfolio Manager is responsible for various functions related to portfolio management, including, but not limited to, investing cash inflows, implementing investment strategy, researching and reviewing investment strategy, and overseeing members of his portfolio management team with more limited responsibilities.

 

Mr. Schuringa is also Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Yorkville Capital Management, LLC, which he has managed for the last five years. Yorkville Capital Management is a registered investment advisory firm serving both individual investors as well as institutional clients. Yorkville Capital Management invests in equities and fixed income securities. Darren was previously a Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager with Estabrook Capital Management where he managed over $1 billion of fund, institutional and individual assets. At Estabrook, Mr. Schuringa was responsible for separately managed accounts; in addition, he served as co-manager of the Bank of NY Hamilton Large Cap Value fund (BCPVX) and of an institutional collective trust (a multi-cap value trust) from the date of each fund’s inception to the time of his departure. Darren graduated from the University of Western Ontario and received an MBA in finance from Rollins College.

 

The SAI provides additional information about the Portfolio Manager’s compensation, other accounts managed, and ownership of Fund Shares.

 

Buying and Selling the Funds

 

Fund Shares are listed for secondary trading on the NYSE Arca. When you buy or sell the Funds’ Shares on the secondary market, you will pay or receive the market price. You may incur customary brokerage commissions and charges and may pay some or all of the spread between the bid and the offered price in the secondary market on each leg of a round trip (purchase and sale) transaction. The Shares will trade on the NYSE Arca at prices that may differ to varying degrees from the daily NAV of the Shares. A “Business Day” with respect to the Funds is any day on which the NYSE Arca is open for business. The NYSE Arca is generally open Monday through Friday and is closed weekends and the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

 

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NAV per share for a Fund is computed by dividing the value of the net assets of the Funds (i.e. the value of its total assets less total liabilities) by its total number of Shares outstanding. Expenses and fees, including management and distribution fees, if any, are accrued daily and taken into account for purposes of determining NAV. NAV is determined each business day, normally as of the close of regular trading of the NYSE (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., Eastern standard time).

 

When determining NAV, the value of the Funds’ portfolio securities is based on market prices of the securities, which generally means a valuation obtained from an exchange or other market (or based on a price quotation or other equivalent indication of the value supplied by an exchange or other market) or a valuation obtained from an independent pricing service. If a security’s market price is not readily available or does not otherwise accurately reflect the fair value of the security, the security will be valued by another method that the Board believes will better reflect fair value in accordance with the Trust’s valuation policies and procedures. Fair value pricing may be used in a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to, situations when the value of a security in a Fund’s portfolio has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the market on which the security is principally traded but prior to the close of the NYSE Arca (such as in the case of a corporate action or other news that may materially affect the price of a security) or trading in a security has been suspended or halted. Accordingly, the Funds’ NAV may reflect certain portfolio securities’ fair values rather than their market prices.

 

Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that a fair value determination for a security will materially differ from the value that could be realized upon the sale of the security. In addition, fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate the Funds’ NAV and the prices used by a Fund’s benchmark Index. This may result in a difference between a Fund’s performance and the performance of a Fund’s benchmark index.

 

Frequent Purchases and Redemptions of Fund Shares

 

The Funds impose no restrictions on the frequency of purchases and redemptions. The Board of Trustees evaluated the risks of market timing activities by the Funds’ shareholders when they determined that no restriction or policy was necessary. The Board considered that, unlike traditional mutual funds, a Fund’s Shares may be purchased and sold on the exchange at prevailing market prices. Given this structure, the Board determined that it is unlikely that (a) market timing would be attempted by the Funds’ shareholders or (b) any attempts to market time the Funds by their shareholders would result in negative impact to a Fund or its shareholders.

 

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Other Considerations

 

Distribution and Service Plan. The Funds have adopted a Distribution and Service Plan in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act pursuant to which payments of up to 0.25% of a Fund’s average daily net assets may be made for the sale and distribution of its Fund Shares. However, the Board of Trustees has determined that no payments pursuant to the Distribution and Service Plan will be made for at least the next twelve (12) months of operation. Thereafter, 12b-1 fees may only be imposed after approval by the Board of Trustees. Any forgone 12b-1 fees during the initial 12 months will not be recoverable during any subsequent period. Because these fees would be paid out of a Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, if payments are made in the future, these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

 

Dividends, Distributions and Taxes

 

Fund Distributions

 

The Funds pay out dividends from their net investment income to investors at least quarterly.

 

Dividend Reinvestment Service

 

Brokers may make available to their customers who own a Fund’s shares the DTC book-entry dividend reinvestment service. If this service is available and used, dividend distributions of both income and capital gains will automatically be reinvested in additional whole shares of that Fund. Without this service, investors would receive their distributions in cash. In order to achieve the maximum total return on their investments, investors are encouraged to use the dividend reinvestment service. To determine whether the dividend reinvestment service is available and whether there is a commission or other charge for using this service, consult your broker. Brokers may require a Fund’s shareholders to adhere to specific procedures and timetables. If this service is available and used, dividend distributions of both income and realized gains will be automatically reinvested in additional whole shares of a Fund purchased in the secondary market.

 

Tax Information

 

The following is a summary of some important tax issues that affect the Funds and their shareholders. The summary is based on current tax laws, which may be changed by legislative, judicial or administrative action. You should not consider this summary to be a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Funds, or the tax consequences of an investment in the Funds. More information about taxes is located in the SAI. You are urged to consult your tax adviser regarding specific questions as to federal, state and local income taxes.

 

Tax Status of the Funds

 

Each Fund is taxed as a regular corporation for federal income tax purposes and as such is obligated to pay federal and applicable state and foreign corporate taxes on its taxable income. This differs from most investment companies, which elect to be treated as “regulated investment companies” under the Code in order to avoid paying entity level income taxes. Under current law, the Funds are not eligible to elect treatment as a regulated investment company due to their investments primarily in MLPs invested in energy assets. As a result, the Funds will be obligated to pay federal and state taxes on their taxable income as opposed to most other investment companies which are not so obligated.

 

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As discussed below, the Funds expect that a portion of the distribution they receives from MLPs may be treated as a tax-deferred return of capital, thus reducing the Funds’ current tax liability. However, the amount of taxes currently paid by the Funds will vary depending on the amount of income and gains derived from investments and/or sales of MLP interests and such taxes will reduce your return from an investment in the Funds.

 

The Funds invest their respective assets primarily in MLPs, which generally are treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. As a partner in the MLPs, the Funds must report their allocable share of the MLPs’ taxable income in computing their respective taxable income, regardless of the extent (if any) to which the MLPs make distributions. Based upon the Adviser’s review of the historic results of the types of MLPs in which the Funds invest, the Adviser expects that the cash flow received by the Funds with respect to their MLP investments will generally exceed the taxable income allocated to the Funds (and this excess generally will not be currently taxable to the Funds but, rather, will result in a reduction of the Funds’ adjusted tax basis in each MLP as described in the following paragraph). This is the result of a variety of factors, including significant noncash deductions, such as accelerated depreciation. There is no assurance that the Adviser’s expectation regarding the tax character of MLP distributions will be realized. If this expectation is not realized, there may be greater tax expense borne by the Funds and less cash available to distribute to you or to pay to expenses.

 

The Funds will also be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the regular graduated corporate tax rates on any gain recognized by the applicable Funds on any sale of equity securities of an MLP. Cash distributions from an MLP to the Funds that exceed such Fund’s allocable share of such MLP’s net taxable income will reduce a Fund’s adjusted tax basis in the equity securities of the MLP. These reductions in such Funds’ adjusted tax basis in the MLP equity securities will increase the amount of any taxable gain (or decrease the amount of any tax loss) recognized by the Funds on a subsequent sale of the securities.

 

Each Fund will accrue deferred income taxes for any future tax liability associated with (i) that portion of MLP distributions considered to be a tax-deferred return of capital as well as (ii) capital appreciation of its investments. The Funds’ accrued deferred tax liability will be reflected each day in the Funds’ NAVs. Increases in deferred tax liability will decrease NAV. Conversely, decreases in deferred tax liability will increase NAV. The Funds generally compute deferred income taxes based on the federal tax rate applicable to corporations, currently 35% and an assumed rate attributable to state taxes. A change in the federal tax rate applicable to corporations and, consequently, any change in the deferred tax liability of the Funds, may have a significant impact on the NAV of the Funds. The Funds’ current and deferred tax liability, if any, will depend upon the Funds’ net investment income gains and losses and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments and therefore may vary greatly from year to year depending on the nature of a Fund’s investments, the performance of these investments and general market conditions. The Funds will rely to some extent on information provided by the MLPs, which is not necessarily timely, to estimate deferred tax liability for purposes of financial statement reporting and determining the NAV. From time to time, the Investment Sub-Adviser will modify the estimates or assumptions regarding the Funds’ deferred tax liability as new information becomes available. Each Fund’ estimate regarding its deferred tax liability are made in good faith; however, the daily estimate of a Fund’s deferred tax liability used to calculate a Fund’s NAV could vary dramatically from a Fund’s actual tax liability. Actual income taxed, if any, will be incurred over many years depending on if, and when, investment gains and losses are realized, the then current basis of a Fund’s assets and other factors. Upon the sale of an MLP security, the Funds may be liable for previously deferred taxes.

 

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Tax Status of Distributions

 

Distributions made to you by the Funds (other than distributions in redemption of shares subject to Section 302(b) of the Code) will generally constitute dividends to the extent of your allocable share of the Funds’ current or accumulated earnings and profits, as calculated for federal income tax purposes. Generally, a corporation’s earnings and profits are computed based upon taxable income, with certain specified adjustments. As explained above, based upon the historic performance of the types of MLPs in which the Funds intend to invest, the Adviser anticipates that the distributed cash from the MLPs generally will exceed the Funds’ Share of the MLPs’ taxable income. Consequently, the Adviser anticipates that only a portion of a Fund’s distributions will be treated as dividend income to you. To the extent that distributions to you exceed your allocable share of a Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, your tax basis in a Fund’s Shares with respect to which the distribution is made will be reduced, which will increase the amount of any taxable gain (or decrease the amount of any tax loss) realized upon a subsequent sale or redemption of such shares. To the extent you hold such shares as a capital asset and have no further basis in the shares to offset the distribution, you will report the excess as capital gain.

 

Distributions treated as dividends under the foregoing rules generally will be taxable as ordinary income to you but may be treated as “qualified dividend income.” Under current federal income tax law, qualified dividend income received by individuals and other non corporate shareholders is taxed at long-term capital gain rates, which currently reach a maximum of 15% (scheduled to increase to 20% for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013). However, the favorable tax treatment applicable to qualified dividends is set to expire for tax years beginning after December 31, 2012 and, thus, qualifying dividend income will thereafter be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the rates applicable to ordinary income (which rates are scheduled to increase at that time to a maximum rate of 39.6%), unless further Congressional action is taken. For a dividend to constitute qualified dividend income, the shareholder generally must hold the shares paying the dividend for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date, although a longer period may apply if the shareholder engages in certain risk reduction transactions with respect to the common stock.

 

39
 

 

Dividends paid by the Funds are expected to be eligible for the dividends received deduction available to corporate shareholders under Section 243 of the Code. However, corporate shareholders should be aware that certain limitations apply to the availability of the dividends received deduction, including rules which limit the deduction in cases where (i) certain holding period requirements are not met, (ii) the corporate shareholder is obligated (e.g., pursuant to a short sale) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, or (iii) the corporate shareholder’s investment in shares of a particular Fund is financed with indebtedness. Corporate shareholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of these limitations to their particular situations.

 

Tax Status of Share Transactions. Each sale, exchange, or redemption of Fund Shares may be a taxable event to you. Currently, any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Fund Shares is generally treated as a long-term gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year.

 

Non-U.S. Investors.  If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, a Fund’s dividends will generally be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax, unless a lower treaty rate applies or unless such income is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. Gains from the sale or other disposition of shares of the Funds generally are not subject to U.S. taxation, unless the recipient is an individual who either (1) meets the Code’s definition of “resident alien” or (2) is physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more per year. Different tax consequences may result if the foreign shareholder is engaged in a trade or business within the United States. Tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of a tax treaty may be different than those described above.

 

The foregoing discussion summarizes some of the consequences under current federal tax law of an investment in the Funds. It is not a substitute for personal tax advice. Consult your personal tax advisor about the potential tax consequences of an investment in the Funds under all applicable tax laws.

 

Additional Information

 

Other Information

 

For purposes of the 1940 Act, the Funds are treated as registered investment companies. Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act restricts investments by investment companies in the securities of other investment companies, including Shares of the Funds. The SEC has issued an exemptive order to the Trust permitting registered investment companies to invest in exchange-traded funds offered by the Trust beyond the limits of Section 12(d)(1) subject to certain terms and conditions, including that such registered investment companies enter into an agreement with the Trust.

 

Continuous Offering

 

The method by which Creation Units are purchased and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. Because new Creation Units are issued and sold by the Funds on an ongoing basis, at any point a “distribution,” as such term is used in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), may occur. Broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities on their part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner which could render them statutory underwriters and subject them to the Prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the Securities Act.

 

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For example, a broker-dealer firm or its client may be deemed a statutory underwriter if it takes Creation Units after placing an order with the Distributor, breaks them down into individual Shares, and sells such Shares directly to customers, or if it chooses to couple the creation of a supply of new Shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for Shares. A determination of whether one is an underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act must take into account all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its client in the particular case, and the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to categorization as an underwriter.

 

Broker-dealer firms should also note that dealers who are not “underwriters” but are effecting transactions in Shares, whether or not participating in the distribution of Shares, are generally required to deliver a prospectus. This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(3) of the Securities Act is not available with respect to such transactions as a result of Section 24(d) of the 1940 Act. As a result, broker dealer-firms should note that dealers who are not underwriters but are participating in a distribution (as contrasted with ordinary secondary market transactions) and thus dealing with Shares that are part of an over-allotment within the meaning of Section 4(3)(a) of the Securities Act would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(3) of the Securities Act. Firms that incur a prospectus delivery obligation with respect to Shares of a Fund are reminded that under Rule 153 of the Securities Act, a prospectus delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the Securities Act owed to an exchange member in connection with a sale on the NYSE Arca is satisfied by the fact that such Fund’s Prospectus is available at the NYSE Arca upon request. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in Rule 153 is only available with respect to transactions on an exchange.

 

Premium/Discount Information

 

Information regarding how often the Shares of the Funds traded on the NYSE Arca at a price above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a discount) the NAVs of the Funds during the past four quarters, as applicable, can be found at www.yetfs.com.

 

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Exchange Traded Concepts Trust

3555 Northwest 58th Street, Suite 410

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112

 

ANNUAL/SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS

 

Additional information about the Funds; investments will be available in the Funds’ annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Funds’ annual report, when available, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Funds’ performance during its last fiscal year.

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

The SAI provides more detailed information about the Funds. The SAI is incorporated by reference into, and is thus legally a part of, this Prospectus.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

To request a free copy of the latest annual or semi-annual report, when available, the SAI or to request additional information about the Funds or to make other inquiries, please contact us as follows:

 

Call:1-855-YES-YETF

Monday through Friday

8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Eastern Time)

 

Write:Exchange Traded Concepts Trust

3555 Northwest 58th Street, Suite 410

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112

 

Visit:www.yetfs.com

 

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

You can review and copy information about the Funds (including the SAI) at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. To find out more about this public service, call the SEC at 1-202-551-8090. Reports and other information about the Funds are also available in the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, or you can receive copies of this information, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public Reference Section, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549-0102.

 

The Trust’s Investment Company Act file number: 811-22263

 

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SUBJECT TO COMPLETION

 

THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

DATED ______, 2012

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

Yorkville High Income Composite MLP ETF [Ticker Symbol: YMLC]
Yorkville High Income Infrastructure MLP ETF [Ticker Symbol: YMLI]

 

, a series of EXCHANGE TRADED CONCEPTS TRUST (the “Trust”)

 

, 2012

 

Principal Listing Exchange for each Fund: NYSE Arca, Inc.

 

Investment Adviser:

Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC

 

Investment Sub-Adviser:

Yorkville ETF Advisors, LLC

 

Trading Sub-Adviser:

Index Management Solutions, LLC

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. The SAI should be read in conjunction with the prospectus, dated           may be revised from time to time (the “Prospectus”). 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 the Funds’ Distributor, SEI Investments Distribution Co. One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456, by visiting the Trust’s website at www.yetfs.com or by calling 1-855-YES-YETF.

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

general information about THE TRUST   1
ADDITIONAL index information   1
additional information about investment objectives, policies and related risks   4
DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS   4
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND RISKS   16
INVESTMENT restrictions   18
exchange listing and trading   19
management of the trust   20
OWNERSHIP OF SHARES   28
CODEs OF ETHICS   28
PROXY VOTING POLICIES   29
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES   29
THE PORTFOLIO MANAGER   30
THE distributor   31
THE administrator   33
THE CUSTODIAN   33
THE TRANSFER AGENT   33
LEGAL COUNSEL   33
INDEPENDENT registered public accounting firm   33
portfolio holdings DISCLOSURE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES   34
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES   34
LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY   34
BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS   35
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   36
BOOK ENTRY ONLY SYSTEM   36
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES   37
Purchase and issuance of shares in creation units   37
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE   45
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS   46
FEDERAL INCOME TAXES   46
EXHIBIT A   A-1

 

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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRUST

 

The Trust is an open-end management investment company consisting of multiple investment series. This SAI relates to two series: Yorkville High Income Composite MLP ETF and Yorkville High Income Infrastructure MLP ETF (each a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”). The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 17, 2009. The Trust is registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”) as an open-end management investment company and the offering of a Fund’s shares (“Shares”) is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Exchange Traded Concepts (the “Adviser”) serves as investment adviser to each Fund. Yorkville ETF Advisors, LLC (the “Investment Sub-Adviser”) and Index Management Solutions, LLC (the “Trading Sub-Adviser”) serve as sub-advisers to each Fund (collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”). Each Fund’s investment objective is to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of a specified market index (the “Index”).

 

The Funds offer and issue Shares at their net asset value only in aggregations of a specified number of Shares (each, a “Creation Unit”). Each Fund generally offers and issues Shares in exchange for a basket of securities included in its Index (“Deposit Securities”) together with the deposit of a specified cash payment (“Cash Component”). The Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of a “cash in lieu” amount (“Deposit Cash”) to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security. The Shares are listed on the NYSE Arca (“NYSE Arca” or the “Exchange”) and trade on the Exchange at market prices. These prices may differ from the Shares’ net asset values. The Shares are also redeemable only in Creation Unit aggregations, and principally, for cash. A Creation Unit of a Fund consists of at least 50,000 Shares.

 

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 a specified percentage of the market value of the missing Deposit Securities as set forth in the Participant Agreement (as defined below). The Trust may impose a transaction fee for each creation or redemption. 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. In addition to the fixed Creation or Redemption Transaction Fee, an additional transaction fee of up to five times the fixed Creation or Redemption Transaction Fee may apply.

 

ADDITIONAL INDEX INFORMATION

 

Solactive High Income MLP Composite Index

 

The Solactive High Income MLP Composite Index is a rules-based index designed to provide investors a means of tracking the performance of selected master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) and royalty trusts which are publicly traded on a U.S. securities exchange. The Index is comprised of MLPs and royalty trusts that meet certain criteria relating to current yield, coverage ratio and distribution growth as determined by Structured Solutions. Market capitalization and liquidity screens will be applied in addition to the fundamental screens for current yield, coverage ratio and distribution growth to ensure sufficient market size and liquidity of the Index components.

 

To qualify for Index inclusion, a company must meet the following criteria:

 

·A market capitalization of at least $XX million;

 

·An average daily value traded in the last three months of at least $XX million;

 

1
 

 

·Listing on a securities exchange in the United States;

 

·Incorporated as an MLP or royalty trust;

 

·At least one distribution has been paid out to shareholders.

 

On the last business day in XX each Index component is grouped according to liquidity. Based on each Index component’s three month average daily value traded, such Index components are grouped into three liquidity tiers - Tier 1 contains the most liquid and Tier 3 the least liquid Index components. The Index components are then assigned an equal weighting within each liquidity tier. Index components classified as royalty trusts are not permitted to exceed an aggregated percentage weight of 20% in the Index. This weighting scheme may be amended from time to time to ensure sufficient diversification and compliance with financial product regulations in the United States.

 

Companies are ranked according to certain criteria relating to current yield, coverage ratio and distribution growth. Subsequently the three ranks are weighted and added up for each company with the rank for current yield receiving the highest weight (“Total Rank”) and the companies are ranked again based on their Total Rank. The 25 highest ranked companies are then chosen as Index components. It is intended that the minimum number of Index components will be 20 and the maximum number of Index components will be 25. However, these figures are subject to change as market conditions and the availability of suitable Index components may change over time.

 

The composition and weightings of the Index are ordinarily adjusted once annually as addressed in the Index methodology. Changes to the Index will be published to Structured Solutions’ website at www.structured-solutions.eu before changes are effected.

 

Information regarding the Index will be disseminated through Reuters and Bloomberg.

 

Solactive High Income MLP Infrastructure Index

 

The Solactive High Income Infrastructure MLP Index is a rules-based index designed to provide investors a means of tracking the performance of selected MLPs which are publicly traded on a U.S. securities exchange. The Index is comprised of MLPs that meet certain criteria relating to current yield, coverage ratio and distribution growth as determined by Structured Solutions. Market capitalization and liquidity screens will be applied in addition to the fundamental screens for current yield, coverage ratio and distribution growth to ensure sufficient market size and liquidity of the Index components.

 

To be eligible for inclusion in the Index, a company must be incorporated as an MLP and be classified as an “Infrastructure” MLP. Infrastructure MLPs include all MLPs operating with one of the following as a substantial business segment: transportation, terminating and storage of refined petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene and heating oil; one or more of the following natural gas activities: gathering, compressing ,treating, processing, marketing and fractionation of natural gas liquids; transportation and/or storage of natural gas and natural gas liquids; transportation of crude oil and/or refined petroleum products and other liquids.

 

The composition and weightings of the Index are ordinarily adjusted once annually as addressed in the Index methodology. Changes to the Index will be published to Structured Solutions’ website at www.structured-solutions.eu before changes are effected.

 

2
 

 

Information regarding the Index will be disseminated through Reuters and Bloomberg.

 

To qualify for Index inclusion, a company must meet the following criteria:

 

·A market capitalization of at least $XX million;

 

·An average daily value traded in the last three months of at least $ XXmillion;

 

·Listing on a securities exchange in the United States;

 

·Incorporated as an MLP;

 

·At least one distribution has been paid out to shareholders.

 

On the last business day in XX each Index component is grouped according to liquidity. Based on each Index component’s three month average daily value traded, such Index components are grouped into three liquidity tiers - Tier 1 contains the most liquid and Tier 3 the least liquid Index components. The Index components are then assigned an equal weighting within each liquidity tier. Index components classified as royalty trusts are not permitted to exceed an aggregated percentage weight of 20% in the Index. This weighting scheme may be amended from time to time to ensure sufficient diversification and compliance with financial product regulations in the United States.

 

Companies are ranked according to certain criteria relating to current yield, coverage ratio and distribution growth. Subsequently the three ranks are weighted and added up for each company with the rank for current yield receiving the highest weight (“Total Rank”) and the companies are ranked again based on their Total Rank. The 25 highest ranked companies are then chosen as Index components. It is intended that the minimum number of Index components will be 20 and the maximum number of Index components will be 25. However, these figures are subject to change as market conditions and the availability of suitable Index components may change over time.

 

The composition and weightings of the Index are ordinarily adjusted once annually as addressed in the Index methodology. Changes to the Index will be published to Structured Solutions’ website at www.structured-solutions.eu before changes are effected.

 

Information regarding the Index will be disseminated through Reuters and Bloomberg.

 

Index Provider Description

 

The Indexes are created and administered by Structured Solutions AG (“Structured Solutions”). Structured Solutions is a leading company in the structuring and indexing business for institutional clients. Structured Solutions manages the Solactive index platform (formerly S-BOX platform). Solactive indices are used by issuers worldwide as underlying indices for financial products. Structured Solutions cooperates with various stock exchanges and index providers worldwide, e.g. Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange, Shenzhen Securities Information Company and Karachi Stock Exchange. Structured Solutions does not sponsor, endorse or promote the Funds and is not in any way connected to it and does not accept any liability in relation to its issue, operation and trading.

 

3
 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RELATED RISKS

 

Each Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategies are described in the Prospectus. The following information supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus. For a description of certain permitted investments, see “Description of Permitted Investments” in this SAI.

 

NON-DIVERSIFICATION

 

Each Fund is classified as a non-diversified investment company under the 1940 Act. A “non-diversified” classification means that a Fund is not limited by the 1940 Act with regard to the percentage of their assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer. This means that the Funds may invest a greater portion of its assets in the securities of a single issuer than a diversified fund. The securities of a particular issuer may constitute a greater portion of the Index of the Funds and, therefore, the securities may constitute a greater portion of the Funds’ portfolio. This may have an adverse effect on the Funds’ performance or subject the Funds’ Shares to greater price volatility than more diversified investment companies. Moreover, in pursuing their objectives, the Funds may hold the securities of a single issuer in an amount exceeding 10% of the market value of the outstanding securities of the issuer, subject to restrictions imposed by the Code. In particular, as the Funds’ size grows and its assets increase, it will be more likely to hold more than 10% of the securities of a single issuer if the issuer has a relatively small public float as compared to other components in its benchmark Index.

 

CONCENTRATION

 

The Funds may concentrate their investments in a particular industry or group of industries, as described in the Prospectus. The securities of issuers in particular industries may dominate the benchmark Index of the Funds and consequently the Funds’ investment portfolios. This may adversely affect the Funds’ performance or subject their Shares to greater price volatility than that experienced by less concentrated investment companies.

 

DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS

 

The following are descriptions of the permitted investments and investment practices and the associated risk factors. The Funds will only invest in any of the following instruments or engage in any of the following investment practices if such investment or activity is consistent with the Funds’ investment objective and permitted by the Funds’ stated investment policies.

 

EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Equity securities represent ownership interests in a company and include common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants to acquire common stock, and securities convertible into common stock. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which the Funds invest will cause the net asset value of the Funds to fluctuate.

 

Types of Equity Securities:

 

Common Stocks - Common stocks represent units of ownership in a company. Common stocks usually carry voting rights and earn dividends. Unlike preferred stocks, which are described below, dividends on common stocks are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the company’s board of directors.

 

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Preferred Stocks - Preferred stocks are also units of ownership in a company. Preferred stocks normally have preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of the company. However, in all other respects, preferred stocks are subordinated to the liabilities of the issuer. Unlike common stocks, preferred stocks are generally not entitled to vote on corporate matters. Types of preferred stocks include adjustable-rate preferred stock, fixed dividend preferred stock, perpetual preferred stock, and sinking fund preferred stock. Generally, the market values of preferred stock with a fixed dividend rate and no conversion element varies inversely with interest rates and perceived credit risk.

 

Convertible Securities - Convertible securities are securities that may be exchanged for, converted into, or exercised to acquire a predetermined number of shares of the issuer’s common stock at the Funds’ option during a specified time period (such as convertible preferred stocks, convertible debentures and warrants). A convertible security is generally a fixed income security that is senior to common stock in an issuer’s capital structure, but is usually subordinated to similar non-convertible securities. In exchange for the conversion feature, many corporations will pay a lower rate of interest on convertible securities than debt securities of the same corporation. In general, the market value of a convertible security is at least the higher of its “investment value” (i.e., its value as a fixed income security) or its “conversion value” (i.e., its value upon conversion into its underlying common stock).

 

Convertible securities are subject to the same risks as similar securities without the convertible feature. The price of a convertible security is more volatile during times of steady interest rates than other types of debt securities. The price of a convertible security tends to increase as the market value of the underlying stock rises, whereas it tends to decrease as the market value of the underlying common stock declines.

 

Rights and Warrants - A right is a privilege granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to subscribe to shares of a new issue of common stock before it is issued. Rights normally have a short life of usually two to four weeks, are freely transferable and entitle the holder to buy the new common stock at a lower price than the public offering price. Warrants are securities that are usually issued together with a debt security or preferred stock and that give the holder the right to buy proportionate amount of common stock at a specified price. Warrants are freely transferable and are traded on major exchanges. Unlike rights, warrants normally have a life that is measured in years and entitles the holder to buy common stock of a company at a price that is usually higher than the market price at the time the warrant is issued. Corporations often issue warrants to make the accompanying debt security more attractive.

 

An investment in warrants and rights may entail greater risks than certain other types of investments. Generally, rights and warrants do not carry the right to receive dividends or exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying securities, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. In addition, their value does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and they cease to have value if they are not exercised on or before their expiration date. Investing in rights and warrants increases the potential profit or loss to be realized from the investment as compared with investing the same amount in the underlying securities.

 

Risks of Investing in Equity Securities:

 

General Risks of Investing in Stocks - While investing in stocks allows investors to participate in the benefits of owning a company, such investors must accept the risks of ownership. Unlike bondholders, who have preference to a company’s earnings and cash flow, preferred stockholders, followed by common stockholders in order of priority, are entitled only to the residual amount after a company meets its other obligations. For this reason, the value of a company’s stock will usually react more strongly to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects than its debt obligations. Stockholders of a company that fares poorly can lose money.

 

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Stock markets tend to move in cycles with short or extended periods of rising and falling stock prices. The value of a company’s stock may fall because of:

 

§Factors that directly relate to that company, such as decisions made by its management or lower demand for the company’s products or services;

 

§Factors affecting an entire industry, such as increases in production costs; and

 

§Changes in general financial market conditions that are relatively unrelated to the company or its industry, such as changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates or inflation rates.

 

Because preferred stock is generally junior to debt securities and other obligations of the issuer, deterioration in the credit quality of the issuer will cause greater changes in the value of a preferred stock than in a more senior debt security with similar stated yield characteristics.

 

Small- and Medium-Sized Companies - Investors in small- and medium-sized companies typically take on greater risk and price volatility than they would by investing in larger, more established companies. This increased risk may be due to the greater business risks of their small or medium size, limited markets and financial resources, narrow product lines and frequent lack of management depth. The securities of small- and medium-sized companies are often traded in the over-the-counter market and might not be traded in volumes typical of securities traded on a national securities exchange. Thus, the securities of small and medium capitalization companies are likely to be less liquid, and subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements, than securities of larger, more established companies.

 

When-Issued Securities – A when-issued security is one whose terms are available and for which a market exists, but which have not been issued. When the Funds engage in when-issued transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate the sale.  If the other party fails to complete the sale, the Funds may miss the opportunity to obtain the security at a favorable price or yield.

 

When purchasing a security on a when-issued basis, the Funds assume the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield changes. At the time of settlement, the market value of the security may be more or less than the purchase price.  The yield available in the market when the delivery takes place also may be higher than those obtained in the transaction itself.  Because the Funds do not pay for the security until the delivery date, these risks are in addition to the risks associated with its other investments.

 

Decisions to enter into “when-issued” transactions will be considered on a case-by-case basis when necessary to maintain continuity in a company’s index membership. The Funds will segregate cash or liquid securities equal in value to commitments for the when-issued transactions.  The Funds will segregate additional liquid assets daily so that the value of such assets is equal to the amount of the commitments.

 

FOREIGN SECURITIES

 

The Funds may invest a portion of their assets in issuers located outside the United States directly, or in financial instruments that are indirectly linked to the performance of foreign issuers. Examples of such financial instruments include depositary receipts, which are described further below, “ordinary shares,” and “New York shares” issued and traded in the United States. Ordinary shares are shares of foreign issuers that are traded abroad and on a United States exchange. New York shares are shares that a foreign issuer has allocated for trading in the United States. American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), ordinary shares, and New York shares all may be purchased with and sold for U.S. Dollars, which protects the Funds from the foreign settlement risks described below.

 

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Investing in foreign companies may involve risks not typically associated with investing in United States companies. The U.S. dollar value of securities of foreign issuers, and of distributions in foreign currencies from such securities, can change significantly when foreign currencies strengthen or weaken relative to the U.S. Dollar. Foreign securities markets generally have less trading volume and less liquidity than United States markets, and prices in some foreign markets can be very volatile than those of domestic securities. Therefore, the Funds’ investments in foreign securities may be less liquid and subject to more rapid and erratic price movements than comparable securities listed for trading on U.S. exchanges. Non-U.S. equity securities may trade at price/earnings multiples higher than comparable U.S. securities and such levels may not be sustainable. There may be less government supervision and regulation of foreign stock exchanges, brokers, banks and listed companies abroad than in the U.S. Moreover, settlement practices for transactions in foreign markets may differ from those in U.S. markets. Such differences may include delays beyond periods customary in the U.S. and practices, such as delivery of securities prior to receipt of payment, which increase the likelihood of a failed settlement, which can result in losses to the Funds. The value of non-U.S. investments and the investment income derived from them may also be affected unfavorably by changes in currency exchange control regulations. Foreign brokerage commissions, custodial expenses and other fees are also generally higher than for securities traded in the U.S. This may cause the Funds to incur higher portfolio transaction costs than domestic equity funds. Fluctuations in exchange rates may also affect the earning power and asset value of the foreign entity issuing a security, even one denominated in U.S. dollars. Dividend and interest payments may be repatriated based on the exchange rate at the time of disbursement, and restrictions on capital flows may be imposed. Many foreign countries lack uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards comparable to those that apply to United States companies, and it may be more difficult to obtain reliable information regarding a foreign issuer's financial condition and operations. In addition, the costs of foreign investing, including withholding taxes, brokerage commissions, and custodial fees, generally are higher than for United States investments.

 

Investing in companies located abroad carries political and economic risks distinct from those associated with investing in the United States. Foreign investment may be affected by actions of foreign governments adverse to the interests of United States investors, including the possibility of expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation, restrictions on United States investment, or on the ability to repatriate assets or to convert currency into U.S. Dollars. There may be a greater possibility of default by foreign governments or foreign-government sponsored enterprises. Losses and other expenses may be incurred in converting between various currencies in connection with purchases and sales of foreign securities. Investments in foreign countries also involve a risk of local political, economic, or social instability, military action or unrest, or adverse diplomatic developments.

 

Investing in companies domiciled in emerging market countries may be subject to greater risks than investments in developed countries. These risks include: (i) less social, political, and economic stability; (ii) greater illiquidity and price volatility due to smaller or limited local capital markets for such securities, or low or non-existent trading volumes; (iii) foreign exchanges and broker-dealers may be subject to less scrutiny and regulation by local authorities; (iv) local governments may decide to seize or confiscate securities held by foreign investors and/or local governments may decide to suspend or limit an issuer's ability to make dividend or interest payments; (v) local governments may limit or entirely restrict repatriation of invested capital, profits, and dividends; (vi) capital gains may be subject to local taxation, including on a retroactive basis; (vii) issuers facing restrictions on dollar or euro payments imposed by local governments may attempt to make dividend or interest payments to foreign investors in the local currency; (viii) investors may experience difficulty in enforcing legal claims related to the securities and/or local judges may favor the interests of the issuer over those of foreign investors; (ix) bankruptcy judgments may only be permitted to be paid in the local currency; (x) limited public information regarding the issuer may result in greater difficulty in determining market valuations of the securities, and (xi) lax financial reporting on a regular basis, substandard disclosure, and differences in accounting standards may make it difficult to ascertain the financial health of an issuer.

 

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DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS

 

The Funds’ investment in securities of foreign companies may be in the form of depositary receipts or other securities convertible into securities of foreign issuers. ADRs are dollar-denominated receipts representing interests in the securities of a foreign issuer, which securities may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be converted. ADRs are receipts typically issued by United States banks and trust companies which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. Generally, ADRs in registered form are designed for use in domestic securities markets and are traded on exchanges or over-the-counter in the United States. Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), and International Depositary Receipts (“IDRs”) are similar to ADRs in that they are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer, however, GDRs, EDRs, and IDRs may be issued in bearer form and denominated in other currencies, and are generally designed for use in specific or multiple securities markets outside the U.S. EDRs, for example, are designed for use in European securities markets while GDRs are designed for use throughout the world. Depositary receipts will not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as their underlying securities.

 

The Funds will not invest in any unlisted Depositary Receipts or any Depositary Receipt that the Investment Sub-Adviser deems to be illiquid or for which pricing information is not readily available. In addition, all Depositary Receipts generally must be sponsored. However, the Funds may invest in unsponsored Depositary Receipts under certain limited circumstances. The issuers of unsponsored Depositary Receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States, and, therefore, there may be less information available regarding such issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the Depositary Receipts. The use of Depositary Receipts may increase tracking error relative to an underlying Index.

 

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (“REITS”)

 

A REIT is a corporation or business trust (that would otherwise be taxed as a corporation) which meets the definitional requirements of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). The Code permits a qualifying REIT to deduct from taxable income the dividends paid, thereby effectively eliminating corporate level federal income tax and making the REIT a pass-through vehicle for federal income tax purposes. To meet the definitional requirements of the Code, a REIT must, among other things: invest substantially all of its assets in interests in real estate (including mortgages and other REITs), cash and government securities; derive most of its income from rents from real property or interest on loans secured by mortgages on real property; and distribute annually 95% or more of its otherwise taxable income to shareholders.

 

REITs are sometimes informally characterized as Equity REITs and Mortgage REITs. An Equity REIT invests primarily in the fee ownership or leasehold ownership of land and buildings; a Mortgage REIT invests primarily in mortgages on real property, which may secure construction, development or long-term loans.

 

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REITs may be affected by changes in underlying real estate values, which may have an exaggerated effect to the extent that REITs in which the Funds invest may concentrate investments in particular geographic regions or property types. Additionally, rising interest rates may cause investors in REITs to demand a higher annual yield from future distributions, which may in turn decrease market prices for equity securities issued by REITs. Rising interest rates also generally increase the costs of obtaining financing, which could cause the value of the Funds’ investments to decline. During periods of declining interest rates, certain Mortgage REITs may hold mortgages that the mortgagors elect to prepay, which prepayment may diminish the yield on securities issued by such Mortgage REITs. In addition, Mortgage REITs may be affected by the ability of borrowers to repay when due the debt extended by the REIT and Equity REITs may be affected by the ability of tenants to pay rent.

 

Certain REITs have relatively small market capitalization, which may tend to increase the volatility of the market price of securities issued by such REITs. Furthermore, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. By investing in REITs indirectly through the Funds, a shareholder will bear not only his or her proportionate share of the expenses of the Funds, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of the REITs. REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders.

 

In addition to these risks, Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the trusts, while Mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. Further, Equity and Mortgage REITs are dependent upon management skills and generally may not be diversified. Equity and Mortgage REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency defaults by borrowers and self-liquidation. In addition, Equity and Mortgage REITs could possibly fail to qualify for tax free pass-through of income under the Code or to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act. The above factors may also adversely affect a borrower’s or a lessee’s ability to meet its obligations to the REIT. In the event of default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments.

 

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

 

The Funds may invest in repurchase agreements with commercial banks, brokers or dealers to generate income from its excess cash balances and to invest securities lending cash collateral. A repurchase agreement is an agreement under which the Funds acquires a financial instrument (e.g., a security issued by the U.S. government or an agency thereof, a banker’s acceptance or a certificate of deposit) from a seller, subject to resale to the seller at an agreed upon price and date (normally, the next Business Day). A repurchase agreement may be considered a loan collateralized by securities. The resale price reflects an agreed upon interest rate effective for the period the instrument is held by the Funds and is unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying instrument.

 

In these repurchase agreement transactions, the securities acquired by the Funds (including accrued interest earned thereon) must have a total value in excess of the value of the repurchase agreement and are held by the Custodian until repurchased. No more than an aggregate of 15% of the Funds’ net assets will be invested in illiquid securities, including repurchase agreements having maturities longer than seven days and securities subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, or for which there are no readily available market quotations.

 

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The use of repurchase agreements involves certain risks. For example, if the other party to the agreement defaults on its obligation to repurchase the underlying security at a time when the value of the security has declined, the Funds may incur a loss upon disposition of the security. If the other party to the agreement becomes insolvent and subject to liquidation or reorganization under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or other laws, a court may determine that the underlying security is collateral for a loan by the Funds not within the control of the Funds and, therefore, the Funds may not be able to substantiate its interest in the underlying security and may be deemed an unsecured creditor of the other party to the agreement.

 

U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES

 

The Funds may invest in U.S. government securities. Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities include U.S. Treasury securities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury and which differ only in their interest rates, maturities, and times of issuance. U.S. Treasury bills have initial maturities of one-year or less; U.S. Treasury notes have initial maturities of one to ten years; and U.S. Treasury bonds generally have initial maturities of greater than ten years. Certain U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government including, but not limited to, obligations of U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities such as Fannie Mae, the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), the Small Business Administration, the Federal Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Home Loan Banks, Banks for Cooperatives (including the Central Bank for Cooperatives), the Federal Land Banks, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank, the Student Loan Marketing Association, the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac).

 

Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities, including, for example, Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those securities issued by Fannie Mae, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the federal agency, while other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, while the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored federal agencies, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will always do so, since the U.S. government is not so obligated by law. U.S. Treasury notes and bonds typically pay coupon interest semi-annually and repay the principal at maturity.

 

On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury announced a federal takeover of Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac, 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 (the “Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement” or “Agreement”). Under the Agreement, the U.S. Treasury pledged to provide up to $200 billion per instrumentality as needed, including the contribution of cash capital to the instrumentalities in the event their liabilities exceed their assets. This was intended to ensure that the instrumentalities maintain a positive net worth and meet their financial obligations, preventing mandatory triggering of receivership. On December 24, 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was amending the Agreement to allow the $200 billion cap on the U.S. Treasury’s funding commitment to increase as necessary to accommodate any cumulative reduction in net worth over the next three years. As a result of this Agreement, the investments of holders, including the Funds, of mortgage-backed securities and other obligations issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are protected.

 

·U.S. Treasury Obligations. U.S. Treasury obligations consist of bills, notes and bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury and separately traded interest and principal component parts of such obligations that are transferable through the federal book-entry system known as Separately Traded Registered Interest and Principal Securities (“STRIPS”) and Treasury Receipts (“TRs”).

 

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·Receipts. Interests in separately traded interest and principal component parts of U.S. government obligations that are issued by banks or brokerage firms and are created by depositing U.S. government obligations into a special account at a custodian bank. The custodian holds the interest and principal payments for the benefit of the registered owners of the certificates or receipts. The custodian arranges for the issuance of the certificates or receipts evidencing ownership and maintains the register. TRs and STRIPS are interests in accounts sponsored by the U.S. Treasury. Receipts are sold as zero coupon securities.

 

·U.S. Government Zero Coupon Securities. STRIPS and receipts are sold as zero coupon securities, that is, fixed income securities that have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons. Zero coupon securities are sold at a (usually substantial) discount and redeemed at face value at their maturity date without interim cash payments of interest or principal. The amount of this discount is accreted over the life of the security, and the accretion constitutes the income earned on the security for both accounting and tax purposes. Because of these features, the market prices of zero coupon securities are generally more volatile than the market prices of securities that have similar maturity but that pay interest periodically. Zero coupon securities are likely to respond to a greater degree to interest rate changes than are non-zero coupon securities with similar maturity and credit qualities.

 

·U.S. Government Agencies. Some obligations issued or guaranteed by agencies of the U.S. government are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, while still others are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. Guarantees of principal by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government may be a guarantee of payment at the maturity of the obligation so that in the event of a default prior to maturity there might not be a market and thus no means of realizing on the obligation prior to maturity. Guarantees as to the timely payment of principal and interest do not extend to the value or yield of these securities nor to the value of the Funds’ Shares.

 

BORROWING

 

While the Funds do not anticipate doing so, the Funds may borrow money for investment purposes. Borrowing for investment purposes is one form of leverage. Leveraging investments, by purchasing securities with borrowed money, is a speculative technique that increases investment risk, but also increases investment opportunity. Because substantially all of the Funds’ assets will fluctuate in value, whereas the interest obligations on borrowings may be fixed, the net asset value per share (“NAV”) of the Funds will increase more when the Funds’ portfolio assets increase in value and decrease more when the Funds’ portfolio assets decrease in value than would otherwise be the case. Moreover, interest costs on borrowings may fluctuate with changing market rates of interest and may partially offset or exceed the returns on the borrowed funds. Under adverse conditions, the Funds might have to sell portfolio securities to meet interest or principal payments at a time when investment considerations would not favor such sales. The Funds intend to use leverage during periods when the Investment Sub-Adviser believes that the Fund’s investment objective would be furthered.

 

The Funds may also borrow money to facilitate management of the Funds’ portfolio by enabling the Funds to meet redemption requests when the liquidation of portfolio instruments would be inconvenient or disadvantageous. Such borrowing is not for investment purposes and will be repaid by the borrowing Fund promptly. As required by the 1940 Act, the Funds must maintain continuous asset coverage (total assets, including assets acquired with borrowed funds, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of 300% of all amounts borrowed. If, at any time, the value of the Funds’ assets should fail to meet this 300% coverage test, the Fund, within three days (not including Sundays and holidays), will reduce the amount of the Fund’s borrowings to the extent necessary to meet this 300% coverage requirement. Maintenance of this percentage limitation may result in the sale of portfolio securities at a time when investment considerations otherwise indicate that it would be disadvantageous to do so.

 

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LENDING PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

 

The Funds may lend portfolio securities to certain creditworthy borrowers. The borrowers provide collateral that is maintained in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities loaned. The Funds may terminate a loan at any time and obtain the return of the securities loaned. The Funds receive the value of any interest or cash or non-cash distributions paid on the loaned securities. Distributions received on loaned securities in lieu of dividend payments (i.e., substitute payments) would not be considered qualified dividend income.

 

With respect to loans that are collateralized by cash, the borrower will be entitled to receive a fee based on the amount of cash collateral. The Funds are compensated by the difference between the amount earned on the reinvestment of cash collateral and the fee paid to the borrower. In the case of collateral other than cash, the Funds is compensated by a fee paid by the borrower equal to a percentage of the market value of the loaned securities. Any cash collateral may be reinvested in certain short-term instruments either directly on behalf of the lending Fund or through one or more joint accounts or money market funds, which may include those managed by the Investment Sub-Adviser.

 

The Funds may pay a portion of the interest or fees earned from securities lending to a borrower as described above, and to one or more securities lending agents approved by the Board who administer the lending program for the Funds in accordance with guidelines approved by the Board. In such capacity, the lending agent causes the delivery of loaned securities from the Funds to borrowers, arranges for the return of loaned securities to the Funds at the termination of a loan, requests deposit of collateral, monitors the daily value of the loaned securities and collateral, requests that borrowers add to the collateral when required by the loan agreements, and provides recordkeeping and accounting services necessary for the operation of the program.

 

Securities lending involves exposure to certain risks, including operational risk (i.e., the risk of losses resulting from problems in the settlement and accounting process), “gap” risk (i.e., the risk of a mismatch between the return on cash collateral reinvestments and the fees the Fund has agreed to pay a borrower), and credit, legal, counterparty and market risk. In the event a borrower does not return the Funds’ securities as agreed, the Funds may experience losses if the proceeds received from liquidating the collateral do not at least equal the value of the loaned security at the time the collateral is liquidated plus the transaction costs incurred in purchasing replacement securities.

 

REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

 

The Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds are able to keep some of the interest income associated with those securities. Such transactions are only advantageous if the Funds have an opportunity to earn a greater rate of interest 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 Funds intend to use the reverse repurchase technique only when the Investment Sub-Adviser believes it will be advantageous to the Funds. The use of reverse repurchase agreements may exaggerate any interim increase or decrease in the value of the Funds’ assets. The Funds’ exposure to reverse repurchase agreements will be covered by securities having a value equal to or greater than such commitments. Under the 1940 Act, reverse repurchase agreements are considered borrowings. Although there is no limit on the percentage of total assets the Funds may invest in reverse repurchase agreements, the use of reverse repurchase agreements is not a principal strategy of the Funds.

 

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OTHER SHORT-TERM INSTRUMENTS

 

In addition to repurchase agreements, the Funds may invest in short-term instruments, including money market instruments, on an ongoing basis to provide liquidity or for other reasons. Money market instruments are generally short-term investments that may include but are not limited to: (i) shares of money market funds; (ii) obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities (including government-sponsored enterprises); (iii) negotiable certificates of deposit (“CDs”), bankers’ acceptances, fixed time deposits and other obligations of U.S. and foreign banks (including foreign branches) and similar institutions; (iv) commercial paper rated at the date of purchase “Prime-1” by Moody’s or “A-1” by S&P, or if unrated, of comparable quality as determined by the Investment Sub-Adviser; (v) non-convertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures) with remaining maturities at the date of purchase of not more than 397 days and that satisfy the rating requirements set forth in Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act; and (vi) short-term U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of foreign banks (including U.S. branches) that, in the opinion of the Investment Sub-Adviser, are of comparable quality to obligations of U.S. banks which may be purchased by the Funds. Any of these instruments may be purchased on a current or a forward-settled basis. Money market instruments also include shares of money market funds. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in banking institutions for specified periods of time at stated interest rates. Bankers’ acceptances are time drafts drawn on commercial banks by borrowers, usually in connection with international transactions.

 

INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

The Funds may invest in the securities of other investment companies, including money market funds, subject to applicable limitations under Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act. Pursuant to Section 12(d)(1), the Funds may invest in the securities of another investment company (the “acquired company”) provided that the Funds, immediately after such purchase or acquisition, does not own in the aggregate: (i) more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of the acquired company; (ii) securities issued by the acquired company having an aggregate value in excess of 5% of the value of the total assets of the Funds; or (iii) securities issued by the acquired company and all other investment companies (other than Treasury stock of the Funds) having an aggregate value in excess of 10% of the value of the total assets of the Funds. To the extent allowed by law or regulation, the Funds may invest its assets in securities of investment companies that are money market funds in excess of the limits discussed above.

 

If the Funds invest in and, thus, is a shareholder of, another investment company, the Funds’ shareholders will indirectly bear the Funds’ proportionate share of the fees and expenses paid by such other investment company, including advisory fees, in addition to both the management fees payable directly by the Funds to the Funds’ own investment adviser and the other expenses that the Funds bear directly in connection with the Funds’ own operations.

 

13
 

 

Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act restricts investments by registered investment companies in securities of other registered investment companies, including the Funds. The acquisition of the Funds’ Shares by registered investment companies is subject to the restrictions of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act, except as may be permitted by exemptive rules under the 1940 Act or as may at some future time be permitted by an exemptive order that permits registered investment companies to invest in the Funds beyond the limits of Section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions, including that the registered investment company enter into an agreement with the Funds regarding the terms of the investment.

 

FUTURES CONTRACTS, OPTIONS AND SWAP AGREEMENTS

 

The Funds may utilize futures contracts, options contracts and swap agreements. The Funds will segregate cash and/or appropriate liquid assets if required to do so by SEC or Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) regulation or interpretation.

 

Futures contracts generally provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified commodity or security 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 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.

 

The Funds 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 Funds would expect to earn interest income on its margin deposits. Closing out an open futures position is done by taking an opposite position (“buying” a contract which has previously been “sold,” or “selling” a contract previously “purchased”) in an identical contract to terminate the position. Brokerage commissions are incurred when a futures contract position is opened or closed.

 

The Funds may purchase and sell put and call options. Such options may relate to particular securities and may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange and issued by the Options Clearing Corporation. Options trading is a highly specialized activity that entails greater than ordinary investment risk. Options on particular securities may be more volatile than the underlying securities, and therefore, on a percentage basis, an investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation than an investment in the underlying securities themselves.

 

The Funds may use exchange-traded futures and options, together with positions in cash and money market instruments, to simulate full investment in its underlying Index. Exchange-traded futures and options contracts are not currently available for all of the Indexes. Under such circumstances, the Investment Sub-Adviser may seek to utilize other instruments that it believes to be correlated to the applicable Index components or a subset of the components.

 

14
 

 

To the extent the Funds use futures and options, it will do so in accordance with Rule 4.5 of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”). The Trust, on behalf of the Funds, has filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” in accordance with Rule 4.5 so that the Funds arenot subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the CEA. However, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CTFC) has recently adopted amendments to this exclusion. Such amendments will not become effective until additional proposed rule amendments under the CEA are adopted, the timing of which is not yet known. When effective, such amendments may require the Fund to comply with regulatory obligations and restrictions under the CEA, which may affect the Fund’s expenses or its use of derivative instruments.

 

Restrictions on the Use of Futures and Options. The Funds reserve the right to engage in transactions involving futures and options thereon to the extent allowed by the CFTC regulations in effect from time to time and in accordance with the Fund’s policies. The Fund would take steps to prevent its futures positions from “leveraging” its securities holdings. When it has a long futures position, it will maintain with its custodian bank, cash or equivalents. When it has a short futures position, it will maintain with its custodian bank assets substantially identical to those underlying the contract or cash and equivalents (or a combination of the foregoing) having a value equal to the net obligation of the Funds under the contract (less the value of any margin deposits in connection with the position).

 

Short Sales. The Funds may engage in short sales that are either “uncovered” or “against the box.” A short sale is “against the box” if at all times during which the short position is open, the Funds own at least an equal amount of the securities or securities convertible into, or exchangeable without further consideration for, securities of the same issue as the securities that are sold short. A short sale against the box is a taxable transaction to the Funds with respect to the securities that are sold short.

 

Uncovered short sales are transactions under which the Funds sell a security it does not own. To complete such a transaction, the Funds must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The Funds then is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing the security at the market price at the time of the replacement. The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold by the Funds. Until the security is replaced, the Funds are required to pay the lender amounts equal to any dividends or interest that accrue during the period of the loan. To borrow the security, the Funds also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. The proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.

 

Until the Funds close a short position or replace the borrowed security, the Funds may: (a) segregate cash or liquid securities at such a level that (i) the amount segregated plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will equal the current value of the security sold short; and (ii) the amount segregated plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will not be less than the market value of the security at the time the security was sold short; or (b) otherwise cover the Fund’s short position.

 

Swap Agreements. The Funds may enter into swap agreements; including interest rate, index, and total return swap agreements. Swap agreements are contracts between parties in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to the other party based on the change in market value or level of a specified rate, index or asset. In return, the other party agrees to make 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, i.e., where the two parties make net payments with the Funds receiving or paying, as the case may be, 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 equivalents having an aggregate value at least equal to the accrued excess is maintained by the Funds.

 

15
 

 

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

 

The Funds may take advantage of opportunities in the area of options and futures contracts, options on futures contracts, warrants, swaps and any other investments which are not presently contemplated for use by the Funds or which are not currently available but which may be developed, to the extent such opportunities are both consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and legally permissible for the Funds. Before entering into such transactions or making any such investment, the Funds will provide appropriate disclosure.

 

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND RISKS

 

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

 

GENERAL

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

FUTURES AND OPTIONS TRANSACTIONS

 

Positions in futures contracts and options may be closed out only on an exchange which provides a secondary market therefore. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract or option at any specific time. Thus, it may not be possible to close a futures or options position. In the event of adverse price movements, the Funds 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 applicable Fund may be required to make delivery of the instruments underlying futures contracts it has sold.

 

16
 

 

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

 

The risk of loss in trading futures contracts or uncovered call options in some strategies (e.g., selling uncovered index futures contracts) is potentially unlimited. The Funds do not plan to use futures and options contracts, when available, in this manner. The risk of a futures position may still be large as traditionally measured due to the low margin deposits required. In many cases, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and substantial loss or gain to the investor relative to the size of a required margin deposit. The Funds, however, intends to utilize futures and options contracts in a manner designed to limit their risk exposure to that which is comparable to what they would have incurred through direct investment in securities.

 

Utilization of futures transactions by the Funds involves the risk of imperfect or even negative correlation to the benchmark Index if the index underlying the futures contracts differs from the benchmark Index. There is also the risk of loss by the Funds of margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of a broker with whom the Fund has an open position in the futures contract or option.

 

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

 

RISKS OF SWAP AGREEMENTS

 

Swap agreements are subject to the risk that the swap counterparty will default on its obligations. If such a default occurs, the Funds will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction, but such remedies may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws which could affect the Funds’ rights as a creditor.

 

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.

 

TAX RISKS

 

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

 

Unless your investment in Shares is made through a tax-exempt entity or tax-deferred retirement account, such as an individual retirement account, you need to be aware of the possible tax consequences when the Funds makes distributions or you sell Shares.

 

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INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

 

The Trust has adopted the following investment restrictions as fundamental policies with respect to the Funds. These restrictions cannot be changed with respect to the Funds without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Funds’ outstanding voting securities. For these purposes of the 1940 Act, a “majority of outstanding shares” means the vote of the lesser of: (1) 67% or more of the voting securities of the Funds present at the meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities are present or represented by proxy; or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Funds. Except with the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities, each Fund may not:

 

1.Concentrate its investments in an industry or group of industries (i.e., hold 25% or more of its total assets in the stocks of a particular industry or group of industries), except that the Funds will concentrate to approximately the same extent that its underlying Index concentrates in the stocks of such particular industry or group of industries. For purposes of this limitation, securities of the U.S. government (including its agencies and instrumentalities), repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities and securities of state or municipal governments and their political subdivisions are not considered to be issued by members of any industry.

 

2.Borrow money or issue senior securities (as defined under the 1940 Act), except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

3.Make loans, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

4.Purchase or sell commodities or real estate, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

5.Underwrite securities issued by other persons, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

In addition to the investment restrictions adopted as fundamental policies as set forth above, the Funds observe the following restrictions, which may be changed without a shareholder vote.

 

1.Each Fund will not hold illiquid assets in excess of 15% of its net assets. An illiquid asset is any asset which may not be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the value at which the Funds has valued the investment.

 

2.Under normal circumstances, each Fund will not invest less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in securities of Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”). Prior to any change in this 80% investment policy, the Funds will provide shareholders with 60 days’ written notice.

 

18
 

 

 

If a percentage limitation is adhered to at the time of investment or contract, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from any change in value or total or net assets will not result in a violation of such restriction, except that the percentage limitations with respect to the borrowing of money and illiquid securities will be observed continuously.

 

The following descriptions of certain provisions of the 1940 Act may assist investors in understanding the above policies and restrictions:

 

Concentration. The SEC has defined concentration as investing 25% or more of an investment company’s total assets in an industry or group of industries, with certain exceptions.

 

Borrowing. The 1940 Act presently allows a fund to borrow from any bank (including pledging, mortgaging or hypothecating assets) in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (not including temporary borrowings not in excess of 5% of its total assets).

 

Senior Securities. Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by a fund evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, although it does not treat certain transactions as senior securities, such as certain borrowings, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements and standby commitments, with appropriate earmarking or segregation of assets to cover such obligation.

 

Lending. Under the 1940 Act, a fund may only make loans if expressly permitted by its investment policies. The Funds’ current investment policy on lending is as follows: a fund may not make loans if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, except that the Funds may: (i) purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objective and policies; (ii) enter into repurchase agreements; and (iii) engage in securities lending as described in its SAI.

 

Underwriting. Under the 1940 Act, underwriting securities involves a fund purchasing securities directly from an issuer for the purpose of selling (distributing) them or participating in any such activity either directly or indirectly.

 

Real Estate. The 1940 Act does not directly restrict an investment company's ability to invest in real estate, but does require that every investment company have a fundamental investment policy governing such investments. The Funds will not purchase or sell real estate, except that the Funds may purchase marketable securities issued by companies which own or invest in real estate (including REITs).

 

Commodities. The Funds will not purchase or sell physical commodities or commodities contracts, except that the Funds may purchase: (i) marketable securities issued by companies which own or invest in commodities or commodities contracts; and (ii) commodities contracts relating to financial instruments, such as financial futures contracts and options on such contracts.

 

EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING

 

A discussion of exchange listing and trading matters associated with an investment in the Funds is contained in the Prospectus under “Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares” in the Fund summary and “Buying and Selling the Fund.” The discussion below supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, such sections of the Prospectus.

 

19
 

 

The Shares of the Funds are approved for listing and trading on the Exchange, subject to notice of issuance. The Shares trade on the Exchange at prices that may differ to some degree from their net asset value. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of Shares of the Funds will continue to be met.

 

The Exchange may, but is not required to, remove the Shares of the Funds from listing if: (1) following the initial twelve-month period beginning upon the commencement of trading of the Funds, there are fewer than 50 beneficial holders of the Shares for 30 or more consecutive trading days; (2) the value of its underlying Index or portfolio of securities on which the Funds is based is no longer calculated or available; (3) the “indicative optimized portfolio value” (“IOPV”) of the Funds is no longer calculated or available; or (4) such other event shall occur or condition exists that, in the opinion of the Exchange, makes further dealings on the Exchange inadvisable. In addition, the Exchange will remove the Shares from listing and trading upon termination of the Trust or the Funds.

 

The Exchange will disseminate, every fifteen seconds during the regular trading day, an IOPV relating to the Funds. The IOPV calculations are estimates of the value of the Funds’ net asset value per Share using market data converted into U.S. dollars at the current currency rates. The IOPV price is based on quotes and closing prices from the securities local market and may not reflect events that occur subsequent to the local market’s close. Premiums and discounts between the IOPV and the market price may occur. This should not be viewed as a “real-time” update of the net asset value per Share of the Funds, which is calculated only once a day. Neither the Funds, the Adviser, the Investment Sub-Adviser nor the Trading Sub-Adviser, or any of their affiliates, are involved in, or responsible for, the calculation or dissemination of such IOPVs and make no warranty as to their accuracy.

 

The Trust reserves the right to adjust the Share price of the Funds in the future to 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 Funds.

 

As in the case of other publicly traded securities, brokers’ commissions on transactions will be based on negotiated commission rates at customary levels.

 

The base and trading currencies of the Funds is the U.S. dollar. The base currency is the currency in which the Funds’ net asset value per Share is calculated and the trading currency is the currency in which Shares of the Funds are listed and traded on the Exchange.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST

 

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “Fund Management.”

 

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST

 

Board Responsibilities. The management and affairs of the Trust and its series, including the Funds described in this SAI, are overseen by the Trustees. The Board elects the officers of the Trust who are responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the Trust and the Funds. The Board has approved contracts, as described below, under which certain companies provide essential services to the Trust.

 

20
 

 

Like most mutual funds, the day-to-day business of the Trust, including the management of risk, is performed by third party service providers, such as the Adviser, the Investment Sub-Adviser, the Trading Sub-Adviser, the Distributor and Administrator. The Trustees are responsible for overseeing the Trust’s service providers and, thus, have oversight responsibility with respect to risk management performed by those service providers. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the Funds. The Funds and their service providers employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various of those possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each service provider is responsible for one or more discrete aspects of the Trust’s business (e.g., the Investment Sub-Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds’ portfolio investments) and, consequently, for managing the risks associated with that business. The Board has emphasized to the Funds’ service providers the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management.

 

The Trustees’ role in risk oversight begins before the inception of the Funds, at which time certain of the Funds’ service providers present the Board with information concerning the investment objectives, strategies and risks of the Funds as well as proposed investment limitations for the Funds. Additionally, the Funds’ Adviser provides the Board with an overview of, among other things, its investment philosophy, brokerage practices and compliance infrastructure. Thereafter, the Board continues its oversight function as various personnel, including the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, as well as personnel of the Investment Sub-Adviser, the Trading Sub-Adviser and other service providers such as the Fund’s independent accountants, make periodic reports to the Audit Committee or to the Board with respect to various aspects of risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee oversee efforts by management and service providers to manage risks to which the Funds may be exposed.

 

The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Funds by the Adviser, the Investment Sub-Adviser and the Trading Sub-Adviser and receives information about those services at its regular meetings. In addition, on an annual basis, in connection with its consideration of whether to renew the Advisory Agreements with the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers, the Board meets with the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers to review such services. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers’ adherence to the Funds’ investment restrictions and compliance with various Fund policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews information about the Funds’ performance and the Fund’s investments, including, for example, portfolio holdings schedules.

 

The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer reports regularly to the Board to review and discuss compliance issues and Funds and Adviser risk assessments. At least annually, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer provides the Board with a report reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Trust’s policies and procedures and those of its service providers, including the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers. The report addresses the operation of the policies and procedures of the Trust and each service provider since the date of the last report; any material changes to the policies and procedures since the date of the last report; any recommendations for material changes to the policies and procedures; and any material compliance matters since the date of the last report.

 

The Board receives reports from the Funds’ service providers regarding operational risks and risks related to the valuation and liquidity of portfolio securities. The Board has also established a Fair Value Committee that is responsible for implementing the Trust’s Fair Value Procedures and providing reports to the Board concerning investments for which market quotations are not readily available. Annually, the independent registered public accounting firm reviews with the Audit Committee its audit of the Funds’ financial statements, focusing on major areas of risk encountered by the Funds and noting any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the Funds’ internal controls. Additionally, in connection with its oversight function, the Board oversees Fund management’s implementation of disclosure controls and procedures, which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in its periodic reports with the SEC are recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the required time periods. The Board also oversees the Trust’s internal controls over financial reporting, which comprise policies and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Trust's financial reporting and the preparation of the Trust's financial statements.

 

21
 

 

From their review of these reports and discussions with the Adviser, the Sub-Advisers, the Chief Compliance Officer, the independent registered public accounting firm and other service providers, the Board and the Audit Committee learn in detail about the material risks of the Funds, thereby facilitating a dialogue about how management and service providers identify and mitigate those risks.

 

The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the Funds can be identified and/or quantified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the Fund’s goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Trustees as to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. Most of the Funds’ investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the Funds’ Adviser and other service providers each of which has an independent interest in risk management but whose policies and the methods by which one or more risk management functions are carried out may differ from the Funds’ and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s ability to monitor and manage risk, as a practical matter, is subject to limitations.

 

Members of the Board. There are six members of the Board of Trustees, five of whom are not interested persons of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (“independent Trustees”). J. Garrett Stevens, the sole interested Trustee, serves as Chairman of the Board. The Trust does not have a lead independent trustee. The Board of Trustees is comprised of a super-majority (67 percent) of independent Trustees. There is an Audit Committee of the Board that is chaired by an independent Trustee and comprised solely of independent Trustees. The Audit Committee chair presides at the Committee meetings, participates in formulating agendas for Committee meetings, and coordinates with management to serve as a liaison between the independent Trustees and management on matters within the scope of responsibilities of the Committee as set forth in its Board-approved charter. The Trust has determined its leadership structure is appropriate given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Trust. The Trust made this determination in consideration of, among other things, the fact that the independent Trustees of the Funds constitute a super-majority of the Board, the number of independent Trustees that constitute the Board, the amount of assets under management in the Trust, and the number of funds overseen by the Board. The Board also believes that its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the independent Trustees from Fund management.

 

The Board of Trustees has two standing committees: the Audit Committee and Nominating Committees. The Audit Committee and Nominating Committee are chaired by an independent Trustee and composed of independent Trustees.

 

Set forth below are the names, dates of birth, position with the Trust, length of term of office, and the principal occupations and other directorships held during at least the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as a Trustee of the Trust.

 

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Name, Address,
and Age
  Position(s)
Held with the
Trust
  Term of
Office and
Length of
Time Served 
  Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5
Years
  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex
Overseen
By Trustee
  Other
Directorships
held by Trustee
Interested Trustee                    

J. Garrett Stevens

3555 Northwest

58th Street

Suite 410

Oklahoma City, OK 73112

(32 years old)

  Trustee and President  

Trustee

(Since 2009); President

(Since 2011)

  T.S. Phillips Investments, Inc. 2000 to 2011— Investment Advisor; Exchange Traded Concepts Trust 2009 to 2011  — Chief Executive Officer and Secretary; Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC 2009 to Present — Chief Executive Officer and Portfolio Manager   1   None
                     
Independent Trustees                    
Gary L. French
c/o Exchange Traded Concepts Trust 3555 Northwest 58th Street Suite 410 Oklahoma City, OK 73112 (60 years old)
  Trustee   Since 2011   State Street Bank, US Investor Services — Fund Administration 2002 to 2010 — Senior Vice President   1   None
                     

Edward A. Kerbs
c/o Exchange Traded Concepts Trust 3555 Northwest 58th Street Suite 410 Oklahoma City, OK 73112

(61 years old)

  Trustee   Since 2011   IAT Reinsurance Ltd. 2001 to Present — Vice President and Managing Director   1   None

 

23
 

 

Name, Address,
and Age
  Position(s)
Held with the
Trust
  Term of
Office and
Length of
Time Served 
  Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5
Years
  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex
Overseen
By Trustee
  Other
Directorships
held by Trustee

David M. Mahle

c/o Exchange Traded Concepts Trust 3555 Northwest 58th Street Suite 410 Oklahoma City, OK 73112 (68 years old)

  Trustee   Since 2011   Jones Day 2008 to present — Of Counsel; Jones Day 1988-2008 — Partner   1   None
                     

Kurt Wolfgruber

c/o Exchange Traded Concepts Trust 3555 Northwest 58th Street Suite 410 Oklahoma City, OK 73112

(61 years old)

  Trustee   Since 2012   OppenheimerFunds, Inc. 2007-2009 — President   1   New Mountain Finance Corp.
                     

Mark Zurack

c/o Exchange Traded Concepts Trust 3555 Northwest 58th Street Suite 410 Oklahoma City, OK 73112 (55 years old)

  Trustee   Since 2011   Columbia Business School 2002 to present — Professor   1   None

 

Individual Trustee Qualifications. The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve on the Board because of their ability to review and understand information about the Fund provided to them by management, to identify and request other information they may deem relevant to the performance of their duties, to question management and other service providers regarding material factors bearing on the management and administration of the Fund, and to exercise their business judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders. The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve as a Trustee based on their own experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as described below.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Stevens should serve as Trustee because of the experience he gained in his roles with registered broker-dealer and investment management firms, as Chief Executive Officer of the Adviser, his experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained as serving as trustee of the Trust since 2009.

 

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The Trust has concluded that Mr. French should serve as a Trustee because of the experience he gained in various leadership roles with companies, including large financial institutions, that operated and administered to investment companies, his knowledge of such industries, as well as his significant financial and accounting experience.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Kerbs should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained serving in various leadership roles in the securities and financial services industry, including with a firm that conducts the trading and clearing of equities and equity derivatives, and his knowledge of such industries.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Mahle should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained as an attorney in the investment management industry of a major law firm, representing exchange-traded funds and other investment companies as well as their sponsors and advisers and his knowledge and experience in investment management law and the financial services industry.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Wolfgruber should serves as at Trustee because of his experience as President and Chief Investment Officer of Oppenheimer Funds, Inc. Mr. Wolfgruber was responsible for the investment process of $65 billion in assets in the Oppenheimer domestic equity portfolio teams and has been involved in investment management for over 30 years.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Zurack should serve as a Trustee because of the experience he has gained serving in various leadership roles in the equity derivatives groups of a large financial institution, his experience in teaching equity derivatives at the graduate level, as well as his knowledge of the financial services industry.

 

In its periodic assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees primarily in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the funds.

 

Set forth below are the names, dates of birth, position with the Trust, length and term of office, and the principal occupations and other directorships held during at least the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as officers of the Trust.

 

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OFFICERS

 

Name, Address,
and Age
  Position(s)
Held with the
Trust
  Term of
Office and
Length of
Time Served 
  Principal Occupation(s) During
Past 5 Years
  Other
Directorships
held during the
Past 5 Years
J. Garrett Stevens
3555 Northwest 58th Street Suite 410 Oklahoma City, OK 73112 (32 years old)
  Trustee and President   Trustee
(Since 2009)
President
(Since 2011)
  T.S. Phillips Investments, Inc. 2000 to 2011— Investment Advisor; Exchange Traded Concepts Trust 2009 to 2011 — Chief Executive Officer and Secretary; Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC 2009 to Present — Chief Executive Officer and Portfolio Manager   None
                 
Richard Hogan
3555 Northwest 58th Street Suite 410 Oklahoma City, OK 73112 (50 years old)
  Treasurer and Secretary   Since 2011   Managing Member, Yorkville ETF Advisors 2011-present; Private Investor, 2002-2011   Board Member of Peconic Land Trust of Suffolk County, NY.
                 
Peter Rodriguez
SEI Investments Company One Freedom Valley Drive Oaks, PA 19456 (49 years old)
  Assistant
Treasurer
  Since 2011   Director, Fund Accounting, SEI Investments Global Funds Services, Company 2011-present, 1997-2005; Director, Mutual Fund Trading, SEI Private Trust Company, 2009-2011; Director, Asset Data Services, Global Wealth Services, 2006-2009; Director, Portfolio Accounting, SEI Investments Global Fund Services, 2005-2006   None
                 
Carolyn Mead
SEI Investments Company One Freedom Valley Drive Oaks, PA 19456 (54 years old)
 

Assistant Secretary

 

  Since 2009   Counsel, SEI Investments 2007 to present. Associate, Stradley, Ronon, Stevens & Young from 2004 to 2007. Counsel at ING Variable Annuities from 1999 to 2002   None.

 

COMPENSATION OF THE TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

 

The following table sets forth the fees paid to the Trustees for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2011. The table also sets forth the estimated compensation that will be paid to each Trustee by the Trust for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2012. Trustee compensation does not include reimbursed out-of-pocket expenses in connection with attendance meetings.

 

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Name   Aggregate
Compensation
  Pension or
Retirement Benefits
Accrued as Part of
Fund Expenses
  Estimated
Annual Benefits
Upon Retirement
  Total Compensation from the
Trust and Fund Complex1
Interested Trustee        
Stevens   $ 0   n/a   n/a   $0 for service on (1) board
Independent Trustees        
French   $ XX 2  n/a   n/a   $XX for service on (1) board
Kerbs   $ XX 3  n/a   n/a   $XX for service on (1) board
Wolfgruber4   $ XX 2  n/a   n/a   $XX for service on (1) board
Mahle   $ XX 3  n/a   n/a   $XX for service on (1) board
Zurack2   $ XX 2  n/a   n/a   $XX for service on (1) board

1 The Trust is the only investment company in the “Fund Complex.” Trustee compensation does not include reimbursed out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with their attendance at meetings.

2 Estimated compensation for fiscal year ending November 30, 2012.

3 Includes $XX paid during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2011. All other compensation is estimated compensation for fiscal year ending November 30, 2012.

4 Selected and nominated to serve effective February 23, 2012.

 

BOARD COMMITTEES

 

The Board has established the following standing committees:

 

Audit Committee. The Board has a standing Audit Committee that is composed of each of the independent Trustees of the Trust. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Audit Committee include: recommending which firm to engage as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and whether to terminate this relationship; reviewing the independent registered public accounting firm’s compensation, the proposed scope and terms of its engagement, and the firm’s independence; pre-approving audit and non-audit services provided by the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm to the Trust and certain other affiliated entities; serving as a channel of communication between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trustees; reviewing the results of each external audit, including any qualifications in the independent registered public accounting firm’s opinion, any related management letter, management’s responses to recommendations made by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with the audit, reports submitted to the Committee by the internal auditing department of the Trust’s Administrator that are material to the Trust as a whole, if any, and management’s responses to any such reports; reviewing the Funds’ audited financial statements and considering any significant disputes between the Trust’s management and the independent registered public accounting firm that arose in connection with the preparation of those financial statements; considering, in consultation with the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trust’s senior internal accounting executive, if any, the independent registered public accounting firms’ report on the adequacy of the Trust’s internal financial controls; reviewing, in consultation with the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm, major changes regarding auditing and accounting principles and practices to be followed when preparing the Funds’ financial statements; and other audit related matters. The Audit Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met four (4) times in the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

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Nominating Committee. The Board has a standing Nominating Committee that is composed of each of the independent Trustees of the Trust. The Nominating Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibility of the Nominating Committee is to consider, recommend and nominate candidates to fill vacancies on the Trust’s Board, if any. The Nominating Committee generally will not consider nominees recommended by shareholders. The Nominating Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met three (3) times in the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

Fair Value Committee. The Board also has established a Fair Value Committee that is comprised of representatives from the Adviser, representatives from the Funds’ administrator, counsel to the Funds, and/or members of the Board of Trustees. The Fair Value Committee operates under procedures approved by the Board. The Fair Value Committee is responsible for the valuation and revaluation of any portfolio investments for which market quotations or prices are not readily available. Mr. Stevens, Mr. French, Mr. Wolfgruber and Mr. Zurack currently serve as the Board’s delegates on the Fair Value Committee. The Fair Value Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and did not meet during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

OWNERSHIP OF SHARES

 

The following table shows the dollar amount ranges of each Trustee’s “beneficial ownership” of Shares of the Funds and each other series of the Trust as of the end of the most recently completely calendar year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the 1934 Act.

 

Name   Dollar Range of Shares Owned in
the Funds1
  Aggregate Dollar Range of
Shares (All Funds in the
Complex)2
Interested Trustee    
J. Garrett Stevens   None   XX
Independent Trustees    
Gary L. French   None   XX
Edward A. Kerbs   None   XX
David M. Mahle   None   XX
Kurt Wolfgruber   None   XX
Mark A. Zurack   None   XX

 

1 Because the Funds are new, as of the date of this SAI, none of the Trustees owned Shares of the Funds.

2 The Trust is the only investment company in the “Fund Complex.”

 

CODES OF ETHICS

 

The Trust, the Adviser, the Sub-Advisers and SEI Investments Distribution Co. (the “Distributor”) have each adopted codes of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. These codes of ethics designed to prevent affiliated persons of the Trust, the Adviser, the Sub-Advisers and the Distributor from engaging in deceptive, manipulative or fraudulent activities in connection with securities held or to be acquired by the Funds (which may also be held by persons subject to the codes of ethics).

 

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There can be no assurance that the codes of ethics will be effective in preventing such activities. Each code of ethics, filed as exhibits to this registration statement, may be examined at the office of the SEC in Washington, D.C. or on the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

 

The Board of Trustees has delegated the responsibility to vote proxies for securities held in the Fund’s portfolio to the Adviser. The Adviser has delegated the responsibility to vote proxies for securities held in the Funds to the Trading Sub-Adviser. Proxies for the portfolio securities are voted in accordance with the Trading Sub-Adviser’s proxy voting guidelines, which are set forth in Exhibit A to this SAI. Information regarding how the Funds vote proxies relating to its portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 will be available: (1) without charge by calling 1-855-YES-YETF; (2) on the Funds’ website at www.yetfs.com; and (3) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

 

Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (“ETC”), an Oklahoma limited liability company located at 3555 Northwest 58th Street, Suite 410 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112, serves as the investment adviser to the Funds. The Adviser is majority owned by Yorkville ETF Holdings LLC.

 

The Trust and the Adviser have entered into an investment advisory agreement dated March 2, 2012 (the “Advisory Agreement”), as amended, with respect to the Funds. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides investment advice to the Funds and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Funds, subject to the direction and control of the Board and the officers of the Trust. The Adviser, in consultation with sub-advisers, arranges for transfer agency, custody, fund administration and accounting, and other non-distribution related services necessary for the Funds to operate. The Adviser administers the Funds’ business affairs, provides office facilities and equipment and certain clerical, bookkeeping and administrative services, and provides its officers and employees to serve as officers or Trustees of the Trust.

 

After the initial two-year term, the continuance of the Advisory Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually: (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the shareholders of the Funds; and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” or of any party thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Trustees of the Trust or, with respect to the Funds, by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Funds, or by the Adviser on not more than 60 days’ nor less than 30 days’ written notice to the Trust. As used in the Advisory Agreement, the terms “majority of the outstanding voting securities,” “interested persons” and “assignment” have the same meaning as such terms in the 1940 Act.

 

For the services the Adviser provides, the Funds pay the Adviser a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of XX% on the average daily net assets of the Fund, subject to a $XX minimum fee. Under the investment advisory agreement, the Adviser has agreed to pay all expenses incurred by the Trust except for interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, acquired fund fees and expenses, accrued deferred tax liability, extraordinary expenses, and distribution fees and expenses paid by the Trust under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Excluded Expenses”).

 

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The Adviser has retained Yorkville ETF Advisors, LLC (“Yorkville ETF Advisors”), 950 Third Avenue, 23rd Floor New York, New York 10022, to make investment decisions for the Funds and continuously review, supervise and administer the investment program of the Fund, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board. Under a sub-advisory agreement, the Adviser pays the Investment Sub-Adviser a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of XX% based on a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Fund. Under the sub-advisory agreement, Yorkville ETF Advisors, LLC has agreed to assume the Adviser’s responsibility to pay, or cause to be paid, all expenses of the Funds, except Excluded Expenses, not paid by the Adviser, including any portion of the minimum fee payable by the Funds to the Adviser that exceeds XX% of the Funds’ average daily net assets. ETC and Yorkville ETF Advisors are under the common control of Darren R. Schuringa, who is an officer of and has a controlling interest in both advisers.

 

The Adviser has also retained Index Management Solutions, LLC, One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 2020, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. The Trading Sub-Adviser was established in 2009 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of VTL Associates, LLC. The Trading Sub-Adviser is responsible for trading portfolio securities on behalf of the Funds, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions as instructed by the Investment Sub-Adviser or in connection with any rebalancing or reconstitution of the Index, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees. Under a sub-advisory agreement, the Adviser pays the Trading Sub-Adviser a fee at an annual rate of XX% based on a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Funds, subject to a $XX minimum fee.

 

THE PORTFOLIO MANAGER

 

This section includes information about the Fund’s portfolio manager, including information about other accounts he manages, the dollar range of Shares he owns and how he is compensated.

 

COMPENSATION

 

Darren R. Schuringa, CFA, (the “Portfolio Manager”) is the portfolio manager of the Fund. The Portfolio Manager is compensated by the Investment Sub-Adviser. The Portfolio Manager is compensated solely through his ownership in the Investment Sub-Adviser.

 

SHARES OWNED BY PORTFOLIO MANAGER

 

The Funds are required to show the dollar range of each portfolio manager’s “beneficial ownership” of Shares of the Funds as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the 1934 Act. Because the Funds are new, as of the date of this SAI, the Portfolio Manager did not beneficially own Shares of the Funds.

 

OTHER ACCOUNTS

 

In addition to the Fund, the Portfolio Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as listed below. The information below is provided as of _____, 2012.

 

    Registered 
Investment Companies
  Other Pooled 
Investment Vehicles
  Other Accounts
Name   Number of
Accounts
  Total Assets
($ millions)
  Number of
Accounts
  Total Assets 
($ millions)
  Number of
Accounts
  Total Assets
($ millions)
Darren R. Schuringa   XX   $ XX   X   XX   XX 1   $ XX

 

1Includes XX accounts with assets under management of approximately $XX that are subject to a performance based fee.

 

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CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

 

The portfolio manager’s management of “other accounts” is not expected to give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with his management of the Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other. The Investment Sub-Adviser manages XX accounts with approximately $XXassets under management and the Trading Sub-Adviser manages XX registered investment companies with approximately $XX in total assets and two (2) other accounts with approximately $XX in total assets. The Sub-Advisers do not expect there to be any conflicts arising from the management of other accounts.

 

THE DISTRIBUTOR

 

The Trust and SEI Investments Distribution Co. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments, and an affiliate of the Administrator, are parties to an amended and restated distribution agreement dated November 10, 2011 (“Distribution Agreement”), whereby the Distributor acts as principal underwriter for the Trust’s shares and distributes the Shares of the Fund. Shares are continuously offered for sale by the Distributor only in Creation Units. Each Creation Unit is made up of at least 50,000 shares. The Distributor will not distribute Shares in amounts less than a Creation Unit. The principal business address of the Distributor is One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.

 

Under the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor, as agent for the Trust, will solicit orders for the purchase of the Shares, provided that any subscriptions and orders will not be binding on the Trust until accepted by the Trust. The Distributor will deliver Prospectuses and, upon request, Statements of Additional Information to persons purchasing Creation Units and will maintain records of orders placed with 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”).

 

The Distributor may also enter into agreements with securities dealers (“Soliciting Dealers”) who will solicit purchases of Creation Units of Shares. Such Soliciting Dealers may also be Authorized Participants (as discussed in “Procedures for Creation of Creation Units” below) or DTC participants (as defined below).

 

The Distribution Agreement will continue for two years from its effective date and is renewable thereafter. The continuance of the Distribution Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the shareholders of the Fund and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations of the Distribution Agreement or any related agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust on 60 days written notice when authorized either by majority vote of its outstanding voting shares or by a vote of a majority of its Board (including a majority of the Independent Trustees), or by the Distributor on 60 days written notice, and will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment. The Distribution Agreement provides that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Distributor, or reckless disregard by it of its obligations thereunder, the Distributor shall not be liable for any action or failure to act in accordance with its duties thereunder.

 

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The Distributor may also provide trade order processing services pursuant to a services agreement.

 

Distribution Plan. The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, which regulates circumstances under which an investment company may directly or indirectly bear expenses relating to the distribution of its shares. No payments pursuant to the Plan will be made during the initial twelve (12) months of operation. Continuance of the Plan must be approved annually by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust and by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan or in any agreements related to the Plan (“Qualified Trustees”). The Plan requires that quarterly written reports of amounts spent under the Plan and the purposes of such expenditures be furnished to and reviewed by the Trustees. The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount that may be spent thereunder without approval by a majority of the outstanding shares of any class of the Fund that is affected by such increase. All material amendments of the Plan will require approval by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust and of the Qualified Trustees.

 

The Plan provides that Shares of the Fund pay the Distributor an annual fee of up to a maximum of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Shares. Under the Plan, the Distributor may make payments pursuant to written agreements to financial institutions and intermediaries such as banks, savings and loan associations and insurance companies including, without limit, investment counselors, broker-dealers and the Distributor’s affiliates and subsidiaries (collectively, “Agents”) as compensation for services and reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with distribution assistance. The Plan is characterized as a compensation plan since the distribution fee will be paid to the Distributor without regard to the distribution expenses incurred by the Distributor or the amount of payments made to other financial institutions and intermediaries. The Trust intends to operate the Plan in accordance with its terms and with FINRA rules concerning sales charges.

 

Under the Plan, subject to the limitations of applicable law and regulations, the Fund is authorized to compensate the Distributor up to the maximum amount to finance any activity primarily intended to result in the sale of Creation Units of each Fund or for providing or arranging for others to provide shareholder services and for the maintenance of shareholder accounts. Such activities may include, but are not limited to: (i) delivering copies of the Funds’ then current reports, prospectuses, notices, and similar materials, to prospective purchasers of Creation Units; (ii) marketing and promotional services, including advertising; (iii) paying the costs of and compensating others, including Authorized Participants with whom the Distributor has entered into written Authorized Participant Agreements, for performing shareholder servicing on behalf of the Funds; (iv) compensating certain Authorized Participants for providing assistance in distributing the Creation Units of the Funds, including the travel and communication expenses and salaries and/or commissions of sales personnel in connection with the distribution of the Creation Units of the Funds; (v) payments to financial institutions and intermediaries such as banks, savings and loan associations, insurance companies and investment counselors, broker-dealers, mutual fund supermarkets and the affiliates and subsidiaries of the Trust’s service providers as compensation for services or reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with distribution assistance; (vi) facilitating communications with beneficial owners of Shares, including the cost of providing (or paying others to provide) services to beneficial owners of shares, including, but not limited to, assistance in answering inquiries related to Shareholder accounts, and (vi) such other services and obligations as are set forth in the Distribution Agreement.

 

32
 

 

THE ADMINISTRATOR

 

SEI Investments Global Funds Services (the “Administrator”), a Delaware statutory trust, has its principal business offices at One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. SEI Investments Management Corporation (“SIMC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company (“SEI Investments”), is the owner of all beneficial interest in the Administrator. SEI Investments and its subsidiaries and affiliates, including the Administrator, are leading providers of funds evaluation services, trust accounting systems, and brokerage and information services to financial institutions, institutional investors, and money managers. The Administrator and its affiliates also serve as administrator or sub-administrator to other mutual funds.

The Trust and the Administrator have entered into an amended and restated administration agreement dated November 10, 2011 (the “Administration Agreement”). Under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator provides the Trust with administrative services, including regulatory reporting and all necessary office space, equipment, personnel and facilities. Pursuant to a schedule to the Administration Agreement, the Administrator also serves as the shareholder servicing agent for the Fund whereby the Administrator provides certain shareholder services to the Fund.

 

The Administration Agreement provides that the Administrator shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the matters to which the Administration Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Administrator in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

For its services under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator is entitled to a fee, based on assets under management, subject to a minimum fee.

 

THE CUSTODIAN

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “Custodian”) 4 New York Plaza, New York, New York 10004 serves as the custodian of the Fund. The Custodian holds cash, securities and other assets of the Fund as required by the 1940 Act.

 

THE TRANSFER AGENT

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “Transfer Agent”), 4 New York Plaza, New York, New York 10004 serves as the Fund’s transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent under an agency services agreement with the Trust.

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP, 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd., 800 Westpoint Pkwy., Ste. 1100, Westlake, OH 44145-1524 serves as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. PricewaterhouseCoopers, 350 South Grand Avenue, 49th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 900071, is responsible for calculating the effective tax rate of the Fund.

 

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PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

The Trust’s Board of Trustees has adopted a policy regarding the disclosure of information about the Fund’s security holdings. The Fund’s entire portfolio holdings are publicly disseminated each day the Fund is open for business through financial reporting and news services including publicly available internet web sites. In addition, the composition of the In-Kind Creation Basket and the In-Kind Redemption Basket, is publicly disseminated daily prior to the opening of the NYSE Arca via the NSCC.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

 

The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of funds and shares of each fund. Each share of a fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund with each other share. Shares are entitled upon liquidation to a pro rata share in the net assets of the fund. Shareholders have no preemptive rights. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees of the Trust may create additional series or classes of shares. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any additional funds and all assets in which such consideration is invested would belong to that fund and would be subject to the liabilities related thereto. Share certificates representing shares will not be issued. The Fund’s Shares, when issued, are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

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 vote together as a single class, except that if the matter being voted on affects only a particular fund it will be voted on only by that fund and if a matter affects a particular fund differently from other funds, that fund will vote separately on such matter. As a Delaware statutory trust, the Trust is not required, and does not intend, to hold annual meetings of shareholders. Approval of shareholders will be sought, however, for certain changes in the operation of the Trust and for the election of Trustees under certain circumstances. Upon the written request of shareholders owning at least 10% of the Trust’s shares, the Trust will call for a meeting of shareholders to consider the removal of one or more trustees and other certain matters. In the event that such a meeting is requested, the Trust will provide appropriate assistance and information to the shareholders requesting the meeting.

 

Under the Declaration of Trust, the Trustees have the power to liquidate the Fund without shareholder approval. While the Trustees have no present intention of exercising this power, they may do so if the Fund fails to reach a viable size within a reasonable amount of time or for such other reasons as may be determined by the Board.

 

LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY

 

The Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee shall be liable only for his or her own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrong-doing of any officer, agent, employee, investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee. The Declaration of Trust also provides that The Trust shall indemnify each person who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust, any person who is serving or has served at the Trust’s request as a Trustee, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise to the extent and in the manner provided in the By-Laws. However, nothing in the Declaration of Trust shall protect or indemnify a Trustee against any liability for his or her willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee. Nothing contained in this section attempts to disclaim a Trustee’s individual liability in any manner inconsistent with the federal securities laws.

 

34
 

 

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

 

The policy of the Trust regarding purchases and sales of securities for the Fund is that primary consideration will be given to obtaining the most favorable prices and efficient executions of transactions. Consistent with this policy, when securities transactions are effected on a stock exchange, the Trust’s policy is to pay commissions which are considered fair and reasonable without necessarily determining that the lowest possible commissions are paid in all circumstances. The Trust believes that a requirement always to seek the lowest possible commission cost could impede effective portfolio management and preclude the Fund and the Trading Sub-Adviser from obtaining a high quality of brokerage and research services. In seeking to determine the reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid in any transaction, the Trading Sub-Adviser will rely upon its experience and knowledge regarding commissions generally charged by various brokers and on its judgment in evaluating the brokerage services received from the broker effecting the transaction. Such determinations are necessarily subjective and imprecise, as in most cases, an exact dollar value for those services is not ascertainable. The Trust has adopted policies and procedures that prohibit the consideration of sales of the Fund’s Shares as a factor in the selection of a broker or dealer to execute its portfolio transactions.

 

The Trading Sub-Adviser owes a fiduciary duty to its clients to seek to provide best execution on trades effected. In selecting a broker/dealer for each specific transaction, the Trading Sub-Adviser chooses the broker/dealer deemed most capable of providing the services necessary to obtain the most favorable execution. Best execution is generally understood to mean the most favorable cost or net proceeds reasonably obtainable under the circumstances. The full range of brokerage services applicable to a particular transaction may be considered when making this judgment, which may include, but is not limited to: liquidity, price, commission, timing, aggregated trades, capable floor brokers or traders, competent block trading coverage, ability to position, capital strength and stability, reliable and accurate communications and settlement processing, use of automation, knowledge of other buyers or sellers, arbitrage skills, administrative ability, underwriting and provision of information on a particular security or market in which the transaction is to occur. The specific criteria will vary depending upon the nature of the transaction, the market in which it is executed, and the extent to which it is possible to select from among multiple broker/dealers. The Trading Sub-Adviser will also use electronic crossing networks (“ECNs”) when appropriate.

 

The Adviser does not currently use the Fund’s assets for, or participate in, any third party soft dollar arrangements, although it may receive proprietary research from various full service brokers, the cost of which is bundled with the cost of the broker’s execution services. The Adviser does not “pay up” for the value of any such proprietary research.

 

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

 

The Fund may deal with affiliates in principal transactions to the extent permitted by exemptive order or applicable rule or regulation.

 

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The Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI and therefore did not pay brokerage commissions during the past fiscal year.

 

Brokerage with Fund Affiliates. The Fund may execute brokerage or other agency transactions through registered broker-dealer affiliates of either the Fund, the Adviser, the Sub-Advisers or the Distributor for a commission in conformity with the 1940 Act, the 1934 Act and rules promulgated by the SEC. These rules require that commissions paid to the affiliate by the Fund for exchange transactions 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.” The Trustees, including those who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, have adopted procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of commissions paid to affiliates and review these procedures periodically.

 

Securities of “Regular Broker-Dealer.” The Fund is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers and dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) which it may hold at the close of its most recent fiscal year. “Regular brokers or dealers” of the Trust are the ten brokers or dealers that, during the most recent fiscal year: (i) received the greatest dollar amounts of brokerage commissions from the Trust’s portfolio transactions; (ii) engaged as principal in the largest dollar amounts of portfolio transactions of the Trust; or (iii) sold the largest dollar amounts of the Trust’s shares. Because the Fund is new, as of the date of this SAI, the Fund does not hold any securities of “regular broker dealers” to report.

 

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE

 

Portfolio turnover may vary from year to year, as well as within a year. High turnover rates are likely to result in comparatively greater brokerage expenses. The overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions is evaluated by the Trading Sub-Adviser based upon its knowledge of available information as to the general level of commissions paid by other institutional investors for comparable services.

 

BOOK ENTRY ONLY SYSTEM

 

DTC acts as securities depositary for the Shares. Shares of the Fund are represented by securities registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC. Except in limited circumstances set forth below, certificates will not be issued for Shares.

 

DTC is a limited-purpose trust company that was created to hold securities of its participants (the “DTC’s Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among the DTC Participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the DTC Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC. More specifically, DTC is owned by a number of its DTC Participants and by the NYSE 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").

 

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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 of Shares. The Trust recognizes DTC or its nominee as the record owner of all Shares for all purposes. Beneficial Owners of Shares are not entitled to have Shares registered in their names, and will not receive or be entitled to physical delivery of share certificates. Each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of DTC and any DTC Participant and/or Indirect Participant through which such Beneficial Owner holds its interests, to exercise any rights of a holder of Shares.

 

Conveyance of all notices, statements, and other communications to Beneficial Owners is effected as follows. DTC will make available to the Trust upon request and for a fee a listing of Shares held by each DTC Participant. The Trust shall obtain from each such DTC Participant 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.

 

Share distributions shall be made to DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., as the registered holder of all Shares. DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any such distributions, shall credit immediately DTC Participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in 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 the Fund’s Shares, or for maintaining, supervising, or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests, or for any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and the DTC Participants or the relationship between such DTC Participants and the Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners owning through such DTC Participants.

 

DTC may determine to discontinue providing its service with respect to the Fund at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Fund and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the Fund shall take action either to find a replacement for DTC to perform its functions at a comparable cost or, if such replacement is unavailable, to issue and deliver printed certificates representing ownership of Shares, unless the Trust makes other arrangements with respect thereto satisfactory to the Exchange.

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

The Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI and therefore no person owned of record beneficially 5% or more of any Shares of the Fund.

 

PURCHASE AND ISSUANCE OF SHARES IN CREATION UNITS

 

The Trust issues and sells Shares of the Fund only: (i) in Creation Units on a continuous basis through the Distributor, without a sales load (but subject to transaction fees), at their NAV per share next determined after receipt of an order, on any Business Day, in proper form pursuant to the terms of the Authorized Participant Agreement (“Participant Agreement”); or (ii) pursuant to the Dividend Reinvestment Service (defined below). The NAV of the Fund’s Shares is calculated each business day as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE Arca, generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The Fund will not issue fractional Creation Units. A Business Day is any day on which the NYSE Arca is open for business.

 

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FUND DEPOSIT. The consideration for purchase of a Creation Unit of the Fund generally consists of the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities (the “Deposit Securities”) per each Creation Unit, constituting a substantial replication, or a portfolio sampling representation, of the securities included in the Fund’s benchmark Index and the Cash Component (defined below), computed as described below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of a “cash in lieu” amount (“Deposit Cash”) to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security. When accepting purchases of Creation Units for all or a portion of Deposit Cash, the Fund may incur additional costs associated with the acquisition of Deposit Securities that would otherwise be provided by an in-kind purchaser.

 

Together, the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, and the Cash Component constitute the “Fund Deposit,” which represents the minimum initial and subsequent investment amount for a Creation Unit of any Fund. The “Cash Component” is an amount equal to the difference between the net asset value of the Shares (per Creation Unit) and the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable. If the Cash Component is a positive number (i.e., the net asset value per Creation Unit exceeds the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable), the Cash Component shall be such positive amount. If the Cash Component is a negative number (i.e., the net asset value per Creation Unit is less than the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable), the Cash Component shall be such negative amount and the creator will be entitled to receive cash in an amount equal to the Cash Component. The Cash Component serves the function of compensating for any differences between the net asset value per Creation Unit and the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable. Computation of the Cash Component excludes any stamp duty or other similar fees and expenses payable upon transfer of beneficial ownership of the Deposit Securities, if applicable, which shall be the sole responsibility of the Authorized Participant (as defined below).

 

The Fund, through NSCC, makes available on each Business Day, immediately prior to the opening of business on the Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern time), the list of the names and the required number of shares of each Deposit Security or the required amount of Deposit Cash, as applicable, 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 subject to any applicable adjustments as described below, in order to effect purchases of Creation Units of the Fund until such time as the next-announced composition of the Deposit Securities or the required amount of Deposit Cash, as applicable, is made available.

 

The identity and number of shares of the Deposit Securities or the amount of Deposit Cash, as applicable, required for the Fund Deposit for the Fund changes as rebalancing adjustments and corporate action events are reflected from time to time by the Adviser with a view to the investment objective of the Fund. The composition of the Deposit Securities may also change in response to adjustments to the weighting or composition of the component securities of the Fund’s Index.

 

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The Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of an amount of cash (i.e., a “cash in lieu” amount) to replace any Deposit Security, which shall be added to the Deposit Cash, if applicable, and the Cash Component, including, without limitation, in situations where the Deposit Security: (i) may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery; (ii) may not be eligible for transfer through the systems of DTC for corporate securities and municipal securities; (iii) may not be eligible for trading by an Authorized Participant (as defined below) or the investor for which it is acting; (iv) would be restricted under the securities laws or where the delivery of the Deposit Security to the Authorized Participant would result in the disposition of the Deposit Security by the Authorized Participant becoming restricted under the securities laws; or (v) in certain other situations (collectively, “custom orders”). The Trust also reserves the right to include or remove Deposit Securities from the basket in anticipation of index rebalancing changes. The adjustments described above will reflect changes, known to the Adviser on the date of announcement to be in effect by the time of delivery of the Fund Deposit, in the composition of the subject Index being tracked by the Fund or resulting from certain corporate actions.

 

PROCEDURES FOR PURCHASE OF CREATION UNITS. To be eligible to place orders with the Distributor to purchase a Creation Unit of the Fund, an entity must be (i) a “Participating Party”, i.e., a broker-dealer or other participant in the clearing process through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC (the “Clearing Process”), a clearing agency that is registered with the SEC; or (ii) a DTC Participant (see “BOOK ENTRY ONLY SYSTEM”). In addition, each Participating Party or DTC Participant (each, an “Authorized Participant”) must execute a Participant Agreement that has been agreed to by the Distributor, and that has been accepted by the Transfer Agent and the Trust, with respect to purchases and redemptions of Creation Units. Each Authorized Participant will agree, pursuant to the terms of a Participant Agreement, on behalf of itself or any investor on whose behalf it will act, to certain conditions, including that it will pay to the Trust, an amount of cash sufficient to pay the Cash Component together with the Creation Transaction Fee (defined below) and any other applicable fees and taxes. The Adviser may retain all or a portion of the Transaction Fee to the extent the Adviser bears the expenses that otherwise would be borne by the Trust in connection with the purchase of a Creation Unit, which the Transaction Fee is designed to cover.

 

All orders to purchase Shares directly from the Fund must be placed for one or more Creation Units in the manner set forth in the Participant Agreement no later than the time the Fund prices its shares (the “Cut-Off Time”). The date on which an order to purchase Creation Units (or an order to redeem Creation Units, as set forth below) is received and accepted is referred to as the “Order Placement Date.”

 

An Authorized Participant may require an 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 purchase Shares directly from the Fund in Creation Units 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 and only a small number of such Authorized Participants may have international capabilities.

 

On days when the Exchange closes earlier than normal, the Fund may require orders to create Creation Units to be placed earlier in the day. In addition, if a market or markets on which the Fund’s investments are primarily traded is closed, the Fund will also generally not accept orders on such day(s). 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 and in accordance with the AP Handbook. With respect to the Fund, the Distributor will notify the Custodian of such order. The Custodian will then provide such information to the appropriate local sub-custodian(s). Those placing orders through an Authorized Participant should allow sufficient time to permit proper submission of the purchase order to the Distributor by the Cut-Off Time on such Business Day. Economic or market disruptions or changes, or telephone or other communication failure may impede the ability to reach the Distributor or an Authorized Participant.

 

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Fund Deposits must be delivered by an Authorized Participant through the Federal Reserve System (for cash) or through DTC (for corporate securities), through a subcustody agent for (for foreign securities) and/or through such other arrangements allowed by the Trust or its agents. With respect to foreign Deposit Securities, the Custodian shall cause the subcustodian of such Fund to maintain an account into which the Authorized Participant shall deliver, on behalf of itself or the party on whose behalf it is acting, such Deposit Securities (or Deposit Cash for all or a part of such securities, as permitted or required), with any appropriate adjustments as advised by the Trust. Foreign Deposit Securities must be delivered to an account maintained at the applicable local subcustodian. The Fund Deposit transfer must be ordered by the Authorized Participant in a timely fashion so as to ensure the delivery of the requisite number of Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, to the account of the Fund or its agents by no later than the Settlement Date. The “Settlement Date” for the Fund is generally the third Business Day after the Order Placement Date. All questions as to the number of Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash to be delivered, as applicable, and the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) for the deposit of any tendered securities or cash, as applicable, will be determined by the Trust, whose determination shall be final and binding. The amount of cash represented by 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 the Settlement Date. If the Cash Component and the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, are not received by in a timely manner by the Settlement Date, the creation order may be cancelled. 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 NAV of the Fund.

 

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 the Cut-Off Time and the federal funds in the appropriate amount are deposited by 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. Eastern time, with the Custodian on the Settlement Date. If the order is not placed in proper form as required, or federal funds in the appropriate amount are not received by 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on the Settlement Date, then the order may be deemed to be rejected and the Authorized Participant shall be liable to the Fund for losses, if any, resulting therefrom. A creation request is considered to be in “proper form” if all procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement, the AP Handbook and this SAI are properly followed.

 

ISSUANCE OF A CREATION UNIT. Except as provided herein, Creation Units will not be issued until the transfer of good title to the Trust of the Deposit Securities or payment of Deposit Cash, as applicable, and the payment of the Cash Component have been completed. When the subcustodian has confirmed to the Custodian that the required Deposit Securities (or the cash value thereof) have been delivered to the account of the relevant subcustodian or subcustodians, the Distributor and the Adviser shall be notified of such delivery, and the Trust will issue and cause the delivery of the Creation Units. The delivery of Creation Units so created generally will occur no later than the third Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Distributor. However, the Fund reserves the right to settle Creation Unit transactions on a basis other than the third Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Distributor in order to accommodate foreign market holiday schedules, to account for different treatment among foreign and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and ex-dividend dates (that is the last day the holder of a security can sell the security and still receive dividends payable on the security), and in certain other circumstances. The Authorized Participant shall be liable to the Fund for losses, if any, resulting from unsettled orders.

 

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Creation Units may be purchased 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 net asset value of the 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) an additional amount of cash equal to a percentage of the market value as set forth in the Participant Agreement, of the undelivered Deposit Securities (the “Additional Cash Deposit”), which shall be maintained in a separate non-interest bearing collateral account. 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 the applicable percentage, as set forth in the Participant Agreement, of the daily marked to market value of the missing Deposit Securities. The Participant Agreement will permit the Trust to buy the missing Deposit Securities at any time. Authorized Participants will be liable to the Trust for the costs incurred by the Trust in connection with any such purchases. These costs will be deemed to include the amount by which the actual purchase price of the Deposit Securities exceeds the market value of such Deposit Securities on the day the purchase order was deemed received by the Distributor plus the brokerage and related transaction costs associated with such purchases. The Trust will return any unused portion of the Additional Cash Deposit once all of the missing Deposit Securities have been properly received by the Custodian or purchased by the Trust and deposited into the Trust. In addition, a Transaction Fee as set forth below under “Creation Transaction Fee” will be charged in all cases. The delivery of Creation Units so created generally will occur no later than the Settlement Date.

 

ACCEPTANCE OF ORDERS OF CREATION UNITS. The Trust reserves the absolute right to reject an order for Creation Units transmitted to it by the Distributor in respect of the Fund including, without limitation, if (a) the order is not in proper form; (b) the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, delivered by the Participant are not as disseminated through the facilities of the NSCC for that date by the Custodian; (c) the investor(s), upon obtaining the Shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding Shares of the Fund; (d) acceptance of the Deposit Securities would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Fund; (e) the acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (f) the 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; (g) the acceptance or receipt of the order for a Creation Unit would, in the opinion of counsel to the Trust, be unlawful; or (h) in the event that circumstances outside the control of the Trust, the Custodian, the Transfer Agent and/or the Adviser make it for all practical purposes not feasible to process orders for Creation Units.

 

Examples of such circumstances include acts of God or 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 Distributor, the Custodian, a sub-custodian, the Transfer Agent, DTC, NSCC, Federal Reserve System, or any other participant in the creation process, and other extraordinary events. The Distributor shall notify a prospective creator of a Creation Unit and/or the Authorized Participant acting on behalf of the creator of a Creation Unit of its rejection of the order of such person. The Trust, the Transfer Agent, 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 either of them incur any liability for the failure to give any such notification. The Trust, the Transfer Agent, the Custodian and the Distributor shall not be liable for the rejection of any purchase order for Creation Units.

 

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.

 

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CREATION TRANSACTION FEE. A purchase (i.e., creation) transaction fee is imposed for the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the purchase of Creation Units, and investors will be required to pay a creation transaction fee regardless of the number of Creation Units created in the transaction. The Funds may adjust the creation transaction fee from time to time based upon actual experience. An additional charge of up to five (5) times the fixed transaction fee may be imposed for cash purchases, non-standard orders, or partial cash purchases for the Funds. Investors who use the services of a broker or other such intermediary may be charged a fee for such services. Investors are responsible for the costs of transferring the securities constituting the Deposit Securities to the account of the Trust. The Adviser may retain all or a portion of the Transaction Fee to the extent the Adviser bears the expenses that otherwise would be borne by the Trust in connection with the purchase of a Creation Unit, which the Transaction Fee is designed to cover.

 

The standard creation/redemption transaction fee for the Funds will be $500. The maximum creation/redemption transaction fee for the Funds will be $3,000.

 

RISKS OF PURCHASING CREATION UNITS. There are certain legal risks unique to investors purchasing Creation Units directly from the Funds. Because the Funds’ Shares may be issued on an ongoing basis, a “distribution” of Shares could be occurring at any time. Certain activities that a shareholder performs as a dealer could, depending on the circumstances, result in the shareholder being deemed a participant in the distribution in a manner that could render the shareholder a statutory underwriter and subject to the prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the Securities Act of 1933. For example, a shareholder could be deemed a statutory underwriter if it purchases Creation Units from the Funds, breaks them down into the constituent Shares, and sells those shares directly to customers, or if a shareholder chooses to couple the creation of a supply of new Shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary-market demand for Shares. Whether a person is an underwriter depends upon all of the facts and circumstances pertaining to that person's activities, and the examples mentioned here should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could cause you to be deemed an underwriter.

 

Dealers who are not “underwriters” but are participating in a distribution (as opposed to engaging in ordinary secondary-market transactions), and thus dealing with the Funds’ Shares as part of an “unsold allotment” within the meaning of Section 4(3)(C) of the Securities Act, will be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(3) of the Securities Act.

 

REDEMPTION. Shares may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their net asset value next determined after receipt of a redemption request in proper form by the Fund through the Transfer Agent and only on a Business Day. EXCEPT UPON LIQUIDATION OF THE FUND, THE TRUST WILL NOT REDEEM SHARES IN AMOUNTS LESS THAN CREATION UNITS. Investors must accumulate enough Shares in the secondary market to constitute a Creation Unit 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. Investors should expect to incur brokerage and other costs in connection with assembling a sufficient number of Shares to constitute a redeemable Creation Unit.

 

Redemptions are effected principally for cash. With respect to the Funds, the Custodian, through the NSCC, makes available immediately prior to the opening of business on the Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m. Eastern time) on each Business Day, the list of the names and share quantities of the Funds’ portfolio securities that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption requests received in proper form (as defined below) on that day (“Fund Securities”). Fund Securities received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities.

 

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If the Fund effects redemptions in-kind, the redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit will consist of Fund Securities — as announced by the Custodian on the Business Day of the request for redemption received in proper form plus cash in an amount equal to the difference between the net asset value of the 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 set forth below. In the event that the Fund Securities have a value greater than the net asset value of the Shares, a compensating cash payment equal to the differential is required to be made by or through an Authorized Participant by the redeeming shareholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the Trust’s discretion, an Authorized Participant may receive the corresponding cash value of the securities in lieu of the in-kind securities value representing one or more Fund Securities.

 

REDEMPTION TRANSACTION FEE. A redemption transaction fee is imposed for the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the redemption of Creation Units. An additional variable charge for cash redemptions (when cash redemptions are available or specified) for the Fund may be imposed to compensate the Fund for the costs associated with selling the applicable securities. Investors are responsible for the costs of transferring the Fund Securities from the Trust to their account or on their order. As set forth above, the Fund expects to effect redemptions principally for cash. 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 Fund 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 Fund makes Market Sales, the Authorized Participant will reimburse the Fund for, among other things, any difference between the market value at which the securities were sold by the Fund and the cash in lieu amount (which amount, at the Investment 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 Fund’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 Investment 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. The redemption transaction fees for the Fund will not exceed $1,000.

 

PROCEDURES FOR REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS. The Clearing Process is only available for in-kind redemptions and will not be used for cash redemptions. To the extent redemptions are effected in-kind, orders to redeem Creation Units through the Clearing Process must be submitted in proper form to the Transfer Agent prior to the time as set forth in the Participant Agreement. A redemption request is considered to be in “proper form” if (i) an Authorized Participant has transferred or caused to be transferred to the Trust’s Transfer Agent the Creation Unit(s) being redeemed through the book-entry system of DTC so as to be effective by the time as set forth in the Participant Agreement and (ii) a request in form satisfactory to the Trust is received by the Transfer Agent from the Authorized Participant on behalf of itself or another redeeming investor within the time periods specified in the Participant Agreement. If the Transfer Agent does not receive the investor’s Shares through DTC’s facilities by the times and pursuant to the other terms and conditions set forth in the Participant Agreement, the redemption request shall be rejected.

 

The Funds expects to redeem Fund Shares for cash. As a result, the redeeming Beneficial Owner will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash. 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 Funds’ brokerage and other transaction costs associated with the disposition of Fund Securities).

 

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The Authorized Participant must transmit the request for redemption, in the form required by the Trust, to the Transfer Agent in accordance with procedures set forth in the Authorized Participant Agreement and by the Cut-Off Time. Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not have executed an Authorized Participant Agreement, and that, therefore, requests to redeem Creation Units may have to be placed by the investor’s broker through an Authorized Participant who has executed an Authorized Participant Agreement. Investors making a redemption request should be aware that such request must be in the form specified by such Authorized Participant. Investors making a request to redeem Creation Units should allow sufficient time to permit proper submission of the request by an Authorized Participant and transfer of the Shares to the Trust’s Transfer Agent; such investors should allow for the additional time that may be required to effect redemptions through their banks, brokers or other financial intermediaries if such intermediaries are not Authorized Participants.

 

In connection with taking delivery of shares of Fund Securities upon redemption of Creation Units, a redeeming shareholder or Authorized Participant acting on behalf of such Shareholder must maintain appropriate custody arrangements with a qualified broker-dealer, bank or other custody providers in each jurisdiction in which any of the Fund Securities are customarily traded, to which account such Fund Securities will be delivered. Deliveries of redemption proceeds generally will be made within three business days of the trade date.

 

ADDITIONAL REDEMPTION PROCEDURES. In connection with taking delivery of shares of Fund Securities upon redemption of Creation Units, the Authorized Participant must maintain appropriate custody arrangements with a qualified broker-dealer, bank or other custody providers in each jurisdiction in which any of the Fund Securities are customarily traded, to which account such Fund Securities will be delivered. Deliveries of redemption proceeds generally will be made within three business days of the trade date. However, due to the schedule of holidays in certain countries, the different treatment among foreign and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and dividend ex-dates (that is the last date the holder of a security can sell the security and still receive dividends payable on the security sold), and in certain other circumstances, the delivery of in-kind redemption proceeds may take longer than three Business Days after the day on which the redemption request is received in proper form. If neither the redeeming Shareholder nor the Authorized Participant acting on behalf of such redeeming Shareholder has appropriate arrangements to take delivery of the Fund Securities in the applicable foreign jurisdiction and it is not possible to make other such arrangements, or if it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Fund Securities in such jurisdiction, the Trust may, in its discretion, exercise its option to redeem such Shares in cash, and the redeeming Shareholders will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash.

 

If it is not possible to make other such arrangements, or it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Fund Securities, the Trust may in its discretion exercise its option to redeem such Shares in cash, and the redeeming investor 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 Shares based on the NAV of Shares of the 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 Trust’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 but does not differ in net asset value.

 

Redemptions of 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 Units 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 Creation Units may be paid an equivalent amount of cash. The Authorized Participant may request the redeeming investor of the Shares to complete an order form or to enter into agreements with respect to such matters as compensating cash payment. Further, an Authorized Participant that is not a “qualified institutional buyer,” (“QIB”) as such term is defined under Rule 144A of the Securities Act, will not be able to receive Fund Securities that are restricted securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A. An Authorized Participant may be required by the Trust to provide a written confirmation with respect to QIB status in order to receive Fund Securities.

 

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Because the portfolio securities of the Fund may trade on the relevant exchange(s) on days that the Exchange is closed or are otherwise not Business Days for the Fund, shareholders may not be able to redeem their Shares of the Fund, or to purchase or sell Shares of the Fund on the Exchange, on days when the NAV of the Fund could be significantly affecting by events in the relevant foreign markets.

 

The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed with respect to the Fund (1) for any period during which the Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); (2) for any period during which trading on the Exchange is suspended or restricted; (3) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of the Shares of the Fund or determination of the NAV of the Shares is not reasonably practicable; or (4) in such other circumstance as is permitted by the SEC.

 

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

 

Net asset value per Share for the Funds is computed by dividing the value of the net assets of the Funds (i.e., the value of its total assets less total liabilities) by the total number of Shares outstanding, rounded to the nearest cent. Expenses and fees, including the management fees, are accrued daily and taken into account for purposes of determining net asset value. The net asset value of the Funds is calculated by the Custodian and determined at 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, provided that 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 (“SIFMA”) announces an early closing time.

 

In calculating the Funds’ net asset value per Share, the Fund’s investments are generally valued using market valuations. A market valuation 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. In the case of shares of other funds that are not traded on an exchange, a market valuation means such fund’s published net asset value per share. The Investment Sub-Adviser may use various pricing services, or discontinue the use of any pricing service, as approved by the Board from time to time. A price obtained from a pricing service based on such pricing service’s valuation matrix may be considered a market valuation. Any assets or liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are converted into U.S. dollars at the current market rates on the date of valuation as quoted by one or more sources.

 

In the event that current market valuations are not readily available or such valuations do not reflect current market value, the Trust’s procedures require the Fair Value Committee to determine a security’s fair value if a market price is not readily available. In determining such value the Pricing and Investment Committee may consider, among other things, (i) price comparisons among multiple sources, (ii) a review of corporate actions and news events, and (iii) a review of relevant financial indicators (e.g., movement in interest rates, market indices, and prices from the Fund’s index provider). In these cases, the Funds’ net asset value may reflect certain portfolio securities’ fair values rather than their market prices. Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determination for a security is materially different than the value that could be realized upon the sale of the security. In addition, fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate the Funds’ net asset value and the prices used by the Fund’s benchmark Index. This may result in a difference between the Fund’s performance and the performance of the Fund’s benchmark Index. With respect to securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges, the value of the Funds’ portfolio securities may change on days when you will not be able to purchase or sell your Shares.

 

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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 quarterly by the Trust.

 

Dividends and other distributions on 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 Trust.

 

Dividend Reinvestment Service. The Trust will not make the DTC book-entry dividend reinvestment service available for use by Beneficial Owners for reinvestment of their cash proceeds, but certain individual broker-dealers may make available the DTC book-entry Dividend Reinvestment Service for use by Beneficial Owners of the Funds through DTC Participants for reinvestment of their dividend distributions. Investors should contact their brokers to ascertain the availability and description of these services. Beneficial Owners should be aware that each broker may require investors to adhere to specific procedures and timetables in order to participate in the dividend reinvestment service and investors should ascertain from their brokers such necessary details. If this service is available and used, dividend distributions of both income and realized gains will be automatically reinvested in additional whole Shares issued by the Trust of the same Fund at NAV per share. Distributions reinvested in additional Shares of the Funds will nevertheless be taxable to Beneficial Owners acquiring such additional Shares to the same extent as if such distributions had been received in cash.

 

FEDERAL INCOME TAXES

 

The following is only a summary of certain additional federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Funds and its shareholders that are not described in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the federal, state, local or foreign tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended to be a substitute for careful tax planning.

 

The following general discussion of certain federal income tax consequences is based on provisions of the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. New legislation, as well as administrative changes or court decisions, may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein.

 

Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the application of the provisions of tax law described in this SAI in light of the particular tax situations of the shareholders and regarding specific questions as to federal, state, or local taxes.

 

The Funds are taxed as a regular corporation under Subchapter C of the Code for federal income tax purposes and as such is obligated to pay federal and applicable state and foreign corporate taxes on its taxable income. This differs from most investment companies, which elect to be treated as “regulated investment companies” under the Code in order to avoid paying entity level income taxes. Under current law, the Funds are not eligible to elect treatment as a regulated investment company due to its investments primarily in MLPs invested in energy assets. As a result, the Funds will be obligated to pay federal and state taxes on its taxable income as opposed to most other investment companies which are not so obligated.

 

46
 

 

As discussed below, the Funds expect that a portion of the distribution it receives from MLPs may be treated as a tax-deferred return of capital, thus reducing the Funds’ current tax liability. However, the amount of taxes currently paid by the Funds will vary depending on the amount of income and gains derived from investments and/or sales of MLP interests and such taxes will reduce your return from an investment in the Funds.

 

The Funds invest assets primarily in MLPs, which generally are treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. As a partner in the MLPs, the fund must report its allocable share of the MLPs’ taxable income in computing its taxable income, regardless of the extent (if any) to which the MLPs make distributions. Based upon the Adviser’s review of the historic results of the types of MLPs in which the Funds invest, the Adviser expects that the cash flow received by the fund with respect to its MLP investments will generally exceed the taxable income allocated to the Funds (and this excess generally will not be currently taxable to the Funds but, rather, will result in a reduction of the Funds’ adjusted tax basis in each MLP as described in the following paragraph). This is the result of a variety of factors, including significant non-cash deductions, such as accelerated depreciation. There is no assurance that the Adviser’s expectation regarding the tax character of MLP distributions will be realized. If this expectation is not realized, there may be greater tax expense borne by the Funds and less cash available to distribute to you or to pay to expenses.

 

The Funds will also be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the regular graduated corporate tax rates on any gain recognized by the applicable Fund on any sale of equity securities of an MLP. Cash distributions from an MLP to the Funds that exceed such Fund’s allocable share of such MLP’s net taxable income will reduce the Fund’s adjusted tax basis in the equity securities of the MLP. These reductions in such Fund’s adjusted tax basis in the MLP equity securities will increase the amount of any taxable gain (or decrease the amount of any tax loss) recognized by the Funds on a subsequent sale of the securities.

 

The Funds will accrue deferred income taxes for any future tax liability associated with (i) that portion of MLP distributions considered to be a tax-deferred return of capital and (ii) capital appreciation of its investments. Upon the sale of MLP security, the Funds may be liable for previously deferred taxes, and an adjustment to the deferred income tax liability will be made at such time to reflect the actual taxes paid. The Funds will rely to some extent on information provided by the MLPs which is not necessarily timely, to estimate deferred tax liability for purposes of financial statement reporting and determining the NAV. From time to time, the Adviser will modify the estimates or assumptions regarding the Funds’ deferred tax liability as new information becomes available. The Funds will generally compute deferred income taxes based on the federal income tax rate applicable to corporations currently 35% and an assumed rate attributable to state taxes.

 

Distributions made to you by the Funds (other than distributions in redemption of shares subject to Section 302(b) of the Code) will generally constitute dividends to the extent of your allocable share of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as calculated for federal income tax purposes. Generally, a corporation’s earnings and profits are computed based upon taxable income, with certain specified adjustments. Based upon the historic performance of the types of MLPs in which the Fund intend to invest, the Adviser anticipates that the distributed cash from the MLPs generally will exceed the Fund’s Share of the MLPs’ taxable income. Consequently, the Adviser anticipates that only a portion of the Fund’s distributions will be treated as dividend income to you. To the extent that distributions to you exceed your allocable share of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, your tax basis in the Fund’s Shares with respect to which the distribution is made will be reduced, which will increase the amount of any taxable gain (or decrease the amount of any tax loss) realized upon a subsequent sale or redemption of such shares. To the extent you hold such shares as a capital asset and have no further basis in the shares to offset the distribution, you will report the excess as capital gain.

 

47
 

 

Distributions treated as dividends under the foregoing rules generally will be taxable as ordinary income to you but may be treated as “qualified dividend income.” Under current federal income tax law, qualified dividend income received by individuals and other non corporate shareholders is taxed at long-term capital gain rates, which currently reach a maximum of 15% (scheduled to increase to 20% for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013). However, the favorable tax treatment applicable to qualified dividends is set to expire for tax years beginning after December 31, 2012 and, thus, qualifying dividend income will thereafter be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the rates applicable to ordinary income (which rates are scheduled to increase at that time to a maximum rate of 39.6%), unless further Congressional action is taken. For a dividend to constitute qualified dividend income, the shareholder generally must hold the shares paying the dividend for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date, although a longer period may apply if the shareholder engages in certain risk reduction transactions with respect to the common stock.

 

Deferred income taxes reflect (1) taxes on unrealized gains/(losses) which are attributable to the difference between the fair market value and tax basis of the Fund’s investments and (2) the tax benefit of accumulated capital or net operating losses. The Fund will accrue a net deferred tax liability if its future tax liability on its unrealized gains exceeds the tax benefit of its accumulated capital or net operating losses, if any. The Funds do not currently intend to accrue a net deferred tax asset. However, the Fund may in the future determine to accrue a net deferred tax asset if the Fund’s future tax liability on unrealized gains is less than the tax benefit of the Fund’s accumulated capital or net operating losses or if the Fund has net unrealized losses on its investments.

 

To the extent we have a net deferred tax asset, consideration is given as to whether or not a valuation allowance is required. The need to establish a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is assessed periodically based on the criteria established by the Statement of Financial Standards, Accounting for Income Taxes (ASC 740) that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In our assessment for a valuation allowance, consideration is given to all positive and negative evidence related to the realization of the deferred tax asset. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability (which are highly dependent on future MLP cash distributions), the duration of statutory carryforward periods and the associated risk that capital or net operating loss carryforwards may expire unused. If a valuation allowance is required to reduce the deferred tax asset in the future, it could have a material impact on the Fund’s NAV and results of operations in the period it is recorded.

 

A sale or exchange of shares in the Funds 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. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be disallowed if other substantially identical shares of the Funds are purchased (through reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

Legislation passed by Congress in 2008 requires brokers to report to the IRS and furnish to Fund shareholders the cost basis information for Fund shares purchased on or after January 1, 2011, and sold on or after that date. In addition to the present law requirement to report the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the broker will be required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares the broker will permit Fund shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods. The broker reporting cost basis information to Fund shareholders will have chosen a default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by a Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the new cost basis reporting law applies to them.

 

48
 

 

An Authorized Participant who exchanges 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 and the sum of the exchanger’s aggregate basis in the securities surrendered plus the amount of cash paid for such Creation Units. A person who redeems Creation Units will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the exchanger’s basis in the Creation Units and the sum of the aggregate market value of any securities received plus the amount of any cash received for such Creation Units. 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.

 

Any capital gain or loss realized upon the creation of Creation Units will generally be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the securities exchanged for such Creation Units have been held for more than one year. Any capital gain or loss realized upon the redemption of Creation Units will generally be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares comprising the Creation Units have been held for more than one year. Otherwise, such capital gains or losses will be treated as short-term capital gains or losses.

 

The Trust on behalf of the Funds has the right to reject an order for a purchase of shares of the Trust if the purchaser (or group of purchasers) would, upon obtaining the shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of the Funds and if, pursuant to Section 351 of the Code, the Funds would have a basis in the 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.

 

Persons purchasing or redeeming Creation Units should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax treatment of any creation or redemption transaction.

 

Foreign Investments. Income received by the Funds from sources within foreign countries (including, for example, dividends or interest on stock or securities of non-U.S. issuers) may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. Tax treaties between such countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes. Foreign taxes paid by the Funds will reduce the return from the Funds investments.

 

Back-Up Withholding. The Funds will be required in certain cases to withhold at the applicable withholding rate and remit to the U.S. Treasury the withheld amount of taxable dividends paid to certain shareholders who (1) fails to provide a correct taxpayer identification number certified under penalty of perjury; (2) is subject to withholding by the Internal Revenue Service for failure to properly report all payments of interest or dividends; (3) fails to provide a certified statement that he or she is not subject to “backup withholding;” or (4) fails to provide a certified statement that he or she is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s ultimate U.S. tax liability.

 

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Foreign Shareholders. Foreign shareholders (i.e., nonresident alien individuals and foreign corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates) are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or a lower tax treaty rate) on dividend distributions. Gains from the sale or other disposition of Shares of the Funds generally are not subject to U.S. taxation, unless the recipient is an individual who either (1) meets the Code’s definition of “resident alien” or (2) is physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more per year. Different tax consequences may result if the foreign shareholder is engaged in a trade or business within the United States. In addition, the tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of a tax treaty may be different than those described above.

 

For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2013, a U.S. withholding tax at a 30% rate will be imposed on dividends and proceeds from the sale of Fund Shares received by Fund shareholders who own their Shares through foreign accounts or foreign intermediaries if certain disclosure requirements related to U.S. accounts or ownership are not satisfied.

 

A beneficial holder of Shares who is a foreign person may be subject to state and local tax and to the U.S. federal estate tax in addition to the federal income tax consequences referred to above. If a shareholder is eligible for the benefits of a tax treaty, any effectively connected income or gain will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the shareholder in the United States.

 

Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the Internal Revenue Service a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

 

Other Issues. The Funds may be subject to tax or taxes in certain states where MLPs do business. Furthermore, in those states which have income tax laws, the tax treatment of the Funds and of Fund shareholders with respect to distributions by the Funds may differ from federal tax treatment.

 

The foregoing discussion is based on federal tax laws and regulations which are in effect on the date of this Statement of Additional Information. Such laws and regulations may be changed by legislative or administrative action. Shareholders are advised to consult their tax advisors concerning their specific situations and the application of state, local and foreign taxes.

 

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Exhibit A

 

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

 

I. General

 

Index Management Solutions, LLC (the “Trading Sub-Adviser”) recognizes its obligation to vote proxies for investments held by clients over which it exercises discretionary voting authority in the clients’ best interest. Unless a client specifically reserves the right, in writing, to vote its own proxies, the Trading Sub-Adviser will vote all proxies and act on all other corporate actions in a timely manner in accordance with these Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Proxy Voting Policies”). The Trading Sub-Adviser will notify clients in writing if it declines the responsibility of voting proxies and will make provisions for its clients to receive proxy information.

 

II. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies

 

A. General Requirements of Rule 206(4)-6

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”), the Trading Sub-Adviser: (i) has adopted these Proxy Voting Policies that are reasonably designed to ensure that the Trading Sub-Adviser votes client securities in the best interest of such clients; (ii) will disclose to clients how they may obtain information on how the Trading Sub-Adviser voted their proxies; and (iii) will describe to clients its Proxy Voting Policies and, upon their request, provide copies to clients upon request.

 

B. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Voting Information

 

The Trading Sub-Adviser’s Proxy Voting Procedures will be described in Part II of its Form ADV. The disclosure will state that a client may obtain a copy of the complete Proxy Voting Policies upon request. The Trading Sub-Adviser’s Form ADV, Part II will also indicate that clients may obtain information from the Trading Sub-Adviser on how their securities were voted.

 

III. Proxy Voting Policies - Procedures and Guidelines

 

A. Procedures

 

The Trading Sub-Adviser’s portfolio managers are ultimately responsible for ensuring that all proxies received by Trading Sub-Adviser are voted in a timely manner and in a manner consistent with the Trading Sub-Adviser’s determination of the client’s best interests.

 

B. Guidelines

 

The following guidelines summarize the Trading Sub-Adviser’s positions on various issues and give a general indication as to how the Trading Sub-Adviser will vote shares on each issue. Although the Trading Sub-Adviser will usually vote proxies in accordance with these guidelines, the Trading Sub-Adviser reserves the right to vote certain issues counter to the guidelines if, after a thorough review of the matter, the Trading Sub-Adviser determines that a client’s best interests would be served by such a vote. The Trading Sub-Adviser, in good faith, shall consider such additional factors as it determines relevant, depending on current issues and issues particular to any company. Moreover, the list of guidelines below may not include all potential voting issues. To the extent that the guidelines do not cover potential voting issues, the Trading Sub-Adviser will vote on such issues in a manner that is consistent with the spirit of these guidelines and that promotes the best interests of the client.

 

A-1
 

 

1. Routine Matters. Routine proposals are those that do not change the structure, bylaws or operations of a corporation. Given the routine nature of these proposals, proxies will normally be voted with management. Traditionally, these issues include:

 

·Election of auditors recommended by management, unless seeking to replace auditors due to a dispute over policies.

 

·Date and place of annual meeting.

 

·Ratification of directors’ actions on routine matters since previous annual meeting.

 

·Reasonable Employee Stock Purchase Plans.

 

·Establishing reasonable 401 (k) Plans.

 

2. Board of Directors. If a company’s performance has been poor over a period of time or other negative factors exist, such as unusual litigation, the Trading Sub-Adviser may consider withholding its proxy in favor of any incumbent members of board of directors or voting against an incumbent member. The Trading Sub-Adviser also considers it important that publicly held companies maintain a board of directors independent from management and qualified in their own respect. Board of directors should also be independent from influence and otherwise from any investment consulting or banking firm for the company. Subject to the foregoing, the Trading Sub-Adviser will generally vote in favor of the incumbent Board’s share.

 

3. Management Compensation. The Trading Sub-Adviser generally votes in favor of proposals to align management compensation with the interests of stockholders. However, the Trading Sub-Adviser considers excessive compensation to be against the best interest of stockholders. It may also consider such compensation as a factor to vote against any incumbent director.

 

4. Change of Control Provisions. The Trading Sub-Adviser disfavors change of control provisions in whatever format, and will generally vote against these provisions absent good reasons to the contrary. The Trading Sub-Adviser generally votes against any management proposal that is not deemed to be in the shareholders’ best interests as entrenching management. Proposals in this category include issues regarding the issuer’s board or management entrenchment and anti-takeover measures such as the following:

 

·Proposals to stagger board members’ terms;

 

·Proposals to limit the ability of shareholders to call special meetings;

 

·Proposals to require super majority votes;

 

·Proposals requesting excessive increases in authorized common or preferred shares where management provides no explanation for the use or need of these additional shares;

 

·Proposals regarding “poison pill” provisions;

 

·Permitting “green mail”; and

 

·Providing cumulative voting rights.

 

A-2
 

 

5. Capital Structures. The Trading Sub-Adviser votes on capital structure proposals according to the reasons for the proposals and in a manner to increase stockholder value. For example, proposals to increase the number of authorized shares of stock for acquisitions or to raise capital are favored over proposals to increase the number of authorized shares for management compensation. Proposals to buy back shares of common stock are generally favored. Proposals to issue shares in such a manner to prevent a change of control are generally disfavored.

 

6. Auditor Approval. In determining whether to ratify the appointment of outside auditors, the Trading Sub-Adviser considers the integrity, qualifications, and disciplinary history of the proposed accounting firm. Any firm with a significant amount of disciplinary history or legal claims against it is disfavored. The Trading Sub-Adviser does not necessarily consider the size of the accounting firm to be one of the more important factors. A qualified, independent, and active audit committee’s recommendation is given deference in ratifying the appointed independent auditors.

 

7. Corporate Governance. Any provisions furthering good corporate governance, integrity and informed decisions by the board of directors, management or otherwise are endorsed by the Trading Sub-Adviser.

 

8. Shareholder Action. If proxy materials relate to shareholder action, the Trading Sub-Adviser shall review the matter with regard to the best interests of the client and to recover the most value possible or to maintain the highest value of the investment. Within the consideration of the recovery of an investment with respect to a lawsuit, the time value of money and the risks and nature of the lawsuit shall be considered.

 

9. Director Management Retirement and Compensation. The Trading Sub-Adviser reviews director/management mandatory retirement policy; option and stock grants to management and directors, pay and retirement packages to management and directors each issue in this category on a case-by-case basis. Voting decisions will be made based on clients’ long-term financial interest.

 

10. Shareholder Proposals. The Trading Sub-Adviser reviews shareholder proposals individually and determines each proposal on its own individual merits. The Trading Sub-Adviser balances the needs of the company to maintain flexibility in its business operations against other considerations proposed by shareholders.

 

C. Limitations.

 

In certain circumstances, in accordance with a client’s investment advisory contract (or other written directive) or where the Trading Sub-Adviser has determined that it is in the client’s best interest, the Trading Sub-Adviser will not vote proxies received. The following are circumstances in which the Trading Sub-Adviser may limit its role in voting proxies:

 

1. Client Maintains Proxy Voting Authority. Where client specifies in writing that it will maintain the authority to vote proxies itself or that it has delegated the right to vote proxies to a third party, the Trading Sub-Adviser will not vote the securities and will direct the relevant custodian to sent the proxy material directly to the client. If any proxy material is received by the Trading Sub-Adviser, it will promptly be forwarded to the client or specified third party.

 

2. Terminated Account. Once a client account has been terminated with the Trading Sub-Adviser in accordance with its investment advisory agreement, the Trading Sub-Adviser will not vote any proxies received after the termination. However, the client may specify in writing that proxies should be directed to the client or a specified third party for action.

 

A-3
 

 

3. Limited Value. If the Trading Sub-Adviser determines that the value of a client’s economic interest or the value of the portfolio holding is indeterminable or insignificant, the Trading Sub-Adviser may abstain from voting a client’s proxies. The Trading Sub-Adviser also will not vote proxies received for securities which are no longer held by the client’s account. In addition, the Trading Sub-Adviser may determine in its discretion not to vote securities where the economic value of the securities in the client account is less than $10,000.

 

4. Securities Lending Programs. When securities are out on loan, they are transferred into the borrower’s name and are voted by the borrower, in its discretion. However, where the Trading Sub-Adviser determines that a proxy vote, or other shareholder action, is materially important to the client’s account, the Trading Sub-Adviser will recall the security for purposes of voting.

 

5. Unjustifiable Costs. In certain circumstances, after doing a cost-benefit analysis, the Trading Sub-Adviser may abstain from voting where the cost of voting a client’s proxy would exceed any anticipated benefits to the client of the proxy proposal.

 

D. Conflict of Interest.

 

If a potential conflict of interest exists between a client and the interest of the Trading Sub-Adviser in voting proxies, any of the following procedures may be followed to resolve the conflict:

 

1. Vote in Accordance with the Guidelines. The Trading Sub-Adviser may address its potential conflict of interest by voting in accordance with the pre-determined guidelines set forth by these Proxy Voting Policies.

 

2. Obtain Consent of Clients. The Trading Sub-Adviser may address its potential conflict by disclosing the conflict to the relevant clients and obtaining their consent to the proposed vote prior to voting the proxy. The disclosure to the client will include sufficient detail regarding the matter to be voted on and the nature of the Trading Sub-Adviser’s conflict so that the client is able to make an informed decision regarding the vote. If a client does not respond to such a conflict disclosure request or denies the request, the Trading Sub-Adviser will abstain from voting the securities held by that client’s account.

 

E. Client Directions

 

The Trading Sub-Adviser follows and adheres to any policies, procedures and directions of clients regarding the voting of proxies. Such directions must be in writing, duly authorized by the client and delivered to the Trading Sub-Adviser sufficiently in advance to vote the proxies as directed.

 

F. Third Party

 

If the Trading Sub-Adviser determines to use a third party service provider to vote proxies, the Trading Sub-Adviser must assure that the third party complies with Rule 206(4)-6, these Proxy Voting Policies and maintains required records.

 

A-4
 

 

IV. Record Keeping

 

A. Maintenance

 

The Trading Sub-Adviser maintains:

 

·these Proxy Voting Policies, and all amendments thereto;
·all proxy statements received regarding client securities; provided, however, that the Trading Sub-Adviser may rely on the proxy statement filed on EDGAR as its records;
·a record of all votes cast on behalf of clients;
·records of all client requests for proxy voting information;
·any documents prepared by the Trading Sub-Adviser that were material to making a decision how to vote or that memorialized the basis for the decision; and
·all records relating to requests made to clients regarding conflicts of interest in voting the proxy.

 

B. Form N-PX

 

The Trading Sub-Adviser will coordinate with any exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) it advises or sub-advises to assist it in the provision of all information required to be filed by the ETF on Form N-PX.

 

A-5
 

 

PART C: OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 28.Exhibits

 

(a)(1)Certificate of Trust dated July 17, 2009 of Exchange Traded Concepts Trust (formerly, FaithShares Trust) (the “Trust” or the “Registrant”) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(1) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950123-09-023575 on July 20, 2009.

 

(a)(2)Written Instrument amending the Certificate of Trust, dated July 14, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950123-11-078120 on August 17, 2011.

 

(a)(3)Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated October 13, 2009 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(2) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950123-09-068184 on December 4, 2009.

 

(a)(4)Registrant’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as of October 3, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950123-11-100027 on November 22, 2011.

 

(b)(1)Registrant’s By-Laws dated October 20, 2009 are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (b) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950123-09-023575 on July 20, 2009.

 

(b)(2)Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-Laws dated October 3, 2011, are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (b)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950123-11-100027 on November 22, 2011.

 

(c)Not applicable.

 

(d)(1)Advisory Agreement, dated March 2, 2012, between the Registrant and Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(l) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001144204-12-014210 on March 12, 2012.

 

(d)(2)Amended Schedule A to the Advisory Agreement dated March 2, 2012 between the Registrant and Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC, relating to the Yorkville High Income Composite MLP ETF and the Yorkville High Income Infrastructure MLP ETF, to be filed by amendment.

 

1
 

 

(d)(3)Sub-Advisory Agreement by and among the Registrant, Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC and Krane Funds Advisors LLC, relating to the KraneShares Funds, to be filed by amendment.

 

(d)(4)Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated March 7, 2012, between Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC and Yorkville ETF Advisors, LLC, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001144204-12-014210 on March 12, 2012.

 

(d)(5)Amended Schedule B to the Sub-Advisory Agreement dated March 7, 2012 between Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC and Yorkville ETF Advisors, LLC, relating to the Yorkville High Income Composite MLP ETF and the Yorkville High Income Infrastructure MLP ETF, to be filed by amendment.

 

(d)(6)Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated March 2, 2012, between Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC and Index Management Solutions, LLC, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001144204-12-014210 on March 12, 2012.

 

(d)(7)Amended Schedule B to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated March 2, 2012, between Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC and Index Management Solutions, LLC, relating to the Yorkville High Income Composite MLP ETF and the Yorkville High Income Infrastructure MLP ETF, to be filed by amendment.

 

(e)(1)Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement dated November 10, 2011 between the Registrant and SEI Investments Distribution Co., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(l) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001144204-12-014210 on March 12, 2012.

 

(e)(2)Form of Authorized Participant Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001144204-12-014210 on March 12, 2012.

 

(f)Not applicable.

 

(g)Custodian Agreement dated March 2, 2012, between the Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001144204-12-014210 on March 12, 2012.

 

(h)(1)Amended and Restated Administration Agreement dated November 10, 2011 between the Registrant and SEI Investments Global Fund Services, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(l) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001144204-12-014210 on March 12, 2012.

 

2
 

 

(h)(2)Transfer Agency Services Agreement dated March 2, 2012 between the Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001144204-12-014210 on March 12, 2012.

 

(h)(3)Amended and Restated Services Agreement dated November 10, 2011 between Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC and SEI Investments Distribution Co., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001144204-12-014210 on March 12, 2012.

 

(i)Opinion and Consent of Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, relating to shares of the Yorkville High Income Composite MLP ETF and Yorkville High Income Infrastructure MLP ETF, to be filed by amendment.

 

(j)Not applicable.

 

(k)Not applicable.

 

(l)Seed Capital Subscription Agreement between the Registrant and Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (formerly, FaithShares Advisors, LLC) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (l) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950123-09-068184 on December 4, 2009.

 

(m)(1)Distribution and Service Plan, dated October 20, 2009, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (m)(1) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950123-09-059434 on November 6, 2009.

 

(m)(2)Amended Exhibit A to the Distribution and Service Plan, dated October 20, 2009, to be filed by amendment.

 

(n)Not applicable.

 

(o)Not applicable.

 

(p)(1)Code of Ethics of the Registrant is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(l) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001144204-12-014210 on March 12, 2012.

 

(p)(2)Code of Ethics of Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001144204-12-014210 on March 12, 2012.

 

3
 

 

(p)(3)Code of Ethics of Krane Funds Advisors LLC, to be filed by amendment.

 

(p)(4)Code of Ethics of Index Management Solutions, LLC, to be filed by amendment.

 

(p)(5)Code of Ethics of Yorkville ETF Advisors, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001144204-12-014210 on March 12, 2012.

 

(p)(6)Code of Ethics of SEI Investments Distribution Co. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(3) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950123-09-059434 on November 6, 2009.

 

(q)Powers of Attorney dated February, 2012 for Messrs. Gary L. French, Edward A. Kerbs, David M. Mahle, Mark A. Zurack, and Richard Hogan are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (q) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-156529 and 811-22263), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001144204-12-014210 on March 12, 2012.

 

Item 29.Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with the Fund

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 30.Indemnification

 

The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent, employee, adviser or principal underwriter of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee, and, subject to the provisions of the By-Laws, the Trust out of its assets may indemnify and hold harmless each and every Trustee and officer of the Trust from and against any and all claims, demands, costs, losses, expenses, and damages whatsoever arising out of or related to such Trustee’s or officer’s performance of his or her duties as a Trustee or officer of the Trust; provided that nothing herein contained shall indemnify, hold harmless or protect any Trustee or officer from or against any liability to the Trust or any Shareholder to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

 

Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and every other act or thing whatsoever issued, executed or done by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively deemed to have been issued, executed or done only in or with respect to their or his or her capacity as Trustees or Trustee, and such Trustees or Trustee shall not be personally liable thereon.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) may be permitted to Trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such Trustee, officer, or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

4
 

 

Item 31.Business and other Connections of the Investment Adviser

 

Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser for each series of the Trust. The principal address of the Adviser is 3555 Northwest 58th Street, Suite 410, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112. Krane Funds Advisors LLC (“Krane”) and Index Management Solutions, LLC (“IMS”) (each a “Sub-Adviser” and together, the “Sub-Advisers”) serve as Sub-Advisers for the KraneShares Dow Jones Global Luxury Consumer ETF, KraneShares Dow Jones China Alternative Energy ETF, KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF, KraneShares CSI China Consumer Staples ETF, KraneShares CSI China Consumer Discretionary ETF, KraneShares CSI China Five Year Plan ETF, and KraneShares CSI China Urbanization ETF. Yorkville ETF Advisors, LLC (“Yorkville”) and IMS serve as the Sub-Advisers for the Yorkville High Income MLP ETF, Yorkville High Income Composite MLP ETF and Yorkville High Income Infrastructure MLP ETF. IMS serves as the Sub-Adviser for the Sustainable North American Oil Sands ETF. The principal address of Krane is 152 West 57th Street, 16th Floor, New York, New York 10019. The principal address of IMS is 2005 Market Street, One Commerce Square, Suite 2020, Philadelphia Pennsylvania 19103. The principal address of Yorkville is 950 Third Avenue, 23rd Floor, New York, New York 10022. The Adviser and the Sub-Advisers are investment advisers registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 

Any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each director or principal officer of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser is or has been, at any time during the last two fiscal years, engaged for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee are as follows:

 

Adviser

 

Name and Position with
Investment Adviser
Name of Other Company Connection with Other Company

J. Garrett Stevens

Chief Executive Officer

T.S. Phillips Investments, Inc. Vice President
Phillips Capital Advisors, Inc. Vice President
Phillips Capital Advisors, Inc. Vice President

Darren R. Schuringa

Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

Yorkville Capital Management LLC Managing Member and Portfolio Manager
Yorkville ETF Advisors, LLC Director and Portfolio Manager

James J. Baker, Jr

Managing Partner

Yorkville ETF Advisors, LLC Managing Partner
Goldman Sachs & Co. Vice President

 

 

Krane [To be completed by amendment]

 

Name and Position with
Sub-Adviser

 

Name of Other Company

Connection with Other Company

     
     

 

5
 

 

IMS

 

Name and Position with
Sub-Adviser

 

Name of Other Company

 

Connection with Other Company

Michael Gompers

Chief Executive Officer

VTL Associates, LLC Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Operating Officer

 

Yorkville

 

Name and Position with
Sub-Adviser

 

Name of Other Company

 

Connection with Other Company

James J. Baker, Jr.

Managing Partner

Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC Managing Partner
Goldman Sachs & Co. Vice President

Darren R. Schuringa

Director and Portfolio Manager

Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Yorkville Capital Management, LLC Managing Member and Portfolio Manager

Richard Hogan

Director

Exchange Traded Concepts Trust Treasurer and Secretary

 

Additional information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by each such officer and director is included in the Trust’s Statement of Additional Information.

 

Item 32.Principal Underwriters

 

(a)Furnish the name of each investment company (other than the Registrant) for which each principal underwriter currently distributing the securities of the Registrant also acts as a principal underwriter, distributor or investment adviser.

 

The Registrant’s distributor, SEI Investments Distribution Co. (the “Distributor”), acts as distributor for:

 

SEI Daily Income Trust July 15, 1982
SEI Liquid Asset Trust November 29, 1982
SEI Tax Exempt Trust December 3, 1982
SEI Institutional Managed Trust January 22, 1987
SEI Institutional International Trust August 30, 1988
The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund November 14, 1991
The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II January 28, 1993
Bishop Street Funds January 27, 1995
SEI Asset Allocation Trust April 1, 1996
SEI Institutional Investments Trust June 14, 1996
CNI Charter Funds April 1, 1999
iShares Inc. January 28, 2000
iShares Trust April 25, 2000
Optique Funds, Inc. November 1, 2000
Causeway Capital Management Trust September 20, 2001
BlackRock Funds III (f/k/a Barclays Global Investors Funds)

March 31, 2003

 

6
 

 

The Arbitrage Funds May 17, 2005
ProShares Trust November 14, 2005
Community Reinvestment Act Qualified Investment Fund January 8, 2007
SEI Alpha Strategy Portfolios, LP June 29, 2007
TD Asset Management USA Funds July 25, 2007
SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP July 31, 2007
Wilshire Mutual Funds, Inc. July 12, 2008
Wilshire Variable Insurance Trust July 12, 2008
Global X Funds October 24, 2008
ProShares Trust II November 17, 2008
Exchange Traded Concepts Trust August 7, 2009
Schwab Strategic Trust October 12, 2009
RiverPark Funds September 8, 2010
Adviser Managed Trust February 16, 2011

 

The Distributor provides numerous financial services to investment managers, pension plan sponsors, and bank trust departments. These services include portfolio evaluation, performance measurement and consulting services (“Funds Evaluation”) and automated execution, clearing and settlement of securities transactions (“MarketLink”).

 

(b)Furnish the Information required by the following table with respect to each director, officer or partner of each principal underwriter named in the answer to Item 20 of Part B. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each director or officer is Oaks, PA 19456.

 

 

    Position and Office Positions and Offices
  Name with Underwriter with Registrant
  William M. Doran Director --
  Edward D. Loughlin Director --
  Wayne M. Withrow Director --
  Kevin P. Barr President & Chief Executive Officer --
  Maxine J. Chou Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operations
Officer, & Treasurer
--
  Karen E. LaTourette Chief Compliance Officer, Anti-Money Laundering
Officer & Assistant Secretary
--
  John C. Munch General Counsel & Secretary --
  Mark J. Held Senior Vice President --
  Lori L. White Vice President & Assistant Secretary --
  John P. Coary Vice President & Assistant Secretary --
  John J. Cronin Vice President --
  Robert M. Silvestri Vice President --

 

Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records:

 

State the name and address of each person maintaining principal possession of each account, book or other document required to be maintained by section 31(a) of the 1940 Act Section 15 U.S.C. 80a-30(a) and the rules under that section.

 

7
 

 

All accounts, books, and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder are maintained at the following offices:

 

(a) Registrant:
  c/o Exchange Traded Concepts Trust
  3555 Northwest 58th Street, Suite 410
  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112
   
(b) Adviser:
  Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC
  3555 Northwest 58th Street, Suite 410
  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112
   
(c) Sub-Advisers:
  Krane Funds Advisors LLC
  152 West 57th Street, 16th Floor
  New York, New York 10019
   
(d) Index Management Solutions, LLC
  2005 Market Street
  One Commerce Square, Suite 2020,
   Philadelphia Pennsylvania 19103
   
(e) Yorkville ETF Advisors, LLC
  950 Third Avenue, 23rd Floor,
  New York, New York 10022
   
(f) Principal Underwriter:
  SEI Investments Distribution Co.
  One Freedom Valley Drive
  Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456
   
(g) Custodian:
  JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
  4 New York Plaza
  New York, New York 10004

 

8
 

 

 

Item 34.Management Services

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 35.Undertakings

 

Not Applicable.

9
 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Trust has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 to Registration Statement No. 333-156529 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in the City of Oklahoma, State of Oklahoma on this 20th day of April, 2012.

 

Exchange Trade Concepts Trust

 

/s/ J. Garrett Stevens               

J. Garrett Stevens

Trustee and President

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 has been signed below by the following persons in the capacity and on the date indicated.

 

Signature   Title Date
       
*   Trustee April 20, 2012
Gary L. French      
       
*   Trustee April 20, 2012
Edward A. Kerbs      
       
*   Trustee April 20, 2012
David M. Mahle      
       
    Trustee April 20, 2012
Kurt Wolfgruber      
       
*   Trustee April 20, 2012
Mark A. Zurack      
       
/s/ J. Garrett Stevens   Trustee and President April 20, 2012
J. Garrett Stevens      
       
*   Treasurer and Secretary April 20, 2012
Richard Hogan      

 

*/s/ J. Garrett Stevens

  J. Garrett Stevens

 

* Attorney-in-Fact, pursuant to power of attorney.

 

10