485BPOS 1 a09-16490_1485bpos.htm 485BPOS

Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 23, 2009

Securities Act File No. 333-148826

Investment Company Act File No. 811-22175

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-1A

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

x

 

 

Pre-Effective Amendment No.

o

 

Post Effective Amendment No. 4

x

 

    and/or

 

 

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

x

 

      Amendment No. 6

x

 

(Check appropriate box or boxes)

 

ALPS ETF TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

1290 Broadway

Suite 1100

Denver, Colorado 80203

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(303) 623-2577

Registrant’s Telephone Number

 

Tané T. Tyler, Esq.

ALPS Fund Services, Inc.

1290 Broadway

Suite 1100

Denver, Colorado 80203

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

Copy to:

Stuart M. Strauss, Esq.

Clifford Chance US LLP

31 West 52nd Street

New York, New York 10019

 

It is proposed that this filing will become effective:

 

x

Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

 

o

On                         pursuant to paragraph (b)

o

60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

 

o

75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)

 

o

On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

o

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

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

[ALPS® LOGO]

 

 

ALPS ETF TRUST

 

 

ALPS EQUAL SECTOR WEIGHT ETF

PROSPECTUS

 

June 23, 2009

 

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

 



Table of Contents

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION—ALPS ETF TRUST

 

1

 

 

 

WHO SHOULD INVEST

 

1

 

 

 

TAX-ADVANTAGED PRODUCT STRUCTURE

 

1

 

 

 

ALPS EQUAL SECTOR WEIGHT ETF

 

2

 

 

 

UNDERLYING SECTOR ETFS

 

6

 

 

 

RISKS OF UNDERLYING SECTOR ETFS

 

7

 

 

 

SECONDARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

11

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL RISK CONSIDERATIONS

 

11

 

 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES

 

12

 

 

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

13

 

 

 

HOW TO BUY AND SELL SHARES

 

14

 

 

 

FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS

 

17

 

 

 

FUND SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

18

 

 

 

INDEX PROVIDER

 

18

 

 

 

DISCLAIMERS

 

18

 

 

 

FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION

 

19

 

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

21

 

 

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

21

 

 

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

22

 

No dealer, salesperson or any other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations, other than those contained in this Prospectus, in connection with the offer contained in this Prospectus and, if given or made, such other information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF (the “Fund”), ALPS Advisors, Inc., the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Investment Adviser”), or the Fund’s distributor, ALPS Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”).  This Prospectus does not constitute an offer by the Fund or by the Distributor to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities offered hereby in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful for the Fund to make such an offer in such jurisdiction.

 

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INTRODUCTION—ALPS ETF TRUST

 

The ALPS ETF Trust (the “Trust”) is an investment company currently consisting of two separate exchange-traded “index funds.” This prospectus relates to the ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF (the “Fund”).  The Fund seeks investment results that replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Bank of America Securities - Merrill Lynch Equal Sector Weight Index.  ALPS Advisors, Inc. is the investment adviser for the Fund.

 

The Fund has applied to list its shares (the “Shares”), subject to notice of issuance, on NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “NYSE Arca”).  The Fund’s Shares will trade at market prices that may differ to some degree from the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Shares.  Unlike conventional mutual funds, the Fund will issue and redeem Shares on a continuous basis, at NAV, only in large specified blocks of 50,000 Shares, each of which is called a “Creation Unit.”  Creation Units will be issued and redeemed principally in-kind for securities included in a specified index.  Except when aggregated in Creation Units, Shares are not redeemable securities of the Fund.

 

WHO SHOULD INVEST

 

The Fund is designed for investors who seek a relatively low-cost “passive” approach for investing in a portfolio of equity securities of companies in a specified index.  The Fund may be suitable for long-term investment in the market represented by a specified index and may also be used as an asset allocation tool or as a speculative trading instrument.

 

TAX-ADVANTAGED PRODUCT STRUCTURE

 

Unlike interests in many conventional mutual funds, the Shares are traded throughout the day on a national securities exchange, whereas mutual fund interests are typically only bought and sold at closing NAVs.  The Shares have been designed to be tradable in the secondary market on a national securities exchange on an intra-day basis, and to be created and redeemed principally in-kind in Creation Units at each day’s next calculated NAV.  These arrangements are designed to protect ongoing shareholders from adverse effects on the Fund’s portfolio that could arise from frequent cash creation and redemption transactions.  In a conventional mutual fund, redemptions can have an adverse tax impact on taxable shareholders because of the mutual fund’s need to sell portfolio securities to obtain cash to meet fund redemptions.  These sales may generate taxable gains for the shareholders of the mutual fund, whereas the Shares’ in-kind redemption mechanism generally will not lead to a tax event for the Fund or its ongoing shareholders.

 

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ALPS EQUAL SECTOR WEIGHT ETF

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks investment results that replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Bank of America Securities - Merrill Lynch Equal Sector Weight Index (the “Underlying Index”). The Fund’s investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval.

 

Primary Investment Strategies

 

The Adviser will seek to match the performance of the Underlying Index.  The Underlying Index is an index of indexes comprised in equal proportions of the nine Select Sector SPDR Indexes (“The Underlying Sector Indexes”).  In order to track the securities in the Underlying Index, the Fund will use a “fund of funds” approach, and seek to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 90% if its total assets in the shares of Select Sector SPDR exchange-traded funds (each, an “Underlying Sector ETF” and collectively, the “Underlying Sector ETFs”) that track the Underlying Sector Indexes of which the Underlying Index is comprised.

 

Each Underlying Sector ETF is an “index fund” that invests in the equity securities of companies in a particular sector or group of industries.  The objective of each Underlying Sector ETF is to track its respective Underlying Sector Index by replicating the securities in the Underlying Sector Index.  Together, the nine Underlying Sector Indexes represent the Underlying Index as a whole.

 

The investment policies of the Underlying Sector ETFs are described generally in the section “Information about the Underlying Sector ETFs.” The Board of Trustees of the Trust may change the Fund’s investment strategy and other policies without shareholder approval, except as otherwise indicated.

 

The Adviser seeks a correlation over time of 0.95 or better between the Fund’s performance, before fees and expenses, and the performance of the Underlying Index.  A figure of 1.00 would represent perfect correlation.

 

The Fund generally will invest in all of the Underlying Sector ETFs in proportion to the weight of its corresponding Underlying Sector Index weight in the Underlying Index.  However, under various circumstances, it may not be possible or practicable to purchase all of the Underlying ETFs in those weightings. In those circumstances, the Fund may purchase a sample of the Underlying ETFs in proportions expected by the Investment Adviser to replicate generally the performance of the Underlying Index as a whole.

 

Index Methodology

 

The Underlying Index is designed to track the equally weighted performance of the Underlying Sector Indexes.  Accordingly, each Underlying Sector Index has an initial weight of 11.1% in the Underlying Index so that the Underlying Sector Indexes in aggregate total to 100.0%.  The Underlying Index is rebalanced quarterly so that each rebalance will result in each Underlying Sector Index having an Index weight of 11.1%.

 

Index Description

 

The Bank of America Securities - Merrill Lynch Equal Sector Weight Index was created in 2009 and is a U.S. equity index comprised, in equal weights, of nine Underlying Sector Indexes. These are the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector Index, Consumer Staples

 

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Select Sector Index, Materials Select Sector Index, Energy Select Sector Index, Technology Select Sector Index, Utilities Select Sector Index, Financial Select Sector Index, Industrial Select Sector Index and Health Care Select Sector Index. These nine indexes, whose components add up to the components of the S&P 500, are the Select Sector SPDR Indexes. Each Select Sector SPDR Index is a modified capitalization weighted index whose composition is defined by their GICS (Global Industry Classification System) code.  This design ensures that each of the component stocks within a Select Sector SPDR Index is represented in a proportion consistent with its percentage with respect to the total market capitalization of such Select Sector SPDR Index.  Under certain conditions, however, the number of shares of a component stock within the Select Sector SPDR Index may be adjusted to conform to Internal Revenue Code requirements. At all times, the Bank of America Securities - Merrill Lynch Equal Sector Weight Index will be comprised of the constituents in the S&P 500, albeit in different weights.

 

The Underlying Index is rebalanced four times a year on the third Friday of March, June, September and December to reset the Underlying Sector Indexes to equal weightings. In between the quarterly rebalancings, the Underlying Sector Indexes will not have equal weights in the Index. The Underlying Index is calculated real time and published in Reuters, Bloomberg and on the Merrill Lynch web site.

 

Primary Investment Risks

 

Investors should consider the following risk factors and special considerations associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause you to lose money.  The following specific risk factors have been identified for the Fund.  See also the section “Additional Risks” for additional risk factors.

 

Fund of Funds Risk.  The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing in assets in the Underlying Sector ETFs rather than investing directly in stocks, bonds, cash or other investments.  The Fund’s investment performance, because it is a fund of funds, depends on the investment performance of the Underlying Sector ETFs in which it invests.  An investment in the Fund is subject to the risks associated with the Underlying Sector ETFs that comprise the Underlying Index.  The Fund will indirectly pay a proportional share of the asset-based fees of the Underlying Sector ETFs in which it invests.  In addition, at times, certain of the segments of the market represented by constituent Underlying Sector ETFs in the Underlying Index may be out of favor and underperform other segments.

 

Underlying Sector ETFs Risk.  Investment in the Underlying Sector ETFs may subject the Fund to the following risks:  Market Risk; Market Trading Risk; Non-Correlation Risk; Replication Management Risk; Equity Securities Risk; Large Capitalization Company Risk; Liquidity Risk; and Valuation Risk.  See “Risks of Underlying Sector ETFs.”  The Fund may also be subject to certain other risks specific to each Underlying Sector ETF.  See “Risks of Underlying Sector ETFs- Risks Specific to Each Underlying Sector ETF.”

 

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

 

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FUND PERFORMANCE

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund has not yet commenced operations.  When the Fund has completed a full calendar year of investment operations, this section will include charts that show annual total returns, highest and lowest quarterly returns and average annual total returns (before and after taxes) compared to a benchmark index selected for the Fund.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.  Investors purchasing Shares in the secondary market will not pay the shareholder fees shown below, but may be subject to costs (including customary brokerage commissions) charged by their broker.

 

Shareholder Fees (paid directly by Authorized Participants)

 

Sales charges (loads)

 

None

 

Standard creation/redemption transaction fee per order(1)

 

$

500

 

Maximum additional creation/redemption transaction fee per order(1)

 

$

2,000

 

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses(2)(3) (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets)

 

Management fees

 

0.37

%

Other expenses(2)(4)

 

%

Acquired fund fees and expenses(5)(6)

 

0.21

%

Fee Waiver/Reimbursement of Distribution fee of Underlying Sector ETFs

 

(0.03

)%

Total annual Fund operating expenses(4)

 

0.55

%

 


(1)                              Purchasers of Creation Units and parties redeeming Creation Units must pay a standard creation or redemption transaction fee of $500.  If a Creation Unit is purchased or redeemed outside of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) or for cash, a variable fee of up to four times the standard creation or redemption transaction fee may be charged.  See the following discussion of “Creation Transaction Fees and Redemption Transaction Fees.”

 

(2)                              The Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus.  The expenses listed in the table are estimates based on the expenses the Fund expects to incur for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009.

 

(3)                              Expressed as a percentage of average net assets.

 

(4)                              The Fund’s Advisory Agreement (as defined herein) provides that the Investment Adviser will pay all expenses of the Fund, except for interest expenses, distribution fees or expenses, brokerage expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses such as litigation and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business.

 

(5)                              The Fund indirectly bears the expenses of the Underlying Sector ETFs.  The Distributor also serves as the distributor to the Underlying Sector ETFs, and in such capacity receives a distribution fee from the Underlying Sector ETFs.  As required by exemptive relief obtained by the Underlying Sector ETFs, the Investment Adviser will reimburse to the Fund an amount equal to the distribution fee received

 

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by the Distributor from the Underlying Sector ETFs attributable to the Fund’s investment in the Underlying Sector ETFs for so long as the Distributor acts as distributor to the Fund and the Underlying Sector ETFs.

 

(6)                              Acquired fund fees and expenses are not fees and expenses incurred by the Fund directly, but are expenses of the Underlying Sector ETFs in which the Fund invests.  The impact of the acquired fund fees and expenses are included in the total returns of the Fund.

 

Example

 

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the costs of investing in other funds.  This example does not take into account transaction fees on purchases and redemptions of Creation Units of the Fund or customary brokerage commissions that you may pay when purchasing or selling Shares of the Fund.  The Fund creates and redeems Shares in Creation Units principally on an in-kind basis for portfolio securities of the Underlying Index.  Shares in less than Creation Unit aggregations are not redeemable.  An investor purchasing a Creation Unit on an in-kind basis would pay the following expenses on a $10,000 investment (payment with a deposit of securities included in the Underlying Index), assuming a 5% annual return and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Investors should note that the presentation below of a $10,000 investment in Creation Unit is for illustration purposes only, as Shares will be issued by the Fund only in Creation Units.  Further, the return of 5% and estimated expenses are for illustration purposes only and should not be considered indications of expected Fund expenses or performance, which may be greater or lesser than the estimate.

 

One Year

 

Three Years

 

$

56

 

$

176

 

 

Creation Transaction Fees and Redemption Transaction Fees

 

The Fund will issue and redeem Shares at NAV only in large blocks of 50,000 Shares (each block of 50,000 Shares called a “Creation Unit”) or multiples thereof.  As a practical matter, only broker-dealers or large institutional investors with creation and redemption agreements called Authorized Participants (“APs”) can purchase or redeem these Creation Units.  Purchasers of Creation Units at NAV must pay a standard Creation Transaction Fee of $500 per transaction.  The value of a Creation Unit as of first creation was approximately $1,250,000.  An AP who holds Creation Units and wishes to redeem at NAV would also pay a standard Redemption Transaction Fee of $500 per transaction (see “How to Buy and Sell Shares” later in this Prospectus).  APs who hold Creation Units in inventory will also pay the Annual Fund Operating Expenses described in the table above.  Assuming an investment in a Creation Unit of $1,250,000 and a 5% return each year, and assuming that the Fund’s gross operating expenses remain the same, the total costs would be $8,028 if the Creation Unit is redeemed after one year, and $23,033 if the Creation Unit is redeemed after three years.

 

If a Creation Unit is purchased or redeemed for cash or outside the NSCC, a variable fee of up to four times the standard Creation or Redemption Transaction Fee may be charged to the AP making the transaction.

 

The Creation Transaction Fee, Redemption Transaction Fee and variable fee are not expenses of the Fund and do not impact the Fund’s expense ratio.

 

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UNDERLYING SECTOR ETFS

 

Each Underlying Sector ETF seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond to the price and yield performance of its benchmark Select Sector Index. The Underlying Sector ETFs and the Underlying Indexes are as follows:

 

The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLY)

 

The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector Index includes companies from the following industries: retail; media; hotels, restaurants & leisure; household durables; textiles, apparel & luxury goods; automobiles and components; leisure equipment & products; and diversified consumer services.

 

The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLP)

 

The Consumer Staples Select Sector Index includes companies from the following industries: food & staples retailing; household products; beverages; tobacco; food products; and personal products.

 

The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLE)

 

The Energy Select Sector Index includes companies from the following industries: oil, gas & consumable fuels and energy equipment & services.

 

The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLF)

 

The Financial Select Sector Index includes companies from the following industries: diversified financial services; insurance; commercial banks; capital markets; thrift & mortgage finance; real estate; and consumer finance.

 

The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLV)

 

The Health Care Select Sector Index includes companies from the following industries: pharmaceuticals; health care providers & services; health care equipment & supplies; biotechnology; life sciences tools & services; and health care technology.

 

The Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLI)

 

The Industrial Select Sector Index includes companies from the following industries: industrial conglomerates; aerospace & defense; machinery; air freight & logistics; road & rail; commercial services & supplies; electrical equipment; building products; airlines; construction & engineering; and trading companies & distributors.

 

The Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLB)

 

The Materials Select Sector Index includes companies from the following industries: chemicals; metals & mining; paper & forest products; containers & packaging; and construction materials.

 

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The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLK)

 

The Technology Select Sector Index includes companies from the following industries: computers & peripherals; software; communications equipment; semiconductor & semiconductor equipment; diversified telecommunications services; internet software & services; IT services; wireless telecommunication services; electronic equipment & instruments; and office electronics.

 

The Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLU)

 

The Utilities Select Sector Index includes companies from the following industries: electric utilities; multi-utilities; independent power producers & energy traders; and gas utilities.

 

RISKS OF UNDERLYING SECTOR ETFS

 

Investments in the Fund are subject to the risks associated with an investment in the Underlying Sector ETFs.  These include the following risks.  See also the section “Additional Risks” for additional risk factors.

 

Market Risk

 

The shares of the Underlying Sector ETFs are subject to market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic, political, regulatory or market developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in stock prices.  Overall stock values could decline generally or could underperform other investments.

 

Market Trading Risk

 

An investment in an Underlying Sector ETF involves risks similar to those of investing in any fund of equity securities, fixed income securities and/or commodities traded on an exchange.  You should anticipate that the value of the Shares will decline, more or less, in correlation with any decline in value of the Underlying Sector ETFs.

 

Non-Correlation Risk

 

An Underlying Sector ETF may not match the return of its underlying index for a number of reasons.  For example, an Underlying ETF may incur a number of operating expenses not applicable to its underlying index, and incur costs in buying and selling securities, especially when rebalancing its securities holdings to reflect changes in composition of its underlying index.  In addition, the performance of an Underlying Sector ETF and its underlying index may vary due to asset valuation differences and differences between the Underlying Sector ETF’s portfolio and its underlying index resulting from legal restrictions (such as diversification requirements that apply to an Underlying Sector ETF but not to its underlying index).

 

Since the Underlying Index is not subject to the diversification requirements to which the Fund must adhere, the Fund may be required to deviate its investments from the securities and relative weightings of the Underlying Index.  The Fund may not invest in certain securities included in the Underlying Index due to liquidity constraints.  Liquidity constraints may delay the Fund’s purchase or sale of securities included in the Underlying Index.  For tax efficiency purposes, the Fund may sell certain securities to realize losses, causing it to deviate from the Underlying Index.

 

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An Underlying Sector ETF may not be fully invested at times, either as a result of cash flows into the Underlying Sector ETF or reserves of cash held by the Underlying Sector ETF to meet redemptions and expenses.  If an Underlying Sector ETF utilizes a sampling approach or futures or other derivative positions, its return may not correlate as well with the return on its underlying index, as would be the case if it purchased all of the stock in its underlying index with the same weightings as the underlying index.

 

Replication Management Risk

 

Unlike many investment companies, the Underlying Sector ETFs are not “actively” managed.  Therefore, they would not necessarily sell a stock because the stock’s issuer was in financial trouble unless that stock is removed from its underlying index.

 

Equity Securities Risk

 

The prices of equity securities change in response to many factors including the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer, the value of its assets, general economic conditions, interest rates, investor perceptions and market liquidity.

 

Large Capitalization Company Risk

 

Returns of large U.S. companies could trail the returns on investments in stocks of smaller companies.

 

Liquidity Risk

 

Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell.  If an Underlying Sector ETF invests in securities that become illiquid, it may reduce the returns of the Underlying Sector ETF because the Underlying Sector ETF may be unable to sell the illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price.

 

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Risks Specific to Each Underlying Sector ETF

 

Each Underlying Sector ETF is subject to the additional risks associated with concentrating its investments in companies in the market sector that its benchmark Select Sector Index targets, and the Fund is subject to these risks as well. Additional Underlying ETF specific risks include:

 

Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk (The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund): The success of consumer product manufacturers and retailers is tied closely to the performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rates, competitive and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer products in the marketplace.

 

Consumer Staples Sector Risk (The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund): Companies in this Select Sector Index are subject to government regulation affecting the permissibility of using various food additives and production methods, which regulations could affect company profitability. Tobacco companies may be adversely affected by the adoption of proposed legislation and/or by litigation. Also, the success of food and soft drink may be strongly affected by fads, marketing campaigns and other factors affecting supply and demand.

 

Energy Sector Risk (The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund): Energy companies in this Select Sector Index develop and produce crude oil and natural gas and provide drilling and other energy resources production and distribution related services. Stock prices for these types of companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for energy products in general. The price of oil and gas, exploration and production spending, government regulation, world events and economic conditions will likewise affect the performance of these companies. Correspondingly, securities of companies in the energy field are subject to swift price and supply fluctuations caused by events relating to international politics, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, and tax and other governmental regulatory policies. Weak demand for the companies’ products or services or for energy products and services in general, as well as negative developments in these other areas, would adversely impact this Select Sector SPDR Fund’s performance.

 

Financial Sector Risk (The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund): Financial services companies are subject to extensive governmental regulation which may limit both the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and the interest rates and fees they can charge. Profitability is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital funds, and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change. Credit losses resulting from financial difficulties of borrowers can negatively impact the sector. Insurance companies may be subject to severe price competition. Adverse economic, business or political developments affecting real estate could have a major effect on the value of real estate securities (which include real estate investment trusts, or “REITs”).

 

Health Care Sector Risk (The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund): Companies in the healthcare sector are heavily dependent on patent protection. The expiration of patents may adversely affect the profitability of the companies. Health care companies are also subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims. Many new products are subject to approval of the Food and Drug Administration. The process of obtaining such approval can be long and costly. Health care companies are also subject to competitive forces that may make it difficult to raise prices and, in fact, may result in price discounting.

 

Industrial Sector Risk (The Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund): Stock prices for the types of companies included in this industry are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products in general. Government regulation, world events and economic

 

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conditions will likewise affect the performance of these companies. Transportation stocks are cyclical and have occasional sharp price movements which may result from changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor agreement and insurance costs. The Fund may also be susceptible to the same risks as the Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund.

 

Materials Sector Risk (The Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund): Many companies in this sector are significantly affected by the level and volatility of commodity prices, the exchange value of the dollar, import controls, and worldwide competition. At times, worldwide production of industrial materials has exceeded demand as a result of over-building or economic downturns, leading to poor investment returns or losses. Other risks may include liability for environmental damage, depletion of resources, and mandated expenditures for safety and pollution control. The success of equipment manufacturing and distribution companies is closely tied to overall capital spending levels, which are influenced by an individual company’s profitability and broader factors such as interest rates and cross-border competition. The basic industries sector may also be affected by economic cycles, technical progress, labor relations, and government regulations.

 

Technology Sector Risk (The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund): Products included in this Select Sector Index include software, including internet software, communications equipment, computers and peripherals, electronic equipment, office electronics and instruments and semiconductor equipment and products. The financial condition of, and investor interest in, defense companies are heavily influenced by governmental defense spending policies. Defense spending is under pressure from efforts to control the U.S. budget. Competitive pressures may have a significant effect on the financial condition of companies in the technology sector. Also, many of the products and services offered by technology companies are subject to the risk of rapid obsolescence. The Fund may also be susceptible to the same risks as the Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund. Other risks include those related to regulatory changes such as the possible adverse effects on profits of recent increased competition among telecommunications companies and the uncertainties resulting from such companies’ diversification into new domestic and international businesses, as well as agreements by any such companies linking future rate increases to inflation or other factors not directly related to the actual operating profits of the enterprise.

 

Utilities Sector Risk (The Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund): The rates that traditional regulated utility companies may charge their customers generally are subject to review and limitation by governmental regulatory commissions. Although rate changes of a utility usually fluctuate in approximate correlation with financing costs due to political and regulatory factors, rate changes ordinarily occur only following a delay after the changes in financing costs. This factor will tend to favorably affect a regulated utility company’s earnings and dividends in times of decreasing costs, but conversely, will tend to adversely affect earnings and dividends when costs are rising. The value of regulated utility debt securities (and, to a lesser extent, equity securities) tends to have an inverse relationship to the movement of interest rates. Certain utility companies have experienced full or partial deregulation in recent years. These utility companies are frequently more similar to industrial companies in that they are subject to greater competition and have been permitted by regulators to diversify outside of their original geographic regions and their traditional lines of business. These opportunities may permit certain utility companies to earn more than their traditional regulated rates of return. Some companies, however, may be forced to defend their core business and may be less profitable.

 

Among the risks that may affect utility companies are the following: risks of increases in fuel and other operating costs; the high cost of borrowing to finance capital construction during inflationary periods; restrictions on operations and increased costs and delays associated with compliance with environmental and nuclear safety regulations; and the difficulties involved in obtaining natural gas for resale or fuel for generating electricity at reasonable prices. Other risks include those related to the

 

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construction and operation of nuclear power plants; the effects of energy conservation and the effects of regulatory changes.

 

SECONDARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its total assets in the shares of funds included in the Underlying Index.  The Fund may invest its remaining assets in money market instruments, including repurchase agreements or other funds which invest exclusively in money market instruments, convertible securities, structured notes (notes on which the amount of principal repayment and interest payments are based on the movement of one or more specified factors, such as the movement of a particular stock or stock index), forward foreign currency exchange contracts and in swaps, options and futures contracts.  Swaps, options and futures contracts (and convertible securities and structured notes) may be used by the Fund in seeking performance that corresponds to the Underlying Index, and in managing cash flows.  The Fund will not invest in money market instruments as part of a temporary defensive strategy to protect against potential stock market declines.  The Investment Adviser anticipates that it may take approximately three business days (i.e., each day the NYSE is open) for additions and deletions to the Underlying Index to be reflected in the portfolio composition of the Fund.

 

The Fund may borrow money from a bank up to a limit of 10% of the value of its assets, but only for temporary or emergency purposes.

 

The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions desiring to borrow securities to complete transactions and for other purposes.  In connection with such loans, the Fund receives liquid collateral equal to at least 102% of the value of the portfolio securities being lent.  This collateral is marked to market on a daily basis.

 

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

 

ADDITIONAL RISK CONSIDERATIONS

 

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

 

Trading Issues.  Trading in Shares on the NYSE Arca may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the NYSE Arca, make trading in Shares inadvisable.  In addition, trading in Shares on the NYSE Arca is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to the NYSE Arca “circuit breaker” rules.  There can be no assurance that the requirements of the NYSE Arca necessary to maintain the listing of the Fund will continue to be met or will remain unchanged.

 

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

 

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

 

Securities Lending.  Although the Fund will receive collateral in connection with all loans of its securities holdings, the Fund would be exposed to a risk of loss should a borrower default on its obligation to return the borrowed securities (e.g., the loaned securities may have appreciated beyond the value of the collateral held by the Fund).  In addition, the Fund will bear the risk of loss of any cash collateral that it invests.

 

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

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES

 

Investment Adviser

 

ALPS Advisors, Inc. acts as the Fund’s investment adviser pursuant to an advisory agreement with the Trust on behalf of the Fund (the “Advisory Agreement”).  The Investment Adviser is a Colorado corporation with its principal offices located at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203.  As of December 31, 2008, ALPS Fund Services, Inc. and its affiliated entities, including the Investment Adviser, provided supervisory, management, servicing or distribution services on approximately $227 billion in assets through closed-end funds, mutual funds, hedge funds, separately managed accounts and exchange-traded funds.  Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Investment Adviser manages the investment and reinvestment of the Fund’s assets and administers the affairs of the Fund to the extent requested by the Board of Trustees.  The Investment Adviser also acts as investment adviser to closed-end and open-end management investment companies.

 

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Investment Adviser a unitary fee for the services and facilities it provides payable on a monthly basis at the annual rate of 0.37% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.  From time to time, the Investment Adviser may waive all or a portion of its fee.

 

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

 

The Investment Adviser’s unitary management fee is designed to pay substantially all the Fund’s expenses and to compensate the Investment Adviser for providing services for the Fund.

 

Approval of Advisory Agreement

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Advisory Agreement will be available in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders for the period ending June 30, 2009.

 

Portfolio Management

 

The Investment Adviser supervises and manages the investment portfolio of the Fund and directs the purchase and sale of the Fund’s investment securities based on the Bank of America Securities-Merrill Lynch Equal Sector Weight Index.  The Investment Adviser utilizes a team of investment professionals acting together to manage the assets of the Fund.  The team meets regularly to review portfolio holdings and to discuss purchase and

 

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sale activity.  The following members of the team are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

William Parmentier, Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of ALPS Advisors, joined ALPS in 2006 from Banc of America Investment Advisors (BAIA).  Mr. Parmentier is responsible for the investment management of products which ALPS Advisors is the advisor, as well as the operational aspects of the organization.  Prior to joining BAIA in 1995, Mr. Parmentier was President of GQ Asset Management, the investment subsidiary of the Grumman Corporation.  At Grumman, he was responsible for the management of the corporation’s employee benefit plans with combined assets of approximately $5 billion, including $2.5 billion of internally managed equity and fixed income assets.  During his 15 years as Chief Investment Officer at Grumman he was also responsible for corporate cash management as well as investment matters related to the company’s venture capital and insurance company subsidiaries.

 

Mark Haley, Vice President of ALPS Advisors, joined ALPS in 2006 from Banc of America Investment Advisors (BAIA). Mr. Haley is responsible for overseeing performance evaluation/monitoring and portfolio structure of investment products advised by ALPS Advisors.  He is also responsible for the staff supporting the analytical and operational aspects of the investment products of ALPS Advisors.  Prior to joining BAIA in 1994, he was a Senior Fund Analyst at Liberty Investment Services and a Senior Fund Accountant at State Street Corporation, responsible for providing a broad range of operational services within the mutual fund industry.  Mr. Haley has over 20 years of industry experience.  Mr. Haley holds a B.A. in Business and Economics from Saint Anselm College and an M.B.A. from Suffolk University School of Management.  He has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and successfully completed the NASD Series 7 and 63 examinations.  He is a member of The Boston Security Analysts Society, Inc. and the CFA Institute and serves as Vice President of The Closed-End Fund Association, Inc.

 

Daniel Franciscus, Senior Investment Analyst of ALPS Advisors joined ALPS in 2006 from Banc of America Investment Advisors (BAIA).  He is responsible for supporting the analytical and operational aspects of the investment products advised by ALPS Advisors.  Prior to joining BAIA in 1999, Daniel was a Mutual Fund Analyst for Evergreen Investments and prior to Evergreen, he worked as a Senior International Fund Accountant for Scudder, Stevens & Clark.  He holds a B.S. in Occupational Safety & Health from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from Northeastern University.

 

John Papoutsis, Investment Analyst of ALPS Advisors, joined ALPS in 2006 from Banc of America Investment Advisors (BAIA).  He is responsible for supporting the analytical and operational aspects of the investment products advised by ALPS Advisors.  Prior to joining BAIA in 1999, John was a Financial Reporting Supervisor with Colonial Management Associates and prior to Colonial Management Associates, John was a Senior Portfolio Accountant for State Street Bank and Trust Company.   He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Boston University.

 

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

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

General

 

The Shares will be issued or redeemed by the Fund at NAV per Share only in Creation Unit size.  See “Creations, Redemptions and Transaction Fees.”

 

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

 

Share prices are reported in dollars and cents per Share.

 

Investors may acquire Shares directly from the Fund, and shareholders may tender their Shares for redemption directly to the Fund, only in Creation Units of 50,000 Shares, as discussed in the section “Creations, Redemptions and Transaction Fees” below.

 

Book Entry

 

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

 

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

 

HOW TO BUY AND SELL SHARES

 

Pricing Fund Shares

 

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

 

The NYSE Arca intends to disseminate the approximate value of Shares of the Fund every fifteen seconds.  This approximate value should not be viewed as a “real-time” update of the NAV per Share of the Fund because the approximate value may not be calculated in the same manner as the NAV, which is computed once a day, generally at the end of the business day.  The Fund is not involved in, or responsible for, the calculation or dissemination of the approximate value and the Fund does not make any warranty as to its accuracy.

 

The NAV per Share for the Fund is determined once daily as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, each day the NYSE is open for trading.  NAV per Share is determined by dividing the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities, cash and other assets

 

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(including accrued interest), less all liabilities (including accrued expenses), by the total number of shares outstanding.

 

Equity securities are valued at the last reported sale price on the principal exchange on which such securities are traded, as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE Arca on the day the securities are being valued or, if there are no sales, at the mean of the most recent bid and asked prices.  Equity securities that are traded in over-the-counter markets are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE Arca on the day the securities are valued or, if there are no sales, at the mean of the most recent bid and asked prices.  Debt securities are valued at the mean between the last available bid and asked prices for such securities or, if such prices are not available, at prices for securities of comparable maturity, quality, and type.  Securities for which market quotations are not readily available, including restricted securities, are valued by a method that the Trustees believe accurately reflects fair value.  Securities will be valued at fair value when market quotations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable, such as when a security’s value or meaningful portion of the Fund’s portfolio is believed to have been materially affected by a significant event.  Such events may include a natural disaster, an economic event like a bankruptcy filing, a trading halt in a security, an unscheduled early market close or a substantial fluctuation in domestic and foreign markets that has occurred between the close of the principal exchange and the NYSE Arca.  In such a case, the value for a security is likely to be different from the last quoted market price.  In addition, due to the subjective and variable nature of fair market value pricing, it is possible that the value determined for a particular asset may be materially different from the value realized upon such asset’s sale.

 

Creation Units

 

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

 

How to Buy Shares

 

In order to purchase Creation Units of the Fund, an investor must generally deposit a designated portfolio of equity securities constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the stocks included in the Index (the “Deposit Securities”) and generally make a small cash payment referred to as the “Cash Component.”  For those APs that are not eligible for trading a Deposit Security, custom orders are available.  The list of the names and the numbers of shares of the Deposit Securities is made available by the Fund’s custodian through the facilities of the NSCC, immediately prior to the opening of business each day of the NYSE Arca.  The Cash Component represents the difference between the NAV of a Creation Unit and the market value of the Deposit Securities.  In the case of custom orders, cash-in-lieu may be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Securities that the AP may not be eligible to trade.

 

Orders must be placed in proper form by or through either (i) a “Participating Party” i.e., a broker-dealer or other participant in the Clearing Process of the Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC (the “Clearing Process”) or (ii) a participant of the DTC (“DTC Participant”) that has entered into an agreement with the Trust, the Distributor and the transfer agent, with respect to purchases and redemptions of Creation Units.  All standard orders must be placed for one or more whole Creation Units of Shares of the Fund and must be received by the Distributor in proper form no later than the close of regular trading on the NYSE (ordinarily 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) (“Closing Time”) in order to receive that

 

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day’s closing NAV per Share.  In the case of custom orders, as further described in the Statement of Additional Information, the order must be received by the Distributor no later than one hour prior to Closing Time in order to receive that day’s closing NAV per Share.  A custom order may be placed by an AP in the event that the Trust permits or requires the substitution of an amount of cash to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security which may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery or which may not be eligible for trading by such AP or the investor for which it is acting or any other relevant reason.  See “Creation and Redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations” in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

A fixed creation transaction fee of $500 per transaction (the “Creation Transaction Fee”) is applicable to each transaction regardless of the number of Creation Units purchased in the transaction.  An additional charge of up to four times the Creation Transaction Fee may be imposed on transactions effected outside of the Clearing Process (through a DTC Participant) or to the extent that cash is used in lieu of securities to purchase Creation Units.  See “Creation and Redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations” in the Statement of Additional Information.  The price for each Creation Unit will equal the daily NAV per Share times the number of Shares in a Creation Unit plus the fees described above and, if applicable, any transfer taxes.

 

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

 

Legal Restrictions on Transactions in Certain Stocks

 

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

 

Redemption of Shares

 

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

 

An order to redeem Creation Units of the Fund may only be effected by or through an AP.  An order to redeem must be placed for one or more whole Creation Units and must be received by the

 

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transfer agent in proper form no later than the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) in order to receive that day’s closing NAV per Share.  In the case of custom orders, as further described in the Statement of Additional Information, the order must be received by the transfer agent no later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern time.

 

A fixed redemption transaction fee of $500 per transaction (the “Redemption Transaction Fee”) is applicable to each redemption transaction regardless of the number of Creation Units redeemed in the transaction.  An additional charge of up to four times the Redemption Transaction Fee may be charged to approximate additional expenses incurred by the Fund with respect to redemptions effected outside of the Clearing Process or to the extent that redemptions are for cash.  The Fund reserves the right to effect redemptions in cash.  A shareholder may request a cash redemption in lieu of securities, however, the Fund may, in its discretion, reject any such request.  See “Creation and Redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations” in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Distributions

 

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

 

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

 

Income dividends, if any, are distributed to shareholders quarterly.  Net capital gains are distributed at least annually.  Dividends may be declared and paid more frequently to improve Index tracking or to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  In addition, the Fund intends to distribute at least quarterly amounts representing the full dividend yield net of expenses on the underlying investment securities as if the Fund owned the underlying investment securities for the entire dividend period.  As a result, some portion of each distribution may result in a return of capital (which is a return of the shareholder’s investment in the Fund).  Section 19(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and Rule 19a-1 thereunder require the Fund to provide a written statement accompanying any such distribution that adequately discloses its source or sources to the extent the source includes something other than net investment income.  Thus, if the source of the dividend or other distribution were the original capital contribution of the shareholder, and the payment amounted to a return of capital, the Fund would be required to provide written disclosure to that effect.  Nevertheless, persons who periodically receive the payment of a dividend or other distribution may be under the impression that they are receiving net profits when they are not.  Shareholders should read any written disclosure provided pursuant to Section 19(a) and Rule 19a-1 carefully, and should not assume that the source of any distribution from the Fund is net profit.

 

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

 

FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS

 

The Fund imposes no restrictions on the frequency of purchases and redemptions.  The Board of Trustees evaluated the risks of market timing activities by the Fund’s shareholders when they determined that no restriction or policy was necessary.  The Board considered that, unlike traditional mutual funds,

 

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the Fund issues and redeems its shares at NAV for a basket of securities intended to mirror the Fund’s portfolio, plus a small amount of cash, and the 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 Fund’s shareholders or (b) any attempts to market time the Fund by its shareholders would result in negative impact to the Fund or its shareholders.

 

FUND SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

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

 

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

 

Clifford Chance US LLP serves as counsel to the Fund.

 

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

 

INDEX PROVIDER

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”) is the Index Provider for the ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF.  Merrill Lynch is not affiliated with the Trust, the Investment Adviser or the Distributor.  The Trust and the Investment Adviser have entered into a license agreement with Merrill Lynch to use the Underlying Index.

 

DISCLAIMERS

 

The Fund is not issued, sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Merrill Lynch or its affiliates (“Licensor”).  Licensor makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly or the ability of the Bank of America Securities - Merrill Lynch Equal Sector Weight Index (“Index”) to track general market performance.  Licensor’s only relationship to the Licensee is the licensing of the Index which is determined, composed and calculated by Licensor without regard to the Licensee or the Fund.  Licensor has no obligation to take the needs of the Licensee or the owners of the Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Index.  Licensor is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Fund to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund is to be converted into cash.  Licensor has no obligation or liability in connection with the issuance, administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.

 

LICENSOR DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE QUALITY, ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS OF ANY KIND RELATED TO THE INDEX OR DATA.  LICENSOR MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY LICENSEE, OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN IN CONNECTION WITH THE RIGHTS LICENSED TO LICENSEE OR FOR ANY OTHER USE.  LICENSOR MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN.  WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL LICENSOR HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN

 

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IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. 

 

The Investment Adviser does not guarantee the accuracy and/or the completeness of the Underlying Index or any data included therein, and the Investment Adviser shall have no liability for any errors, omissions or interruptions therein.  The Investment Adviser makes no warranty, express or implied, as to results to be obtained by the Fund, owners of the Shares of the Fund or any other person or entity from the use of the Underlying Index or any data included therein.  The Investment Adviser makes no express or implied warranties, and expressly disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use with respect to the Underlying Index or any data included therein.  Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall the Investment Adviser have any liability for any special, punitive, direct, indirect or consequential damages (including lost profits) arising out of matters relating to the use of the Underlying Index even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

 

FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION

 

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

 

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

 

·                  The Fund makes distributions,

 

·                  You sell your Shares listed on the NYSE Arca, and

 

·                  You purchase or redeem Creation Units.

 

Taxes on Distributions

 

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

 

Long-term capital gains of non-corporate taxpayers are generally taxed at a maximum rate of 15% for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011.  In addition, for these taxable years some ordinary dividends declared and paid by the Fund to non-corporate shareholders may qualify for taxation at the lower reduced tax rates applicable to long-term capital gains, provided that holding period and other requirements are met by the Fund and the shareholder.  Without future Congressional action, the maximum rate applicable to long-term capital gains will return to 20% in 2011, and all dividends will be taxed at ordinary income rates.

 

If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, the Fund’s ordinary income dividends (which include distributions of net short-term capital gains) will generally be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax, unless a lower treaty rate applies or unless such income is effectively connected

 

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with a U.S. trade or business carried on through a permanent establishment in the United States. For distributions with respect to taxable years of regulated investment companies beginning before January 1, 2010, the Fund is not required to withhold any amounts with respect to distributions to foreign shareholders that are properly designated by the Fund as “interest-related dividends” or “short-term capital gain dividends,” provided that the income would not be subject to federal income tax if earned directly by the foreign shareholder.  However the Fund may withhold tax on these amounts regardless of the fact that it is not required to do so. Any amounts withheld from payments made to a shareholder may be refunded or credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.  Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the specific tax consequences described above.

 

The Fund generally would be required to withhold a percentage of your distributions and proceeds if you have not provided a taxpayer identification number (generally your social security number) or otherwise provide proof of an applicable exemption from backup withholding.  The backup withholding rate for an individual is currently 28%.

 

Taxes on Exchange-Listed Shares Sales

 

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

 

Taxes on Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

The foregoing discussion summarizes some of the possible consequences under current federal tax law of an investment in the Fund.  It is not a substitute for personal tax advice.  You may also be subject to state and local taxation on Fund distributions, and sales of Fund Shares.  Consult your personal tax advisor about the potential tax consequences of an investment in Fund Shares under all applicable tax laws.

 

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OTHER INFORMATION

 

For purposes of the 1940 Act, the Fund is treated as a registered investment company.  Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act restricts investments by investment companies in the securities of other investment companies, including Shares of the Fund.  Registered investment companies are permitted to invest in the Fund beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1) subject to certain terms and conditions set forth in an SEC exemptive order issued to the Trust, including that such investment companies enter an agreement with the Trust.

 

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

 

A description of the Trust’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

Because the Fund has not yet commenced operations, there is no financial information available for the Shares as of the date of this Prospectus.

 

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FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

Existing Shareholders or Prospective Investors

 

·                  Call your financial professional

 

·                  www.alpsetfs.com

 

Dealers

 

·                  www.alpsetfs.com

 

·                  Distributor Telephone:  1-866-675-2639

 

Investment Adviser

 

 

 

 

 

ALPS Advisors, Inc.

 

 

1290 Broadway

 

 

Suite 1100

 

 

Denver, Colorado 80203

 

 

 

 

 

Distributor

 

 

 

 

 

ALPS Distributors, Inc.

 

 

1290 Broadway

 

 

Suite 1100

 

 

Denver, Colorado 80203

 

 

 

 

 

Custodian

 

Transfer Agent

 

 

 

The Bank of New York Mellon

 

The Bank of New York Mellon

101 Barclay Street

 

101 Barclay Street

New York, New York 10286

 

New York, New York 10286

 

 

 

Legal Counsel

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Clifford Chance US LLP

 

Deloitte & Touche LLP

31 West 52nd Street

 

555 17th Street

New York, New York 10019

 

Suite 3600

 

 

Denver, CO 80202

 

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[ALPS® LOGO]

 

A Statement of Additional Information dated June 23, 2009, which contains more details about the Fund, is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this Prospectus, which means that it is legally part of this Prospectus.

 

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

 

You can ask questions or obtain a free copy of the Fund’s shareholder reports or the Statement of Additional Information by calling 1-866-675-2639.  Free copies of the Fund’s shareholder reports and the Statement of Additional Information are available from our website at www.alpsetfs.com.

 

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

 

Information about the Fund, including its reports and the Statement of Additional Information, has been filed with the SEC.  It can be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC or on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s internet site (http://www.sec.gov).  Information on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (202) 551-5850.  You can also request copies of these materials, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the SEC’s e-mail address (publicinfo@sec.gov) or by writing the Public Reference section of the SEC, 100 F Street NE, Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549.

 

PROSPECTUS

 

Distributor

ALPS Distributors, Inc.

1290 Broadway

Suite 1100

Denver, Colorado  80203

 

June 23, 2009

 

Investment Company Act File No. 811-22175.

 

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Investment Company Act File No. 811-22175

 

ALPS ETF Trust

Statement of Additional Information

Dated June 23, 2009

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus.  It should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus dated June 23, 2009 for the ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF, a series of the ALPS ETF Trust (the “Trust”), as it may be revised from time to time.  Capitalized terms used herein that are not defined have the same meaning as in the Prospectus, unless otherwise noted.  A copy of the Prospectus may be obtained without charge by writing to the Trust’s distributor, ALPS Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”), or by calling toll free 1-866-675-2639.

 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUND

 

2

 

 

 

EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING

 

2

 

 

 

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS AND POLICIES

 

3

 

 

 

INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS

 

4

 

 

 

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND RISKS

 

7

 

 

 

MANAGEMENT

 

10

 

 

 

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

 

19

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TRUST

 

20

 

 

 

CREATION AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNIT AGGREGATIONS

 

23

 

 

 

TAXES

 

32

 

 

 

FEDERAL TAX TREATMENT OF FUTURES AND OPTIONS CONTRACTS

 

34

 

 

 

DETERMINATION OF NAV

 

35

 

 

 

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

35

 

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

 

35

 

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

36

 

 

 

APPENDIX A PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

37

 



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GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUND

 

The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on September 13, 2007 and is authorized to have multiple series or portfolios.  The Trust is an open-end management investment company, registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).  The Trust currently consists of two investment portfolios.  This SAI relates to the ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF (the “Fund”).  The Fund seeks investment results that replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Bank of America Securities - Merrill Lynch Equal Sector Weight Index (the “Underlying Index”).  The Fund is “non-diversified” and, as such, the Fund’s investments are not required to meet certain diversification requirements under the 1940 Act.  The shares of the Fund are referred to herein as “Shares” or “Fund Shares.”

 

The Fund is managed by ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“ALPS Advisors” or the “Investment Adviser”).

 

The Fund will offer and issue Shares at net asset value (“NAV”) only in aggregations of a specified number of Shares (each a “Creation Unit” or a “Creation Unit Aggregation”), generally in exchange for a basket of equity securities included in the Underlying Index (the “Deposit Securities”), together with the deposit of a specified cash payment (the “Cash Component”).  The Fund anticipates that its Shares will be listed on NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “NYSE Arca”).  Fund Shares will trade on the NYSE Arca at market prices that may be below, at or above NAV.  Shares are redeemable only in Creation Unit Aggregations and, generally, in exchange for portfolio securities and a specified cash payment.  Creation Units are aggregations of 50,000 Shares.  In the event of the liquidation of the Fund, the Trust may lower the number of Shares in a Creation Unit.

 

The Trust reserves the right to offer a “cash” option for creations and redemptions of Fund Shares.  Fund Shares may be issued in advance of receipt of Deposit Securities subject to various conditions including a requirement to maintain on deposit with the Trust cash at least equal to 115% of the market value of the missing Deposit Securities.  See the “Creation and Redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations” section.  In each instance of such cash creations or redemptions, transaction fees may be imposed that will be higher than the transaction fees associated with in-kind creations or redemptions.  In all cases, such fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities.

 

EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS AND POLICIES

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks investment results that replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Bank of America Securities - Merrill Lynch Equal Sector Weight Index (the “Underlying Index”). The Fund’s investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or the “Trustees”) without shareholder approval.

 

Investment Restrictions

 

The Board has adopted as fundamental policies the Fund’s respective investment restrictions, numbered (1) through (7) below.  The Fund, as a fundamental policy, may not:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS

 

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

 

Approved borrowers are brokers, dealers, domestic and foreign banks, or other financial institutions that meet credit or other requirements as established by, and subject to the review of, the Trust’s Board, so long as the terms, the structure and the aggregate amount of such loans are not inconsistent with the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder or interpretations of the SEC, which require that (a) the borrowers pledge and maintain with the Fund collateral consisting of cash, an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a bank, or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government

 

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having a value at all times of not less than 102% of the value of the securities loaned (on a “mark-to-market” basis); (b) the loan be made subject to termination by the Fund at any time; and (c) the Fund receives reasonable interest on the loan.  From time to time, the Fund may return a part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral received from securities loaned to the borrower and/or a third party that is unaffiliated with the Fund and that is acting as a finder.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Money Market Instruments.  The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in high-quality money market instruments on an ongoing basis to provide liquidity.  The instruments in which the Fund may invest include:  (i) short-term obligations issued by the U.S. Government; (ii) negotiable certificates of deposit (“CDs”), fixed time deposits and bankers’ acceptances of U.S. and foreign banks and similar institutions; (iii) commercial paper rated at the date of purchase “Prime-1” by Moody’s Investors Service,

 

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Inc. or “A-1+” or “A-1” by Standard & Poor’s or, if unrated, of comparable quality as determined by the Investment Adviser; (iv) repurchase agreements; and (v) money market mutual funds.  CDs are short-term negotiable obligations of commercial banks.  Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in banking institutions for specified periods of time at stated interest rates.  Banker’s acceptances are time drafts drawn on commercial banks by borrowers, usually in connection with international transactions.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

An option on a futures contract, as contrasted with the direct investment in such a contract, gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in the underlying futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option.  Upon exercise of an option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer’s futures margin account that represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract exceeds (in the case of a call) or is less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option on the futures contract.  The potential for loss related to the purchase of an option on a futures contract is limited to the premium paid for the option plus transaction costs.  Because the value of the option is fixed at the point of purchase, there are no daily

 

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cash payments by the purchaser to reflect changes in the value of the underlying contract; however, the value of the option changes daily and that change would be reflected in the NAV of the Fund.  The potential for loss related to writing call options on equity securities or indices is unlimited.  The potential for loss related to writing put options is limited only by the aggregate strike price of the put option less the premium received.

 

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

 

Restrictions on the Use of Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts.  The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has eliminated limitations on futures trading by certain regulated entities, including registered investment companies, and consequently registered investment companies may engage in unlimited futures transactions and options thereon provided that the investment adviser to the company claims an exclusion from regulation as a commodity pool operator.  In connection with its management of the Trust, the Investment Adviser has claimed such an exclusion from registration as a commodity pool operator under the Commodity Exchange Act (the “CEA”).  Therefore, it is not subject to the registration and regulatory requirements of the CEA.  Therefore, there are no limitations on the extent to which the Fund may engage in non-hedging transactions involving futures and options thereon, except as set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus and this SAI.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND RISKS

 

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

 

An investment in the Fund should be made with an understanding that the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities may fluctuate in accordance with changes in the financial condition of the issuers of the portfolio securities, the value of common stocks in general and other factors that affect the market.

 

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

 

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, or holders of debt obligations or preferred stocks.  Further, unlike debt securities which typically have a stated principal amount payable at maturity (whose value, however, is 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.

 

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

 

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

 

Furthermore, because, by definition, futures contracts project price levels in the future and not current levels of valuation, market circumstances may result in a discrepancy between the price of the stock index future and the movement in the Underlying Index.  In the event of adverse price movements, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments to maintain its required margin.  In such situations, if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily margin requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.  In addition, the Fund may be required to deliver the instruments underlying futures contracts it has sold.

 

The risk of loss in trading futures contracts or uncovered call options in some strategies (e.g., selling uncovered stock index futures contracts) is potentially unlimited.  The Fund does not plan to use futures and options contracts in this way.  The risk of a futures position may still be large as traditionally measured due to the low margin deposits required.  In many cases, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and substantial loss or gain to the investor relative to the size of a required margin deposit.  The Fund, however, intends to utilize futures and options contracts in a manner designed to limit their risk exposure to levels comparable to direct investment in stocks.

 

Utilization of futures and options on futures by the Fund involves the risk of imperfect or even negative correlation to the Underlying Index if the index underlying the futures contract differs from the Underlying Index.  There is also the risk of loss by the Fund of margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of a broker with whom the Fund has an open position in the futures contract or option; however, this risk is substantially minimized because (a) of the regulatory requirement that the broker has to “segregate” customer funds from its corporate funds, and (b) in the case of regulated exchanges in the United States,

 

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the clearing corporation stands behind the broker to make good losses in such a situation.  The purchase of put or call options could be based upon predictions by the Investment Adviser as to anticipated trends, which predictions could prove to be incorrect and a part or all of the premium paid therefore could be lost.

 

Because the futures market imposes less burdensome margin requirements than the securities market, an increased amount of participation by speculators in the futures market could result in price fluctuations.  Certain financial futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day.  The daily limit establishes the maximum amount by which the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day’s settlement price at the end of a trading session.  Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular type of contract, no trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit.  It is possible that futures contract prices could move to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and subjecting the Fund to substantial losses.  In the event of adverse price movements, the Fund would be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin.

 

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

 

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

 

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MANAGEMENT

 

Trustees and Officers

 

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

 

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

 

Independent Trustees

 

 

 

Position(s) Held
with Trust

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served**

 

Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5
Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in

Fund Complex

Overseen by

Trustees***

 

Other

Directorships

Held by

Trustees

Mary K. Anstine,
age 68

 

Trustee

 

Since March 2008

 

Ms. Anstine was President/Chief Executive Officer of HealthONE Alliance, Denver, Colorado, and former Executive Vice President of First Interstate Bank of Denver. Ms. Anstine is also Trustee/Director of the  AV Hunter Trust and Colorado Uplift Board. Ms. Anstine was formerly a Director of the Trust Bank of Colorado (later purchased and now known as Northern Trust Bank) and HealthONE, and a member of the American Bankers Association Trust Executive Committee.

 

9

 

Ms. Anstine is a Trustee of ALPS Variable Insurance Trust (1 fund); Financial Investors Variable Insurance Trust (5 funds); Financial Investors Trust (2 funds); Reaves Utility Income Fund; and Westcore Trust (12 funds).

 

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Jeremy W. Deems,
age 32

 

Trustee

 

Since March 2008

 

Mr. Deems is the Co-President and Chief Financial Officer of Green Alpha Advisors, LLC. Prior to joining Green Alpha Advisors, Mr. Deems was CFO and Treasurer of Forward Management, LLC, ReFlow Management Co., LLC, ReFlow Fund, LLC, a private investment fund, and Sutton Place Management, LLC, an administrative services company, from 2004 to June 2007. Prior to this, Mr. Deems served as Controller of Forward Management, LLC, ReFlow Management Co., LLC, ReFlow Fund, LLC and Sutton Place Management, LLC.

 

4

 

Mr. Deems is a Trustee of ALPS Variable Insurance Trust (1 fund); Financial Investors Trust (2 funds); and Reaves Utility Income Fund.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rick A. Pederson,
age 56

 

Trustee

 

Since March 2008

 

Mr. Pederson is Chairman, Ross Consulting Group, 1982 to present; President, Foundation Properties, Inc., 1994 to present; Partner, Western Capital Partners, 2000 to present; Partner, Bow River Capital Partners, 2003 to present; Principal, The Pauls Corp., 2008 to present; Director, Neenan Co., 2002 to present; Director, Nexcore LLC, 2004 to present; Director, Urban Land Conservancy, 2004 to present; Director, Guaranty Bank and Trust/Centennial Bank, 1997 to 2007; Director, Winter Park Rec. Association, 2002 to 2008.

 

2

 

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

 

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*

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

**

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

***

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

 

The Trustee who is affiliated with the Investment Adviser or affiliates of the Investment Adviser and executive officers of the Trust, his term of office and length of time served, his principal business occupations during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Fund Complex overseen by the Interested Trustee and the other directorships, if any, held by the Trustee, are shown below.

 

Interested Trustee

 

Name, Address and

Age of Interested
Trustee*

 

Position(s)
Held with
Trust

 

Term of

Office and

Length
of Time

Served**

 

Principal

Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

 

Number

of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex
Overseen

by

Trustees

 

Other

Directorships

Held by Trustees

Thomas A. Carter,

age 42

 

Trustee and President

 

Since March 2008

 

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

 

7

 

Financial Investors Variable Insurance Trust (5 Funds)

 


*

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

**

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

 

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***

Mr. Carter  is an interested person of the Trust because of his affiliation with ALPS.

 

Officers

 

Name, Address and Age of

Executive Officer

 

Position(s)
Held with

Trust

 

Length of Time

Served*

 

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5

Years

Michael Akins,

age 32

 

Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)

 

Since March 2008

 

Mr. Akins joined ALPS as Deputy Compliance Officer in April 2006. Prior to joining ALPS, Mr. Akins served as Compliance Officer and AVP for UMB Financial Corporation. Before joining UMB, Mr. Akins served as an account manager for State Street Corporation. Because of his affiliation with ALPS and ADI, Mr. Akins is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Akins is currently the CCO of ALPS Variable Insurance Trust, Financial Investors Trust, Financial Investors Variable Insurance Trust, Reaves Utility Income Fund, Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund and the Clough Global Equity Fund.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kimberly R. Storms,

age 37

 

Treasurer

 

Since March 2008

 

Ms. Storms is Director of Fund Administration and Vice President of ALPS. Ms. Storms joined ALPS in 1998 as Assistant Controller. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Storms is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Storms is also Treasurer of ALPS Variable Insurance Trust; Assistant Treasurer of the Liberty All-Star Equity Fund, Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, and Financial Investors Trust; and Assistant Secretary of Ameristock Mutual Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William Parmentier,

age 56

 

Vice President

 

Since March 2008

 

Mr. Parmentier is Chief Investment Officer, ALPS Advisors, Inc. (since 2006); President of the Liberty All-Star Funds (since April 1999); Senior Vice President (2005-2006), Banc of America Investment Advisors, Inc.

 

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Tané T. Tyler,

age 42

 

Secretary

 

Since December 2008

 

Ms. Tyler is Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of ALPS. Ms. Tyler joined ALPS in 2004. Secretary, Liberty All-Star Equity Fund and Liberty All-Star Growth Fund from December 2006-2008; Secretary, Reaves Utility Income Fund from December 2004—2007; Secretary, Westcore Funds from February 2005—2007; Secretary, First Funds from November 2004 to January 2007; Secretary, Financial Investors Variable Insurance Trust from December 2004—December 2006; Vice President and Associate Counsel, Oppenheimer Funds from January 2004 to August 2004; Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, INVESCO Funds from September 1991 to December 2003.

 


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

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

 

Because the Fund had not commenced selling Shares as of the date of this SAI, the Trustees and officers of the Fund do not own any equity securities of the Fund.  Additionally, none of the Independent Trustees own securities in the Investment Adviser or Distributor, nor do they own securities in any entity directly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Investment Adviser or Distributor.

 

Mary K. Anstine, Jeremy W. Deems and Rick A. Pederson, who are Independent Trustees, serve on the Trust’s Nominating and Governance Committee.  The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for recommending qualified candidates to the Board in the event that a position is vacated or created.  The Nominating and Governance Committee would consider recommendations by shareholders if a vacancy were to exist.  Such recommendations should be forwarded to the Secretary of the Trust.  The Trust does not have a standing compensation committee.

 

Jeremy W. Deems (Chairman), Mary K. Anstine and Rick A. Pederson who are Independent Trustees, serve on the Trust’s Audit Committee.  The Audit Committee is generally responsible for reviewing and evaluating issues related to the accounting and financial reporting policies and internal controls of the Trust and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers, overseeing the quality and objectivity of the Trust’s financial statements and the audit thereof and acting as a liaison between the Board of Trustees and the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

Remuneration of Trustees and Officers

 

Each Independent Trustee receives a quarterly retainer of $3,500, a per meeting fee of $1,500, and reimbursement for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses relating to attendance at meetings.  The following chart provides certain information about the Trustee fees paid by the Trust for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008:

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

Aggregate
Compensation
From the Trust

 

Pension Or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued
As Part of Portfolio
Expenses

 

Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement

 

Aggregate Compensation

From The Trust And
Portfolio Complex Paid To

Trustees(1)

 

Mary K. Anstine,

Trustee

 

$

20,000

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

60,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeremy W. Deems,

Trustee

 

$

20,000

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

45,577

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rick A. Pederson,

Trustee

 

$

20,000

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

20,000

 

 


(1)

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

 

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

 

Investment Adviser.  The Investment Adviser manages the investment and reinvestment of the Fund’s assets and administers the affairs of the Fund to the extent requested by the Board based on the Bank of America Securities - Merrill Lynch Equal Sector Weight Index.

 

The Fund is managed by ALPS Advisor’s equity portfolio management team.  The Investment Adviser utilizes a team of investment professionals acting together to manage the assets of the Fund.  The team meets regularly to review portfolio holdings and to discuss purchase and sale activity.

 

William Parmentier, Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of ALPS Advisors, joined ALPS in 2006 from Banc of America Investment Advisors (BAIA).  Mr. Parmentier is responsible for the investment management of products which ALPS Advisors is the advisor, as well as the operational aspects of the organization.  Prior to joining BAIA in 1995, Mr. Parmentier was President of GQ Asset Management, the investment subsidiary of the Grumman Corporation.  At Grumman, he was responsible for the management of the corporation’s employee benefit plans with combined assets of approximately $5 billion, including $2.5 billion of internally managed equity and fixed income assets.  During his 15 years as Chief Investment Officer at Grumman he was also responsible for corporate cash management as well as investment matters related to the company’s venture capital and insurance company subsidiaries.

 

Mark Haley, Vice President of ALPS Advisors, joined ALPS in 2006 from Banc of America Investment Advisors (BAIA). Mr. Haley is responsible for overseeing performance evaluation/monitoring and portfolio structure of investment products advised by ALPS Advisors.  He is also responsible for the staff supporting the analytical and operational aspects of the investment products of ALPS Advisors.  Prior to joining BAIA in 1994, he was a Senior Fund Analyst at Liberty Investment Services and a Senior Fund Accountant at State Street Corporation, responsible for providing a broad range of operational services within the mutual fund industry.  Mr. Haley has over 20 years of industry experience.  Mr. Haley holds a B.A. in Business and Economics from Saint Anselm College and an M.B.A. from Suffolk University School of Management.  He has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and successfully completed the NASD Series 7 and 63 examinations.  He is a member of The Boston Security Analysts Society, Inc. and the CFA Institute and serves as Vice President of The Closed-End Fund Association, Inc.

 

Daniel Franciscus, Senior Investment Analyst of ALPS Advisors joined ALPS in 2006 from Banc of America Investment Advisors (BAIA).  He is responsible for supporting the analytical and operational

 

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aspects of the investment products advised by ALPS Advisors.  Prior to joining BAIA in 1999, Daniel was a Mutual Fund Analyst for Evergreen Investments and prior to Evergreen, he worked as a Senior International Fund Accountant for Scudder, Stevens & Clark.  He holds a B.S. in Occupational Safety & Health from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from Northeastern University.

 

John Papoutsis, Investment Analyst of ALPS Advisors, joined ALPS in 2006 from Banc of America Investment Advisors (BAIA).  He is responsible for supporting the analytical and operational aspects of the investment products advised by ALPS Advisors.  Prior to joining BAIA in 1999, John was a Financial Reporting Supervisor with Colonial Management Associates and prior to Colonial Management Associates, John was a Senior Portfolio Accountant for State Street Bank and Trust Company.   He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Boston University.

 

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

 

Information regarding the other accounts managed by the portfolio manager is set forth below:

 

 

 

Accounts Managed

 

Accounts With Respect to Which
the Advisory Fee is based on the
Performance of the Account

 

Name of Portfolio
Manager

 

Category of
Account

 

Number of

Accounts in

Category

 

Total Assets in
Accounts in
Category

 

Number of

Accounts in

Category

 

Total Assets in
Accounts in

Category

 

William Parmentier

 

Registered Investment Companies

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Pooled investment vehicles

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Accounts

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Haley

 

Registered Investment Companies

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Pooled investment vehicles

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Accounts

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daniel Franciscus

 

Registered Investment Companies

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Pooled investment vehicles

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Accounts

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Papoutsis

 

Registered Investment Companies

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Pooled investment vehicles

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Accounts

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

Portfolio Manager Compensation Structure Disclosure

 

The Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.  Portfolio managers and team members at the Investment Adviser who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are paid a base salary, plus a discretionary bonus. The bonus is determined by the business unit’s revenue and profitability as well as the individual’s contribution to the business unit. The bonus is discretionary and is not based specifically on portfolio performance.

 

Securities Ownership of the Portfolio Managers.  Because the Trust is newly organized, the portfolio manager does not own shares of the Fund.

 

Investment Advisory Agreement.  Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and the Trust, the Investment Adviser is responsible for all expenses of the Fund, including  the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services, except interest expenses, distribution fees or expenses, brokerage expenses, taxes, and extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business.  For the Investment Adviser’s services to the Fund, the Fund has agreed to pay an annual management fee equal to a percentage of its average daily net assets set forth in the chart below.

 

Fund

 

Fee

ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF

 

0.37% of average daily net assets

 

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

 

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

 

Administrator.  ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS Fund Services”) serves as the Trust’s administrator.  Pursuant to an administration agreement, ALPS Fund Services provides certain administrative, bookkeeping and accounting services to the Trust.  For the services, ALPS Fund Services receives a fee, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Investment Adviser from the management fee.  ALPS Fund Services is located at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203.

 

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

 

Distributor.  ALPS Distributors, Inc. is the distributor of the Fund’s Shares.  Its principal address is 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203.  The Distributor has entered into a Distribution Agreement with the Trust pursuant to which it distributes Fund Shares.  Shares are continuously offered for sale by the Fund through the Distributor only in Creation Unit Aggregations, as described in the Prospectus and below under the heading “Creation and Redemption of Creation Units.”

 

Aggregations.  Fund Shares in less than Creation Unit Aggregations are not distributed by the Distributor.  The Distributor will deliver the Prospectus and, upon request, this SAI to persons purchasing Creation Unit Aggregations and will maintain records of both orders placed with it and confirmations of acceptance furnished by it.  The Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

 

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

 

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

 

Index Provider.  Set forth below is a list of the Fund and the Underlying Index upon which it is based.

 

Fund

 

Underlying Index

ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF

 

Bank of America Securities - Merrill Lynch Equal Sector Weight Index

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”) is not affiliated with the ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF or the Investment Adviser.  The Fund is entitled to use its respective Underlying Sector ETFs and Underlying Index pursuant to a licensing agreement with Merrill Lynch and the Investment Adviser.  The Investment Adviser pays a licensing fee to Merrill Lynch out of the management fee.

 

The only relationship that Merrill Lynch has with the Fund, the Investment Adviser or Distributor of the Fund in connection with the Fund is that Merrill Lynch has licensed certain of its intellectual property, including the determination of the component stocks of the Underlying Sector ETFs and the Underlying Index and the name of the Underlying Sector ETFs and the Underlying Index.  The Underlying Index is selected and calculated without regard to the Investment Adviser, Distributor or

 

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Table of Contents

 

owners of the Fund.  Merrill Lynch has no obligation to take the specific needs of the Investment Adviser, Distributor or owners of the Fund into consideration in the determination and calculation of the Underlying Index.  Merrill Lynch is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of pricing or the timing of the issuance or sale of the Shares of the Fund or in the determination or calculation of the net asset value of the Fund.  Merrill Lynch has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration or trading of the Fund.

 

The Fund is not issued, sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Merrill Lynch or its affiliates (“Licensor”).  Licensor makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly or the ability of the Bank of America Securities - Merrill Lynch Equal Weight Sector Index (“Index”) to track general market performance.  Licensor’s only relationship to the Licensee is the licensing of the Index which is determined, composed and calculated by Licensor without regard to the Licensee or the Fund.  Licensor has no obligation to take the needs of the Licensee or the owners of the Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Index.  Licensor is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Fund to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund is to be converted into cash.  Licensor has no obligation or liability in connection with the issuance, administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.

 

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

 

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

 

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

 

In seeking to implement the Trust’s policies, the Investment Adviser effects transactions with those brokers and dealers that the Investment Adviser believes provide the most favorable prices and are capable of providing efficient executions.  The Investment Adviser and its affiliates do not currently participate in soft dollar transactions.

 

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

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TRUST

 

The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act.  The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on September 13, 2007.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Shareholders may make inquiries by writing to the Trust, c/o the Distributor, 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203.

 

Control Persons.  No single person beneficially owns 25% or more of the Fund’s voting securities.

 

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Table of Contents

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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such DTC Participants and the Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners owning through such DTC Participants.

 

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

 

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

 

The Trust is required to disclose annually the Fund’s complete proxy voting record on Form N-PX covering the period July 1 through June 30 and file it with the SEC no later than August 31.  Form N-PX for the Fund also will be available at no charge upon request by calling 1-866-675-2639 or by writing to ALPS ETF Trust at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203.  The Fund’s Form N-PX will also be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

Quarterly Portfolio Schedule.  The Trust is required to disclose, after its first and third fiscal quarters, the complete schedule of the Fund’s portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-Q.  The Trust will also disclose a complete schedule of the Fund’s portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-CSR after its second and fourth quarters.  Form N-Q and Form N-CSR for the Fund will be available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.  The Fund’s Form N-Q and Form N-CSR may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-202-551-5850.  The Fund’s Form N-Q and Form N-CSR will be available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-866-675-2639 or by writing to ALPS ETF Trust at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado  80203.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

CREATION AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNIT AGGREGATIONS

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

The Custodian, through the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) (discussed below), makes available on each Business Day, prior to the opening of business on the NYSE Arca (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern time), the list of the names and the required number of shares of each Deposit Security to be included in the current Fund Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous Business Day) for the Fund.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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sections).  Severe economic or market disruptions or changes, or telephone or other communication failure may impede the ability to reach the Distributor or an Authorized Participant.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

All questions as to the number of Deposit Securities to be delivered, and the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) for the deposit of any tendered securities, will be determined by the Trust, whose determination shall be final and binding.  The amount of cash equal to the Cash Component must be transferred directly to the Custodian through the Federal Reserve Bank wire transfer system in a timely manner so as to be received by the Custodian no later than 2:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the next Business Day immediately following such Transmittal Date.  An order to create Creation Unit Aggregations outside the Clearing Process is deemed received by the Distributor on the Transmittal Date

 

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if (i) such order is received by the Distributor not later than the Closing Time on such Transmittal Date; and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed.  However, if the Custodian does not receive both the required Deposit Securities and the Cash Component by 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., respectively, on the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date, such order will be canceled.  Upon written notice to the Distributor, such canceled order may be resubmitted the following Business Day using a Fund Deposit as newly constituted to reflect the then current Deposit Securities and Cash Component.  The delivery of Creation Unit Aggregations so created will occur no later than the third (3rd) Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Distributor.

 

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

 

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

 

Acceptance of Orders for Creation Unit Aggregations.  The Trust reserves the absolute right to reject a creation order transmitted to it by the Distributor in respect of the Fund if:  (i) the order is not in proper form; (ii) the investor(s), upon obtaining the Fund Shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding shares of any Fund; (iii) the Deposit Securities delivered are not as disseminated for that date by the Custodian, as described above; (iv) acceptance of the Deposit Securities would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Fund; (v) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (vi) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would otherwise, in the discretion of the Trust or the Investment Adviser, have an adverse effect on the Trust or the rights of beneficial owners; or

 

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(vii) in the event that circumstances outside the control of the Trust, the Custodian, the Distributor and the Investment Adviser make it for all practical purposes impossible to process creation orders.  Examples of such circumstances include acts of God; public service or utility problems such as fires, floods, extreme weather conditions and power outages resulting in telephone, telecopy and computer failures; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving computer or other information systems affecting the Trust, the Investment Adviser, the Distributor, DTC, NSCC, the Custodian or sub-custodian or any other participant in the creation process, and similar extraordinary events.  The Distributor shall notify a prospective creator of a Creation Unit and/or the Authorized Participant acting on behalf of such prospective creator of its rejection of the order of such person.  The Trust, the Custodian, any sub-custodian and the Distributor are under no duty, however, to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the delivery of Fund Deposits nor shall any of them incur any liability for the failure to give any such notification.

 

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

 

Creation Transaction Fee.  Investors will be required to pay a fixed creation transaction fee, described below, payable regardless of the number of creations made each day.  An additional charge of up to four times the fixed transaction fee (expressed as a percentage of the value of the Deposit Securities) may be imposed for (i) creations effected outside the Clearing Process; and (ii) cash creations (to offset the Trust’s brokerage and other transaction costs associated with using cash to purchase the requisite Deposit Securities).  Investors are responsible for the costs of transferring the securities constituting the Deposit Securities to the account of the Trust.

 

The Standard Creation/Redemption Transaction Fee for the Fund will be $500.  The Maximum Creation/Redemption Transaction Fee for the Fund will be $2,000.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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the NAV of the Fund Shares, a compensating cash payment equal to the difference is required to be made by or through an Authorized Participant by the redeeming shareholder.

 

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

 

Redemption Transaction Fee.  A redemption transaction fee is imposed to offset transfer and other transaction costs that may be incurred by the Fund.  An additional variable charge for cash redemptions (when cash redemptions are available or specified) for the Fund may be imposed.  Investors will also bear the costs of transferring the Fund Securities from the Trust to their account or on their order.  Investors who use the services of a broker or other such intermediary in addition to an Authorized Participant to effect a redemption of a Creation Unit Aggregation may be charged an additional fee of up to four times the fixed transaction fee for such services.  The redemption transaction fees for the Fund are the same as the creation fees set forth above.

 

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

 

Placement of Redemption Orders Outside Clearing Process.  Orders to redeem Creation Unit Aggregations outside the Clearing Process must be delivered through a DTC Participant that has executed the Participant Agreement.  A DTC Participant who wishes to place an order for redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations to be effected outside the Clearing Process does not need to be a Participating Party, but such orders must state that the DTC Participant is not using the Clearing Process and that redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations will instead be effected through transfer of Fund Shares directly through DTC.  An order to redeem Creation Unit Aggregations outside the Clearing Process is deemed received by the Trust on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Transfer Agent not later than 4:00 p.m., Eastern time on such Transmittal Date; (ii) such order is accompanied or followed by the requisite number of Shares of the Fund, which delivery must be made through DTC to the Custodian no later than 11:00 a.m., Eastern time (for the Fund Shares), on the next Business Day immediately following such Transmittal Date (the “DTC Cut-Off-Time”) and 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time for any Cash Component, if any owed to the Fund; and (iii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed.  After the Trust has deemed an order for redemption outside the Clearing Process received, the Trust will initiate procedures to transfer the requisite Fund Securities which are expected to be delivered within three Business Days and the Cash Redemption Amount, if any owed to the redeeming Beneficial Owner to the Authorized Participant on behalf of the redeeming Beneficial Owner by the third Business Day following the Transmittal Date on which such redemption order is deemed received by the Trust.

 

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

 

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

 

The chart below describes in further detail the placement of redemption orders outside the clearing process.

 

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Transmittal Date
(T)

 

Next Business Day
(T+1)

 

Second Business
Day (T+2)

 

Third Business Day
(T+3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Creation through NSCC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard Orders

 

4:00 p.m. (ET)

Order must be received by the Distributor.

 

No action.

 

No action.

 

Creation Unit Aggregations will be delivered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Custom Orders

 

3:00 p.m. (ET)

Order must be received by the Distributor.

Orders received after 3:00 p.m. (ET) will be treated as standard orders.

 

No action.

 

No action.

 

Creation Unit Aggregations will be delivered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Creation Outside NSCC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard Orders

 

4:00 p.m. (ET)

Order in proper form must be received by the Distributor.

 

11:00 a.m. (ET)

Deposit Securities must be received by the Fund’s account through DTC.

2:00 p.m. (ET)

Cash Component must be received by the Custodian.

 

No action.

 

Creation Unit Aggregations will be delivered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard Orders created in advance of receipt by the Trust of all or a portion of the Deposit Securities

 

4:00 p.m. (ET)

Order in proper form must be received by the Distributor.

 

11:00 a.m. (ET)

Available Deposit Securities.

Cash in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Cash Component, plus (ii) 115% of the market value of the undelivered Deposit Securities.

 

No action.

 

1:00 p.m. (ET)

Missing Deposit Securities are due to the Trust or the Trust may use cash on deposit to purchase missing Deposit Securities.

Creation Unit Aggregations will be delivered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Custom Orders

 

3:00 p.m. (ET)

Order in proper form must be received by the Distributor.

Orders received after 3:00 p.m. (ET) will be treated as standard orders.

 

11:00 a.m. (ET)

Deposit Securities must be received by the Fund’s account through DTC.

2:00 p.m. (ET)

Cash Component must be received by the Orders Custodian.

 

No action.

 

Creation Unit Aggregations will be delivered.

 

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Transmittal Date
(T)

 

Next Business Day
(T+1)

 

Second Business
Day (T+2)

 

Third Business Day
(T+3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redemption Through NSCC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard Orders

 

4:00 p.m. (ET)

Order must be received by the Transfer Agent.

Orders received after 4:00 p.m. (ET) will be deemed received on the next business day (T+1).

 

No action.

 

No action.

 

Fund Securities and Cash Redemption Amount will be transferred.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Custom Orders

 

3:00 p.m. (ET)

Order must be received by the Transfer Agent.

Orders received after 3:00 p.m. (ET) will be treated as standard orders.

 

No action.

 

No action.

 

Fund Securities and Cash Redemption Amount will be transferred.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redemption Outside of NSCC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard Orders

 

4:00 p.m. (ET)

Order must be received by the Transfer Agent.

Orders received after 4:00 p.m. (ET) will be deemed received on the next business day (T+1).

 

11:00 a.m. (ET)

Fund Shares must be delivered through DTC to the Custodian.

2:00 p.m. (ET)

Cash Component, if any, is due.

*If the order is not in proper form or the Fund Shares are not delivered, then the order will not be deemed received as of T.

 

No action.

 

Fund Securities and Cash Redemption Amount is delivered to the redeeming beneficial owner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Custom Orders

 

3:00 p.m. (ET)

Order must be received by the Transfer Agent.

Orders received after 3:00 p.m. (ET) will be treated as standard orders.

 

11:00 a.m. (ET)

Fund Shares must be delivered through DTC to the Custodian.

2:00 p.m. (ET)

Cash Component, if any, is due.

*If the order is not in proper form or the Fund Shares are not delivered, then the order will not be deemed received as of T.

 

No action.

 

Fund Securities and Cash Redemption Amount is delivered to the redeeming beneficial owner.

 

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TAXES

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Long-term capital gains tax of non-corporate taxpayers are generally taxed at a maximum rate of 15% for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011.  Thereafter, without further Congressional action, that rate will return to 20%.  In addition, some ordinary dividends declared and paid by the Fund to non-corporate shareholders may qualify for taxation at the lower reduced tax rates applicable to long-term capital gains, provided that holding period and other requirements are met by the Fund and the shareholder.  The Fund will report to shareholders annually the amounts of dividends received from ordinary income, the amount of distributions received from capital gains and the portion of dividends which may qualify for the dividends received deduction.  In addition, the Fund will report the amount of dividends to non-corporate shareholders eligible for taxation at the lower reduced tax rates applicable to long-term capital gains.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Distributions of ordinary income paid to shareholders who are nonresident aliens or foreign entities that are not effectively connected to the conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. will generally be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax unless a reduced rate of withholding or a withholding exemption is provided under applicable treaty law.  However, shareholders who are nonresident aliens or foreign entities will generally not be subject to U.S. withholding or income tax on gains realized on the sale of Shares or on dividends from capital gains unless (i) such gain or capital gain dividend is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. or (ii) in the case of a non-corporate shareholder, the shareholder is present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale or capital gain dividend and certain other conditions are met.  Gains on the sale of Shares and dividends that are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. will generally be subject to U.S. federal net income taxation at regular income tax rates.  For distributions with respect to taxable years of regulated investment companies beginning before January 1, 2010, the Fund is not required to withhold any amounts with respect to distributions to foreign

 

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shareholders that are properly designated by the Fund as “interest-related dividends” or “short-term capital gain dividends,” provided that the income would not be subject to federal income tax if earned directly by the foreign shareholder.  However the Fund may withhold tax on these amounts regardless of the fact that it is not required to do so. Any amounts withheld from payments made to a shareholder may be refunded or credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.  Nonresident shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors concerning the applicability of the U.S. withholding tax.

 

Some shareholders may be subject to a withholding tax on distributions of ordinary income, capital gains and any cash received on redemption of Creation Units (“backup withholding”).  Generally, shareholders subject to backup withholding will be those for whom no certified taxpayer identification number is on file with the Fund or who, to the Fund’s knowledge, have furnished an incorrect number.  When establishing an account, an investor must certify under penalty of perjury that such number is correct and that such investor is not otherwise subject to backup withholding.

 

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

 

FEDERAL TAX TREATMENT OF FUTURES AND OPTIONS CONTRACTS

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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DETERMINATION OF NAV

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

 

Counsel.  Clifford Chance US LLP, 31 West 52nd Street, New York, NY 10019, is counsel to the Trust.

 

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Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.  Deloitte & Touche LLP, 555 17th Street, Suite 3600, Denver, CO 80202, serves as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm.  They audit the Fund’s financial statements and perform other related audit services.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Semi-annual statements are furnished to shareholders and annually such statements are audited by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

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APPENDIX A

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

PROXY VOTING

 

Proxy Voting Procedures

 

1.  Policy Statement & General Background

 

a.  Overview

 

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

 

b.  Policy Summary

 

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

 

c.  Policy

 

All proxies regarding client securities for which AAI has authority to vote will, unless AAI determines in accordance with policies stated below to refrain from voting, be voted in a manner considered by AAI to be in the best interest of AAI’s clients without regard to any resulting benefit or detriment to AAI or its affiliates.  The best interest of clients is defined for this purpose as the interest of enhancing or protecting the economic value of client accounts, considered as a group rather than individually, as AAI determines in its sole and absolute discretion.  In the event a client believes that its other interests require a different vote, AAI will vote as the client clearly instructs, provided AAI receives such instructions in time to act accordingly.

 

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

 

i. Proxies will usually not be voted in cases where the security has been loaned from the client’s account.

 

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

 

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

 

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2.  Operating Procedures & Control Activities:

 

a.  Proxy Committee

 

AAI has established a Proxy Committee whose standing members will include senior investment management personnel, who participate as voting authorities on the Committee. Each standing member may designate a senior portfolio manager or a senior analyst officer to act as a substitute in a given matter on their behalf.  Additionally, the Proxy Committee regularly involves other associates (e.g., Fund CCO or Legal representative) who participate as needed to enable effective execution of the Committee’s responsibilities.

 

The Proxy Committee’s functions include, in part,

 

i. direction of the vote on proposals where there has been a recommendation to the Committee not to vote according to the predetermined Voting Guidelines (stated in Appendix A)  or on proposals which require special, individual consideration in accordance with Section 2.d.iii.;

 

ii. review at least annually of this Proxy Voting Policy and Procedure to ensure consistency with internal policies, client disclosures and regulatory requirements;

 

iii. review at least annually of existing Voting Guidelines and the need for development of additional Voting Guidelines to assist in the review of proxy proposals; and

 

iv. development and modification of Voting Procedures, as stated in Section 2.e., as it deems appropriate or necessary.

 

b.  AAI’s Investment Associates

 

In considering a particular proxy matter, the research analyst or portfolio manager must vote in the clients’ best interest as defined above.  Information regarding AAI’s proxy voting decisions is confidential information.  Therefore, research analysts and portfolio managers generally must not discuss proxy votes with any person outside of AAI and within AAI on a need to know basis only.

 

Research analysts and portfolio managers must discharge their responsibilities consistent with the obligations set forth below (refer to Management of Conflicts of Interest — Additional Procedures).  A research analyst or portfolio manager must disclose in writing any inappropriate attempt to influence their recommendation or any other personal interest that they have with the issuer (see Conflicts of Interest Disclosure and Certification Form - Appendix B to this policy).  For each Proxy Referral (defined below), the research analyst or portfolio manager is responsible for memorializing their recommendation and communicating it to the Compliance Department.

 

Research analysts and portfolio managers should seek advice from Compliance or Legal with respect to any questions that they have regarding personal conflicts of interests, communications regarding proxies, or other related matters.

 

c.  Conflicts of Interest

 

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

 

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conflict to influence AAI’s decision on the particular vote at issue.  In all cases where there is deemed to be a material conflict of interest, AAI will seek to resolve it in the clients’ best interests.

 

For those proxy proposals that are not addressed by AAI’s proxy guidelines; the guidelines specify the issue must be evaluated and determined on a case-by-case basis; or an AAI investment associate believes that an exception to the guidelines may be in the best economic interest of AAI’s clients (collectively, “Proxy Referrals”), AAI may vote the proxy, subject to the conflicts of interest procedures set forth below.

 

In the case of Proxy Referrals, Compliance will collect and review any information deemed reasonably appropriate to evaluate if AAI or any person participating in the proxy voting decision-making process has, or has the appearance of, a material conflict of interest.  AAI investment personnel involved in the particular Proxy Referral must report any personal conflict of interest circumstances to AAI’s CCO in writing (see Appendix B - “Conflicts of Interest Disclosure and Certification Form”).  Compliance will consider information about AAI’s significant business relationships, as well as other relevant information.  The information considered by Compliance may include information regarding AAI client and other business relationships; any relevant personal conflicts; and communications between investment professionals and parties outside the AAI investment division regarding the proxy matter.  Compliance will consult with relevant experts, including legal counsel, as necessary.

 

If Compliance determines that it reasonably believes AAI has a material conflict of interest or certain individuals should be rescued from participating in the proxy vote at issue, Compliance will inform the Chair of the Proxy Committee.  Where a material conflict of interest is determined to have arisen in the proxy voting process, AAI’s policy is to invoke one or more of the following conflict management procedures:

 

·              Causing the proxies to be voted in accordance with the recommendations of an independent third party (which generally will be AAI’s proxy voting agent);

·              Causing the proxies to be delegated to a qualified, independent third party, which may include AAI’s proxy voting agent; or

·              In unusual cases, with the Client’s consent and upon ample notice, forwarding the proxies to AAI’s clients so that they may vote the proxies directly.

 

i.  Affiliate Investment Companies and Public Companies

 

AAI considers proxies solicited by open-end and closed-end investment companies for which AAI or an affiliate serves as an investment adviser or principal underwriter to present a material conflict of interest for AAI.  Consequently, the proxies of such affiliates will be voted following one of the conflict management procedures discussed above.

 

ii.  Management of Conflicts of Interest — Additional Procedures

 

AAI has various compliance policies and procedures in place in order to address any material conflicts of interest that might arise in this context.

 

1.       AAI’s Code of Ethics affirmatively requires that associates of AAI act in a manner whereby no actual or apparent conflict of interest may be seen as arising between the associate’s interests and those of AAI’s Clients.

 

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2.       By assuming his or her responsibilities pursuant to this Policy, each member of the Proxy Committee (including the chairperson) and any AAI or AFS associate advising or acting under the supervision or oversight of the Proxy Committee undertakes:

 

·                              To disclose in writing to AAI’s Chief Compliance Officer any actual or apparent personal material conflicts of interest which he or she may have (e.g., by way of substantial ownership of securities, relationships with nominees for directorship, members of an issuer’s or dissident’s management or otherwise) in determining whether or how AAI will vote proxies.  Additionally, each member must disclose any direct, indirect or perceived influence or attempt to influence such action which the member or associate views as being inconsistent with the purpose or provisions of this Policy or the Code of Ethics of AAI or AFS.  In the event any member of the Proxy Committee has a conflict of interest regarding a given matter, he or she will  abstain from participating in the Committee’s determination of whether and/or how to vote in the matter; and

 

·                              To refrain from taking into consideration, in the decision as to whether or how AAI will vote proxies:

 

·                              The existence of any current or prospective material business relationship between AAI, AFS or any of their affiliates, on one hand, and any party (or its affiliates) that is soliciting or is otherwise interested in the proxies to be voted, on the other hand; and/or

 

3.             In certain circumstances, AAI follows the proxy guidelines and uses other research services provided by Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”) or another independent third party.  AAI has undertaken a review of ISS’ conflicts of interest procedures, and will continue to monitor them on an ongoing basis.  In the event that AAI determines that it would be appropriate to use another third party, it will undertake a similar conflicts of interest assessment review.

 

d.  Proxy Voting Guidelines

 

i.  AAI’s Proxy Voting Guidelines — General Practices.

 

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

 

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

 

A Portfolio Manager or other party involved with a client’s account may conclude that the best interest of the firm’s client, as defined above, requires that a proxy be voted in a manner that differs from the predetermined proxy Voting Guidelines.  In this situation, he or she will request that the Proxy Committee consider voting the proxy other than according to such Guidelines.  If any person, group, or entity requests the Proxy Committee (or any of its members) vote a proxy other than according to the predetermined Voting Guidelines, that person will furnish to the Proxy Committee a written explanation of the reasons for the request and a description of the person’s, group’s, or entity’s relationship, if any, with the parties proposing and/or opposing the matter’s adoption using the Proxy Voting Recommendation Form (see Appendix C of this policy).  The Proxy Committee may consider the matter, subject to the conflicts of interest procedures discussed above.

 

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iii. Other Proxy Proposals

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Proxies of Investment Company Shares. Proposals on issues other than those specified in Section V.A will be voted on the specific instruction of the Proxy Committee.

 

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

 

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

 

e.  Voting Procedures

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

iii.  On a daily basis, AAI will send to ISS a holdings file detailing each equity holding held in all accounts over which AAI has voting authority.  Information regarding equity holdings for international portfolios will be sent weekly.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

vi. Each time that ISS will send AAI a request to vote, the request will be accompanied by the recommended vote determined in accordance with AAI’s Voting Guidelines. ISS will vote as indicated in the request unless the client has reserved discretion, the Proxy Committee determines that the best interest of clients requires another vote, or the proposal is a matter as to which the Proxy Committee affords special, individual consideration under Section V.C.  In such situations, ISS will vote based on the direction of the client or the Proxy Committee, as the case may be.  The interests of AAI’s Taft Hartley or Socially Responsible clients may impact a proposal that normally should be voted in a certain way. ISS will inform AAI of all proposals having impact on its Taft Hartley and or Socially Responsible clients.  The Proxy Voting Committee will be consulted before a vote is placed in cases where Taft Hartley or Socially Responsible issues are presented.

 

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

 

f. Supervision

 

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

 

g. Escalation

 

With the exception of conflicts of interest-related matters, issues arising under this policy should be escalated to AAI’s CCO.  Issues involving potential or actual conflicts of interest should be  

 

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promptly communicated to Compliance or Legal.  Compliance will notify the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer(s), if a material conflict of interest is deemed to have arisen.

 

h. Monitoring

 

AAI’s Compliance Department is primarily responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the proxy voting process.  The Compliance Department’s monitoring will take into account the following elements: (1) periodic review of ISS votes to ensure that ISS is accurately voting consistent with AAI’s Proxy Guidelines; and (2) review of the Fund’s website to ensure that annual reports are posted in a timely and accurate manner.  Additionally, AAI will review ISS’ conflicts of interest policies.

 

i.  Availability of Proxy Policy and Voting Record

 

A summary disclosure regarding the provisions of this Policy is available in AAI’s Form ADV.  Upon receipt of a Client’s request for more information, AAI will provide to the Client a copy of this Policy and/or how AAI voted proxies for the Client pursuant to this Policy for up to a one-year period.  It is AAI’s policy not to disclose how it voted a client’s proxy to third parties.

 

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

 

·         The name of the issuer of the security;

 

·         The exchange ticker symbol of the portfolio security (if symbol is available through reasonably practicable means);

 

·         The Council on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures number for the portfolio security (if number is available through reasonably practicable means);

 

·         The shareholder meeting date;

 

·         A brief identification of the matter voted on;

 

·         Whether the matter was proposed by the issuer or by a security holder;

 

·         Whether the company cast its vote on the matter;

 

·         How the company cast its vote (e.g., for or against proposal, or abstain; for or withhold regarding the election of directors); and

 

·         Whether the company cast its vote for or against management.

 

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j.  Other Recordkeeping Requirements

 

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

 

These records include:

 

·         Proxy Committee Meeting Minutes and Other Materials

·         Analysis and Supporting Materials of Investment Management Personnel Concerning Proxy Decisions and Recommendations

·         Conflicts of Interest Review Documentation, including Conflicts of Interest Forms

·         Client Communications Regarding Proxy Matters

 

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

 

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PART C.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 23.

Exhibits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a)

  (1)

Certificate of Trust of Registrant dated September 13, 2007.(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  (2)

Declaration of Trust of Registrant dated September 13, 2007. (2)

 

 

 

 

 

(b)

 

By-Laws of Registrant dated September 13, 2007. (2)

 

 

 

 

 

(c)

 

Provisions of instruments defining rights of security holders are contained in Articles 4 and 7 of the Declaration of Trust (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a) of this filing).

 

 

 

 

 

(d)

  (1)

Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Advisors, Inc. with respect to the Cohen & Steers Global Realty Majors ETF.  (4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  (2)

Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Advisors, Inc. with respect to the ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF. (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  (3)

Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between ALPS Advisors, Inc. and Mellon Capital Management Corporation with respect to the Cohen & Steers Global Realty Majors ETF.  (4)

 

 

 

 

 

(e)

  (1)

Distribution Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Distributors, Inc.  (4) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  (2)

Form of Amendment to Distribution Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Distributors, Inc. with respect to the ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF. (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  (3)

Form of Participant Agreement with respect to the Cohen & Steers Global Realty Majors ETF. (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  (4)

Form of Participant Agreement with respect to the ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF. (3)

 

 

 

 

 

(f)

 

None.

 

 

 

 

 

(g)

  (1)

Custody Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York.  (4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  (2)

Form of Amendment to Custody Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York with respect to the ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF. (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  (3)

Foreign Custody Manager Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York.  (4)

 

 

 

 

 

(h)

  (1)

Administration Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc.  (4)

 



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  (2)

Form of Amendment to Administration Agreement between the Trust and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. with regard to the ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF. (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  (3)

Transfer Agency Services Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York.  (4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  (4)

Form of Amendment to Transfer Agency Services Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York with respect to the ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF. (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  (5)

Fund Accounting Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York.  (4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  (6)

Form of Amendment to Fund Accounting Agreement between the Trust and The Bank of New York with respect to the ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF. (3)

 

 

 

 

 

(i)

  (1)

Opinion and consent of Clifford Chance US LLP with respect to the Cohen & Steers Global Realty Majors ETF. (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  (2)

Consent of Clifford Chance US LLP with respect to the ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF (filed herewith).

 

 

 

 

 

 

  (3)

Consent of Clifford Chance US LLP with respect to the Cohen & Steers Global Realty Majors ETF.  (4)

 

 

 

 

 

(j)

  (1)

Consent of independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Cohen & Steers Global Realty Majors ETF. (4)

 

 

 

 

 

(k)

 

Not applicable.

 

 

 

 

 

(l)

 

Not applicable.

 

 

 

 

 

(m)

 

Not applicable.

 

 

 

 

 

(n)

 

Not applicable.

 

 

 

 

 

(p)

 

Code of Ethics for the Trust and the Adviser. (2) 

 

 

 

 

 

(q)

 

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

 


(1)

 

Previously filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on January 23, 2008.

(2)

 

Previously filed as an exhibit to the Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-148826; 811-22175), filed on May 1, 2008.

 



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(3)

 

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

(4)

 

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

 

Item 24.            Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant.

 

None.

 

Item 25.            Indemnification.

 

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

 

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

 

No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 



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contained in the Declaration of Trust shall affect any rights to indemnification to which Trust personnel other than Covered Persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Item 26.            Business and Other Connections of Investment Advisers

 

See “Management” in the Statement of Additional Information.  Information as to the directors and officers of the Adviser is included in its Form ADV filed with the SEC and is incorporated herein by reference thereto.

 

Item 27.            Item 27.  Principal Underwriters.

 

(a)  ALPS Distributors, Inc. acts as the distributor for the Registrant and the following investment companies: AARP Funds,  ALPS Variable Insurance Trust, Ameristock Mutual Fund, Inc., AQR Funds, BLDRS Index Fund Trust, Campbell Multi-Strategy Trust, CornerCap Group of Funds, DIAMONDS Trust, Financial Investors Trust, Financial Investors Variable Insurance Trust, Firsthand Funds, Forward  

 



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Funds, Grail Advisors ETF Trust, Heartland Group, Inc., Henssler Funds, Inc., Holland Balanced Fund, Index IQ ETF Trust,  Laudus Trust, Milestone Funds, MTB Group of Funds, Pax World Funds, PowerShares QQQ 100 Trust Series 1, SPDR Trust, MidCap SPDR Trust, Select Sector SPDR Trust, State Street Institutional Investment Trust, Stonebridge Funds, Inc., Stone Harbor Investment Funds, TDX Independence Funds, Inc., W. P. Stewart Funds, Wasatch Funds, WesMark Trust, Westcore Trust, Williams Capital Liquid Assets Fund, and WisdomTree Trust.

 

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

 

Name and Principal
Business Address*

 

Positions and
Offices with
Underwriter

 

Positions and
Offices with
Registrant

Edmund J. Burke

 

Director

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

Jeremy O. May

 

Director

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

Spencer Hoffman

 

Director

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas Carter

 

President, Director

 

President, Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

Richard Hetzer

 

Executive Vice President

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

John C. Donaldson

 

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

Diana M. Adams

 

Vice President, Controller, Treasurer

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

Robert J. Szydlowski

 

Vice President, Chief Technology Officer

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

Tané Tyler

 

Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary

 

Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

Brad Swenson

 

Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

Kevin J. Ireland

 

Vice President, Director of Institutional Sales

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

Mark R. Kiniry

 

Vice President, National Sales Director-Investments

 

None

 


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

 

(c)       Not applicable.

 

Item 28.            Location of Accounts and Records

 

All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules thereunder are maintained at the following offices: (1) ALPS Distributors, Inc., 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203; (2) ALPS Advisors,  

 



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Inc. at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203; and (3) The Bank of New York, 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286.

 

Item 29.            Management Services

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 30.            Undertakings.

 

Not applicable.

 



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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this registration statement under rule 485(b) under the Securities Act and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 of its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Denver, and State of Colorado, on the 23rd day of June 2009.

 

 

ALPS ETF TRUST

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Thomas A. Carter

 

 

Thomas A. Carter

 

 

President

 

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

 

 

Signatures

 

Title

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Mary K. Anstine

 

Trustee

 

June 23, 2009

Mary K. Anstine*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Jeremy W. Deems

 

Trustee

 

June 23, 2009

Jeremy W. Deems*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Rick A. Pederson

 

Trustee

 

June 23, 2009

Rick A. Pederson*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Thomas A. Carter

 

Trustee and President

 

June 23, 2009

Thomas A. Carter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Kimberly R. Storms

 

Treasurer

 

June 23, 2009

Kimberly R. Storms

 

 

 

 

 

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

 



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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibits

 

 

(i)

  (2)

Consent of Clifford Chance US LLP with respect to the ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF.