| Innovator MSCI EAFE Power Buffer ETF - July | |||||||||||||||||
| Innovator MSCI EAFE Power Buffer ETF™ – July | |||||||||||||||||
| INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE | |||||||||||||||||
The Fund seeks to provide investors with returns that match those of the MSCI EAFE Price Index, up to the upside cap of 10.21% (prior to taking into account management fees and other fees) and 9.36% (after taking into account management fees and other fees) while providing a buffer against the first 15% of MSCI EAFE Price Index losses, over the period from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020. | |||||||||||||||||
| 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 (“Shares”). Investors may pay brokerage commissions on their purchases and sales of Shares, which are not reflected in the table or the example below. | |||||||||||||||||
| Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | |||||||||||||||||
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| EXAMPLE | |||||||||||||||||
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. This example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then sell all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. This example does not include the brokerage commissions that investors may pay to buy and sell Shares. | |||||||||||||||||
| Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, your costs, based on these assumptions, would be: | |||||||||||||||||
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| Portfolio Turnover | |||||||||||||||||
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it purchases and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover will cause the Fund to incur additional transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the example, may affect the Fund’s performance. Because the Fund has not yet commenced investment operations, no portfolio turnover information is available at this time. | |||||||||||||||||
| PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES | |||||||||||||||||
General Strategy Description. The Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in FLexible EXchange® Options (“FLEX Options”) that reference the MSCI EAFE Price Return Index (“MSCI EAFE Price Index”). FLEX Options are exchange-traded options contracts with uniquely customizable terms. Although guaranteed for settlement by the Options Clearing Corporation (the “OCC”), FLEX Options are still subject to counterparty risk with the OCC and may be less liquid than more traditional exchange-traded options. Due to the unique mechanics of the Fund’s strategy, the return an investor can expect to receive from an investment in the Fund has characteristics that are distinct from many other investment vehicles. It is important that an investor understand these characteristics before making an investment in the Fund. In general, an option contract is an agreement between a buyer and seller that gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy or sell a particular asset at a specified future date at an agreed upon price. The reference asset for all of the Fund’s FLEX Options is the MSCI EAFE Price Index, an index seeking to measure the performance of small, mid and large capitalization issuers located in developed market countries, excluding the United States and Canada. For more information on the MSCI EAFE Price Index, please see the section of the prospectus entitled “Additional Information About the Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies.” The pre-determined outcomes sought by the Fund, which include the buffer and Cap discussed below, are based upon the performance of the MSCI EAFE Price Index over the period of July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. This period is referred to as the initial “Outcome Period.” Following the initial Outcome Period, each subsequent Outcome Period will be a one-year period from July 1 to June 30. In the event that the MSCI EAFE Price Index experiences gains over the Outcome Period, the strategy seeks to provide investment returns that match the performance of the MSCI EAFE Price Index, up to an upside return cap that represents the maximum percentage return an investor can achieve from an investment in the Fund for the Outcome Period (the “Cap”). The Cap is set on the first day of the Outcome Period and is 10.21% prior to taking into account any fees or expenses charged to shareholders. When the Fund’s annual Fund management fee of 0.85% of the Fund’s average daily net assets is taken into account, the Cap is 9.36%. The Cap will be further reduced by any shareholder transaction fees and any extraordinary expenses incurred by the Fund. The date stipulated in all of the Fund’s FLEX Options is the approximate termination date of the Outcome Period, at which time the Fund will invest in a new set of FLEX Options for the next Outcome Period. Additionally, as is discussed in further detail below, the value of the Fund’s FLEX Option positions will not increase or decrease at the same rate as the MSCI EAFE Price Index. Because a component of an option’s value is the number of days remaining until its expiration, the Fund’s NAV will not directly correlate on a day-to-day basis with the returns experienced by the MSCI EAFE Price Index. While the Fund’s investment sub-adviser generally anticipates that the Fund’s NAV will move in the same direction as the MSCI EAFE Price Index (meaning that the Fund’s NAV will increase if the MSCI EAFE Price Index experiences gains and that the Fund’s NAV will decrease if the MSCI EAFE Price Index experiences losses), the Fund’s NAV may not increase or decrease at the same rate as the MSCI EAFE Price Index. The degree to which an option’s value correlates with the value of the underlying index is also affected by the expected volatility of the index. Since the MSCI EAFE Price Index has the potential to be more volatile than other indices, in the period between the beginning and end of the Outcome Period, it is possible that the degree of non-correlation between the value of the FLEX Options and the value of MSCI EAFE Price Index will be higher than if the FLEX Options utilized a less volatile index as their reference asset. The strategy is designed to realize the Outcomes only on the final day of the Outcome Period. The Fund’s investment sub-adviser, Milliman Financial Risk Management LLC (“Milliman” or the “Sub-Adviser”), has constructed a portfolio principally composed of seven FLEX Options on the MSCI EAFE Price Index that are each set to expire on the last day of the Outcome Period. The customizable nature of FLEX Options allows the Sub-Adviser to select the price at which the MSCI EAFE Price Index will be exercised at the expiration of each FLEX Option. This is commonly known as the “strike price.” At the commencement of the Outcome Period, the Sub-Adviser specifically selects the strike price for each FLEX Option such that when the FLEX Options are exercised on the final day of the Outcome Period, the Outcomes may be obtained, depending on the performance of the MSCI EAFE Price Index over the duration of the Outcome Period. The Fund seeks to generate returns that match the MSCI EAFE Price Index, up to the Cap (discussed in detail below), while limiting downside losses. The two hypothetical graphical illustrations provided below are designed to illustrate the Outcomes based upon the hypothetical performance of the MSCI EAFE Price Index for a shareholder that holds Shares for the entirety of the Outcome Period. Additional hypothetical graphical representations of the Outcomes are provided in “Additional Information Regarding the Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies.” There is no guarantee that the Fund will be successful in its attempt to provide the Outcomes for an Outcome Period. The returns that the Fund seeks to provide do not include the costs associated with purchasing shares of the Fund and certain expenses incurred by the Fund.   Use of FLEX Options. The Outcomes may be achieved by purchasing and selling call and put FLEX Options to create layers within the Fund’s portfolio. One layer is designed to produce returns that match those of the MSCI EAFE Price Index for the Outcome Period if the MSCI EAFE Price Index has experienced gains during that time. To achieve these returns, the Fund will purchase a call option (giving the Fund the right to receive the cash value of the MSCI EAFE Price Index) and a put option (giving the Fund the right to deliver the cash value of the MSCI EAFE Price Index), while simultaneously selling a call option (giving the Fund the obligation to deliver the cash value of the MSCI EAFE Price Index) and a put option (giving the Fund the obligation to receive the cash value of the MSCI EAFE Price Index). Each of these FLEX Options has a specifically selected strike price. The effect created by these four positions is that if the MSCI EAFE Price Index has increased in value over the course of the Outcome Period, when the amount of cash the Fund receives and delivers pursuant to the terms of its positions is netted out, the Fund seeks to provide a gain that matches the gain experienced by the MSCI EAFE Price Index. This gain is subject to the Cap, a maximum investment return level, which is discussed below. A separate layer is designed to produce the Fund’s “power” buffer. “Power” denotes the Fund’s objective to provide returns that are buffered by up to 15% if the MSCI EAFE Price Index experiences a loss during the course of the Outcome Period. There is no guarantee that the Fund will be successful in its attempt to provide buffered returns. The buffer that the Fund seeks to provide is only operative against the first 15% of MSCI EAFE Price Index losses for the Outcome Period. After the MSCI EAFE Price Index has decreased in value by more than 15%, the Fund will experience all subsequent losses on a one-to-one basis. In seeking to achieve the power buffer, the Fund sells both a call option and a put option. Both of these FLEX Options have a specifically selected strike price. The effect created by these two positions is that if the MSCI EAFE Price Index has decreased in value over the course of the Outcome Period, when the amount of cash the Fund receives and delivers pursuant to the terms of its positions is netted out, the Fund seeks to be returned the amount of its principal investment (if the MSCI EAFE Price Return Index decreased in value by 15% or less) or experience a loss that is 15% less than the loss experienced by the MSCI EAFE Price Index (if the MSCI EAFE Price Return Index decreased in value by more than 15%). Each of the FLEX Options purchased and sold throughout the Outcome Period will have the same terms (i.e., strike price and expiration) as the corresponding FLEX Options purchased and sold on the first day of the Outcome Period. A detailed explanation regarding the terms of the FLEX Options and the mechanics of the Fund’s strategy can be found in “Additional Information Regarding the Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies.” The Outcome Period. The Outcomes sought by the Fund are based upon the Fund’s NAV on the first day of the Outcome Period. The Outcome Period begins on the day the FLEX Options are entered into and ends on the day they expire. Each FLEX Option’s value is ultimately derived from the performance of the MSCI EAFE Price Index during that time. Because the terms of the FLEX Options don’t change, the Cap and buffer both relate to the Fund’s NAV on the first day of the Outcome Period. A shareholder that purchases Shares after the commencement of the Outcome Period will likely have purchased Shares at a different NAV than the NAV on the first day of the Outcome Period (the NAV upon which the Outcomes are based) and may experience investment outcomes very different from those sought by the Fund. A shareholder that sells Shares prior to the end of the Outcome Period may also experience investment outcomes very different from those sought by the Fund. To achieve the Outcomes sought by the Fund for the Outcome Period, an investor must be holding Shares on the day that the Fund enters into the FLEX Options and on the day those FLEX Options expire. There is no guarantee that the Fund will be successful in its attempt to provide the Outcomes. The Fund’s assets will be principally composed of FLEX Options, the value of which is derived from the performance of the underlying reference asset, the MSCI EAFE Price Index. However, because a component of an option’s value is the number of days remaining until its expiration, during the Outcome Period, the Fund’s NAV will not directly correlate on a day-to-day basis with the returns experienced by the MSCI EAFE Price Index. While the Fund’s investment sub-adviser generally anticipates that the Fund’s NAV will move in the same direction as the MSCI EAFE Price Index (meaning that the Fund’s NAV will increase if the MSCI EAFE Price Index experiences gains and that the Fund’s NAV will decrease if the MSCI EAFE Price Index experiences losses), the Fund’s NAV may not increase or decrease at the same rate as the MSCI EAFE Price Index. The degree to which an option’s value correlates with the value of the underlying index is also affected by the expected volatility of the index. Since the MSCI EAFE Price Index has the potential to be more volatile than other indices, in the period between the beginning and end of the Outcome Period, it is possible that the degree of non-correlation between the value of the FLEX Options and the value of MSCI EAFE Price Index will be higher than if the FLEX Options utilized a less volatile index as their reference asset. Similarly, the amount of time remaining until the end of the Outcome Period also affects the impact of the buffer on the Fund’s NAV, which may not be in full effect prior to the end of the Outcome Period. The Fund’s strategy is designed to produce the Outcomes upon the expiration of the FLEX Options on the last day of the Outcome Period and it should not be expected that the Outcomes will be provided at any point prior to that time. Taken together, this means that at the midpoint of the Outcome Period, if the MSCI EAFE Price Index has decreased in value by 15%, the Fund’s NAV can be expected to have decreased in value (because the buffer is not yet in full effect), but by less than 15% (because the Fund’s NAV will not correlate one-to-one with the MSCI EAFE Price Index and the Fund’s NAV tends not to participate fully in either MSCI EAFE Price Index gains or losses). Cap on Potential Upside Returns. Unlike other investment products, the potential returns an investor can receive from an investment in the Fund are subject to an upside return cap. This means that if the Fund experiences gains for the Outcome Period beyond the Cap, a shareholder will not experience those excess gains. Therefore, regardless of the performance of the MSCI EAFE Price Index, the Cap is the maximum return an investor can achieve from an investment in the Fund for the Outcome Period. The Cap is set on the first day of the Outcome Period and is 10.21% prior to taking into account any fees or expenses charged to shareholders. When the Fund’s annual Fund management fee of 0.85% of the Fund’s average daily net assets is taken into account, the Cap is 9.36%. The Cap will be further reduced by any shareholder transaction fees and any extraordinary expenses incurred by the Fund. The definitive Cap will be set forth on the Fund’s website at www.innovatoretfs.com/ijul. The Cap will change for each Outcome Period based upon prevailing market conditions at the beginning of the Outcome Period. The Cap, and the Fund’s position relative to it, should be considered before investing in the Fund. If an investor is considering purchasing Shares during the Outcome Period, and the Fund has already increased in value to a level near to the Cap, an investor purchasing Shares at that price has limited to no gains available for the remainder of the Outcome Period but remains vulnerable to significant downside risks. The Cap level is a result of the design of the Fund’s principal investment strategy. In order to provide the buffer, the Fund purchases a series of put and call FLEX Options. As the purchaser of these FLEX Options, the Fund is obligated to pay a premium to the seller of those FLEX Options. However, the strategy is designed so that any premiums that the Fund is obligated to pay are offset by premiums it receives in connection with the selling of FLEX Options. On the first day of the Outcome Period when the Fund enters into its other FLEX Options positions, the portfolio managers will calculate the amount of premiums that the Fund will owe and will then go into the market and sell a FLEX Option with terms that entitle the Fund to receive a premium in an amount equal to the amount that the Fund would otherwise owe. The Cap is the strike price of that sold FLEX Option. The strike price is determined based upon prevailing market conditions at the time the Fund enters into the FLEX Options, most notably current interest rate levels and MSCI EAFE Price Index volatility, and the relationship of put and calls on the underlying FLEX Options. Buffer. The power buffer that the Fund seeks to provide is only operative against the first 15% of MSCI EAFE Price Index losses for the Outcome Period. There is no guarantee that the Fund will be successful in its attempt to provide buffered returns. After the MSCI EAFE Price Index has decreased in value by more than 15%, the Fund will experience all subsequent losses on a one-to-one basis. The buffer is provided prior to taking into account annual Fund management fees equal to 0.85% of the Fund’s daily net assets, transaction fees and any extraordinary expenses incurred by the Fund. If an investor is considering purchasing Shares during the Outcome Period, and the Fund has already decreased in value by an amount equal to or greater than 15%, an investor purchasing Shares at that price will have increased gains available prior to reaching the Cap but may not benefit from the power buffer that the Fund seeks to offer for the remainder of the Outcome Period. Conversely, if an investor is considering purchasing Shares during the Outcome Period, and the Fund has already increased in value, then a shareholder may experience losses prior to gaining the protection offered by the power buffer. A shareholder that purchases Shares at the beginning of the Outcome Period may lose their entire investment. While the Fund seeks to limit losses to 85% for shareholders who hold Shares for the entire Outcome Period, there is no guarantee it will successfully do so. Depending upon market conditions at the time of purchase, a shareholder that purchases Shares after the Outcome Period has begun may also lose their entire investment. An investment in the Fund is only appropriate for shareholders willing to bear those losses. Fund Rebalance. The Fund is a continuous investment vehicle. It does not terminate and distribute its assets at the conclusion of each Outcome Period. On the termination date of an Outcome Period, the Sub-Adviser will invest in a new set of FLEX Options and another Outcome Period will commence. The Fund’s website, www.innovatoretfs.com/ijul, provides information relating to the Outcomes, including the Fund’s position relative to the Cap and buffer, of an investment in the Fund on a daily basis. The Fund is classified as “non-diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). | |||||||||||||||||
| PRINCIPAL RISKS | |||||||||||||||||
You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s investment objectives will be achieved. Buffered Loss Risk. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will be successful in its strategy to buffer against MSCI EAFE Price Index losses if the MSCI EAFE Price Index decreases over the Outcome Period by 15% or less. A shareholder may lose their entire investment. The Fund’s strategy seeks to deliver returns that match the MSCI EAFE Price Index (up to the Cap), while limiting downside losses, if Shares are bought on the day on which the Fund enters into the FLEX Options and held until those FLEX Options expire at the end of the Outcome Period. In the event an investor purchases Shares after the date on which the FLEX Options were entered into or sells Shares prior to the expiration of the FLEX Options, the buffer that the Fund seeks to provide may not be available. Capped Upside Return Risk. The Fund’s strategy seeks to provide returns that are subject to the Cap. In the event that the MSCI EAFE Price Index has gains in excess of the Cap for the Outcome Period, the Fund will not participate in those gains beyond the Cap. The Fund’s strategy seeks to deliver returns that match those of the MSCI EAFE Price Index if Shares are bought on the day on which the Fund enters into the FLEX Options and held until those FLEX Options expire at the end of the Outcome Period. In the event an investor purchases Shares after the date on which the FLEX Options were entered into and the Fund has risen in value to a level near to the Cap, there may be little or no ability for that investor to experience an investment gain on their Shares. FLEX Options Risk. The Fund will utilize FLEX Options issued and guaranteed for settlement by the OCC. The Fund bears the risk that the OCC will be unable or unwilling to perform its obligations under the FLEX Options contracts. In the unlikely event that the OCC becomes insolvent or is otherwise unable to meet its settlement obligations, the Fund could suffer significant losses. Additionally, FLEX Options may be less liquid than certain other securities such as standardized options. In less liquid market for the FLEX Options, the Fund may have difficulty closing out certain FLEX Options positions at desired times and prices. The Fund may experience substantial downside from specific FLEX Option positions and certain FLEX Option positions may expire worthless. The value of the underlying FLEX Options will be affected by, among others, changes in the value of the MSCI EAFE Price Index, changes in interest rates, changes in the actual and implied volatility of the MSCI EAFE Price Index and the remaining time to until the FLEX Options expire. The value of the FLEX Options does not increase or decrease at the same rate as the level of the MSCI EAFE Price Index (although they generally move in the same direction). However, as a FLEX Option approaches its expiration date, its value typically increasingly moves with the value of the MSCI EAFE Price Index. Since the MSCI EAFE Price Index has the potential to be more volatile than other indices, in the period between the beginning and end of the Outcome Period, it is possible that the degree of non-correlation between the value of the FLEX Options and the value of MSCI EAFE Price Index will be higher than if the FLEX Options utilized a less volatile index as their reference asset. The Fund’s strategy is designed to produce the Outcomes upon the expiration of the FLEX Options on the last day of the Outcome Period and it should not be expected that the Outcomes will be provided at any point prior to that time. Outcome Period Risk. The Fund’s investment strategy is designed to deliver returns that match the MSCI EAFE Price Index if Shares are bought on the day on which the Fund enters into the FLEX Options and held until those FLEX Options expire at the end of the Outcome Period. In the event an investor purchases Shares after the date on which the FLEX Options were entered into or sells Shares prior to the expiration of the FLEX Options, the returns realized by the investor will not match those that the Fund seeks to achieve. Correlation Risk. The FLEX Options held by the Fund will be exercisable at the strike price only on their expiration date. Prior to the expiration date, the value of the FLEX Options will be determined based upon market quotations or using other recognized pricing methods. The value of the FLEX Options prior to the expiration date may vary because of related factors other than the value of the MSCI EAFE Price Index. Factors that may influence the value of the FLEX Options include changes in interest rates and the MSCI EAFE Price Index’s expected volatility, among others. Since the MSCI EAFE Price Index has the potential to be more volatile than other indices, in the period between the beginning and end of the Outcome Period, it is possible that the degree of non-correlation between the value of the FLEX Options and the value of MSCI EAFE Price Index will be higher than if the FLEX Options utilized a less volatile index as their reference asset. The Fund’s strategy is designed to produce the Outcomes upon the expiration of the FLEX Options on the last day of the Outcome Period and it should not be expected that the Outcomes will be provided at any point prior to that time. Investment Objective Risk. Certain circumstances under which the Fund might not achieve its objective include, but are not limited, to (i) if the Fund disposes of FLEX Options, (ii) if the Fund is unable to maintain the proportional relationship based on the number of FLEX Options in the Fund’s portfolio, (iii) significant accrual of Fund expenses in connection with effecting the Fund’s principal investment strategy or (iv) adverse tax law changes affecting the treatment of FLEX Options. Upside Participation Risk. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will be successful in its strategy to provide shareholders with a total return that matches the increase of the MSCI EAFE Price Index over the Outcome Period, up to the maximum return imposed by the Cap. In the event an investor purchases Shares after the date on which the FLEX Options were entered into or does not stay invested in the Fund for the entirety of the Outcome Period, the returns realized by the investor may not match those that the Fund seeks to achieve. Management Risk. The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed portfolio. The Sub-Adviser will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that the Fund will meet its investment objective. Cap Change Risk. A new Cap is established at the beginning of each Outcome Period and is dependent on prevailing market conditions. As such, the Cap may rise or fall from one Outcome Period to the next and is unlikely to remain the same for consecutive Outcome Periods. Market Risk. The Fund could lose money over short periods due to short-term market movements and over longer periods during more prolonged market downturns. Assets may decline in value due to factors affecting financial markets generally or particular asset classes or industries represented in the markets. The value of a FLEX Options or other asset may also decline due to general market conditions, economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuer of the security or other asset, or due to factors that affect a particular issuer or issuers, country, group of countries, region, market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class. During a general market downturn, multiple asset classes may be negatively affected. Changes in market conditions and interest rates will not have the same impact on all types of securities. Non-Diversification Risk. The Fund is classified as “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act. As a result, the Fund is only limited as to the percentage of its assets which may be invested in the securities of any one issuer by the diversification requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Fund may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers. As a result, the Fund may be more susceptible to a single adverse economic or regulatory occurrence affecting one or more of these issuers, experience increased volatility and be highly invested in certain issuers. Smaller Companies Risk. Small and/or mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse general market or economic developments, and their securities may be less liquid and may experience greater price volatility than larger, more established companies as a result of several factors, including limited trading volumes, fewer products or financial resources, management inexperience and less publicly available information. Accordingly, such companies are generally subject to greater market risk than larger, more established companies. Liquidity Risk. In the event that trading in the underlying FLEX Options is limited or absent, the value of the Fund’s FLEX Options may decrease. There is no guarantee that a liquid secondary trading market will exist for the FLEX Options. The trading in FLEX Options may be less deep and liquid than the market for certain other securities. FLEX Options may be less liquid than certain non-customized options. In a less liquid market for the FLEX Options, terminating the FLEX Options may require the payment of a premium or acceptance of a discounted price and may take longer to complete. In a less liquid market for the FLEX Options, the liquidation of a large number of options may more significantly impact the price. A less liquid trading market may adversely impact the value of the FLEX Options and the value of your investment. Valuation Risk. During periods of reduced market liquidity or in the absence of readily available market quotations for the holdings of the Fund, the ability of the Fund to value the FLEX Options becomes more difficult and the judgment of the Fund’s investment adviser (employing the fair value procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust may play a greater role in the valuation of the Fund’s holdings due to reduced availability of reliable objective pricing data. Consequently, while such determinations may be made in good faith, it may nevertheless be more difficult for the Fund to accurately assign a daily value. Non-U.S. Securities Risk. Non-U.S. securities are subject to higher volatility than securities of domestic issuers due to possible adverse political, social or economic developments, restrictions on foreign investment or exchange of securities, lack of liquidity, currency exchange rates, excessive taxation, government seizure of assets, different legal or accounting standards, and less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges in foreign countries. Currency Risk. Changes in currency exchange rates affect the value of investments denominated in a foreign currency, and therefore the value of the FLEX Options on the MSCI EAFE Price Index in the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund’s net asset value could decline if a currency to which the Fund has exposure depreciates against the U.S. dollar or if there are delays or limits on repatriation of such currency. Currency exchange rates can be very volatile and can change quickly and unpredictably. Japan Risk. As of June 29, 2019, the MSCI EAFE Price Index had significant exposure to Japanese issuers. The Japanese economy may be subject to considerable degrees of economic, political and social instability, which could have a negative impact on Japanese securities. Japan’s economy is characterized by government intervention and protectionism, reliance on oil imports, an unstable financial services sector and relatively high unemployment. Additionally, since 2000 Japan has experienced relatively low economic growth, and it may remain low in the future. The Japanese economy is heavily dependent on international trade and has been adversely affected by trade tariffs and competition from emerging economies. Accordingly, Japan’s economic growth is heavily dependent on continued growth in international trade, relatively low commodities prices, government support of the financial services sector and other government policies. Any changes or trends in these economic factors could have a significant impact on Japan’s markets overall and may negatively affect the Fund. Operational Risk. The Fund is exposed to operational risks arising from a number of factors, including, but not limited to, human error in the calculation of the Cap, processing and communication errors, errors of the Fund’s service providers, counterparties or other third-parties, including errors relating to the administration and calculation of the MSCI EAFE Price Index, failed or inadequate processes and technology or systems failures. The Fund and its investment adviser and Sub-adviser seek to reduce these operational risks through controls and procedures. However, these measures do not address every possible risk and may be inadequate to address these risks. Market Maker Risk. If the Fund has lower average daily trading volumes, it may rely on a small number of third-party market makers to provide a market for the purchase and sale of Shares. Any trading halt or other problem relating to the trading activity of these market makers could result in a dramatic change in the spread between the Fund’s NAV and the price at which the Shares are trading on the Exchange, which could result in a decrease in value of the Shares. In addition, decisions by market makers or authorized participants to reduce their role or step away from these activities in times of market stress could inhibit the effectiveness of the arbitrage process in maintaining the relationship between the underlying values of the Fund’s portfolio securities and the Fund’s market price. This reduced effectiveness could result in Shares trading at a discount to NAV and also in greater than normal intra-day bid-ask spreads for Shares. Trading Issues Risk. Although the Shares are listed for trading on the Exchange, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for such Shares will develop or be maintained. Trading in Shares on the Exchange may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in Shares inadvisable. In addition, trading in Shares on the Exchange is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to the Exchange “circuit breaker” rules. Market makers are under no obligation to make a market in the Shares, and authorized participants are not obligated to submit purchase or redemption orders for Creation Units. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of the Fund will continue to be met or will remain unchanged. Initially, due to the small asset size of the Fund, it may have difficulty maintaining its listings on the Exchange. Active Markets Risk. Although the Shares are listed for trading on the Exchange, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for the Shares will develop or be maintained. Shares trade on the Exchange at market prices that may be below, at or above the Fund’s NAV. Securities, including the Shares, are subject to market fluctuations and liquidity constraints that may be caused by such factors as economic, political, or regulatory developments, changes in interest rates, and/or perceived trends in securities prices. Shares of the Fund could decline in value or underperform other investments. Authorized Participation Concentration Risk. Only an authorized participant may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with the Fund. The Fund has a limited number of institutions that may act as authorized participants on an agency basis (i.e., on behalf of other market participants). To the extent that authorized participants exit the business or are unable to proceed with creation and/or redemption orders with respect to the Fund and no other authorized participant is able to step forward to create or redeem “Creation Units” (as defined in “Purchase and Sale of Shares,”) Shares may be more likely to trade at a premium or discount to NAV and possibly face trading halts and/or delisting. Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk an issuer, guarantor or counterparty of a security in the Fund is unable or unwilling to meet its obligation on the security. The OCC acts as guarantor and central counterparty with respect to the FLEX Options. As a result, the ability of the Fund to meet its objective depends on the OCC being able to meet its obligations. In the unlikely event that the OCC becomes insolvent or is otherwise unable to meet its settlement obligations, the Fund could suffer significant losses. Fluctuation of Net Asset Value Risk. The Fund’s Shares trade on the Exchange at their market price rather than their NAV. The market price may be at, above or below the Fund’s NAV. Differences in market price and NAV may be due, in large part, to the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for Shares will be closely related to, but not identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of the holdings of the Fund trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time. These differences can be especially pronounced during times of market volatility or stress. During these periods, the demand for Shares may decrease considerably and cause the market price of Shares to deviate significantly from the Fund’s NAV. Limitations of Intraday Indicative Value Risk. The Exchange intends to disseminate the approximate per share value of the Fund’s published basket of portfolio securities every 15 seconds (the ‘‘intraday indicative value’’ or ‘‘IIV’’). The IIV should not be viewed as a ‘‘real-time’’ update of the NAV per Share because (i) the IIV 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, (ii) the calculation of NAV may be subject to fair valuation at different prices than those used in the calculations of the IIV, (iii) unlike the calculation of NAV, the IIV does not take into account Fund expenses, and (iv) the IIV is based on the published basket of portfolio securities and not on the Fund’s actual holdings. The IIV calculations are based on local market prices and may not reflect events that occur subsequent to the local market’s close, which could affect premiums and discounts between the IIV and the market price of the Shares. The Fund, Adviser, Sub-Adviser, and their affiliates, are not involved in, or responsible for, any aspect of the calculation or dissemination of the Fund’s IIV, and the Fund, Adviser, Sub-Adviser, and their affiliates, do not make any warranty as to the accuracy of these calculations. Cash Transactions Risk. The Fund intends to effectuate creations and redemptions for cash, rather than in-kind securities. As a result, an investment in the Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) that effects its creations and redemption for in-kind securities. Because the Fund will effect redemptions for cash, it may be required to sell portfolio securities in order to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds. A sale of Shares may result in capital gains or losses and may also result in higher brokerage costs. Consequently, an investment in the Fund may be less tax-efficient than investments in other ETFs. Moreover, cash transactions may have to be carried out over several days if the securities market is relatively illiquid and may involve considerable brokerage fees and taxes. These brokerage fees and taxes, which will be higher than if the Fund sold and redeemed its shares principally in-kind, will be passed on to purchasers and redeemers of Shares in the form of creation and redemption transaction fees. In addition, these factors may result in wider spreads between the bid and the offered prices of Shares than for other ETFs. Cyber Security Risk. As the use of Internet technology has become more prevalent in the course of business, the investment industry has become more susceptible to potential operational risks through breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption or lose operational capacity. Such events could cause the Fund to incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage, additional compliance costs associated with corrective measures and/or financial loss. Cyber security breaches may involve unauthorized access to the Fund’s digital information systems through “hacking” or malicious software coding, but may also result from outside attacks such as denial-of-service attacks through efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users. In addition, cyber security breaches of the Fund’s third-party service providers, such as its administrator, transfer agent, custodian, or issuers in which the Fund invests, can also subject the Fund to many of the same risks associated with direct cyber security breaches. The Fund has established risk management systems designed to reduce the risks associated with cyber security. However, there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed, especially because the Fund does not directly control the cyber security systems of issuers or third-party service providers. Tax Risk. The Fund intends to elect and to qualify each year to be treated as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Code. As a RIC, the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of its net investment income and net capital gain that it distributes to unitholders, provided that it satisfies certain requirements of the Code. If the Fund does not qualify as a RIC for any taxable year and certain relief provisions are not available, the Fund’s taxable income will be subject to tax at the Fund level and to a further tax at the shareholder level when such income is distributed. Additionally, buying securities shortly before the record date for a taxable dividend or capital gain distribution is commonly known as “buying the dividend.” In the event a shareholder purchases Shares shortly before such a distribution, the entire distribution may be taxable to the shareholder even though a portion of the distribution effectively represents a return of the purchase price. The Shares will change in value, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The Fund may not achieve its investment objective. | |||||||||||||||||
| PERFORMANCE | |||||||||||||||||
As of the date of this prospectus, the Fund has not commenced operations and therefore does not have a performance history. Once available, the Fund’s performance information will be accessible on the Fund’s website at www.innovatoretfs.com and will provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. | |||||||||||||||||