497K 1 d698330d497k.htm DBX ETF TRUST DBX ETF Trust

Summary Prospectus

March 21, 2014

db X-trackers Solactive Investment Grade Subordinated Debt Fund

 

Ticker: SUBD   Stock Exchange: NYSE Arca

Before you invest, you may wish to review the Fund’s prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. You can find the Fund’s prospectus and other information about the Fund online at www.dbxetf.com. You can also get this information at no cost by calling ALPS Distributors, Inc. at 1-855-329-3837 or by sending an e-mail request to dbxquestions@list.db.com. The Fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information, both dated March 21, 2014, are incorporated by reference into this Summary Prospectus.

Investment Objective

The db X-trackers Solactive Investment Grade Subordinated Debt Fund (the “Fund”) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the performance, before fees and expenses, of the Solactive Subordinated Bond Index (the “Underlying Index”).

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses that you will incur if you own shares of the Fund.

You will also incur usual and customary brokerage commissions when buying or selling shares of the Fund, which are not reflected in the example that follows:

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a

percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fee

   0.45 %

Other Expenses(1)

   0.00 %

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

   0.45 %

 

(1) Other expenses are based on estimated amounts for the Fund’s fiscal year ending May 31, 2014.

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

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

$46   $144

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

Principal Investment Strategies

The Underlying Index is designed to track the subordinated corporate bond market denominated in U.S. dollars. The Underlying Index is comprised of U.S. dollar denominated corporate securities which are classified as subordinated or junior subordinated. Subordinated securities are subordinated or “junior” to more senior securities of the issuer and are entitled to payment after other holders of debt in that issuer. Junior subordinated securities generally rank slightly higher in terms of payment priority than both

common and preferred stock of an issuer, but rank below other subordinated securities and debt securities. In order to be included in the Underlying Index, a bond must have an amount outstanding of at least $500 million and have a time to maturity of at least one year when added to the Underlying Index (and have at least one month to maturity as of each subsequent adjustment date). The Underlying Index may include bonds issued by issuers located outside the United States, including emerging markets (though such bonds must be denominated in U.S. dollars). In addition, the Underlying Index may include a substantial number of bonds offered pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). As of February 28, 2014, the Underlying Index consisted of 132 securities with an average amount outstanding of approximately $1.2 billion and a minimum amount outstanding of approximately $500 million. The Underlying Index is a total return index, which assumes that any cash distributions are reinvested back into the Underlying Index.

The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, attempts to approximate the investment performance of the Underlying Index. The Adviser and/or Sub-Adviser expect that, over time, the correlation between the Fund’s performance and that of the Underlying Index before fees and expenses will be 95% or

 

 

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better. A figure of 100% would indicate perfect correlation.

The Adviser and/or Sub-Adviser use a representative sampling indexing strategy in seeking to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. “Representative sampling” is an indexing strategy that involves investing in a representative sample of securities included in the Underlying Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Underlying Index. The securities selected are expected to have, in the aggregate, investment characteristics (based on factors such as market capitalization and industry weightings), fundamental characteristics (such as estimated variability of returns and yield) and liquidity measures similar to those of the Underlying Index. The Fund may or may not hold all of the securities in the Underlying Index.

The Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in (a) subordinated or junior subordinated debt securities and (b) debt securities that are investment grade (i.e., rated at least BBB- by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, Inc. or Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or if unrated, deemed by the Adviser and/or Sub-Adviser to be of comparable quality. In addition, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets (but typically far more) in instruments that comprise the Underlying Index.

Industry Concentration Policy. The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its total assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to the extent that its Underlying Index is concentrated.

As of February 28, 2014, the Underlying Index was substantially comprised of issuers in the financial services sector.

Summary of Principal Risks

As with any investment, you could lose all or part of your investment in the Fund, and the Fund’s performance could trail that of other investments. The Fund is subject to the principal risks noted below, any of which may adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”), trading price, yield, total return and ability to meet its investment objective, as well as numerous other risks that are described in greater detail in the section of the Prospectus entitled “Further Discussion of Principal Risks” and in the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).

Subordinated Securities Risk. A holder of securities that are subordinated or “junior” to more senior securities of an issuer is entitled to payment after holders of more senior securities of the issuer. Subordinated securities are more likely to suffer a credit loss than non-subordinated securities of the same issuer, any loss incurred by the subordinated securities is likely to be

 

 

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proportionately greater, and any recovery of interest or principal may take more time. As a result, even a perceived decline in creditworthiness of the issuer is likely to have a greater impact on such securities.

Fixed Income Securities Risk. Fixed-income securities are subject to the risk of the issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payments on its obligations (i.e., credit risk) and are subject to price volatility resulting from, among other things, interest rate sensitivity, market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity (i.e., market risk). Lower rated fixed-income securities have greater volatility because there is less certainty that principal and interest payments will be made as scheduled.

Fixed Income Markets Risk. Developments relating to subprime mortgages have adversely affected fixed-income securities markets in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. The values of many types of debt securities have been reduced, including debt securities that are not related to mortgage loans. In addition, broker-dealers and other market participants have been less willing to make a market in some types of debt instruments, which has impacted the liquidity of those instruments. These developments also have had a negative effect on the broader economy. There is a risk that a lack of liquidity or other adverse credit

market conditions may hamper the Fund’s ability to sell the debt securities in which it invests or to find and purchase suitable debt instruments.

Financial Services Sector Risk. As of the date of the Prospectus, the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in securities of issuers in the financial services sector in order to track the Underlying Index’s allocation to that sector. The financial services sector is subject to extensive government regulation, can be subject to relatively rapid change due to increasingly blurred distinctions between service segments, and can be significantly affected by availability and cost of capital funds, changes in interest rates, the rate of corporate and consumer debt defaults, and price competition. In addition, the deterioration of the credit markets since late 2007 generally has caused an adverse impact in a broad range of markets, including U.S. and international credit and interbank money markets generally, thereby affecting a wide range of financial institutions and markets. In particular, events in the financial sector since late 2008 have resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign. This situation has created instability in the financial markets and caused certain financial services companies to incur large losses. Numerous financial services companies have experienced

 

 

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substantial declines in the valuations of their assets, taken action to raise capital (such as the issuance of debt or equity securities), or even ceased operations. These actions have caused the securities of many financial services companies to experience a dramatic decline in value.

Issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage and credit markets have been particularly affected by the foregoing events and the general market turmoil, and it is uncertain whether or for how long these conditions will continue.

Interest Rate Risk. When interest rates rise, prices of debt securities generally decline. The longer the duration of the Fund’s debt securities, the more sensitive it will be to interest rate changes. (As a general rule, a 1% rise in interest rates means a 1% fall in value for every year of duration.)

Credit Risk. The Fund’s performance could be hurt if an issuer of a debt security suffers an adverse change in financial condition that results in a payment default, security downgrade or inability to meet a financial obligation. Credit risk is greater for lower-rated securities.

Prepayment and Extension Risk. When interest rates fall, issuers of high interest debt obligations may pay off the debts earlier than expected (prepayment

risk), and the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds at lower yields. When interest rates rise, issuers of lower interest debt obligations may pay off the debts later than expected (extension risk), thus keeping the Fund’s assets tied up in lower interest debt obligations. Ultimately, any unexpected behavior in interest rates could increase the volatility of the Fund’s share price and yield and could hurt fund performance. Prepayments could also result in the realization of capital gains or ordinary income in some instances.

Restricted Securities/Rule 144A Securities Risk. The Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in securities offered pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, which are restricted securities. They may be less liquid and more difficult to value than other investments because such securities may not be readily marketable in broad public markets. The Fund may not be able to sell a restricted security promptly or at a reasonable price. Although there is a substantial institutional market for Rule 144A securities, it is not possible to predict exactly how the market for Rule 144A securities will develop. A restricted security that was liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid and its value may decline as a result. Restricted securities that are deemed illiquid will count towards the Fund’s 15% limitation on illiquid securities. In addition, transaction costs may be higher for

 

 

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restricted securities than for more liquid securities. The Fund may have to bear the expense of registering Rule 144A securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration.

Liquidity Risk. In certain situations, it may be difficult or impossible to sell an investment in an orderly fashion at an acceptable price.

Foreign and Emerging Market Securities Risk. The Fund’s investments in the securities of foreign and emerging market issuers may be subject to a greater risk of loss than investments in U.S. securities. Such risks may include: (i) greater market volatility, (ii) lower trading volume, (iii) political and economic instability, (iv) high levels of inflation, deflation or currency devaluation, (v) greater social, political and economic uncertainty, (vi) greater risk of market shut down, (vii) higher transactional and custody costs (viii) taxation by foreign governments, (ix) decreased market liquidity, (x) various administrative difficulties, such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions, (xi) more governmental limitations on foreign investments and limitations on repatriation of invested capital than those typically found in a developed market, and (xii) the risk that companies may be held to lower disclosure, corporate governance, auditing and financial reporting standards than U.S. issuers. Each of these factors can make investments

in the Fund more volatile and potentially less liquid than other types of investments. The risks of investing in emerging market issuers are greater than the risks associated with investments in foreign developed issuers.

Foreign exchanges, broker-dealers, and listed issuers may be subject to less government regulation and oversight.

Pricing Risk. If market conditions make it difficult to value some investments, the Fund may value these investments using more subjective methods, such as fair value pricing. In such cases, the value determined for an investment could be different than the value realized upon such investment’s sale. As a result, you could pay more than the market value when buying Fund shares or receive less than the market value when selling Fund shares.

Index Risk. Unlike many investment companies, the Fund does not utilize an investing strategy that seeks returns in excess of the Underlying Index. Therefore, it would not necessarily buy or sell a security unless that security is added or removed, respectively, from the Underlying Index, even if that security generally is underperforming.

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

 

 

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Valuation Risk. The value of the securities in the Fund’s portfolio may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or sell the Fund’s shares.

Non-Diversification Risk. The Fund is non-diversified and may invest a large percentage of its assets in securities issued by or representing a small number of issuers. As a result, the Fund may be more exposed to the risks associated with and developments affecting an individual issuer or a smaller number of issuers than a fund that invests more widely. This may increase the Fund’s volatility and cause the performance of a relatively smaller number of issuers to have a greater impact on the Fund’s performance.

Passive Investment Risk. The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities. This differs from an actively managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund may hold constituent securities of the Underlying Index regardless of the current or projected performance of a specific security or a particular industry or market sector. Maintaining investments in securities regardless of market conditions or the performance of individual securities could cause the Fund’s return to be lower than if the Fund employed an active strategy.

Tracking Error Risk. The performance of the Fund may diverge from that of its Underlying Index for a number of reasons, including operating expenses, transaction costs, cash flows and operational inefficiencies. In addition, the Fund’s use of a representative sampling approach may cause the Fund to not be as well correlated with the return of the Underlying Index as would be the case if the Fund purchased all of the securities in the Underlying Index in the proportions represented in the Underlying Index. Because the Fund bears the costs and risks associated with buying and selling securities while such costs and risks are not factored into the return of the Underlying Index, the Fund’s return may deviate significantly from the return of the Underlying Index.

Industry Concentration Risk. To the extent that the Fund’s investments are concentrated in a particular industry, the Fund will be susceptible to loss due to adverse occurrences affecting that industry.

Performance Information

As of the date of the Prospectus, the Fund has not yet commenced operations and therefore does not report its performance information. Once available, the Fund’s performance information will be accessible on the Fund’s website at www.dbxus.com and will provide some indication of the

 

 

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risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance and by showing how the Fund’s returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance.

Management

Investment Adviser. DBX Advisors LLC.

Sub-Adviser. Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc.

Portfolio Managers. Thomas M. Farina, Alvin A. Burgos, Paul Liu and Kelly L. Beam, each a Portfolio Manager, are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Each Portfolio Manager functions as a member of a portfolio manager team. Messrs. Farina, Burgos and Liu and Ms. Beam have been Portfolio Managers of the Fund since the Fund’s inception.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares. The Fund is an exchange-traded fund (commonly referred to as an “ETF”). Individual Fund shares may only be purchased and sold through a brokerage firm. The price of Fund shares is based on market price, and because ETF shares trade at market prices rather than NAV, shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (a premium) or less than NAV (a discount). The Fund will only issue or redeem shares that have been aggregated into blocks of 50,000 shares or multiples thereof (“Creation Units”) to

authorized participants who have entered into agreements with the Fund’s distributor.

Tax Information. The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account (“IRA”), in which case distributions from such tax deferred arrangements may be taxable to you. For more information regarding the tax consequences that may be associated with investing in the Fund, please refer to the section of the Prospectus entitled “Taxes on Distributions.”

Payment to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries. If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Adviser or other related companies may pay the intermediary for marketing activities and presentations, educational training programs, the support of technology platforms and/or reporting systems or other services related to the sale or promotion of the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

 

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