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FORM N-1A

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

  Pre-Effective Amendment No.
  Post-Effective Amendment No. 212

 

and/or

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

 

  Amendment No. 214

 

(Check appropriate box or boxes)

 

EXCHANGE LISTED FUNDS TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

10900 Hefner Pointe Drive

Suite 400

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Zip Code)

 

(405) 778-8377

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)

 

J. Garrett Stevens

Exchange Listed Funds Trust

10900 Hefner Pointe Drive

Suite 400

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

Copy to:

Christopher Menconi

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

1111 Pennsylvania Ave, NW

Washington, DC 20004

 

 

 

 

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):

 

  Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
  On date pursuant to paragraph (b)
  60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
  On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
  75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
  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.

 

 

 

 

Exchange Listed Funds Trust

 

Prospectus

 

July 6, 2021

 

Cabana Target Leading Sector Conservative ETF (Ticker Symbol: CLSC)

 

Cabana Target Leading Sector Moderate ETF (Ticker Symbol: CLSM)

 

Cabana Target Leading Sector Aggressive ETF (Ticker Symbol: CLSA)

 

Principal Listing Exchange for the Funds: NYSE Arca, Inc.

 

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

 

About This Prospectus

 

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

 

  Page
Fund Summaries  
Cabana Target Leading Sector Conservative ETF 1
Cabana Target Leading Sector Moderate ETF 11
Cabana Target Leading Sector Aggressive ETF 21
Summary Information About Purchasing and Selling Shares, Taxes and Financial Intermediary Compensation 31
Additional Principal Investment Strategies Information 31
Additional Principal Risk Information 32
Portfolio Holdings 43
Fund Management 43
Portfolio Managers 44
Buying and Selling Fund Shares 45
Distribution and Service Plan 46
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes 46
Additional Information 50
Financial Highlights 52
How to Obtain More Information About the Funds Back Cover

 

 

 

 

Fund Summary – Cabana Target Leading Sector Conservative ETF

 

Investment Objective

 

The Cabana Target Leading Sector Conservative ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide long-term growth.

 

Fees and Expenses

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fee 0.80%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees 0.00%
Other Expenses1 0.00%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1 0.10%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.90%
Fee Waiver 2 -0.21%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver 0.69%

1 Based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

2 Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its management fee in an amount equal to 0.21% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for at least one year from the date of this Prospectus, unless earlier terminated by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Exchange Listed Funds Trust (the “Trust”) for any reason at any time.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then sell all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same (after taking into account the fee waiver for the first year). Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your cost would be:

 

1 Year 3 Years
$70 $266

 

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 shares of the Fund are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example above, affect the Fund’s performance. This rate excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of in-kind creations or redemptions of the Fund’s shares. Because the Fund is new, portfolio turnover information is not yet available.

 

1

 

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) that seeks to achieve its investment objective primarily by allocating its assets among ETFs that invest in securities of companies in the various sectors of the U.S. market: communication services, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, energy, financials, health care, industrials, information technology, materials, real estate, and utilities. The Fund’s sub-adviser, Cabana Asset Management (the “Sub-Adviser”), selects investments in sectors of the market it identifies as attractive pursuant to an asset allocation strategy designed to optimize performance while seeking to manage portfolio volatility and reduce exposure to down markets.

 

The Fund operates in a manner that is commonly referred to as a “fund of funds,” meaning that it primarily invests in other ETFs. The ETFs may invest in any of the five major asset classes – equities, fixed income, real estate, currencies, and commodities. The ETFs may invest in a broad range of securities, including equity securities of any market capitalization of U.S. and foreign (including emerging markets) issuers and fixed income securities of any duration, maturity, and quality (including high yield or non-investment grade securities, commonly referred to as “junk bonds,” and U.S. government securities). In addition, the Fund may invest directly in securities and other instruments to obtain the desired exposure to a specific sector.

 

To implement its strategy, the Sub-Adviser utilizes its Cyclical Asset Reallocation Algorithm (“CARA”), a proprietary algorithm developed by the Sub-Adviser that monitors market conditions to identify sectors that are particularly attractive at any given time in the business cycle. CARA incorporates various fundamental economic and technical price data, including public information concerning the yield curve (i.e., the spread between short- and long-term interest rates), earnings of a broad spectrum of companies in the U.S. equity market, and equity price trends. The Sub-Adviser, through CARA, monitors the Fund’s investments daily and allocates or reallocates the Fund’s assets across sectors as well as across less-correlated and inversely-correlated asset classes in an effort to reduce exposure to potential market declines. In allocating the Fund’s assets, the Sub-Adviser expects to utilize a conservative investment style, meaning that the Sub-Adviser will optimize the portfolio to target minimum volatility in down markets while seeking growth in up markets through allocation to sectors that are believed to outperform at various points within the economic cycle. The Sub-Adviser’s use of less-correlated and inversely-correlated asset classes is intended to manage the Fund’s volatility consistent with this investment style.

 

Although the Sub-Adviser anticipates that it will purchase or sell securities based on the signals provided by CARA, the Sub-Adviser maintains full decision-making power and may override CARA if it determines that a breakdown or systemic change has occurred in the methods for which capital is deployed within the worldwide economic system or if it believes that CARA does not signal appropriate changes to risk assets as the economic cycle evolves. The Sub-Adviser expects the Fund to be fully invested at all times.

 

2

 

 

The Fund is classified as a “non-diversified” investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) and, therefore, may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer than a diversified fund.

 

Principal Risks

 

As with all funds, a shareholder is subject to the risk that his or her investment could lose money. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risks affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund, either directly or through its investments in an ETF, are set forth below.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds Risk. Through its investments in ETFs, the Fund is subject to the risks associated with the ETFs’ investments, including the possibility that the value of the instruments held by an ETF could decrease. These risks include any combination of the risks described below, as well as certain of the other risks described in this section. The Fund’s exposure to a particular risk will be proportionate to the Fund’s overall allocation and each ETF’s asset allocation. In addition, by investing in the Fund, shareholders indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the ETFs in addition to the Fund’s direct fees and expenses. As a result, the cost of investing in the Fund may exceed the costs of investing directly in ETFs. The Fund may purchase ETFs at prices that exceed the net asset value of their underlying investments and may sell ETF investments at prices below such net asset value, and will likely incur brokerage costs when it purchases and sells ETFs.

 

Commodity Investing Risk. An ETF’s investment in commodity-related companies may subject the ETF to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The commodities markets have experienced periods of extreme volatility. Similar future market conditions may result in rapid and substantial valuation increases or decreases in the ETF’s holdings.

 

Credit Risk. An ETF could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a debt instrument in which the ETF invests becomes unwilling or unable to make timely principal and/or interest payments, or to otherwise meet its obligations.

 

Equity Securities Risk. The prices of equity securities in which the ETFs invest may rise and fall daily. These price movements may result from factors affecting individual issuers, industries or the stock market as a whole.

 

Emerging Markets Securities Risk. Emerging markets are subject to greater market volatility, lower trading volume, political and economic instability, uncertainty regarding the existence of trading markets and more governmental limitations on foreign investment than more developed markets. In addition, securities in emerging markets may be subject to greater price fluctuations than securities in more developed markets. Differences in regulatory, accounting, auditing, and financial reporting and recordkeeping standards could impede the Sub-Adviser’s ability to evaluate local companies and impact the Fund’s performance. Investments in securities of issuers in emerging markets may also be exposed to risks related to a lack of liquidity, greater potential for market manipulation, issuers’ limited reliable access to capital, and foreign investment structures. Additionally, the Fund may have limited rights and remedies available to it to pursue claims against issuers in emerging markets.

 

3

 

 

Fixed Income Securities Risk. The market value of fixed income investments in which an ETF may invest may change in response to interest rate changes and other factors. During periods of falling interest rates, the value of outstanding fixed income securities generally rise. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, the value of fixed income securities generally decline.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in non-U.S. securities involve certain risks that may not be present with investments in U.S. securities. For example, investments in non-U.S. securities may be subject to risk of loss due to foreign currency fluctuations or to expropriation, nationalization or adverse political or economic developments. Foreign securities may have relatively low market liquidity and decreased publicly available information about issuers. Investments in non-U.S. securities also may be subject to withholding or other taxes and may be subject to additional trading, settlement, custodial, and operational risks. Non-U.S. issuers may also be subject to inconsistent and potentially less stringent accounting, auditing, financial reporting and investor protection standards than U.S. issuers. These and other factors can make investments in an ETF more volatile and potentially less liquid than other types of investments. In addition, where all or a portion of an ETF’s portfolio holdings trade in markets that are closed when the ETF’s market is open, there may be valuation differences that could lead to differences between the ETF’s market price and the value of the ETF’s portfolio holdings.

 

High Yield or Non-Investment Grade Securities Risk. High yield or non-investment grade securities (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”) and unrated securities of comparable credit quality are subject to the increased risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payment obligations and are generally considered to be speculative. These securities may be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as specific corporate developments, interest rate sensitivity, negative perceptions of the non-investment grade securities markets generally, real or perceived adverse economic and competitive industry conditions and less secondary market liquidity. If the issuer of non-investment grade securities defaults, an ETF may incur additional expenses to seek recovery.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. Fund performance depends on the performance of the issuers to which the ETFs have exposure. Issuer-specific events, including changes in the financial condition of an issuer, can have a negative impact on the value of an ETF.

 

Large-Capitalization Risk. An ETF’s performance may be adversely affected if securities of large-capitalization companies underperform securities of smaller-capitalization companies or the market as a whole. The securities of large-capitalization companies may be relatively mature compared to smaller companies and therefore subject to slower growth during times of economic expansion. Large-capitalization companies may also be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology and consumer tastes.

 

4

 

 

Real Estate Investments Risk. Risks related to investments in real estate include declines in the real estate market, decreases in property revenues, increases in interest rates, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, legal and regulatory changes, a lack of credit or capital, defaults by borrowers or tenants, environmental problems and natural disasters.

 

Sector Focus Risk. An ETF may invest a significant portion of its assets in one or more sectors and thus will be more susceptible to the risks affecting those sectors.

 

Small and Mid-Capitalization Risk. The small- and mid-capitalization companies in which an ETF invests may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies, and may underperform other segments of the market or the equity market as a whole. Securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies generally trade in lower volumes, are often more vulnerable to market volatility, and are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than larger capitalization stocks or the stock market as a whole.

 

U.S. Government Securities Risk. U.S. government securities are subject to price fluctuations and to default in the event that an agency or instrumentality defaults on an obligation not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.

 

Market Risk. The market price of a security or instrument could decline, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic or political conditions throughout the world, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. Local, regional, or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the market generally and on specific securities. The market value of a security may also decline because of factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry.

 

Asset Allocation Risk. The Fund’s investment performance depends upon the successful allocation by the Sub-Adviser of the Fund’s assets among asset classes. There is no guarantee that the Sub-Adviser’s allocation techniques and decisions will produce the desired results.

 

Early Close/Trading Halt Risk. An exchange or market may close or issue trading halts on specific securities, or the ability to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments may be restricted, which may result in the Fund being unable to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments. In such circumstances, the Fund may be unable to rebalance its portfolio, may be unable to accurately price its investments and/or may incur substantial trading losses.

 

Limited Authorized Participants, Market Makers and Liquidity Providers Risk. Because the Fund is an ETF, only a limited number of institutional investors (known as “Authorized Participants”) are authorized to purchase and redeem shares directly from the Fund. In addition, there may be a limited number of market makers and/or liquidity providers in the marketplace. To the extent either of the following events occurs, the risk of which is higher during periods of market stress, shares of the Fund may trade at a material discount to their net asset value (“NAV”) per share and possibly face delisting: (i) Authorized Participants exit the business or otherwise become unable to process creation and/or redemption orders and no other Authorized Participants step forward to perform these services, or (ii) market makers and/or liquidity providers exit the business or significantly reduce their business activities and no other entities step forward to perform their functions.

 

5

 

 

Management Risk. The Sub-Adviser continuously evaluates the Fund’s holdings, purchases and sales with a view to achieving the Fund’s investment objective. However, the achievement of the stated investment objective cannot be guaranteed over short- or long-term market cycles. The Sub-Adviser’s judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. The quantitative model used by the Sub-Adviser may not perform as expected, particularly in volatile markets.

 

In addition, although the Sub-Adviser seeks to manage volatility within the Fund’s portfolio, there is no guarantee that the Sub-Adviser will be successful. Securities in the Fund’s portfolio may be subject to price volatility, and the Fund’s share price may not be any less volatile than the market as a whole and could be more volatile. The Sub-Adviser’s determinations and expectations regarding volatility may be incorrect or inaccurate, which may also adversely affect the Fund’s actual volatility. The Fund also may underperform other funds with similar investment objectives and strategies. The Fund may provide protection in volatile markets by potentially curbing or mitigating the risk of loss in declining equity markets, but the Fund’s opportunity to achieve returns when the equity markets are rising may also be limited. In general, the greater the protection against downside loss, the lesser the Fund’s opportunity to participate in the returns generated by rising equity markets; however, there is no guarantee that the Fund will be successful in protecting the value of its portfolio in down markets.

 

Model and Data Risk. The Fund relies heavily on CARA, a proprietary model developed by the Sub-Adviser, as well as data and information supplied by third parties that are utilized by such model. To the extent the model does not perform as designed or as intended, the Fund’s strategy may not be successfully implemented and the Fund may lose value. If the model or data are incorrect or incomplete, any decisions made in reliance thereon may lead to the inclusion or exclusion of securities that would have been excluded or included had the model or data been correct and complete.

 

New/Smaller Fund Risk. A new or smaller fund is subject to the risk that its performance may not represent how the fund is expected to or may perform in the long term. In addition, new funds have limited operating histories for investors to evaluate and new and smaller funds may not attract sufficient assets to achieve investment and trading efficiencies. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve an economically viable size, in which case it could ultimately liquidate. The Fund may be liquidated by the Board without a shareholder vote. In a liquidation, shareholders of the Fund will receive an amount equal to the Fund’s NAV, after deducting the costs of liquidation, including the transaction costs of disposing of the Fund’s portfolio investments. Receipt of a liquidation distribution may have negative tax consequences for shareholders. Additionally, during the Fund’s liquidation all or a portion of the Fund’s portfolio may be invested in a manner not consistent with its investment objective and investment policies.

 

6

 

 

 

Non-Diversification Risk. The Fund is a non-diversified investment company under the 1940 Act, meaning that, as compared to a diversified fund, it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in securities issued by or representing a small number of issuers. As a result, the performance of these issuers can have a substantial impact on the Fund’s performance.

 

Operational Risk. The Fund and its service providers may experience disruptions that arise from human error, processing and communications errors, counterparty or third-party errors, technology or systems failures, any of which may have an adverse impact on the Fund.

 

Sector Focus Risk. While the Fund’s sector exposure is expected to vary over time, the Fund anticipates that, from time to time, it may be subject to some or all of the risks described below.

 

Communication Services Sector Risk. Communication services companies are particularly vulnerable to the potential obsolescence of products and services due to technological advancement and the innovation of competitors. Companies in the communication services sector may also be affected by other competitive pressures, such as pricing competition, as well as research and development costs, substantial capital requirements and government regulation. Additionally, fluctuating domestic and international demand, shifting demographics and often unpredictable changes in consumer tastes can drastically affect a communication services company's profitability. While all companies may be susceptible to network security breaches, certain companies in the communication services sector may be particular targets of hacking and potential theft of proprietary or consumer information or disruptions in service, which could have a material adverse effect on their businesses.

 

Consumer Discretionary Sector RiskConsumer discretionary companies are companies that provide non-essential goods and services, such as retailers, media companies and consumer services. These companies manufacture products and provide discretionary services directly to the consumer, and the success of these companies is tied closely to the performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence.

 

Consumer Staples Sector Risk. Companies in the consumer staples sector 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 drinks may be strongly affected by fads, marketing campaigns and other factors affecting supply and demand.

 

Energy Sector RiskIssuers in energy-related industries can be significantly affected by fluctuations in energy prices and supply and demand of energy fuels. Markets for various energy-related commodities can have significant volatility, and are subject to control or manipulation by large producers or purchasers. Companies in the energy sector may need to make substantial expenditures, and to incur significant amounts of debt, in order to maintain or expand their reserves. Oil and gas exploration and production can be significantly affected by natural disasters, as well as changes in exchange rates, interest rates, government regulation, world events and economic conditions. These companies may be at risk for environmental damage claims.

 

 

7

 

 

Financials Sector RiskFinancial 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, the interest rates and fees they can charge, the scope of their activities, the prices they can charge and the amount of capital they must maintain. Profitability is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital funds and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change or due to increased competition. In addition, deterioration of the credit markets generally may cause 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.

 

Health Care Sector Risk. The health care sector may be affected by government regulations and government healthcare programs, increases or decreases in the cost of medical products and services and product liability claims, among other factors. Many health care companies are heavily dependent on patent protection, and the expiration of a patent may adversely affect their profitability. Health care companies are subject to competitive forces that may result in price discounting, and may be thinly capitalized and susceptible to product obsolescence. 

 

Industrials Sector Risk. The industrials sector can be significantly affected by, among other things, worldwide economy growth, supply and demand for specific products and services and for industrial sector products in general, product obsolescence, rapid technological developments, international political and economic developments, claims for environmental damage or product liability, tax policies, and government regulation.

 

Information Technology Sector Risk. Information technology companies may be smaller and less experienced companies, with limited product lines, markets or financial resources and fewer experienced management or marketing personnel. Information technology company stocks, especially those which are Internet related, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that are often unrelated to their operating performance. Securities of information technology companies may be subject to greater price volatility than securities of companies in other sectors. These securities may fall in and out of favor with investors rapidly, which may cause sudden selling and dramatically lower market prices.

 

Materials Sector Risk. Companies in the materials sector could be affected by, among other things, commodity prices, government regulation, inflation expectations, resource availability, and economic cycles.

 

Real Estate Sector Risk. An investment in a real property company may be subject to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including, by way of example, the possibility of declines in the value of real estate, losses from casualty or condemnation, and changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, environmental liability, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, and operating expenses. Some real property companies have limited diversification because they invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area, or a single type of property.

 

8

 

 

Utilities Sector Risk. Utility companies are affected by supply and demand, operating costs, government regulation, environmental factors, liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities, and rate caps or rate changes. Although rate changes of a regulated 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 equity securities may tend 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. In addition, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, government intervention or other factors may render a utility company's equipment unusable or obsolete and negatively impact profitability.

 

Tax Risk. In order to qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment accorded to a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Internal Revenue Code”), the Fund must, amongst other requirements, derive at least 90% of its gross income in each taxable year from certain categories of income (“qualifying income”). Certain of the Fund’s commodity-related investments will not generate income that is qualifying income. If the Fund was to fail to meet the qualifying income test and fail to qualify as a regulated investment company, it would be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation, and distributions to its shareholders would not be deductible by the Fund in computing its taxable income. The failure by the Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company would have significant negative tax consequences to Fund shareholders and would affect a shareholder’s return on its investment in the Fund. Under certain circumstances, the Fund may be able to cure a failure to meet the qualifying income test if such failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, but in order to do so the Fund may incur significant fund-level taxes, which would effectively reduce (and could eliminate) the Fund’s returns. To the extent the Fund invests in an underlying fund that is taxable as a regulated investment company and that directly makes certain commodity-related investments, the tax rules related to such investments and associated risks described above with respect to the Fund will also apply to the underlying fund that makes such commodity-related investments.

 

Trading Risk. Shares of the Fund may trade on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “Exchange”) above (premium) or below (discount) their NAV. The NAV of shares of the Fund will fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s holdings. The market prices of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate continuously throughout trading hours based on market supply and demand and may deviate significantly from the value of the Fund’s holdings, particularly in times of market stress, with the result that investors may pay more or receive less than the underlying value of the Fund shares bought or sold. When buying or selling shares in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase shares of the Fund (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for shares of the Fund (ask), which is known as the bid-ask spread. In addition, although the Fund’s shares are currently listed on the Exchange, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for shares will develop or be maintained. Trading in Fund shares may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in shares of the Fund inadvisable. In stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings.

 

9

 

 

Performance Information

 

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

 

Investment Advisers

 

Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. Cabana LLC d/b/a Cabana Asset Management serves as the sub-adviser to the Fund.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

G. Chadd Mason, CEO of the Sub-Adviser, has served as a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2021.

 

Andrew Serowik, Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2021.

 

Gabriel Tan, Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2021.

 

Todd Alberico, Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2021.

 

For important information about the purchase and sale of shares of the Fund, taxes, and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Summary Information about Purchasing and Selling Shares, Taxes, and Financial Intermediary Compensation” on page 31 of the Prospectus.

 

10

 

 

Fund Summary – Cabana Target Leading Sector Moderate ETF

 

Investment Objective

 

The Cabana Target Leading Sector Moderate ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide long-term growth.

 

Fees and Expenses

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fee 0.80%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees 0.00%
Other Expenses1 0.00%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1 0.10%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.90%
Fee Waiver2 -0.21%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver 0.69%

1 Based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

2 Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its management fee in an amount equal to 0.21% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for at least one year from the date of this Prospectus, unless earlier terminated by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Exchange Listed Funds Trust (the “Trust”) for any reason at any time.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then sell all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same (after taking into account the fee waiver for the first year). Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your cost would be:

 

1 Year 3 Years
$70 $266

 

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 shares of the Fund are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example above, affect the Fund’s performance. This rate excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of in-kind creations or redemptions of the Fund’s shares. Because the Fund is new, portfolio turnover information is not yet available.

 

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Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) that seeks to achieve its investment objective primarily by allocating its assets among ETFs that invest in securities of companies in the various sectors of the U.S. market: communication services, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, energy, financials, health care, industrials, information technology, materials, real estate, and utilities. The Fund’s sub-adviser, Cabana Asset Management (the “Sub-Adviser”), selects investments in sectors of the market it identifies as attractive pursuant to an asset allocation strategy designed to optimize performance while seeking to manage portfolio volatility and reduce exposure to down markets.

 

The Fund operates in a manner that is commonly referred to as a “fund of funds,” meaning that it primarily invests in other ETFs. The ETFs may invest in any of the five major asset classes – equities, fixed income, real estate, currencies, and commodities. The ETFs may invest in a broad range of securities, including equity securities of any market capitalization of U.S. and foreign (including emerging markets) issuers and fixed income securities of any duration, maturity, and quality (including high yield or non-investment grade securities, commonly referred to as “junk bonds,” and U.S. government securities). In addition, the Fund may invest directly in securities and other instruments to obtain the desired exposure to a specific sector.

 

To implement its strategy, the Sub-Adviser utilizes its Cyclical Asset Reallocation Algorithm (“CARA”), a proprietary algorithm developed by the Sub-Adviser that monitors market conditions to identify sectors that are particularly attractive at any given time in the business cycle. CARA incorporates various fundamental economic and technical price data, including public information concerning the yield curve (i.e., the spread between short- and long-term interest rates), earnings of a broad spectrum of companies in the U.S. equity market, and equity price trends. The Sub-Adviser, through CARA, monitors the Fund’s investments daily and allocates or reallocates the Fund’s assets across sectors as well as across less-correlated and inversely-correlated asset classes in an effort to reduce exposure to potential market declines. In allocating the Fund’s assets, the Sub-Adviser expects to utilize a moderate investment style, meaning that the Sub-Adviser will seek a balance between capital preservation and growth through allocation to sectors that are believed to outperform at various points within the economic cycle. The Sub-Adviser’s use of less-correlated and inversely-correlated asset classes is intended to manage the Fund’s volatility consistent with this investment style.

 

Although the Sub-Adviser anticipates that it will purchase or sell securities based on the signals provided by CARA, the Sub-Adviser maintains full decision-making power and may override CARA if it determines that a breakdown or systemic change has occurred in the methods for which capital is deployed within the worldwide economic system or if it believes that CARA does not signal appropriate changes to risk assets as the economic cycle evolves. The Sub-Adviser expects the Fund to be fully invested at all times.

 

The Fund is classified as a “non-diversified” investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) and, therefore, may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer than a diversified fund.

 

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Principal Risks

 

As with all funds, a shareholder is subject to the risk that his or her investment could lose money. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risks affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund, either directly or through its investments in an ETF, are set forth below.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds Risk. Through its investments in ETFs, the Fund is subject to the risks associated with the ETFs’ investments, including the possibility that the value of the instruments held by an ETF could decrease. These risks include any combination of the risks described below, as well as certain of the other risks described in this section. The Fund’s exposure to a particular risk will be proportionate to the Fund’s overall allocation and each ETF’s asset allocation. In addition, by investing in the Fund, shareholders indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the ETFs in addition to the Fund’s direct fees and expenses. As a result, the cost of investing in the Fund may exceed the costs of investing directly in ETFs. The Fund may purchase ETFs at prices that exceed the net asset value of their underlying investments and may sell ETF investments at prices below such net asset value, and will likely incur brokerage costs when it purchases and sells ETFs.

 

Commodity Investing Risk. An ETF’s investment in commodity-related companies may subject the ETF to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The commodities markets have experienced periods of extreme volatility. Similar future market conditions may result in rapid and substantial valuation increases or decreases in the ETF’s holdings.

 

Credit Risk. An ETF could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a debt instrument in which the ETF invests becomes unwilling or unable to make timely principal and/or interest payments, or to otherwise meet its obligations.

 

Equity Securities Risk. The prices of equity securities in which the ETFs invest may rise and fall daily. These price movements may result from factors affecting individual issuers, industries or the stock market as a whole.

 

Emerging Markets Securities Risk. Emerging markets are subject to greater market volatility, lower trading volume, political and economic instability, uncertainty regarding the existence of trading markets and more governmental limitations on foreign investment than more developed markets. In addition, securities in emerging markets may be subject to greater price fluctuations than securities in more developed markets. Differences in regulatory, accounting, auditing, and financial reporting and recordkeeping standards could impede the Sub-Adviser’s ability to evaluate local companies and impact the Fund’s performance. Investments in securities of issuers in emerging markets may also be exposed to risks related to a lack of liquidity, greater potential for market manipulation, issuers’ limited reliable access to capital, and foreign investment structures. Additionally, the Fund may have limited rights and remedies available to it to pursue claims against issuers in emerging markets.

 

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Fixed Income Securities Risk. The market value of fixed income investments in which an ETF may invest may change in response to interest rate changes and other factors. During periods of falling interest rates, the value of outstanding fixed income securities generally rise. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, the value of fixed income securities generally decline.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in non-U.S. securities involve certain risks that may not be present with investments in U.S. securities. For example, investments in non-U.S. securities may be subject to risk of loss due to foreign currency fluctuations or to expropriation, nationalization or adverse political or economic developments. Foreign securities may have relatively low market liquidity and decreased publicly available information about issuers. Investments in non-U.S. securities also may be subject to withholding or other taxes and may be subject to additional trading, settlement, custodial, and operational risks. Non-U.S. issuers may also be subject to inconsistent and potentially less stringent accounting, auditing, financial reporting and investor protection standards than U.S. issuers. These and other factors can make investments in an ETF more volatile and potentially less liquid than other types of investments. In addition, where all or a portion of an ETF’s portfolio holdings trade in markets that are closed when the ETF’s market is open, there may be valuation differences that could lead to differences between the ETF’s market price and the value of the ETF’s portfolio holdings.

 

High Yield or Non-Investment Grade Securities Risk. High yield or non-investment grade securities (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”) and unrated securities of comparable credit quality are subject to the increased risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payment obligations and are generally considered to be speculative. These securities may be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as specific corporate developments, interest rate sensitivity, negative perceptions of the non-investment grade securities markets generally, real or perceived adverse economic and competitive industry conditions and less secondary market liquidity. If the issuer of non-investment grade securities defaults, an ETF may incur additional expenses to seek recovery.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. Fund performance depends on the performance of the issuers to which the ETFs have exposure. Issuer-specific events, including changes in the financial condition of an issuer, can have a negative impact on the value of an ETF.

 

Large-Capitalization Risk. An ETF’s performance may be adversely affected if securities of large-capitalization companies underperform securities of smaller-capitalization companies or the market as a whole. The securities of large-capitalization companies may be relatively mature compared to smaller companies and therefore subject to slower growth during times of economic expansion. Large-capitalization companies may also be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology and consumer tastes.

 

Real Estate Investments Risk. Risks related to investments in real estate include declines in the real estate market, decreases in property revenues, increases in interest rates, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, legal and regulatory changes, a lack of credit or capital, defaults by borrowers or tenants, environmental problems and natural disasters.

 

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Sector Focus Risk. An ETF may invest a significant portion of its assets in one or more sectors and thus will be more susceptible to the risks affecting those sectors.

 

Small and Mid-Capitalization Risk. The small- and mid-capitalization companies in which an ETF invests may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies, and may underperform other segments of the market or the equity market as a whole. Securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies generally trade in lower volumes, are often more vulnerable to market volatility, and are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than larger capitalization stocks or the stock market as a whole.

 

U.S. Government Securities Risk. U.S. government securities are subject to price fluctuations and to default in the event that an agency or instrumentality defaults on an obligation not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.

 

Market Risk. The market price of a security or instrument could decline, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic or political conditions throughout the world, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. Local, regional, or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the market generally and on specific securities. The market value of a security may also decline because of factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry.

 

Asset Allocation Risk. The Fund’s investment performance depends upon the successful allocation by the Sub-Adviser of the Fund’s assets among asset classes. There is no guarantee that the Sub-Adviser’s allocation techniques and decisions will produce the desired results.

 

Early Close/Trading Halt Risk. An exchange or market may close or issue trading halts on specific securities, or the ability to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments may be restricted, which may result in the Fund being unable to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments. In such circumstances, the Fund may be unable to rebalance its portfolio, may be unable to accurately price its investments and/or may incur substantial trading losses.

 

Limited Authorized Participants, Market Makers and Liquidity Providers Risk. Because the Fund is an ETF, only a limited number of institutional investors (known as “Authorized Participants”) are authorized to purchase and redeem shares directly from the Fund. In addition, there may be a limited number of market makers and/or liquidity providers in the marketplace. To the extent either of the following events occurs, the risk of which is higher during periods of market stress, shares of the Fund may trade at a material discount to their net asset value (“NAV”) per share and possibly face delisting: (i) Authorized Participants exit the business or otherwise become unable to process creation and/or redemption orders and no other Authorized Participants step forward to perform these services, or (ii) market makers and/or liquidity providers exit the business or significantly reduce their business activities and no other entities step forward to perform their functions.

 

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Management Risk. The Sub-Adviser continuously evaluates the Fund’s holdings, purchases and sales with a view to achieving the Fund’s investment objective. However, the achievement of the stated investment objective cannot be guaranteed over short- or long-term market cycles. The Sub-Adviser’s judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. The quantitative model used by the Sub-Adviser may not perform as expected, particularly in volatile markets.

 

In addition, although the Sub-Adviser seeks to manage volatility within the Fund’s portfolio, there is no guarantee that the Sub-Adviser will be successful. Securities in the Fund’s portfolio may be subject to price volatility, and the Fund’s share price may not be any less volatile than the market as a whole and could be more volatile. The Sub-Adviser’s determinations and expectations regarding volatility may be incorrect or inaccurate, which may also adversely affect the Fund’s actual volatility. The Fund also may underperform other funds with similar investment objectives and strategies. The Fund may provide protection in volatile markets by potentially curbing or mitigating the risk of loss in declining equity markets, but the Fund’s opportunity to achieve returns when the equity markets are rising may also be limited. In general, the greater the protection against downside loss, the lesser the Fund’s opportunity to participate in the returns generated by rising equity markets; however, there is no guarantee that the Fund will be successful in protecting the value of its portfolio in down markets.

 

Model and Data Risk. The Fund relies heavily on CARA, a proprietary model developed by the Sub-Adviser, as well as data and information supplied by third parties that are utilized by such model. To the extent the model does not perform as designed or as intended, the Fund’s strategy may not be successfully implemented and the Fund may lose value. If the model or data are incorrect or incomplete, any decisions made in reliance thereon may lead to the inclusion or exclusion of securities that would have been excluded or included had the model or data been correct and complete.

 

New/Smaller Fund Risk. A new or smaller fund is subject to the risk that its performance may not represent how the fund is expected to or may perform in the long term. In addition, new funds have limited operating histories for investors to evaluate and new and smaller funds may not attract sufficient assets to achieve investment and trading efficiencies. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve an economically viable size, in which case it could ultimately liquidate. The Fund may be liquidated by the Board without a shareholder vote. In a liquidation, shareholders of the Fund will receive an amount equal to the Fund’s NAV, after deducting the costs of liquidation, including the transaction costs of disposing of the Fund’s portfolio investments. Receipt of a liquidation distribution may have negative tax consequences for shareholders. Additionally, during the Fund’s liquidation all or a portion of the Fund’s portfolio may be invested in a manner not consistent with its investment objective and investment policies.

 

Non-Diversification Risk. The Fund is a non-diversified investment company under the 1940 Act, meaning that, as compared to a diversified fund, it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in securities issued by or representing a small number of issuers. As a result, the performance of these issuers can have a substantial impact on the Fund’s performance.

 

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Operational Risk. The Fund and its service providers may experience disruptions that arise from human error, processing and communications errors, counterparty or third-party errors, technology or systems failures, any of which may have an adverse impact on the Fund.

 

Sector Focus Risk. While the Fund’s sector exposure is expected to vary over time, the Fund anticipates that, from time to time, it may be subject to some or all of the risks described below.

 

Communication Services Sector Risk. Communication services companies are particularly vulnerable to the potential obsolescence of products and services due to technological advancement and the innovation of competitors. Companies in the communication services sector may also be affected by other competitive pressures, such as pricing competition, as well as research and development costs, substantial capital requirements and government regulation. Additionally, fluctuating domestic and international demand, shifting demographics and often unpredictable changes in consumer tastes can drastically affect a communication services company's profitability. While all companies may be susceptible to network security breaches, certain companies in the communication services sector may be particular targets of hacking and potential theft of proprietary or consumer information or disruptions in service, which could have a material adverse effect on their businesses.

 

Consumer Discretionary Sector RiskConsumer discretionary companies are companies that provide non-essential goods and services, such as retailers, media companies and consumer services. These companies manufacture products and provide discretionary services directly to the consumer, and the success of these companies is tied closely to the performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence.

 

Consumer Staples Sector Risk. Companies in the consumer staples sector 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 drinks may be strongly affected by fads, marketing campaigns and other factors affecting supply and demand.

 

Energy Sector RiskIssuers in energy-related industries can be significantly affected by fluctuations in energy prices and supply and demand of energy fuels. Markets for various energy-related commodities can have significant volatility, and are subject to control or manipulation by large producers or purchasers. Companies in the energy sector may need to make substantial expenditures, and to incur significant amounts of debt, in order to maintain or expand their reserves. Oil and gas exploration and production can be significantly affected by natural disasters, as well as changes in exchange rates, interest rates, government regulation, world events and economic conditions. These companies may be at risk for environmental damage claims.

 

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Financials Sector RiskFinancial 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, the interest rates and fees they can charge, the scope of their activities, the prices they can charge and the amount of capital they must maintain. Profitability is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital funds and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change or due to increased competition. In addition, deterioration of the credit markets generally may cause 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.

 

Health Care Sector Risk. The health care sector may be affected by government regulations and government healthcare programs, increases or decreases in the cost of medical products and services and product liability claims, among other factors. Many health care companies are heavily dependent on patent protection, and the expiration of a patent may adversely affect their profitability. Health care companies are subject to competitive forces that may result in price discounting, and may be thinly capitalized and susceptible to product obsolescence. 

 

Industrials Sector Risk. The industrials sector can be significantly affected by, among other things, worldwide economy growth, supply and demand for specific products and services and for industrial sector products in general, product obsolescence, rapid technological developments, international political and economic developments, claims for environmental damage or product liability, tax policies, and government regulation.

 

Information Technology Sector Risk. Information technology companies may be smaller and less experienced companies, with limited product lines, markets or financial resources and fewer experienced management or marketing personnel. Information technology company stocks, especially those which are Internet related, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that are often unrelated to their operating performance. Securities of information technology companies may be subject to greater price volatility than securities of companies in other sectors. These securities may fall in and out of favor with investors rapidly, which may cause sudden selling and dramatically lower market prices.

 

Materials Sector Risk. Companies in the materials sector could be affected by, among other things, commodity prices, government regulation, inflation expectations, resource availability, and economic cycles.

 

Real Estate Sector Risk. An investment in a real property company may be subject to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including, by way of example, the possibility of declines in the value of real estate, losses from casualty or condemnation, and changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, environmental liability, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, and operating expenses. Some real property companies have limited diversification because they invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area, or a single type of property.

 

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Utilities Sector Risk. Utility companies are affected by supply and demand, operating costs, government regulation, environmental factors, liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities, and rate caps or rate changes. Although rate changes of a regulated 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 equity securities may tend 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. In addition, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, government intervention or other factors may render a utility company's equipment unusable or obsolete and negatively impact profitability.

 

Tax Risk. In order to qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment accorded to a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Internal Revenue Code”), the Fund must, amongst other requirements, derive at least 90% of its gross income in each taxable year from certain categories of income (“qualifying income”). Certain of the Fund’s commodity-related investments will not generate income that is qualifying income. If the Fund was to fail to meet the qualifying income test and fail to qualify as a regulated investment company, it would be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation, and distributions to its shareholders would not be deductible by the Fund in computing its taxable income. The failure by the Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company would have significant negative tax consequences to Fund shareholders and would affect a shareholder’s return on its investment in the Fund. Under certain circumstances, the Fund may be able to cure a failure to meet the qualifying income test if such failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, but in order to do so the Fund may incur significant fund-level taxes, which would effectively reduce (and could eliminate) the Fund’s returns. To the extent the Fund invests in an underlying fund that is taxable as a regulated investment company and that directly makes certain commodity-related investments, the tax rules related to such investments and associated risks described above with respect to the Fund will also apply to the underlying fund that makes such commodity-related investments.

 

Trading Risk. Shares of the Fund may trade on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “Exchange”) above (premium) or below (discount) their NAV. The NAV of shares of the Fund will fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s holdings. The market prices of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate continuously throughout trading hours based on market supply and demand and may deviate significantly from the value of the Fund’s holdings, particularly in times of market stress, with the result that investors may pay more or receive less than the underlying value of the Fund shares bought or sold. When buying or selling shares in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase shares of the Fund (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for shares of the Fund (ask), which is known as the bid-ask spread. In addition, although the Fund’s shares are currently listed on the Exchange, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for shares will develop or be maintained. Trading in Fund shares may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in shares of the Fund inadvisable. In stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings.

 

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Performance Information

 

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

 

Investment Advisers

 

Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. Cabana LLC d/b/a Cabana Asset Management serves as the sub-adviser to the Fund.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

G. Chadd Mason, CEO of the Sub-Adviser, has served as a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2021.

 

Andrew Serowik, Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2021.

 

Gabriel Tan, Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2021.

 

Todd Alberico, Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2021.

 

For important information about the purchase and sale of shares of the Fund, taxes, and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Summary Information about Purchasing and Selling Shares, Taxes, and Financial Intermediary Compensation” on page 31 of the Prospectus.

 

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Fund Summary – Cabana Target Leading Sector Aggressive ETF

 

Investment Objective

 

The Cabana Target Leading Sector Aggressive ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide long-term growth.

 

Fees and Expenses

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fee 0.80%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees 0.00%
Other Expenses1 0.00%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1 0.10%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.90%
Fee Waiver2 -0.21%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver 0.69%

1 Based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

2 Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its management fee in an amount equal to 0.21% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for at least one year from the date of this Prospectus, unless earlier terminated by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Exchange Listed Funds Trust (the “Trust”) for any reason at any time.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then sell all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same (after taking into account the fee waiver for the first year). Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your cost would be:

 

1 Year 3 Years
$70 $266

 

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 shares of the Fund are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example above above, affect the Fund’s performance. This rate excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of in-kind creations or redemptions of the Fund’s shares. Because the Fund is new, portfolio turnover information is not yet available.

 

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Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) that seeks to achieve its investment objective primarily by allocating its assets among ETFs that invest in securities of companies in the various sectors of the U.S. market: communication services, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, energy, financials, health care, industrials, information technology, materials, real estate, and utilities. The Fund’s sub-adviser, Cabana Asset Management (the “Sub-Adviser”), selects investments in sectors of the market it identifies as attractive pursuant to an asset allocation strategy designed to optimize performance while seeking to manage portfolio volatility and reduce exposure to down markets.

 

The Fund operates in a manner that is commonly referred to as a “fund of funds,” meaning that it primarily invests in other ETFs. The ETFs may invest in any of the five major asset classes – equities, fixed income, real estate, currencies, and commodities. The ETFs may invest in a broad range of securities, including equity securities of any market capitalization of U.S. and foreign (including emerging markets) issuers and fixed income securities of any duration, maturity, and quality (including high yield or non-investment grade securities, commonly referred to as “junk bonds,” and U.S. government securities). In addition, the Fund may invest directly in securities and other instruments to obtain the desired exposure to a specific sector.

 

To implement its strategy, the Sub-Adviser utilizes its Cyclical Asset Reallocation Algorithm (“CARA”), a proprietary algorithm developed by the Sub-Adviser that monitors market conditions to identify sectors that are particularly attractive at any given time in the business cycle. CARA incorporates various fundamental economic and technical price data, including public information concerning the yield curve (i.e., the spread between short- and long-term interest rates), earnings of a broad spectrum of companies in the U.S. equity market, and equity price trends. The Sub-Adviser, through CARA, monitors the Fund’s investments daily and allocates or reallocates the Fund’s assets across sectors as well as across less-correlated and inversely-correlated asset classes in an effort to reduce exposure to potential market declines. In allocating the Fund’s assets, the Sub-Adviser expects to utilize an aggressive investment style, meaning that the Sub-Adviser will seek to maximize returns while hedging against significant risk to the portfolio through allocation to sectors that are believed to outperform at various points within the economic cycle. The Sub-Adviser’s use of less-correlated and inversely-correlated asset classes is intended to manage the Fund’s volatility consistent with this investment style.

 

Although the Sub-Adviser anticipates that it will purchase or sell securities based on the signals provided by CARA, the Sub-Adviser maintains full decision-making power and may override CARA if it determines that a breakdown or systemic change has occurred in the methods for which capital is deployed within the worldwide economic system or if it believes that CARA does not signal appropriate changes to risk assets as the economic cycle evolves. The Sub-Adviser expects the Fund to be fully invested at all times.

 

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The Fund is classified as a “non-diversified” investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) and, therefore, may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer than a diversified fund.

 

Principal Risks

 

As with all funds, a shareholder is subject to the risk that his or her investment could lose money. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risks affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund, either directly or through its investments in an ETF, are set forth below.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds Risk. Through its investments in ETFs, the Fund is subject to the risks associated with the ETFs’ investments, including the possibility that the value of the instruments held by an ETF could decrease. These risks include any combination of the risks described below, as well as certain of the other risks described in this section. The Fund’s exposure to a particular risk will be proportionate to the Fund’s overall allocation and each ETF’s asset allocation. In addition, by investing in the Fund, shareholders indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the ETFs in addition to the Fund’s direct fees and expenses. As a result, the cost of investing in the Fund may exceed the costs of investing directly in ETFs. The Fund may purchase ETFs at prices that exceed the net asset value of their underlying investments and may sell ETF investments at prices below such net asset value, and will likely incur brokerage costs when it purchases and sells ETFs.

 

Commodity Investing Risk. An ETF’s investment in commodity-related companies may subject the ETF to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The commodities markets have experienced periods of extreme volatility. Similar future market conditions may result in rapid and substantial valuation increases or decreases in the ETF’s holdings.

 

Credit Risk. An ETF could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a debt instrument in which the ETF invests becomes unwilling or unable to make timely principal and/or interest payments, or to otherwise meet its obligations.

 

Equity Securities Risk. The prices of equity securities in which the ETFs invest may rise and fall daily. These price movements may result from factors affecting individual issuers, industries or the stock market as a whole.

 

Emerging Markets Securities Risk. Emerging markets are subject to greater market volatility, lower trading volume, political and economic instability, uncertainty regarding the existence of trading markets and more governmental limitations on foreign investment than more developed markets. In addition, securities in emerging markets may be subject to greater price fluctuations than securities in more developed markets. Differences in regulatory, accounting, auditing, and financial reporting and recordkeeping standards could impede the Sub-Adviser’s ability to evaluate local companies and impact the Fund’s performance. Investments in securities of issuers in emerging markets may also be exposed to risks related to a lack of liquidity, greater potential for market manipulation, issuers’ limited reliable access to capital, and foreign investment structures. Additionally, the Fund may have limited rights and remedies available to it to pursue claims against issuers in emerging markets.

 

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Fixed Income Securities Risk. The market value of fixed income investments in which an ETF may invest may change in response to interest rate changes and other factors. During periods of falling interest rates, the value of outstanding fixed income securities generally rise. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, the value of fixed income securities generally decline.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in non-U.S. securities involve certain risks that may not be present with investments in U.S. securities. For example, investments in non-U.S. securities may be subject to risk of loss due to foreign currency fluctuations or to expropriation, nationalization or adverse political or economic developments. Foreign securities may have relatively low market liquidity and decreased publicly available information about issuers. Investments in non-U.S. securities also may be subject to withholding or other taxes and may be subject to additional trading, settlement, custodial, and operational risks. Non-U.S. issuers may also be subject to inconsistent and potentially less stringent accounting, auditing, financial reporting and investor protection standards than U.S. issuers. These and other factors can make investments in an ETF more volatile and potentially less liquid than other types of investments. In addition, where all or a portion of an ETF’s portfolio holdings trade in markets that are closed when the ETF’s market is open, there may be valuation differences that could lead to differences between the ETF’s market price and the value of the ETF’s portfolio holdings.

 

High Yield or Non-Investment Grade Securities Risk. High yield or non-investment grade securities (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”) and unrated securities of comparable credit quality are subject to the increased risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payment obligations and are generally considered to be speculative. These securities may be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as specific corporate developments, interest rate sensitivity, negative perceptions of the non-investment grade securities markets generally, real or perceived adverse economic and competitive industry conditions and less secondary market liquidity. If the issuer of non-investment grade securities defaults, an ETF may incur additional expenses to seek recovery.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. Fund performance depends on the performance of the issuers to which the ETFs have exposure. Issuer-specific events, including changes in the financial condition of an issuer, can have a negative impact on the value of an ETF.

 

Large-Capitalization Risk. An ETF’s performance may be adversely affected if securities of large-capitalization companies underperform securities of smaller-capitalization companies or the market as a whole. The securities of large-capitalization companies may be relatively mature compared to smaller companies and therefore subject to slower growth during times of economic expansion. Large-capitalization companies may also be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology and consumer tastes.

 

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Real Estate Investments Risk. Risks related to investments in real estate include declines in the real estate market, decreases in property revenues, increases in interest rates, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, legal and regulatory changes, a lack of credit or capital, defaults by borrowers or tenants, environmental problems and natural disasters.

 

Sector Focus Risk. An ETF may invest a significant portion of its assets in one or more sectors and thus will be more susceptible to the risks affecting those sectors.

 

Small and Mid-Capitalization Risk. The small- and mid-capitalization companies in which an ETF invests may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies, and may underperform other segments of the market or the equity market as a whole. Securities of small and mid-capitalization companies generally trade in lower volumes, are often more vulnerable to market volatility, and are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than larger capitalization stocks or the stock market as a whole.

 

U.S. Government Securities Risk. U.S. government securities are subject to price fluctuations and to default in the event that an agency or instrumentality defaults on an obligation not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.

 

Market Risk. The market price of a security or instrument could decline, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic or political conditions throughout the world, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. Local, regional, or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the market generally and on specific securities. The market value of a security may also decline because of factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry.

 

Asset Allocation Risk. The Fund’s investment performance depends upon the successful allocation by the Sub-Adviser of the Fund’s assets among asset classes. There is no guarantee that the Sub-Adviser’s allocation techniques and decisions will produce the desired results.

 

Early Close/Trading Halt Risk. An exchange or market may close or issue trading halts on specific securities, or the ability to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments may be restricted, which may result in the Fund being unable to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments. In such circumstances, the Fund may be unable to rebalance its portfolio, may be unable to accurately price its investments and/or may incur substantial trading losses.

 

Limited Authorized Participants, Market Makers and Liquidity Providers Risk. Because the Fund is an ETF, only a limited number of institutional investors (known as “Authorized Participants”) are authorized to purchase and redeem shares directly from the Fund. In addition, there may be a limited number of market makers and/or liquidity providers in the marketplace. To the extent either of the following events occurs, the risk of which is higher during periods of market stress, shares of the Fund may trade at a material discount to their net asset value (“NAV”) per share and possibly face delisting: (i) Authorized Participants exit the business or otherwise become unable to process creation and/or redemption orders and no other Authorized Participants step forward to perform these services, or (ii) market makers and/or liquidity providers exit the business or significantly reduce their business activities and no other entities step forward to perform their functions.

 

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Management Risk. The Sub-Adviser continuously evaluates the Fund’s holdings, purchases and sales with a view to achieving the Fund’s investment objective. However, the achievement of the stated investment objective cannot be guaranteed over short- or long-term market cycles. The Sub-Adviser’s judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. The quantitative model used by the Sub-Adviser may not perform as expected, particularly in volatile markets.

 

In addition, although the Sub-Adviser seeks to manage volatility within the Fund’s portfolio, there is no guarantee that the Sub-Adviser will be successful. Securities in the Fund’s portfolio may be subject to price volatility, and the Fund’s share price may not be any less volatile than the market as a whole and could be more volatile. The Sub-Adviser’s determinations and expectations regarding volatility may be incorrect or inaccurate, which may also adversely affect the Fund’s actual volatility. The Fund also may underperform other funds with similar investment objectives and strategies. The Fund may provide protection in volatile markets by potentially curbing or mitigating the risk of loss in declining equity markets, but the Fund’s opportunity to achieve returns when the equity markets are rising may also be limited. In general, the greater the protection against downside loss, the lesser the Fund’s opportunity to participate in the returns generated by rising equity markets; however, there is no guarantee that the Fund will be successful in protecting the value of its portfolio in down markets.

 

Model and Data Risk. The Fund relies heavily on CARA, a proprietary model developed by the Sub-Adviser, as well as data and information supplied by third parties that are utilized by such model. To the extent the model does not perform as designed or as intended, the Fund’s strategy may not be successfully implemented and the Fund may lose value. If the model or data are incorrect or incomplete, any decisions made in reliance thereon may lead to the inclusion or exclusion of securities that would have been excluded or included had the model or data been correct and complete.

 

New/Smaller Fund Risk. A new or smaller fund is subject to the risk that its performance may not represent how the fund is expected to or may perform in the long term. In addition, new funds have limited operating histories for investors to evaluate and new and smaller funds may not attract sufficient assets to achieve investment and trading efficiencies. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve an economically viable size, in which case it could ultimately liquidate. The Fund may be liquidated by the Board without a shareholder vote. In a liquidation, shareholders of the Fund will receive an amount equal to the Fund’s NAV, after deducting the costs of liquidation, including the transaction costs of disposing of the Fund’s portfolio investments. Receipt of a liquidation distribution may have negative tax consequences for shareholders. Additionally, during the Fund’s liquidation all or a portion of the Fund’s portfolio may be invested in a manner not consistent with its investment objective and investment policies.

 

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Non-Diversification Risk. The Fund is a non-diversified investment company under the 1940 Act, meaning that, as compared to a diversified fund, it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in securities issued by or representing a small number of issuers. As a result, the performance of these issuers can have a substantial impact on the Fund’s performance.

 

Operational Risk. The Fund and its service providers may experience disruptions that arise from human error, processing and communications errors, counterparty or third-party errors, technology or systems failures, any of which may have an adverse impact on the Fund.

 

Sector Focus Risk. While the Fund’s sector exposure is expected to vary over time, the Fund anticipates that, from time to time, it may be subject to some or all of the risks described below.

 

Communication Services Sector Risk. Communication services companies are particularly vulnerable to the potential obsolescence of products and services due to technological advancement and the innovation of competitors. Companies in the communication services sector may also be affected by other competitive pressures, such as pricing competition, as well as research and development costs, substantial capital requirements and government regulation. Additionally, fluctuating domestic and international demand, shifting demographics and often unpredictable changes in consumer tastes can drastically affect a communication services company's profitability. While all companies may be susceptible to network security breaches, certain companies in the communication services sector may be particular targets of hacking and potential theft of proprietary or consumer information or disruptions in service, which could have a material adverse effect on their businesses.

 

Consumer Discretionary Sector RiskConsumer discretionary companies are companies that provide non-essential goods and services, such as retailers, media companies and consumer services. These companies manufacture products and provide discretionary services directly to the consumer, and the success of these companies is tied closely to the performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence.

 

Consumer Staples Sector Risk. Companies in the consumer staples sector 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 drinks may be strongly affected by fads, marketing campaigns and other factors affecting supply and demand.

 

Energy Sector RiskIssuers in energy-related industries can be significantly affected by fluctuations in energy prices and supply and demand of energy fuels. Markets for various energy-related commodities can have significant volatility, and are subject to control or manipulation by large producers or purchasers. Companies in the energy sector may need to make substantial expenditures, and to incur significant amounts of debt, in order to maintain or expand their reserves. Oil and gas exploration and production can be significantly affected by natural disasters, as well as changes in exchange rates, interest rates, government regulation, world events and economic conditions. These companies may be at risk for environmental damage claims.

 

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Financials Sector RiskFinancial 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, the interest rates and fees they can charge, the scope of their activities, the prices they can charge and the amount of capital they must maintain. Profitability is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital funds and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change or due to increased competition. In addition, deterioration of the credit markets generally may cause 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.

 

Health Care Sector Risk. The health care sector may be affected by government regulations and government healthcare programs, increases or decreases in the cost of medical products and services and product liability claims, among other factors. Many health care companies are heavily dependent on patent protection, and the expiration of a patent may adversely affect their profitability. Health care companies are subject to competitive forces that may result in price discounting, and may be thinly capitalized and susceptible to product obsolescence. 

 

Industrials Sector Risk. The industrials sector can be significantly affected by, among other things, worldwide economy growth, supply and demand for specific products and services and for industrial sector products in general, product obsolescence, rapid technological developments, international political and economic developments, claims for environmental damage or product liability, tax policies, and government regulation.

 

Information Technology Sector Risk. Information technology companies may be smaller and less experienced companies, with limited product lines, markets or financial resources and fewer experienced management or marketing personnel. Information technology company stocks, especially those which are Internet related, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that are often unrelated to their operating performance. Securities of information technology companies may be subject to greater price volatility than securities of companies in other sectors. These securities may fall in and out of favor with investors rapidly, which may cause sudden selling and dramatically lower market prices.

 

Materials Sector Risk. Companies in the materials sector could be affected by, among other things, commodity prices, government regulation, inflation expectations, resource availability, and economic cycles.

 

Real Estate Sector Risk. An investment in a real property company may be subject to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including, by way of example, the possibility of declines in the value of real estate, losses from casualty or condemnation, and changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, environmental liability, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, and operating expenses. Some real property companies have limited diversification because they invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area, or a single type of property.

 

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Utilities Sector Risk. Utility companies are affected by supply and demand, operating costs, government regulation, environmental factors, liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities, and rate caps or rate changes. Although rate changes of a regulated 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 equity securities may tend 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. In addition, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, government intervention or other factors may render a utility company's equipment unusable or obsolete and negatively impact profitability.

 

Tax Risk. In order to qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment accorded to a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Internal Revenue Code”), the Fund must, amongst other requirements, derive at least 90% of its gross income in each taxable year from certain categories of income (“qualifying income”). Certain of the Fund’s commodity-related investments will not generate income that is qualifying income. If the Fund was to fail to meet the qualifying income test and fail to qualify as a regulated investment company, it would be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation, and distributions to its shareholders would not be deductible by the Fund in computing its taxable income. The failure by the Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company would have significant negative tax consequences to Fund shareholders and would affect a shareholder’s return on its investment in the Fund. Under certain circumstances, the Fund may be able to cure a failure to meet the qualifying income test if such failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, but in order to do so the Fund may incur significant fund-level taxes, which would effectively reduce (and could eliminate) the Fund’s returns. To the extent the Fund invests in an underlying fund that is taxable as a regulated investment company and that directly makes certain commodity-related investments, the tax rules related to such investments and associated risks described above with respect to the Fund will also apply to the underlying fund that makes such commodity-related investments.

 

Trading Risk. Shares of the Fund may trade on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “Exchange”) above (premium) or below (discount) their NAV. The NAV of shares of the Fund will fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s holdings. The market prices of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate continuously throughout trading hours based on market supply and demand and may deviate significantly from the value of the Fund’s holdings, particularly in times of market stress, with the result that investors may pay more or receive less than the underlying value of the Fund shares bought or sold. When buying or selling shares in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase shares of the Fund (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for shares of the Fund (ask), which is known as the bid-ask spread. In addition, although the Fund’s shares are currently listed on the Exchange, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for shares will develop or be maintained. Trading in Fund shares may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in shares of the Fund inadvisable. In stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings.

 

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Performance Information

 

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

 

Investment Advisers

 

Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. Cabana LLC d/b/a Cabana Asset Management serves as the sub-adviser to the Fund.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

G. Chadd Mason, CEO of the Sub-Adviser, has served as a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2021.

 

Andrew Serowik, Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2021.

 

Gabriel Tan, Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2021.

 

Todd Alberico, Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2021.

 

For important information about the purchase and sale of shares of the Fund, taxes, and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Summary Information about Purchasing and Selling Shares, Taxes, and Financial Intermediary Compensation” on page 31 of the Prospectus.

 

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Summary Information About Purchasing and Selling Shares, Taxes

and Financial Intermediary Compensation

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

Each of the Cabana Target Leading Sector Conservative ETF, Cabana Target Leading Sector Moderate ETF, and Cabana Target Leading Sector Aggressive ETF (each a “Fund”, and collectively, the “Funds”) issues (or redeems) shares to certain institutional investors known as “Authorized Participants” (typically market makers or other broker-dealers) only in large blocks of shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions for a Fund are generally conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a portfolio of in-kind securities designated by a Fund and/or a specified cash payment. Individual shares of a Fund may only be bought and sold in the secondary market through a broker or dealer at a market price. You can purchase and sell individual shares of each Fund throughout the trading day like any publicly traded security. Each Fund’s shares are listed on the Exchange. The price of each Fund’s shares is based on market price and, because exchange-traded fund shares trade at market prices rather than NAV, shares may trade at prices greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount). When buying or selling shares of a Fund in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase shares of a Fund (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for shares of the Fund (ask) (the “bid-ask spread”). Recent information regarding each Fund’s NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available at www.cabanaetfs.com.

 

Tax Information

 

Distributions made by each Fund may be taxable as ordinary income, qualified dividend income, or long-term capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account. In that case, you may be taxed when you take a distribution from such account, depending on the type of account, the circumstances of your distribution, and other factors.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

If you purchase shares of a Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Adviser may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Funds over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

Additional Principal Investment Strategies Information

 

Each Fund is an actively managed ETF and uses an active investment strategy to seek to meet its investment objective. Each Fund’s investment objective is a non-fundamental investment policy and may be changed without shareholder approval.

 

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

 

Additional Principal Risk Information

 

The following section provides additional information regarding the principal risks of the Funds. Risk information is applicable to each Fund, though each risk will apply to varying degrees depending on the specific asset allocation of each Fund.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds Risk. Each Fund will invest in ETFs. Through its positions in ETFs, each Fund will be subject to the risks associated with such vehicles, including the possibility that the value of the securities or instruments held by an ETF could decrease. Lack of liquidity in an ETF can result in its value being more volatile than the underlying portfolio investment. In addition, by investing in a Fund, shareholders indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the ETFs in addition to a Fund’s direct fees and expenses. The shares of an ETF may trade at a premium or discount to their intrinsic value (i.e., the market value may differ from the net asset value of an ETF’s shares) for a number of reasons. For example, supply and demand for shares of an ETF or market disruptions may cause the market price of the ETF to deviate from the value of the ETF’s investments, which may be exacerbated in less liquid markets.

 

Commodity Investing Risk. Investing in commodity-related companies may subject an ETF to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The commodities markets have experienced periods of extreme volatility. Similar future market conditions may result in rapid and substantial valuation increases or decreases in an ETF’s holdings. The commodities markets may fluctuate widely based on a variety of factors. Movements in commodity investment prices are outside of an ETF’s control and may not be anticipated. Price movements may be influenced by, among other things: governmental, agricultural, trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs and policies; changing market and economic conditions; market liquidity; weather and climate conditions; changing supply and demand relationships and levels of domestic production and imported commodities; the availability of local, intrastate and interstate transportation systems; energy conservation; the success of exploration projects; changes in international balances of payments and trade; domestic and foreign rates of inflation; currency devaluations and revaluations; domestic and foreign political and economic events; domestic and foreign interest rates and/or investor expectations concerning interest rates; foreign currency/exchange rates; domestic and foreign governmental regulation and taxation; war, acts of terrorism and other political upheaval and conflicts; governmental expropriation; investment and trading activities of investment companies, hedge funds and commodities funds; and changes in philosophies and emotions of market participants. The frequency and magnitude of such changes cannot be predicted.

 

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Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that an ETF could lose money if an issuer or guarantor of a debt instrument becomes unwilling or unable to make timely principal and/or interest payments, or to otherwise meet its obligations. An investment in an ETF that invests in a debt instrument could decline because of concerns about the issuer’s credit quality or perceived financial condition. Fixed income securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk, which are sometimes reflected in credit ratings.

 

Equity Securities Risk. The prices of equity securities in which the ETFs invest may rise and fall daily. These price movements may result from factors affecting individual companies, industries or the securities market as a whole. Individual companies may report better than expected results or be positively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may increase in response. In addition, the equity market tends to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to rise over short or extended periods of time.

 

Emerging Markets Securities Risk. Emerging markets are subject to greater market volatility, lower trading volume, political and economic instability, uncertainty regarding the existence of trading markets and more governmental limitations on foreign investment than more developed markets. In addition, securities in emerging markets may be subject to greater price fluctuations than securities in more developed markets. Investments in debt securities of foreign governments present special risks, including the fact that issuers may be unable or unwilling to repay principal and/or interest when due in accordance with the terms of such debt, or may be unable to make such repayments when due in the currency required under the terms of the debt. Political, economic and social events also may have a greater impact on the price of debt securities issued by foreign governments than on the price of U.S. securities. Differences in regulatory, accounting, auditing, and financial reporting and recordkeeping standards could impede the Sub-Adviser’s ability to evaluate local companies and impact a Fund’s performance. There also may be limitations on the rights and remedies available to investors in emerging market companies compared to those associated with U.S. companies. In addition, brokerage and other transaction costs on foreign securities exchanges are often higher than in the United States and there is generally less government supervision and regulation of exchanges, brokers and issuers in foreign countries.

 

Fixed Income Securities Risk. Fixed income securities are debt obligations issued by corporations, municipalities and other borrowers. Coupons may be fixed or adjustable, based on a pre-set formula. The market value of fixed income investments may change in response to interest rate changes and other factors. Fixed income securities are subject to the risk that the securities may be paid off earlier or later than expected. Either situation could cause an ETF to hold securities paying lower-than market rates of interest, which could adversely affect an ETF’s yield or share price. In addition, rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of certain fixed income securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, an ETF may exhibit additional volatility. This is known as extension risk. When interest rates decline, borrowers may pay off their fixed income securities sooner than expected. This can reduce the returns of an ETF because that ETF will have to reinvest that money at lower prevailing interest rates. This is known as prepayment risk. The prices of high-yield bonds, unlike those of investment-grade bonds, may fluctuate unpredictably and not necessarily inversely with changes in interest rates. Changes by recognized agencies in the rating of any fixed income security and in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal will also affect the value of these investments.

 

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Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in non-U.S. securities involve certain risks that may not be present with investments in U.S. securities. For example, investments in non-U.S. securities may be subject to risk of loss due to foreign currency fluctuations or to political or economic instability. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. issuer than a U.S. issuer. Non-U.S. issuers may be subject to inconsistent and potentially less stringent accounting, auditing, financial reporting and investor protection standards than U.S. issuers. Investments in non-U.S. securities may be subject to withholding or other taxes and may be subject to additional trading, settlement, custodial, and operational risks. With respect to certain countries, there is the possibility of government intervention and expropriation or nationalization of assets. Because legal systems differ, there is also the possibility that it will be difficult to obtain or enforce legal judgments in certain countries. Because foreign exchanges may be open on days when an ETF does not price its shares, the value of the securities in an ETF’s portfolio may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or sell the ETF’s shares. Conversely, shares may trade on days when foreign exchanges are closed. Each of these factors can make investments in an ETF more volatile and potentially less liquid than other types of investments.

 

High Yield or Non-Investment Grade Securities Risk. High yield or non-investment grade securities (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”) and unrated securities of comparable credit quality are subject to the increased risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payment obligations and are generally considered to be speculative. These securities may be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as specific corporate developments, interest rate sensitivity, negative perceptions of the non-investment grade securities markets generally, real or perceived adverse economic and competitive industry conditions and less secondary market liquidity. If the issuer of non-investment grade securities defaults, an ETF may incur additional expenses to seek recovery.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. Changes in the financial condition of an issuer or counterparty, changes in specific economic or political conditions that affect a particular type of security or issuer, and changes in general economic or political conditions can affect a security’s or instrument’s value. The value of securities of smaller, less well-known issuers can be more volatile than that of larger issuers. Issuer-specific events can have a negative impact on the value of the ETFs.

 

Large-Capitalization Risk. The performance of an ETF that invests in large-capitalization securities may be adversely affected if securities of large-capitalization companies underperform (or in the case of short positions, outperform) securities of smaller-capitalization companies or the market as a whole. The securities of large-capitalization companies may be relatively mature compared to smaller companies and therefore subject to slower growth during times of economic expansion.

 

Real Estate Investments Risk. An ETF may be subject to the risks related to investments in real estate, including declines in the real estate market, decreases in property revenues, increases in interest rates, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, legal and regulatory changes, a lack of credit or capital, defaults by borrowers or tenants, environmental problems and natural disasters.

 

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Sector Focus Risk. An ETF may invest a significant portion of its assets in one or more sectors and thus will be more susceptible to the risks affecting those sectors. 

 

Small- and Mid-Capitalization Risk. The small- and mid-capitalization companies in which an ETF invests may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies, and may underperform other segments of the market or the equity market as a whole. Securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies generally trade in lower volumes, are often more vulnerable to market volatility, and are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than larger capitalization stocks or the stock market as a whole. Some small- and mid-capitalization companies have limited product lines, markets, financial resources, and management personnel and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets relative to large-capitalization companies. Also, there is typically less publicly available information concerning smaller-capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Small-capitalization companies also may be particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, government regulation, borrowing costs and earnings.

 

U.S. Government Securities Risk. Obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies, authorities and instrumentalities and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States only guarantee principal and interest will be timely paid to holders of the securities. The entities do not guarantee that the value of the securities will increase and, in fact, the market values of such obligations may fluctuate. In addition, not all U.S. government securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States; some are the obligation solely of the entity through which they are issued. There is no guarantee that the U.S. Government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law.

 

Market Risk. An investment in a Fund involves risks similar to those of investing in any fund, such as market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic and political developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in securities prices. Local, regional, or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the market generally and on specific securities. For example, since December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus has spread globally, which has resulted in the temporary closure of many corporate offices, retail stores, manufacturing facilities and factories, and other businesses across the world. As the extent of the impact on global markets from the coronavirus pandemic is difficult to predict, the extent to which the pandemic may negatively affect a Fund’s performance or the duration of any potential business disruption is uncertain. Any potential impact on performance will depend to a large extent on future developments and new information that may emerge regarding the duration and severity of the pandemic and the actions taken by authorities and other entities to contain the pandemic or treat its impact.

 

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The values of the securities in which a Fund invests could decline generally or could underperform other investments. Different types of securities tend to go through cycles of out-performance and under-performance in comparison to the general securities markets. In addition, securities may decline in value due to factors affecting a specific issuer, market or securities markets generally. During a general market downturn, multiple asset classes may be negatively affected. Changes in market conditions and interest rates generally do not have the same impact on all types of securities and instruments.

 

Asset Allocation Risk. Each Fund’s investment performance depends upon the successful allocation of the Fund’s assets among asset classes. There is no guarantee that the Sub-Adviser’s allocation techniques and decisions will produce the desired results. It is possible to lose money on an investment in a Fund as a result of these allocation decisions.

 

Early Close/Trading Halt Risk. An exchange or market may close early or issue trading halts on specific securities or financial instruments. The ability to trade certain securities or financial instruments may be restricted, which may disrupt a Fund’s creation and redemption process, potentially affect the price at which a Fund’s shares trade in the secondary market, and/or result in a Fund being unable to trade certain securities or financial instruments. In these circumstances, a Fund may be unable to rebalance its portfolio, may be unable to accurately price its investments and/or may incur substantial trading losses.

 

Limited Authorized Participants, Market Makers and Liquidity Providers Risk. Only an Authorized Participant may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with the Funds. The Funds have a limited number of financial institutions that may act as Authorized Participants. In addition, there may be a limited number of market makers and/or liquidity providers in the marketplace. Authorized Participants, market makers, or liquidity providers may exit the business, reduce their business activities, or otherwise become unable to process creation and/or redemption orders, and there is a possibility that no other entities will step forward to perform these services. This may result in a significantly diminished trading market for the Fund’s shares, differences between the market price of the Fund’s shares and the underlying value of those shares, and delisting of the shares.

 

Management Risk. The Sub-Adviser continuously evaluates each Fund’s holdings, purchases and sales with a view to achieving a given Fund’s investment objective. However, the achievement of the stated investment objective cannot be guaranteed. The Sub-Adviser’s judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. In fact, no matter how good a job the sub-advisers do, you could lose money on your investment in a Fund, just as you could with other investments. If the Sub-Adviser is incorrect in their assessment of the income, growth or price realization potential of a Fund’s holdings or incorrect in its assessment of general market or economic conditions, then the value of the Fund’s shares may decline.

 

Model and Data Risk. The Funds rely heavily on CARA, a proprietary model developed by the Sub-Adviser, as well as data and information supplied by third parties that are utilized by such model. To the extent the model does not perform as designed or as intended, a Fund’s strategy may not be successfully implemented and that Fund may lose value. If the model or data are incorrect or incomplete, any decisions made in reliance thereon may lead to the inclusion or exclusion of securities that would have been excluded or included had the model or data been correct and complete.

 

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New/Smaller Fund Risk. A new or smaller fund’s performance may not represent how the fund is expected to or may perform in the long term if and when it becomes larger and has fully implemented its investment strategies. Investment positions may have a disproportionate impact (negative or positive) on performance in new and smaller funds. New and smaller funds may also require a period of time before they are fully invested in securities that meet their investment objectives and policies and achieve a representative portfolio composition. Fund performance may be lower or higher during this “ramp-up” period, and may also be more volatile, than would be the case after the fund is fully invested. Similarly, a new or smaller fund’s investment strategy may require a longer period of time to show returns that are representative of the strategy. New funds have limited performance histories for investors to evaluate and new and smaller funds may not attract sufficient assets to achieve investment and trading efficiencies. If a new or smaller fund were to fail to successfully implement its investment strategies or achieve its investment objective, performance may be negatively impacted. Further, when a fund’s size is small, the fund may experience low trading volumes and wide bid/ask spreads. In addition, a fund may face the risk of being delisted if the fund does not meet certain conditions of the listing exchange. If a fund were to be required to delist from the listing exchange, the value of the fund may rapidly decline and performance may be negatively impacted. There can be no assurance that a Fund will achieve an economically viable size. Any of the foregoing may result in a Fund being liquidated. Each Fund may be liquidated by the Board without a shareholder vote. In a liquidation, shareholders of a Fund will receive an amount equal to that Fund’s NAV, after the deducting the costs of liquidation, including the transaction costs of disposing of the relevant Fund’s portfolio investments. Receipt of a liquidation distribution may have negative tax consequences for shareholders. Additionally, during a Fund’s liquidation all or a portion of that Fund’s portfolio may be invested in a manner not consistent with its investment objective and investment policies.

 

Non-Diversification Risk. As a non-diversified investment company under the 1940 Act, a Fund may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other funds and may be more sensitive to any single economic, business, political or regulatory occurrence than a diversified fund. To the extent a Fund invests in a relatively small number of issuers, a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers. The value of a Fund’s shares may be more volatile than the values of shares of more diversified funds.

 

Operational Risk. Your ability to transact in shares of the Funds or the valuation of your investment may be negatively impacted because of the operational risks arising from factors such as processing errors and human errors, inadequate or failed internal or external processes, failures in systems and technology, changes in personnel, and errors caused by third party service providers or trading counterparties. Although each Fund attempts to minimize such failures through controls and oversight, it is not possible to identify all of the operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls that completely eliminate or mitigate the occurrence of such failures. A Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.

 

Sector Focus Risk. Each Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in one or more sectors and thus will be more susceptible to the risks affecting those sectors. Each Fund’s sector exposure is expected to vary over time.

 

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Communication Services Sector Risk. Communication services companies are particularly vulnerable to the potential obsolescence of products and services due to technological advancement and the innovation of competitors. Companies in the communication services sector may also be affected by other competitive pressures, such as pricing competition, as well as research and development costs, substantial capital requirements and government regulation. Additionally, fluctuating domestic and international demand, shifting demographics and often unpredictable changes in consumer tastes can drastically affect a communication services company's profitability. While all companies may be susceptible to network security breaches, certain companies in the communication services sector may be particular targets of hacking and potential theft of proprietary or consumer information or disruptions in service, which could have a material adverse effect on their businesses.

 

Consumer Discretionary Sector RiskConsumer discretionary companies are companies that provide non-essential goods and services, such as retailers, media companies and consumer services. These companies manufacture products and provide discretionary services directly to the consumer, and the success of these companies is tied closely to the performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rates, competition 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 discretionary products in the marketplace.

 

Consumer Staples Sector Risk. The consumer staples sector consists of, for example, companies whose primary lines of business are food, beverage and other household items. This sector can be affected by, among other things, changes in price and availability of underlying commodities, rising energy prices and global economic conditions. Unlike the consumer discretionary sector, companies in the consumer staples sector have historically been characterized as non-cyclical in nature and therefore less volatile in times of change. Companies in the consumer staples sector 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 drinks may be strongly affected by fads, marketing campaigns and other factors affecting supply and demand. 

 

Energy Sector Risk. Issuers in energy-related industries can be significantly affected by fluctuations in energy prices and supply and demand of energy fuels caused by geopolitical events, energy conservation or use of alternative fuel sources, the success of exploration projects, weather or meteorological events, taxes, increased governmental or environmental regulation, resource depletion, rising interest rates, declines in domestic or foreign production, accidents or catastrophic events, or terrorist threats or attacks, among others. Markets for various energy-related commodities can have significant volatility, and are subject to control or manipulation by large producers or purchasers. Companies in the energy sector may need to make substantial expenditures, and to incur significant amounts of debt, in order to maintain or expand their reserves through exploration of new sources of supply, through the development of existing sources, through acquisitions, or through long-term contracts to acquire reserves. Factors adversely affecting producers, refiners, distributors, or others in the energy sector may affect adversely companies that service or supply those entities, either because demand for those services or products is curtailed, or those services or products come under price pressure.

 

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Financials Sector Risk. 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, the interest rates and fees they can charge, the scope of their activities, the prices they can charge and the amount of capital they must maintain. Profitability is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital funds and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change or due to increased competition. In addition, deterioration of the credit markets generally may cause 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.

 

Health Care Sector Risk. The profitability of companies in the health care sector may be affected by extensive government regulations, restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure, an increased emphasis on outpatient services, limited number of products, industry innovation, changes in technologies and other market developments. Many health care companies are heavily dependent on patent protection. The expiration of patents may adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Many health care companies are subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims. Health care companies are subject to competitive forces that may make it difficult to raise prices and, in fact, may result in price discounting. Many new products in the health care sector may be subject to regulatory approvals. The process of obtaining such approvals may be long and costly and may be ultimately unsuccessful. Companies in the health care sector may be thinly capitalized and may be susceptible to product obsolescence.

 

Industrials Sector Risk. The industrials sector can be significantly affected by, among other things, worldwide economy growth, supply and demand for specific products and services and for industrial sector products in general, product obsolescence, rapid technological developments, international political and economic developments, claims for environmental damage or product liability, tax policies, and government regulation. The industrials sector may also be adversely affected by changes or trends in commodity prices, which may be influenced by unpredictable factors. As the demand for, or prices of, industrial goods and services increase, the value of the Fund’s investments generally would be expected to also increase. Conversely, declines in the demand for, or prices of, industrials generally would be expected to contribute to declines in the value of such securities. Such declines may occur quickly and without warning and may negatively impact the value of the Fund and your investment.

 

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Information Technology Sector Risk. The value of stocks of information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, the loss of patent, copyright and trademark protections, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Additionally, companies in the information technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel. Information technology companies may also be smaller and less experienced companies, with limited product lines, markets or financial resources and fewer experienced management or marketing personnel. Information technology company stocks, especially those which are Internet related, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that are often unrelated to their operating performance. Securities of information technology companies may be subject to greater price volatility than securities of companies in other sectors. These securities may fall in and out of favor with investors rapidly, which may cause sudden selling and dramatically lower market prices.

 

Materials Sector Risk. The materials sector includes companies in the chemicals, construction materials, containers and packaging, paper products, and mining industry groups. Changes in world events, political, environmental and economic conditions, energy conservation, environmental policies, commodity price volatility, changes in currency exchange rates, imposition of import and export controls, increased competition, and labor relations may adversely affect companies engaged in the production and distribution of materials. Other risks may include liabilities for environmental damage, depletion of resources, and mandated expenditures for safety and pollution control. Companies in the chemicals industry may be subject to risks associated with the production, handling and disposal of hazardous components. Mining could be affected by supply and demand and operational costs. The materials sector may also be affected by economic cycles, technical progress, labor relations, and government regulations.

 

Real Estate Sector Risk. There are special risks associated with investment in securities of companies engaged in real property markets, including without limitation REITs and real estate operating companies. An investment in a real property company may be subject to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including, by way of example, the possibility of declines in the value of real estate, losses from casualty or condemnation, and changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, environmental liability, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, and operating expenses. An investment in a real property company is subject to additional risks, such as poor performance by the manager of the real property company, adverse changes in tax laws, difficulties in valuing and disposing of real estate, and the effect of general declines in stock prices. Some real property companies have limited diversification because they invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area, or a single type of property. Also, the organizational documents of a real property company may contain provisions that make changes in control of the company difficult and time-consuming. As a shareholder in a real property company, the Fund, and indirectly the Fund’s shareholders, would bear their ratable shares of the real property company's expenses and would at the same time continue to pay their own fees and expenses.

 

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Utilities Sector Risk. Utility companies are affected by supply and demand, operating costs, government regulation, environmental factors, liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities, and rate caps or rate changes. Although rate changes of a regulated 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 equity securities may tend 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. In addition, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, government intervention or other factors may render a utility company's equipment unusable or obsolete and negatively impact profitability.

 

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

 

Tax Risk. In order to qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment accorded to a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, the Fund must, amongst other requirements, derive at least 90% of its gross income in each taxable year from certain categories of income (“qualifying income”). Certain of the Funds’ commodity-related investments will not generate income that is qualifying income. Each Fund will seek to restrict its income from such investments that do not generate qualifying income to a maximum of 10% of its gross income (when combined with its other investments that produce non-qualifying income) to comply with the qualifying income test (as described in detail in the SAI) necessary for a Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. However, a Fund might generate more non-qualifying income than anticipated, might not be able to generate qualifying income in a particular taxable year at levels sufficient to meet the qualifying income test, or might not be able to determine the percentage of qualifying income it derives for a taxable year until after year-end. Accordingly, the extent to which the Funds invest in commodities or commodity-linked derivatives directly may be limited by the qualifying income test, which the Funds must continue to satisfy to maintain their status as a regulated investment company. As such, the Funds could be required to reduce their exposure to such investments, which may result in difficulty in implementing each Fund’s investment strategy. If a Fund was to fail to meet the qualifying income test and fail to qualify as a regulated investment company, it would be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation, and distributions to its shareholders would not be deductible by the Fund in computing its taxable income. The failure by a Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company would have significant negative tax consequences to Fund shareholders and would affect a shareholder’s return on its investment in such Fund. Under certain circumstances, a Fund may be able to cure a failure to meet the qualifying income test if such failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, but in order to do so the Fund may incur significant fund-level taxes, which would effectively reduce (and could eliminate) the Fund’s returns. To the extent a Fund invests in an underlying fund that is taxable as a regulated investment company and that directly makes certain commodity-related investments, the tax rules related to such investments and associated risks described above with respect to such Fund will also apply to the underlying fund that makes such commodity-related investments.

 

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Trading Risk. Although each Fund’s shares are listed for trading on the Exchange, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for a Fund’s shares will develop or be maintained. Secondary market trading in a Fund’s shares may be halted by the Exchange because of market conditions or for other reasons. In addition, trading in a Fund’s shares is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to “circuit breaker” rules. There can be no assurance that the requirements necessary to maintain the listing of a Fund’s shares will continue to be met or will remain unchanged.

 

Shares of the Funds may trade at, above or below their most recent NAV. The per share NAV of a Fund is calculated at the end of each business day and fluctuates with changes in the market value of that Fund’s holdings since the prior most recent calculation. The trading prices of a Fund’s shares will fluctuate continuously throughout trading hours based on market supply and demand. The trading prices of a Fund’s shares may deviate significantly from NAV during periods of market volatility. In stressed market conditions, the market for a Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for that Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings. These factors, among others, may lead to a Fund’s shares trading at a premium or discount to NAV. However, given that shares can be created and redeemed only in Creation Units at NAV (unlike shares of many closed-end funds, which frequently trade at appreciable discounts from, and sometimes at premiums to, their NAVs), the Adviser does not believe that large discounts or premiums to NAV will exist for extended periods of time. While the creation/redemption feature is designed to make it likely that the shares of a Fund normally will trade close to its NAV, exchange prices are not expected to correlate exactly with a Fund’s NAV due to timing reasons as well as market supply and demand factors. In addition, disruptions to creations and redemptions or the existence of extreme volatility may result in trading prices that differ significantly from NAV. If a shareholder purchases at a time when the market price of a Fund is at a premium to its NAV or sells at time when the market price is at a discount to the NAV, the shareholder may sustain losses.

 

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

 

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Portfolio Holdings

 

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

 

Fund Management

 

Adviser

 

Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company, is located at 10900 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 400, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120, its primary place of business, and 295 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017. The Adviser was formed in 2009 and provides investment advisory services to other exchange-traded funds.

 

Under an investment advisory agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and the Adviser, the Adviser provides investment advisory services to the Funds. The Adviser is responsible for, among other things, overseeing the Sub-Adviser, including regular review of the Sub-Adviser’s performance, and trading portfolio securities on behalf of the Funds, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions, subject to the supervision of the Board. The Adviser also arranges for transfer agency, custody, fund administration and accounting, and other non-distribution related services necessary for the Fund to operate. The Adviser administers the Funds’ business affairs, provides office facilities and equipment and certain clerical, bookkeeping and administrative services, and provides its officers and employees to serve as officers or Trustees of the Trust.

 

For the services it provides to the Funds, each Fund pays the Adviser a fee calculated daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.80% of the average daily net assets of each Fund. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its management fee in an amount equal to 0.21% of each Fund’s average daily net assets for at least one year from the date of this Prospectus. This arrangement may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board.

 

Under the investment advisory agreement, the Adviser has agreed to pay all expenses incurred by the Funds except for the advisory fee, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, acquired fund fees and expenses, extraordinary expenses, and distribution fees and expenses paid by the Funds under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Excluded Expenses”).

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the investment advisory agreement with the Adviser is expected to be available in the Funds’ first Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal period ended October 31, 2021.

 

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Sub-Adviser

 

Cabana LLC d/b/a Cabana Asset Management is a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Arkansas. The Sub-Adviser is located at 220 S. School Avenue, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701. The Sub-Adviser has provided investment advisory services since 2008. The Sub-Adviser makes investment decisions for the Funds and continuously reviews, supervises, and administers the investment program of the Funds, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board. Under a sub-advisory agreement, with respect to each Fund, the Adviser pays the Sub-Adviser a fee calculated daily and paid monthly out of the fee the Adviser receives from the Fund. The Sub-Adviser has agreed to assume the Adviser’s responsibility to pay, or cause to be paid, all expenses of the Funds, except Excluded Expenses.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the sub-advisory agreement with the Sub-Adviser is expected to be available in the Funds’ first Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal period ended October 31, 2021.

 

Pursuant to an SEC exemptive order and subject to the conditions of that order, the Adviser may, with Board approval but without shareholder approval, change or select new sub-advisers, materially amend the terms of an agreement with a sub-adviser (including an increase in its fee), or continue the employment of a sub-adviser after an event that would otherwise cause the automatic termination of services. Shareholders will be notified of any sub-adviser changes.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

G. Chadd Mason, Andrew Serowik, Gabriel Tan, and Todd Alberico are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds.

 

G. Chadd Mason is the CEO and founder of The Cabana Group, which was founded in 2008. He has spent more than 25 years as an attorney in the state of Arkansas and has 15 years of investment and portfolio management experience. In 2005, he and a small team developed a proprietary algorithm designed to help shelter investors from risk by striving to limit losses during down markets, while still participating in up markets. This algorithm is known today as Cabana’s Cyclical Asset Reallocation Algorithm (“CARA”). Chadd graduated from the University of Arkansas with a B.A. in Psychology and went on to earn a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Denver. In 2013, he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Master of Laws degree in Financial Services and Wealth Management from Thomas Jefferson School of Law. He is also accredited as a Chartered Wealth Manager by the American Academy of Financial Management.

 

Andrew Serowik joined the Adviser from Goldman Sachs in May 2018. He began his career at Spear, Leeds & Kellogg (“SLK”), continuing with Goldman after its acquisition of SLK in September 2000. During his career of more than 18 years at the combined companies, he held various roles, including managing the global Quant ETF Strats team and One Delta ETF Strats. He designed and developed systems for portfolio risk calculation, algorithmic ETF trading, and execution monitoring, with experience across all asset classes. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance.

 

Gabriel Tan joined the Adviser in May 2019 as an Associate Portfolio Manager and was promoted to Portfolio Manager in December 2020. He began his career at UBS and BBR Partners where he worked as a financial planning analyst and a portfolio strategist for over four years. During his time there, he developed comprehensive wealth management solutions focused on portfolio optimization, trust and estate planning, and tax planning.

 

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Todd Alberico joined the Adviser in November 2020, having spent the past 14 years in ETF trading at Goldman Sachs, Cantor Fitzgerald, and, most recently, Virtu Financial. He spent most of that time focused on the Trading and Portfolio Risk Management of ETFs exposed to international and domestic equity. He has worked on several different strategies including lead market-making and electronic trading, to customer facing institutional business developing models for block trading as well as transitional trades. Mr. Alberico graduated from St. John’s University in NY with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance.

 

The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed, and ownership of Fund shares.

 

Buying and Selling Fund Shares

 

General

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that a fair value determination for a security will materially differ from the value that could be realized upon the sale of the security.

 

Frequent Purchases and Redemptions of Fund Shares

 

The Funds do not impose any restrictions on the frequency of purchases and redemptions of Creation Units; however, each Fund reserves the right to reject or limit purchases at any time as described in the SAI. When considering that no restriction or policy was necessary, the Board evaluated the risks posed by arbitrage and market timing activities, such as whether frequent purchases and redemptions would interfere with the efficient implementation of a Fund’s investment strategy, or whether they would cause a Fund to experience increased transaction costs. The Board considered that, unlike traditional mutual funds, shares of each Fund are issued and redeemed only in large quantities of shares known as Creation Units available only from the Funds directly to Authorized Participants, and that most trading in the Funds occurs on the Exchange at prevailing market prices and does not involve the Funds directly. Given this structure, the Board determined that it is unlikely that trading due to arbitrage opportunities or market timing by shareholders would result in negative impact to the Funds or its shareholders. In addition, frequent trading of a Fund’s shares by Authorized Participants and arbitrageurs is critical to ensuring that the market price remains at or close to NAV.

 

Distribution and Service Plan

 

Each Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act pursuant to which payments of up to 0.25% of a Fund’s average daily net assets may be made for the sale and distribution of its shares. No payments pursuant to the Distribution and Service Plan will be made during the Funds’ first twelve (12) months of operation. Thereafter, 12b-1 fees may only be imposed after approval by the Board. Because these fees, if imposed, would be paid out of a Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, if payments are made in the future, these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

 

Dividends, Distributions and Taxes

 

Fund Distributions

 

Each Fund pays out dividends from its net investment income annually and distributes its net capital gains, if any, to investors at least annually.

 

Dividend Reinvestment Service

 

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

 

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Tax Information

 

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

 

Tax Status of the Funds

 

Each Fund intends to elect and to qualify for the special tax treatment afforded to regulated investment companies under the Internal Revenue Code. As long as a Fund maintains its qualification for treatment as a regulated investment company and meets certain minimum distribution requirements, then it generally is not subject to federal income tax on the earnings it timely distributes to its shareholders. However, if a Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company or to meet minimum distribution requirements it would result in fund level taxation (if certain relief provisions were not available) and consequently a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.

 

Unless you are a tax-exempt entity or your investment in Fund shares is made through a tax-deferred retirement account, such as an individual retirement account, you need to be aware of the possible tax consequences when a Fund makes distributions, you sell Fund shares, and you purchase or redeem Creation Units (institutional investors only).

 

Tax Status of Distributions

 

Each Fund intends to distribute for each year substantially all of its net investment income and net capital gains income.

 

Dividends and distributions are generally taxable to you whether you receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares of a Fund.

 

The income dividends you receive from a Fund will be taxed as either ordinary income or “qualified dividend income.” Dividends that are reported by a Fund as qualified dividend income are generally taxable to non-corporate shareholders at tax rates of up to 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets). Qualified dividend income generally is income derived from dividends paid to a Fund by U.S. corporations or certain foreign corporations that are either incorporated in a U.S. possession or eligible for tax benefits under certain U.S. income tax treaties. In addition, dividends that a Fund receives in respect of stock of certain foreign corporations may be qualified dividend income if that stock is readily tradable on an established U.S. securities market. For dividends to be taxed as qualified dividend income to a non-corporate shareholder, a Fund must satisfy certain holding period requirements with respect to the underlying stock and the non-corporate shareholder must satisfy holding period requirements with respect to his or her ownership of the Fund’s shares. Holding periods may be suspended for these purposes for stock that is hedged. Certain of the Funds’ investment strategies may limit their ability to make distributions eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income.

 

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Distributions from a Fund’s short-term capital gains are generally taxable as ordinary income. Distributions from a Fund’s net capital gain (the excess of the Fund’s net long-term capital gains over its net short-term capital losses) are taxable as long-term capital gains regardless of how long you have owned your shares of the Fund. For non-corporate shareholders, long-term capital gains are generally taxable at tax rates of up to 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets).

 

U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which includes interest, dividends, and certain capital gains (including certain capital gain distributions and capital gains realized on the sale of shares of a Fund). This 3.8% tax also applies to all or a portion of the undistributed net investment income of certain shareholders that are estates and trusts.

 

Corporate shareholders may be entitled to a dividends received deduction for the portion of dividends they receive from a Fund that are attributable to dividends received by the Fund from U.S. corporations, subject to certain limitations. A Fund’s investment strategies may significantly limit its ability to distribute dividends eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporations.

 

Distributions paid in January but declared by a Fund in October, November or December of the previous year payable to shareholders of record in such a month may be taxable to you in the previous year.

 

You should note that if you purchase shares of a Fund just before a distribution, the purchase price would reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution. In this case, you would be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of your investment. This is known as “buying a dividend” and should be avoided by taxable investors.

 

Each Fund (or your broker) will inform you of the amount of your ordinary income dividends, qualified dividend income, and net capital gain distributions shortly after the close of each calendar year.

 

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Tax Status of Share Transactions

 

Each sale of Fund shares or redemption of Creation Units will generally be a taxable event. Any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Fund shares is generally treated as a long-term gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than twelve months. Any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Fund shares held for twelve months or less is generally treated as short-term gain or loss. Any capital loss on the sale of shares of a Fund held for six months or less is treated as long-term capital loss to the extent distributions of long-term capital gain were paid (or treated as paid) with respect to such shares. Any loss realized on a sale will be disallowed to the extent shares of a Fund are acquired, including through reinvestment of dividends, within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the sale of Fund shares. For tax purposes, an exchange of Fund shares for shares of a different fund is the same as a sale.

 

A person who exchanges securities for Creation Units generally will recognize gain or loss from the exchange. 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 plus any cash paid for the Creation Units. A person who exchanges Creation Units for 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 and the amount of cash received. The Internal Revenue Service, however, may assert that a loss that is realized upon an exchange of securities for Creation Units may not be currently deducted under the rules governing “wash sales” (for a person who does not mark-to-market their holdings), or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position.

 

A Fund may include cash when paying the redemption price for Creation Units in addition to, or in place of, the delivery of a basket of securities. A Fund may be required to sell portfolio securities in order to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds. This may cause a Fund to recognize investment income and/or capital gains or losses that it might not have recognized if it had completely satisfied the redemption in-kind. As a result, a Fund may be less tax efficient if it includes such a cash payment than if the in-kind redemption process was used.

 

To the extent a Fund invests in foreign securities, it may be subject to foreign withholding taxes with respect to dividends or interest the Fund received from sources in foreign countries. If more than 50% of the total assets of a Fund consist of foreign securities, the Fund will be eligible to elect to treat some of those taxes as a distribution to shareholders, which would allow shareholders to offset some of their U.S. federal income tax. A Fund (or your broker) will notify you if it makes such an election and provide you with the information necessary to reflect foreign taxes paid on your income tax return.

 

Foreign tax credits, if any, received by a Fund as a result of an investment in another regulated investment company (including an ETF which is taxable as a regulated investment company) will not be passed through to you unless the Fund qualifies as a “qualified fund-of-funds” under the Internal Revenue Code. If a Fund is a “qualified fund-of-funds” it will be eligible to file an election with the Internal Revenue Service that will enable the Fund to pass along these foreign tax credits to its shareholders. A Fund will be treated as a “qualified fund-of-funds” under the Internal Revenue Code if at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets (at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year) is represented by interests in other regulated investment companies.

 

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Non-U.S. Investors

 

If you are a nonresident alien individual or a foreign corporation, trust or estate, (i) a Fund’s ordinary income dividends will generally be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax, unless a lower treaty rate applies but (ii) gains from the sale or other disposition of shares of a Fund generally are not subject to U.S. taxation, unless you are a nonresident alien individual who is physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more per year. A Fund may, under certain circumstances, report all or a portion of a dividend as an “interest-related dividend” or a “short-term capital gain dividend,” which would generally be exempt from this 30% U.S. withholding tax, provided certain other requirements are met. Different tax consequences may result if you are a foreign shareholder engaged in a trade or business within the United States or if you are a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of a tax treaty.

 

Backup Withholding

 

A Fund (or financial intermediaries, such as brokers, through which shareholders own Fund shares) generally is required to withhold and to remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage of the taxable distributions and the sale or redemption proceeds paid to any shareholder who fails to properly furnish a correct taxpayer identification number, who has under-reported dividend or interest income, or who fails to certify that he, she or it is not subject to such withholding.

 

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

 

Additional Information

 

Investments by Other Registered Investment Companies

 

For purposes of the 1940 Act, each 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 Funds. The SEC has issued an exemptive order on which the Trust relies permitting registered investment companies to invest in exchange-traded funds offered by the Trust, including the Funds, beyond the limits of Section 12(d)(1) subject to certain terms and conditions, including that such registered investment companies enter into an agreement with the Trust. However, so long as the Funds intend to invest in securities of other investment companies beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1)(A), registered investment companies are not permitted to rely on the exemptive relief.

 

The SEC recently adopted changes to the regulatory framework for fund of funds arrangements and, as a result, the Trust’s exemptive order will be rescinded by the SEC on January 19, 2022. However, effective January 19, 2021, new Rule 12d1-4 permits other investment companies to invest in a Fund beyond the limits in Section 12(d)(1), subject to similar conditions.

 

Continuous Offering

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Premium/Discount Information

 

The Funds are new and therefore do not have any information regarding how often their shares traded on the Exchange at a price above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a discount) the NAV of each Fund. This information will be available, however, at www.cabanaetfs.com after each Fund’s shares have traded on the Exchange for a full calendar quarter.

 

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Financial Highlights

 

No financial highlights information is available for the Funds because they are new and have not commenced operations.

 

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Exchange Listed Funds Trust

10900 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 400

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120

 

ANNUAL/SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS

 

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

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI)

 

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

 

HOUSEHOLDING

 

Householding is an option available to certain Fund investors. Householding is a method of delivery, based on the preference of the individual investor, in which a single copy of certain shareholder documents can be delivered to investors who share the same address, even if their accounts are registered under different names. Please contact your broker-dealer if you are interested in enrolling in householding and receiving a single copy of prospectuses and other shareholder documents, or if you are currently enrolled in householding and wish to change your householding status.

 

HOW TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS

 

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

 

Call: 866-239-9536   Write: Exchange Listed Funds Trust
  Monday through Friday     10900 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 400
  8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)     Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120
         
Visit: www.cabanaetfs.com      

 

The SAI and other information are also available from a financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) through which the Funds’ shares may be purchased or sold.

 

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Reports and other information about the Funds are available on the EDGAR Database at http://www.sec.gov and copies of this information also may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by emailing the SEC at publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

The Trust’s Investment Company Act file number: 811-22700

 

 

 

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

CABANA TARGET leading SECTOR CONSERVATIVE ETF (CLSC)
CABANA TARGET leading SECTOR MODERATE ETF (CLSM)
CABANA TARGET leading SECTOR AGGRESSIVE ETF (CLSA)


(THE “FUNDS”)

 

each, a series of EXCHANGE LISTED FUNDS TRUST

 

July 6, 2021

 

Principal Listing Exchange for the Funds: NYSE Arca, Inc.

 

Investment Adviser:

Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC

 

Sub-Adviser:

Cabana LLC d/b/a Cabana Asset Management

 

This Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) is not a prospectus. The SAI should be read in conjunction with the Funds’ prospectus, dated July 6, 2021, as may be revised from time to time (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms used herein that are not defined have the same meaning as in the Prospectus, unless otherwise noted. A copy of the Prospectus may be obtained without charge by writing the Funds’ distributor, Foreside Fund Services, LLC, at Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101, by visiting the Funds’ website at www.cabanaetfs.com, or by calling toll-free 866-239-9536.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

general information about THE TRUST 1
information about investment policies, PERMITTED INVESTMENTS, and related risks 1
INVESTMENT restrictions 15
exchange listing and trading 16
management of the trust 17
CODEs OF ETHICS 23
PROXY VOTING POLICIES 23
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES 23
THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERs 25
THE distributor 26
THE administrator 27
THE CUSTODIAN 27
THE TRANSFER AGENT 27
LEGAL COUNSEL 27
INDEPENDENT registered public accounting firm 27
portfolio holdings DISCLOSURE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 28
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES 28
LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY 29
BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS 29
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE 31
BOOK ENTRY ONLY SYSTEM 31
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES 32
Purchase and REDEMPtion of shares in creation units 32
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE 39
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS 39
FEDERAL INCOME TAXES 40
Financial Statements 48
aPPENDIX A: pROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES A-1

 

 

 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRUST

 

Exchange Listed Funds Trust (formerly, Exchange Traded Concepts Trust II) (the “Trust”) is an open-end management investment company consisting of multiple investment series. This SAI relates to the Cabana Target Leading Sector Conservative ETF, Cabana Target Leading Sector Moderate ETF, and Cabana Target Leading Sector Aggressive ETF (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”). The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on April 4, 2012. The Trust is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) as an open-end management investment company, and the offering of each Fund’s shares is registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”). Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (the “Adviser”) serves as investment adviser to each Fund. Cabana LLC d/b/a Cabana Asset Management (the “Sub-Adviser”) serves as the sub-adviser to each Fund.

 

Each Fund offers and issues shares at their net asset value (“NAV”) only in aggregations of a specified number of shares (each, a “Creation Unit”). Each Fund generally offers and issues shares in exchange for a basket of securities closely approximating the holdings of the Fund (“Deposit Securities”) together with the deposit of a specified cash payment (“Cash Component”). The Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of a “cash in lieu” amount (“Deposit Cash”) to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security. Each Fund’s shares are listed on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “Exchange”) and trade on the Exchange at market prices. These prices may differ from a Fund’s NAV per share. Each Fund’s shares are redeemable only in Creation Unit aggregations, and generally in exchange for portfolio securities and a specified cash payment.

 

INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT POLICIES, PERMITTED INVESTMENTS, AND RELATED RISKS

 

Each Fund’s investment objective, principal investment strategies, and principal risks are described in the Prospectus. Because each Fund invests primarily in a portfolio of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), each Fund operates in a manner that is commonly referred to as a “fund of funds.”

 

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

 

The following are descriptions of investment practices and permitted investments and the associated risk factors. A Fund will only engage in the following investment practices and invest in the following instruments, either directly or through an investment in an ETF or mutual fund, if such practice or investment is consistent with such Fund’s investment objective and permitted by such Fund’s stated investment policies.

 

NON-DIVERSIFICATION

 

Each Fund is classified as a non-diversified investment company under the 1940 Act. A “non-diversified” classification means that the Fund is not limited by the 1940 Act with regard to the percentage of its assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer. This means that a Fund may invest a greater portion of its assets in the securities of a single issuer than a diversified fund. The securities of a particular issuer may constitute a greater portion of the Fund’s portfolio. This may have an adverse effect on a Fund’s performance or subject a Fund’s shares to greater price volatility than more diversified investment companies. Moreover, in pursuing its objective, a Fund may hold the securities of a single issuer in an amount exceeding 10% of the market value of the outstanding securities of the issuer, subject to the diversification requirements necessary to qualify as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Internal Revenue Code”). In particular, as a Fund’s size grows and its assets increase, it will be more likely to hold more than 10% of the securities of a single issuer if the issuer has a relatively small public float.

 

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EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Equity securities represent ownership interests in a company. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a Fund invests will cause the NAV of that Fund to fluctuate.

 

Common Stocks. Common stocks represent units of ownership in a company. Common stocks usually carry voting rights and earn dividends. Unlike preferred stocks, which are described below, dividends on common stocks are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the company’s board of directors. Holders of common stocks incur more risk than holders of preferred stocks and debt obligations because common stockholders, as owners of the issuer, have generally inferior rights to receive payments from the issuer in comparison with the rights of creditors of, or holders of debt obligations or preferred stocks issued by, the issuer. Further, unlike debt securities which typically have a stated principal amount payable at maturity (whose value, however, will be subject to market fluctuations prior thereto), or preferred stocks which typically have a liquidation preference and which may have stated optional or mandatory redemption provisions, common stocks have neither a fixed principal amount nor a maturity. Common stock values are subject to market fluctuations as long as the common stock remains outstanding.

 

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

 

Large-Sized Companies. Investments in large capitalization companies may go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions and may underperform other market segments. Some large capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology and consumer tastes, and may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion. As such, returns on investments in stocks of large capitalization companies could trail the returns on investments in stocks of small and mid-capitalization companies.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

FOREIGN SECURITIES

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Depositary Receipts.  A Fund’s investment in securities of foreign companies may be in the form of depositary receipts or other securities convertible into securities of foreign issuers.  ADRs are dollar-denominated receipts representing interests in the securities of a foreign issuer, which securities may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be converted. ADRs are receipts typically issued by United States banks and trust companies which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. Generally, ADRs in registered form are designed for use in domestic securities markets and are traded on exchanges or over-the-counter in the United States. American Depositary Shares (ADSs) are U.S. dollar-denominated equity shares of a foreign-based company available for purchase on an American stock exchange. ADSs are issued by depository banks in the United States under an agreement with the foreign issuer, and the entire issuance is called an ADR and the individual shares are referred to as ADSs. Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), and International Depositary Receipts (“IDRs”) are similar to ADRs in that they are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer, however, GDRs, EDRs, and IDRs may be issued in bearer form and denominated in other currencies, and are generally designed for use in specific or multiple securities markets outside the U.S. EDRs, for example, are designed for use in European securities markets while GDRs are designed for use throughout the world.  Depositary receipts will not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as their underlying securities.

 

All depositary receipts generally must be sponsored. However, a Fund may invest in unsponsored depositary receipts under certain limited circumstances. The issuers of unsponsored depositary receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States, and, therefore, there may be less information available regarding such issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the depositary receipts.

 

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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DEBT-RELATED INVESTMENTS

 

Debt securities include securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies, instrumentalities, and political subdivisions, foreign governments, their authorities, agencies, instrumentalities, and political subdivisions, supra-national agencies, corporate debt securities, master-demand notes, Yankee dollar and Eurodollar bank certificates of deposit, time deposits, bankers' acceptances, commercial paper and other notes, inflation-indexed securities, and other debt securities. Debt securities may be investment grade securities or high yield securities.

 

Debt and other fixed income securities include fixed and floating rate securities of any maturity. Fixed rate securities pay a specified rate of interest or dividends. Floating rate securities pay a rate that is adjusted periodically by reference to a specified index or market rate. Fixed and floating rate securities include securities issued by federal, state, local, and foreign governments and related agencies, and by a wide range of private issuers, and generally are referred to in this SAI as fixed income securities. Indexed bonds are a type of fixed income security whose principal value and/or interest rate is adjusted periodically according to a specified instrument, index, or other statistic (e.g., another security, inflation index, currency, or commodity).

 

Holders of fixed income securities are exposed to both market and credit risk. Market risk (or "interest rate risk") relates to changes in a security's value as a result of changes in interest rates. In general, the values of fixed income securities increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise. Given the historically low interest rate environment, risks associated with rising rates are heightened. Credit risk relates to the ability of an issuer to make payments of principal and interest. Obligations of issuers are subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws that affect the rights and remedies of creditors.

 

Because interest rates vary, the future income of a fund that invests in fixed income securities cannot be predicted with certainty. The future income of a fund that invests in indexed securities also will be affected by changes in those securities' indices over time (e.g., changes in inflation rates, currency rates, or commodity prices).

 

Bonds. A bond is an interest-bearing security issued by a company, governmental unit or, in some cases, a non-U.S. entity. The issuer of a bond has a contractual obligation to pay interest at a stated rate on specific dates and to repay principal (the bond's face value) periodically or on a specified maturity date. Bonds generally are used by corporations and governments to borrow money from investors.

 

An issuer may have the right to redeem or “call” a bond before maturity, in which case the investor may have to reinvest the proceeds at lower market rates. Most bonds bear interest income at a “coupon” rate that is fixed for the life of the bond. The value of a fixed-rate bond usually rises when market interest rates fall and falls when market interest rates rise. Accordingly, a fixed-rate bond’s yield (income as a percent of the bond’s current value) may differ from its coupon rate as its value rises or falls. Other types of bonds bear income at an interest rate that is adjusted periodically. Because of their adjustable interest rates, the value of “floating-rate” or “variable-rate” bonds fluctuates much less in response to market interest rate movements than the value of fixed-rate bonds. Generally, prices of higher quality issues tend to fluctuate less with changes in market interest rates than prices of lower quality issues and prices of longer maturity issues tend to fluctuate more than prices of shorter maturity issues. Bonds may be senior or subordinated obligations. Senior obligations generally have the first claim on a corporation’s earnings and assets and, in the event of liquidation, are paid before subordinated obligations. Bonds may be unsecured (backed only by the issuer’s general creditworthiness) or secured (backed by specified collateral).

 

The investment return of corporate bonds reflects interest on the security and changes in the market value of the security. The market value of a corporate bond may be affected by the credit rating of the corporation, the corporation's performance and perceptions of the corporation in the marketplace. There is a risk that the issuers of the bonds may not be able to meet their obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by the bond.

 

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

 

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

 

Securities backed by the full faith and credit of the United States are generally considered to be among the most creditworthy investments available. While the U.S. Government continuously has honored its credit obligations, political events have, at times, called into question whether the United States would default on its obligations. Such an event would be unprecedented and there is no way to predict its impact on the securities markets; however, it is very likely that default by the United States would result in losses and market prices and yields of securities supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government may be adversely affected.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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BORROWING

 

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

 

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

 

LENDING PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

 

Each 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 a 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 a Fund is able to keep some of the interest income associated with those securities. Such transactions are only advantageous if a Fund has an opportunity to earn a greater rate of interest on the cash derived from these transactions than the interest cost of obtaining the same amount of cash. Opportunities to realize earnings from the use of the proceeds equal to or greater than the interest required to be paid may not always be available and each Fund intends to use the reverse repurchase technique only when the Sub-Adviser believes it will be advantageous to the Funds. The use of reverse repurchase agreements may exaggerate any interim increase or decrease in the value of a Fund’s assets. A Fund’s exposure to reverse repurchase agreements will be covered by securities having a value equal to or greater than such commitments. Under the 1940 Act, reverse repurchase agreements are considered borrowings. Although there is no limit on the percentage of total assets a Fund may invest in reverse repurchase agreements, the use of reverse repurchase agreements is not a principal strategy of any Fund.

 

OTHER SHORT-TERM INSTRUMENTS

 

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

 

INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

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

 

However, Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act provides that the limitations of paragraph 12(d)(1) shall not apply to securities purchased or otherwise acquired by a Fund if immediately after such purchase or acquisition not more than 3% of the total outstanding shares of such investment company is owned by the Fund and all affiliated persons of the Fund. If a Fund invests in investment companies pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(F), it must comply with the following voting restrictions: when the Fund exercises voting rights, by proxy or otherwise, with respect to investment companies owned by the Fund, the Fund will either seek instruction from the Fund’s shareholders with regard to the voting of all proxies and vote in accordance with such instructions, or vote the shares held by the Fund in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of the securities of the investment company. In addition, an investment company purchased by a Fund pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(F) shall not be required to redeem more than 1% of such investment company’s total outstanding shares (including those owned by the Fund) in any period of less than thirty days. Each Fund currently intends to rely on Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act in making its investments; however, a Fund may rely on different exemptions in the future, or to the extent available. Additionally, a Fund may rely on exemptive relief issued by the SEC to other investment companies to invest in such other investment companies in excess of the limits of Section 12(d)(1) if such Fund complies with the terms and conditions of such exemptive relief.

 

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

 

Investment companies may include index-based investments, such as ETFs that hold substantially all of their assets in securities representing a specific index. The main risk of investing in index-based investments is the same as investing in a portfolio of equity securities comprising the index. The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance with both changes in the market value of their underlying portfolio securities and due to supply and demand for the instruments on the exchanges on which they are traded (which may result in their trading at a discount or premium to their NAVs). Index-based investments may not replicate exactly the performance of their specific index because of transaction costs and the temporary unavailability of certain component securities of the index. A Fund may invest in index-based ETFs as well as ETFs that are actively managed.

 

The acquisition of a Fund’s shares by registered investment companies is subject to the restrictions of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act, except as may be permitted by exemptive rules under the 1940 Act or as permitted by an exemptive order obtained by the Trust that permits registered investment companies to invest in the Funds beyond the limits of Section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions, including that the registered investment company enter into an agreement with such Fund regarding the terms of the investment. The SEC recently adopted changes to the regulatory framework for fund of funds arrangements and, as a result, the Trust’s exemptive order will be rescinded by the SEC on January 19, 2022. However, effective January 19, 2021, new Rule 12d1-4 permits other investment companies to invest in the Funds beyond the limits in Section 12(d)(1), subject to similar conditions.

 

ILLIQUID INVESTMENTS

 

A Fund may not acquire any illiquid investments if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments. An illiquid investment is any investment that a Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. If the percentage of a Fund’s net assets invested in illiquid investments exceeds 15% due to market activity or changes in the Fund’s portfolio, the Fund will take appropriate measures to reduce its holdings of illiquid investments.

 

A Fund may not be able to sell illiquid investments when desired or may have to sell such investments at a price that is lower than the price that could be obtained if the investments were more liquid. In addition, the sale of illiquid investments also may require more time and may result in higher dealer discounts and other selling expenses than does the sale of investments that are not illiquid. Illiquid investments also may be more difficult to value due to the unavailability of reliable market quotations and such investments may have an adverse impact on NAV.

 

FUTURES CONTRACTS, OPTIONS AND SWAP AGREEMENTS

 

Each Fund may utilize futures contracts, options contracts and swap agreements. On October 28, 2020, the SEC adopted Rule 18f-4 (the “Derivatives Rule”) under the 1940 Act which, following an implementation period, will replace existing SEC and staff guidance with an updated, comprehensive framework for the use of derivatives by registered funds, like the Funds. Among other changes, the Derivatives Rule will require the Funds to trade derivatives and certain other instruments that create future payment or delivery obligations subject to a value-at-risk (“VaR”) leverage limit, develop and implement a derivatives risk management program and new testing requirements, and comply with new requirements related to board and SEC reporting. These new requirements will apply unless a Fund qualifies as a “limited derivatives user,” as defined in the Derivatives Rule. To the extent a Fund uses derivatives, complying with the Derivatives Rule may increase the cost of that Fund’s investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect investors. The regulation of these types of transactions in the United States is a changing area of law and is subject to ongoing modification by government, self-regulatory and judicial action. As a result, other potentially adverse regulatory obligations can develop suddenly and without notice.

 

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

 

Each Fund is 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, a 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.

 

Options. Each Fund may purchase and sell put and call options. A call option gives a holder the right to purchase a specific security or an index at a specified price (“exercise price”) within a specified period of time. A put option gives a holder the right to sell a specific security or an index at a specified price within a specified period of time. The initial purchaser of a call option pays the “writer,” i.e., the party selling the option, a premium which is paid at the time of purchase and is retained by the writer whether or not such option is exercised. A Fund may purchase put options to hedge its portfolio against the risk of a decline in the market value of securities held and may purchase call options to hedge against an increase in the price of securities it is committed to purchase. A Fund may write put and call options along with a long position in options to increase its ability to hedge against a change in the market value of the securities it holds or is committed to purchase.

 

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

 

Restrictions on the Use of Futures and Options. Under Rule 4.5 of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), the investment adviser of a registered investment company may claim exclusion from registration as a commodity pool operator only if the registered investment company that it advises uses futures contracts solely for “bona fide hedging purposes” or limits its use of futures contracts for non-bona fide hedging purposes such that (i) the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish non-bona fide hedging positions with respect to futures contracts do not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the registered investment company’s portfolio, or (ii) the aggregate “notional value” of the non-bona fide hedging commodity interests do not exceed 100% of the liquidation value of the registered investment company’s portfolio (taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). The Adviser has claimed exclusion on behalf of each Fund under Rule 4.5. Rule 4.5 effectively limits a Fund’s use, and its investment in funds that make use of futures, options on futures, swaps, or other commodity interests. Each Fund currently intends to comply with the terms of Rule 4.5 so as to avoid regulation as a commodity pool, and as a result, the ability of a Fund to utilize, or invest in funds that utilize futures, options on futures, swaps, or other commodity interests may be limited in accordance with the terms of the rule.

 

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Risks of Futures and Options Transactions. Positions in futures contracts and options may be closed out only on an exchange which provides a secondary market therefor. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract or option at any specific time. Thus, it may not be possible to close a futures or options position. In the event of adverse price movements, a Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments to maintain its required margin. In such situations, if a 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, a Fund may be required to make delivery of the instruments underlying futures contracts it has sold.

 

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

 

The risk of loss in trading futures contracts or uncovered call options in some strategies (e.g., selling uncovered index futures contracts) is potentially unlimited. The 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.

 

Utilization of futures transactions by a Fund involves the risk of loss by a Fund of margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of a broker with whom such Fund has an open position in the futures contract or option.

 

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

 

Swap Agreements. Each Fund may enter into swap agreements, including interest rate, index, and total return swap agreements. Swap agreements are contracts between parties in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to the other party based on the change in market value or level of a specified rate, index or asset. In return, the other party agrees to make payments to the first party based on the return of a different specified rate, index or asset. Swap agreements will usually be done on a net basis, i.e., where the two parties make net payments with a Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. The net amount of the excess, if any, of a Fund’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to each swap is accrued on a daily basis and an amount of cash or equivalents having an aggregate value at least equal to the accrued excess is maintained by the Fund.

 

In a total return swap transaction, one party agrees to pay the other party an amount equal to the total return on a defined underlying asset or a non-asset reference during a specified period of time. The underlying asset might be a security or basket of securities, and the non-asset reference could be a securities index. In return, the other party would make periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or on the total return from a different underlying asset or non-asset reference. The payments of the two parties could be made on a net basis.

 

Options on Swaps.  An option on a swap agreement, or a “swaption,” is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation) to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement, at some designated future time on specified terms. In return, the purchaser pays a “premium” to the seller of the contract. The seller of the contract receives the premium and bears the risk of unfavorable changes on the underlying swap. The Funds may write (sell) and purchase put and call swaptions. The Funds may also enter into swaptions on either an asset-based or liability-based basis, depending on whether a Fund is hedging its assets or its liabilities. The Funds may write (sell) and purchase put and call swaptions to the same extent it may make use of standard options on securities or other instruments. The Funds may enter into these transactions primarily to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its holdings, as a duration management technique, to protect against an increase in the price of securities a Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, or for any other purposes, such as for speculation to increase returns. Swaptions are generally subject to the same risks involved in a Fund’s use of options.

 

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Risks of Swap Agreements. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that a Fund is contractually obligated to make. Swap agreements are subject to the risk that the swap counterparty will default on its obligations. If such a default occurs, a Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction, but such remedies may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws which could affect a Fund’s rights as a creditor (e.g., a Fund may not receive the net amount of payments that it contractually is entitled to receive).

 

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.

 

Total return swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. Total return swaps can have the potential for unlimited losses. A Fund may lose money in a total return swap if the counterparty fails to meet its obligations.

 

SHORT SALES

 

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

 

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

 

Until a Fund closes its short position or replaces the borrowed security, such Fund may: (a) segregate cash or liquid securities at such a level that the amount segregated plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will equal the current value of the security sold short; or (b) otherwise cover its short position.

 

RECENT MARKET CIRCUMSTANCES

 

Since the financial crisis that started in 2008, the U.S. and many foreign economies continue to experience its after-effects. Conditions in the U.S. and many foreign economies have resulted, and may continue to result, in certain instruments experiencing unusual liquidity issues, increased price volatility and, in some cases, credit downgrades and increased likelihood of default. These events have reduced the willingness and ability of some lenders to extend credit, and have made it more difficult for some borrowers to obtain financing on attractive terms, if at all. In some cases, traditional market participants have been less willing to make a market in some types of debt instruments, which has affected the liquidity of those instruments. During times of market turmoil, investors tend to look to the safety of securities issued or backed by the U.S. Treasury, causing the prices of these securities to rise and the yields to decline. Reduced liquidity in fixed income and credit markets may negatively affect many issuers worldwide. In addition, global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. A rise in protectionist trade policies, and the possibility of changes to some international trade agreements, could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time.

 

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In response to the financial crisis, the U.S. and other governments and the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have taken steps to support financial markets. In some countries where economic conditions are recovering, such countries are nevertheless perceived as still fragile. Withdrawal of government support, failure of efforts in response to the crisis, or investor perception that such efforts are not succeeding, could adversely impact the value and liquidity of certain securities. The severity or duration of adverse economic conditions may also be affected by policy changes made by governments or quasi-governmental organizations, including changes in tax laws. The impact of new financial regulation legislation on the markets and the practical implications for market participants may not be fully known for some time. Regulatory changes are causing some financial services companies to exit long-standing lines of business, resulting in dislocations for other market participants. In addition, the contentious domestic political environment, as well as political and diplomatic events within the United States and abroad, such as the U.S. Government’s inability at times to agree on a long-term budget and deficit reduction plan, the threat of a federal government shutdown and threats not to increase the federal government’s debt limit, may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy, perhaps suddenly and to a significant degree. The U.S. Government has recently reduced federal corporate income tax rates, and future legislative, regulatory and policy changes may result in more restrictions on international trade, less stringent prudential regulation of certain players in the financial markets, and significant new investments in infrastructure and national defense. Markets may react strongly to expectations about the changes in these policies, which could increase volatility, especially if the markets’ expectations for changes in government policies are not borne out.

 

Changes in market conditions will not have the same impact on all types of securities. Interest rates have been unusually low in recent years in the United States and abroad. Because there is little precedent for this situation, it is difficult to predict the impact of a significant rate increase on various markets. For example, because investors may buy securities or other investments with borrowed money, a significant increase in interest rates may cause a decline in the markets for those investments. Because of the sharp decline in the worldwide price of oil, there is a concern that oil producing nations may withdraw significant assets now held in U.S. Treasuries, which could force a substantial increase in interest rates. Regulators have expressed concern that rate increases may cause investors to sell fixed income securities faster than the market can absorb them, contributing to price volatility. In addition, there is a risk that the prices of goods and services in the U.S. and many foreign economies may decline over time, known as deflation (the opposite of inflation). Deflation may have an adverse effect on stock prices and creditworthiness and may make defaults on debt more likely. If a country’s economy slips into a deflationary pattern, it could last for a prolonged period and may be difficult to reverse.

 

On June 23, 2016, the United Kingdom (“UK”) held a referendum on whether to remain a member state of the European Union (“EU”), in which voters favored the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, an event widely referred to as “Brexit” and which triggered a two-year period of negotiations on the terms of withdrawal. The formal notification to the European Council required under Article 50 of the Treaty on EU was made on March 29, 2017, following which the terms of exit were negotiated. On January 31, 2020, the UK formally withdrew from the EU, subject to a transition period that ended on December 31, 2020. The longer term economic, legal, political and social framework to be put in place between the UK and the EU are unclear at this stage and are likely to lead to ongoing political and economic uncertainty and periods of exacerbated volatility in both the UK and in wider European markets for some time. The outcomes may cause increased volatility and have a significant adverse impact on world financial markets, other international trade agreements, and the United Kingdom and European economies, as well as the broader global economy for some time. Additionally, a number of countries in Europe have suffered terror attacks, and additional attacks may occur in the future. Ukraine has experienced ongoing military conflict; this conflict may expand and military attacks could occur elsewhere in Europe. Europe has also been struggling with mass migration from the Middle East and Africa. The ultimate effects of these events and other socio-political or geographical issues are not known but could profoundly affect global economies and markets.

 

The current political climate has intensified concerns about a potential trade war between China and the United States, as each country has recently imposed tariffs on the other country’s products. These actions may trigger a significant reduction in international trade, the oversupply of certain manufactured goods, substantial price reductions of goods and possible failure of individual companies and/or large segments of China’s export industry, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance. U.S. companies that source material and goods from China and those that make large amounts of sales in China would be particularly vulnerable to an escalation of trade tensions. Uncertainty regarding the outcome of the trade tensions and the potential for a trade war could cause the U.S. dollar to decline against safe haven currencies, such as the Japanese yen and the euro. Events such as these and their consequences are difficult to predict and it is unclear whether further tariffs may be imposed or other escalating actions may be taken in the future.

 

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Periods of market volatility may continue to occur in response to pandemics or other events outside of our control. These types of events could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. For example, since December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus has spread globally, which has resulted in the temporary closure of many corporate offices, retail stores, manufacturing facilities and factories, and other businesses across the world. As the extent of the impact on global markets from the coronavirus pandemic is difficult to predict, the extent to which the pandemic may negatively affect the Fund’s performance or the duration of any potential business disruption is uncertain. Any potential impact on performance will depend to a large extent on future developments and new information that may emerge regarding the duration and severity of the pandemic and the actions taken by authorities and other entities to contain the pandemic or treat its impact.

 

The impact of these developments in the near- and long-term is unknown and could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world.

 

CYBER SECURITY RISK

 

Investment companies, such as the Funds, and their service providers may be subject to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber attacks.  Cyber attacks include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or various other forms of cyber security breaches.  Cyber attacks affecting the Funds or the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, custodian, transfer agent, intermediaries and other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Funds.  For instance, cyber attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact a Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential company information, impede trading, subject a Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses, and cause reputational damage.  A Fund may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes.  Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which a Fund invests, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause a Fund’s investment in such portfolio companies to lose value.

 

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

 

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

 

Except with the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities, each Fund may not:

 

1.Concentrate its investments in an industry or group of industries (i.e., invest more than 25% of its total assets in the securities of companies in a particular industry or group of industries). For purposes of this limitation, securities of the U.S. Government (including its agencies and instrumentalities), repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities, and securities of state or municipal governments and their political subdivisions are not considered to be issued by members of any industry.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Lending. The 1940 Act does not permit a fund to make loans if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, except that a fund may: (i) purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objective and policies; (ii) enter into repurchase agreements; and (iii) engage in securities lending.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING

 

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

 

The shares of the Funds are approved for listing and trading on the Exchange. A Fund’s shares trade on the Exchange at prices that may differ to some degree from its NAV. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of shares of a Fund will continue to be met.

 

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The Exchange will consider the suspension of trading in, and will initiate delisting procedures of, the shares of a Fund under any of the following circumstances: (1) if the Exchange becomes aware that the Fund is no longer eligible to operate in reliance on Rule 6c-11 under the 1940 Act; (2) if any of the continued listing requirements set forth in the Exchange’s rules are not continuously maintained; (3) following the initial twelve-month period beginning upon the commencement of trading of the Fund, there are fewer than 50 record and/or beneficial holders of the Fund’s shares; or (4) such other event occurs or condition exists that, in the opinion of the Exchange, makes further dealings on the Exchange inadvisable. In addition, the Exchange will remove the shares from listing and trading upon termination of the Trust or a Fund.

 

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

 

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

 

The base and trading currencies of each Fund is the U.S. dollar. The base currency is the currency in which each Fund’s NAV per share is calculated and the trading currency is the currency in which shares of each Fund are listed and traded on the Exchange.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Members of the Board. There are four members of the Board, three of whom are not interested persons of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”). Richard Hogan, the sole interested Trustee, serves as Chairman of the Board, and David Mahle serves as the Trust’s lead Independent Trustee. As lead Independent Trustee, Mr. Mahle acts as a spokesperson for the Independent Trustees in between meetings of the Board, serves as a liaison for the Independent Trustees with the Trust’s service providers, officers, and legal counsel to discuss ideas informally, and participates as needed in setting the agenda for meetings of the Board and separate meetings or executive sessions of the Independent Trustees. Independent Trustees comprise 75% of the Board. The Trust has determined its leadership structure is appropriate given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Trust. The Trust made this determination in consideration of, among other things, the fact that the Independent Trustees constitute a super-majority of the Board, the number of Independent Trustees that constitute the Board, the amount of assets under management in the Trust, and the number of funds overseen by the Board. The Board also believes that its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the Independent Trustees from Fund management.

 

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Set forth below is information about each of the persons currently serving as a Trustee of the Trust. The address of each Trustee of the Trust is c/o Exchange Listed Funds Trust, 10900 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 400, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120.

 

Name and Year of
Birth
Position(s)
Held with
the Trust
Term of
Office and
Length of
Time Served1
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex2
Overseen By
Trustee
Other
Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years
Interested Trustee

Richard Hogan

(1961)

Trustee and Secretary Since 2012 Director, Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (since 2011); Private Investor (since 2002); Secretary, Exchange Traded Concepts Trust (since 2011); Managing Member, Yorkville ETF Advisors (2011-2016). 17 Board Member, Peconic Land Trust of Suffolk County, NY.
Independent Trustees

Timothy J. Jacoby

(1952)

Trustee Since 2014 Senior Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP, Private Equity/Hedge Fund/Mutual Fund Services Practice (2000-2014). 35 Independent Trustee, Edward Jones Money Market Fund (since 2017); Audit Committee Chair, Perth Mint Physical Gold ETF (2018 to 2020); Independent Trustee, Source ETF Trust (2014 to 2015).

David M. Mahle

(1943)

Trustee Since 2012 Consultant, Jones Day (2012-2015); Of Counsel, Jones Day (2008-2011); Partner, Jones Day (1988-2008). 17 Independent Trustee, Exchange Traded Concepts Trust (2012 to 2020); Independent Trustee, Source ETF Trust (2014 to 2015).

Linda Petrone

(1962)

Trustee Since 2019 Founding Partner, Sage Search Advisors (since 2012). 35 None.

1 Each Trustee shall serve during the continued life of the Trust until he or she dies, resigns, is declared bankrupt or incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction, or is removed.

2 The Fund complex includes each series of the Trust and of Exchange Traded Concepts Trust.

 

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

 

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The Trust has concluded that Mr. Hogan should serve as a Trustee because of his 26+ years of experience in senior level ETF management which began at Spear, Leeds & Kellogg (“SLK”) in 1987, becoming a Limited Partner in 1990 and a Managing Director in 1992. As Managing Director of the Index Derivatives Group, he established trading operations in Chicago, Singapore and London as well as other satellite operations and nurtured Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”) as a Specialist in SPDRs, WEBS, Sector SPDRs, iShares and other ETFs. Mr. Hogan became a Managing Director of Goldman Sachs when SLK was merged and played a critical role in combining the ETF operations of SLK, Goldman and Hull Trading (a prior Goldman acquisition). He has worked closely with Exchange staff, issuers, index providers and others in conceiving, designing, developing, launching, marketing and trading new ETFs, and championed the idea of a fixed income ETF. Mr. Hogan is a Founder and Director of the Adviser.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Jacoby should serve as a Trustee because of the experience he has gained from over 25 years in or serving the investment management industry. Until his retirement in June 2014, Mr. Jacoby served as a partner at the audit and professional services firm Deloitte & Touche LLP, where he had worked since 2000, providing various services to asset management firms that manage mutual funds, hedge funds and private equity funds. Prior to that, Mr. Jacoby held various senior positions at financial services firms. Additionally, he served as a partner at Ernst & Young LLP. Mr. Jacoby is a Certified Public Accountant.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Mahle should serve as a Trustee because of the experience he has gained as an attorney in the investment management industry of a major law firm, representing exchange-traded funds and other investment companies as well as their sponsors and advisers and his knowledge and experience in investment management law and the financial services industry. Mr. Mahle is also a professor of law at Fordham Law School, where he lectures on investment companies and investment adviser regulations.

 

The Trust has concluded that Ms. Petrone should serve as a Trustee because of the experience she has gained serving in leadership roles in the equity derivatives group of a large financial institution, as well as her knowledge of the financial services industry.

 

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

 

Officers. Set forth below is information about each of the persons currently serving as officers of the Trust. The address of J. Garrett Stevens, Richard Hogan, and James J. Baker Jr. is c/o Exchange Listed Funds Trust, 10900 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 400, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120; the address of Christopher W. Roleke is Foreside Management Services, LLC, 10 High Street, Suite 302, Boston, Massachusetts 02110; and the address of Patrick Keniston is Foreside Fund Officer Services, LLC, 3 Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101.

 

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Name
and Year of Birth
Position(s)
Held with
the Trust
Term of
Office and
Length of
Time Served1
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

J. Garrett Stevens

(1979)

President Since 2012 Investment Adviser/Vice President, T.S. Phillips Investments, Inc. (since 2000); Chief Executive Officer, Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (since 2009); and Chief Executive Officer and Secretary (2009-2011), President (since 2011), Exchange Traded Concepts Trust.

Richard Hogan

(1961)

Trustee and Secretary Since 2012 Director, Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (since 2011); Private Investor (since 2003); Secretary, Exchange Traded Concepts Trust (since 2011); Board Member, Peconic Land Trust (2012 to 2016); Managing Member, Yorkville ETF Advisors (2011 to 2016).

Christopher W. Roleke

(1972)

Treasurer Since 2012 Managing Director/Fund Principal Financial Officer, Foreside Management Services, LLC (since 2011).

James J. Baker Jr.

(1951)

Assistant Treasurer Since 2015 Managing Partner, Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (since 2011); Managing Partner, Yorkville ETF Advisors (2012 to 2016); Vice President, Goldman Sachs (2000 to 2011).

Matthew B. Fleischer

(1983)

Chief Compliance Officer Since 2021 Associate Counsel, Ameriprise Financial, Columbia Threadneedle Funds (2015 to 2017); Vice President, Compliance, Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Goldman Sachs Asset Management Funds (2017 to 2021); Exchange Traded Concepts, Funds Chief Compliance Officer (since 2021); Exchange Traded Concepts Trust, Chief Compliance Officer (since 2021).

1 Each officer serves at the pleasure of the Board.

 

Committees. The Board has established the following committees:

 

Audit Committee. The Board has an Audit Committee that is composed of each of the Independent Trustees of the Trust. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Audit Committee include: recommending which firm to engage as the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm and whether to terminate this relationship; reviewing the independent registered public accounting firm’s compensation, the proposed scope and terms of its engagement, and the firm’s independence; pre-approving audit and non-audit services provided by the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm to the Trust and certain other affiliated entities; serving as a channel of communication between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trustees; reviewing the results of each external audit, including any qualifications in the independent registered public accounting firm’s opinion, any related management letter, management’s responses to recommendations made by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with the audit, reports submitted to the Committee by the internal auditing department of the Trust’s administrator that are material to the Trust as a whole, if any, and management’s responses to any such reports; reviewing each Fund’s audited financial statements and considering any significant disputes between the Trust’s management and the independent registered public accounting firm that arose in connection with the preparation of those financial statements; considering, in consultation with the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trust’s senior internal accounting executive, if any, the independent registered public accounting firms’ report on the adequacy of the Trust’s internal financial controls; reviewing, in consultation with the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm, major changes regarding auditing and accounting principles and practices to be followed when preparing a Fund’s financial statements; and other audit related matters. The Audit Committee also serves as the Trust’s Qualified Legal Compliance Committee, which provides a mechanism for reporting legal violations. The Audit Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met six (6) times during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

Governance and Nominating Committee. The Board has a Governance and Nominating Committee that is composed of each of the Independent Trustees of the Trust. The Governance and Nominating Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibility of the Governance and Nominating Committee is to consider, recommend and nominate candidates to fill vacancies on the Board, if any. The Governance and Nominating Committee generally will not consider nominees recommended by shareholders. The Governance and Nominating Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met two (2) times during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

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Valuation Committee. In addition to the standing committees of the Board described above, the Trust has a Valuation Committee that may be comprised of representatives from the Adviser, officers of the Trust, and/or representatives from the Trust’s administrator. The Valuation Committee operates under procedures approved by the Board. The Valuation Committee is responsible for the valuation and revaluation of any portfolio investments for which market quotations or prices are not readily available. The Valuation Committee meets periodically, as necessary.

 

Fund Shares Owned by Board Members. The following table shows the dollar amount ranges of each Trustee’s “beneficial ownership” of shares of each Fund and each other series of the Trust as of the end of the most recently completed calendar year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). As of June 28, 2021, the Trustees and officers owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Funds.

 

Trustee Name Fund Name Dollar Range of
Fund Shares
Owned
Aggregate Dollar Range of
Shares Owned in Series of
the Trust
Interested Trustee
Richard Hogan Cabana Target Leading Sector Conservative ETF None None
Cabana Target Leading Sector Moderate ETF None
Cabana Target Leading Sector Aggressive ETF None
Independent Trustees
Timothy J. Jacoby Cabana Target Leading Sector Conservative ETF None None
Cabana Target Leading Sector Moderate ETF None
Cabana Target Leading Sector Aggressive ETF None
David M. Mahle Cabana Target Leading Sector Conservative ETF None None
Cabana Target Leading Sector Moderate ETF None
Cabana Target Leading Sector Aggressive ETF None
Linda Petrone Cabana Target Leading Sector Conservative ETF None None
Cabana Target Leading Sector Moderate ETF None
Cabana Target Leading Sector Aggressive ETF None

 

Trustee Compensation. As compensation for service on the Board, each Independent Trustee is entitled to receive a $40,000 annual base fee, as well as a $3,000 fee for each in-person meeting and a $1,000 fee for each telephonic meeting. In addition, Mr. Jacoby is entitled to a $5,000 annual fee for his service as Audit Committee chair, and Mr. Mahle is entitled to a $5,000 annual fee for his service as lead Independent Trustee.

 

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The following table sets forth the compensation paid to the Trustees of the Trust for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2021. Independent Trustee fees are paid from the unitary fee paid to the Adviser by each Fund and the other series of the Trust. Trustee compensation does not include reimbursed out-of-pocket expenses in connection with attendance at meetings.

 

Name Aggregate
Compensation
Pension or
Retirement Benefits
Accrued as Part of
Fund Expenses
Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement
Total Compensation from the Trust
and Fund Complex1
Interested Trustee
Richard Hogan $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on 1 board
Independent Trustees
Timothy J. Jacoby $70,000 N/A N/A $136,163 for service on 2 boards
David M. Mahle $60,000 N/A N/A $105,750 for service on 2 boards
Linda Petrone $55,000 N/A N/A $111,000 for service on 2 boards
1The Fund complex includes each series of the Trust and Exchange Traded Concepts Trust.

 

CODES OF ETHICS

 

The Trust, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and Foreside Financial Group, LLC (on behalf of the Trust’s distributor and its affiliates) have each adopted a code of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. These codes of ethics are designed to prevent affiliated persons of the Trust, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and Foreside Financial Group (on behalf of the Trust’s distributor, Foreside Management Services, LLC, and Foreside Fund Officer Services, LLC) from engaging in deceptive, manipulative or fraudulent activities in connection with securities held or to be acquired by a Fund. These codes of ethics permit, subject to certain conditions, personnel of each of those entities to invest in securities, including those that may be purchased or held by a Fund.

 

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

 

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

 

The Board has delegated the responsibility to vote proxies for securities held in a Fund’s portfolio to the Adviser. Proxies for the portfolio securities are voted in accordance with the Adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures, which are set forth in Appendix A to this SAI. Information regarding how each Fund voted proxies relating to its portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 will be available without charge by calling 866-239-9536 and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

 

Adviser. Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company located at 10900 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 400, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120, its primary place of business, and 295 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017, serves as the investment adviser to each Fund. The Adviser is majority owned by Cottonwood ETF Holdings LLC.

 

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The Trust and the Adviser have entered into an investment advisory agreement with respect to each Fund (the “Advisory Agreement”). Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides investment advisory services to each Fund. The Adviser is responsible for, among other things, overseeing the Sub-Adviser, including regular review of the Sub-Adviser’s performance, trading portfolio securities on behalf of each Fund, and selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions, subject to the supervision of the Board. The Adviser also arranges for transfer agency, custody, fund administration and accounting, and other non-distribution related services necessary for each Fund to operate. The Adviser administers each Fund’s business affairs, provides office facilities and equipment and certain clerical, bookkeeping and administrative services, and provides its officers and employees to serve as officers or Trustees of the Trust. For the services the Adviser provides to each Fund, the Adviser is entitled to a fee, calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.80% of the average daily net assets of each Fund. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its fee in an amount equal to 0.21% of each Fund’s average daily net assets for at least one year from the date of this SAI. This waiver may only be terminated by the Trust’s Board.

 

Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser has agreed to pay all expenses incurred by the Funds except for the advisory fee, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing or settlement of orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, acquired fund fees and expenses, accrued deferred tax liability, extraordinary expenses, and distribution fees and expenses paid by the Fund under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (“Excluded Expenses”).

 

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

 

The Trust and the Adviser have obtained exemptive relief, In the Matter of Exchange Traded Concepts Trust, et al., Investment Company Act Release Nos. 31453 (February 10, 2015) (Notice) and 31502 (March 10, 2015) (the “Order”), pursuant to which the Adviser may, with Board approval but without shareholder approval, change or select new sub-advisers, materially amend the terms of an agreement with a sub-adviser (including an increase in its fee), or continue the employment of a sub-adviser after an event that would otherwise cause the automatic termination of services, subject to the conditions of the Order. Shareholders will be notified of any sub-adviser changes.

 

Sub-Adviser. Cabana LLC d/b/a Cabana Asset Management is a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Arkansas and is located at 220 S. School Avenue, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701. The Sub-Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Cabana Group, LLC. GCM Investments, LLC, Louis Abraham Shaff, Jon Neal Prevost, Christopher Carns and the Bettye R Morse MGR GST Trust are the owners of The Cabana Group, LLC. George Chaddwick Mason is the sole owner of GCM Investments, LLC. The Sub-Adviser has provided investment advisory services since 2008. The Sub-Adviser makes investment decisions for the Funds and continuously reviews, supervises, and administers the investment program of the Funds, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board. Under a sub-advisory agreement, with respect to each Fund (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”), the Adviser pays the Sub-Adviser a fee, calculated daily and paid monthly, out of the fee the Adviser receives from each Fund as follows:

 

Fund Sub-Advisory Fee as a % of Average Daily Net Assets
Cabana Target Leading Sector Conservative ETF*

0.735% on first $2 billion;

0.745% on the next $3 billion;

0.755% on the next $5 billion; and

0.76% on assets greater than $10 billion

Cabana Target Leading Sector Moderate ETF*

0.735% on first $2 billion;

0.745% on the next $3 billion;

0.755% on the next $5 billion; and

0.76% on assets greater than $10 billion

Cabana Target Leading Sector Aggressive ETF*

0.735% on first $2 billion;

0.745% on the next $3 billion;

0.755% on the next $5 billion; and

0.76% on assets greater than $10 billion

* For purposes of calculating the sub-advisory fee for this Fund, assets shall be aggregated with the assets of the other Funds denoted with an asterisk.

 

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Under the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser has agreed to assume the obligation of the Adviser to pay all expenses of the Funds, except the Excluded Expenses.

 

After the initial two-year term, the continuance of the Sub-Advisory Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually: (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the shareholders of each Fund; and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Sub-Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” or of any party thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Sub-Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Trustees of the Trust. The Sub-Advisory Agreement also may be terminated, at any time, by the Board or the Adviser upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Sub-Adviser or by the Sub-Adviser upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Adviser and the Board. As used in the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the terms “majority of the outstanding voting securities,” “interested persons” and “assignment” have the same meaning as such terms in the 1940 Act.

 

THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

G. Chadd Mason, Andrew Serowik, Todd Alberico, and Gabriel Tan serve as each Fund’s portfolio managers. This section includes information about the portfolio managers, including information about compensation, other accounts managed, and the dollar range of shares owned.

 

Portfolio Manager Compensation. The compensation of Messrs. Serowik, Alberico, and Tan includes a salary and discretionary bonus based on the profitability of the Adviser.

 

Mr. Mason is compensated by the Sub-Adviser and does not receive any compensation directly from the Funds or the Adviser. Mr. Mason’s portfolio management compensation includes a salary and ownership distributions based on the profitability of the Sub-Adviser.

 

No portfolio manager’s compensation is directly related to the performance of the underlying assets.

 

Fund Shares Owned by the Portfolio Managers. Each Fund is required to show the dollar range of the portfolio managers’ “beneficial ownership” of shares of the Fund as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Exchange Act. As of June 28, 2021, the portfolio managers did not beneficially own shares of any Fund.

 

Other Accounts Managed by the Portfolio Managers. In addition to the Funds, as of June 28, 2021, the portfolio managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as follows:

 

Name Registered
Investment Companies*
Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles*
Other Accounts*
Number
of
Accounts
Total Assets
(in millions)
Number of
Accounts
Total Assets
(in millions)
Number of
Accounts
Total Assets
(in millions)
G. Chadd Mason 5 $1,500 1** $4.7** 334 $61
Andrew Serowik 38 $3,817 1 $86 0 $0
Todd Alberico 38 $3,817 1 $86 0 $0
Gabriel Tan 38 $3,817 1 $86 0 $0
*None of the accounts managed by Messrs. Serowik, Tan, and Alberico are subject to performance-based advisory fees.
**Indicates number of accounts and total assets in the accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account.

 

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Conflicts of Interest. The portfolio managers’ management of “other accounts” may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of a Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other. The other accounts may have the same investment objectives as a Fund. Therefore, a potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the identical investment objectives, whereby a portfolio manager could favor one account over another. Another potential conflict could include a portfolio manager’s knowledge about the size, timing, and possible market impact of Fund trades, whereby the portfolio manager could use this information to the advantage of other accounts and to the disadvantage of a Fund. However, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser have established policies and procedures to ensure that the purchase and sale of securities among all accounts managed by the portfolio managers are fairly and equitably allocated.

 

THE DISTRIBUTOR

 

The Trust and Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Distributor”) are parties to an amended and restated distribution agreement (“Distribution Agreement”) whereby the Distributor acts as principal underwriter for the Trust’s shares and distributes the shares of each Fund. Shares of each Fund are continuously offered for sale by the Distributor only in Creation Units. The Distributor will not distribute shares of a Fund in amounts less than a Creation Unit. The principal business address of the Distributor is Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101.

 

The Distributor will deliver prospectuses and, upon request, Statements of Additional Information to persons purchasing Creation Units and will maintain records of orders placed with it. The Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

 

The Distributor may enter into agreements with securities dealers wishing to purchase Creation Units if such securities dealers qualify as Authorized Participants (as discussed in “Procedures for Creation of Creation Units” below).

 

The Distribution Agreement will continue for two years from its effective date and is renewable thereafter. The continuance of the Distribution Agreement with respect to each Fund must be specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the shareholders of each Fund and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations of the Distribution Agreement or any related agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust on 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by majority vote of a Fund’s outstanding voting shares or by a vote of a majority of its Board (including a majority of the Independent Trustees), or by the Distributor on 60 days’ written notice, and will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.

 

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

 

Distribution and Service Plan. The Trust has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, which regulates circumstances under which an investment company may directly or indirectly bear expenses relating to the distribution of its shares. No payments pursuant to the Plan will be made during the twelve (12) month period from the date of this SAI. Thereafter, 12b-1 fees may only be imposed after approval by the Board.

 

Continuance of the Plan must be approved annually by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust and by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan or in any agreements related to the Plan (“Qualified Trustees”). The Plan requires that quarterly written reports of amounts spent under the Plan and the purposes of such expenditures be furnished to and reviewed by the Trustees. The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount that may be spent thereunder without approval by a majority of the outstanding shares of any class of a Fund that is affected by such increase. All material amendments of the Plan will require approval by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust and of the Qualified Trustees.

 

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

 

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

 

THE ADMINISTRATOR

 

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon”), located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, 10286, serves as the administrator to the Funds.

 

For services provided under the administration agreement with the Trust, BNY Mellon is entitled to a fee based on assets under management, paid by the Adviser, subject to a minimum fee.

 

THE CUSTODIAN

 

BNY Mellon, located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, 10286, serves as the custodian of the Funds (the “Custodian”). The Custodian holds cash, securities and other assets of the Funds as required by the 1940 Act.

 

THE TRANSFER AGENT

 

BNY Mellon, located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, 10286, serves as transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent of the Funds.

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

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

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Cohen & Company, Ltd., located at 151 North Franklin Street, Suite 575, Chicago, Illinois 60606, serves as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds.

 

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PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

The Board has adopted a policy regarding the disclosure of information about each Fund’s security holdings.

 

Each Fund’s entire portfolio holdings are publicly disseminated each day that Fund is open for business through financial reporting and news services including publicly available internet websites. In addition, the composition of the in-kind creation basket and the in-kind redemption basket, is publicly disseminated daily prior to the opening of the Exchange via the NSCC.

 

Greater than daily access to information concerning a Fund’s portfolio holdings will be permitted (i) to certain personnel of service providers to the Fund involved in portfolio management and providing administrative, operational, risk management, or other support to portfolio management, and (ii) to other personnel of the Fund’s service providers who deal directly with, or assist in, functions related to investment management, administration, custody and fund accounting, as may be necessary to conduct business in the ordinary course in a manner consistent with the Trust’s exemptive relief, agreements with the Fund, and the terms of the Trust’s current registration statement. From time to time, and in the ordinary course of business, such information may also be disclosed (i) to other entities that provide services to a Fund, including pricing information vendors, and third parties that deliver analytical, statistical or consulting services to a Fund and (ii) generally after it has been disseminated to the NSCC.

 

Each Fund will disclose its complete portfolio holdings in public filings with the SEC on a quarterly basis, based on the Fund’s fiscal year-end, within 60 days of the end of the quarter, and will provide that information to shareholders, as required by federal securities laws and regulations thereunder.

 

No person is authorized to disclose any of a Fund’s portfolio holdings or other investment positions (whether in writing, by fax, by e-mail, orally, or by other means) except in accordance with this policy. The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer may authorize disclosure of portfolio holdings. The Board reviews the implementation of this policy on a periodic basis.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

 

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

 

Each share of a fund has one vote with respect to matters upon which a shareholder vote is required consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder. Shares of all funds vote together as a single class, except that if the matter being voted on affects only a particular fund it will be voted on only by that fund and if a matter affects a particular fund differently from other funds, that fund will vote separately on such matter. As a Delaware statutory trust, the Trust is not required, and does not intend, to hold annual meetings of shareholders. Approval of shareholders will be sought, however, for certain changes in the operation of the Trust and for the election of Trustees under certain circumstances.

 

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

 

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LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY

 

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

 

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

 

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

 

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

 

The Adviser may use a Fund’s assets for, or participate in, third-party soft dollar arrangements, in addition to receiving proprietary research from various full service brokers, the cost of which is bundled with the cost of the broker’s execution services. The Adviser does not “pay up” for the value of any such proprietary research. Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act permits the Adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause a Fund to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. The Adviser may receive a variety of research services and information on many topics, which it can use in connection with its management responsibilities with respect to the various accounts over which it exercises investment discretion or otherwise provides investment advice. The research services may include qualifying order management systems, portfolio attribution and monitoring services and computer software and access charges which are directly related to investment research. Accordingly, a Fund may pay a broker commission higher than the lowest available in recognition of the broker’s provision of such services to the Adviser, but only if the Adviser determines the total commission (including the soft dollar benefit) is comparable to the best commission rate that could be expected to be received from other brokers. The amount of soft dollar benefits received depends on the amount of brokerage transactions effected with the brokers. A conflict of interest exists because there is an incentive to: (1) cause clients to pay a higher commission than the firm might otherwise be able to negotiate; (2) cause clients to engage in more securities transactions than would otherwise be optimal; and (3) only recommend brokers that provide soft dollar benefits.

 

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The Adviser faces a potential conflict of interest when it uses client trades to obtain brokerage or research services. This conflict exists because the Adviser is able to use the brokerage or research services to manage client accounts without paying cash for such services, which reduces the Adviser’s expenses to the extent that the Adviser would have purchased such products had they not been provided by brokers. Section 28(e) permits the Adviser to use brokerage or research services for the benefit of any account it manages. Certain accounts managed by the Adviser may generate soft dollars used to purchase brokerage or research services that ultimately benefit other accounts managed by the Adviser, effectively cross subsidizing the other accounts managed by the Adviser that benefit directly from the product. The Adviser may not necessarily use all of the brokerage or research services in connection with managing a Fund whose trades generated the soft dollars used to purchase such products.

 

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

 

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

 

Each Fund is new and therefore did not pay brokerage commissions during the past fiscal year.

 

Directed Brokerage. The Funds are new and therefore did not pay commissions on brokerage transactions directed to brokers pursuant to an agreement or understanding whereby the broker provides research or other brokerage services to the Adviser or Sub-Adviser.

 

Brokerage with Fund Affiliates. Each Fund may execute brokerage or other agency transactions through registered broker-dealer affiliates of the Fund, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, or the Distributor for a commission in conformity with the 1940 Act, the Exchange Act and rules promulgated by the SEC. These rules require that commissions paid to the affiliate by a Fund for exchange transactions not exceed “usual and customary” brokerage commissions. The rules define “usual and customary” commissions to include amounts which are “reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time.” The Trustees, including those who are not “interested persons” of the Funds, have adopted procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of commissions paid to affiliates and review these procedures periodically.

 

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

 

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PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE

 

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

 

BOOK ENTRY ONLY SYSTEM

 

Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) acts as securities depositary for each Fund’s shares. Shares of each Fund are represented by securities registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC. Except in limited circumstances set forth below, certificates will not be issued for shares of a Fund.

 

DTC is a limited-purpose trust company that 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 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 of a Fund is limited to DTC Participants, Indirect Participants, and persons holding interests through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in shares of each Fund (owners of such beneficial interests are referred to herein as “Beneficial Owners”) is shown on, and the transfer of ownership is effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to DTC Participants) and on the records of DTC Participants (with respect to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners that are not DTC Participants). Beneficial Owners will receive from or through the DTC Participant a written confirmation relating to their purchase of shares of a Fund. The Trust recognizes DTC or its nominee as the record owner of all shares of each Fund for all purposes. Beneficial Owners of shares of a Fund are not entitled to have such shares registered in their names, and will not receive or be entitled to physical delivery of share certificates. Each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of DTC and any DTC Participant and/or Indirect Participant through which such Beneficial Owner holds its interests, to exercise any rights of a holder of shares of a Fund.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

Each Fund is new and therefore no person owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of shares of a Fund as of the date of this SAI.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES IN CREATION UNITS

 

Each Fund issues and redeems its shares on a continuous basis, at NAV, only in a large specified number of shares called a “Creation Unit,” either in-kind for securities or in cash for the value of such securities. The NAV of each Fund’s shares is determined once each business day, as described below under “Determination of Net Asset Value.” The Creation Unit size may change. Authorized Participants will be notified of such change.

 

PURCHASE (CREATION). The Trust issues and sells shares of the Funds only: (i) in Creation Units on a continuous basis through the Distributor, without a sales load (but subject to transaction fees), at their NAV per share next determined after receipt of an order, on any business day, in proper form pursuant to the terms of the Authorized Participant Agreement (“Participant Agreement”); or (ii) pursuant to the Dividend Reinvestment Service (defined below). The Funds will not issue fractional Creation Units. A business day is, generally, any day on which the Exchange is open for business.

 

FUND DEPOSIT. The consideration for purchase of a Creation Unit of a Fund generally consists of either (i) the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities (the “Deposit Securities”) per each Creation Unit, constituting a substantial replication, or a portfolio sampling representation, of the securities included in a Fund’s portfolio and the Cash Component (defined below), computed as described below, or (ii) the cash value of the Deposit Securities (“Deposit Cash”) and the Cash Component. When accepting purchases of Creation Units for cash, a Fund may incur additional costs associated with the acquisition of Deposit Securities that would otherwise be provided by an in-kind purchaser. These additional costs may be recoverable from the purchaser of Creation Units.

 

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

 

Each Fund, through NSCC, makes available on each business day, prior to the opening of business on the Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern time), the list of the names and the required number of shares of each Deposit Security or the required amount of Deposit Cash, as applicable, to be included in the current Fund Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous business day) for a Fund. Such Fund Deposit is subject to any applicable adjustments as described below, in order to effect purchases of Creation Units of a Fund until such time as the next-announced composition of the Deposit Securities or the required amount of Deposit Cash, as applicable, is made available.

 

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The identity and number of shares of the Deposit Securities or the amount of Deposit Cash, as applicable, required for the Fund Deposit for the Funds changes as rebalancing adjustments and corporate action events are reflected from time to time by the Adviser with a view to the investment objective of each Fund.

 

The Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of Deposit Cash to replace any Deposit Security, which shall be added to the Cash Component, including, without limitation, in situations where the Deposit Security: (i) may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery; (ii) may not be eligible for transfer through the systems of DTC for corporate securities and municipal securities or the Federal Reserve System for U.S. Treasury securities; (iii) may not be eligible for trading by an Authorized Participant (as defined below) or the investor for which it is acting; (iv) would be restricted under the securities laws or where the delivery of the Deposit Security to the Authorized Participant would result in the disposition of the Deposit Security by the Authorized Participant becoming restricted under the securities laws; or (v) in certain other situations (collectively, “custom orders”). The Trust also reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of Deposit Securities in lieu of Deposit Cash.

 

CASH PURCHASE METHOD. The Trust may at its discretion permit full or partial cash purchases of Creation Units of a Fund. When full or partial cash purchases of Creation Units are available or specified for a Fund, they will be effected in essentially the same manner as in-kind purchases thereof. In the case of a full or partial cash purchase, the Authorized Participant must pay the cash equivalent of the Deposit Securities it would otherwise be required to provide through an in-kind purchase, plus the same Cash Component required to be paid by an in-kind purchaser together with a creation transaction fee and non-standard charges, as may be applicable.

 

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

 

All orders to purchase shares directly from a Fund, including custom orders, must be placed for one or more Creation Units in the manner and by the time set forth in the Participant Agreement and/or applicable order form. The date on which an order to purchase Creation Units (or an order to redeem Creation Units, as set forth below) is received and accepted is referred to as the “Order Placement Date.”

 

An Authorized Participant may require an investor to make certain representations or enter into agreements with respect to the order, (e.g., to provide for payments of cash, when required). Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not have executed a Participant Agreement and that, therefore, orders to purchase shares directly from a Fund in Creation Units have to be placed by the investor’s broker through an Authorized Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement. In such cases there may be additional charges to such investor. At any given time, there may be only a limited number of broker-dealers that have executed a Participant Agreement and only a small number of such Authorized Participants may have international capabilities.

 

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

 

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Fund Deposits must be delivered by an Authorized Participant through the Federal Reserve System (for cash and U.S. government securities) or through DTC (for corporate securities), through a sub-custody agent (for foreign securities) and/or through such other arrangements allowed by the Trust or its agents. With respect to foreign Deposit Securities, the Custodian shall cause the sub-custodian of each Fund to maintain an account into which the Authorized Participant shall deliver, on behalf of itself or the party on whose behalf it is acting, such Deposit Securities (or Deposit Cash for all or a part of such securities, as permitted or required), with any appropriate adjustments as advised by the Trust. Foreign Deposit Securities must be delivered to an account maintained at the applicable local sub-custodian. The Fund Deposit transfer must be ordered by the Authorized Participant in a timely fashion so as to ensure the delivery of the requisite number of Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, to the account of a Fund or its agents by no later than the Settlement Date. The “Settlement Date” for a Fund is generally the second business day after the Order Placement Date. All questions as to the number of Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash to be delivered, as applicable, and the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) for the deposit of any tendered securities or cash, as applicable, will be determined by the Trust, whose determination shall be final and binding. The amount of cash represented by the Cash Component must be transferred directly to the Custodian through the Federal Reserve Bank wire transfer system in a timely manner so as to be received by the Custodian no later than the Settlement Date. If the Cash Component and the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, are not received by the Custodian in a timely manner by the Settlement Date, the creation order may be cancelled and the Authorized Participant shall be liable to a Fund for losses, if any, resulting therefrom. Upon written notice to the Distributor, such canceled order may be resubmitted the following business day using the Fund Deposit as newly constituted to reflect the then current NAV of a Fund.

 

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

 

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

 

Creation Units may be purchased in advance of receipt by the Trust of all or a portion of the applicable Deposit Securities as described below. In these circumstances, the initial deposit will have a value greater than the NAV of the shares of a Fund on the date the order is placed in proper form since in addition to available Deposit Securities, cash must be deposited in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Cash Component, plus (ii) an additional amount of cash equal to a percentage of the market value as set forth in the Participant Agreement, of the undelivered Deposit Securities (the “Additional Cash Deposit”), which shall be maintained in a separate non-interest bearing collateral account. The Authorized Participant must deposit with the Custodian the Additional Cash Deposit, as applicable, by the time set forth in the Participant Agreement on the Settlement Date. If a Fund or its agents do not receive the Additional Cash Deposit in the appropriate amount, by such time, then the order may be deemed rejected and the Authorized Participant shall be liable to the applicable 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 the applicable percentage, as set forth in the Participant Agreement, of the daily marked to market value of the missing Deposit Securities. The Trust may use such Additional Cash Deposit to buy the missing Deposit Securities at any time. Authorized Participants will be liable to the Trust for all costs, expenses, dividends, income, and taxes associated with missing Deposit Securities, including 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 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 creation transaction fee as set forth below under “Creation Transaction Fee” may be charged and an additional variable charge may also apply. The delivery of Creation Units so created generally will occur no later than the Settlement Date.

 

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

 

Examples of such circumstances include acts of God or public service or utility problems such as fires, floods, extreme weather conditions and power outages resulting in telephone, telecopy and computer failures; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving computer or other information systems affecting the Trust, the Distributor, the Custodian, a sub-custodian, the Transfer Agent, DTC, NSCC, Federal Reserve System, or any other participant in the creation process, and other extraordinary events. The Distributor shall notify a prospective creator of a Creation Unit and/or the Authorized Participant acting on behalf of the creator of a Creation Unit of its rejection of the order of such person. The Trust, the Transfer Agent, the Custodian, any sub-custodian and the Distributor are under no duty, however, to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the delivery of Fund Deposits nor shall either of them incur any liability for the failure to give any such notification. The Trust, the Transfer Agent, the Custodian and the Distributor shall not be liable for the rejection of any purchase order for Creation Units.

 

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

 

CREATION TRANSACTION FEE. A fixed purchase (i.e., creation) transaction fee may be imposed for the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the purchase of Creation Units (“Creation Order Costs”). The standard creation transaction fee for each Fund, regardless of the number of Creation Units created in the transaction, is set forth in the table below.

 

Fund Creation Transaction Fee
Cabana Target Leading Sector Conservative ETF $500
Cabana Target Leading Sector Moderate ETF $500
Cabana Target Leading Sector Aggressive ETF $500

 

Each Fund may adjust the creation transaction fee from time to time. The creation transaction fee may be waived on certain orders if the Custodian has determined to waive some or all of the Creation Order Costs associated with the order or another party, such as the Adviser, has agreed to pay such fee.

 

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In addition, a variable fee may be imposed for cash purchases, non-standard orders, or partial cash purchases of Creation Units. The variable fee is primarily designed to cover non-standard charges, e.g., brokerage, taxes, foreign exchange, execution, market impact, and other costs and expenses, related to the execution of trades resulting from such transaction. In all cases, such fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of the SEC applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities. Each Fund may determine not to charge a variable fee on certain orders when the Adviser has determined that doing so is in the best interests of Fund shareholders, e.g., for creation orders that facilitate the rebalance of a Fund’s portfolio in a more efficient manner than could have been achieved without such order.

 

Investors who use the services of an Authorized Participant, broker or other such intermediary may be charged a fee for such services which may include an amount for the creation transaction fee and non-standard charges. Investors are responsible for the costs of transferring the securities constituting the Deposit Securities to the account of the Trust. The Adviser may retain all or a portion of the transaction fee to the extent the Adviser bears the expenses that otherwise would be borne by the Trust in connection with the issuance of a Creation Unit, which the transaction fee is designed to cover.

 

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

 

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

 

REDEMPTION. Shares of each Fund may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their NAV next determined after receipt of a redemption request in proper form by a Fund through the Transfer Agent and only on a business day. EXCEPT UPON LIQUIDATION OF A FUND, THE TRUST WILL NOT REDEEM SHARES IN AMOUNTS LESS THAN CREATION UNITS. Investors must accumulate enough shares of a Fund in the secondary market to constitute a Creation Unit in order to have such shares redeemed by the Trust. There can be no assurance, however, that there will be sufficient liquidity in the public trading market at any time to permit assembly of a Creation Unit. Investors should expect to incur brokerage and other costs in connection with assembling a sufficient number of shares to constitute a redeemable Creation Unit.

 

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

 

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Redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit are paid either in-kind or in cash, or combination thereof, as determined by the Trust. With respect to in-kind redemptions of a Fund, redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit will consist of Fund Securities, as announced by the Custodian on the business day of the request for redemption received in proper form, plus cash in an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the shares being redeemed, as next determined after a receipt of a request in proper form, and the value of Fund Securities (the “Cash Redemption Amount”), less any fixed redemption transaction fee as set forth below and any applicable additional variable charge as set forth below. In the event that the Fund Securities have a value greater than the NAV of the shares of a Fund, a compensating cash payment equal to the differential is required to be made by or through an Authorized Participant by the redeeming shareholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the Trust’s discretion, an Authorized Participant may receive the corresponding cash value of the securities in lieu of the in-kind securities value representing one or more Fund Securities.

 

CASH REDEMPTION METHOD. Although the Trust does not ordinarily permit full or partial cash redemptions of Creation Units of the Funds, when full or partial cash redemptions of Creation Units are available or specified for a Fund, they will be effected in essentially the same manner as in-kind redemptions thereof. In the case of full or partial cash redemptions, the Authorized Participant receives the cash equivalent of the Fund Securities it would otherwise receive through an in-kind redemption, plus the same Cash Redemption Amount to be paid to an in-kind redeemer.

 

REDEMPTION TRANSACTION FEE. A fixed redemption transaction fee may be imposed for the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the redemption of Creation Units (“Redemption Order Costs”). The standard redemption transaction fee for each Fund, regardless of the number of Creation Units redeemed in the transaction, is set forth in the table below.

 

Fund Redemption Transaction Fee
Cabana Target Leading Sector Conservative ETF $500
Cabana Target Leading Sector Moderate ETF $500
Cabana Target Leading Sector Aggressive ETF $500

 

Each Fund may adjust the redemption transaction fee from time to time. The redemption transaction fee may be waived on certain orders if the Custodian has determined to waive some or all of the Redemption Order Costs associated with the order or another party, such as the Adviser, has agreed to pay such fee.

 

In addition, a variable fee, payable to a Fund, may be imposed for cash redemptions, non-standard orders, or partial cash redemptions for such Fund. The variable fee is primarily designed to cover non-standard charges, e.g., brokerage, taxes, foreign exchange, execution, market impact, and other costs and expenses, related to the execution of trades resulting from such transaction. In all cases, such fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of the SEC applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities. Each Fund may determine not to charge a variable fee on certain orders when the Adviser has determined that doing so is in the best interests of Fund shareholders, e.g., for redemption orders that facilitate the rebalance of a Fund’s portfolio in a more tax efficient manner than could be achieved without such order.

 

Investors who use the services of an Authorized Participant, broker or other such intermediary may be charged a fee for such services, which may include an amount for the redemption transaction fee and non-standard charges. Investors are responsible for the costs of transferring the securities constituting the Fund Securities to the account of the Trust. The non-standard charges are payable to a Fund as it incurs costs in connection with the redemption of Creation Units, the receipt of Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount and other transactions costs. The Adviser may retain all or a portion of the redemption transaction fee to the extent the Adviser bears the expenses that otherwise would be borne by the Trust in connection with the redemption of a Creation Unit, which the redemption transaction fee is designed to cover.

 

PROCEDURES FOR REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS. Orders to redeem Creation Units must be submitted in proper form to the Transfer Agent prior to the time as set forth in the Participant Agreement. A redemption request is considered to be in “proper form” if (i) an Authorized Participant has transferred or caused to be transferred to the Trust’s Transfer Agent the Creation Unit(s) being redeemed through the book-entry system of DTC so as to be effective by the time as set forth in the Participant Agreement and (ii) a request in form satisfactory to the Trust is received by the Transfer Agent from the Authorized Participant on behalf of itself or another redeeming investor within the time periods specified in the Participant Agreement. If the Transfer Agent does not receive the investor’s shares of a Fund through DTC’s facilities by the times and pursuant to the other terms and conditions set forth in the Participant Agreement, the redemption request shall be rejected, unless, to the extent contemplated by the Participant Agreement, collateral is posted in an amount equal to a percentage of the value of the missing shares of that Fund as specified in the Participant Agreement (and marked to market daily).

 

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

 

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

 

If it is not possible to make other such arrangements, or it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Fund Securities, the Trust may in its discretion exercise its option to redeem such shares in cash, and the redeeming investor will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash. In addition, an investor may request a redemption in cash that a Fund may, in its sole discretion, permit. In either case, the investor will receive a cash payment equal to the NAV of its shares based on the NAV of shares of a Fund next determined after the redemption request is received in proper form (minus a redemption transaction fee and additional charge for requested cash redemptions specified above, to offset the Trust’s brokerage and other transaction costs associated with the disposition of Fund Securities). Each Fund may also, in its sole discretion, upon request of a shareholder, provide such redeemer a portfolio of securities that differs from the exact composition of the Fund Securities but does not differ in NAV.

 

Pursuant to the Participant Agreement, an Authorized Participant submitting a redemption request is deemed to make certain representations to the Trust regarding the Authorized Participant’s ability to tender for redemption the requisite number of shares of a Fund. The Trust reserves the right to verify these representations at its discretion, but will typically require verification with respect to a redemption request from the applicable Fund in connection with higher levels of redemption activity and/or short interest in that Fund. If the Authorized Participant, upon receipt of a verification request, does not provide sufficient verification of its representations as determined by the Trust, the redemption request will not be considered to have been received in proper form and may be rejected by the Trust.

 

Redemptions of shares for Fund Securities will be subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and each Fund (whether or not it otherwise permits cash redemptions) reserves the right to redeem Creation Units for cash to the extent that the Trust could not lawfully deliver specific Fund Securities upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Fund Securities under such laws. An Authorized Participant or an investor for which it is acting subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular security included in the Fund Securities applicable to the redemption of Creation Units may be paid an equivalent amount of cash. The Authorized Participant may request the redeeming investor of the shares of a Fund to complete an order form or to enter into agreements with respect to such matters as compensating cash payment. Further, an Authorized Participant that is not a “qualified institutional buyer,” (“QIB”) as such term is defined under Rule 144A of the Securities Act, will not be able to receive Fund Securities that are restricted securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A. An Authorized Participant may be required by the Trust to provide a written confirmation with respect to QIB status in order to receive Fund Securities.

 

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

 

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

 

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

 

NAV per share for a Fund is computed by dividing the value of the net assets of such Fund (i.e., the value of its total assets less total liabilities) by the total number of shares outstanding, rounded to the nearest cent. Expenses and fees, including the management fees, are accrued daily and taken into account for purposes of determining NAV. The NAV of a Fund is calculated by BNY Mellon and determined at the close of the regular trading session on the Exchange (ordinarily 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day that such exchange is open, provided that fixed-income assets may be valued as of the announced closing time for trading in fixed-income instruments on any day that the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (“SIFMA”) announces an early closing time.

 

In calculating a Fund’s NAV per share, such Fund’s investments are generally valued using market valuations. A market valuation generally means a valuation (i) obtained from an exchange, a pricing service, or a major market maker (or dealer), (ii) based on a price quotation or other equivalent indication of value supplied by an exchange, a pricing service, or a major market maker (or dealer), or (iii) based on amortized cost. In the case of shares of other funds that are not traded on an exchange, a market valuation means such fund’s published NAV per share. The Adviser may use various pricing services, or discontinue the use of any pricing service, as approved by the Board from time to time. A price obtained from a pricing service based on such pricing service’s valuation matrix may be considered a market valuation. Any assets or liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are converted into U.S. dollars at the current market rates on the date of valuation as quoted by one or more sources.

 

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

 

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 by each Fund. Distributions of remaining net realized securities gains, if any, generally are declared and paid once a year, but a Fund may make distributions on a more frequent basis for such Fund to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, in all events in a manner consistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act.

 

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Dividends and other distributions on shares of a Fund 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 Funds.

 

Each Fund will make additional distributions to the extent necessary (i) to distribute the entire annual taxable income of a Fund, plus any net capital gains and (ii) to avoid imposition of the excise tax imposed by Section 4982 of the Internal Revenue Code. Management of the Trust reserves the right to declare special dividends if, in its reasonable discretion, such action is necessary or advisable to preserve a Fund’s eligibility for treatment as a RIC or to avoid imposition of income or excise taxes on undistributed income.

 

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

 

FEDERAL INCOME TAXES

 

The following is a summary of certain additional U.S. federal income tax considerations generally affecting each Fund and its shareholders that supplements the summary in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a comprehensive explanation of the federal, state, local or foreign tax treatment of a Fund or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended to be a substitute for careful tax planning. The summary is very general, and does not address investors subject to special rules, such as investors who hold shares through an individual retirement account (“IRA”), 401(k) or other tax-advantaged account.

 

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

 

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

 

Regulated Investment Company Status

 

Each Fund intends to elect and to qualify to be treated as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code. By following such a policy, a Fund expects to eliminate or reduce to a nominal amount the federal taxes to which it may be subject. If a Fund qualifies as a RIC, it will generally not be subject to federal income taxes on the net investment income and net realized capital gains that it timely distributes to its shareholders. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of a Fund as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

 

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In order to qualify as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code, a Fund must distribute annually to its shareholders at least an amount equal to the sum of 90% of a Fund’s net investment company taxable income for such year (including, for this purpose, dividends, taxable interest, and the excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, less operating expenses), computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction, and at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income for such year, if any (the “Distribution Requirement”) and also must meet certain additional requirements. One of these additional requirements for RIC qualification is that a Fund must receive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to a Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities, foreign currencies and net income from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “90% Test”). A second requirement for qualification as a RIC is that a Fund must diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of a Fund’s taxable year: (a) at least 50% of the market value of a Fund’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities, with these other securities limited, in respect to any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of a Fund’s total assets or 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, including the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership; and (b) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested, including through corporations in which a Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest, in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or the securities (other than the securities of another RIC) of two or more issuers that a Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “Asset Test”).

 

If a Fund fails to satisfy the 90% Test or the Asset Test, a Fund may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the Asset Test where a Fund corrects the failure within a specified period of time. In order to be eligible for the relief provisions with respect to a failure to meet the Asset Test, a Fund may be required to dispose of certain assets. If these relief provisions are not available to a Fund and it fails to qualify for treatment as a RIC for a taxable year, all of its taxable income would be subject to tax at the 21% regular corporate income tax rate without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and its distributions (including capital gains distributions) generally would be taxable as ordinary income dividends to its shareholders, subject to the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders and the lower tax rates on qualified dividend income received by non-corporate shareholders. In addition, a Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC. If a Fund determines that it will not qualify for treatment as a RIC, a Fund will establish procedures to reflect the anticipated tax liability in a Fund’s NAV.

 

Although each Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and may distribute its capital gains for any taxable year, each Fund will be subject to federal income taxation to the extent any such income or gains are not distributed.

 

A Fund may designate certain amounts retained as undistributed net capital gain in a notice to its shareholders, who (i) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their proportionate shares of the undistributed amount so designated, (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the income tax paid by a Fund on that undistributed amount against their federal income tax liabilities and to claim refunds to the extent such credits exceed their liabilities and (iii) will be entitled to increase their tax basis, for federal income tax purposes, in their shares in that Fund by an amount equal to the excess of the amount of undistributed net capital gain included in their respective income over their respective income tax credits.

 

Notwithstanding the Distribution Requirement described above, a Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax on undistributed income if it does not distribute to its shareholders in each calendar year an amount at least equal to 98% of its ordinary income for the calendar year and 98.2% of its capital gain net income for the twelve months ended October 31 of such year, subject to an increase for any shortfall in the prior year’s distribution. For this purpose, any ordinary income or capital gain net income retained by a Fund and subject to corporate income tax will be considered to have been distributed. Each 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, but can make no assurances that such tax will be completely eliminated. A Fund may in certain circumstances be required to liquidate Fund investments in order to make sufficient distributions to avoid federal excise tax liability at a time when the investment adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so, and liquidation of investments in such circumstances may affect the ability of a Fund to satisfy the requirement for qualification as a RIC.

 

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A Fund may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining a Fund’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Fund distributions for any calendar year. A “qualified late year loss” generally includes net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (commonly referred to as “post-October losses”) and certain other late-year losses.

 

Capital losses in excess of capital gains (“net capital losses”) are not permitted to be deducted against a RIC’s net investment income. Instead, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, potentially subject to certain limitations, a RIC may carry net capital losses from any taxable year forward to offset capital gains in future years. A Fund is permitted to carry net capital losses forward indefinitely. To the extent subsequent capital gains are offset by such losses, they will not result in U.S. federal income tax liability to a Fund and may not be distributed as capital gains to shareholders. Generally, a Fund may not carry forward any losses other than net capital losses. The carryover of capital losses may be limited under the general loss limitation rules if a Fund experiences an ownership change as defined in the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Taxation of Shareholders

 

Each Fund receives income generally in the form of dividends and interest on investments. This income, plus net short-term capital gains, if any, less expenses incurred in the operation of a Fund, constitutes a Fund’s net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. Any distributions by a Fund from such income will be taxable to you as ordinary income or at the lower capital gains rates that apply to individuals receiving qualified dividend income (as discussed below), whether you take them in cash or in additional shares.

 

Subject to certain limitations and requirements, dividends reported by a Fund as qualified dividend income will be taxable to non-corporate shareholders at rates of up to 20%. In general, dividends may be reported by a Fund as qualified dividend income if they are paid from dividends received by a Fund on common and preferred stock of U.S. corporations or on stock of certain eligible foreign corporations, provided that certain holding period and other requirements are met by a Fund with respect to the dividend-paying stocks in its portfolio. Subject to certain limitations, eligible foreign corporations include those incorporated in possessions of the United States or in certain countries with comprehensive tax treaties with the United States, and other foreign corporations if the stock with respect to which the dividends are paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that: (i) the shareholder has not held the shares on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the shares become “ex-dividend” (which is the day on which declared distributions (dividends or capital gains) are deducted from a Fund’s assets before it calculates the net asset value) with respect to such dividend, (ii) a Fund has not satisfied similar holding period requirements with respect to the securities it holds that paid the dividends distributed to the shareholder), (iii) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property, or (iv) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code. Therefore, if you lend your shares in a Fund, such as pursuant to a securities lending arrangement, you may lose the ability to treat dividends (paid while the shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividend income. Distributions that a Fund receives from an ETF, REIT or an underlying fund taxable as a RIC will be treated as qualified dividend income only to the extent so reported by such ETF, REIT or underlying fund. Certain of the Funds’ investment strategies may limit their ability to distribute dividends eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income.

 

Distributions by a Fund of its net short-term capital gains will be taxable as ordinary income. Capital gains distributions consisting of a Fund’s net capital gains will be taxable as long-term capital gains for individual shareholders currently set at a maximum rate of 20% regardless of how long you have held your shares in a Fund.

 

In the case of corporate shareholders, a Fund’s distributions (other than capital gain distributions) generally qualify for the dividends received deduction to the extent such distributions are so reported and do not exceed the gross amount of qualifying dividends received by a Fund for the year. Generally, and subject to certain limitations (including certain holding period limitations), a dividend will be treated as a qualifying dividend if it has been received from a domestic corporation. Certain of the Funds’ trading strategies may limit their ability to distribute dividends eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

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Each Fund’s participation in loans of securities may affect the amount, timing, and character of distributions to its shareholders. If a Fund participates in a securities lending transaction and receives a payment in lieu of dividends (a “substitute payment”) with respect to securities on loan in a securities lending transaction, such income generally will not constitute qualified dividend income and thus dividends attributable to such income will not be eligible for taxation at the rates applicable to qualified dividend income for individual shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

Although dividends generally will be treated as distributed when paid, any dividend declared by a Fund in October, November or December and payable to shareholders of record in such a month that is paid during the following January will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as received by shareholders on December 31 of the calendar year in which it was declared. A taxable shareholder may wish to avoid investing in a Fund shortly before a dividend or other distribution, because the distribution will generally be taxable even though it may economically represent a return of a portion of the shareholder’s investment.

 

If a Fund’s distributions exceed its earnings and profits, all or a portion of the distributions made in the taxable year may be treated as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution generally will not be taxable but will reduce the shareholder’s cost basis and result in a higher capital gain or lower capital loss when the shares on which the distribution was received are sold. After a shareholder’s basis in the shares has been reduced to zero, distributions in excess of earnings and profits will be treated as gain from the sale of the shareholder’s shares.

 

Each Fund’s shareholders will be notified annually by a Fund (or their broker) as to the federal tax status of all distributions made by a Fund. Distributions may be subject to state and local taxes. Shareholders who have not held Fund shares for a full year should be aware that a Fund may report and distribute to a shareholder, as ordinary dividends or capital gain dividends, a percentage of income that is not equal to the percentage of a Fund’s ordinary income or net capital gain, respectively, actually earned during the shareholder’s period of investment in a Fund.

 

Sales, Exchanges or Redemptions. A sale, exchange or redemption of shares by a shareholder 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 capital gain or loss if the shares are capital assets in the shareholder’s hands, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than twelve months, and short-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for 12 months or less. However, if shares on which a shareholder has received a long-term capital gain distribution are subsequently sold, exchanged, or redeemed and such shares have been held for six months or less, any loss recognized will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the long-term capital gain distribution. In addition, the loss realized on a sale or other disposition of shares will be disallowed to the extent a shareholder repurchases (or enters into a contract or option to repurchase) shares within a period of 61 days (beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the shares). This loss disallowance rule will apply to shares received through the reinvestment of dividends during the 61-day period. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

An Authorized Participant who exchanges securities for Creation Units generally will recognize gain or loss from the exchange. 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 sum of the exchanger’s aggregate basis in the securities surrendered plus the amount of cash paid for such Creation Units. The ability of Authorized Participants to receive a full or partial cash redemption of Creation Units of a Fund may limit the tax efficiency of a Fund. A person who redeems Creation Units will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the sum of the aggregate market value of any securities received plus the amount of any cash received for such Creation Units and the exchanger’s basis in the Creation Units. The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), however, may assert that an Authorized Participant may not be permitted to currently deduct losses realized upon an exchange of securities for Creation Units under the rules governing “wash sales” (for an Authorized Participant that does not mark-to-market its holdings), or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position.

 

The Trust on behalf of a Fund has the right to reject an order for a purchase of shares of a Fund if the purchaser (or a group of purchasers) would, upon obtaining the shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of a Fund and if, pursuant to Section 351 of the Internal Revenue Code, a Fund would have a basis in the securities different from the market value of such securities on the date of deposit. The Trust also has the right to require information necessary to determine beneficial Share ownership for purposes of the 80% determination. If a Fund does issue Creation Units to a purchaser (or a group of purchasers) that would, upon obtaining the shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of a Fund, the purchaser (or group of purchasers) may not recognize gain or loss upon the exchange of securities for Creation Units.

 

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Authorized Participants purchasing or redeeming Creation Units should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax treatment of any creation or redemption transaction and whether the wash sales rules apply and when a loss might be deductible.

 

Net Investment Income Tax. U.S. individuals with adjusted gross income (subject to certain adjustments) exceeding certain threshold amounts ($250,000 if married and filing jointly or if considered a “surviving spouse” for federal income tax purposes, $125,000 if married filing separately, and $200,000 in other cases) are subject to a 3.8% tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income.” This 3.8% tax also applies to all or a portion of the undistributed net investment income of certain shareholders that are estates and trusts. For these purposes, interest, dividends and certain capital gains (including capital gain distributions and capital gains realized on the sale of shares of a Fund or the redemption of Creation Units), among other categories of income, are generally taken into account in computing a shareholder’s net investment income.

 

Taxation of Fund Investments

 

Certain of a Fund’s investments may be subject to complex provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (including provisions relating to hedging transactions, straddles, integrated transactions, foreign currency contracts, forward foreign currency contracts, and notional principal contracts) that, among other things, may affect a Fund’s ability to qualify as a RIC, affect the character of gains and losses realized by a Fund (e.g., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to a Fund and defer losses and, in limited cases, subject a Fund to U.S. federal income tax on income from certain of its foreign securities. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also may require a Fund to mark to market certain types of positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out) which may cause a Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the RIC Distribution Requirement and for avoiding excise taxes. Accordingly, in order to avoid certain income and excise taxes, a Fund may be required to liquidate its investments at a time when the investment adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so. Each Fund intends to monitor its transactions, intends to make appropriate tax elections, and intends to make appropriate entries in its books and records in order to mitigate the effect of these rules and preserve its qualification for treatment as a RIC. To the extent a Fund invests in an underlying fund that is taxable as a RIC, the rules applicable to the tax treatment of complex securities will also apply to the underlying funds that also invest in such complex securities and investments.

 

With respect to investments in STRIPS, TRs, and other zero coupon securities which are sold at original issue discount and thus do not make periodic cash interest payments, a Fund will be required to include as part of its current income the imputed interest on such obligations even though a Fund has not received any interest payments on such obligations during that period. Because a Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment income to its shareholders, a Fund may have to sell Fund securities to distribute such imputed income which may occur at a time when the Adviser would not have chosen to sell such securities and which may result in taxable gain or loss.

 

Any market discount recognized on a bond is taxable as ordinary income. A market discount bond is a bond acquired in the secondary market at a price below redemption value or adjusted issue price if issued with original issue discount. Absent an election by a Fund to include the market discount in income as it accrues, gain on a Fund’s disposition of such an obligation will be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain to the extent of the accrued market discount.

 

Each Fund may invest in inflation-linked debt securities. Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-linked debt security will be original interest discount, which is taxable as ordinary income and is required to be distributed, even though a Fund will not receive the principal, including any increase thereto, until maturity. As noted above, if a Fund invests in such securities it may be required to liquidate other investments, including at times when it is not advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its distribution requirements and to eliminate any possible taxation at a Fund level.

 

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A Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies and forward foreign currency contracts will generally be subject to special provisions of the Internal Revenue Code that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to the Fund and defer losses. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also may require a Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out) which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the RIC Distribution Requirements and for avoiding the excise tax described above. The Funds intend to monitor their transactions, intend to make the appropriate tax elections, and intend to make the appropriate entries in their books and records when they acquire any foreign currency or forward foreign currency contract in order to mitigate the effect of these rules so as to prevent disqualification of a Fund as a RIC and minimize the imposition of income and excise taxes.

 

The U.S. Treasury Department has authority to issue regulations that would exclude foreign currency gains from the 90% Test described above if such gains are not directly related to a Fund’s business of investing in stock or securities. Accordingly, regulations may be issued in the future that could treat some or all of a Fund’s non-U.S. currency gains as non-qualifying income, thereby potentially jeopardizing a Fund’s status as a RIC for all years to which the regulations are applicable.

 

Under the Internal Revenue Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates which occur between the time a Fund accrues income or other receivables or accrues expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time a Fund actually collects such income or receivables or pays such expenses or liabilities generally are treated as ordinary income or loss. Similarly, on disposition of debt securities denominated in a foreign currency and on disposition of certain other instruments, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency between the date of acquisition of the security or contract and the date of disposition are also treated as ordinary gain or loss. The gains and losses may increase or decrease the amount of a Fund’s income to be distributed to its shareholders as ordinary income.

 

If a Fund acquires any equity interest in certain foreign investment entities (i) that receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties, or capital gains) or (ii) where at least 50% of the corporation’s assets (computed based on average fair market value) either produce or are held for the production of passive income (“passive foreign investment companies” or “PFICs”), a Fund will generally be subject to one of the following special tax regimes: (i) a Fund may be liable for U.S. federal income tax, and an additional interest charge, on a portion of any “excess distribution” from such foreign entity or any gain from the disposition of such shares, even if the entire distribution or gain is paid out by a Fund as a dividend to its shareholders; (ii) if a Fund were able and elected to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” or “QEF,” a Fund would be required each year to include in income, and distribute to shareholders in accordance with the distribution requirements set forth above, a Fund's pro rata share of the ordinary earnings and net capital gains of the PFIC, whether or not such earnings or gains are distributed to a Fund; or (iii) a Fund may be entitled to mark-to-market annually shares of the PFIC, and in such event would be required to distribute to shareholders any such mark-to-market gains in accordance with the distribution requirements set forth above. Each Fund intends to make the appropriate tax elections, if possible, and take any additional steps that are necessary to mitigate the effect of these rules. Each Fund may limit and/or manage its holdings in passive foreign investment companies to limit its tax liability or maximize its return from these investments. Amounts included in income each year by a Fund arising from a QEF election will be “qualifying income” under the 90% Test (as described above) even if not distributed to a Fund, if a Fund derives such income from its business of investing in stock, securities or currencies.

 

Certain of the Funds’ commodity-related investments will not generate income that is “qualifying income” under the 90% Test (as described above). Each Fund will seek to restrict its income from such investments that do not generate qualifying income to a maximum of 10% of its gross income (when combined with its other investments that produce non-qualifying income) to comply with the 90% Test. However, a Fund might generate more non-qualifying income than anticipated, might not be able to generate qualifying income in a particular taxable year at levels sufficient to meet the 90% Test, or might not be able to determine the percentage of qualifying income it derives for a taxable year until after year-end. Accordingly, the extent to which the Funds invest in commodities or commodity-linked derivatives directly may be limited by the 90% Test, which the Funds must continue to satisfy to maintain their status as a RIC. As such, the Funds could be required to reduce their exposure to such investments, which may result in difficulty in implementing each Fund’s investment strategy. Please see the discussion above in the section titled “Regulated Investment Company Status” for a discussion of the impact of a Fund failing to meet the 90% Test. To the extent a Fund invests in an underlying fund that is taxable as a RIC and that directly makes certain commodity-related investments, the tax rules related to such investments and associated risks described above with respect to such Fund will also apply to the underlying fund that makes such commodity-related investments.

 

Backup Withholding. Each Fund (or financial intermediaries, such as brokers, through which a shareholder holds shares) will be required in certain cases to withhold (as “backup withholding”) at a 24% withholding rate and remit to the U.S. Treasury the withheld amount of dividends paid to any shareholder who: (1) fails to provide a correct taxpayer identification number certified under penalty of perjury; (2) is subject to backup withholding by the IRS for failure to properly report all payments of interest or dividends; (3) fails to provide a certified statement that he or she is not subject to backup withholding; or (4) fails to provide a certified statement that he or she is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien).

 

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Foreign Taxes. A Fund may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries, including taxes on interest, dividends and capital gains with respect to any investments in those countries. Any such taxes would, if imposed, reduce the yield on or return from those investments. Tax conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes in some cases. If more than 50 percent of the value of a Fund’s total assets at the close of any taxable year consists of certain foreign securities, then the Fund will be eligible to and intends to file and election with the IRS that may enable shareholders, in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a deduction from such taxes, with respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations. Pursuant to the election, a Fund will treat those taxes as dividends paid to its shareholders. Each such shareholder will be required to include a proportionate share of those taxes in gross income as income received from a foreign source and must treat the amount so included as if the shareholder had paid the foreign tax directly. The shareholder may then either deduct the taxes deemed paid by him or her in computing his or her taxable income or, alternatively, use the foregoing information in calculating any foreign tax credit they may be entitled to use against the shareholders’ federal income tax. If a Fund makes the election, the Fund (or your broker) will report annually to its shareholders the respective amounts per share of the Fund’s income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions.

 

Foreign tax credits, if any, received by a Fund as a result of an investment in another RIC (including an ETF which is taxable as a RIC) will not be passed through to you unless the Fund qualifies as a “qualified fund-of-funds” under the Internal Revenue Code. If a Fund is a “qualified fund-of-funds” it will be eligible to file an election with the IRS that will enable the Fund to pass along these foreign tax credits to its shareholders. A Fund will be treated as a “qualified fund-of-funds” under the Internal Revenue Code if at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets (at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year) is represented by interests in other RICs.

 

Foreign Shareholders

 

Any foreign shareholders in a Fund may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are encouraged to consult their tax advisors prior to investing in a Fund. Foreign shareholders (i.e., nonresident alien individuals and foreign corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates) are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or a lower tax treaty rate) on distributions derived from taxable ordinary income. Each Fund may, under certain circumstances, report all or a portion of a dividend as an “interest-related dividend” or a “short-term capital gain dividend,” which would generally be exempt from this 30% U.S. withholding tax, provided certain other requirements are met. Short-term capital gain dividends received by a nonresident alien individual who is present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the taxable year are not exempt from this 30% withholding tax. Gains realized by foreign shareholders from the sale or other disposition of shares of a Fund generally are not subject to U.S. taxation, unless the recipient is an individual who is physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more per year. Foreign shareholders who fail to provide an applicable IRS form may be subject to backup withholding on certain payments from a Fund. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that are subject to the 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) withholding tax described in this paragraph. Different tax consequences may result if the foreign shareholder is engaged in a trade or business within the United States. In addition, the tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of a tax treaty may be different than those described above.

 

Under legislation generally known as “FATCA” (the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act), unless certain non-U.S. entities that hold Fund shares comply with IRS requirements that generally require them to report information regarding U.S. persons investing in, or holding accounts with, such entities, a 30% withholding tax may apply to Fund distributions payable to such entities. In general, no such withholding will be required with respect to a U.S. person or non-U.S. person that timely provides the certifications required by a Fund or its agent on a valid IRS Form W-9 or applicable series of IRS Form W-8, respectively. Shareholders potentially subject to withholding include foreign financial institutions (“FFIs”), such as non-U.S. investment funds, and non-financial foreign entities (“NFFEs”). To avoid withholding under FATCA, an FFI generally must enter into an information sharing agreement with the IRS in which it agrees to report certain identifying information (including name, address, and taxpayer identification number) with respect to its U.S. account holders (which, in the case of an entity shareholder, may include its direct and indirect U.S. owners), and an NFFE generally must identify and provide other required information to the fund or other withholding agent regarding its U.S. owners, if any. Such non-U.S. shareholders also may fall into certain exempt, excepted or deemed compliant categories as established by regulations and other guidance. A non-U.S. shareholder may be exempt from the withholding described in this paragraph under an applicable intergovernmental agreement between the U.S. and a foreign government, provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of the agreement.

 

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

 

Tax-Exempt Shareholders. Certain tax-exempt shareholders, including qualified pension plans, IRAs, salary deferral arrangements, 401(k)s, and other tax-exempt entities, generally are exempt from federal income taxation except with respect to their unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). Tax-exempt entities are not permitted to offset losses from one trade or business against the income or gain of another trade or business. Certain net losses incurred prior to January 1, 2018 are permitted to offset gain and income created by an unrelated trade or business, if otherwise available. Under current law, a Fund generally serves to block UBTI from being realized by its tax-exempt shareholders. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, the tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of an investment in a Fund where, for example: (i) a Fund invests in residual interests of Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (“REMICs”), (ii) a Fund invests in a REIT that is a taxable mortgage pool (“TMP”) or that has a subsidiary that is a TMP or that invests in the residual interest of a REMIC, or (iii) shares in a Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of section 514(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. Charitable remainder trusts are subject to special rules and should consult their tax advisor. The IRS has issued guidance with respect to these issues and prospective shareholders, especially charitable remainder trusts, are strongly encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding these issues.

 

Each Fund’s shares held in a tax-qualified retirement account will generally not be subject to federal taxation on income and capital gains distributions from a Fund until a shareholder begins receiving payments from their retirement account.

 

Certain Potential Tax Reporting Requirements. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder (or certain greater amounts over a combination of years), the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on IRS Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance shareholders of a RIC are not excepted. A shareholder who fails to make the required disclosure to the IRS may be subject to substantial penalties. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

 

Cost Basis Reporting. The cost basis of shares acquired by purchase will generally be based on the amount paid for the shares and then may be subsequently adjusted for other applicable transactions as required by the Internal Revenue Code. The difference between the selling price and the cost basis of shares generally determines the amount of the capital gain or loss realized on the sale or exchange of shares. Contact the broker through whom you purchased your shares to obtain information with respect to the available cost basis reporting methods and elections for your account.

 

State Taxes. Depending upon state and local law, distributions by a Fund to its shareholders and the ownership of such shares may be subject to state and local taxes. Rules of state and local taxation of dividend and capital gains distributions from RICs often differ from the rules for federal income taxation described above. It is expected that a Fund will not be liable for any corporate excise, income or franchise tax in Delaware if it qualifies as a RIC for federal income tax purposes. A Fund’s shares held in a tax-qualified retirement account will generally not be subject to federal taxation on income and capital gains distributions from the Fund until a shareholder begins receiving payments from their retirement account.

 

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

 

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The Funds are new and therefore do not have any financial statements. The Funds’ financial statements will be available after the Funds have completed their first fiscal year of operations.

 

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APPENDIX A

 

EXCHANGE TRADED CONCEPTS, LLC

 

PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES

 

Introduction

 

Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (“ETC”) recognizes that proxies for companies whose securities are held in client portfolios have an economic value, and it seeks to maximize that economic value by ensuring that votes are cast in a manner that it believes to be in the best interest of the affected clients. Proxies are considered client assets and are to be managed with the same care, skill and diligence as all other client assets.

 

Proxy Voting Policies

 

Proxy voting will be conducted by either ETC or the sub-advisers.1 To the extent that ETC is responsible for proxy voting, ETC has engaged Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”), to provide research on proxy matters and voting recommendations, and to cast votes on behalf of ETC. ISS executes and maintains appropriate records related to the proxy voting process, and ETC has access to those records. ETC maintains records of differences, if any, between this Policy and the actual votes cast. ETC may, in the future, decide to engage a different proxy advisory firm.

 

ETC has reviewed ISS’s voting guidelines and has determined that those guidelines provide guidance in the best interest of ETC’s clients. This Policy and ISS’s proxy voting guidelines will be reviewed at least annually. This review will include, but will not necessarily be limited to, any proxy voting issues that may have arisen or any material conflicts of interest that were identified and the steps that were taken to resolve those conflicts.

 

There may be times when ETC believes that the best interests of the client will be better served if ETC votes a proxy counter to ISS’s guidelines pertaining to the matter to be voted upon. In those cases, ETC will generally review the research provided by ISS on the particular issue, and it may also conduct its own research or solicit additional research from another third party on the issue. After considering this information and, as necessary, discussing the issue with other relevant parties, ETC will determine how to vote on the issue in a manner which ETC believes is consistent with this Policy and in the best interests of the client.

 

Each sub-adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures have been approved by the Trusts’ Board of Trustees and when a sub-adviser has been delegated authority to vote a proxy, it will vote such proxy in accordance with the approved proxy voting policies and procedures.

 

In addition, the sub-advisers may engage the services of an independent third party (“Proxy Firm”) to cast proxy votes according to the sub-advisers’ established guidelines. ETC has deemed in the best interest of clients to permit a sub-adviser the authority to cast proxy votes in accordance with the proxy voting policies submitted by that firm and approved by the Trusts’ Board of Trustees. The sub-adviser must promptly notify ETC of any proxy votes that are not voted consistently with the guidelines set forth in its policy.

 

 

 

1 As of the date of the last revision to this Policy, ETC’s clients include the series (or portfolios) of Exchange Traded Concepts Trust, Exchange Listed Funds Trust, and ETF Series Solutions (the “Trusts”) for which ETC serves as investment adviser, together with certain series (or portfolios) of trusts for which ETC serves as trading sub-adviser. For certain series for which ETC serves as investment adviser, ETC has engaged one or more sub-advisers. For some series, ETC is responsible for voting proxies and, for the remaining series, another adviser or sub-adviser is responsible for proxy voting.

 

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Conflict of Interest Identification and Resolution

 

Although ETC does not believe that conflicts of interest will generally arise in connection with its proxy voting policies, ETC seeks to minimize the potential for conflict by utilizing the services of ISS to provide voting recommendations that are consistent with relevant regulatory requirements. Occasions may arise during the analysis and voting process in which the best financial interests of clients might conflict with the interests of ISS. ISS has developed a “separation wall” as security between its proxy recommendation service and the other services it and its affiliated companies provide to clients who may also be a portfolio company for which proxies are solicited.

 

In resolving a conflict, ETC may decide to take one of the following courses of action: (1) determine that the conflict or potential conflict is not material, (2) request that disclosure be made to clients for whom proxies will be voted to disclose the conflict of interest and the recommended proxy vote and to obtain consent from such clients, (3) ETC may vote the proxy or engage an independent third-party or fiduciary to determine how the proxies should be voted, (4) abstain from voting or (5) take another course of action that adequately addresses the potential for conflict. Employees are required to report to the CCO any attempted or actual improper influence regarding proxy voting.

 

ETC will provide clients a copy of the complete Policy. ETC will also provide to clients, upon request, information on how their securities were voted.

 

Proxy Voting Operational Procedures

 

Reconciliation Process

 

Each account’s custodian provides holdings to ISS on a daily basis. Proxy materials are sent to ISS, which verifies that materials for future shareholder meetings are received for each record date position. ISS researches and resolves situations where expected proxy materials have not been received. ISS also notifies ETC of any proxy materials received that were not expected.

 

Voting Identified Proxies

 

A proxy is identified when it is reported through the ISS automated system or when a custodian bank notifies ISS of its existence. As a general rule, ETC votes all proxies that it is entitled to vote that are identified within the solicitation period. ETC may apply a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether to vote a proxy. For example, if ETC is required to re-register shares of a company in order to vote a proxy and that re-registration process imposes trading and transfer restrictions on the shares, commonly referred to as “blocking,” ETC generally abstains from voting that proxy.

 

Although not necessarily an exhaustive list, other instances in which ETC may be unable or may determine not to vote a proxy are as follows: (1) situations where the underlying securities have been lent out pursuant to an account’s participation in a securities lending program and the cost-benefit ETC analysis indicates that the cost to recall the security outweighs the benefit; (2) instances when proxy materials are not delivered or are delivered in a manner that does not provide ETC sufficient time to analyze the proxy and make an informed decision by the voting deadline; and (3) occasions when required local-market documentation cannot be filed and approved prior to the proxy voting deadline.

 

Proxy Oversight Procedures

 

In order to fulfill its oversight responsibilities related to the use of a proxy advisory firm, ETC will conduct a due diligence review of ISS annually and requests, at a minimum, the following information:

 

¨ISS’ Policies, Procedures and Practices Regarding Potential Conflicts of Interest
¨ISS’ Regulatory Code of Ethics
¨The most recent SSAE 16 report of ISS controls conducted by an independent auditor (if available)
¨ISS’ Form ADV Part 2 to determine whether ISS disclosed any new potential conflicts of interest

 

On a quarterly basis, ETC will request from ISS a certification indicating that all proxies were voted and voted in accordance with pre-determined guidelines and a summary of any material changes to the firm’s policies and procedures designed to address conflicts of interest. In addition, a Proxy Voting Record Report is reviewed by ETC on a periodic basis. The Proxy Voting Record Report includes all proxies that were voted during a period of time.

 

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In order to fulfill its oversight responsibilities when a sub-adviser is responsible for voting proxies, ETC will request a certification of compliance and completion and review the sub-advisers’ Proxy Voting Record Report on a periodic basis.

 

Maintenance of Proxy Voting Records

 

The following records are maintained for a period of five years, with records being maintained for the first two years on site:

 

oThese policy and procedures, and any amendments thereto;
oEach proxy statement (the majority of which are maintained on a third-party automated system);
oRecord of each vote cast;
oDocumentation, if any, created by ETC that was material to making a decision how to vote proxies on behalf of a client or that memorializes the basis for a decision;
oVarious reports related to the above procedures; and
oEach written client request for information and a copy of any written response by ETC to a client’s written or oral request for information.

 

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PART C: OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 28.Exhibits

 

(a)(1)Certificate of Trust of Exchange Listed Funds Trust (formerly, Exchange Traded Concepts Trust II)  (the “Registrant” or the “Trust”) dated April 3, 2012, as filed with the state of Delaware on April 4, 2012, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(1) to the Registrant’s Initial Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) via EDGAR Accession No. 0001144204-12-023014 on April 20, 2012.

 

(a)(2)Certificate of Amendment, dated June 2, 2015, to the Certificate of Trust dated April 3, 2012, as filed with the State of Delaware on June 2, 2015, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No 0001398344-15-003746 on June 5, 2015.

 

(a)(3)Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated September 10, 2012 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(2) to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001144204-12-050445 on September 10, 2012.

 

(b)(1)Registrant’s By-Laws are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (b) to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001144204-12-050445 on September 10, 2012.

 

(b)(2)Registrant’s By-Laws, as amended December 5, 2013, are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (b)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-14-000396 on January 27, 2014.

 

(b)(3)Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-Laws, dated April 22, 2020, are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (b)(3) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 177 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-20-026494 on September 14, 2020.

 

(c)Not applicable.

 

(d)(1)Advisory Agreement dated June 12, 2015 between the Registrant and Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (the “Advisory Agreement”) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-17-003605 on March 16, 2017.

 

(d)(2)Schedule A, as revised July 29, 2021, to the Advisory Agreement is filed herewith.

 

(d)(3)Sub-Advisory Agreement dated March 15, 2017 between Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC and Saba Capital Management, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(7) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 48 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 28, 2017.

 

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(d)(4)Sub-Advisory Agreement dated April 12, 2019 between Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC and MacKay Shields LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(8) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 142 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001615774-19-007494 on May 10, 2019.

 

(d)(5)Sub-Advisory Agreement dated June 25, 2020 between Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC and WhiteStar Asset Management LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(6) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 188 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-21-005335 on January 29, 2021.

 

(d)(6)Sub-Advisory Agreement dated September 14, 2020 between Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC and Cabana LLC, d/b/a Cabana Asset Management (the “Cabana Asset Management Sub-Advisory Agreement”), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(7) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 177 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-20-026494 on September 14, 2020.

 

(d)(7)Revised Schedule A, dated July 6, 2021, to the Cabana Asset Management Sub-Advisory Agreement is filed herewith.

 

(d)(8)Sub-Advisory Agreement dated February 19, 2021 between Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC and Corbett Road Capital Management, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(9) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 204 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-21-030423 on June 2, 2021.

 

(d)(9)Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC and Kingsway Capital Partners Limited is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(10) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 204 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-21-030423 on June 2, 2021.

 

(d)(10)Sub-Advisory Agreement between Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC and Gavekal Capital Limited to be filed by amendment.

 

(e)(1)ETF Distribution Agreement dated May 31, 2017 between the Registrant and Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Amended ETF Distribution Agreement”) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(1) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-17-008378 on July 7, 2017.

 

(e)(2)First Amendment, dated June 1, 2017, to the Amended ETF Distribution Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 48 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 28, 2017.

 

(e)(3)Second Amendment, dated December 14, 2017, to the Amended ETF Distribution Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(3) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-17-015888 on December 15, 2017.

 

C-2

 

(e)(4)Third Amendment, dated January 3, 2018, to the Amended ETF Distribution Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(4) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-18-000676 on January 17, 2018.

 

(e)(5)Fourth Amendment, dated April 18, 2018, to the Amended ETF Distribution Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(5) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 111 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001615774-18-008675 on August 28, 2018.

 

(e)(6)Fifth Amendment, dated May 1, 2018, to the Amended ETF Distribution Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(6) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 105 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001615774-18-006025 on June 29, 2018.

 

(e)(7)Sixth Amendment, dated June 18, 2018, to the Amended ETF Distribution Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(7) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 104 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001615774-18-005583 on June 22, 2018.

 

(e)(8)Seventh Amendment, dated July 9, 2018, to the Amended ETF Distribution Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(8) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 142 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001615774-19-007494 on May 10, 2019.

 

(e)(9)Eighth Amendment, dated August 29, 2018, to the Amended ETF Distribution Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(9) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 142 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001615774-19-007494 on May 10, 2019.

 

(e)(10)Ninth Amendment, dated January 10, 2019, to the Amended ETF Distribution Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(10) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 142 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001615774-19-007494 on May 10, 2019.

 

(e)(11)Tenth Amendment, dated February 7, 2019, to the Amended ETF Distribution Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(11) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 142 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001615774-19-007494 on May 10, 2019.

 

(e)(12)Eleventh Amendment, dated May 3, 2019, to the Amended ETF Distribution Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(12) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 142 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001615774-19-007494 on May 10, 2019.

 

C-3

 

(e)(13)Twelfth Amendment, dated February 10, 2020, to the Amended ETF Distribution Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(13) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 161 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001615774-20-001686 on February 10, 2020.

 

(e)(14)Thirteenth Amendment, dated February 21, 2020, to the Amended ETF Distribution Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(14) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 177 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-20-026494 on September 14, 2020.

 

(e)(15)Fourteenth Amendment, dated September 4, 2020, to the Amended ETF Distribution Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(15) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 177 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-20-026494 on September 14, 2020.

 

(e)(16)Fifteenth Amendment, dated November 20, 2020, to the Amended ETF Distribution Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(16) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 184 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-20-038559 on November 20, 2020.

 

(e)(17)Sixteenth Amendment, dated February 19, 2021, to the Amended ETF Distribution Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(17) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 191 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-21-010637 on February 19, 2021.

 

(e)(18)Seventeenth Amendment, dated May 31, 2021, to the Amended ETF Distribution Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(18) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 204 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-21-030423 on June 2, 2021.

 

(e)(19)Eighteenth Amendment, dated July 6, 2021, to the Amended ETF Distribution Agreement is filed herewith.

 

(e)(20)ETF Distribution Agreement dated May 23, 2013 between the Registrant and Foreside Fund Services, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(1) to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-13-002713 on June 3, 2013.

 

(e)(21)Form of Participant Agreement between Foreside Fund Services, LLC and Citibank, N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-13-002986 on June 28, 2013.

 

(e)(22)Authorized Participant Agreement dated July 6, 2015 between Foreside Fund Services, LLC and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(5) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 32 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-16-016806 on August 15, 2016.

 

C-4

 

(f)Not applicable.

 

(g)(1)Custody Agreement dated June 19, 2015 between the Registrant and The Bank of New York Mellon (the “BNY Custody Agreement”) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-16-010712 on March 4, 2016.

 

(g)(2)Amendment to Schedule II, dated May 24, 2021, to the BNY Custody Agreement is filed herewith.

 

(g)(3)Foreign Custody Manager Agreement dated June 19, 2015 between the Registrant and The Bank of New York Mellon (the “BNY Foreign Custody Manager Agreement”) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(4) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-16-010712 on March 4, 2016.

 

(g)(4)Amendment to Annex I, dated May 24, 2021, to the BNY Foreign Custody Manager Agreement is filed herewith.

 

(h)(1)Administration Agreement dated June 19, 2015 between the Registrant and UMB Fund Services, Inc. (the “UMB Administration Agreement”) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-16-010712 on March 4, 2016.

 

(h)(2)Second Amended and Restated Schedule A, dated February 28, 2017, to the UMB Administration Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(3) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 48 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 28, 2017.

 

(h)(3)Third Amended and Restated Schedule A, dated May 23, 2017, to the UMB Administration Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(4) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-17-008378 on July 7, 2017.

 

(h)(4)Fourth Amended and Restated Schedule A, dated September 25, 2017, to the UMB Administration Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(4) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-17-015888 on December 15, 2017.

 

(h)(5)Fifth Amended and Restated Schedule A, effective as of December 7, 2017, to the UMB Administration Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(5) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-18-000676 on January 17, 2018.

 

(h)(6)Sixth Amended and Restated Schedule A, effective as of March 27, 2018, to the UMB Administration Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(6) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 104 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001615774-18-005583 on June 22, 2018.

 

C-5

 

(h)(7)Seventh Amended and Restated Schedule A, effective as of April 23, 2019, to the UMB Administration Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(7) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 142 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001615774-19-007494 on May 10, 2019.

 

(h)(8)Eighth Amended and Restated Schedule A, effective as of February 10, 2020, to the UMB Administration Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(8) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 161 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001615774-20-001686 on February 10, 2020.

 

(h)(9)Ninth Amended and Restated Schedule A, effective as of August 1, 2020, to the UMB Administration Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(9) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 177 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-20-026494 on September 14, 2020.

 

(h)(10)Tenth Amended and Restated Schedule A, dated November 17, 2020, to the UMB Administration Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(10) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 191 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-21-010637 on February 19, 2021.

 

(h)(11)Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement dated June 19, 2015 between the Registrant and The Bank of New York Mellon (the “BNY Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement”) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(3) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-16-010712 on March 4, 2016.

 

(h)(12)Amendment to Exhibit A, dated May 24, 2021, to the BNY Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement is filed herewith.

 

(h)(13)Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated June 19, 2015 between the Registrant and The Bank of New York Mellon (the “BNY Transfer Agency and Service Agreement”) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(6) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-16-010712 on March 4, 2016.

 

(h)(14)Amendment to Appendix A, dated May 24, 2021, to the BNY Transfer Agency and Service Agreement is filed herewith.

 

(h)(15)Fee Waiver Agreement dated September 4, 2020 between the Registrant and Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (the “Fee Waiver Agreement”) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(16) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 177 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-20-026494 on September 14, 2020.

 

C-6

 

(h)(16)Revised Schedule A, dated June 29, 2021, to the Fee Waiver Agreement is filed herewith.

 

(h)(17)Sub-License Agreement dated December 5, 2019 between the Registrant and Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC, relating to the Armor US Equity Index ETF, Armor International Equity Index ETF and Armor Emerging Markets Equity Index ETF, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(17) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 161 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001615774-20-001686 on February 10, 2020.

 

(h)(18)Form of Authorized Use Agreement between the Registrant and Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC, relating to the QRAFT AI-Enhanced U.S. Large Cap ETF, QRAFT AI-Enhanced U.S. Large Cap Momentum ETF, QRAFT AI-Enhanced U.S. High Dividend ETF and QRAFT AI-Enhanced U.S. Next Value ETF, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(18) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 184 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-20-038559 on November 20, 2020.

 

(i)(1)Opinion and Consent of Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP, relating to Saba Closed-End Funds ETF, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (i)(4) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-17-003605 on March 16, 2017.

 

(i)(2)Opinion and Consent of Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP, relating to the High Yield ETF (formerly, the Peritus High Yield ETF), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (i)(9) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 104 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001615774-18-005583 on June 22, 2018.

 

(i)(3)Opinion and Consent of Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP, relating to the QRAFT AI-Enhanced U.S. Large Cap ETF and QRAFT AI-Enhanced U.S. Large Cap Momentum ETF, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (i)(6) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 142 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001615774-19-007494 on May 10, 2019.

 

(i)(4)Opinion and Consent of Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP, relating to the Armor US Equity Index ETF, Armor International Equity Index ETF and Armor Emerging Markets Equity Index ETF, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (i)(5) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 161 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001615774-20-001686 on February 10, 2020.

 

(i)(5)Opinion and Consent of Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP, relating to the QRAFT AI-Enhanced U.S. High Dividend ETF, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (i)(6) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 163 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001615774-20-002046 on February 24, 2020.

 

C-7

 

(i)(6)Opinion and Consent of Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, relating to the Cabana Target Drawdown 5 ETF, Cabana Target Drawdown 7 ETF, Cabana Target Drawdown 10 ETF, Cabana Target Drawdown 13 ETF and Cabana Target Drawdown 16 ETF, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (i)(6) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 177 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-20-026494 on September 14, 2020.

 

(i)(7)Opinion and Consent of Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, relating to the QRAFT AI-Enhanced U.S. Next Value ETF, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (i)(7) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 184 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-20-038559 on November 20, 2020.

 

(i)(8)Opinion and Consent of Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, relating to the Corbett Road Tactical Opportunity ETF, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (i)(8) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 191 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-21-010637 on February 19, 2021.

 

(i)(9)Opinion and Consent of Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, relating to the Asian Growth Cubs ETF, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (i)(9) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 204 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-21-030423 on June 2, 2021.

 

(i)(10)Opinion and Consent of Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, relating to the Cabana Target Leading Sector Conservative ETF, Cabana Target Leading Sector Moderate ETF and Cabana Target Leading Sector Aggressive ETF, is filed herewith.

 

(i)(11)Opinion and Consent of Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, relating to the Gavekal Asia Pacific Government Bond ETF to be filed by amendment.

 

(j)Not applicable.

 

(k)Not applicable.

 

(l)Seed Capital Subscription Agreement dated May 21, 2013 between the Registrant and Horizons ETFs Management (USA) LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (l) to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-13-002713 on June 3, 2013.

 

(m)(1)Distribution and Service Plan adopted September 26, 2012, as last revised June 29, 2021 (the “Distribution and Service Plan”), is filed herewith.

 

(n)Not applicable.

 

C-8

 

(o)Not applicable.

 

(p)(1)Code of Ethics of the Registrant is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(1) to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-13-002713 on June 3, 2013.

 

(p)(2)Code of Ethics of Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC dated May 2020 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(2) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 188 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-21-005335 on January 29, 2021.

 

(p)(3)Code of Ethics of Saba Capital Management, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(6) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-17-003605 on March 16, 2017.

 

(p)(4)Code of Ethics of MacKay Shields, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(5) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 142 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001615774-19-007494 on May 10, 2019.

 

(p)(5)Code of Ethics of WhiteStar Asset Management LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(5) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 177 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-20-026494 on September 14, 2020.

 

(p)(6)Code of Ethics of Cabana LLC, d/b/a/ Cabana Asset Management is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(6) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 177 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-20-026494 on September 14, 2020.

 

(p)(7)Code of Ethics of Corbett Road Capital Management, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(7) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 191 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-21-010637 on February 19, 2021.

 

(p)(8)Code of Ethics of Kingsway Capital Partners Limited is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(8) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 204 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001213900-21-030423 on June 2, 2021.

 

(p)(9)Code of Ethics of Gavekal Capital Limited to be filed by amendment.

 

(p)(10)Code of Ethics of Foreside Financial Group, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(4) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-13-002986 on June 28, 2013.

 

C-9

 

(q)Powers of Attorney dated October 17, 2019 for Ms. Linda Petrone and Messrs. David M. Mahle, Richard Hogan and Timothy J. Jacoby are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (q) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 150 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-180871 and 811-22700), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001615774-19-013960 on November 1, 2019.

 

EX-101.INSXBRL Instance Document – the Instance Document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document.

 

EX-101.SCHXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

 

EX-101.CALXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase

 

EX-101.DEFXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

 

EX-101.LABXBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase

 

EX-101.PREXBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

 

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

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 30.Indemnification

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

C-10

 

Item 31.Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser

 

Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (the “Adviser”) serves as investment adviser for each series of the Trust.  The principal address of the Adviser is 10900 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 401, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120. The Adviser is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 

Cabana LLC, d/b/a Cabana Asset Management (“Cabana”), serves as the investment sub-adviser for the Trust’s Cabana Target Drawdown 5 ETF, Cabana Target Drawdown 7 ETF, Cabana Target Drawdown 10 ETF, Cabana Target Drawdown 13 ETF, Cabana Target Drawdown 16 ETF, Cabana Target Leading Sector Conservative ETF, Cabana Target Leading Sector Moderate ETF and Cabana Target Leading Sector Aggressive ETF. The principal address for Cabana is 220 South School Avenue, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701. Cabana is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 

Corbett Road Capital Management, LLC (“Corbett Road”) serves as the investment sub-adviser for the Trust’s Corbett Road Tactical Opportunity ETF. The principal address of Corbett Road is 7901 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 800, McLean, Virginia 22102. Corbett Road is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 

[Gavekal Capital Limited (“Gavekal”) serves as the investment sub-adviser for the Trust’s Gavekal Asia Pacific Government Bond ETF. The principal address of Gavekal is Suite 3101, Central Plaza, 18 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Gavekal is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.]

 

Kingsway Capital Partners Limited (“Kingsway”) serves as the investment sub-adviser for the Trust’s Asian Growth Cubs ETF. The principal address of Kingsway is 9th Floor, Smithson Tower, 25 St. James’s Street, London SW1A 1HA, United Kingdom. Kingsway is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 

MacKay Shields LLC (“MacKay Shields”) serves as the investment sub-adviser for the Trust’s High Yield ETF. The principal address of MacKay Shields is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105. Mackay Shields is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 

Saba Capital Management, L.P. (“Saba”) serves as investment sub-adviser for the Trust’s Saba Closed-End Funds ETF.  The principal address of Saba is 405 Lexington Avenue, 58th Floor, New York, New York 10174-7199. Saba is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 

WhiteStar Asset Management LLC (“WhiteStar”) serves as the investment sub-adviser for the Trust’s High Yield ETF. The principal address of WhiteStar is 300 Crescent Court, Suite 200, Dallas, Texas 75201. WhiteStar is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 

C-11

 

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

 

The Adviser

  

Name and Position
With Adviser*
Name of Other Company* Connection with Other Company*

J. Garrett Stevens

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

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

James J. Baker, Jr.

 

Treasurer

 

None None

 

* Information provided is as of May 28, 2021.

 

Cabana

 

Name and Position

with Cabana*

 

Name of Other Company*

 

Connection with Other
Company*

George Chaddwick  Mason,

Chief Executive Officer

The Cabana Group, LLC

Cabana Black, LLC,

Prevost Shaff Mason and Carns, PLLC

Officer and Member

Officer and Member

Attorney and Partner

Louis Abraham Shaff

Chief Financial Officer

The Cabana Group, LLC

Cabana Black, LLC,

Prevost Shaff Mason and Carns, PLLC

Officer and Member

Officer and Member

Attorney and Partner

Christopher Lloyd Carns

Chief Operating Officer

The Cabana Group, LLC

Cabana Black, LLC,

Prevost Shaff Mason and Carns, PLLC

Officer and Member

Officer and Member

Attorney and Partner

Steven Weiss

Chief Compliance Officer &
Corporate Counsel

The Cabana Group, LLC

Cabana Black, LLC,

Prevost Shaff Mason and Carns, PLLC

CI US Holdings

Officer and Member

Officer and Member

Attorney and Partner Employee

Employee

 

* Information provided is as of July 2, 2021.

 

Corbett Road

 

Name and Position

with Corbett Road*

 

Name of Other Company*

 

Connection with Other Company*

Christopher Scott Airey, Owner Corbett Road Wealth Management, LLC Owner
Spire Wealth Management, LLC Investment Adviser Representative
Spire Securities, LLC Registered Representative

 

* Information provided is as of February 16, 2021.

 

Gavekal [To be filed by amendment]

 

Name and Position

with Gavekal*

 

Name of Other Company*

 

Connection with Other Company*

     
     
     

 

* Information provided is as of [-], 2021.

 

C-12

 

Kingsway

 

Name and Position with Kingsway*

 

Name of Other Company*

 

Connection with Other Company*

Conor McNaughton, Director Kingsway Fund Director
Kingsway Capital ICAV Director
Silver Mount Fund GP S.a.r.l Director of the General Partner
Silver Mount Cayman Limited Director
Kingsway Capital Partners Limited Director
Kingsway Capital Advisors LLP Partner
Kingsway Capital (II) LP Limited Partner
Frontier Consumer Opportunities Ltd Director
Frontier Consumer Opportunities
Ex-Tobacco Ltd
Director
Kingsway FCF Overflow SPC Director
UBOS Topco Limited (Jersey) Director
United Brands of Shisha Finco plc (UK) Director
United Brands of Shisha Holdco(UK) Director
United Brands of Shisha Midco (UK) Director
United Brands of Shisha Bidco (UK) Director
Kingsway FCI Co-investment SPC Director
Manuel Stotz, Director Sohn Foundation, London Trustee
Kingsway Capital LP Limited partner
Kingsway Capital (II) LP Limited partner
Global Car Group Director
Baby Rosa Holdings (UK) Limited Director
Kingsway Capital Partners Limited Director
Al Eqbal Investment Company PLC Director
Kingsway Capital Advisors LLP Controller
Koenigsweg Holdings Limited Director
KCK Frontier Investments Ltd Director
UBOS Topco Limited, Jersey Director
United Brands of Shisha Finco PLC Director
United Brands of Shisha Midco Limited Director
Noah Savings (UK) Limited Director
Borderless Shisha Brands Holding Limited, Dubai International Financial Centre Director
Tio Tech A Director
Powerry (Cyprus) Limited Director

 

* Information provided is as of May 26, 2021.

 

C-13

 

MacKay Shields

 

Name and Position With
MacKay Shields*

 

Name of Other Company*

 

Connection with Other Company*

Jeffrey Phlegar, Chairman & CEO None None
Lucille Protas, President & COO None None

 

* Information provided is as of June 30, 2020.

 

Saba

 

Name and Position

With Saba*

 

Name of Other Company*

 

Connection with Other Company*

Boaz Weinstein, Portfolio Manager N/A N/A
Pierre Weinstein, Portfolio Manager N/A N/A
Paul Kazarian, Portfolio Manager N/A N/A

 

* Information provided is as of March 25, 2021.

 

WhiteStar

 

Name and Position

with WhiteStar*

 

Name of Other Company*

 

Connection with Other Company*

Gibran Mahmud, CEO/CIO Trinitas Capital Management CEO/CIO
Barry Boland, Portfolio Manager Trinitas Capital Management Portfolio Manager
Nathan Hall, Portfolio Manager Trinitas Capital Management Portfolio Manager

 

* Information provided is as of June 30, 2020.

 

C-14

 

Item 32.Foreside Fund Services, LLC

 

Item 32(a)Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Distributor”) serves as principal underwriter for the following investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended:

 

1.ABS Long/Short Strategies Fund
2.Absolute Shares Trust
3.AdvisorShares Trust
4.AGF Investments Trust (f/k/a FQF Trust)
5.AIM ETF Products Trust
6.AlphaCentric Prime Meridian Income Fund
7.American Century ETF Trust
8.American Customer Satisfaction ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
9.Amplify ETF Trust
10.ARK ETF Trust
11.ASYMmetric ETFs Trust
12.Bluestone Community Development Fund (f/k/a The 504 Fund)
13.Braddock Multi-Strategy Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
14.Bridgeway Funds, Inc.
15.Brinker Capital Destinations Trust
16.Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc.
17.Cabot Equity Growth ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
18.Calamos Convertible and High Income Fund
19.Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund
20.Calamos Global Total Return Fund
21.Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund
22.Carlyle Tactical Private Credit Fund
23.Center Coast Brookfield MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund
24.Changebridge Capital Long/Short ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
25.Changebridge Capital Sustainable Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
26.Cliffwater Corporate Lending Fund
27.CornerCap Group of Funds
28.Davis Fundamental ETF Trust
29.Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
30.Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
31.Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
32.Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
33.Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
34.Defiance Quantum ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
35.Direxion Shares ETF Trust
36.Eaton Vance NextShares Trust
37.Eaton Vance NextShares Trust II
38.EIP Investment Trust
39.Ellington Income Opportunities Fund
40.EntrepreneurShares Series Trust
41.Esoterica Thematic ETF Trust
42.ETF Opportunities Trust
43.Evanston Alternative Opportunities Fund

 

C-15

 

44.Exchange Listed Funds Trust (f/k/a Exchange Traded Concepts Trust II)
45.Fat Tail Risk ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
46.Fiera Capital Series Trust
47.FlexShares Trust
48.FOMO ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
49.Forum Funds
50.Forum Funds II
51.Friess Small Cap Growth Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series
52.Guinness Atkinson Funds
53.Horizon Kinetics Inflation Beneficiaries ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
54.Infinity Core Alternative Fund
55.Innovator ETFs Trust
56.Innovator ETFs Trust II (f/k/a Elkhorn ETF Trust)
57.Ironwood Institutional Multi-Strategy Fund LLC
58.Ironwood Multi-Strategy Fund LLC
59.John Hancock Exchange-Traded Fund Trust
60.Mairs & Power Funds Trust
61.Mairs & Power Minnesota Municipal Bond ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
62.Manor Investment Funds
63.Moerus Worldwide Value Fund, Series of Northern Lights Fund Trust IV
64.Morgan Creek - Exos SPAC Originated ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
65.Morningstar Funds Trust
66.OSI ETF Trust
67.Overlay Shares Core Bond ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
68.Overlay Shares Foreign Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
69.Overlay Shares Large Cap Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
70.Overlay Shares Municipal Bond ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
71.Overlay Shares Small Cap Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
72.Overlay Shares Short Term Bond ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
73.Overlay Shares Hedged Large Cap Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
74.Pacific Global ETF Trust
75.Palmer Square Opportunistic Income Fund
76.Partners Group Private Income Opportunities, LLC
77.PENN Capital Funds Trust
78.Performance Trust Mutual Funds, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
79.Plan Investment Fund, Inc.
80.PMC Funds, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
81.Point Bridge GOP Stock Tracker ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
82.Putnam ETF Trust
83.Quaker Investment Trust
84.Rareview Dynamic Fixed Income ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
85.Rareview Tax Advantaged Income ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
86.Renaissance Capital Greenwich Funds
87.Reverse Cap Weighted U.S. Large Cap ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
88.RMB Investors Trust (f/k/a Burnham Investors Trust)
89.Robinson Opportunistic Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
90.Robinson Tax Advantaged Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust

 

C-16

 

91.Roundhill BITKRAFT Esports & Digital Entertainment ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
92.Roundhill MVP ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
93.Roundhill Sports Betting & iGaming ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
94.Roundhill Streaming Services & Technology ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
95.Salient MF Trust
96.Securian AM Balanced Stabilization Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
97.Securian AM Equity Stabilization Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
98.Securian AM Real Asset Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
99.SharesPost 100 Fund
100.Six Circles Trust
101.Sound Shore Fund, Inc.
102.Strategy Shares
103.Swan Hedged Equity US Large Cap ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
104.Syntax ETF Trust
105.The Chartwell Funds
106.The Community Development Fund
107.The De-SPAC ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
108.The Relative Value Fund
109.The Short De-SPAC ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
110.The SPAC and New Issue ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
111.Third Avenue Trust
112.Third Avenue Variable Series Trust
113.Tidal ETF Trust
114.TIFF Investment Program
115.Timothy Plan High Dividend Stock ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
116.Timothy Plan International ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
117.Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
118.Timothy Plan US Small Cap Core ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
119.Transamerica ETF Trust
120.Trend Aggregation Aggressive Growth ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
121.Trend Aggregation Conservative ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
122.Trend Aggregation Dividend Stock ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
123.Trend Aggregation ESG ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
124.Trend Aggregation US ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
125.TrueShares AI & Deep Learning ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
126.TrueShares ESG Active Opportunities ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
127.TrueShares Low Volatility Equity Income ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
128.TrueShares Structured Outcome (August) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
129.TrueShares Structured Outcome (July) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
130.TrueShares Structured Outcome (November) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
131.TrueShares Structured Outcome (October) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
132.TrueShares Structured Outcome (December) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
133.TrueShares Structured Outcome (September) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
134.TrueShares Structured Outcome (January) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
135.TrueShares Structured Outcome (February) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
136.TrueShares Structured Outcome (March) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
137.TrueShares Structured Outcome (April) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust

 

C-17

 

138.TrueShares Structured Outcome (May) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
139.U.S. Global Investors Funds
140.Variant Alternative Income Fund
141.VictoryShares Developed Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
142.VictoryShares Dividend Accelerator ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
143.VictoryShares Emerging Market High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
144.VictoryShares International High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
145.VictoryShares International Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
146.VictoryShares NASDAQ Next 50 ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
147.VictoryShares Protect America ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
148.VictoryShares Top Veteran Employers ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
149.VictoryShares US 500 Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
150.VictoryShares US 500 Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
151.VictoryShares US Discovery Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
152.VictoryShares US EQ Income Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
153.VictoryShares US Large Cap High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
154.VictoryShares US Multi-Factor Minimum Volatility ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
155.VictoryShares US Small Cap High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
156.VictoryShares US Small Cap Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
157.VictoryShares USAA Core Intermediate-Term Bond ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
158.VictoryShares USAA Core Short-Term Bond ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
159.VictoryShares USAA MSCI Emerging Markets Value Momentum ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
160.VictoryShares USAA MSCI International Value Momentum ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
161.VictoryShares USAA MSCI USA Small Cap Value Momentum ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
162.VictoryShares USAA MSCI USA Value Momentum ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
163.West Loop Realty Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust (f/k/a Chilton Realty Income & Growth Fund)
164.WisdomTree Trust
165.WST Investment Trust
166.XAI Octagon Floating Rate & Alternative Income Term Trust

 

C-18

 

Item 32(b)The following are the Officers and Manager of the Distributor, the Registrant’s underwriter. The Distributor’s main business address is Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101.

 

Name Address Position with Underwriter Position with Registrant
Richard J. Berthy Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME  04101 President, Treasurer and Manager None

Mark A. Fairbanks

 

 

Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101

 

Vice President

 

 

None

 

 

Teresa Cowan 111 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 2200, Milwaukee, WI 53202 Vice President None

Jennifer K. DiValerio

 

899 Cassatt Road, 400 Berwyn Park, Suite 110, Berwyn, PA 19312 Vice President None
Nanette K. Chern Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME  04101 Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer None
Jennifer E. Hoopes Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME  04101 Secretary None

 

Item 32(c)Not applicable.

 

Item 33.Location of Accounts and Records

 

Books or other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the rules promulgated thereunder, are maintained as follows:

 

Registrant:

 

c/o Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC

10900 Hefner Point Drive, Suite 401

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120

 

Adviser:

 

Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC

10900 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 401

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120

 

295 Madison Avenue, 26th Floor

New York, New York 10017

 

Sub-Advisers:

 

Cabana Asset Management

220 South School Avenue

Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701

 

Corbett Road Capital Management, LLC

7901 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 800

McLean, Virginia 22102

 

C-19

 

Gavekal Capital Limited

Suite 3101, Central Plaza, 18 Harbour Road

Wan Chai, Hong Kong

 

Kingsway Capital Partners Limited

Smithson Tower, 25 St. James’s Street, 9th Floor

London, SW1A 1HA, United Kingdom

 

MacKay Shields LLC

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10105

 

Saba Capital Management, L.P.

405 Lexington Avenue, 58th Floor

New York, New York 10174-7199

 

WhiteStar Asset Management LLC

300 Crescent Court, Suite 200

Dallas, Texas 75201

 

Distributor:

 

Foreside Fund Services, LLC

Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100

Portland, Maine 04101

 

Custodian:

 

The Bank of New York

One Wall Street

New York, New York 10286

 

Administrators:

 

The Bank of New York

One Wall Street

New York, New York 10286

 

Item 34.Management Services

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 35.Undertakings

 

Not applicable.

 

C-20

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”) 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 1933 Act and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 212 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in the City of Oklahoma, State of Oklahoma, on this 6th day of July 2021.

 

  Exchange Listed Funds Trust  
     
  /s/ J. Garrett Stevens  
  J. Garrett Stevens  
  President (Principal Executive Officer)  

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the 1933 Act, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 212 to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacity and on the date indicated.

 

Signature   Title   Date
           

/s/ J. Garrett Stevens

  President (Principal Executive Officer)   July 6, 2021
J. Garrett Stevens        
           
/s/ Christopher Roleke   Treasurer (Principal Financial and   July 6, 2021
Christopher Roleke   Accounting Officer)    
           
*   Trustee   July 6, 2021
Richard Hogan        
           
*   Trustee   July 6, 2021
Linda Petrone        
           
*   Trustee   July 6, 2021
David M. Mahle        
           
*   Trustee   July 6, 2021
Timothy J. Jacoby        
           
* /s/ J. Garrett Stevens        
  J. Garrett Stevens        

 

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

  

C-21

 

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit
Number
Exhibit
   
EX-99.D2 Schedule A, as revised June 29, 2021, to the Advisory Agreement
   
EX-99.D7 Revised Schedule A, dated July 6, 2021, to the Cabana Asset Management Sub-Advisory Agreement
   
EX-99.E19 Eighteenth Amendment, dated July 6, 2021, to the Amended ETF Distribution Agreement
   
EX-99.G2 Amendment to Schedule II, dated May 24, 2021, to the BNY Custody Agreement
   
EX-99.G4 Amendment to Annex I, dated May 24, 2021, to the BNY Foreign Custody Manager Agreement
   
EX-99.H12 Amendment to Exhibit A, dated May 24, 2021, to the BNY Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement
   
EX-99.H14 Amendment to Appendix A, dated May 24, 2021, to the BNY Transfer Agency and Service Agreement
   
EX-99.H16 Revised Schedule A, dated June 29, 2021, to the Fee Waiver Agreement
   
EX-99.I10 Opinion and Consent of Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, relating to the Cabana Target Leading Sector Conservative ETF, Cabana Target Leading Sector Moderate ETF and Cabana Target Leading Sector Aggressive ETF
   
EX-99.M1 Distribution and Service Plan adopted September 26, 2012, as last revised June 29, 2021

 

C-22