485BPOSDec. 13, 20210001683471FALSE00016834712021-12-132021-12-130001683471ck0001683471:S000074690Member2021-12-132021-12-130001683471ck0001683471:S000074690Memberck0001683471:C000232780Member2021-12-132021-12-13iso4217:USDxbrli:pure
Filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on December 13, 2021
Securities Act Registration No. 333-215588
Investment Company Act Reg. No. 811-23226
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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[X]
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Pre-Effective Amendment No.
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Post-Effective Amendment No.
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155
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[X]
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and
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
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[X]
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Amendment No.
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157
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[X]
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LISTED FUNDS TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code): (414) 765-6511
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Kent P. Barnes, Secretary
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Copy to:
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Listed Funds Trust
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Laura E. Flores
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c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
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Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
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777 East Wisconsin Avenue, 10th Floor
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1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
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Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
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Washington, DC 20004-2541
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(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
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It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)
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[X]
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Immediately upon filing pursuant to Rule 485(b).
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on (date) pursuant to Rule 485(b).
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60 days after filing pursuant to Rule 485(a)(1).
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on (date) pursuant to Rule 485(a)(1).
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75 days after filing pursuant to Rule 485(a)(2).
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on (date) pursuant to Rule 485(a)(2).
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If appropriate, check the following box:
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This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
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Grizzle Growth ETF (GRZZ)
Principal U.S. Listing Exchange: NYSE Arca, Inc.
a series of Listed Funds Trust
PROSPECTUS
December 13, 2021
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has not 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.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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GRIZZLE GROWTH ETF - FUND SUMMARY
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Manager of Managers Structure
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Temporary Defensive Positions
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Investment Sub-Adviser
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Portfolio Managers
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Other Service Providers
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Grizzle Growth ETF - Fund Summary
Investment Objective
The Grizzle Growth ETF (the “Fund”) seeks capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund (“Shares”). 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.
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Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
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None
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Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
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Management Fee
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0.75%
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Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees
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None
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Other Expenses*
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0.00%
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
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0.75%
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* Estimated for the current fiscal year.
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 redeem 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. The Example does not take into account brokerage commissions that you may pay on your purchases and sales of Shares. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
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1 Year:
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$77
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3 Years:
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$240
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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 are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. Because the Fund is newly organized, portfolio turnover information is not yet available.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund is an actively-managed exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) that invests primarily in equity securities of companies, with a focus on growth, innovation and disruption. The Fund will seek to identify future leaders in the following overarching key growth themes including, but not limited to: Digitization and Cloud Computing, Future Media and Entertainment, Health and Wellness, and Sustainability and Energy Transition. Within these preceding four themes the Fund seeks to invest in the following subsectors including, but not limited to:
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Sub-Sectors
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Theme
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Description
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Automobile Manufacturers
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Electronic Vehicles
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Companies in the business of creating electrified vehicles (including hybrid vehicles) and vehicles that run using other renewable sources of energy
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Cannabis
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Cannabis
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Companies that cultivate, distribute and sell cannabis products; Companies that research medical uses for cannabis and create medical formulations of cannabis
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Casinos and Gaming
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Online Gambling
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Companies that provide online or brick and mortar platforms for placing wagers on sporting events
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Communication Services
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Media and Streaming Services
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Companies in the business of creating unique media content and/or devices to stream content into homes
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Energy
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Energy and Energy Transition
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Companies engaged in drilling, producing, storing and transporting oil and/or natural gas
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Sub-Sectors
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Theme
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Description
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Financial Services
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Future of Finance
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Companies creating novel lending and payment solutions and facilitating such transactions; Companies creating diversified capital markets services and access to emerging asset classes (e.g., cryptocurrency exchanges)
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Healthcare
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Biotechnology and Novel Drug Research and Treatment (including medical psychedelics)
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Companies engaged in the genetic manipulation of microorganisms, the manufacturing of medicinal drugs and research and application of novel pharmaceutical formulations (including legally-derived psychedelic medicines that bind to specific serotonin receptors and cause changes in perception and cognition in the pursuit of treating mental diseases such as PTSD and clinically resistant depression)
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Industrials
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Renewable Energy (Wind and Solar)
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Companies engaged in building solar power systems and other renewable energy systems (e.g., wind, solar and energy storage)
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Information Technology
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Software as a Service, Microprocessors, Robotics, and Autonomous Technologies
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Companies that create software programs and computer hardware for corporations and individual consumers and companies that provide equipment, an interconnected system or subsystem of equipment or software that is used in the acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission or reception of data or information
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Materials
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Green Technology
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Companies engaged in using new technology to create renewable materials
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Electric Metals and Infrastructure
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Companies engaged in mining the raw materials that will support the growth in infrastructure and renewable energy ecosystems (e.g., solar panels, battery storage, wind turbines and hydrogen fuel cells)
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Media and Entertainment
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Esports/Gaming
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Companies engaged in video game publishing, creating interactive worlds and e-sports
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Packaged Foods and Meats
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Plant Based Foods
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Companies creating novel new food formulations, such as plant based meats and dairy
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Grizzle Investment Management LLC (the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, uses a proprietary internal fundamental research and analysis to identify companies well-positioned for growth within the targeted sectors. The Adviser will use its research and fundamental analysis findings to determine the Fund’s industry allocations within each sector and select individual securities within each industry. A quantitative screening overlay will be used to identify prospective companies in addition to deep fundamental analysis.
The Fund’s portfolio is expected to consist of 30 to 60 equity securities, and may be comprised of common stock and depositary receipts of U.S. and foreign issuers of any market capitalization. The Fund’s exposure to foreign issuers may include issuers in both developed and emerging market countries. Emerging market countries are those countries with low- to middle-income economies as classified by the World Bank or included in any of the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) emerging markets indices. In addition, the Adviser may opportunistically invest in options to both enhance the Fund’s return and seek to provide downside risk protection for specific positions in the portfolio. The Adviser uses proprietary valuation models and analysis of historical portfolio profit and loss information to identify favorable risk-managed option trading opportunities, including use of covered calls (selling calls on stock positions in the portfolio) and selling an option and buying another to bet on the direction of a stock while capping both the downside risk (i.e., risk of loss) and upside performance (i.e., limiting participation in any gain).
While the Fund’s exposure to sectors may change over time, as of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund had significant exposure to companies in the Information Technology Sector.
The Fund is considered to be non-diversified, which means that it may invest more of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if it were a diversified fund.
Principal Investment Risks
The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. The principal risks are presented in alphabetical order to facilitate finding particular risks and comparing them with those of other funds. Each risk summarized below is considered a “principal risk” of investing in the Fund, regardless of the order in which it appears. As with any investment, there is a risk that you could lose all or a
portion of your investment in the Fund. Some or all of these risks may adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”), trading price, yield, total return and/or ability to meet its objective. The following risks could affect the value of your investment in the Fund:
•Associated Risk of Investing in Sectors. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors of the economy, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. The Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in the following sectors and, therefore, the performance of the Fund could be negatively impacted by events affecting each of these sectors.
◦Automobile Sector. The automobiles industry can be highly cyclical, and companies in the industry may suffer periodic operating losses. The automobiles industry also can be significantly affected by labor relations and fluctuating component prices. Companies in the automobiles industry, particularly those in the electric vehicles industry, may be affected by the obsolescence of existing technology, short product cycles, falling prices and profits, competition from new market entrants and general economic conditions. While most of the major manufacturers are large, financially strong companies, many others are small and can be non-diversified in both product line and customer base. Additionally, developments in automotive technologies (e.g., autonomous vehicle technologies) may require significant capital expenditures that may not generate profits for several years, if any. Companies in the automobiles industry may be significantly subject to government policies and regulations regarding imports and exports of automotive products. Governmental policies affecting the automotive industry, such as taxes, tariffs, duties, subsidies, and import and export restrictions on automotive products can influence industry profitability. In addition, such companies must comply with environmental laws and regulations, for which there may be severe consequences for non-compliance. Legislative or regulatory changes and increased government supervision also may affect companies in the automobiles industry.
◦Cannabis Sector.
▪United States Regulatory Risks of the Cannabis Industry. The possession and use of marijuana, even for medical purposes, is illegal under federal and certain states’ laws, which may negatively impact the value of the Fund’s investments. Use of marijuana is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, and state and federal laws regarding marijuana often conflict. Even in those states in which the use of marijuana has been legalized, its possession and use remains a violation of federal law. Federal law criminalizing the use of marijuana pre-empts state laws that legalize its use for medicinal and recreational purposes. Actions by federal agencies, such as increased enforcement of current federal marijuana laws and the prosecution of nonviolent federal drug crimes by the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”), could produce a chilling effect on the industry’s growth and discourage banks from expanding their services to cannabis companies where such services are currently limited. Any of these outcomes would negatively affect the profitability and value of the Fund’s investments and even its ability to pursue its stated investment objective. The conflict between the regulation of marijuana under federal and state law creates volatility and risk for all cannabis companies.
Because marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”), meaning that it has a high potential for abuse, has no currently “accepted medical use” in the United States, lacks accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and may not be prescribed, marketed or sold in the United States, few drug products containing cannabis or cannabis extracts have been approved for use by the FDA or obtained registrations for commercial production from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (“DEA”), and there is no guarantee that such products will ever be legally produced or sold in the U.S. cannabis companies in the U.S. that engage in research, manufacturing, distributing, importing or exporting, or dispensing controlled substances must be registered (licensed) to perform these activities and have the security, control, recordkeeping, reporting and inventory mechanisms required by the DEA to prevent drug loss and diversion. Failure to obtain the necessary registrations or comply with necessary regulatory requirements may significantly impair the ability of certain companies in which the Fund invests to pursue medical marijuana research or to otherwise cultivate, possess or distribute marijuana. In addition, because cannabis is a Schedule I controlled substance, Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Internal Revenue Code”) applies by its terms to the purchase and sale of medical-use cannabis products and provides that no deduction or credit is allowed for expenses incurred during a taxable year “in carrying on any trade or business if such trade or business (or the activities which comprise such trade or business) consists of trafficking in controlled substances (within the meaning of Schedules I and II of the CSA) which is prohibited by federal law or the law of any state in which such trade or business is conducted.” The disallowance of such tax deductions will likely affect the value of cannabis companies.
▪Non-U.S. Regulatory Risks of the Cannabis Industry. Laws and regulations related to the possession, use (medical and recreational), sale, transport and cultivation of marijuana vary throughout the world, and the Fund will only invest in non-U.S. cannabis companies if such companies are operating legally in the relevant jurisdiction. Even if a company's operations are permitted under current law, they may not be permitted in the future, in which case such company may not be in a position to carry on its operations in its current locations. Additionally, controlled substance legislation differs between countries and legislation in certain countries may restrict or limit the ability of certain companies in which the Fund invests to sell their products.
▪Operational Risks of the Cannabis Industry. Companies involved in the cannabis industry face intense competition, may have limited access to the services of banks, may have substantial burdens on company resources due to litigation, complaints or enforcement actions, and are heavily dependent on receiving necessary permits and authorizations to engage in medical cannabis research or to otherwise cultivate, possess or distribute cannabis. Because the cultivation, possession, and distribution of cannabis is in all circumstances illegal under United States federal law, federally regulated banking institutions may be unwilling to make financial services available to growers and sellers of cannabis.
◦Communications Services Sector. Communications services companies are subject to extensive government regulation. The costs of complying with governmental regulations, delays or failure to receive required regulatory approvals, or the enactment of new adverse regulatory requirements may adversely affect the business of the such companies. Companies in the Communications Services Sector can also be significantly affected by intense competition, including competition with alternative technologies such as wireless communications (including with 5G and other technologies), product compatibility, consumer preferences, rapid product obsolescence, and research and development of new products. Technological innovations may make the products and services of such companies obsolete. Media content creation carries risks of changing consumer tastes and running afoul of FCC content guidelines, which could result in large fines or the loss of regulatory licenses. Media companies collect significant amounts of personal consumer data and are at risk of data breaches and fines for the unauthorized and unplanned public release of sensitive consumer data.
◦Energy Sector. The Energy Sector is comprised of energy, industrial, infrastructure, and logistics companies, and will therefore be susceptible to adverse economic, environmental, business, regulatory, or other occurrences affecting that sector. The Energy Sector has historically experienced substantial price volatility. At times, the performance of these investments may lag the performance of other sectors or the market as a whole. Companies operating in the Energy Sector are subject to specific risks, including, among others, fluctuations in commodity prices; reduced consumer demand for commodities such as oil, natural gas, or petroleum products; reduced availability of natural gas or other commodities for transporting, processing, storing, or delivering; slowdowns in new construction; extreme weather or other natural disasters; and threats of attack by terrorists on energy assets. Additionally, Energy Sector companies are subject to substantial government regulation and changes in the regulatory environment for energy companies may adversely impact their profitability. Over time, depletion of natural gas reserves and other energy reserves may also affect the profitability of energy companies.
◦Financial Services Sector. This sector can be significantly affected by changes in interest rates, government regulation, the rate of defaults on corporate, consumer and government debt, the availability and cost of capital, and fallout from the housing and sub-prime mortgage crisis. Insurance companies, in particular, may be significantly affected by changes in interest rates, catastrophic events, price and market competition, the imposition of premium rate caps, or other changes in government regulation or tax law and/or rate regulation, which may have an adverse impact on their profitability. This sector has experienced significant losses in the recent past, and the impact of more stringent capital requirements and of recent or future regulation on any individual financial company or on the sector as a whole cannot be predicted. In recent years, cyber attacks and technology malfunctions and failures have become increasingly frequent in this sector and have caused significant losses.
◦Food Sector. The food industry is highly competitive and can be significantly affected by demographic and product trends, competitive pricing, food fads, marketing campaigns, environmental factors, government regulation, adverse changes in general economic conditions, agricultural commodity prices, evolving consumer preferences, nutritional and health-related concerns, federal, state and local food inspection and processing controls, consumer product liability claims, consumer boycotts, risks of product tampering and the availability and expense of liability insurance.
◦Gambling and Gaming Sector. The betting industry is characterized by an increasingly high degree of competition among a large number of participants including from participants performing illegal activities or unregulated companies. Expansion of betting in other jurisdictions (both regulated and unregulated) could increase competition with traditional betting companies, which could have an adverse impact on their financial condition, operations and cash flows. In a broader sense, betting companies face competition from all manner of leisure and entertainment activities, including shopping, athletic events, television and movies, concerts and travel. In addition, established jurisdictions could award additional licenses or permit the expansion or relocation of existing betting companies. These companies also may be subject to increasing regulatory constraints, particularly with respect to cybersecurity and privacy. In addition to the costs of complying with such constraints, the unintended disclosure of confidential information, whether because of an error or a cybersecurity event, could adversely affect the reputation, profitability and value of these companies.
◦Healthcare Sector. Companies in the Healthcare Sector are subject to extensive government regulation and their profitability can be significantly affected by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure (including price discounting), limited product lines, and an increased emphasis on the delivery of healthcare through outpatient services.
The costs associated with developing new drugs can be significant, and the results are unpredictable. Newly developed drugs may be susceptible to product obsolescence due to intense competition from new products and less costly generic products. Moreover, the process for obtaining regulatory approval by the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) or other governmental regulatory authorities is long and costly and there can be no assurance that the necessary approvals will be
obtained or maintained. The values of many companies in the Healthcare Sector are also dependent on the development, protection and exploitation of intellectual property rights and other proprietary information, and the profitability of these companies may be significantly affected by such things as the expiration of patents or the loss of, or the inability to enforce, intellectual property rights.
◦Industrials Sector. Companies in the Industrials Sector can be significantly affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for Industrials Sector products in general; a decline in demand for products due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction; government regulation, world events and economic conditions; and the risks associated with potential environmental damage and product liability claims.
◦Information Technology Sector. Market or economic factors impacting information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a significant effect on the value of the Fund’s investments. 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, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Information technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology may also be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber-attacks and/or technological malfunctions.
◦Materials Sector. Companies in the Materials Sector may be adversely impacted by the volatility of commodity prices, changes in exchange rates, depletion of resources, over-production, litigation and changes in government regulations, among other factors.
◦Media and Entertainment Sector. Media and entertainment companies, including companies engaged in the design, production or distribution of goods or services for the media and entertainment industries (including video game publishing, creating interactive worlds and e-sports) may become obsolete quickly. Media and entertainment companies are subject to risks that include cyclicality of revenues and earnings, a decrease in the discretionary income of targeted individuals, changing consumer tastes and interests, fierce competition in the industry and the potential for increased government regulation. Media and entertainment company revenues largely are dependent on advertising spending. A weakening general economy or a shift from online to other forms of advertising may lead to a reduction in discretionary spending on online advertising. Additionally, competitive pressures and government regulation can significantly affect and entertainment companies.
◦Psychedelics Sector. Psychedelics companies are subject to various laws and regulations that may differ at the state/local and federal level. These laws and regulations may significantly affect a psychedelics company’s ability to secure financing, impact the market for psychedelics business sales and services, and set limitations on psychedelics use, production, transportation, and storage. There can be no guarantees that such approvals or administrative actions will happen or be favorable for psychedelics companies, and such actions may be subject to lengthy delays, and may require length and expensive clinical trials. Additionally, therapies containing controlled substances may generate public controversy. Political and social pressures and adverse publicity could lead to delays in approval of, and increased expenses for, psychedelics companies and any future therapeutic candidates they may develop. All of these factors and others may prevent psychedelics companies from becoming profitable, which may materially affect the value of certain Fund investments. In addition, psychedelics companies are subject to the risks associated with the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
In Canada, certain psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin, are classified as Schedule III drugs under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (“CDSA”) and, as such, medical and recreational use is illegal under Canadian federal law. In the United States, most psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin, are classified as Schedule I drugs under the CSA and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (the “CSIEA”) and, as such, medical and recreational use is illegal under the U.S. federal laws. There is no guarantee that psychedelic drugs will ever be approved as medicines in either jurisdiction.
In the United States, DEA scheduling determinations removing a substance from Schedule I are dependent on FDA approval of a substance or a specific formulation of a substance for a therapeutic or medicinal use. Unless and until psilocybin, psilocin, or other psychedelics-based products receive FDA approval, such products are prohibited from sale, which limits the growth opportunities for certain portfolio companies of the Fund. Even if approved by the FDA, the manufacture, importation, exportation, domestic distribution, storage, sale, and legitimate use of such products will continue to be subject to a significant degree of regulation by the DEA. There can be no guarantees that such approvals or administrative actions will happen or be favorable for psychedelics companies. Such actions may be subject to lengthy delays and may require lengthy and expensive clinical trials. Additionally, therapies containing controlled substances may generate public controversy and carry reputational risk. Political and social pressures and adverse publicity could lead to delays in approval of, and increased expenses for, psychedelics companies and any future therapeutic candidates they may develop. Psychedelics companies also are subject to the risks associated with the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. In addition, because
certain psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin, are a Schedule I controlled substance, Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code applies by its terms to the purchase and sale of such psychedelic drugs and provides that no deduction or credit is allowed for expenses incurred during a taxable year “in carrying on any trade or business if such trade or business (or the activities which comprise such trade or business) consists of trafficking in controlled substances (within the meaning of Schedules I and II of the CSA) which is prohibited by federal law or the law of any state in which such trade or business is conducted.” The disallowance of such tax deductions will likely affect the value of psychedelic drug-related companies. All of these factors and others may prevent psychedelics companies from becoming profitable, which may materially affect the value of certain Fund investments.
•Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a counterparty to Fund transactions (e.g., prime brokerage or securities lending arrangement or derivatives transaction) will be unable or unwilling to perform its contractual obligation to the Fund. Through these investments and related arrangements (e.g., prime brokerage or securities lending arrangements or derivatives transactions), the Fund is exposed to credit risks that the counterparty may be unwilling or unable to make timely payments or otherwise to meet its contractual obligations. If the counterparty becomes bankrupt or defaults on (or otherwise becomes unable or unwilling to perform) its payment or other obligations to the Fund, the Fund may not receive the full amount that it is entitled to receive or may experience delays in recovering the collateral or other assets held by, or on behalf of, the counterparty. If this occurs, the value of your shares in the Fund will decrease.
•Depositary Receipt Risk. Depositary receipts, including ADRs, involve risks similar to those associated with investments in foreign securities, such as changes in political or economic conditions of other countries and changes in the exchange rates of foreign currencies. Depositary receipts listed on U.S. exchanges are issued by banks or trust companies, and entitle the holder to all dividends and capital gains that are paid out on the underlying foreign shares (“Underlying Shares”). When the Fund invests in depositary receipts as a substitute for an investment directly in the Underlying Shares, the Fund is exposed to the risk that the depositary receipts may not provide a return that corresponds precisely with that of the Underlying Shares. Because the Underlying Shares trade on foreign exchanges that may be closed when the Fund’s primary listing exchange is open, the Fund may experience premiums and discounts greater than those of funds without exposure to such Underlying Shares.
•Derivatives Risk. Derivatives may pose risks in addition to and greater than those associated with investing directly in securities, currencies or other investments, including risks relating to leverage, imperfect correlations with underlying investments or the Fund’s other portfolio holdings, high price volatility, lack of availability, counterparty credit, liquidity, valuation and legal restrictions. Their use is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The Fund’s use of derivatives to obtain short exposure, if any, may result in greater volatility of the Fund's NAV per share. If the Adviser is incorrect about its expectations of market conditions, the use of derivatives could also result in a loss, which in some cases may be unlimited. In addition, the Fund’s use of derivatives may cause the Fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains (generally taxed at ordinary income tax rates) than if the Fund had not used such instruments. Some of the derivatives in which the Fund invests may be traded (and privately negotiated) in the OTC market. OTC derivatives are subject to heightened counterparty credit, liquidity and valuation risks. Certain risks also are specific to the derivatives in which the Fund invests.
◦Options Risk. The prices of options may change rapidly over time and do not necessarily move in tandem with the price of the underlying securities. Selling call options reduces the Fund’s ability to profit from increases in the value of the Fund’s equity portfolio, and purchasing put options may result in the Fund’s loss of premiums paid in the event that the put options expire unexercised. To the extent that the Fund reduces its put option holdings relative to the number of call options sold by the Fund, the Fund’s ability to mitigate losses in the event of a market decline will be reduced.
•Emerging Markets Risk. The Fund may invest in companies organized in emerging market nations. Investments in securities and instruments traded in developing or emerging markets, or that provide exposure to such securities or markets, can involve additional risks relating to political, economic, or regulatory conditions not associated with investments in U.S. securities and instruments or investments in more developed international markets. Such conditions may impact the ability of the Fund to buy, sell or otherwise transfer securities, adversely affect the trading market and price for Shares and cause the Fund to decline in value.
•Equity Investing Risk. The values of equity securities could decline generally or could underperform other investments due to factors affecting a specific issuer, market or securities markets generally.
•ETF Risks. The Fund is an ETF, and, as a result of this structure, is exposed directly or indirectly to the following risks:
◦Authorized Participants, Market Makers, and Liquidity Providers Concentration Risk. The Fund has a limited number of financial institutions that may act as Authorized Participants (“APs”). 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 occur, Shares may trade at a material discount to NAV and possibly face delisting: (i) APs exit the business or otherwise become unable to process creation and/or redemption orders and no other APs 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.
◦Costs of Buying or Selling Shares. Due to the costs of buying or selling Shares, including brokerage commissions imposed by brokers and bid/ask spreads, frequent trading of Shares may significantly reduce investment results and an investment in Shares may not be advisable for investors who anticipate regularly making small investments.
◦Shares May Trade at Prices Other Than NAV. As with all ETFs, Shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of Shares will approximate the Fund’s NAV, there may be times when the market price of Shares is more than the NAV intra-day (premium) or less than the NAV intra-day (discount) due to supply and demand of Shares or during periods of market volatility. This risk is heightened in times of market volatility, periods of steep market declines, and periods when there is limited trading activity for Shares in the secondary market, in which case such premiums or discounts may be significant. Because securities held by the Fund may trade on foreign exchanges that are closed when the Fund’s primary listing exchange is open, the Fund is likely to experience premiums or discounts greater than those of domestic ETFs.
◦Trading. Although Shares are listed for trading on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “Exchange”) and may be traded on U.S. exchanges other than the Exchange, there can be no assurance that Shares will trade with any volume, or at all, on any stock exchange. In stressed market conditions, the liquidity of Shares may begin to mirror the liquidity of the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings, which can be significantly less liquid than Shares.
•Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in securities of non-U.S. companies, including ADRs, involve certain risks that may not be present with investments in U.S. companies. For example, investments in securities of non-U.S. companies may be subject to risk of loss due to foreign currency fluctuations or to political or economic instability. Investments in non-U.S. companies also may be subject to withholding or other taxes. These and other factors can make investments in the Fund more volatile and potentially less liquid than other types of investments.
•Geographic Investment Risk. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the securities of companies of a single country or region, it is more likely to be impacted by events or conditions affecting that country or region.
◦Canada-Specific Risk. Because investments in the metals and mining industry may be geographically concentrated in Canadian companies or companies that have a significant presence in Canada, investment results could be dependent on the financial condition of the Canadian economy. The Canadian economy is reliant on the sale of natural resources and commodities, which can pose risks such as the fluctuation of prices and the variability of demand for exportation of such products. Changes in spending on Canadian products by the economies of other countries or changes in any of these economies may cause a significant impact on the Canadian economy.
•Growth Investing Risk. Growth stocks can be volatile for several reasons. Since those companies usually invest a high portion of earnings in their businesses, they may lack the dividends of value stocks that can cushion stock prices in a falling market. The prices of growth stocks are based largely on projections of the issuer’s future earnings and revenues. If a company’s earnings or revenues fall short of expectations, its stock price may fall dramatically.
•Investment Company Risk. The risks of investing in investment companies, such as ETFs, typically reflect the risks of the types of instruments in which the investment companies invest. By investing in another investment company, the Fund becomes a shareholder of that investment company and bears its proportionate share of the fees and expenses of the other investment company. The Fund may be subject to statutory limits with respect to the amount it can invest in other ETFs, which may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective. ETFs may be less liquid than other investments, and thus their share values more volatile than the values of the investments they hold. Investments in ETFs are also subject to the “ETF Risks” described above.
•Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed using proprietary investment strategies and processes. There can be no guarantee that the Adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value and potential appreciation of particular investments and strategies for the Fund will be correct or produce the desired results or that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. If the Adviser fails to accurately evaluate market risk or appropriately react to current and developing market conditions, the Fund’s share price may be adversely affected.
•Market Capitalization Risk.
◦Large-Capitalization Investing. 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.
◦Mid-Capitalization Investing. The securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse issuer, market, political, or economic developments than securities of large-capitalization companies. The securities of mid-capitalization companies generally trade in lower volumes and are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than large capitalization stocks or the stock market as a whole. Some medium 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.
◦Small-Capitalization Investing. The securities of small-capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse issuer, market, political, or economic developments than securities of larger-capitalization companies. The securities of small-capitalization companies generally trade in lower volumes and are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than larger capitalization stocks or the stock market as a whole. Some small capitalization companies have limited product lines, markets, and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets relative to large- or mid-capitalization companies. 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.
•Market Risk. The trading prices of securities and other instruments fluctuate in response to a variety of factors. These factors include events impacting the entire market or specific market segments, such as political, market and economic developments, as well as events that impact specific issuers. The Fund’s NAV and market price, like security and commodity prices generally, may fluctuate significantly in response to these and other factors. As a result, an investor could lose money over short or long periods of time. U.S. and international markets have experienced significant periods of volatility in recent years due to these factors, including the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and related public health issues, growth concerns in the U.S. and overseas, uncertainties regarding interest rates, trade tensions and the threat of tariffs imposed by the U.S. and other countries. These developments as well as other events could result in further market volatility and negatively affect financial asset prices, the liquidity of certain securities and the normal operations of securities exchanges and other markets. It is unknown how long circumstances related to the pandemic will persist, whether they will reoccur in the future, whether efforts to support the economy and financial markets will be successful, and what additional implications may follow from the pandemic. The impact of these events and other epidemics or pandemics in the future could adversely affect Fund performance.
•New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized investment company with no operating history. As a result, prospective investors have no track record or history on which to base their investment decision. Additionally, the Adviser has not previously managed a registered fund, which may increase the risks of investing in the Fund.
•Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Fund is “non-diversified,” it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a lesser number of issuers than if it was a diversified fund. As a result, the Fund may be more exposed to the risks associated with and developments affecting an individual issuer or a lesser number of issuers than a fund that invests more widely. This may increase the Fund’s volatility and cause the performance of a relatively small number of issuers to have a greater impact on the Fund’s performance.
•Style Risk. If at any time the market is not favoring the Fund’s growth investment style, the Fund’s gains may not be as big as, or its losses may be bigger than, those of other funds using different investment styles.
Performance
The Fund is new and therefore does not have a performance history for a full calendar year. In the future, performance information for the Fund will be presented in this section. Updated performance information is available on the Fund’s website at www.etf.grizzle.com.
Portfolio Management
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Adviser
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Grizzle Investment Management LLC
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Sub-Adviser
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Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”)
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Portfolio Managers
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Thomas George, CFA, and Scott Willis, CFA, each a founder and portfolio manager for the Adviser, have been portfolio managers of the Fund since its inception in December 2021.
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Purchase and Sale of Shares
The Fund issues and redeems Shares at NAV only in large blocks known as “Creation Units,” which only APs (typically, broker-dealers) may purchase or redeem. The Fund generally issues and redeems Creation Units in exchange for a portfolio of securities (the “Deposit Securities”) and/or a designated amount of U.S. cash.
Shares are listed on the Exchange, and individual Shares may only be bought and sold in the secondary market through a broker or dealer at market prices, rather than NAV. Because Shares trade at market prices rather than NAV, Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount).
An investor may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Shares (the “bid” price) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Shares (the “ask” price) when buying or selling Shares in the secondary market. The difference in the bid and ask prices is referred to as the “bid-ask spread.”
Recent information regarding the Fund’s NAV, market price, how often Shares traded on the Exchange at a premium or discount, and bid-ask spreads can be found on the Fund’s website at www.etf.grizzle.com.
Tax Information
Fund distributions are generally taxable as ordinary income, qualified dividend income, or capital gains (or a combination), unless your investment is in an IRA or other tax-advantaged account. Distributions on investments made through tax-deferred arrangements may be taxed later upon withdrawal of assets from those accounts.
Financial Intermediary Compensation
If you purchase Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank) (an “Intermediary”), the Adviser or its affiliates may pay Intermediaries for certain activities related to the Fund, including participation in activities that are designed to make Intermediaries more knowledgeable about exchange-traded products, including the Fund, or for other activities, such as marketing, educational training or other initiatives related to the sale or promotion of Shares. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Any such arrangements do not result in increased Fund expenses. Ask your salesperson or visit the Intermediary’s website for more information.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND
Investment Objective
The Fund’s investment objective has been adopted as a non-fundamental investment policy and may be changed without shareholder approval upon written notice to shareholders.
Manager of Managers Structure
The Fund and the Adviser intends to apply for exemptive relief from the SEC permitting the Adviser (subject to certain conditions and the approval of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Listed Funds Trust (the “Trust”)) to change or select new sub-advisers without obtaining shareholder approval. The relief would also permit the Adviser to materially amend the terms of agreements with a sub-adviser (including an increase in the fee paid by the Adviser to the sub-adviser (and not paid by the Fund)) or to continue the employment of a sub-adviser after an event that would otherwise cause the automatic termination of services with Board approval, but without shareholder approval. Shareholders will be notified of any sub-adviser changes. Unless and until such exemptive relief is granted and the Fund’s reliance on such relief is approved by Fund shareholders, shareholder approval will be required for changes in a sub-adviser agreement or for the addition of a new sub-adviser.
Principal Investment Risks
An investment in the Fund entails risks. The Fund could lose money, or its performance could trail that of other investment alternatives. The following provides additional information about the Fund’s principal risks. It is important that investors closely review and understand these risks before making an investment decision. Just as in the Fund’s summary section, the principal risks are presented in alphabetical order to facilitate finding particular risks and comparing them with those of other funds. Each risk summarized below is considered a “principal risk” of investing in the Fund, regardless of the order in which it appears.
•Associated Risk of Investing in Sectors. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors of the economy, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. The Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in the following sectors and, therefore, the performance of the Fund could be negatively impacted by events affecting each of these sectors.
◦Automobile Sector. The automobiles industry can be highly cyclical, and companies in the industry may suffer periodic operating losses. The automobiles industry also can be significantly affected by labor relations and fluctuating component prices. Companies in the automobiles industry, particularly those in the electric vehicles industry, may be affected by the obsolescence of existing technology, short product cycles, falling prices and profits, competition from new market entrants and general economic conditions. While most of the major manufacturers are large, financially strong companies, many others are small and can be non-diversified in both product line and customer base. Additionally, developments in automotive technologies (e.g., autonomous vehicle technologies) may require significant capital expenditures that may not generate profits for several years, if any. Companies in the automobiles industry may be significantly subject to government policies and regulations regarding imports and exports of automotive products. Governmental policies affecting the automotive industry, such as taxes, tariffs, duties, subsidies, and import and export restrictions on automotive products can influence industry profitability. In addition, such companies must comply with environmental laws and regulations, for which there may be severe consequences for non-compliance. Legislative or regulatory changes and increased government supervision also may affect companies in the automobiles industry.
◦Cannabis Sector.
▪United States Regulatory Risks of the Cannabis Industry. The possession and use of marijuana, even for medical purposes, is illegal under federal and certain states’ laws, which may negatively impact the value of the Fund’s investments. Use of marijuana is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, and state and federal laws regarding marijuana often conflict. Marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance under the CSA and is illegal under federal law. Currently, over half of the states plus the District of Columbia have laws and/or regulations that recognize, in one form or another, legitimate medical uses for cannabis and consumer use of cannabis in connection with medical treatment or for non-medical purposes. Even in those states in which the use of marijuana has been legalized for medical or recreational purposes, its sale and use remains a violation of federal law. Federal law criminalizing the use of marijuana pre-empts state laws that legalize its use for medicinal and recreational purposes. The priority for enforcement of federal marijuana laws may vary by presidential administrations. It is not yet known whether the current administration will push back against states where marijuana use and possession is legal and step up the enforcement of federal marijuana laws and the prosecution of nonviolent federal drug crimes. Such actions could produce a chilling effect on the industry’s growth and discourage banks from expanding their services to cannabis companies. This conflict between the regulation of marijuana under federal and state law creates volatility and risk for all cannabis companies. In particular, the stepped up enforcement of marijuana laws by the federal government would adversely affect the value of the Fund’s U.S. investments. Certain companies engaged in the cannabis business may never be able to legally produce and sell products in the United States or other national or local jurisdictions.
As noted above, marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States under the CSA. The DEA classifies controlled substances into five schedules: Schedule I, II, III, IV or V substances. Schedule I substances by definition have a high potential for abuse, have no currently “accepted medical use” in the United States, lack accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and may not be prescribed, marketed or sold in the United States. Pharmaceutical products approved by the FDA for use in the United States may be listed as Schedule II, III, IV or V, with Schedule II substances considered to present the highest potential for abuse or dependence and Schedule V substances the lowest relative risk among such substances.
Few drug products containing natural cannabis or naturally-derived cannabis extracts have been approved by the FDA for use in the United States or obtained DEA registrations for commercial production. Drug products containing cannabis or cannabis extracts that receive the required government approvals for use in commercial production may be subject to significant government regulation regarding manufacture, importation, exportation, domestic distribution, storage, sale, and legitimate use. In addition, the scheduling process may take one or more years, thereby delaying the launch of the drug product in the United States.
Cannabis companies in the U.S. that engage in medical or pharmaceutical research or the production and distribution of controlled substances such as marijuana must be registered with the DEA to perform such activities and have the security, control, recordkeeping, reporting and inventory mechanisms required by the DEA to prevent drug loss and diversion. Failure to obtain the necessary registrations or comply with necessary regulatory requirements may significantly impair the ability of certain companies in which the Fund invests to pursue medical marijuana research or to otherwise cultivate, possess or distribute marijuana.
Additionally, federal tax law prohibits a taxpayer from claiming a deduction or credit for any amount paid or incurred during the tax year in carrying on any trade or business if that trade or business (or the activities that comprise that trade or business) consists of trafficking in controlled substances (e.g., marijuana) where that trafficking is prohibited by either federal law or the state law for the state in which the trade or business is conducted. Consequently, companies engaged in the cannabis business may pay higher amounts of taxes than non-cannabis companies, which could result in less income to the Fund and, in turn, less for the Fund to distribute to shareholders.
▪Non-U.S. Regulatory Risks of the Cannabis Industry. Laws and regulations related to the possession, use (medical or recreational), sale, transport and cultivation of marijuana vary throughout the world, and the Fund will only invest in non-U.S. cannabis companies if such companies are operating legally in the relevant jurisdiction. Even if a company's operations are permitted under current law, they may not be permitted in the future, in which case such company may not be in a position to carry on its operations in its current locations. Additionally, controlled substance legislation differs between countries and legislation in certain countries may restrict or limit the ability of certain companies in which the Fund invests to sell their products.
▪Operational Risks of the Cannabis Industry. Companies involved in the cannabis industry face intense competition, may have limited access to the services of banks, and are heavily dependent on receiving necessary permits and authorizations to engage in medical cannabis research or to otherwise cultivate, possess or distribute cannabis. Because the cultivation, possession, and distribution of cannabis is in all circumstances illegal under United States federal law, federally regulated banking institutions may be unwilling to make financial services available to growers and sellers of cannabis.
◦Communications Services Sector. Communications services companies are subject to extensive government regulation. The costs of complying with governmental regulations, delays or failure to receive required regulatory approvals, or the enactment of new adverse regulatory requirements may adversely affect the business of the such companies. Companies in the Communications Services Sector can also be significantly affected by intense competition, including competition with alternative technologies such as wireless communications (including with 5G and other technologies), product compatibility, consumer preferences, rapid product obsolescence, and research and development of new products. Technological innovations may make the products and services of such companies obsolete. Media content creation carries risks of changing consumer tastes and running afoul of FCC content guidelines, which could result in large fines or the loss of regulatory licenses. Media companies collect significant amounts of personal consumer data and are at risk of data breaches and fines for the unauthorized and unplanned public release of sensitive consumer data.
◦Energy Sector. The Energy Sector is comprised of energy, industrial, infrastructure, and logistics companies, and will therefore be susceptible to adverse economic, environmental, business, regulatory, or other occurrences affecting that sector. The Energy Sector has historically experienced substantial price volatility. At times, the performance of these investments may lag the performance of other sectors or the market as a whole. Companies operating in the Energy Sector are subject to specific risks, including, among others, fluctuations in commodity prices; reduced consumer demand for commodities such as oil, natural gas, or petroleum products; reduced availability of natural gas or other commodities for transporting, processing, storing, or delivering; slowdowns in new construction; extreme weather or other natural disasters; and threats of attack by terrorists on energy assets. Additionally, Energy Sector companies are subject to substantial government regulation and
changes in the regulatory environment for energy companies may adversely impact their profitability. Over time, depletion of natural gas reserves and other energy reserves may also affect the profitability of energy companies.
◦Financial Services Sector. This sector can be significantly affected by changes in interest rates, government regulation, the rate of defaults on corporate, consumer and government debt, the availability and cost of capital, and fallout from the housing and sub-prime mortgage crisis. Insurance companies, in particular, may be significantly affected by changes in interest rates, catastrophic events, price and market competition, the imposition of premium rate caps, or other changes in government regulation or tax law and/or rate regulation, which may have an adverse impact on their profitability. This sector has experienced significant losses in the recent past, and the impact of more stringent capital requirements and of recent or future regulation on any individual financial company or on the sector as a whole cannot be predicted. In recent years, cyber attacks and technology malfunctions and failures have become increasingly frequent in this sector and have caused significant losses.
◦Food Sector. The food or industry is highly competitive and can be significantly affected by demographic and product trends, competitive pricing, food fads, marketing campaigns, environmental factors, government regulation, adverse changes in general economic conditions, agricultural commodity prices, evolving consumer preferences, nutritional and health-related concerns, federal, state and local food inspection and processing controls, consumer product liability claims, consumer boycotts, risks of product tampering and the availability and expense of liability insurance.
◦Gambling and Gaming Sector. The betting industry is characterized by an increasingly high degree of competition among a large number of participants including from participants performing illegal activities or unregulated companies. Expansion of betting in other jurisdictions (both regulated and unregulated) could increase competition with traditional betting companies, which could have an adverse impact on their financial condition, operations and cash flows. In a broader sense, betting companies face competition from all manner of leisure and entertainment activities, including shopping, athletic events, television and movies, concerts and travel. In addition, established jurisdictions could award additional licenses or permit the expansion or relocation of existing betting companies. These companies also may be subject to increasing regulatory constraints, particularly with respect to cybersecurity and privacy. In addition to the costs of complying with such constraints, the unintended disclosure of confidential information, whether because of an error or a cybersecurity event, could adversely affect the reputation, profitability and value of these companies.
◦Healthcare Sector. Companies in the Healthcare Sector are subject to extensive government regulation and their profitability can be significantly affected by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure (including price discounting), limited product lines, and an increased emphasis on the delivery of healthcare through outpatient services.
The costs associated with developing new drugs can be significant, and the results are unpredictable. Newly developed drugs may be susceptible to product obsolescence due to intense competition from new products and less costly generic products. Moreover, the process for obtaining regulatory approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or other governmental regulatory authorities is long and costly and there can be no assurance that the necessary approvals will be obtained or maintained. The values of many companies in the Healthcare Sector are also dependent on the development, protection and exploitation of intellectual property rights and other proprietary information, and the profitability of these companies may be significantly affected by such things as the expiration of patents or the loss of, or the inability to enforce, intellectual property rights.
◦Industrials Sector. Companies in the Industrials Sector can be significantly affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for Industrials Sector products in general; a decline in demand for products due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction; government regulation, world events and economic conditions; and the risks associated with potential environmental damage and product liability claims.
◦Information Technology Sector. Market or economic factors impacting information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a significant effect on the value of the Fund’s investments. 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, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Information technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology may also be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber-attacks and/or technological malfunctions.
◦Materials Companies. Companies in the Materials Sector may be adversely impacted by the volatility of commodity prices, changes in exchange rates, depletion of resources, over-production, litigation and changes in government regulations, among other factors.
◦Media and Entertainment Sector. Media and entertainment companies, including companies engaged in the design, production or distribution of goods or services for the media and entertainment industries (including video game publishing, creating interactive worlds and e-sports) may become obsolete quickly. Media and entertainment companies are subject to risks that include cyclicality of revenues and earnings, a decrease in the discretionary income of targeted individuals, changing consumer tastes and interests, fierce competition in the industry and the potential for increased government regulation. Media and entertainment company revenues largely are dependent on advertising spending. A weakening general economy or a shift from online to other forms of advertising may lead to a reduction in discretionary spending on online advertising. Additionally, competitive pressures and government regulation can significantly affect and entertainment companies.
◦Psychedelics Sector. Psychedelics companies are subject to various laws and regulations that may differ at the state/local and federal level. These laws and regulations may significantly affect a psychedelics company’s ability to secure financing, impact the market for psychedelics business sales and services, and set limitations on psychedelics use, production, transportation, and storage. There can be no guarantees that such approvals or administrative actions will happen or be favorable for psychedelics companies, and such actions may be subject to lengthy delays, and may require length and expensive clinical trials. Additionally, therapies containing controlled substances may generate public controversy. Political and social pressures and adverse publicity could lead to delays in approval of, and increased expenses for, psychedelics companies and any future therapeutic candidates they may develop. All of these factors and others may prevent psychedelics companies from becoming profitable, which may materially affect the value of certain Fund investments. In addition, psychedelics companies are subject to the risks associated with the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
In Canada, certain psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin, are classified as Schedule III drugs under the CDSA and as such, medical and recreational use is illegal under Canadian federal laws. In the United States, most psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin, are classified as Schedule I drugs under the CSA and the CSIEA and as such, medical and recreational use is illegal under the U.S. federal laws. There is no guarantee that psychedelic drugs will ever be approved as medicines in either jurisdiction.
In the United States, to the extent a company is conducting research with such psychedelic-based products, the company would need to comply with the FDA’s laws and regulations regarding research, be DEA registered, comply with DEA laws and regulations, and comply with any applicable state laws and regulations. DEA scheduling determinations removing a substance from Schedule I are dependent on FDA approval of a substance or a specific formulation of a substance for a therapeutic or medicinal use. Unless and until psilocybin, psilocin, or other psychedelic-based products receive FDA approval, such products are prohibited from sale, which limits the growth opportunities for certain investments of the Fund. Even if approved by the FDA, the manufacture, importation, exportation, domestic distribution, storage, sale, and legitimate use of such products will continue to be subject to a significant degree of regulation by the DEA, FDA, and other governmental authorities. There can be no guarantees that such approvals or administrative actions will happen or be favorable for psychedelics companies. Such actions may be subject to lengthy delays and may require lengthy and expensive clinical trials. Additionally, therapies containing controlled substances may generate public controversy and carry reputational risk. Political and social pressures and adverse publicity could lead to delays in approval of, and increased expenses for, psychedelics companies and any future therapeutic candidates they may develop. All of these factors and others may prevent psychedelics companies from becoming profitable, which may materially affect the value of certain Fund investments. In addition, psychedelics companies are subject to the risks associated with the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
•Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a counterparty to Fund transactions (e.g., prime brokerage or securities lending arrangement or derivatives transaction) will be unable or unwilling to perform its contractual obligation to the Fund. The Fund may use counterparty agreements to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized in particular predetermined investments or instruments. Through these investments and related arrangements (e.g., prime brokerage or securities lending arrangements or derivatives transactions), the Fund is exposed to credit risks that the counterparty may be unwilling or unable to make timely payments or otherwise meet its contractual obligations. If the counterparty becomes bankrupt or defaults on (or otherwise becomes unable or unwilling to perform) its payment or other obligations to the Fund, the risk of which is particularly acute under current conditions, the Fund may not receive the full amount that it is entitled to receive or may experience delays in recovering the collateral or other assets held by, or on behalf of, the counterparty. If this occurs, or if exercising contractual rights involves delays or costs for the Fund, the value of your shares in the Fund may decrease. The Fund bears the risk that counterparties may be adversely affected by legislative or regulatory changes, adverse market conditions (such as the current conditions), increased competition, and/or wide scale credit losses resulting from financial difficulties of the counterparties’ other trading partners or borrowers.
•Depositary Receipt Risk. The Fund may hold the securities of non-U.S. companies in the form of depositary receipts, including ADRs and GDRs. ADRs are negotiable certificates issued by a U.S. financial institution that represent a specified number of shares in a foreign stock and trade on a U.S. national securities exchange, such as the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). Sponsored ADRs are issued with the support of the issuer of the foreign stock underlying the ADRs and carry all of the rights of
common shares, including voting rights. GDRs are similar to ADRs, but may be issued in bearer form and are typically offered for sale globally and held by a foreign branch of an international bank. The underlying issuers of certain depositary receipts, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, are under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications to the holders of such receipts, or to pass through to them any voting rights with respect to the deposited securities. Issuers of unsponsored depositary receipts are not contractually obligated to disclose material information in the U.S. and, therefore, such information may not correlate to the market value of the unsponsored depositary receipt. The Underlying Shares in the Fund’s portfolio are usually denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. As a result, changes in foreign currency exchange rates may affect the value of the Fund’s portfolio. In addition, because the Underlying Shares trade on foreign exchanges at times when the U.S. markets are not open for trading, the value of the Underlying Shares may change materially at times when the U.S. markets are not open for trading, regardless of whether there is an active U.S. market for Shares.
•Derivatives Risk. The Fund may invest in options to seek to gain market exposure, enhance return and provide downside risk protection. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. These risks include risks relating to leverage, correlation (imperfect correlations with underlying instruments or the Fund’s other portfolio holdings), high price volatility, lack of availability, counterparty credit, liquidity, valuation and legal restrictions. The use of such derivatives also may expose the Fund to the performance of securities that the Fund does not own. The skills necessary to successfully execute derivatives strategies may be different from those for more traditional portfolio management techniques, and if the Adviser is incorrect about its expectations of market conditions, the use of derivatives also could result in a loss, which in some cases may be unlimited. Use of derivatives also may cause the Fund to be subject to additional regulations, which may generate additional Fund expenses. These practices also entail transactional expenses and may cause the Fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains than if the Fund had not engaged in such transactions. The markets for certain derivatives, including those located in certain foreign countries, are relatively new and still developing, which may expose the Fund to increased counterparty credit and liquidity risks.
Certain of the derivatives in which the Fund invests are traded (and privately negotiated) in the OTC market. OTC derivatives are complex and often valued subjectively, which exposes the Fund to heightened liquidity, mispricing and valuation risks. Improper valuations can result in increased cash payment requirements to counterparties or a loss of value to the Fund. In addition, OTC derivative instruments are often highly customized and tailored to meet the needs of the Fund and its trading counterparties. If a derivative transaction is particularly large or if the relevant market is illiquid, it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price. As a result and similar to other privately negotiated contracts, the Fund is subject to counterparty credit risk with respect to such derivative contracts. Certain derivatives are subject to mandatory exchange trading and/or clearing, which exposes the Fund to the credit risk of the clearing broker or clearinghouse. While exchange trading and central clearing are intended to reduce counterparty credit risk and to increase liquidity, they do not make derivatives transactions risk-free. Certain risks also are specific to the derivatives in which the Fund invests.
◦Options Risk. Selling (writing) and buying options are speculative activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks. The Fund’s use of put options can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the underlying asset, which may be magnified by certain features of the options. When selling a put option, the Fund will receive a premium; however, this premium may not be enough to offset a loss incurred by the Fund if the price of the underlying asset is below the strike price by an amount equal to or greater than the premium. Purchasing of put options involves the payment of premiums, which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Purchasing a put option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell a specified quantity of an underlying asset at a fixed exercise price over a defined period of time. Purchased put options may expire worthless resulting in the Fund’s loss of the premium it paid for the option.
The value of an option may be adversely affected if the market for the option becomes less liquid or smaller, and will be affected by changes in the value or yield of the option’s underlying asset, an increase in interest rates, a change in the actual or perceived volatility of the stock market or the underlying asset and the remaining time to expiration. Additionally, the value of an option does not increase or decrease at the same rate as the underlying asset. The Fund’s use of options may reduce the Fund’s ability to profit from increases in the value of the underlying asset. If the price of the underlying asset of an option is above the strike price of a written put option, the value of the option, and consequently of the Fund, may decline significantly more than if the Fund invested directly in the underlying asset instead of using options. While the Fund will segregate liquid assets at least equal in value to the maximum potential loss for the Fund, the Fund could still lose a significant amount or nearly all of its value if the price of an underlying asset changes significantly enough.
•Emerging Markets 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 Adviser’s ability to evaluate local companies and impact the 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 U.S. and there is generally less government supervision and regulation of exchanges, brokers and issuers in foreign countries.
•Equity Investing Risk. An investment in the Fund involves risks similar to those of investing in any fund holding equity securities, such as market fluctuations, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in stock prices. The values of equity securities could decline generally or could underperform other investments. Different types of equity securities tend to go through cycles of outperformance and underperformance 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. Recent unprecedented turbulence in financial markets, reduced liquidity in credit and fixed income markets, or rising interest rates may negatively affect many issuers worldwide, which may have an adverse effect on the Fund.
•ETF Risks. The Fund is an ETF and, as a result of its structure, is exposed to the following risks:
◦Authorized Participants, Market Makers, and Liquidity Providers Concentration Risk. The Fund has a limited number of financial institutions that may act as APs. 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 occur, Shares may trade at a material discount to NAV and possibly face delisting: (i) APs exit the business or otherwise become unable to process creation and/or redemption orders and no other APs 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.
◦Costs of Buying or Selling Shares. Investors buying or selling Shares in the secondary market will pay brokerage commissions or other charges imposed by brokers, as determined by that broker. Brokerage commissions are often a fixed amount and may be a significant proportional cost for investors seeking to buy or sell relatively small amounts of Shares. In addition, secondary market investors will also incur the cost of the difference between the price at which an investor is willing to buy Shares (the “bid” price) and the price at which an investor is willing to sell Shares (the “ask” price). This difference in bid and ask prices is often referred to as the “spread” or “bid/ask spread.” The bid/ask spread varies over time for Shares based on trading volume and market liquidity, and is generally lower if Shares have more trading volume and market liquidity and higher if Shares have little trading volume and market liquidity. Further, a relatively small investor base in the Fund, asset swings in the Fund and/or increased market volatility may cause increased bid/ask spreads. Due to the costs of buying or selling Shares, including bid/ask spreads, frequent trading of Shares may significantly reduce investment results and an investment in Shares may not be advisable for investors who anticipate regularly making small investments.
◦Shares May Trade at Prices Other Than NAV. As with all ETFs, Shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of Shares will approximate the Fund’s NAV, there may be times when the market price of Shares is more than the NAV intra-day (premium) or less than the NAV intra-day (discount) due to supply and demand of Shares or during periods of market volatility. This risk is heightened in times of market volatility or periods of steep market declines and periods when there is limited trading activity for Shares in the secondary market, in which case such premiums or discounts may be significant. The market price of Shares during the trading day, like the price of any exchange-traded security, includes a “bid/ask” spread charged by the exchange specialist, market makers or other participants that trade Shares. In times of severe market disruption, the bid/ask spread can increase significantly. At those times, Shares are most likely to be traded at a discount to NAV, and the discount is likely to be greatest when the price of Shares is falling fastest, which may be the time that you most want to sell your Shares. The Adviser believes that, under normal market conditions, large market price discounts or premiums to NAV will not be sustained because of arbitrage opportunities. Because securities held by the Fund may trade on foreign exchanges that are closed when the Fund’s primary listing exchange is open, the Fund is likely to experience premiums or discounts greater than those of domestic ETFs.
◦Trading. Although Shares are listed for trading on the Exchange and may be listed or traded on U.S. and non-U.S. stock exchanges other than the Exchange, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for such Shares will develop or be maintained. Trading in Shares may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in Shares inadvisable. In addition, trading in Shares on the Exchange is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to Exchange “circuit breaker” rules, which temporarily halt trading on the Exchange when a decline in the S&P 500 Index during a single day reaches certain thresholds (e.g., 7%, 13%, and 20%). Additional rules applicable to the Exchange may halt trading in Shares when extraordinary volatility causes sudden, significant swings in the market price of Shares. There can be no assurance that Shares will trade with any volume, or at all, on any stock exchange. In stressed market conditions, the liquidity of Shares may begin to mirror the liquidity of the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings, which can be significantly less liquid than Shares.
•Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in securities of non-U.S. companies, including ADRs, involve certain risks that may not be present with investments in securities of U.S. companies. For example, investments in non-U.S. companies 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 different accounting, auditing, financial reporting, and investor protection standards than U.S. issuers. Investments in non-U.S. companies also 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. Since foreign exchanges may be open on days when the Fund does not price its shares, the value of the securities in the Fund’s portfolio
may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or sell Shares. Conversely, Shares may trade on days when foreign exchanges are closed. These and other factors can make investments in the Fund more volatile and potentially less liquid than other types of investments.
•Geographic Investment Risk. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the securities of companies of a single country or region, it is more likely to be impacted by events or conditions affecting that country or region.
◦Canada-Specific Risk. Because investments in the metals and mining industry may be geographically concentrated in Canadian companies or companies that have a significant presence in Canada, investment results could be dependent on the financial. condition of the Canadian economy. The Canadian economy is reliant on the sale of natural resources and commodities, which can pose risks such as the fluctuation of prices and the variability of demand for exportation of such products. Changes in spending on Canadian products by the economies of other countries or changes in any of these economies may cause a significant impact on the Canadian economy.
•Growth Investing Risk. Growth stocks can be volatile for several reasons. Since those companies usually invest a high portion of earnings in their businesses, they may lack the dividends of value stocks that can cushion stock prices in a falling market. The prices of growth stocks are based largely on projections of the issuer’s future earnings and revenues. If a company’s earnings or revenues fall short of expectations, its stock price may fall dramatically. Growth stocks may be more expensive relative to their earnings or assets compared to value or other stocks.
•Investment Company Risk. The risks of investing in investment companies, such as ETFs, typically reflect the risks of the types of instruments in which the investment companies invest. By investing in another investment company, the Fund becomes a shareholder of that investment company and bears its proportionate share of the fees and expenses of the other investment company. The Fund may be subject to statutory limits with respect to the amount it can invest in other ETFs, which may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective. ETFs may be less liquid than other investments, and thus their share values more volatile than the values of the investments they hold. Investments in ETFs are also subject to the “ETF Risks” described above.
•Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and uses proprietary investment strategies and processes. There can be no guarantee that the Adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value and potential appreciation of particular investments and strategies for the Fund will be correct or produce the desired results and no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective or outperform other investment strategies over the short- or long-term market cycles. If the Adviser fails to accurately evaluate market risk or appropriately react to current and developing market conditions, the Fund’s share price may be adversely affected. Securities selected by the Adviser may not perform as expected. This could result in the Fund’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives.
•Market Capitalization Risk.
◦Large-Capitalization Investing. 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.
◦Mid-Capitalization Investing. The securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse issuer, market, political, or economic developments than securities of large-capitalization companies. The securities of mid-capitalization companies generally trade in lower volumes and are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than large capitalization stocks or the stock market as a whole. Some medium 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.
◦Small-Capitalization Investing. The securities of small-capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse issuer, market, political, or economic developments than securities of larger-capitalization companies. The securities of small-capitalization companies generally trade in lower volumes and are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than larger capitalization stocks or the stock market as a whole. Some small capitalization companies have limited product lines, markets, and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets relative to larger capitalization companies. 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.
•Market Risk. The trading prices of securities and other instruments fluctuate in response to a variety of factors. These factors include events impacting the entire market or specific market segments, such as political, market and economic developments, as well as events that impact specific issuers. The Fund’s NAV and market price, like security and commodity prices generally, may fluctuate significantly in response to these and other factors. As a result, an investor could lose money over short or long periods of time. U.S. and international markets have experienced significant periods of volatility in recent years due to a number of economic, political and global macro factors, including public health issues, growth concerns in the U.S. and overseas, uncertainties regarding interest rates, trade tensions and the threat of tariffs imposed by the U.S. and other countries. These developments as well as other events could result in further market volatility and negatively affect financial asset prices, the liquidity of certain securities and the normal operations of securities exchanges and other markets, which could have an adverse effect on the Fund.
The respiratory illness COVID-19 caused by a novel coronavirus has resulted in a pandemic and major disruption to economies and markets around the world, including the United States. The pandemic has resulted in a wide range of social and economic disruptions, including closed borders, voluntary or compelled quarantines of large populations, stressed healthcare systems, reduced or prohibited domestic or international travel, supply chain disruptions, and so-called “stay-at-home” orders throughout much of the United States and many other countries. Financial markets have experienced extreme volatility and severe losses, and trading in many instruments has been disrupted. Some sectors of the economy and individual issuers have experienced particularly large losses. Such disruptions may continue for an extended period of time or reoccur in the future to a similar or greater extent. Some interest rates are very low and in some cases yields are negative. Liquidity for many instruments has been greatly reduced for periods of time. In response to these disruptions, the U.S. government and the Federal Reserve have taken extraordinary actions to support the domestic economy and financial markets, resulting in very low interest rates and in some cases negative yields. It is unknown how long circumstances related to the pandemic will persist, whether they will reoccur in the future, whether efforts to support the economy and financial markets will be successful, and what additional implications may follow from the pandemic. The impact of these events and other epidemics or pandemics in the future could adversely affect Fund performance.
•New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized investment company with no operating history. As a result, prospective investors have no track record or history on which to base their investment decision. Moreover, investors will not be able to evaluate the Fund against one or more comparable funds on the basis of relative performance until the Fund has established a track record. Additionally, the Adviser has not previously managed a registered fund, which may increase the risks of investing in the Fund.
•Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Fund is “non-diversified,” it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a lesser number of issuers than if it were a diversified fund. As a result, the Fund may be more exposed to the risks associated with and developments affecting an individual issuer or a lesser number of issuers than a fund that invests more widely. This may increase the Fund’s volatility and cause the performance of a relatively small number of issuers to have a greater impact on the Fund’s performance.
•Style Risk. If at any time the market is not favoring the Fund’s growth investment style, the Fund’s gains may not be as big as, or its losses may be bigger than, those of other funds using different investment styles.
Temporary Defensive Positions
To respond to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in a temporary defensive manner by holding all or a substantial portion of its assets in cash, cash equivalents, or other high quality short-term investments. Temporary defensive investments generally may include short-term U.S. government securities, commercial paper, bank obligations, repurchase agreements, money market fund shares, and other money market instruments. The Adviser also may invest in these types of securities or hold cash while looking for suitable investment opportunities or to maintain liquidity. In these circumstances, the Fund may be unable to achieve its investment objective.
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION
Information about the Fund’s daily portfolio holdings is available at www.etf.grizzle.com. A complete description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
MANAGEMENT
Investment Adviser
Grizzle Investment Management LLC, located at 573 Coldstream Drive, Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312, serves as the investment adviser for the Fund. The Adviser oversees the day-to-day operations of the Fund, subject to the general supervision and oversight of the Board. The Adviser also arranges for sub-advisory, transfer agency, custody, fund administration, distribution and all other services necessary for the Fund to operate. The Adviser is an SEC-registered investment adviser. As of November 30, 2021, the assets managed by the Adviser are only those of the Fund.
The Adviser continuously reviews, supervises, and administers the Fund’s investment program. In particular, the Adviser provides investment and operational oversight of the Sub-Adviser. The Board supervises the Adviser and establishes policies that the Adviser must follow in its day-to-day management activities. For the services it provides to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to a unified management fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and the Adviser (the “Advisory Agreement”), the Adviser has agreed to pay all expenses of the Fund except the fee payable to the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement, interest charges on any borrowings, dividends, and other expenses on securities sold short, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, acquired fund fees and expenses, accrued deferred tax liability, extraordinary expenses, and distribution (12b-1) fees and expenses (if any). The Adviser, in turn, compensates the Sub-Adviser from the management fee it receives.
The basis for the Board’s approval of the Advisory Agreement will be included in the Fund’s first Annual or Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders following commencement of operations.
Investment Sub-Adviser
Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company located at 10900 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 400, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120, is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. An SEC-registered investment adviser formed in 2018, the Sub-Adviser is majority owned and controlled by Cottonwood ETF Holdings LLC. As of November 30, 2021, the Sub-Adviser had approximately $7.3 billion under management.
The Sub-Adviser is responsible for trading portfolio securities for the Fund, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions or in connection with any rebalancing or reconstitution of the Fund, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board. For its services, the Sub-Adviser is entitled to a fee by the Adviser, which fee is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.05% based on the average daily net assets of the Fund.
The basis for the Board’s approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement will be included in the Fund’s first Annual or Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders following commencement of operations.
Portfolio Managers
The below individuals are jointly and primarily responsible for day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio.
Thomas George co-founded the Adviser in 2021. He began his career in 2002 at TD Asset Management. During his time at TD Asset Management, he held various roles, including Head of Resource Investments, Head of ESG Research and Investing and Portfolio Manager of the TD Resource Fund, TD Energy Fund, TD Precious Metals Fund, TD Sustainability Fund and TD PIC North American SRI Fund. Mr. George graduated from The University of Waterloo in 2002 with an Honors Bachelors in Environmental Engineering. He is a CFA Charterholder.
Scott Willis co-founded the Adviser in 2021. He began his career at BNY Mellon, managing portfolios for ultra-high net worth individuals. Mr. Willis later joined Credit Suisse, where he was an analyst covering the energy sector with a focus on exploration and production, refining and oilfield services. He later joined TD Asset Management, where he was a fixed income analyst covering the energy, industrials and transportation sectors. Mr. Willis graduated from Bucknell University in 2006 with a degree in Economics. He is a CFA Charterholder.
The Fund’s SAI provides additional information about the Portfolio Managers’ compensation structure, other accounts managed by the Portfolio Managers, and the Portfolio Managers’ ownership of Shares.
Other Service Providers
Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Distributor”) is the principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund’s shares. The Distributor’s principal address is Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101. The Distributor will not distribute shares in less than whole Creation Units, and it does not maintain a secondary market in the shares. The Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). The Distributor has no role in determining the policies of the Fund or the securities that are purchased or sold by the Fund and is not affiliated with the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, or any of their respective affiliates.
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, doing business as U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, located at 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, serves as the administrator and transfer agent for the Fund.
U.S. Bank National Association, located at 1555 N. Rivercenter Drive, Suite 302, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212, serves as the custodian for the Fund.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, located at 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.
Cohen & Company, Ltd., located at 1350 Euclid Avenue, Suite 800, Cleveland, Ohio 44115, serves as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for auditing the annual financial statements of the Fund.
HOW TO BUY AND SELL SHARES
The Fund issues and redeems Shares only in Creation Units at the NAV per share next determined after receipt of an order from an AP. Only APs may acquire Shares directly from the Fund, and only APs may tender their Shares for redemption directly to the Fund, at NAV. APs must be a member or participant of a clearing agency registered with the SEC and must execute a Participant Agreement that has been agreed to by the Distributor, and that has been accepted by the Fund’s transfer agent, with respect to purchases and redemptions of Creation Units. Once created, Shares trade in the secondary market in quantities less than a Creation Unit.
Most investors buy and sell Shares in secondary market transactions through brokers. Individual Shares are listed for trading on the secondary market on the Exchange and can be bought and sold throughout the trading day like other publicly traded securities.
When buying or selling Shares through a broker, you will incur customary brokerage commissions and charges, and you may pay some or all of the spread between the bid and the offer price in the secondary market on each leg of a round trip (purchase and sale) transaction. In addition, because secondary market transactions occur at market prices, you may pay more than NAV when you buy Shares, and receive less than NAV when you sell those Shares.
Book Entry
Shares are held in book-entry form, which means that no stock certificates are issued. The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee is the record owner of all outstanding Shares.
Investors owning Shares are beneficial owners as shown on the records of DTC or its participants. DTC serves as the securities depository for all Shares. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other institutions that directly or indirectly maintain a custodial relationship with DTC. As a beneficial owner of Shares, you are not entitled to receive physical delivery of stock certificates or to have Shares registered in your name, and you are not considered a registered owner of Shares. Therefore, to exercise any right as an owner of Shares, you must rely upon the procedures of DTC and its participants. These procedures are the same as those that apply to any other securities that you hold in book entry or “street name” through your brokerage account.
Frequent Purchases and Redemptions of Shares
The Fund imposes no restrictions on the frequency of purchases and redemptions of Shares. In determining not to approve a written, established policy, the Board evaluated the risks of market timing activities by Fund shareholders. Purchases and redemptions by APs, who are the only parties that may purchase or redeem Shares directly with the Fund, are an essential part of the ETF process and help keep Share trading prices in line with NAV. As such, the Fund accommodates frequent purchases and redemptions by APs. However, frequent purchases and redemptions for cash may increase tracking error and portfolio transaction costs and may lead to the realization of capital gains. To minimize these potential consequences of frequent purchases and redemptions, the Fund employs fair value pricing and may impose transaction fees on purchases and redemptions of Creation Units to cover the custodial and other costs incurred by the Fund in effecting trades. In addition, the Fund and the Adviser reserve the right to reject any purchase order at any time.
Determination of Net Asset Value
The Fund’s NAV is calculated as of the scheduled close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, each day the NYSE is open for business. The NAV is calculated by dividing the Fund’s net assets by its Shares outstanding.
In calculating its NAV, the Fund generally values its assets on the basis of market quotations, last sale prices, or estimates of value furnished by a pricing service or brokers who make markets in such instruments. The values of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities are converted to U.S. dollars using foreign currency exchange rates generally determined as of 4:00 p.m., London time. If such information is not available for a security held by the Fund or is determined to be unreliable, the security will be valued at fair value estimates under guidelines established by the Board (as described below).
Fair Value Pricing
The Board has adopted procedures and methodologies to fair value Fund securities whose market prices are not “readily available” or are deemed to be unreliable. For example, such circumstances may arise when: (i) a security has been de-listed or has had its trading halted or suspended; (ii) a security’s primary pricing source is unable or unwilling to provide a price; (iii) a security’s primary trading market is closed during regular market hours; or (iv) a security’s value is materially affected by events occurring after the close of the security’s primary trading market. Generally, when fair valuing a security, the Fund will take into account all reasonably available information that may be relevant to a particular valuation including, but not limited to, fundamental analytical data regarding the issuer, information relating to the issuer’s business, recent trades or offers of the security, general and/or specific market conditions and the specific facts giving rise to the need to fair value the security. Fair value determinations are made in good faith and in
accordance with the fair value methodologies included in the Board-adopted valuation procedures. Due to the subjective and variable nature of fair value pricing, there can be no assurance that the Adviser or Sub-Adviser will be able to obtain the fair value assigned to the security upon the sale of such security.
Investments by Registered Investment Companies
Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act restricts investments by registered investment companies in the securities of other investment companies. Registered investment companies are permitted to invest in the Fund beyond the limits set forth in section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions, including that such investment companies enter into an agreement with the Fund.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS, AND TAXES
Dividends and Distributions
The Fund intends to pay out dividends, if any, and distribute any net realized capital gains to its shareholders at least annually. The Fund will declare and pay capital gain distributions, if any, in cash. Distributions in cash may be reinvested automatically in additional whole Shares only if the broker through whom you purchased Shares makes such option available. Your broker is responsible for distributing the income and capital gain distributions to you.
Taxes
The following discussion is a summary of some important U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to investments in the Fund. Your investment in the Fund may have other tax implications. Please consult your tax adviser about the tax consequences of an investment in Shares, including the possible application of foreign, state, and local tax laws.
The Fund intends to elect and to qualify each year for treatment as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”) within the meaning of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. If it meets certain minimum distribution requirements, a RIC is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are timely distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify as a RIC or to meet minimum distribution requirements would result (if certain relief provisions were not available) in fund-level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.
Unless your investment in Shares is made through a tax-exempt entity or tax-advantaged account, such as an IRA plan, you need to be aware of the possible tax consequences when the Fund makes distributions, when you sell your Shares listed on the Exchange, and when you purchase or redeem Creation Units (APs only).
Taxes on Distributions
The Fund intends to distribute, at least annually, substantially all of its net investment income and net capital gains. For federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment income are generally taxable as ordinary income or qualified dividend income. Taxes on distributions of capital gains (if any) are determined by how long the Fund owned the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her Shares. Sales of assets held by the Fund for more than one year generally result in long-term capital gains and losses, and sales of assets held by the Fund for one year or less generally result in short-term capital gains and losses. Distributions of the Fund’s net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) that are reported by the Fund as capital gain dividends (“Capital Gain Dividends”) will be taxable as long-term capital gains, which for non-corporate shareholders are subject to tax at reduced rates of up to 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets). Distributions of short-term capital gain will generally be taxable as ordinary income. Dividends and distributions are generally taxable to you whether you receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional Shares.
Distributions reported by the Fund as “qualified dividend income” are generally taxed to non-corporate shareholders at rates applicable to long-term capital gains, provided holding period and other requirements are met. “Qualified dividend income” generally is income derived from dividends paid 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 the 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. Corporate shareholders may be entitled to a dividends received deduction for the portion of dividends they receive from the Fund that are attributable to dividends received by the Fund from U.S. corporations, subject to certain limitations. Certain of the Fund’s investment strategies may limit its ability to distribute dividends eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.
Shortly after the close of each calendar year, you will be informed of the amount and character of any distributions received from the Fund.
In general, your distributions are subject to federal income tax for the year in which they are paid. Certain distributions paid in January, however, may be treated as paid on December 31 of the prior year. Distributions are generally taxable even if they are paid from income or gains earned by the Fund before your investment (and thus were included in the Shares’ NAV when you purchased your Shares).
You may wish to avoid investing in the Fund shortly before a dividend or other distribution, because such a distribution will generally be taxable even though it may economically represent a return of a portion of your investment.
If you are neither a resident nor a citizen of the United States or if you are a foreign entity, distributions (other than Capital Gain Dividends) paid to you by the Fund will generally be subject to a U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30%, unless a lower treaty rate applies. Gains from the sale or other disposition of your Shares from non-U.S. shareholders 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. The 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 a tax treaty applies.
Under legislation generally known as “FATCA” (the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act), the Fund is required to withhold 30% of certain ordinary dividends it pays to shareholders that are foreign entities and that fail to meet prescribed information reporting or certification requirements.
Under the “backup withholding” provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, the Fund (or a financial intermediary, such as a broker, through which a shareholder owns Shares) generally is required to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage (currently 24%) of the taxable distributions and sale or redemption proceeds paid to any shareholder who fails to properly furnish a correct taxpayer identification number, who has underreported dividend or interest income, or who fails to certify that he, she or it is not subject to such withholding.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
Taxes When Shares Are Sold on the Exchange
Any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Shares generally is treated as a long-term capital gain or loss if Shares have been held for more than one year and as a short-term capital gain or loss if Shares have been held for one year or less. However, any capital loss on a sale of Shares held for six months or less is treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of Capital Gain Dividends paid with respect to such Shares. Any loss realized on a sale will be disallowed to the extent Shares of the Fund are acquired, including through reinvestment of dividends, within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of Shares. The ability to deduct capital losses may be limited.
The cost basis of Shares of the Fund 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.
Taxes on Purchases and Redemptions of Creation Units
An AP having the U.S. dollar as its functional currency for U.S. federal income tax purposes who exchanges securities for Creation Units generally recognizes a gain or a loss. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the value of the Creation Units at the time of the exchange and the exchanging AP’s aggregate basis in the securities delivered, plus the amount of any cash paid for the Creation Units. An AP who exchanges Creation Units for securities will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the exchanging AP’s basis in the Creation Units and the aggregate U.S. dollar market value of the securities received, plus any cash received for such Creation Units. The Internal Revenue Service may assert, however, 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 an AP who does not mark-to-market its holdings) or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position. APs exchanging securities should consult their own tax adviser with respect to whether wash sale rules apply and when a loss might be deductible.
The Fund may include a payment of cash in addition to, or in place of, the delivery of a basket of securities upon the redemption of Creation Units. The Fund may sell portfolio securities to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds. This may cause the 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, the Fund may be less tax efficient if it includes such a cash payment in the proceeds paid upon the redemption of Creation Units.
Net Investment Income Tax
U.S. individuals with income exceeding specified thresholds 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 (generally including capital gains distributions and capital gains realized on the sale of Shares). 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.
Foreign Investments by the Fund
Interest and other income received by the Fund with respect to foreign securities may give rise to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If as of the close of a taxable year more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets consists of certain foreign stock or securities, the Fund will be eligible to elect to “pass through” to investors the amount of foreign income and similar taxes (including withholding taxes) paid by the Fund during that taxable year. This means that investors would be considered to have received as additional income their respective shares of such foreign taxes, but may be entitled to either a corresponding tax deduction in calculating taxable income, or, subject to certain limitations, a credit in calculating federal income tax. If the Fund does not so elect, it will be entitled to claim a deduction for certain foreign taxes incurred by the Fund. The Fund (or a financial intermediary, such as a broker, through which a shareholder owns Shares) 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.
Investments in Complex Securities
The Fund invests in REITs. “Qualified REIT dividends” (i.e., ordinary REIT dividends other than capital gain dividends and portions of REIT dividends designated as qualified dividend income eligible for capital gain tax rates) are eligible for a 20% deduction by non-corporate taxpayers. This deduction, if allowed in full, equates to a maximum effective tax rate of 29.6% (37% top rate applied to income after 20% deduction). Distributions by the Fund to its shareholders that are attributable to qualified REIT dividends received by the Fund and which the Fund properly reports as “section 199A dividends,” are treated as “qualified REIT dividends” in the hands of non-corporate shareholders. A section 199A dividend is treated as a qualified REIT dividend only if the shareholder receiving such dividend holds the dividend-paying RIC shares for at least 46 days of the 91-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend, and is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to a position in substantially similar or related property. The Fund is permitted to report such part of its dividends as section 199A dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so.
REITs in which the Fund invests often do not provide complete and final tax information to the Fund until after the time that the Fund issues a tax reporting statement. As a result, the Fund may at times find it necessary to reclassify the amount and character of its distributions to you after it issues your tax reporting statement. When such reclassification is necessary, the Fund (or a financial intermediary, such as a broker, through which a shareholder owns Shares) will send you a corrected, final Form 1099-DIV to reflect the reclassified information. If you receive a corrected Form 1099-DIV, use the information on this corrected form, and not the information on the previously issued tax reporting statement, in completing your tax returns.
The foregoing discussion summarizes some of the possible consequences under current federal tax law of an investment in the Fund. It is not a substitute for personal tax advice. You also may be subject to state and local tax on Fund distributions and sales of Shares. Consult your personal tax adviser about the potential tax consequences of an investment in Shares under all applicable tax laws. For more information, please see the section entitled “Federal Income Taxes” in the SAI.
DISTRIBUTION PLAN
The Board has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan (the “Plan”) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. In accordance with the Plan, the Fund is authorized to pay an amount up to 0.25% of its average daily net assets each year for certain distribution-related activities and shareholder services.
No Rule 12b-1 fees are currently paid by the Fund, and there are no plans to impose these fees. However, in the event Rule 12b-1 fees are charged in the future, because the fees are paid out of Fund assets, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than certain other types of sales charges.
PREMIUM/DISCOUNT INFORMATION
Information regarding how often Shares traded on the Exchange at a price above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a discount) the NAV per share is available on the Fund’s website at www.etf.grizzle.com.
ADDITIONAL NOTICES
Shares are not sponsored, endorsed, or promoted by the Exchange. The Exchange is not responsible for, nor has it participated in the determination of, the timing, prices, or quantities of Shares to be issued, nor in the determination or calculation of the equation by which Shares are redeemable. The Exchange has no obligation or liability to owners of Shares in connection with the administration, marketing, or trading of Shares.
Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall the Exchange have any liability for any lost profits or indirect, punitive, special, or consequential damages even if notified of the possibility thereof.
The Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, and the Fund make no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of Shares or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Financial information is not available because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this Prospectus.
Grizzle Growth ETF
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Adviser
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Grizzle Investment Management LLC
573 Coldstream Drive
Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312
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Sub-Adviser
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Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC
10900 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 400
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120
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Distributor
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Foreside Fund Services, LLC
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100,
Portland, Maine 04101
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Transfer Agent and Administrator
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U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
d/b/a U.S. Bank Global Fund Services
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
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Legal Counsel
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Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004-2541
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Custodian
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U.S. Bank National Association
1555 North Rivercenter Drive, Suite 302
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212
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Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
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Cohen & Company, Ltd.
1350 Euclid Avenue, Suite 800
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
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Investors may find more information about the Fund in the following documents:
Statement of Additional Information: The Fund’s SAI provides additional details about the investments of the Fund and certain other additional information. The SAI is on file with the SEC and is herein incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. It is legally considered a part of this Prospectus.
Annual/Semi-Annual Reports: Additional information about the Fund’s investments will be available in the Fund’s 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 Fund’s performance after the first fiscal year in which the Fund is in operation.
You can obtain free copies of these documents, when available, request other information or make general inquiries about the Fund by contacting the Fund at c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0701 or by calling 1-800-617-0004.
Shareholder reports and other information about the Fund are also available:
•Free of charge from the SEC’s EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov;
•Free of charge from the Fund’s Internet web site at www.etf.grizzle.com; or
•For a fee, by e-mail request to publicinfo@sec.gov.
(SEC Investment Company Act File No. 811-23226)
Grizzle Growth ETF (GRZZ)
a series of Listed Funds Trust
Principal U.S. Listing Exchange: NYSE Arca, Inc.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
December 13, 2021
This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the prospectus dated December 13, 2021, as may be supplemented from time to time (the “Prospectus”), of the Grizzle Growth ETF (the “Fund”), a series of Listed Funds Trust (the “Trust”). Capitalized terms used in this SAI 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 calling the Fund at 1-800-617-0004, visiting www.etf.grizzle.com, or writing to the Fund, c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0701.
The Fund’s audited financial statements for the most recent fiscal year (when available) are incorporated into this SAI by reference to the Fund’s most recent Annual Report to Shareholders (File No. 811-23226). When available, you may obtain a copy of the Fund’s Annual or Semi-Annual Report at no charge by contacting the Fund at the address or phone number noted above.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Management of The Trust
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Management
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Investment Adviser
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Investment Sub-Adviser
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Portfolio Managers
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Appendix A
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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRUST
The Trust is an open-end management investment company consisting of multiple investment series. This SAI relates only to the Fund. The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on August 26, 2016. The Trust is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (together with the rules and regulations adopted thereunder, as amended, the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company, and the offering of the Fund’s shares (“Shares”) is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Trust is governed by its Board of Trustees (the “Board”).
Grizzle Investment Management LLC (the “Adviser”) serves as the Fund’s investment adviser, and Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”) serves as the Fund’s investment sub-adviser.
The Fund offers and issues Shares at their net asset value (“NAV”) only in aggregations of a specified number of Shares (each, a “Creation Unit”). The Fund generally offers and issues Shares in exchange for a basket of securities (“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 or other instrument in the Fund’s portfolio. Shares are listed on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “Exchange”) and trade on the Exchange at market prices that may differ from the Shares’ NAV. Shares are also redeemable only in Creation Unit aggregations, primarily for a basket of Deposit Securities together with a Cash Component. A Creation Unit of the Fund generally consists of 10,000 Shares, though this may change from time to time. As a practical matter, only institutions or large investors purchase or redeem Creation Units. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, Shares are not redeemable securities.
Shares may be issued in advance of receipt of Deposit Securities subject to various conditions, including a requirement to maintain on deposit with the Trust cash at least equal to a specified percentage of the value of the missing Deposit Securities, as set forth in the Participant Agreement (as defined below). The Trust may impose a transaction fee for each creation or redemption. In all cases, such fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of the SEC applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities. As in the case of other publicly traded securities, brokers’ commissions on transactions in the secondary market will be based on negotiated commission rates at customary levels.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, POLICIES, AND RELATED RISKS
The Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategies are described in the Prospectus. The following information supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus. For a description of certain permitted investments, see “Description of Permitted Investments” in this SAI.
With respect to the Fund’s investments, unless otherwise noted, if a percentage limitation on investment is adhered to at the time of investment or contract, a subsequent increase or decrease as a result of market movement or redemption will not result in a violation of such investment limitation.
Non-Diversification
The 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 total assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer. This means that the Fund may invest a greater portion of its total assets in the securities of a single issuer or a lesser number of issuers than if it was a diversified fund. This may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s performance or subject the Fund’s Shares to greater price volatility than more diversified investment companies. Moreover, in pursuing its objective, the Fund may hold the securities of a single issuer in an amount exceeding 10% of the value of the outstanding securities of the issuer, subject to restrictions imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). In particular, as the 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 as compared to other components of the Fund’s portfolio.
Although the Fund is non-diversified for purposes of the 1940 Act, the Fund intends to maintain the required level of diversification and otherwise conduct its operations so as to qualify as a “regulated investment company” (“RIC”) for purposes of the Code. Compliance with the diversification requirements of the Code may limit the investment flexibility of the Fund and may make it less likely that the Fund will meet its investment objective. To qualify as a RIC under the Code, the Fund must meet the Diversification Requirement described in the section titled “Federal Income Taxes” in this SAI.
General Risks
The value of the Fund’s portfolio securities may fluctuate with changes in the financial condition of an issuer or counterparty, changes in specific economic or political conditions that affect a particular security or issuer and changes in general economic or political conditions. An investor in the Fund could lose money over short or long periods of time.
There can be no guarantee that a liquid market for the securities held by the Fund will be maintained. The existence of a liquid trading market for certain securities may depend on whether dealers will make a market in such securities. There can be no assurance that a market will be made or maintained or that any such market will be or remain liquid. The price at which securities may be sold and the
value of Shares will be adversely affected if trading markets for the Fund’s portfolio securities are limited or absent, or if bid/ask spreads are wide.
Cyber Security Risk. Investment companies, such as the Fund, 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 Fund or the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, custodian, transfer agent, intermediaries and other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Fund. For instance, cyber attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential company information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses, and cause reputational damage. The 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 the Fund invests, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Fund’s investments in such portfolio companies to lose value.
Recent Events. Beginning in the first quarter of 2020, financial markets in the United States and around the world experienced extreme and in many cases unprecedented volatility and severe losses due to the pandemic caused by COVID‑19, a novel coronavirus. The pandemic has resulted in a wide range of social and economic disruptions, including closed borders, voluntary or compelled quarantines of large populations, stressed healthcare systems, reduced or prohibited domestic or international travel, supply chain disruptions, and so-called “stay-at-home” orders throughout much of the United States and many other countries. The fall-out from these disruptions has included the rapid closure of businesses deemed “non-essential” by federal, state, or local governments and rapidly increasing unemployment, as well as greatly reduced liquidity for certain instruments at times. Some sectors of the economy and individual issuers have experienced particularly large losses. Such disruptions may continue for an extended period of time or reoccur in the future to a similar or greater extent. In response, the U.S. government and the Federal Reserve have taken extraordinary actions to support the domestic economy and financial markets, resulting in very low interest rates and in some cases negative yields. It is unknown how long circumstances related to the pandemic will persist, whether they will reoccur in the future, whether efforts to support the economy and financial markets will be successful, and what additional implications may follow from the pandemic. The impact of these events and other pandemics or epidemics in the future could adversely affect Fund performance.
DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS
The following are descriptions of the Fund’s permitted investments and investment practices and the associated risk factors. The Fund will only invest in any of the following instruments or engage in any of the following investment practices if such investment or activity is consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and permitted by the Fund’s stated investment policies.
Borrowing
Although the Fund does not intend to borrow money, the Fund may do so to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may borrow up to one-third (1/3) of its total assets. The Fund will borrow money only for short-term or emergency purposes. Such borrowing is not for investment purposes and will be repaid by the borrowing Fund promptly. Borrowing will tend to exaggerate the effect on NAV of any increase or decrease in the market value of the borrowing Fund’s portfolio. Money borrowed will be subject to interest costs that may or may not be recovered by earnings on the securities purchased. The Fund also may be required to maintain minimum average balances in connection with a borrowing or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit; either of these requirements would increase the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate.
Depositary Receipts
To the extent the Fund invests in stocks of foreign corporations, the 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. American Depositary Receipts (“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 U.S. banks and trust companies which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. Generally, ADRs in registered form are designed for use in domestic securities markets and are traded on exchanges or over-the-counter in the United States.
Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), and International Depositary Receipts (“IDRs”) are similar to ADRs in that they are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer; however, GDRs, EDRs, and IDRs may be issued in bearer form and denominated in other currencies and are generally designed for use in specific or multiple securities markets outside the U.S. EDRs, for example, are designed for use in European securities markets, while GDRs are designed for use throughout the world. Depositary receipts will not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as their underlying securities.
The Fund will not invest in any unlisted depositary receipts or any depositary receipt that the Adviser or Sub-Adviser deems to be illiquid or for which pricing information is not readily available. In addition, all depositary receipts generally must be sponsored. However, the 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 value of the depositary receipts.
Equity Securities
Equity securities, such as the common stock of an issuer, are subject to stock market fluctuations and therefore may experience volatile changes in value as market conditions, consumer sentiment or the financial condition of the issuers change. A decrease in value of the equity securities in the Fund’s portfolio may also cause the value of the Fund’s Shares to decline.
An investment in the Fund should be made with an understanding of the risks inherent in an investment in equity securities, including the risk that the financial condition of issuers may become impaired or that the general condition of the stock market may deteriorate (either of which may cause a decrease in the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities and therefore a decrease in the value of Shares).
Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence and perceptions change. These investor perceptions are based on various and unpredictable factors, including expectations regarding government, economic, monetary and fiscal policies; inflation and interest rates; economic expansion or contraction; and global or regional political, economic or banking crises.
Holders of common stocks incur more risk than holders of preferred stocks and debt obligations because common stockholders, as owners of the issuer, generally have inferior rights to receive payments from the issuer in comparison with the rights of creditors or holders of debt obligations or preferred stocks. Further, unlike debt securities, which typically have a stated principal amount payable at maturity (whose value, however, is subject to market fluctuations prior thereto), or preferred stocks, which typically have a liquidation preference and which may have stated optional or mandatory redemption provisions, common stocks have neither a fixed principal amount nor a maturity. Common stock values are subject to market fluctuations as long as the common stock remains outstanding.
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 the 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, the 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 value of the security may be more or less than the purchase price. The yield available in the market when the delivery takes place also may be higher than those obtained in the transaction itself. Because the Fund does not pay for the security until the delivery date, these risks are in addition to the risks associated with its other investments.
Decisions to enter into “when-issued” transactions will be considered on a case-by-case basis when necessary to maintain continuity in a company’s index membership. The Fund will segregate cash or liquid securities equal in value to commitments for the when-issued transactions. The Fund will segregate additional liquid assets daily so that the value of such assets is equal to the amount of the commitments.
Types of Equity Securities:
Common Stocks — Common stocks represent units of ownership in a company. Common stocks usually carry voting rights and earn dividends. Unlike preferred stocks, which are described below, dividends on common stocks are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the company’s board of directors.
Preferred Stocks — Preferred stocks are also units of ownership in a company. Preferred stocks normally have preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of the company. However, in all other respects, preferred stocks are subordinated to the liabilities of the issuer. Unlike common stocks, preferred stocks are generally not entitled to vote on corporate matters. Types of preferred stocks include adjustable-rate preferred stock, fixed dividend preferred stock, perpetual preferred stock, and sinking fund preferred stock.
Generally, the market values of preferred stock with a fixed dividend rate and no conversion element vary inversely with interest rates and perceived credit risk.
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.
Large-Capitalization 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.
Small- and Mid-Capitalization Companies — The securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse issuer, market, political, or economic developments than securities of larger-capitalization companies. The securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies generally trade in lower volumes and are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than larger capitalization stocks or the stock market as a whole. Some small- or mid-capitalization companies have limited product lines, markets, and financial and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographical markets relative to larger capitalization companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning small- and mid-capitalization companies than for larger, more established companies. Small- and mid-capitalization companies also may be particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, government regulation, borrowing costs, and earnings.
Tracking Stocks — A tracking stock is a separate class of common stock whose value is linked to a specific business unit or operating division within a larger company and which is designed to “track” the performance of such business unit or division. The tracking stock may pay dividends to shareholders independent of the parent company. The parent company, rather than the business unit or division, generally is the issuer of tracking stock. However, holders of the tracking stock may not have the same rights as holders of the company’s common stock.
Illiquid Investments
The Fund may not acquire any illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments. An illiquid investment means any investment that the 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 illiquid investments exceed 15% of the Fund’s net assets, certain remedial actions will be taken as required by Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act and the Fund’s policies and procedures.
The Fund may not be able to sell illiquid securities when its Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as applicable, considers it desirable to do so or may have to sell such securities at a price that is lower than the price that could be obtained if the securities were more liquid. In addition, the sale of illiquid securities also may require more time and may result in higher dealer discounts and other selling expenses than does the sale of securities that are not illiquid. Illiquid securities also may be more difficult to value due to the unavailability of reliable market quotations for such securities, and investment in illiquid securities may have an adverse impact on NAV.
Investment Company Securities
The Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies, including ETFs and money market funds, subject to applicable limitations under Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act and Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act. Investing in another pooled vehicle exposes the Fund to all the risks of that pooled vehicle. Pursuant to Section 12(d)(1), the Fund may invest in the securities of another investment company (the “acquired company”) provided that the 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. To the extent allowed by law or regulation, the Fund may invest its assets in securities of investment companies that are money market funds in excess of the limits discussed above.
If the Fund invests in and, thus, is a shareholder of, another investment company, the 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.
Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act restricts investments by registered investment companies in securities of other registered investment companies, including the Fund. The acquisition of Shares by registered investment companies is subject to the restrictions of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act, except as may be permitted by exemptive rules under the 1940 Act or as may at some future time be permitted by an exemptive order that permits registered investment companies to invest in the Fund beyond the limits of Section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions, including that the registered investment company enter into an agreement with the Fund regarding the terms of the investment.
The Fund may rely on Section 12(d)(1)(F) and Rule 12d1-3 of the 1940 Act, which provide an exemption from Section 12(d)(1) that allows the Fund to invest all of its assets in other registered funds, including ETFs, if, among other conditions: (a) the Fund, together with its affiliates, acquires no more than three percent of the outstanding voting stock of any acquired fund, and (b) the sales load charged on the Fund’s Shares is no greater than the limits set forth in Rule 2341 of the Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). Additionally, the Fund may rely on exemptive relief issued by the SEC to other registered funds, including
ETFs, or Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act to invest in such other funds in excess of the limits of Section 12(d)(1) if the Fund complies with the terms and conditions of such exemptive relief or rule.
Options
The Fund may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on indices and enter into related closing transactions. A put option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and the writer of the option the obligation to buy, the underlying security at any time during the option period. A call option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer of the option the obligation to sell, the underlying security at any time during the option period. The premium paid to the writer is the consideration for undertaking the obligations under the option contract.
Put and call options on indices are similar to options on securities except that options on an index give the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the underlying index is greater than (or less than, in the case of puts) the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the option, expressed in dollars multiplied by a specified number. Thus, unlike options on individual securities, all settlements are in cash, and gain or loss depends on price movements in the particular market represented by the index generally, rather than the price movements in individual securities.
All options written on indices or securities must be covered. The SEC staff has indicated that a written call option on a security may be covered if the fund (1) owns the security underlying the call until the option is exercised or expires, (2) holds an American-style call on the same security as the call written with an exercise price (i) no greater than the exercise price of the call written or (ii) greater than the exercise price of the call written if the difference is maintained by the fund in cash or other liquid assets designated on the fund’s records or placed in a segregated account with the fund’s custodian, (3) has an absolute and immediate right to acquire the security without additional cost (or if additional consideration is required, cash or other liquid assets in such amount have been segregated), or (4) segregates cash or other liquid assets on the fund’s records or with the custodian in an amount equal to (when added to any margin on deposit) the current market value of the call option, but not less than the exercise price, marked to market daily. If the call option is exercised by the purchaser during the option period, the seller is required to deliver the underlying security against payment of the exercise price or pay the difference. The seller’s obligation terminates upon expiration of the option period or when the seller executes a closing purchase transaction with respect to such option.
All put options written by the Fund will be covered by (1) segregating cash, cash equivalents, such as U.S. Treasury securities or overnight repurchase agreements, or other liquid assets on the Fund’s records or with the custodian having a value at least equal to exercise price of the option (less cash received, if any) or (2) holding a put option on the same security as the option written where the exercise price of the written put option is (i) equal to or higher than the exercise price of the option written or (ii) less than the exercise price of the option written provided the Fund segregates cash or other liquid assets in the amount of the difference.
The Fund may trade put and call options on securities, securities indices and currencies, as the Adviser determines is appropriate in seeking the Fund’s investment objective, and except as restricted by the Fund’s investment limitations.
The initial purchase (sale) of an option contract is an “opening transaction.” In order to close out an option position, the Fund may enter into a “closing transaction,” which is simply the purchase of an option contract on the same security with the same exercise price and expiration date as the option contract originally opened. If the Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to an option it has written, it will not be able to sell the underlying security until the option expires or the Fund delivers the security upon exercise.
The Fund may purchase put and call options on securities to protect against a decline in the market value of the securities in its portfolio or to anticipate an increase in the market value of securities that the Fund may seek to purchase in the future. The Fund purchasing put and call options pays a premium; therefore, if price movements in the underlying securities are such that exercise of the options would not be profitable for the Fund, loss of the premium paid may be offset by an increase in the value of the Fund’s securities or by a decrease in the cost of acquisition of securities by the Fund.
The Fund may write covered call options on securities as a means of increasing the yield on its assets and as a means of providing limited protection against decreases in its market value. When the Fund writes an option, if the underlying securities do not increase or decrease to a price level that would make the exercise of the option profitable to the holder thereof, the option generally will expire without being exercised and the Fund will realize as profit the premium received for such option. When a call option of which the Fund is the writer is exercised, the Fund will be required to sell the underlying securities to the option holder at the strike price, and will not participate in any increase in the price of such securities above the strike price. When a put option of which the Fund is the writer is exercised, the Fund will be required to purchase the underlying securities at a price in excess of the market value of such securities.
The Fund may purchase and write options on an exchange or over-the-counter. OTC options differ from exchange-traded options in several respects. They are transacted directly with dealers and not with a clearing corporation, and therefore entail the risk of non-performance by the dealer. OTC options are available for a greater variety of securities and for a wider range of expiration dates and exercise prices than are available for exchange-traded options. Because OTC options are not traded on an exchange, pricing is done normally by reference to information from a market maker. It is the SEC’s position that OTC options are generally illiquid.
The market value of an option generally reflects the market price of an underlying security. Other principal factors affecting market value include supply and demand, interest rates, the pricing volatility of the underlying security and the time remaining until the expiration date.
Risks associated with options transactions include (1) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on an ability to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates, (2) there may be an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of options and the securities underlying them, (3) there may not be a liquid secondary market for options, and (4) while the Fund will receive a premium when it writes covered call options, it may not participate fully in a rise in the market value of the underlying security.
Other Short-Term Instruments
The 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 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 Adviser, are of comparable quality to obligations of U.S. banks which may be purchased by the Fund. Any of these instruments may be purchased on a current or a forward-settled basis. Money market instruments also include shares of money market funds. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in banking institutions for specified periods of time at stated interest rates. Bankers’ acceptances are time drafts drawn on commercial banks by borrowers, usually in connection with international transactions.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”)
A REIT is a corporation or business trust (that would otherwise be taxed as a corporation) which meets the definitional requirements of the Code. The Code permits a qualifying REIT to deduct from taxable income the dividends paid, thereby effectively eliminating corporate level federal income tax. To meet the definitional requirements of the Code, a REIT must, among other things: invest substantially all of its assets in interests in real estate (including mortgages and other REITs), cash and government securities; derive most of its income from rents from real property or interest on loans secured by mortgages on real property; and, in general, distribute annually 90% or more of its taxable income (other than net capital gains) to shareholders.
REITs are sometimes informally characterized as Equity REITs and Mortgage REITs. An Equity REIT invests primarily in the fee ownership or leasehold ownership of land and buildings (e.g., commercial equity REITs and residential equity REITs); a Mortgage REIT invests primarily in mortgages on real property, which may secure construction, development or long-term loans.
REITs may be affected by changes in underlying real estate values, which may have an exaggerated effect to the extent that REITs in which the Fund invests may concentrate investments in particular geographic regions or property types. Additionally, rising interest rates may cause investors in REITs to demand a higher annual yield from future distributions, which may in turn decrease market prices for equity securities issued by REITs. Rising interest rates also generally increase the costs of obtaining financing, which could cause the value of the Fund’s investments to decline. During periods of declining interest rates, certain Mortgage REITs may hold mortgages that the mortgagors elect to prepay, which prepayment may diminish the yield on securities issued by such Mortgage REITs. In addition, Mortgage REITs may be affected by the ability of borrowers to repay when due the debt extended by the REIT and Equity REITs may be affected by the ability of tenants to pay rent.
Certain REITs have relatively small market capitalization, which may tend to increase the volatility of the market price of securities issued by such REITs. Furthermore, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. By investing in REITs indirectly through the Fund, a shareholder will bear not only his or her proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of the REITs. REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders.
In addition to these risks, Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the trusts, while Mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. Further, Equity and Mortgage REITs are dependent upon management skills and generally may not be diversified. Equity and Mortgage REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency defaults by borrowers and self-liquidation. In addition, Equity and Mortgage REITs could possibly fail to qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment generally available to REITs under the Code or fail to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act. The above factors may also adversely affect a borrower’s or a lessee’s ability to meet its obligations to the REIT. In the event of default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments.
Repurchase Agreements
The 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 the 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 the Fund and is unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying instrument.
In these repurchase agreement transactions, the securities acquired by the 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 Custodian until repurchased. No more than an aggregate of 15% of the Fund’s net assets will be invested in illiquid investments, 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, the 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 the Fund not within the control of the 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.
Securities Lending
The Fund may lend portfolio securities in an amount up to one-third of its total assets to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions. In a portfolio securities lending transaction, the Fund receives from the borrower an amount equal to the interest paid or the dividends declared on the loaned securities during the term of the loan as well as the interest on the collateral securities, less any fees (such as finders or administrative fees) the Fund pays in arranging the loan. The Fund may share the interest it receives on the collateral securities with the borrower. The terms of the Fund’s loans permit it to reacquire loaned securities on five business days’ notice or in time to vote on any important matter. Loans are subject to termination at the option of the Fund or borrower at any time, and the borrowed securities must be returned when the loan is terminated. The Fund may pay fees to arrange for securities loans.
The SEC currently requires that the following conditions must be met whenever the Fund’s portfolio securities are loaned: (1) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral from the borrower; (2) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of the securities rises above the level of such collateral; (3) the Fund must be able to terminate the loan at any time; (4) the Fund must receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities, and any increase in market value; (5) the Fund may pay only reasonable custodian fees approved by the Board in connection with the loan; (6) while voting rights on the loaned securities may pass to the borrower, the Board must terminate the loan and regain the right to vote the securities if a material event adversely affecting the investment occurs; and (7) the Fund may not loan its portfolio securities so that the value of the loaned securities is more than one-third of its total asset value, including collateral received from such loans. These conditions may be subject to future modification. Such loans will be terminable at any time upon specified notice. The Fund might experience the risk of loss if the institution with which it has engaged in a portfolio loan transaction breaches its agreement with the Fund. In addition, the Fund will not enter into any portfolio security lending arrangement having a duration of longer than one year. The principal risk of portfolio lending is potential default or insolvency of the borrower. In either of these cases, the Fund could experience delays in recovering securities or collateral or could lose all or part of the value of the loaned securities. As part of participating in a lending program, the Fund may be required to invest in collateralized debt or other securities that bear the risk of loss of principal. In addition, all investments made with the collateral received are subject to the risks associated with such investments. If such investments lose value, the Fund will have to cover the loss when repaying the collateral.
Any loans of portfolio securities are fully collateralized based on values that are marked-to-market daily. Any securities that the Fund may receive as collateral will not become part of the Fund’s investment portfolio at the time of the loan and, in the event of a default by the borrower, the Fund will, if permitted by law, dispose of such collateral except for such part thereof that is a security in which the Fund is permitted to invest. During the time securities are on loan, the borrower will pay the Fund any accrued income on those securities, and the Fund may invest the cash collateral and earn income or receive an agreed-upon fee from a borrower that has delivered cash-equivalent collateral.
Swap Agreements
The Fund intends to enter into swap agreements, including total return swaps. The Fund may utilize swap agreements in an attempt to gain exposure to the securities in a market without actually purchasing those securities, or to hedge a position. Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a day to more than one-year. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” (i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested in a basket of securities representing a particular index). Total return swaps are swap agreements in which one party makes payments
based on a set rate, either fixed or variable, while the other party makes payments based on the return of an underlying asset, to seek exposure to certain securities.
Forms of swap agreements include interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or “cap” interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified level, or “floor;” and interest rate collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels.
The Fund’s obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owing to the Fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by segregating assets determined to be liquid. Obligations under swap agreements so covered will not be construed to be “senior securities” for purposes of the Fund’s investment restriction concerning senior securities. Because they are two-party contracts which may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid for purposes of the Fund’s illiquid investment limitations. The Fund will not enter into any swap agreement unless the Advisor believes that the other party to the transaction is creditworthy. The Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty.
The Fund may enter into swap agreements to invest in a market without owning or taking physical custody of the underlying securities in circumstances in which direct investment is restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise impracticable. The counterparty to any swap agreement will typically be a bank, investment banking firm or broker-dealer. The counterparty will generally agree to pay the Fund the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the swap agreement would have increased in value had it been invested in the particular stocks, plus the dividends that would have been received on those stocks. The Fund will agree to pay to the counterparty a floating rate of interest on the notional amount of the swap agreement plus the amount, if any, by which the notional amount would have decreased in value had it been invested in such stocks. Therefore, the return to the Fund on any swap agreement should be the gain or loss on the notional amount plus dividends on the stocks less the interest paid by the Fund on the notional amount.
Swap agreements typically are settled on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. Payments may be made at the conclusion of a swap agreement or periodically during its term. Other swap agreements, may require initial premium (discount) payments as well as periodic payments (receipts) related to the interest leg of the swap or to the default of a reference obligation. The Fund will earmark and reserve assets necessary to meet any accrued payment obligations when it is the buyer of a credit default swap.
Swap agreements do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to swap agreements is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make. If a swap counterparty defaults, the Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments the Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any. The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to each equity swap will be accrued on a daily basis and an amount of cash or liquid assets, having an aggregate NAV at least equal to such accrued excess will be maintained in a segregated account by the Fund’s custodian. Inasmuch as these transactions are entered into for hedging purposes or are offset by segregated cash of liquid assets, as permitted by applicable law, the Fund and the Advisor believe that these transactions do not constitute senior securities under the 1940 Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to the Fund’s borrowing restrictions.
The swap market has grown substantially in recent years with a large number of banks and investment banking firms acting both as principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result, the swap market has become relatively liquid in comparison with the markets for other similar instruments, which are traded in the OTC market. The Advisor, under the supervision of the Board, is responsible for determining and monitoring the liquidity of Fund transactions in swap agreements.
The use of swap agreements is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If a counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the value of the swap would likely decline. Moreover, there is no guarantee that the Fund could eliminate its exposure under an outstanding swap agreement by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same or another party.
U.S. Government Securities
The Fund may invest in U.S. government securities. Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities include U.S. Treasury securities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury and which differ only in their interest rates, maturities, and times of issuance. U.S. Treasury bills have initial maturities of one-year or less; U.S. Treasury notes have initial maturities of one to ten years; and U.S. Treasury bonds generally have initial maturities of greater than ten years. Certain U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government including, but not limited to, obligations of U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), the Small Business Administration, the Federal Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Home Loan Banks, Banks for Cooperatives (including the Central Bank for Cooperatives), the Federal Land Banks, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank, the Student Loan Marketing Association, the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac).
Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities, including, for example, Ginnie Mae pass- through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those securities issued by Fannie Mae, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the federal agency, while other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, while the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored federal agencies, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will always do so, since the U.S. government is not so obligated by law. U.S. Treasury notes and bonds typically pay coupon interest semi- annually and repay the principal at maturity.
On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury announced a federal takeover of Fannie Mae and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), placing the two federal instrumentalities in conservatorship. Under the takeover, the U.S. Treasury agreed to acquire $1 billion of senior preferred stock of each instrumentality and obtained warrants for the purchase of common stock of each instrumentality (the “Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement” or “Agreement”). Under the Agreement, the U.S. Treasury pledged to provide up to $200 billion per instrumentality as needed, including the contribution of cash capital to the instrumentalities in the event their liabilities exceed their assets. This was intended to ensure that the instrumentalities maintain a positive net worth and meet their financial obligations, preventing mandatory triggering of receivership. On December 24, 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was amending the Agreement to allow the $200 billion cap on the U.S. Treasury’s funding commitment to increase as necessary to accommodate any cumulative reduction in net worth over the next three years. As a result of this Agreement, the investments of holders, including the Fund, of mortgage-backed securities and other obligations issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are protected.
The total public debt of the United States as a percentage of gross domestic product has grown rapidly since the beginning of the 2008-2009 financial downturn. Although high debt levels do not necessarily indicate or cause economic problems, they may create certain systemic risks if sound debt management practices are not implemented. A high national debt can raise concerns that the U.S. government will not be able to make principal or interest payments when they are due. This increase has also necessitated the need for the U.S. Congress to negotiate adjustments to the statutory debt limit to increase the cap on the amount the U.S. government is permitted to borrow to meet its existing obligations and finance current budget deficits. In August 2011, S&P lowered its long-term sovereign credit rating on the U.S. In explaining the downgrade at that time, S&P cited, among other reasons, controversy over raising the statutory debt limit and growth in public spending. On August 2, 2019, following passage by Congress, the President of the United States signed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019, which suspends the statutory debt limit through July 31, 2021. Any controversy or ongoing uncertainty regarding the statutory debt ceiling negotiations may impact the U.S. long-term sovereign credit rating and may cause market uncertainty. As a result, market prices and yields of securities supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government may be adversely affected.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The Trust has adopted the following investment restrictions as fundamental policies with respect to the Fund. These restrictions cannot be changed with respect to the Fund without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities. For the purposes of the 1940 Act, a “majority of outstanding shares” means the vote of the lesser of: (1) 67% or more of the voting securities of the Fund present at the meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities are present or represented by proxy; or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
Except with the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities, the Fund may not:
1.Borrow money, except to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.
2.Issue senior securities, except to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.
3.Engage in the business of underwriting securities except to the extent that the Fund may be considered an underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act in the acquisition, disposition or resale of its portfolio securities or in connection with investments in other investment companies, or to the extent otherwise permitted under the Investment Company Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.
4.Purchase or sell real estate, except to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.
5.Purchase or sell commodities, contracts relating to commodities or options on contracts relating to commodities except to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief. This policy shall not prevent the Fund from purchasing or selling foreign currency or purchasing, selling or entering into futures contracts, options, forward contracts, swaps, caps, floors, collars and other financial instruments as currently exist or may in the future be developed.
6.Make loans, except to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.
7.Concentrate its investments (i.e., hold more than 25% of its total assets) in any industry or group of related 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, investment companies and tax-exempt securities of state or municipal governments and their political subdivisions are not considered to be issued by members of any industry.
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 limitation with respect to the borrowing of money will be observed continuously.
EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING
Shares are listed for trading and trade throughout the day on the Exchange.
There can be no assurance that the Fund will continue to meet the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of Shares. The Exchange will consider the suspension of trading in, and will initiate delisting proceedings of, the Shares under any of the following circumstances: (i) if any of the requirements set forth in the Exchange rules are not continuously maintained, including compliance with Rule 6c-11(c) under the 1940 Act; (ii) if, following the initial 12-month period beginning at the commencement of trading of the Fund, there are fewer than 50 beneficial owners of the Shares of the Fund; or (iii) if such other event shall occur or condition shall exist that, in the opinion of the Exchange, makes further dealings on the Exchange inadvisable. The Exchange will remove the Shares of the Fund from listing and trading upon termination of the Fund.
The Trust reserves the right to adjust the price levels of Shares in the future to help maintain convenient trading ranges for investors. Any adjustments would be accomplished through stock splits or reverse stock splits, which would have no effect on the net assets of the Fund.
MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST
Board Responsibilities. The management and affairs of the Trust and its series are overseen by the Board, which elects the officers of the Trust who are responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the Trust and the Fund. The Board has approved contracts, as described below, under which certain companies provide essential services to the Trust.
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, the Distributor, and the Administrator. The Board is responsible for overseeing the Trust’s service providers and, thus, has oversight responsibility with respect to risk management performed by those service providers. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the Fund. The 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 the Fund’s portfolio investments) and, consequently, for managing the risks associated with that business. The Board has emphasized to the Fund’s service providers the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management.
The Board’s role in risk oversight begins before the inception of the Fund, at which time certain of the Fund’s service providers present the Board with information concerning the investment objective, strategies and risks of the Fund as well as proposed investment limitations for the Fund. Additionally, the Adviser and Sub-Adviser will provide the Board with an overview of, among other things, its investment philosophy, brokerage practices and compliance infrastructure. Thereafter, the Board continues its oversight function as various personnel, including the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, as well as personnel of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser, and other service providers such as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, make periodic reports to the Audit Committee or to the Board with respect to various aspects of risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee oversee efforts by management and service providers to manage risks to which the Fund may be exposed.
The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent, and quality of the services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser and receives information about those services at its regular meetings. In addition, on an annual basis (following the initial two-year period), in connection with its consideration of whether to renew the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and Sub-Advisory Agreement with the Sub-Adviser, the Board or its designee may meet with the Adviser/Sub-Adviser to review such services. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser’s adherence to the Fund’s investment restrictions and compliance with various Fund policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews information about the Fund’s performance and investments, including, for example, portfolio holdings schedules.
The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer reports regularly to the Board to review and discuss compliance issues and Fund, Adviser, and Sub-Adviser’s 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 the Fund’s service providers regarding operational risks and risks related to the valuation and liquidity of portfolio securities. Annually, the Fund’s 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 the 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 the 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 the Fund’s goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Board as to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. Most of the Fund’s investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the Adviser and Sub-Adviser, and other service providers, each of which has an independent interest in risk management but whose policies and the methods by which one or more risk management functions are carried out may differ from the Trust’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 (the “Independent Trustees”). The Chairman of the Board, Paul R. Fearday, is an interested person of the Trust as that term is defined in the 1940 Act.
The Board is comprised of a super-majority (75 percent) of Independent Trustees. There is an Audit Committee of the Board that is chaired by an Independent Trustee and comprised solely of Independent Trustees. The Audit Committee chair presides at the Audit Committee meetings, participates in formulating agendas for Audit Committee meetings, and coordinates with management to serve as a liaison between the Independent Trustees and management on matters within the scope of responsibilities of the Audit Committee as set forth in its Board-approved charter. The Trust has not designated a lead independent trustee, but has determined its leadership structure is appropriate given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Trust. The Trust made this determination in consideration of, among other things, the fact that the Independent Trustees of the Trust 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.
Additional information about each Trustee of the Trust is set forth below. The address of each Trustee of the Trust is c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, 615 E. Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202.
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Name and Year of Birth
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Position Held with the Trust
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Term of Office and Length of Time Served
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Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
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Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee
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Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past 5 Years
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Independent Trustees
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John L. Jacobs
Year of birth: 1959
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Trustee and Audit Committee Chair
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Indefinite term; since 2017
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Chairman of Alerian, Inc. (since June 2018); Executive Director of Center for Financial Markets and Policy (since 2016); Founder and CEO of Q3 Advisors, LLC (financial consulting firm) (since 2015); Distinguished Policy Fellow and Executive Director, Center for Financial Markets and Policy, Georgetown University (since 2015); Senior Advisor, Nasdaq OMX Group (2015–2016); Executive Vice President, Nasdaq OMX Group (2013–2015).
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42
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Director, tZERO Group, Inc. (since 2020); Independent Trustee, Procure ETF Trust II (since 2018) (1 portfolio); Independent Trustee, Horizons ETF Trust I (2015-2019).
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Name and Year of Birth
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Position Held with the Trust
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Term of Office and Length of Time Served
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Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
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Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee
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Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past 5 Years
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Independent Trustees
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Koji Felton
Year of birth: 1961
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Trustee
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Indefinite term; since 2019
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Retired; formerly Counsel, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (investment firm) (2013–2015); Counsel, Dechert LLP (law firm) (2011–2013).
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42
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Independent Trustee, Series Portfolios Trust (since 2015) (8 portfolios).
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Pamela H. Conroy
Year of birth: 1961
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Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair
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Indefinite term; since 2019
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Retired; formerly Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Compliance Officer, Institutional Capital Corporation (investment firm) (1994–2008).
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Independent Trustee, Frontier Funds, Inc. (since 2020) (7 portfolios).
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Interested Trustee
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Paul R. Fearday, CPA
Year of birth: 1979
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Trustee and Chairman
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Indefinite term; since 2019
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Senior Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (since 2008).
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42
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None.
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Individual Trustee Qualifications. The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve on the Board because of their ability to review and understand information about the Fund provided to them by management, to identify and request other information they may deem relevant to the performance of their duties, to question management and other service providers regarding material factors bearing on the management and administration of the Fund, and to exercise their business judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders. The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve as a Trustee based on his or her own experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as described below.
The Trust has concluded that Mr. Jacobs should serve as a Trustee because of his substantial industry experience. He most recently served as the CEO of Q3 Advisors, LLC and as the Distinguished Policy Fellow and Executive Director of the Center for Financial Markets and Policy, and as Adjunct Professor of Finance at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. He also served as Senior Advisor and principal consultant to Nasdaq’s CEO and President. Mr. Jacobs has been determined to qualify as an Audit Committee Financial Expert for the Trust.
The Trust has concluded that Mr. Felton should serve as a Trustee because of his substantial industry experience, including over two decades working in the asset management industry providing legal, regulatory compliance, governance and risk management advice to registered investment companies, their advisers and boards. Prior to that, he gained experience and perspective as a regulator while serving as an enforcement attorney and branch chief for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He also represented public companies and their boards of directors in securities class actions, derivative litigation and SEC investigations as a litigation associate at a national law firm. Mr. Felton currently serves as an independent trustee and chair of the nominating and governance committee of a mutual fund complex.
The Trust has concluded that Ms. Conroy should serve as a Trustee because of her substantial industry experience, including over 25 years of achievements at both a large, multi-location financial institution as well as a small, entrepreneurial firm. She has expertise in all facets of portfolio accounting, securities processing, trading operations, marketing, as well as legal and compliance.
The Trust has concluded that Mr. Fearday should serve as Trustee because of the experience he gained as a senior officer of U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, doing business as U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (“Fund Services” or the “Transfer Agent”), since 2008, and in his past role with a national audit firm.
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 series of the Trust.
Board Committees. The Board has established the following standing committees of the Board:
Audit Committee. The Board has a standing Audit Committee that is composed of each of the Independent Trustees of the Trust. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Audit Committee include: recommending which firm to engage as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and whether to terminate this relationship; reviewing the independent registered public accounting firm’s compensation, the proposed scope and terms of its engagement, and the firm’s independence; pre-approving audit and non-audit services provided by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Trust and certain other affiliated entities; serving as a channel of communication between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trustees; reviewing the results of each external audit, including any qualifications in the independent registered public accounting firm’s opinion, any related management letter, management’s responses to recommendations made by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with the audit, reports submitted to the Committee by the internal auditing department of the Trust’s Administrator that are material to the Trust as a whole, if any, and
management’s responses to any such reports; reviewing the 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 Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, major changes regarding auditing and accounting principles and practices to be followed when preparing the Fund’s financial statements; and other audit related matters. As of the date of this SAI, the Audit Committee met one time with respect to the Fund.
The Audit Committee also serves as the Qualified Legal Compliance Committee (“QLCC”) for the Trust for the purpose of compliance with Rules 205.2(k) and 205.3(c) of the Code of Federal Regulations, regarding alternative reporting procedures for attorneys retained or employed by an issuer who appear and practice before the SEC on behalf of the issuer (the “issuer attorneys”). An issuer attorney who becomes aware of evidence of a material violation by the Trust, or by any officer, director, employee, or agent of the Trust, may report evidence of such material violation to the QLCC as an alternative to the reporting requirements of Rule 205.3(b) (which requires reporting to the chief legal officer and potentially “up the ladder” to other entities).
Nominating and Governance Committee. The Board has a standing Nominating and Governance Committee that is composed of each of the Independent Trustees of the Trust. The Nominating and Governance Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibility of the Nominating and Governance Committee is to consider, recommend and nominate candidates to fill vacancies on the Trust’s Board, if any. The Nominating and Governance Committee generally will not consider nominees recommended by shareholders. The Nominating and Governance Committee meets periodically, as necessary. As of the date of this SAI, the Nominating and Governance Committee has met one time with respect to the Fund.
Valuation Committee. The Board has delegated day-to-day valuation matters to a Valuation Committee that is comprised of certain officers of the Trust and is overseen by the Trustees. The function of the Valuation Committee is to review each Adviser’s valuation of securities held by any series of the Trust for which current and reliable market quotations are not readily available. Such securities are valued at their respective fair values as determined in good faith by each Adviser, and the Valuation Committee gathers and reviews Fair Valuation Forms that are completed by an Adviser to support its determinations, and which are subsequently reviewed and ratified by the Board. The Valuation Committee meets as needed.
Principal Officers of the Trust
The officers of the Trust conduct and supervise its daily business. The address of each officer of the Trust is c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, 615 E. Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202. Additional information about the Trust’s officers is as follows:
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Name and Year of Birth
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Position(s) Held with the Trust
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Term of Office and Length of Time Served
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Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
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Gregory Bakken
Year of birth: 1983
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President and Principal Executive Officer
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Indefinite term,
February 2019
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Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (since 2006).
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Travis G. Babich
Year of birth: 1980
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Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer
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Indefinite term,
September 2019
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Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (since 2005).
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Kacie M. Gronstal
Year of birth: 1992
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Assistant Treasurer
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Indefinite term,
March 2019
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Assistant Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (since 2021); Officer, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2014 to 2021).
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Kent Barnes
Year of birth: 1968
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Secretary
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Indefinite term,
February 2019
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Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (since 2018); Chief Compliance Officer, Rafferty Asset Management, LLC (2016 to 2018); Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2007 to 2016).
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Steve Jensen
Year of birth: 1957
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Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Officer
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Indefinite term,
February 2019
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Senior Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (since 2011).
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Alia Vasquez
Year of birth: 1980
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Assistant Secretary
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Indefinite term,
June 2021
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Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (since 2017, and 2015 to 2016); Corporate Counsel, Johnson Outdoors (2017); Assistant Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2010 to 2015); Secretary, Series Portfolios Trust (2015 to 2017).
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Trustee Ownership of Shares. The Fund is required to show the dollar amount ranges of each Trustee’s “beneficial ownership” of Shares and each other series of the Trust as of the end of the most recently completely calendar year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the 1934 Act. As of the date of this SAI, no Trustee or officer of the Trust owned Shares.
Board Compensation. Each Independent Trustee receives an annual stipend of $25,000 and reimbursement for all reasonable travel expenses relating to their attendance at the Board Meetings. The chair of the Audit Committee receives an annual stipend of $2,500, and the chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee receives an annual stipend of $1,000. The Interested Trustee is not compensated for his service as a Trustee. The following table shows the compensation expected to be earned by each Trustee during the fiscal year ending July 31, 2022.
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Name
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Aggregate Compensation
From the Fund
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Total Compensation From Fund Complex
Paid to Trustees
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Interested Trustee
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Paul R. Fearday
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$0
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$0
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Independent Trustees
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John L. Jacobs
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$0
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$27,500
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Koji Felton
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$0
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$25,000
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Pamela H. Conroy
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$0
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$26,000
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PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS, CONTROL PERSONS, AND MANAGEMENT OWNERSHIP
A principal shareholder is any person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding Shares. A control person is a shareholder that owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledges the existence of control. Shareholders owning voting securities in excess of 25% may determine the outcome of any matter affecting and voted on by shareholders of the Fund. As of the date of this SAI, there were no outstanding Shares.
CODES OF ETHICS
The Trust, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser have each adopted codes 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 and the Sub-Adviser from engaging in deceptive, manipulative or fraudulent activities in connection with securities held or to be acquired by the Fund (which may also be held by persons subject to the codes of ethics). Each code of ethics permits personnel subject to that code of ethics to invest in securities for their personal investment accounts, subject to certain limitations, including limitations related to securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund. The Distributor (as defined below) relies on the principal underwriters exception under Rule 17j-1(c)(3), specifically where the Distributor is not affiliated with the Trust, the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, and no officer, director, or general partner of the Distributor serves as an officer, director, or general partner of the Trust, the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser.
There can be no assurance that the codes of ethics will be effective in preventing such activities. Each code of ethics may be examined at the office of the SEC in Washington, D.C. or on the Internet at the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov.
PROXY VOTING POLICIES
The Fund has delegated proxy voting responsibilities to the Adviser, subject to the Board’s oversight, and the Adviser has, in turn, delegated such responsibilities to the Sub-Adviser, subject to the Adviser’s and Board’s oversight. In delegating proxy responsibilities, the Board has directed that proxies be voted consistent with the Fund’s and its shareholders’ best interests and in compliance with all applicable proxy voting rules and regulations. The Sub-Adviser has adopted proxy voting policies and guidelines for this purpose (“Proxy Voting Policies”) and has engaged a third-party proxy solicitation firm to assist with voting proxies in a timely manner. The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer is responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of the Proxy Voting Policies. The Proxy Voting Policies have been adopted by the Trust as the policies and procedures that the Sub-Adviser will use when voting proxies on behalf of the Fund.
In the absence of a conflict of interest, the Sub-Adviser will generally vote “for” routine proposals, such as the election of directors, approval of auditors, and amendments or revisions to corporate documents to eliminate outdated or unnecessary provisions. Unusual or disputed proposals will be reviewed and voted on a case-by-case basis.
The Proxy Voting Policies address, among other things, material conflicts of interest that may arise between the interests of the Fund and the interests of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. The Proxy Voting Policies will ensure that all issues brought to shareholders are analyzed in light of the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s fiduciary responsibilities.
When available, information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 will be available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-617-0004, and (2) on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov.
MANAGEMENT
Investment Adviser
Grizzle Investment Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. The Adviser is located at 573 Coldstream Drive, Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312.
The Adviser provides investment advice to the Fund and manages the day-to-day operations of the Fund, subject to the general supervision and oversight of the Board of the Trust. The Adviser is responsible for the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund in accordance with the investment objective, policies, and limitations of the Fund. In addition, the Adviser arranges for transfer agency, custody, fund administration, distribution, and all other services necessary for the Fund to operate. For the services it provides
to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to a unified management fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate 0.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and the Adviser (the “Advisory Agreement”), the Adviser has agreed to pay all expenses of the Fund except the fee payable to the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement, interest charges on any borrowings, dividends and other expenses on securities sold short, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, acquired fund fees and expenses, accrued deferred tax liability, extraordinary expenses, and distribution (12b-1) fees and expenses (if any). The Adviser, in turn, compensates the Sub-Adviser from the management fee it receives from the Fund.
Investment Sub-Adviser
Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company located at 10900 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 400, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120, serves as the sub-adviser to the Fund. The Sub-Adviser is majority owned by Cottonwood ETF Holdings LLC.
Pursuant to a Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”), the Sub-Adviser is responsible for trading portfolio securities on behalf of the Fund, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions as instructed by the Adviser or in connection with any rebalancing or reconstitution of the Fund, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board. For its services, the Sub-Adviser is entitled to a fee by the Adviser, which fee is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate 0.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
The Fund is new and, therefore, the Adviser has not paid any sub-advisory fees to the Sub-Adviser with respect to the Fund as of the date of this SAI.
Portfolio Managers
Thomas George and Scott Willis serve as the Fund’s portfolio managers (the “Portfolio Managers”). This section includes information about the Portfolio Managers, including information about compensation, other accounts managed, and the dollar range of Shares owned.
Share Ownership
The Fund is required to show the dollar ranges of the Portfolio Managers’ “beneficial ownership” of Shares as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year or a more recent date for a new portfolio manager. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the 1934 Act. As of the date of this SAI, the Portfolio Managers did not beneficially own any Shares.
Other Accounts
The Portfolio Managers do not manage any other accounts.
Compensation
Messrs. George and Willis each receive a fixed base salary and have equity ownership in the Adviser that are not tied to the performance of the Fund.
Conflicts of Interest
A portfolio manager’s management of “other accounts” may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with his/her management of the Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other. The other accounts may have similar investment objectives or strategies as the Fund. A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result, 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 the Fund. However, the Adviser has established policies and procedures to ensure that the purchase and sale of securities among all accounts the Adviser manages are fairly and equitably allocated.
DISTRIBUTOR
The Trust and Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Distributor”) are parties to a distribution agreement (“Distribution Agreement”), whereby the Distributor acts as principal underwriter for the Trust and distributes Shares. Shares are continuously offered for sale by the Distributor only in Creation Units. The Distributor will not distribute Shares in amounts less than a Creation Unit and does not maintain a secondary market in Shares. The principal business address of the Distributor is Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101.
Under the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor, as agent for the Trust, will receive orders for the purchase and redemption of Creation Units, provided that any subscriptions and orders will not be binding on the Trust until accepted by the Trust. The Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and a member of FINRA.
The Distributor may also enter into agreements with securities dealers (“Soliciting Dealers”) who will solicit purchases of Creation Units of Shares. Such Soliciting Dealers may also be Authorized Participants (as discussed in “Procedures for Purchase of Creation Units” below) or DTC participants (as defined below).
The Distribution Agreement will continue for two years from its effective date and is renewable annually thereafter. The continuance of the Distribution Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the shareholders of the Fund and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations of the Distribution Agreement or any related agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust on 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by majority vote of its outstanding voting Shares or by a vote of a majority of its Board (including a majority of the Independent Trustees), or by the Distributor on 60 days’ written notice, and will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment. The Distribution Agreement provides that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Distributor, or reckless disregard by it of its obligations thereunder, the Distributor shall not be liable for any action or failure to act in accordance with its duties thereunder.
Intermediary Compensation. The Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, or their affiliates, out of their own resources and not out of Fund assets (i.e., without additional cost to the Fund or its shareholders), may pay certain broker dealers, banks and other financial intermediaries (“Intermediaries”) for certain activities related to the Fund, including participation in activities that are designed to make Intermediaries more knowledgeable about exchange-traded products, including the Fund, or for other activities, such as marketing and educational training or support. These arrangements are not financed by the Fund and, thus, do not result in increased Fund expenses. They are not reflected in the fees and expenses listed in the fees and expenses sections of the Fund’s Prospectus and they do not change the price paid by investors for the purchase of Shares or the amount received by a shareholder as proceeds from the redemption of Shares.
Such compensation may be paid to Intermediaries that provide services to the Fund, including marketing and education support (such as through conferences, webinars and printed communications). The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser will periodically assess the advisability of continuing to make these payments. Payments to an Intermediary may be significant to the Intermediary, and amounts that Intermediaries pay to your adviser, broker or other investment professional, if any, may also be significant to such adviser, broker or investment professional. Because an Intermediary may make decisions about what investment options it will make available or recommend, and what services to provide in connection with various products, based on payments it receives or is eligible to receive, such payments create conflicts of interest between the Intermediary and its clients. For example, these financial incentives may cause the Intermediary to recommend the Fund rather than other investments. The same conflict of interest exists with respect to your financial adviser, broker or investment professional if he or she receives similar payments from his or her Intermediary firm.
Intermediary information is current only as of the date of this SAI. Please contact your adviser, broker, or other investment professional for more information regarding any payments his or her Intermediary firm may receive. Any payments made by the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, or their affiliates to an Intermediary may create the incentive for an Intermediary to encourage customers to buy Shares.
If you have any additional questions, please call 1-800-617-0004.
Distribution and Service Plan. The Board 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 are expected to be made during the twelve (12) month period from the date of this SAI. Rule 12b-1 fees to be paid by the Fund under the Plan 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 the Fund. All material amendments of the Plan will require approval by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust and of the Qualified Trustees.
The Plan provides that the Fund pays the Distributor an annual fee of up to a maximum of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Shares. Under the Plan, the Distributor may make payments pursuant to written agreements to financial institutions and intermediaries such as banks, savings and loan associations and insurance companies including, without limit, investment counselors, broker-dealers and the Distributor’s affiliates and subsidiaries (collectively, “Agents”) as compensation for services and reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with distribution assistance. The Plan is characterized as a compensation plan since the distribution fee will be paid to the Distributor without regard to the distribution expenses incurred by the Distributor or the amount of payments made to other financial institutions and intermediaries. The Trust intends to operate the Plan in accordance with its terms and with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules concerning sales charges.
Under the Plan, subject to the limitations of applicable law and regulations, the Fund is authorized to compensate the Distributor up to the maximum amount to finance any activity primarily intended to result in the sale of Creation Units of the Fund or for providing or arranging for others to provide shareholder services and for the maintenance of shareholder accounts. Such activities may include, but are not limited to: (i) delivering copies of the 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 the Fund; (iv) compensating certain Authorized Participants for providing assistance in distributing the Creation Units of the 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 the 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, including the cost of providing (or paying others to provide) services to beneficial owners of Shares, including, but not limited to, assistance in answering inquiries related to Shareholder accounts; and (vii) such other services and obligations as are set forth in the Distribution Agreement.
TRANSFER AGENT AND ADMINISTRATOR
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, doing business as U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (“Fund Services” or the “Transfer Agent”), located at 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, serves as the Fund’s transfer agent and administrator.
Pursuant to a Fund Servicing Agreement between the Trust and Fund Services, Fund Services provides the Trust with administrative and management services (other than investment advisory services) and accounting services, including portfolio accounting services, tax accounting services, and furnishing financial reports. In this capacity, Fund Services does not have any responsibility or authority for the management of the Fund, the determination of investment policy, or for any matter pertaining to the distribution of Shares. As compensation for the administration, accounting and management services, the Adviser pays Fund Services a fee based on the Fund’s average daily net assets, subject to a minimum annual fee. Fund Services also is entitled to certain out-of- pocket expenses for the services mentioned above, including pricing expenses.
CUSTODIAN
Pursuant to a Custody Agreement, U.S. Bank National Association (“U.S. Bank”), located at 1555 North Rivercenter Drive, Suite 302, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212, serves as the custodian of the Fund’s assets. The custodian holds and administers the assets in the Fund’s portfolio. Pursuant to the Custody Agreement, the custodian receives an annual fee from the Adviser based on the Trust’s total average daily net assets, subject to a minimum annual fee, and certain settlement charges. The custodian also is entitled to certain out-of-pocket expenses.
LEGAL COUNSEL
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, located at 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004-2541, serves as legal counsel for the Trust.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Cohen & Company, Ltd., located at 1350 Euclid Avenue, Suite 800, Cleveland, Ohio 44115, serves as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund.
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The Board has adopted a policy regarding the disclosure of information about the Fund’s security holdings. The Fund’s entire portfolio holdings are publicly disseminated each day the Fund is open for business and may be available through financial reporting and news services, including publicly available internet web sites. In addition, the composition of the Deposit Securities is publicly disseminated daily prior to the opening of the Exchange via the facilities of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”).
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of funds and shares. Each share represents an equal proportionate interest in the Fund with each other share. Shares are entitled upon liquidation to a pro rata share in the net assets of the Fund. Shareholders have no preemptive rights. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees 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. Shares, when issued, are fully paid and non-assessable.
Each Share has one vote with respect to matters upon which a shareholder vote is required, consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder. Shares of all funds in the Trust vote together as a single class, except that if the matter being voted on affects only a particular fund it will be voted on only by that fund and if a matter affects a particular fund differently from other funds, that fund will vote separately on such matter. As a Delaware statutory trust, the Trust is not required, and does not
intend, to hold annual meetings of shareholders. Approval of shareholders will be sought, however, for certain changes in the operation of the Trust and for the election of Trustees under certain circumstances. Upon the written request of shareholders owning at least 10% of the Trust’s shares, the Trust will call for a meeting of shareholders to consider the removal of one or more Trustees and other certain matters. In the event that such a meeting is requested, the Trust will provide appropriate assistance and information to the shareholders requesting the meeting.
Under the Declaration of Trust, the Trustees have the power to liquidate the Fund without shareholder approval. While the Trustees have no present intention of exercising this power, they may do so if the Fund fails to reach a viable size within a reasonable amount of time or for such other reasons as may be determined by the Board.
LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY
The Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee shall be liable only for his or her own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrong-doing of any officer, agent, employee, 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 Amended and Restated 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 the Fund is that primary consideration will be given to obtaining the most favorable prices and efficient executions of transactions. Consistent with this policy, when securities transactions are effected on a stock exchange, the Trust’s policy is to pay commissions which are considered fair and reasonable without necessarily determining that the lowest possible commissions are paid in all circumstances. The Trust believes that a requirement always to seek the lowest possible commission cost could impede effective portfolio management and preclude the Fund from obtaining a high quality of brokerage and research services. In seeking to determine the reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid in any transaction, the Sub-Adviser will rely upon its experience and knowledge regarding commissions generally charged by various brokers and on its judgment in evaluating the brokerage services received from the broker effecting the transaction. Such determinations are necessarily subjective and imprecise, as in most cases, an exact dollar value for those services is not ascertainable. The Trust has adopted policies and procedures that prohibit the consideration of sales of Shares as a factor in the selection of a broker or dealer to execute its portfolio transactions.
The Sub-Adviser owes a fiduciary duty to its clients to seek to provide best execution on trades effected. In selecting a broker/dealer for each specific transaction, the Sub-Adviser chooses the broker/dealer deemed most capable of providing the services necessary to obtain the most favorable execution. “Best execution” is generally understood to mean the most favorable cost or net proceeds reasonably obtainable under the circumstances. The full range of brokerage services applicable to a particular transaction may be considered when making this judgment, which may include, but is not limited to: liquidity, price, commission, timing, aggregated trades, capable floor brokers or traders, competent block trading coverage, ability to position, capital strength and stability, reliable and accurate communications and settlement processing, use of automation, knowledge of other buyers or sellers, arbitrage skills, administrative ability, underwriting and provision of information on a particular security or market in which the transaction is to occur. The specific criteria will vary depending upon the nature of the transaction, the market in which it is executed, and the extent to which it is possible to select from among multiple broker/dealers. The Sub-Adviser will also use electronic crossing networks (“ECNs”) when appropriate.
Subject to the foregoing policies, brokers or dealers selected to execute the Fund’s portfolio transactions may include the Fund’s Authorized Participants (as discussed in “Procedures for Purchase of Creation Units” below) or their affiliates. An Authorized Participant or its affiliates may be selected to execute the Fund’s portfolio transactions in conjunction with an all-cash creation unit order or an order including “cash-in-lieu” (as described below under “Purchase and Redemption of Shares in Creation Units”), so long as such selection is in keeping with the foregoing policies. As described below under “Purchase and Redemption of Shares in Creation Units— Creation Transaction Fee” and “—Redemption Transaction Fee”, the Fund may determine to not 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 the Fund’s portfolio in a more tax efficient manner than could be achieved without such order, even if the decision to not charge a variable fee could be viewed as benefiting the Authorized Participant or its affiliate selected to execute the Fund’s portfolio transactions in connection with such orders.
The Sub-Adviser may use the 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 Sub-Adviser does not “pay up” for the value of any such proprietary research. Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act permits the Sub-
Adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause the 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 Sub-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, the Fund may pay a broker commission higher than the lowest available in recognition of the broker’s provision of such services to the Sub-Adviser, but only if the Sub-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.
The Sub-Adviser faces a potential conflict of interest when it uses client trades to obtain brokerage or research services. This conflict exists because the Sub-Adviser can use the brokerage or research services to manage client accounts without paying cash for such services, which reduces the Sub-Adviser’s expenses to the extent that the Sub-Adviser would have purchased such products had they not been provided by brokers. Section 28(e) permits the Sub-Adviser to use brokerage or research services for the benefit of any account it manages. Certain accounts managed by the Sub-Adviser may generate soft dollars used to purchase brokerage or research services that ultimately benefit other accounts managed by the Sub-Adviser, effectively cross subsidizing the other accounts managed by the Sub-Adviser that benefit directly from the product. The Sub-Adviser may not necessarily use all of the brokerage or research services in connection with managing the Fund whose trades generated the soft dollars used to purchase such products.
The Sub-Adviser is responsible, subject to oversight by the Adviser and the Board, for placing orders on behalf of the Fund for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities. If purchases or sales of portfolio securities of the Fund and one or more other investment companies or clients supervised by the Sub-Adviser are considered at or about the same time, transactions in such securities are allocated among the several investment companies and clients in a manner deemed equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to all by the Sub-Adviser. In some cases, this procedure could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security so far as the Fund is concerned. However, in other cases, it is possible that the ability to participate in volume transactions and to negotiate lower brokerage commissions will be beneficial to the Fund. The primary consideration is prompt execution of orders at the most favorable net price.
The Fund may deal with affiliates in principal transactions to the extent permitted by exemptive order or applicable rule or regulation.
The Fund is new and had not paid any brokerage commissions as of the date of this SAI.
Brokerage with Fund Affiliates. The 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 1934 Act and rules promulgated by the SEC. These rules require that commissions paid to the affiliate by the Fund for exchange transactions not exceed “usual and customary” brokerage commissions. The rules define “usual and customary” commissions to include amounts which are “reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time.” The Trustees, including those who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, have adopted procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of commissions paid to affiliates and review these procedures periodically.
Securities of “Regular Broker-Dealers.” The Fund is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers or dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that it may hold at the close of its most recent fiscal year. “Regular brokers or dealers” of the Fund are the ten brokers or dealers that, during the most recent fiscal year: (i) received the greatest dollar amounts of brokerage commissions from the Fund’s portfolio transactions; (ii) engaged as principal in the largest dollar amounts of portfolio transactions of the Fund; or (iii) sold the largest dollar amounts of Shares.
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
The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) acts as securities depositary for Shares. Shares are represented by securities registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC. Except in limited circumstances set forth below, certificates will not be issued for Shares.
DTC is a limited-purpose trust company that was created to hold securities of its participants (the “DTC 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 New York Stock Exchange (“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 is limited to DTC Participants, Indirect Participants, and persons holding interests through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in Shares (owners of such beneficial interests are referred to in this SAI as “Beneficial Owners”) is shown on, and the transfer of ownership is effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to DTC Participants) and on the records of DTC Participants (with respect to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners that are not DTC Participants). Beneficial Owners will receive from or through the DTC Participant a written confirmation relating to their purchase of Shares. The Trust recognizes DTC or its nominee as the record owner of all Shares for all purposes. Beneficial Owners of Shares are not entitled to have Shares registered in their names, and will not receive or be entitled to physical delivery of Share certificates. Each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of DTC and any DTC Participant and/or Indirect Participant through which such Beneficial Owner holds its interests, to exercise any rights of a holder of Shares.
Conveyance of all notices, statements, and other communications to Beneficial Owners is effected as follows. DTC will make available to the Trust upon request and for a fee a listing of Shares held by each DTC Participant. The Trust shall obtain from each such DTC Participant the number of Beneficial Owners holding Shares, directly or indirectly, through such DTC Participant. The Trust shall provide each such DTC Participant with copies of such notice, statement, or other communication, in such form, number and at such place as such DTC Participant may reasonably request, in order that such notice, statement or communication may be transmitted by such DTC Participant, directly or indirectly, to such Beneficial Owners. In addition, the Trust shall pay to each such DTC Participant a fair and reasonable amount as reimbursement for the expenses attendant to such transmittal, all subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
Share distributions shall be made to DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., as the registered holder of all Shares. DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any such distributions, shall credit immediately DTC Participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the Fund as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. Payments by DTC Participants to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners of Shares held through such DTC Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in a “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such DTC Participants.
The Trust has no responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or notices to Beneficial Owners, or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in Shares, or for maintaining, supervising, or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests, or for any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and the DTC Participants or the relationship between such DTC Participants and the Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners owning through such DTC Participants.
DTC may determine to discontinue providing its service with respect to the Fund at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Fund and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the Fund shall take action either to find a replacement for DTC to perform its functions at a comparable cost or, if such replacement is unavailable, to issue and deliver printed certificates representing ownership of Shares, unless the Trust makes other arrangements with respect thereto satisfactory to the Exchange.
PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS
The 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 principally in-kind for securities or in cash for the value of such securities. The NAV of the 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 only in Creation Units on a continuous basis through the Distributor, without a sales load (but subject to transaction fees, if applicable), at their NAV next determined after receipt, on any Business Day, of an order in proper form. The NAV of Shares is calculated each Business Day as of the scheduled close of regular trading on the NYSE, generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time. The Fund will not issue fractional Creation Units. A “Business Day” is any day on which the NYSE is open for business. As of the date of this SAI, the NYSE observes the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President’s Day (Washington’s Birthday), Good Friday, Memorial Day (observed), Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Fund Deposit. The Fund has adopted policies and procedures governing the process of constructing baskets of Deposit Securities (defined below), Fund Securities (defined below) and/or cash, and acceptance of the same (the “Basket Procedures”). The consideration for purchase of a Creation Unit of the 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 the 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 to replace any Deposit Security. When accepting purchases of Creation Units for cash, the 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 the Fund. The “Cash Component” is an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of Shares (per Creation Unit) and the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable. If the Cash Component is a positive number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit exceeds the 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 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).
The 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 the Fund. Such Fund Deposit is subject to any applicable adjustments as described below, in order to effect purchases of Creation Units of the Fund until such time as the next-announced composition of the Deposit Securities or the required amount of Deposit Cash, as applicable, is made available.
The identity and number of Shares of the Deposit Securities or the amount of Deposit Cash, as applicable, required for a Fund Deposit for the Fund may be changed from time to time by the Adviser, in accordance with the Basket Procedures, with a view to the investment objective of the Fund. Information regarding the Fund Deposit necessary for the purchase of a Creation Unit is made available to Authorized Participants and other market participants seeking to transact in Creation Unit aggregations. The composition of the Deposit Securities may also change in response to portfolio adjustments, interest payments and corporate action events.
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; (iii) may not be eligible for trading by an Authorized Participant 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. The Trust may at its discretion permit full or partial cash purchases of Creation Units of the Fund. When full or partial cash purchases of Creation Units are available or specified for the 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 the Fund, an entity must be (i) a “Participating Party” (i.e., a broker-dealer or other participant in the clearing process through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC (the “Clearing Process”)), a clearing agency that is registered with the SEC; or (ii) a DTC Participant (see “Book Entry Only System”). In addition, each Participating Party or DTC Participant (each, an “Authorized Participant”) must execute a Participant Agreement that has been agreed to by the Distributor, and that has been accepted by the Transfer Agent, 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 (described below), if applicable, and any other applicable fees and taxes.
All orders to purchase Shares directly from the Fund, including custom orders, must be placed for one or more Creation Units and in the manner and by the time set forth in the Participant Agreement and/or applicable order form. With respect to the Fund, the order cut-off time for orders to purchase Creation Units is 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, which time may be modified by the Fund from time-to-time by amendment to the Participant Agreement and/or applicable order form. In addition, orders to purchase Creation Units on the next Business Day may be submitted as a “Future Dated Trade” between 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time and 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time on the prior Business Day. Such times may be modified by the Fund from time-to-time by amendment to 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 the Fund in Creation Units have to be placed by the investor’s broker through an Authorized Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement. In such cases there may be additional charges to such investor. At any given time, there may be only a limited number of broker-dealers that have executed a Participant Agreement and only a small number of such Authorized Participants may have international capabilities.
On days when the Exchange closes earlier than normal, the Fund may require orders to create Creation Units to be placed earlier in the day. In addition, if a market or markets on which the Fund’s investments are primarily traded is closed, the Fund will also generally not accept orders on such day(s). Orders must be transmitted by an Authorized Participant by telephone or other transmission method acceptable to the Transfer Agent pursuant to procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement and in accordance with the applicable order form. On behalf of the Fund, the Transfer Agent 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 Transfer Agent by the cut-off time on such Business Day. Economic or market disruptions or changes, or telephone or other communication failure may impede the ability to reach the Transfer Agent or an Authorized Participant.
Fund Deposits must be delivered by an Authorized Participant through the Federal Reserve System (for cash) or through DTC (for corporate securities), through a subcustody agent (for foreign securities) and/or through such other arrangements allowed by the Trust or its agents. With respect to foreign Deposit Securities, the Custodian shall cause the subcustodian of the Fund to maintain an account into which the Authorized Participant shall deliver, on behalf of itself or the party on whose behalf it is acting, such Deposit Securities (or Deposit Cash for all or a part of such securities, as permitted or required), with any appropriate adjustments as advised by the Trust. Foreign Deposit Securities must be delivered to an account maintained at the applicable local subcustodian. A Fund Deposit transfer must be ordered by the Authorized Participant in a timely fashion to ensure the delivery of the requisite number of Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, to the account of the Fund or its agents by no later than 12:00 p.m. Eastern time (or such other time as specified by the Trust) on the Settlement Date. If the Fund or its agents do not receive all of the Deposit Securities, or the required Deposit Cash in lieu thereof, by such time, then the order may be deemed rejected and the Authorized Participant shall be liable to the Fund for losses, if any, resulting therefrom. The “Settlement Date” for the 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 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. Upon written notice to the Transfer Agent, such canceled order may be resubmitted the following Business Day using a Fund Deposit as newly constituted to reflect the then current NAV of the Fund.
The order shall be deemed to be received on the Business Day on which the order is placed provided that the order is placed in proper form prior to the applicable cut-off time and the federal funds in the appropriate amount are deposited 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 on the Settlement Date, then the order may be deemed to be rejected and the Authorized Participant shall be liable to the Fund for losses, if any, resulting therefrom. A creation request is in “proper form” if all procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement, order form and this SAI are properly followed.
Issuance of a Creation Unit. Except as provided in this SAI, Creation Units will not be issued until the transfer of good title to the Trust of the Deposit Securities or payment of Deposit Cash, as applicable, and the payment of the Cash Component have been completed. When the subcustodian has confirmed to the Custodian that the required Deposit Securities (or the cash value thereof) have been delivered to the account of the relevant subcustodian or subcustodians, the Distributor and the Adviser shall be notified of such delivery, and the Trust will issue and cause the delivery of the Creation Units. The delivery of Creation Units so created generally will occur no later than the second Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Transfer Agent. The Authorized Participant shall be liable to the Fund for losses, if any, resulting from unsettled orders.
In instances where the Trust accepts Deposit Securities for the purchase of a Creation Unit, the 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 Shares on the date the order is placed in proper form since, in addition to available Deposit Securities, cash must be deposited in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Cash Component, plus (ii) an additional amount of cash equal to a percentage of the 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 12:00 p.m. Eastern time (or such other time as specified by the Trust) on the Settlement Date. If the 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 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 market value of the missing Deposit Securities. The Participant Agreement will permit the Trust to buy the missing Deposit Securities at any time. Authorized Participants will be liable to the Trust for the costs incurred by the Trust in connection with any such purchases. These costs will be deemed to include the amount by which the actual purchase price of the Deposit Securities exceeds the value of such Deposit Securities on the day the purchase order was deemed received by the Transfer Agent plus the brokerage and related transaction costs associated with such purchases. The Trust will return any unused portion of the Additional Cash Deposit once all of the missing Deposit Securities have been properly received by the Custodian or purchased by the Trust and deposited into the Trust. In addition, a transaction fee, as described below under “Creation Transaction Fee,” may be charged and an additional variable charge may also be applied, as described below. The delivery of Creation Units so created generally will occur no later than the Settlement Date.
Acceptance of Orders of Creation Units. The Trust reserves the absolute right to reject an order for Creation Units transmitted to it by the Transfer Agent with respect to the Fund including, without limitation, if (a) the order is not in proper form; (b) the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, delivered by the Participant are not as disseminated through the facilities of the NSCC for that date by the Custodian; (c) the investor(s), upon obtaining Shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding Shares; (d) acceptance of the Deposit Securities would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Fund; (e) the acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (f) the acceptance of the Fund Deposit would otherwise, in the discretion of the Trust or the Adviser, have an adverse effect on the Trust or the rights of beneficial owners; (g) the acceptance or receipt of the order for a Creation Unit would, in the opinion of counsel to the Trust, be unlawful; or (h) in the event that circumstances outside the control of the Trust, the Custodian, the Transfer Agent and/or the Adviser make it for all practical purposes not feasible to process orders for Creation Units.
Examples of such circumstances include acts of God or public service or utility problems such as fires, floods, extreme weather conditions and power outages resulting in telephone, telecopy and computer failures; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving computer or other information systems affecting the Trust, the Distributor, the Custodian, a sub- custodian, the Transfer Agent, DTC, NSCC, Federal Reserve System, or any other participant in the creation process, and other extraordinary events. The Transfer Agent 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 Unit Transaction Fee. A fixed purchase (i.e., creation) transaction fee, payable to the Fund’s custodian, may be imposed for the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the purchase of Creation Units (“Creation Order Costs”). The standard fixed creation unit transaction fee for the Fund, regardless of the number of Creation Units created in the transaction, is $250. The Fund may adjust the standard fixed creation unit transaction fee from time to time. The fixed creation unit transaction fee may be waived on certain orders if the Fund’s 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.
In addition, a variable fee, payable to the Fund, of up to a maximum of 2% of the value of the Creation Units subject to the transaction may be imposed for cash purchases, non-standard orders, or partial cash purchases of Creation Units. The variable charge is primarily designed to cover additional costs (e.g., brokerage, taxes) involved with buying the securities with cash. The Fund may determine to not 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 the Fund’s portfolio in a more tax efficient manner than could be achieved without such order.
Investors who use the services of a broker or other such intermediary may be charged a fee for such services. Investors are responsible for the fixed costs of transferring the Fund Securities from the Trust to their account or on their order.
Risks of Purchasing Creation Units. There are certain legal risks unique to investors purchasing Creation Units directly from the Fund. Because 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 the 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 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 may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their NAV next determined after receipt of a redemption request in proper form by the Fund through the Transfer Agent and only on a Business Day. EXCEPT UPON LIQUIDATION OF THE FUND, THE TRUST WILL NOT REDEEM SHARES IN AMOUNTS LESS THAN CREATION UNITS. Investors must accumulate enough Shares in the secondary market to constitute a Creation Unit in order to have such Shares redeemed by the Trust. There can be no assurance, however, that there will be sufficient liquidity in the public trading market at any time to permit assembly of a Creation Unit. Investors should expect to incur brokerage and other costs in connection with assembling a sufficient number of Shares to constitute a redeemable Creation Unit.
With respect to the 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.
Redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit are paid either in-kind or in cash, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Trust in accordance with the Basket Procedures. With respect to in-kind redemptions of the 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 Shares being redeemed, as next determined after a receipt of a request in proper form, and the value of the Fund Securities (the “Cash Redemption Amount”), less a fixed redemption transaction fee, as applicable, and additional variable charge as set forth below. In the event that the Fund Securities have a value greater than the NAV of Shares, a compensating cash payment equal to the differential is required to be made by or through an Authorized Participant by the redeeming shareholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the Trust’s discretion, an Authorized Participant may receive the corresponding cash value of the securities in lieu of the in-kind securities value representing one or more Fund Securities.
Cash Redemption. Full or partial cash redemptions of Creation Units 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, payable to the Fund’s custodian, may be imposed for the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the redemption of Creation Units (“Redemption Order Costs”). The standard fixed redemption transaction fee for the Fund, regardless of the number of Creation Units redeemed in the transaction, is $250. The Fund may adjust the redemption transaction fee from time to time. The fixed redemption fee may be waived on certain orders if the Fund’s 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 the Fund, of up to a maximum of 2% of the value of the Creation Units subject to the transaction may be imposed for cash redemptions, non-standard orders, or partial cash redemptions (when cash redemptions are available) of Creation Units. The variable charge is primarily designed to cover additional costs (e.g., brokerage, taxes) involved with selling portfolio securities to satisfy a cash redemption. The Fund may determine to not 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 changes to the Fund’s portfolio in a more tax efficient manner than could be achieved without such order.
Investors who use the services of a broker or other such intermediary may be charged a fee for such services. Investors are responsible for the fixed costs of transferring the Fund Securities from the Trust to their account or on their order.
Procedures for Redemption of Creation Units. Orders to redeem Creation Units of the Fund must be submitted in proper form to the Transfer Agent prior to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. In addition, orders to redeem Creation Units on the next Business Day may be submitted as a “Future Dated Trade” between 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time and 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time on the prior Business Day. A redemption request is considered to be in “proper form” if (i) an Authorized Participant has transferred or caused to be transferred to the Trust’s Transfer Agent the Creation Unit(s) being redeemed through the book-entry system of DTC so as to be effective by the time as set forth in the Participant Agreement and (ii) a request in form satisfactory to the Trust is received by the Transfer Agent from the Authorized Participant on behalf of itself or another redeeming investor within the time periods specified in the Participant Agreement. If the Transfer Agent does not receive the investor’s Shares through DTC’s facilities by the times and pursuant to the other terms and conditions set forth in the Participant Agreement, the redemption request shall be rejected.
The Authorized Participant must transmit the request for redemption, in the form required by the Trust, to the Transfer Agent in accordance with procedures set forth in the Authorized Participant Agreement. Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not have executed an Authorized Participant Agreement, and that, therefore, requests to redeem Creation Units may have to be placed by the investor’s broker through an Authorized Participant who has executed an Authorized Participant Agreement. Investors making a redemption request should be aware that such request must be in the form specified by such Authorized Participant.
Investors making a request to redeem Creation Units should allow sufficient time to permit proper submission of the request by an Authorized Participant and transfer of the Shares to the 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.
The Trust may, in its discretion and in accordance with the Basket Procedures, exercise its option to redeem such Shares in cash, and the redeeming investor will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash. In addition, an investor may request a redemption in cash that the Fund may, in its sole discretion, permit. In either case, the investor will receive a cash payment equal to the NAV of its Shares based on the NAV of Shares of the Fund next determined after the redemption request is received in proper form (minus a redemption transaction fee, if applicable, and additional charge for requested cash redemptions specified above, to offset the Trust’s brokerage and other transaction costs associated with the disposition of Fund Securities). The Fund may also, in its sole discretion, and in accordance with the Basket Procedures, 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.
Redemptions of Shares for Fund Securities will be subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and the Fund (whether or not it otherwise permits cash redemptions) reserves the right to redeem Creation Units for cash to the extent that the Trust could not lawfully deliver specific Fund Securities upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Fund Securities under such laws. An Authorized Participant or an investor for which it is acting subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular security included in the Fund Securities applicable to the redemption of Creation Units may be paid an equivalent amount of cash. The Authorized Participant may request the redeeming investor of the Shares to complete an order form or to enter into agreements with respect to such matters as compensating cash payment. Further, an Authorized Participant that is not a “qualified institutional buyer,” (“QIB”) as such term is defined under Rule 144A of the Securities Act, will not be able to receive Fund Securities that are restricted securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A. An Authorized Participant may be required by the Trust to provide a written confirmation with respect to QIB status to receive Fund Securities.
Because the portfolio securities of the Fund may trade on other exchanges on days that the Exchange is closed or are otherwise not Business Days for the Fund, shareholders may not be able to redeem their Shares, or to purchase or sell Shares on the Exchange, on days when the NAV of the Fund could be significantly affecting by events in the relevant foreign markets.
The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed with respect to the Fund (1) for any period during which the Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); (2) for any period during which trading on the Exchange is suspended or restricted; (3) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of the Shares of the Fund or determination of the NAV of the Shares is not reasonably practicable; or (4) in such other circumstance as is permitted by the SEC.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
NAV per Share for the Fund is computed by dividing the value of the net assets of the Fund (i.e., the value of its total assets less total liabilities) by the total number of Shares 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 the Fund is calculated by Fund Services and determined at the scheduled close of the regular trading session on the NYSE (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on each day that the NYSE is open, provided that fixed-income assets may be valued as of the announced closing time for trading in fixed-income instruments on any day that the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (“SIFMA”) announces an early closing time.
In calculating the Fund’s NAV per Share, the Fund’s investments are generally valued using market valuations. A market valuation generally means a valuation (i) obtained from an exchange, a pricing service, or a major market maker (or dealer), (ii) based on a price quotation or other equivalent indication of value supplied by an exchange, a pricing service, or a major market maker (or dealer) or (iii) based on amortized cost. In the case of shares of other funds that are not traded on an exchange, a market valuation means such fund’s published NAV per share. The Fund 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.
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 at least annually by the Fund. Distributions of net realized securities gains, if any, generally are declared and paid once a year, but the Fund may make distributions on a more
frequent basis to comply with the distribution requirements of the Code, in all events in a manner consistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act.
Dividends and other distributions on Shares are distributed, as described below, on a pro rata basis to Beneficial Owners of such Shares. Dividend payments are made through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners then of record with proceeds received from the Trust.
The Fund makes additional distributions to the extent necessary (i) to distribute the entire annual taxable income of the Fund, plus any net capital gains and (ii) to avoid imposition of the excise tax imposed by Section 4982 of the 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 the 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 the 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 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 Fund at NAV per Share. Distributions reinvested in additional Shares will nevertheless be taxable to Beneficial Owners acquiring such additional Shares to the same extent as if such distributions had been received in cash.
FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
The following is only a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that supplements the discussion in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a comprehensive explanation of the federal, state, local or foreign tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended to be a substitute for careful tax planning.
The following general discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences is based on provisions of the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. New legislation, as well as administrative changes or court decisions, may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein.
Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors 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, foreign or local taxes.
Taxation of the Fund. The Fund intends to elect and to qualify each year to be treated as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the Code. As such, the Fund should not be subject to federal income taxes on its net investment income and capital gains, if any, to the extent that it timely distributes such income and capital gains to its shareholders. To qualify for treatment as a RIC, the Fund must distribute annually to its shareholders at least the sum of 90% of its net investment income (generally including the excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses) and 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income, if any (the “Distribution Requirement”) and also must meet several additional requirements. Among these requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of the Fund’s gross income each taxable year must be derived 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 derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or foreign currencies and net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “Qualifying Income Requirement”); and (ii) at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, the Fund’s assets must be diversified so that (a) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect to any one issuer, to an amount not greater in value than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and to not more than 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 the 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, the securities (other than securities of other RICs) of two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “Diversification Requirement”).
To the extent the Fund makes investments that may generate income that is not qualifying income, including certain derivatives, the Fund will seek to restrict the resulting income from such investments so that the Fund’s non-qualifying income does not exceed 10% of its gross income.
Although the Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and may distribute its capital gains for any taxable year, the Fund will be subject to federal income taxation to the extent any such income or gains are not distributed. The Fund is treated as a separate corporation for federal income tax purposes. The Fund therefore is considered to be a separate entity in determining its treatment under the rules for RICs described herein. The requirements (other than certain organizational requirements) for qualifying RIC status are determined at the fund level rather than at the Trust level.
If the Fund fails to satisfy the Qualifying Income Requirement or the Diversification Requirement in any taxable year, the 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 Diversification Requirement where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period of time. To be eligible for the relief provisions with respect to a failure to meet the Diversification Requirement, the Fund may be required to dispose of certain assets. If these relief provisions were not available to the Fund and it were to fail to qualify for treatment as a RIC for a taxable year, all of its taxable income would be subject to tax at the regular corporate rate without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and its distributions (including capital gains distributions) generally would be taxable to the shareholders of the Fund as ordinary income dividends, subject to the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders and the lower tax rates on qualified dividend income received by non- corporate shareholders, subject to certain limitations. To requalify for treatment as a RIC in a subsequent taxable year, the Fund would be required to satisfy the RIC qualification requirements for that year and to distribute any earnings and profits from any year in which the Fund failed to qualify for tax treatment as a RIC. If the Fund failed to qualify as a RIC for a period greater than two taxable years, it would generally be required to pay a Fund-level tax on certain net built in gains recognized with respect to certain of its assets upon a disposition of such assets within five years of qualifying as a RIC in a subsequent year. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Fund for treatment as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders. If the Fund determines that it will not qualify as a RIC, the Fund will establish procedures to reflect the anticipated tax liability in the Fund’s NAV.
The 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 the 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, the Fund may carry a net capital loss from any taxable year forward indefinitely to offset its capital gains, if any, in years following the year of the loss. To the extent subsequent capital gains are offset by such losses, they will not result in U.S. federal income tax liability to the Fund and may not be distributed as capital gains to its shareholders. Generally, the 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 the Fund experiences an ownership change as defined in the Code.
The Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax on certain 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 plus 98.2% of its capital gain net income for the one-year period ending on October 31 of that 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 the Fund and subject to corporate income tax will be considered to have been distributed. The Fund intends to declare and distribute dividends and distributions in the amounts and at the times necessary to avoid the application of the excise tax, but can make no assurances that all such tax liability will be eliminated. The 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 the Fund to satisfy the requirement for qualification as a RIC.
If the Fund meets the Distribution Requirement but retains some or all of its income or gains, it will be subject to federal income tax to the extent any such income or gains are not distributed. The 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 the Fund on that undistributed amount against their federal income tax liabilities and to claim refunds to the extent such credits exceed their tax liabilities, and (iii) will be entitled to increase their tax basis, for federal income tax purposes, in their Shares 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.
Taxation of Shareholders – Distributions. The Fund intends to distribute annually to its shareholders substantially all of its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to the deduction for dividends paid), its net tax-exempt income, if any, and any net capital gain (net recognized long-term capital gains in excess of net recognized short-term capital losses, taking into account any capital loss carryforwards). The distribution of investment company taxable income (as so computed) and net realized capital gain will be taxable to Fund shareholders regardless of whether the shareholder receives these distributions in cash or reinvests them in additional Shares.
The Fund (or your broker) will report to shareholders annually the amounts of dividends paid from ordinary income, the amount of distributions of net capital gain, the portion of dividends which may qualify for the dividends received deduction for corporations, and
the portion of dividends which may qualify for treatment as qualified dividend income, which, subject to certain limitations and requirements, is taxable to non-corporate shareholders at rates of up to 20%.
Qualified dividend income includes, in general, subject to certain holding period and other requirements, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations. Subject to certain limitations, eligible foreign corporations include those incorporated in possessions of the United States, those incorporated 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. Dividends received by the Fund from an ETF, an underlying fund taxable as a RIC or from a REIT may be treated as qualified dividend income generally only to the extent so reported by such ETF, underlying fund or REIT. If 95% or more of the Fund’s gross income (calculated without taking into account net capital gain derived from sales or other dispositions of stock or securities) consists of qualified dividend income, the Fund may report all distributions of such income as qualified dividend income.
Fund dividends will not be treated as qualified dividend income if the Fund does not meet holding period and other requirements with respect to dividend paying stocks in its portfolio, and the shareholder does not meet holding period and other requirements with respect to the Shares on which the dividends were paid. Certain of the Fund’s investment strategies may limit its ability to distribute dividends eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income.
Distributions by the Fund of its net short-term capital gains will be taxable as ordinary income. Distributions from the Fund’s net capital gain will be taxable to shareholders at long-term capital gains rates, regardless of how long shareholders have held their Shares. Distributions may be subject to state and local taxes.
In the case of corporate shareholders, certain dividends received by the Fund from U.S. corporations (generally, dividends received by the Fund in respect of any share of stock (1) with a tax holding period of at least 46 days during the 91-day period beginning on the date that is 45 days before the date on which the stock becomes ex-dividend as to that dividend and (2) that is held in an unleveraged position) and distributed and appropriately so reported by the Fund may be eligible for the 50% dividends received deduction. Certain preferred stock must have a holding period of at least 91 days during the 181-day period beginning on the date that is 90 days before the date on which the stock becomes ex-dividend as to that dividend to be eligible. Capital gain dividends distributed to the Fund from other RICs and dividends distributed to the Fund from REITs are generally not eligible for the dividends received deduction. To qualify for the deduction, corporate shareholders must meet the minimum holding period requirement stated above with respect to their Shares, taking into account any holding period reductions from certain hedging or other transactions or positions that diminish their risk of loss with respect to their Shares, and, if they borrow to acquire or otherwise incur debt attributable to Shares, they may be denied a portion of the dividends received deduction with respect to those Shares. Certain of the Fund’s investment strategies may limit its ability to distribute dividends eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.
Although dividends generally will be treated as distributed when paid, any dividend declared by the 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.
Shareholders who have not held Shares for a full year should be aware that the Fund may report and distribute, as ordinary dividends or capital gain dividends, a percentage of income that is not equal to the percentage of the Fund’s ordinary income or net capital gain, respectively, actually earned during the applicable shareholder’s period of investment in the Fund. A taxable shareholder may wish to avoid investing in the 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.
To the extent that the Fund makes a distribution of income received by the Fund in lieu of dividends (a “substitute payment”) with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction, such income will not constitute qualified dividend income to individual shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.
If the Fund’s distributions exceed its earnings and profits, all or a portion of the distributions made for a taxable year may be recharacterized as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution will generally not be taxable, but will reduce each shareholder’s cost basis in the Fund 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.
Taxation of Shareholders – Sale, Redemption or Exchange of Shares. A sale, redemption, or exchange of Shares may give rise to a gain or loss. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if Shares have been held for more than 12 months. Otherwise, the gain or loss on the taxable disposition of Shares will generally be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss, rather than short-term capital loss, to the extent of any amounts treated as distributions to the shareholder of long-term capital gain (including any amounts credited to the shareholder as undistributed capital gains). All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Shares may be disallowed if substantially identical Shares are acquired (through the reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly acquired Shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
The cost basis of Shares acquired by purchase will generally be based on the amount paid for Shares and then may be subsequently adjusted for other applicable transactions as required by the 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.
An Authorized Participant who exchanges securities for Creation Units generally will recognize a gain or a loss. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the market value of the Creation Units at the time and the sum of the exchanger’s aggregate basis in the securities surrendered plus the amount of cash paid for such Creation Units. The ability of Authorized Participants to receive a full or partial cash redemption of Creation Units of the Fund may limit the tax efficiency of the Fund. A person who redeems Creation Units will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the exchanger’s basis in the Creation Units and the sum of the aggregate market value of any securities received plus the amount of any cash received for such Creation Units. The Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), however, may assert that a loss realized upon an exchange of securities for Creation Units cannot currently be deducted under the rules governing “wash sales” (for a person who does not mark-to-market its portfolio) or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position.
Any gain or loss realized upon a creation or redemption of Creation Units will be treated as capital or ordinary gain or loss, depending on the holder’s circumstances. Any capital gain or loss realized upon a redemption of Creation Units will generally be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares comprising the Creation Units have been held for more than one year. Otherwise, such capital gains or losses will be treated as short-term capital gains or losses. Any capital loss realized upon a redemption of Creation Units held for six months or less should be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as distributions to the applicable Authorized Participant of long-term capital gains with respect to the Creation Units (including any amounts credited to the Authorized Participant as undistributed capital gains).
The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has the right to reject an order for Creation Units if the purchaser (or a group of purchasers) would, upon obtaining the Creation Units so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding Shares and if, pursuant to Section 351 of the Code, the Fund would have a basis in the deposit securities different from the market value of such securities on the date of deposit. The Trust also has the right to require the provision of information necessary to determine beneficial Share ownership for purposes of the 80% determination. If the Fund does issue Creation Units to a purchaser (or a group of purchasers) that would, upon obtaining the Creation Units so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding Shares, the purchaser (or a group of purchasers) will not recognize gain or loss upon the exchange of securities for Creation Units.
Authorized Participants purchasing or redeeming Creation Units should consult their own tax advisers with respect to the tax treatment of any creation or redemption transaction and whether the wash sales rule applies and when a loss may be deductible.
Taxation of Shareholders – Net Investment Income Tax. U.S. individuals with adjusted gross income (subject to certain adjustments) exceeding certain threshold amounts ($250,000 if married 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,” which includes taxable interest, dividends, and certain capital gains (generally including capital gain distributions and capital gains realized on the sale of Shares). 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.
Foreign Investments. Dividends and interest received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. Tax treaties between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes. The Fund does not expect to satisfy the requirements for passing through to its shareholders any share of foreign taxes paid by the Fund, with the result that shareholders will not include such taxes in their gross incomes and will not be entitled to a tax deduction or credit for such taxes on their own tax returns.
If more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets at the close of any taxable year consists of stock or securities of foreign corporations or ADRs, which for this purpose may include obligations of foreign governmental issuers, the Fund may elect, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to treat any foreign income or withholding taxes paid by the Fund as paid by its shareholders. For any year that the Fund is eligible for and makes such an election, each shareholder of the Fund will be required to include in income an amount equal to his or her allocable share of qualified foreign income taxes paid by the Fund, and shareholders will be entitled, subject to certain holding period requirements and other limitations, to credit their portions of these amounts against their U.S. federal income tax due, if any, or to deduct their portions from their U.S. taxable income, if any. No deductions for foreign taxes paid by the Fund may be claimed, however, by non- corporate shareholders who do not itemize deductions. No deduction for such taxes will be permitted to individuals in computing their alternative minimum tax liability. Shareholders that are not subject to U.S. federal income tax, and those who invest in the Fund through tax-advantaged accounts (including those who invest through individual retirement accounts or other tax-advantaged retirement plans), generally will receive no benefit from any tax credit or deduction passed through by the Fund. Foreign taxes paid by the Fund will reduce the return from the Fund’s investments. If the Fund makes the election, the Fund’s shareholders will be notified annually by the Fund (or their broker) of the respective amounts per share of the Fund’s income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions. If the Fund does not hold sufficient foreign securities to
meet the above threshold, then shareholders will not be entitled to claim a credit or further deduction with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund.
If the Fund holds shares in a “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”), it may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a portion of any “excess distribution” or gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a taxable dividend by the Fund to its shareholders. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed on the Fund in respect of deferred taxes arising from such distributions or gains.
The Fund may be eligible to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (“QEF”) under the Code in which case, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, the Fund will be required to include in income each year a portion of the ordinary earnings and net capital gains of the qualified electing fund, even if not distributed to the Fund, and such amounts will be subject to the 90% and excise tax distribution requirements described above. In order to make this election, the Fund would be required to obtain certain annual information from the PFICs in which it invests, which may be difficult or impossible to obtain. Alternatively, the Fund may make a mark-to-market election that will result in the Fund being treated as if it had sold and repurchased its PFIC stock at the end of each year. In such case, the Fund would report any gains resulting from such deemed sales as ordinary income and would deduct any losses resulting from such deemed sales as ordinary losses to the extent of previously recognized gains. The election must be made separately for each PFIC owned by the Fund and, once made, is effective for all subsequent taxable years, unless revoked with the consent of the IRS. By making the election, the Fund could potentially ameliorate the adverse tax consequences with respect to its ownership of shares in a PFIC, but in any particular year may be required to recognize income in excess of the distributions it receives from PFICs and its proceeds from dispositions of PFIC stock. The Fund may have to distribute this excess income to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement and to avoid imposition of the 4% excise tax. In order to distribute this income and avoid a tax at the fund level, the Fund might be required to liquidate portfolio securities that it might otherwise have continued to hold, potentially resulting in additional taxable gain or loss. Amounts included in income each year by the Fund arising from a QEF election will be “qualifying income” under the Qualifying Income Requirement (as described above) even if not distributed to the Fund, if the Fund derives such income from its business of investing in stock, securities or currencies.
Under Section 988 of the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates which occur between the time the Fund accrues income or other receivables or accrues expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the 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 financial instruments (such as forward currency contracts and currency swaps), 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 settlement or disposition are also treated as ordinary gain or loss. The gains and losses may increase or decrease the amount of the Fund’s income to be distributed to its shareholders as ordinary income. The Fund may elect out of the application of Section 988 of the Code with respect to the tax treatment of each of its foreign currency forward contracts to the extent that (i) such contract is a capital asset in the hands of the Fund and is not part of a straddle transaction and (ii) the Fund makes an election by the close of the day the contract is entered into to treat the gain or loss attributable to such contract as capital gain or loss.
The U.S. Treasury Department has authority to issue regulations that would exclude foreign currency gains from the Qualifying Income Requirement described above if such gains are not directly related to the Fund’s business of investing in stock or securities (or options and futures with respect to stock or securities). Accordingly, regulations may be issued in the future that could treat some or all of the Fund’s non-U.S. currency gains as non-qualifying income, thereby potentially jeopardizing the Fund’s status as a RIC for all years to which the regulations are applicable.
Tax Treatment of Complex Securities. Certain of the Fund’s investments may be subject to complex provisions of the 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 the Fund’s ability to qualify as a RIC, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund (e.g., 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 the 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 the Fund receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts sufficient to enable the Fund to satisfy the RIC distribution requirements for avoiding income and excise taxes. The Fund intends to monitor its transactions, intends to make appropriate tax elections, and intends to make appropriate entries in its books and records to mitigate the effect of these rules and preserve the Fund’s qualification for treatment as a RIC.
Certain derivative investments by the Fund, such as exchange-traded products and over-the-counter derivatives, may not produce qualifying income for purposes of the Qualifying Income Requirement described above, which must be met in order for the Fund to maintain its status as a RIC under the Code. In addition, the determination of the value and the identity of the issuer of such derivative investments are often unclear for purposes of the Diversification Requirement described above. The Fund intends to carefully monitor such investments to ensure that any non-qualifying income does not exceed permissible limits and to ensure that it is adequately diversified under the Diversification Requirement. The Fund, however, may not be able to accurately predict the non-qualifying income from these investments and there are no assurances that the IRS will agree with the Fund's determination of the Diversification
Requirement with respect to such derivatives. Failure to satisfy the Diversification Requirement might also result from a determination by the IRS that financial instruments in which the Fund invests are not securities.
The Fund is required for federal income tax purposes to mark to market and recognize as income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on certain futures and options contracts subject to section 1256 of the Code (“Section 1256 Contracts”) as of the end of the year as well as those actually realized during the year. Gain or loss from Section 1256 Contracts on broad-based indexes required to be marked to market will be 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Application of this rule may alter the timing and character of distributions to shareholders. The Fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on Section 1256 Contracts to the extent of any unrecognized gains on offsetting positions held by the Fund. These provisions may also require the 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 distribution requirement and for avoiding the excise tax discussed above. Accordingly, to avoid certain income and excise taxes, the Fund may be required to liquidate its investments at a time when the investment adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.
In general, for purposes of the Qualifying Income Requirement described above, income derived from a partnership will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership that would be qualifying income if realized directly by the Fund. However, 100% of the net income derived from an interest in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” (generally, a partnership (i) interests in which are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof, (ii) that derives at least 90% of its income from the passive income sources specified in Code section 7704(d), and (iii) that generally derives less than 90% of its income from the same sources as described in the Qualifying Income Requirement) will be treated as qualifying income. In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to RICs, such rules do apply to a RIC with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership.
The Fund may invest in certain MLPs which may be treated as qualified publicly traded partnerships. Income from qualified publicly traded partnerships is qualifying income for purposes of the Qualifying Income Requirement, but the Fund’s investment in one or more of such qualified publicly traded partnerships is limited under the Diversification Requirement to no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s assets. The Fund will monitor its investment in such qualified publicly traded partnerships in order to ensure compliance with the Qualifying Income and Diversification Requirements. MLPs deliver Schedule K-1 to the Fund to report its share of income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of the MLP. A Schedule K-1 may be delayed and may not be received until after the time that the Fund issues its tax reporting statements. As a result, the Fund may at times find it necessary to reclassify the amount and character of its distributions to you after it issues you your tax reporting statement.
“Qualified publicly traded partnership income” within the meaning of Section 199A(e)(5) of the Code is eligible for a 20% deduction by non-corporate taxpayers. Qualified publicly traded partnership income is generally income of a “publicly traded partnership” that is not treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is effectively connected with such entity’s trade or business, but does not include certain investment income. A “publicly traded partnership” for purposes of this deduction is not necessarily the same as a “qualified publicly traded partnership,” as defined above. This deduction, if allowed in full, equates to a maximum effective tax rate of 29.6% (37% top rate applied to income after 20% deduction). The Code does not contain a provision permitting a RIC, such as the Fund, to pass the special character of this income through to its shareholders. Currently, direct investors in entities that generate “qualified publicly traded partnership income” will enjoy the lower rate, but investors in RICs that invest in such entities will not. It is uncertain whether future technical corrections or administrative guidance will address this issue to enable the Fund to pass through the special character of “qualified publicly traded partnership income” to shareholders.
Backup Withholding. The Fund will be required in certain cases to withhold (as “backup withholding”) on amounts payable 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). The backup withholding rate is 24%. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s ultimate U.S. tax liability. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that have been subject to the 30% withholding tax on shareholders who are neither citizens nor permanent residents of the U.S.
Non-U.S. Shareholders. Any non-U.S. investors in the Fund may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are encouraged to consult their tax advisors prior to investing in the 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. The 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 the 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 the 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), the Fund is required to withhold 30% of certain ordinary dividends it pays to shareholders that fail to meet prescribed information reporting or certification requirements. 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 resident or doing business in a country that has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the United States to implement FATCA will be exempt from FATCA withholding provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of the agreement.
A non-U.S. entity that invests in the Fund will need to provide the fund with documentation properly certifying the entity’s status under FATCA in order to avoid FATCA withholding. Non-U.S. investors in the Fund should consult their tax advisors in this regard.
Tax-Exempt Shareholders. Certain tax-exempt shareholders, including qualified pension plans, individual retirement accounts, salary deferral arrangements, 401(k) plans, 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 unrelated trade or business against the income or gain of another unrelated 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, the Fund generally serves to block UBTI from being realized by its tax-exempt shareholders with respect to their shares of Fund income. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, tax-exempt shareholders could realize UBTI by virtue of their investment in the Fund if, for example, (i) the Fund invests in residual interests of Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (“REMICs”), (ii) the 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 constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholders within the meaning of section 514(b) of the Code. Charitable remainder trusts are subject to special rules and should consult their tax advisers. The IRS has issued guidance with respect to these issues and prospective shareholders, especially charitable remainder trusts, are strongly encouraged to consult with their tax advisers regarding these issues.
The 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. Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, shareholders should consult their tax advisors with specific reference to their own tax situations, including their state, local, and foreign tax liabilities.
Certain Potential Tax Reporting Requirements. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss on disposition of Shares 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. Significant penalties may be imposed for the failure to comply with the reporting requirements. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
Other Issues. In those states which have income tax laws, the tax treatment of the Fund and of Fund shareholders with respect to distributions by the Fund may differ from federal tax treatment.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Financial statements and Annual Reports will be available after the Fund has completed a fiscal year of operations. When available, you may request a copy of the Fund’s Annual Report at no charge by calling 1-800-617-0004, or through the Fund’s website at www.etf.grizzle.com.
Appendix A
EXCHANGE TRADED CONCEPTS, LLC
PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES
Exchange Traded Concepts (“Exchange Traded Concepts”) recognizes its obligation to vote proxies for investments held by clients over which it exercises discretionary voting authority in the clients’ best interest. Accordingly, Exchange Traded Concepts will vote all proxies and act on all other corporate actions in a timely manner in accordance with these proxy voting policies and procedures (the “Proxy Voting Policies”).
Exchange Traded Concepts acts as fiduciary in relation to the portfolios of ETF Series Solutions (each, a “Fund” and together, the “Funds”) and any other clients that it may manage in the future and the assets entrusted by such clients to Exchange Traded Concepts for their management. Except where the client has expressly, in writing, reserved to itself or another party the duty to vote proxies, or where a sub-adviser votes proxies on behalf of a Fund, it is Exchange Traded Concepts’ duty as a fiduciary to vote all proxies relating to such shares.
In order to carry out its responsibilities in regard to voting proxies, Exchange Traded Concepts must track all shareholder meetings convened by companies whose shares are held in Exchange Traded Concepts’ client accounts, including the Funds, identify all issues presented to shareholders at such meetings, formulate a principled position on each such issue and ensure that proxies pertaining to all shares owned in client accounts are voted in accordance with such determinations.
Pursuant to Rule 206(4)-6 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”), Exchange Traded Concepts: (a) has adopted and implemented these Proxy Voting Policies that are reasonably designed to ensure that Exchange Traded Concepts votes client securities in the best interests of its clients (which includes how Exchange Traded Concepts addresses material conflicts of interests); (b) will disclose to clients how they may obtain information on how Exchange Traded concepts voted their proxies; (c) will describe to clients its Proxy Voting Policies and, upon their request, furnish a copy to its clients; and (d) will maintain certain records relating to the proxy voting activities when an adviser does have proxy voting authority.
Exchange Traded Concepts shall utilize the formal proxy guidelines (set forth below) to appropriately assess each proxy issue. Generally, Exchange Traded Concepts seeks to vote proxies in the best interests of its clients, including the Funds. In the ordinary course, this entails voting proxies in a way which Exchange Traded Concepts believes will maximize the monetary value of each portfolio’s holdings. Exchange Traded Concepts’ Management Committee, which oversees proxy voting, will address any unusual or undefined voting issues that may arise during the year.
In addition, Exchange Traded Concepts may engage the services of an independent third party (“Proxy Firm”) to cast proxy votes according to Exchange Traded Concepts’ established guidelines. When Exchange Traded Concepts deems it in the best interest of clients, they may permit a sub-adviser to a Fund the authority to cast proxy votes either in accordance with Exchange Traded Concepts’ established guidelines or in accordance with the proxy voting policies submitted by that firm to and approved by the Board of Trustees of ETF Series Solutions. The Proxy Firm or sub-adviser will promptly notify Exchange Traded Concepts of any proxy issues that do not fall under the guidelines set forth below. Exchange Traded Concepts does not believe that conflicts of interest will generally arise in connection with its proxy voting policies.
Generally, Exchange Traded Concepts views that proxy proposals can be grouped into six broad categories as follows:
I.Election of Board of Directors
■Exchange Traded Concepts will generally vote in support of management’s nominees for the board of directors; however, Exchange Traded Concepts may choose not to support management’s proposed board if circumstances warrant such consideration.
II.Appointment of Independent Auditors
■Exchange Traded Concepts will support the recommendation of the respective corporation’s board of directors.
III.Issues of Corporate Structure and Shareholder Rights
■Proposals may originate from either management or shareholders, and among other things, may request revisions to the corporate bylaws that will affect shareholder ownership rights. Exchange Traded Concepts does not generally support obstacles erected by corporations to prevent mergers or takeovers with the view that such actions may depress the corporation’s marketplace value.
■Exchange Traded Concepts supports the following types of corporate structure and shareholder rights proposals:
◦Management proposals for approval of stock repurchase programs, stock splits (including reverse splits)
◦Authorization to increase shares outstanding
◦The ability of shareholders to vote on shareholder rights plans (poison pills)
◦Shareholder rights to eliminate or remove super majority provisions
◦Shareholder rights to call special meetings and to act by written consent
■Exchange Traded Concepts votes against management on the following items which have potentially substantial financial or best interest impact:
◦Capitalization changes that add “blank check” classes of stock or classes that dilute the voting interests of existing shareholders which are contrary to the best interest of existing shareholders, anti-takeover and related provisions that serve to prevent the majority of shareholders from exercising their rights or effectively deter appropriate tender offers and other offers
◦Amendments to bylaws which would require super-majority shareholder votes to pass or repeal certain provisions
◦Elimination of shareholders’ right to call special meetings
◦Establishment of classified boards of directors
◦Reincorporation in a state which has more stringent anti-takeover and related provisions
◦Shareholder rights plans that allow the board of directors to block appropriate offers to shareholders or which trigger provisions preventing legitimate offers from proceeding
◦Excessive compensation
◦Change-in-control provisions in non-salary compensation plans, employment contracts, and severance agreements which benefit management and would be costly to shareholders if triggered
◦Adjournment of meeting to solicit additional votes
◦“Other business as properly comes before the meeting” proposals which extend “blank check” powers to those acting as proxy
◦Proposals requesting re-election of insiders or affiliated directors who serve on audit, compensation, and nominating committees
IV.Mergers and Acquisitions
Exchange Traded Concepts evaluates mergers and acquisitions on a case-by-case basis. Exchange Traded Concepts uses its discretion in order to maximize shareholder value. Exchange Traded Concepts generally votes:
■Against offers with potentially damaging consequences for minority shareholders because of illiquid stock, especially in some non-US markets
■For offers that concur with index calculators’ treatment and the ability to meet the clients’ return objectives for passive funds
■For proposals to restructure or liquidate closed end investment funds in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value
V.Executive and Director Equity-Based Compensation
■Exchange Traded Concepts is generally in favor of properly constructed equity-based compensation arrangements. Exchange Traded Concepts will support proposals that provide management with the ability to implement compensation arrangements that are both fair and competitive.
However, Exchange Traded Concepts may oppose management proposals that could potentially significantly dilute shareholders’ ownership interests in the corporation.
VI.Corporate Social and Policy Issues
■Proposals usually originate from shareholders and may require a revision of certain business practices and policies.
Exchange Traded Concepts is of the view that typical business matters that directly or indirectly affect corporate profitability are primarily the responsibility of management. Exchange Traded Concepts believes it is inappropriate to use client assets to address socio-political issues. Therefore, social and policy issues reflected in shareholder proposals should be subject to the approval of the corporation’s board of directors.
Conflicts
From time to time, Exchange Traded Concepts will review a proxy which presents a potential material conflict. As a fiduciary to its clients, Exchange Traded Concepts takes these potential conflicts very seriously. Exchange Traded Concepts’ duty is to ensure that proxy votes are cast in the clients’, including the Funds’, best interests and are not affected by Exchange Traded Concepts’ potential conflict. If a potential conflict of interest exists, and the matter falls clearly within one of the proposals enumerated above, Exchange Traded Concepts will vote proxies in accordance with the pre-determined guidelines set forth in these Proxy Voting Policies.
In other cases, where the matter presents a potential material conflict and is not clearly within one of the enumerated proposals, or is of such a nature that Exchange Traded Concepts believes more active involvement is necessary, Exchange Traded Concepts may employ the services of a Proxy Firm, wholly independent of Exchange Traded Concepts, to determine the appropriate vote.
In certain situations, Exchange Traded Concepts’ Management Committee may determine that the employment of a Proxy Firm is unfeasible, impractical or unnecessary. In such situations, the Management Committee shall decide how to vote the proxy. The basis for the voting decision, including the basis for the determination that the decision is in the best interests of Exchange Traded Concepts’ clients, shall be formalized in writing. Which action is appropriate in any given scenario would be the decision of the Management Committee in carrying out its duty to ensure that the proxies are voted in the clients’ best interests.
PART C: OTHER INFORMATION
Item 28. Exhibits
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Exhibit No.
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Description of Exhibit
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(a)
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(i)
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(ii)
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(iii)
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(b)
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(c)
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For information regarding the rights of the holders of securities, please see Articles IV, VII and VIII of the Declaration of Trust, filed as Exhibit (a)(i) above.
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(d)
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(i)
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(ii)
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(e)
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(i)
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(ii)
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(iii)
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(f)
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Not applicable.
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(g)
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(i)
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(ii)
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(h)
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(i)
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(A)
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(B)
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(ii)
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(iii)
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(i)
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(i)
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(j)
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(k)
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Not applicable.
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(l)
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Not applicable.
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(m)
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(i)
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(ii)
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(n)
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Not applicable.
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(o)
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Reserved.
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(p)
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(i)
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(ii)
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Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Registrant
No person is directly or indirectly controlled by or under common control with the Registrant.
Item 30. Indemnification
Every person who is, has been, or becomes a Trustee or officer of the Registrant (hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”) shall be indemnified by the Registrant to the fullest extent permitted by law against any and all liabilities and expenses reasonably incurred or paid by them in connection with the defense of any proceeding in which they become involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of their being or having been such a Trustee or officer, and against amounts paid or incurred by them in the settlement thereof. Every person who is, has been, or becomes an agent of the Registrant may, upon due approval of the Trustees (including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Registrant), be indemnified by the Registrant, to the fullest extent permitted by law, against any and all liabilities and expenses reasonably incurred or paid by them in connection with the defense of any proceeding in which they become involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of their being or having been an agent, and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof. Every Person who is serving or has served at the request of the Registrant as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, agent or fiduciary of another domestic or foreign corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or employee benefit plan (“Other Position”) and who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any proceeding by reason of alleged acts or omissions while acting within the scope of his or her service in such Other Position, may, upon due approval of the Trustees (including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Registrant), be indemnified by the Registrant, to the fullest extent permitted by law, against any and all liabilities and expenses reasonably incurred or paid by them in connection with the defense of any proceeding in which they become involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of their being or having held such Other Position, and against amounts paid or incurred by them in the settlement thereof.
The Registrant shall indemnify each Covered Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any proceeding, by reason of alleged acts or omissions within the scope of their service as a Covered Person, against judgments, fines, penalties, settlements and reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually incurred by them in connection with such proceeding to the maximum extent consistent with state law and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
No indemnification shall be provided to any person who shall have been adjudicated by a court or body before which the proceeding was brought: (i) to be liable to the Registrant or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of their office, or (ii) not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Registrant.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”) may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 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 connection with the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding or payment pursuant to any insurance policy) is asserted against the Registrant by such director, 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 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser
This Item incorporates by reference each investment adviser’s Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration (“Form ADV”) on file with the SEC, as listed below. Each Form ADV may be obtained, free of charge, at the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. Additional information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by each officer and director of the below-listed investment advisers is included in the Trust’s Statement of Additional Information.
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Investment Adviser
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SEC File No.
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Grizzle Investment Management LLC
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801-122682
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Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC
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801-70485
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Item 32. Principal Underwriters
(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.Adaptive Core ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
4.AdvisorShares Trust
5.AFA Multi-Manager Credit Fund
6.AGF Investments Trust (f/k/a FQF Trust)
7.AIM ETF Products Trust
8.Alexis Practical Tactical ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
9.AlphaCentric Prime Meridian Income Fund
10.American Century ETF Trust
11.American Customer Satisfaction ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
12.Amplify ETF Trust
13.ARK ETF Trust
14.ASYMmetric ETFs Trust
15.Bluestone Community Development Fund (f/k/a The 504 Fund)
16.Braddock Multi-Strategy Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
17.Bridgeway Funds, Inc.
18.Brinker Capital Destinations Trust
19.Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc.
20.Cabot Equity Growth ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
21.Calamos Convertible and High Income Fund
22.Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund
23.Calamos Dynamic Convertible and Income Fund
24.Calamos Global Dynamic Income Fund
25.Calamos Global Total Return Fund
26.Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund
27.Carlyle Tactical Private Credit Fund
28.Center Coast Brookfield MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund
29.Changebridge Capital Long/Short ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
30.Changebridge Capital Sustainable Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
31.Cliffwater Corporate Lending Fund
32.Cliffwater Enhanced Lending Fund
33.Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc.
34.CornerCap Group of Funds
35.CrossingBridge Pre-Merger SPAC ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
36.Davis Fundamental ETF Trust
37.Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
38.Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
39.Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
40.Defiance Next Gen Big Data ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
41.Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
42.Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
43.Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
44.Defiance Quantum ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
45.Direxion Shares ETF Trust
46.DoubleLine Opportunistic Credit Fund
47.Eaton Vance NextShares Trust
48.Eaton Vance NextShares Trust II
49.EIP Investment Trust
50.Ellington Income Opportunities Fund
51.EntrepreneurShares Series Trust
52.Esoterica Thematic ETF Trust
53.ETF Opportunities Trust
54.Evanston Alternative Opportunities Fund
55.Exchange Listed Funds Trust (f/k/a Exchange Traded Concepts Trust II)
56.Fat Tail Risk ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
57.Fiera Capital Series Trust
58.FlexShares Trust
59.FOMO ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
60.Forum Funds
61.Forum Funds II
62.Friess Brandywine Blue Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series
63.Friess Brandywine Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series
64.Friess Small Cap Growth Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series
65.Guinness Atkinson Funds
66.Harbor ETF Trust
67.Horizon Kinetics Inflation Beneficiaries ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
68.Infusive US Trust
69.Innovator ETFs Trust
70.Ironwood Institutional Multi-Strategy Fund LLC
71.Ironwood Multi-Strategy Fund LLC
72.John Hancock Exchange-Traded Fund Trust
73.Mairs & Power Funds Trust
74.Mairs & Power Minnesota Municipal Bond ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
75.Manor Investment Funds
76.Mindful Conservative ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
77.Moerus Worldwide Value Fund, Series of Northern Lights Fund Trust IV
78.Mohr Growth ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
79.Morgan Creek - Exos SPAC Originated ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
80.Morningstar Funds Trust
81.OSI ETF Trust
82.Overlay Shares Core Bond ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
83.Overlay Shares Foreign Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
84.Overlay Shares Hedged Large Cap Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
85.Overlay Shares Large Cap Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
86.Overlay Shares Municipal Bond ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
87.Overlay Shares Short Term Bond ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
88.Overlay Shares Small Cap Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
89.Palmer Square Opportunistic Income Fund
90.Partners Group Private Income Opportunities, LLC
91.PENN Capital Funds Trust
92.Performance Trust Mutual Funds, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
93.Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
94.Plan Investment Fund, Inc.
95.PMC Funds, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
96.Point Bridge GOP Stock Tracker ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
97.Putnam ETF Trust
98.Quaker Investment Trust
99.Rareview Dynamic Fixed Income ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
100.Rareview Tax Advantaged Income ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
101.Renaissance Capital Greenwich Funds
102.Revere Sector Opportunity ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
103.Reverse Cap Weighted U.S. Large Cap ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
104.RMB Investors Trust (f/k/a Burnham Investors Trust)
105.Robinson Opportunistic Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
106.Robinson Tax Advantaged Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
107.Roundhill BITKRAFT Esports & Digital Entertainment ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
108.Roundhill IO Digital Infrastructure ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
109.Roundhill MVP ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
110.Roundhill Sports Betting & iGaming ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
111.Roundhill Streaming Services & Technology ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
112.Salient MF Trust
113.Securian AM Balanced Stabilization Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
114.Securian AM Equity Stabilization Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
115.Securian AM Real Asset Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
116.SHP ETF Trust
117.Six Circles Trust
118.Sound Shore Fund, Inc.
119.Spear Alpha ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
120.Strategy Shares
121.Swan Hedged Equity US Large Cap ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
122.Syntax ETF Trust
123.The Active Dividend Stock ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
124.The Chartwell Funds
125.The Community Development Fund
126.The De-SPAC ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
127.The Private Shares Fund (f/k/a SharesPost 100 Fund)
128.The Short De-SPAC ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
129.The SPAC and New Issue ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
130.Third Avenue Trust
131.Third Avenue Variable Series Trust
132.Tidal ETF Trust
133.TIFF Investment Program
134.Timothy Plan High Dividend Stock Enhanced ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
135.Timothy Plan High Dividend Stock ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
136.Timothy Plan International ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
137.Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Core Enhanced ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
138.Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
139.Timothy Plan US Small Cap Core ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
140.Transamerica ETF Trust
141.Trend Aggregation ESG ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series Trust
142.TrueShares AI & Deep Learning ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
143.TrueShares ESG Active Opportunities ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
144.TrueShares Low Volatility Equity Income ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
145.TrueShares Structured Outcome (April) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
146.TrueShares Structured Outcome (August) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
147.TrueShares Structured Outcome (December) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
148.TrueShares Structured Outcome (February) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
149.TrueShares Structured Outcome (January) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
150.TrueShares Structured Outcome (July) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
151.TrueShares Structured Outcome (June) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
152.TrueShares Structured Outcome (March) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
153.TrueShares Structured Outcome (May) ETF, Listed Funds Trust
154.TrueShares Structured Outcome (November) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
155.TrueShares Structured Outcome (October) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
156.TrueShares Structured Outcome (September) ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
157.U.S. Global Investors Funds
158.Variant Alternative Income Fund
159.VictoryShares Developed Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
160.VictoryShares Dividend Accelerator ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
161.VictoryShares Emerging Market High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
162.VictoryShares International High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
163.VictoryShares International Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
164.VictoryShares NASDAQ Next 50 ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
165.VictoryShares Protect America ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
166.VictoryShares Top Veteran Employers ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
167.VictoryShares US 500 Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
168.VictoryShares US 500 Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
169.VictoryShares US Discovery Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
170.VictoryShares US EQ Income Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
171.VictoryShares US Large Cap High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
172.VictoryShares US Multi-Factor Minimum Volatility ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
173.VictoryShares US Small Cap High Div Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
174.VictoryShares US Small Cap Volatility Wtd ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
175.VictoryShares USAA Core Intermediate-Term Bond ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
176.VictoryShares USAA Core Short-Term Bond ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
177.VictoryShares USAA MSCI Emerging Markets Value Momentum ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
178.VictoryShares USAA MSCI International Value Momentum ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
179.VictoryShares USAA MSCI USA Small Cap Value Momentum ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
180.VictoryShares USAA MSCI USA Value Momentum ETF, Series of Victory Portfolios II
181.West Loop Realty Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust (f/k/a Chilton Realty Income & Growth Fund)
182.WisdomTree Trust
183.WST Investment Trust
184.XAI Octagon Floating Rate & Alternative Income Term Trust
(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.
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Name
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Address
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Position with Underwriter
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Position with Registrant
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Richard J. Berthy
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Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100
Portland, ME 04101
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President, Treasurer and Manager
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None
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Mark A. Fairbanks
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Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100
Portland, ME 04101
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Vice President
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None
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Teresa Cowan
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111 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 2200
Milwaukee, WI 53202
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Vice President
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None
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Jennifer K. DiValerio
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899 Cassatt Road,
400 Berwyn Park, Suite 110
Berwyn, PA 19312
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Vice President
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None
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Nanette K. Chern
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Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100
Portland, ME 04101
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Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer
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None
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Kelly Whetstone
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Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100
Portland, ME 04101
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Secretary
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None
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(c) Not applicable.
Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records
The books and records required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 are maintained at the following locations:
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Records Relating to:
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Are located at:
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Registrant’s Fund Administrator, Fund Accountant and Transfer Agent
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U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
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Registrant’s Custodian
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U.S. Bank, National Association
1555 N. Rivercenter Drive, Suite 302
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212
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Registrant’s Principal Underwriter
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Foreside Fund Services, LLC
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100,
Portland, Maine 0410
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Registrant’s Investment Adviser
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Grizzle Investment Management LLC
573 Coldstream Drive
Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312
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Registrant’s Investment Sub-Adviser
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Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC
10900 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 400,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120
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Item 34. Management Services
Not applicable.
Item 35. Undertakings
Not applicable.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this registration statement under rule 485(b) under the Securities Act and has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form N-1A to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Milwaukee, State of Wisconsin, on December 13, 2021.
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Listed Funds Trust
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By:
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/s/ Kent Barnes
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Kent Barnes
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Secretary
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on December 13, 2021.
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Signature
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Title
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*John L. Jacobs
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Trustee
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John L. Jacobs
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*Koji Felton
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Trustee
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Koji Felton
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*Pamela H. Conroy
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Trustee
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Pamela H. Conroy
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*Paul R. Fearday
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Trustee and Chairman
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Paul R. Fearday
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*Gregory C. Bakken
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President and Principal Executive Officer
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Gregory C. Bakken
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*Travis G. Babich
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Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer
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Travis G. Babich
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*By: /s/ Kent Barnes
Kent Barnes, Attorney-in-Fact
Pursuant to Powers of Attorney
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit Number
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Description
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(d)(i)
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(d)(ii)
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(e)(ii)
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(g)(ii)
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(h)(i)(B)
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(i)(i)
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(j)
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(m)(ii)
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(p)(ii)
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(q)
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LISTED FUNDS TRUST
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
with
GRIZZLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC
This INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made as of this 9th day of December, 2021 by and between LISTED FUNDS TRUST (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, and Grizzle Investment Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of business at 573 Coldstream Drive, Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312 (the “Adviser”).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end management investment company, registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”) and is engaged in the business of supplying investment advice as an independent contractor; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Trust has selected the Adviser to act as investment adviser to the Trust on behalf of the series set forth on Schedule A to this Agreement (each a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”), as such Schedule may be amended from time to time upon mutual agreement of the parties, and to provide certain related services, as more fully set forth below, and to perform such services under the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and benefits set forth herein, the Trust and the Adviser do hereby agree as follows:
1.The Adviser’s Services.
(a)Discretionary Investment Management Services. The Adviser shall act as investment adviser with respect to the Funds. In such capacity, the Adviser shall, subject to the supervision of the Board, regularly provide the Funds with investment research, advice and supervision and shall continuously furnish an investment program for the Funds, consistent with the respective investment objectives and policies of each Fund. The Adviser shall determine, from time to time, what securities or other assets shall be purchased for the Funds, what securities or other assets shall be held or sold by the Funds and what portion of the Funds’ assets shall be held uninvested in cash, subject always to the provisions of the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, Amended and Restated By-Laws and its registration statement on Form N-1A (the “Registration Statement”) under the 1940 Act and under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), covering Fund shares, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), and to the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Funds, as from time to time in effect. To carry out such obligations, the Adviser shall exercise full discretion and act for the Funds in the same manner and with the same force and effect as the Funds themselves might or could do with respect to purchases, sales or other transactions, as well as with respect to all other such things necessary or incidental to the furtherance or conduct of such purchases, sales or other transactions. No reference in this Agreement to the Adviser having full discretionary authority over each Fund’s investments shall in any way limit the right of the Board, in its sole discretion, to establish or revise policies in connection with the management of a Fund’s assets or to otherwise exercise its right to control the overall management of a Fund.
(b)Selection of Sub-Adviser(s). The Adviser shall have the authority hereunder to select and retain sub-advisers, including an affiliated person (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the Adviser (each a “Sub-Adviser”), for each of the Funds referenced in Schedule A to perform some or all of the services for which
the Adviser is responsible pursuant to this Agreement. The Adviser shall supervise the activities of the sub-adviser(s), and the retention of a sub-adviser by the Adviser shall not relieve the Adviser of its responsibilities under this Agreement. Any such sub-adviser shall be registered and in good standing with the Commission and capable of performing its sub- advisory duties pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees and, except as otherwise permitted by the 1940 Act or by rule or regulation, a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the applicable Fund. The Adviser will compensate the sub-adviser for its services to the Funds.
(c)Compliance. The Adviser agrees to comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), the Commodity Exchange Act and the respective rules and regulations thereunder, as applicable, as well as with all other applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations and case law that relate to the services and relationships described hereunder and to the conduct of its business as a registered investment adviser. The Adviser also agrees to comply with the objectives, policies and restrictions set forth in the Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented, of the Funds, and with any policies, guidelines, instructions and procedures approved by the Board and provided to the Adviser. In selecting each Fund’s portfolio securities and performing the Adviser’s obligations hereunder, the Adviser shall cause each Fund to comply with the diversification and source of income requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), for qualification as a regulated investment company if the Fund has elected to be treated as a regulated investment company under the Code. The Adviser shall maintain compliance procedures that it reasonably believes are adequate to ensure its compliance with the foregoing. No supervisory activity undertaken by the Board shall limit the Adviser’s full responsibility for any of the foregoing.
(d)Proxy Voting. The Board has the authority to determine how proxies with respect to securities that are held by the Funds shall be voted, and the Board has initially determined to delegate the authority and responsibility to vote proxies for each Fund’s securities to the Adviser. So long as proxy voting authority for a Fund has been delegated to the Adviser, the Adviser shall exercise its proxy voting responsibilities. The Adviser shall carry out such responsibility in accordance with any instructions that the Board shall provide from time to time, and at all times in a manner consistent with Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act and its fiduciary responsibilities to the Trust. The Adviser shall provide periodic reports and keep records relating to proxy voting as the Board may reasonably request or as may be necessary for the Funds to comply with the 1940 Act and other applicable law. Any such delegation of proxy voting responsibility to the Adviser may be revoked or modified by the Board at any time. The Trust acknowledges and agrees that the Adviser may delegate its responsibility to vote proxies for a Fund to the Fund’s Sub-Adviser(s). The Adviser may, to the extent consistent with its fiduciary duty to the Trust and with Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act, employ a third-party firm that specializes in corporate governance research and advising on proxy voting to assist the Adviser, subject to the Adviser’s oversight, in exercising the Adviser’s proxy voting responsibilities. The Trust further acknowledges that, to the extent consistent with its fiduciary duty to the Trust and with Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act, the Adviser may vote proxies for securities held by the Trust differently than it votes proxies for the same securities held by other of the Adviser’s clients.
(e)Recordkeeping. The Adviser shall not be responsible for the provision of administrative, bookkeeping or accounting services to the Funds, except as otherwise provided herein or as may be necessary for the Adviser to supply to the Trust or its Board the information required to be supplied under this Agreement.
The Adviser shall maintain separate books and detailed records of all matters pertaining to Fund assets advised by the Adviser required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act (other than those records being maintained by any administrator, custodian or transfer agent appointed by the Funds) relating to its responsibilities provided hereunder with respect to the Funds, and shall preserve such records for the
periods and in a manner prescribed therefore by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act (the “Funds’ Books and Records”). The Funds’ Books and Records shall be available to the Board at any time upon request, shall be delivered to the Trust upon the termination of this Agreement and shall be available without delay during any day the Trust is open for business.
(f)Holdings Information and Pricing. The Adviser shall provide regular reports regarding Fund holdings, and shall, on its own initiative, furnish the Trust and its Board from time to time with whatever information the Adviser believes is appropriate for this purpose. The Adviser agrees to immediately notify the Trust if the Adviser reasonably believes that the value of any security held by a Fund may not reflect its fair value. The Adviser agrees to provide any pricing information of which the Adviser is aware to the Trust, its Board and/or any Fund pricing agent to assist in the determination of the fair value of any Fund holdings for which market quotations are not readily available or as otherwise required in accordance with the 1940 Act or the Trust’s valuation procedures for the purpose of calculating each Fund’s net asset value in accordance with procedures and methods established by the Board.
(g)Cooperation with Agents of the Trust. The Adviser agrees to cooperate with and provide reasonable assistance to the Trust, any Trust custodian or foreign sub-custodians, any Trust pricing agents and all other agents and representatives of the Trust, such information with respect to the Funds as they may reasonably request from time to time in the performance of their obligations, provide prompt responses to reasonable requests made by such persons and establish appropriate interfaces with each so as to promote the efficient exchange of information and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
2.Code of Ethics. The Adviser represents that it has adopted a written code of ethics that complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act, which it will provide to the Trust. The Adviser shall ensure that its Access Persons (as defined in the Adviser’s Code of Ethics) comply in all material respects with the Adviser’s Code of Ethics, as in effect from time to time. Upon request, the Adviser shall provide the Trust with a (i) a copy of the Adviser’s current Code of Ethics, as in effect from time to time, and (ii) certification that it has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from engaging in any conduct prohibited by the Adviser’s Code of Ethics. Annually, the Adviser shall furnish a written report, which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1, concerning the Adviser’s Code of Ethics to the Trust. The Adviser shall respond to requests for information from the Trust as to violations of the Code of Ethics by Access Persons and the sanctions imposed by the Adviser. The Adviser shall promptly notify the Trust of any material violation of the Code of Ethics, whether or not such violation relates to a security held by any Fund.
3.Information and Reporting. The Adviser shall provide the Trust and its respective officers with such periodic reports concerning the obligations the Adviser has assumed under this Agreement as the Trust may from time to time reasonably request.
(a)Notification of Breach / Compliance Reports. The Adviser shall notify the Trust immediately upon detection of (i) any material failure to manage any Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and policies or any applicable law; or (ii) any material breach of any of the Funds’ or the Adviser’s policies, guidelines or procedures. In addition, the Adviser shall provide a quarterly report regarding each Fund’s compliance with its investment objectives and policies, applicable law, including, but not limited to the 1940 Act and Subchapter M of the Code, as applicable, and the Fund’s policies, guidelines or procedures as applicable to the Adviser’s obligations under this Agreement. The Adviser agrees to correct any such failure promptly and to take any action that the Board may reasonably request in connection with any such breach. Upon request, the Adviser shall also provide the officers of the Trust with supporting certifications in connection with such certifications of Fund financial statements and disclosure controls pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Adviser will promptly notify the Trust in the event (i) the Adviser is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any court, public board, or body, involving the affairs of the Trust (excluding class action suits in
which a Fund is a member of the plaintiff class by reason of the Fund’s ownership of shares in the defendant) or the compliance by the Adviser with the federal or state securities laws or (ii) an actual change in control of the Adviser resulting in an “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act) has occurred or is otherwise proposed to occur.
(b)Board and Filings Information. The Adviser will also provide the Trust with any information reasonably requested regarding its management of the Funds required for any meeting of the Board, or for any shareholder report, amended registration statement, proxy statement, or prospectus supplement to be filed by the Trust with the Commission. The Adviser will make its officers and employees available to meet with the Board from time to time on due notice to review its investment management services to the Funds in light of current and prospective economic and market conditions and shall furnish to the Board such information as may reasonably be necessary in order for the Board to evaluate this Agreement or any proposed amendments thereto.
(c)Transaction Information. The Adviser shall furnish to the Trust such information concerning portfolio transactions as may be necessary to enable the Trust or its designated agent to perform such compliance testing on the Funds and the Adviser’s services as the Trust may, in its sole discretion, determine to be appropriate. The provision of such information by the Adviser to the Trust or its designated agent in no way relieves the Adviser of its own responsibilities under this Agreement.
4.Brokerage.
(a)Principal Transactions. In connection with purchases or sales of securities for the account of a Fund, neither the Adviser nor any of its directors, officers or employees will act as a principal or agent or receive any commission except as permitted by the 1940 Act.
(b)Placement of Orders. The Adviser shall arrange for the placing of all orders for the purchase and sale of securities for a Fund’s account with brokers or dealers selected by the Adviser. In the selection of such brokers or dealers and the placing of such orders, the Adviser is directed at all times to seek for each Fund the most favorable execution and net price available under the circumstances. It is also understood that it is desirable for the Funds that the Adviser have access to brokerage and research services provided by brokers who may execute brokerage transactions at a higher cost to the Funds than may result when allocating brokerage to other brokers, consistent with section 28(e) of the 1934 Act and any Commission staff interpretations thereof. Therefore, the Adviser is authorized to place orders for the purchase and sale of securities for a Fund with such brokers, subject to review by the Board from time to time with respect to the extent and continuation of this practice. It is understood that the services provided by such brokers may be useful to the Adviser in connection with its or its affiliates’ services to other clients.
(c)Aggregated Transactions. On occasions when the Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interest of a Fund as well as other clients of the Adviser, the Adviser may, to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulations, aggregate the order for securities to be sold or purchased. In such event, the Adviser will allocate securities or futures contracts so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, in the manner the Adviser reasonably considers to be equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other clients under the circumstances.
(d)Affiliated Brokers. The Adviser or any of its affiliates may act as broker in connection with the purchase or sale of securities or other investments for a Fund, subject to: (i) the requirement that the Adviser seek to obtain best execution and price within the policy guidelines determined by the Board and set forth in the Fund’s current prospectus and SAI; (ii) the provisions of the 1940 Act; (iii) the provisions of the Advisers Act; (iv) the provisions of the 1934 Act; and (v) other provisions of applicable law. These brokerage services are not within the scope of the duties of the Adviser under this Agreement. Subject to the requirements of applicable law and any procedures adopted by the Board, the Adviser or its affiliates
may receive brokerage commissions, fees or other remuneration from a Fund for these services in addition to the Adviser’s fees for services under this Agreement.
5.Custody. Nothing in this Agreement shall permit the Adviser to take or receive physical possession of cash, securities or other investments of a Fund.
6.Allocation of Charges and Expenses. The Adviser will bear its own costs of providing services hereunder. The Adviser agrees to pay all expenses incurred by the Funds except for the fee paid to the Adviser pursuant to this Agreement, interest charges on any borrowings, dividends and other expenses on securities sold short, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, acquired fund fees and expenses, accrued deferred tax liability, extraordinary expenses, and distribution fees and expenses paid by the Trust under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (collectively, “Excluded Expenses”).
The Trust acknowledges and agrees that the Adviser may delegate its responsibility to pay some or all expenses incurred by the Funds, except for Excluded Expenses, to one or more third parties, including but not limited to, Sub-Advisers.
7.Representations, Warranties and Covenants.
(a)Properly Registered. The Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act, and will remain so registered for the duration of this Agreement. The Adviser is not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the 1940 Act from performing the services contemplated by this Agreement, and to the best knowledge of the Adviser, there is no proceeding or investigation that is reasonably likely to result in the Adviser being prohibited from performing the services contemplated by this Agreement. The Adviser agrees to promptly notify the Trust of the occurrence of any event that would disqualify the Adviser from serving as an investment adviser to an investment company. The Adviser is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state law in connection with its investment management operations.
(b)ADV Disclosure. The Adviser has provided the Trust with a copy of its Form ADV as most recently filed with the Commission and will, promptly after filing any amendment to its Form ADV with the Commission, furnish a copy of such amendments to the Trust. The information contained in the Adviser’s Form ADV is accurate and complete in all material respects and does not omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(c)Fund Disclosure Documents. The Adviser has reviewed and will in the future review, the Registration Statement, and any amendments or supplements thereto, the annual or semi-annual reports to shareholders, other reports filed with the Commission and any marketing material of a Fund (collectively the “Disclosure Documents”) and represents and warrants that with respect to disclosure about the Adviser, the manner in which the Adviser manages the Fund or information relating directly or indirectly to the Adviser, such Disclosure Documents contain or will contain, as of the date thereof, no untrue statement of any material fact and does not omit any statement of material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading.
(d)Use of Names. The Adviser has the right to use the name “Grizzle” in connection with its services to the Trust and that, subject to the terms set forth in Section 8 of this Agreement, the Trust shall have the right to use the name “Grizzle” in connection with the Adviser’s management of the Funds. The Adviser is not aware of any threatened or existing actions, claims, litigation or proceedings that would adversely affect or prejudice the rights of the Adviser or the Trust to use the name “Grizzle.”
(e)Insurance. The Adviser maintains errors and omissions insurance coverage in an appropriate amount and shall provide prior written notice to the Trust (i) of any material changes in its insurance policies or insurance coverage; or (ii) if any material claims will be made on its insurance policies. Furthermore, the Adviser shall upon reasonable request provide the Trust with any information it may reasonably require concerning the amount of or scope of such insurance.
(f)No Detrimental Agreement. The Adviser represents and warrants that it has no arrangement or understanding with any party, other than the Trust, that would influence the decision of the Adviser with respect to its selection of securities for a Fund, and that all selections shall be done in accordance with what is in the best interest of the Fund.
(g)Conflicts. The Adviser shall act honestly, in good faith and in the best interests of the Trust including requiring any of its personnel with knowledge of Fund activities to place the interest of the Fund first, ahead of their own interests, in all personal trading scenarios that may involve a conflict of interest with the Funds, consistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable law.
(h)Representations. The representations and warranties in this Section 7 shall be deemed to be made on the date this Agreement is executed and at the time of delivery of the quarterly compliance report required by Section 3(a), whether or not specifically referenced in such report.
8.The Name. The Adviser grants to the Trust a sublicense to use the name “Grizzle” (the “Name”) as part of the name of any Fund. The foregoing authorization by the Adviser to the Trust to use the Name as part of the name of any Fund is not exclusive of the right of the Adviser itself to use, or to authorize others to use, the Name; the Trust acknowledges and agrees that, as between the Trust and the Adviser, the Adviser has the right to use, or authorize others to use, the Name. The Trust shall (1) only use the Name in a manner consistent with uses approved by the Adviser; (2) use its best efforts to maintain the quality of the services offered using the Name; and (3) adhere to such other specific quality control standards as the Adviser may from time to time promulgate. At the request of the Adviser, the Trust will (a) submit to Adviser representative samples of any promotional materials using the Name; and (b) change the name of any Fund within three months of its receipt of the Adviser’s request, or such other shorter time period as may be required under the terms of a settlement agreement or court order, so as to eliminate all reference to the Name and will not thereafter transact any business using the Name in the name of any Fund; provided, however, that the Trust may continue to use beyond such date any supplies of prospectuses, marketing materials and similar documents that the Trust had on the date of such name change in quantities not exceeding those historically produced and used in connection with such Fund.
9.Adviser’s Compensation. The Funds shall pay to the Adviser, as compensation for the Adviser’s services hereunder, a fee, determined as described in Schedule A that is attached hereto and made a part hereof. Such fee shall be computed daily and paid not less than monthly in arrears by the Funds.
The method for determining net assets of a Fund for purposes hereof shall be the same as the method for determining net assets for purposes of establishing the offering and redemption prices of Fund shares as described in the Fund’s prospectus. In the event of termination of this Agreement, the fee provided in this Section shall be computed on the basis of the period ending on the last business day on which this Agreement is in effect subject to a pro rata adjustment based on the number of days elapsed in the current month as a percentage of the total number of days in such month.
Except as may otherwise be prohibited by law or regulation (including any then current Commission staff interpretations), the Adviser may, in its sole discretion and from time to time, waive a portion of its fee.
10.Independent Contractor. In the performance of its duties hereunder, the Adviser is and shall be an independent contractor and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein or otherwise authorized in writing, shall have no authority to act for or represent the Trust or any Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed to be an
agent of the Trust or any Fund. If any occasion should arise in which the Adviser gives any advice to its clients concerning the shares of a Fund, the Adviser will act solely as investment counsel for such clients and not in any way on behalf of the Fund.
11.Assignment. Except as permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, or no-action, interpretive or other guidance issued by the Commission or its staff, this Agreement shall automatically terminate, without the payment of any penalty, in the event of its assignment (as defined in section 2(a)(4) of the 1940 Act); provided that such termination shall not relieve the Adviser of any liability incurred hereunder.
12.Entire Agreement and Amendments. This Agreement represents the entire agreement among the parties with regard to the investment management matters described herein and may not be added to or changed orally and may not be modified or rescinded except by a writing signed by the parties hereto except as otherwise noted herein.
13.Duration and Termination. The effectiveness and termination dates of this Agreement shall be determined separately for each Fund as described below. This Agreement shall become effective with respect to a Fund upon the commencement of the Adviser’s management of the Fund and shall remain in full force and effect continually thereafter, subject to renewal as provided in subparagraph (c) of this section and unless terminated automatically as set forth in Section 11 hereof or until terminated as follows:
(a)The Trust may cause this Agreement to terminate either (i) by vote of its Board or (ii) with respect to any Fund, upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund; or
(b)The Adviser may at any time terminate this Agreement by not less than one-hundred twenty (120) days’ written notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the Trust; or
(c)This Agreement shall automatically terminate two years from the date of its execution unless its renewal is specifically approved at least annually thereafter by (i) a majority vote of the Trustees, including a majority vote of such Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust or the Adviser, at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval; or (ii) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Fund; provided, however, that if the continuance of this Agreement is submitted to the shareholders of the Funds for their approval and such shareholders fail to approve such continuance of this Agreement as provided herein, the Adviser may continue to serve hereunder as to the Funds in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section shall be without payment of any penalty.
In the event of termination of this Agreement for any reason, the Adviser shall, immediately upon notice of termination or on such later date as may be specified in such notice, cease all activity on behalf of the Fund and with respect to any of the assets, except as otherwise required by any fiduciary duties of the Adviser under applicable law. In addition, the Adviser shall deliver the Fund Books and Records to the Trust by such means and in accordance with such schedule as the Trust shall direct and shall otherwise cooperate, as reasonably directed by the Trust, in the transition of portfolio asset management to any successor of the Adviser.
14.Certain Definitions. For the purposes of this Agreement:
(a)“Affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund” shall have the meaning as set forth in the 1940 Act, subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the Commission under the 1940 Act or any interpretations of the Commission staff.
(b) “Interested persons” and “Assignment” shall have their respective meanings as set forth in the 1940 Act, subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the Commission under the 1940 Act or any interpretations of the Commission staff.
15.Liability of the Adviser. The Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust and all affiliated persons thereof (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act) and all controlling persons (as described in Section 15 of the 1933 Act) (collectively, the “Adviser Indemnitees”) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) by reason of or arising out of the Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties hereunder or its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
16.Enforceability. Any term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms or provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.
17.Limitation of Liability. The parties to this Agreement acknowledge and agree that all litigation arising hereunder, whether direct or indirect, and of any and every nature whatsoever shall be satisfied solely out of the assets of the affected Fund and that no Trustee, officer or holder of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund shall be personally liable for any of the foregoing liabilities. The Trust’s Certificate of Trust, as amended from time to time, is on file in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Such Certificate of Trust and the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust describe in detail the respective responsibilities and limitations on liability of the Trustees, officers, and holders of shares of beneficial interest.
18.Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the state of Delaware and the Adviser consents to the jurisdiction of courts, both state or federal, in Delaware, with respect to any dispute under this Agreement.
19.Paragraph Headings. The headings of paragraphs contained in this Agreement are provided for convenience only, form no part of this Agreement and shall not affect its construction.
20.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be signed on their behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the date first above written.
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LISTED FUNDS TRUST
on behalf of the series listed on Schedule A
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GRIZZLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC
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By: /s/ Kent Barnes
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By: /s/ Thomas George
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Name: Kent P. Barnes
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Name: Thomas George
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Title: Secretary
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Title: Chief Executive Officer
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Signature page to
Advisory Agreement
SCHEDULE A
to the
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
Dated December 9, 2021 between
LISTED FUNDS TRUST
and
GRIZZLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC
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Fund
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Rate
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Grizzle Growth ETF
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0.75%
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LISTED FUNDS TRUST
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
with
EXCHANGE TRADED CONCEPTS, LLC
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made as of this 9th day of December, 2021 by and between Grizzle Investment Management LLC, and a Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of business at 573 Coldstream Drive, Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312 (the “Adviser”), LISTED FUNDS TRUST (the “Trust”), Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company, with its principal place of business located at 10900 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 207, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120 (the “Sub-Adviser”).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end management investment company, registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement dated December 9, 2021, as amended to add additional series, with the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Sub-Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”) and is engaged in the business of supplying investment advice as an independent contractor; and
WHEREAS, the Investment Advisory Agreement contemplates that the Adviser may appoint a sub-adviser to perform some or all of the services for which the Adviser is responsible; and
WHEREAS, the Sub-Adviser is willing to furnish such services to the Adviser and each Fund listed in Schedule A to this Agreement (each a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”), as such Schedule may be amended from time to time upon mutual agreement of the parties.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and benefits set forth herein, the parties do hereby agree as follows:
1.Duties of the Sub-Adviser. Subject to supervision and oversight of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees (the “Board”), and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall manage all of the securities and other assets of the Funds entrusted to it hereunder (the “Assets”), including the purchase, retention and disposition of the Assets, in accordance with the Funds’ respective investment objectives, guidelines, policies and restrictions as stated in each Fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information, as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time (referred to collectively as the “Prospectus”), and subject to the following:
(a) The Sub-Adviser shall, subject to subparagraph (b), determine from time to time what Assets will be purchased, retained or sold by the Funds, and what portion of the Assets will be invested or held uninvested in cash as is permissible.
(b) In the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall act in conformity with the Prospectus, the Statement of Additional Information, the written instructions and directions of the Adviser and of the Board, the terms and conditions of exemptive
and no-action relief granted to the Trust as amended from time to time and provided to the Sub-Adviser and the Trust’s policies and procedures provided to the Sub-Adviser and will conform to and comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, the Commodity Exchange Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and all other applicable federal, state and foreign jurisdictional laws and regulations, as each is amended from time to time.
(c) The Sub-Adviser shall determine the Assets to be purchased or sold by the Funds as provided in subparagraph (a) and will place orders with or through such persons, brokers or dealers to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage set forth in the Funds’ Prospectus or as the Board or the Adviser may direct in writing from time to time, in conformity with all federal securities laws. In executing Fund transactions and selecting brokers or dealers, the Sub-Adviser will use its best efforts to seek on behalf of each Fund the best execution and overall terms available. In assessing the best overall terms available for any transaction, the Sub-Adviser shall consider all factors that it deems relevant, including the breadth of the market in the security, the price of the security, the financial condition and execution capability of the broker or dealer, and the reasonableness of the commission, if any, both for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis. In evaluating the best overall terms available, and in selecting the broker-dealer to execute a particular transaction, the Sub-Adviser may also consider the brokerage and research services provided (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)). Consistent with any guidelines established by the Board and Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act, as amended, the Sub-Adviser is authorized to pay to a broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a portfolio transaction for a Fund which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if, but only if, the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer viewed in terms of that particular transaction or in terms of the overall responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser to its discretionary clients, including the Fund. In addition, the Sub-Adviser is authorized to allocate purchase and sale orders for securities to brokers or dealers (including brokers and dealers that are affiliated with the Adviser, Sub-Adviser or the Trust’s principal underwriter) if the Sub-Adviser believes that the quality of the transaction and the commission are comparable to what they would be with other qualified firms. In no instance, however, will the Assets be purchased from or sold to the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, the Trust’s principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Trust, Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or the principal underwriter, acting as principal in the transaction, except to the extent permitted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the 1940 Act.
(d) The Sub-Adviser shall maintain all books and records with respect to transactions involving the Assets required by subparagraphs (b)(1), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10) and paragraph (f) of Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act. The Sub-Adviser shall keep the books and records relating to the Assets required to be maintained by the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement and shall timely furnish to the Adviser all information relating to the Sub-Adviser’s services under this Agreement needed by the Adviser to keep the other books and records of the Fund required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, as requested by the Adviser. The Sub-Adviser agrees that all records that it maintains on behalf of a Fund are property of the Fund and the Sub-Adviser will surrender promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the Fund’s request; provided, however, that the Sub-Adviser may retain a copy of such records. In addition, for the duration of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act any such records as are required to be maintained by it pursuant to this Agreement, and shall transfer said records to any successor sub-adviser upon the termination of this Agreement (or, if there is no successor sub-adviser, to the Adviser).
(e) The Sub-Adviser shall provide the Fund’s custodian on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the Assets and shall provide the Adviser with
such information upon request of the Adviser and shall otherwise cooperate with and provide reasonable assistance to the Adviser, the Trust’s administrator, the Trust’s custodian and foreign custodians, the Trust’s transfer agent and pricing agents and all other agents and representatives of the Trust.
(f) The Adviser acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser performs investment advisory services for various other clients in addition to the Funds and, to the extent it is consistent with applicable law and the Sub-Adviser’s fiduciary obligations, the Sub-Adviser may give advice and take action with respect to any of those other clients that may differ from the advice given or the timing or nature of action taken for a particular Fund.
(g) The Sub-Adviser shall promptly notify the Adviser of any financial condition that is reasonably and foreseeably likely to impair the Sub-Adviser’s ability to fulfill its commitment under this Agreement.
(h) The Sub-Adviser will have no obligation to advise, initiate or take any other action on behalf of the Adviser, the Funds or the Assets in any legal proceedings (including, without limitation, class actions and bankruptcies) relating to the securities comprising the Assets or any other matter. Sub-Adviser will not file proofs of claims relating to the securities comprising the Assets or any other matter and will not notify the Adviser, the Funds or the Trust’s custodian of class action settlements or bankruptcies relating to the Assets.
(i) In performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall not consult with any other sub-adviser to the Funds or a sub-adviser to a portfolio that is under common control with the Funds concerning the Assets, except as permitted by the policies and procedures of the Funds. The Sub-Adviser shall not provide investment advice to any assets of the Funds other than the Assets which it sub-advises.
(j) On occasions when the Sub-Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interest of the Funds as well as other clients of the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser may, to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulations, aggregate the order for securities to be sold or purchased. In such event, the Sub-Adviser will allocate securities so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, in a manner the Sub-Adviser reasonably considers to be equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other clients under the circumstances.
(k) The Sub-Adviser shall maintain books and records with respect to the Funds’ securities transactions and keep the Board and the Adviser fully informed on an ongoing basis as agreed by the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser of all material facts concerning the Sub-Adviser and its key investment personnel providing services with respect to the Funds and the investment and the reinvestment of the Assets of the Funds. The Sub-Adviser shall furnish to the Adviser or the Board such reasonably requested regular, periodic and special reports, balance sheets or financial information, and such other information with regard to its affairs as the Adviser or Board may reasonably request and the Sub-Adviser will attend meetings with the Adviser and/or the Trustees, as reasonably requested, to discuss the foregoing. Upon the request of the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser shall also furnish to the Adviser any other information relating to the Assets that is required to be filed by the Adviser or the Trust with the SEC or sent to shareholders under the 1940 Act (including the rules adopted thereunder) or any exemptive or other relief that the Adviser or the Trust obtains from the SEC.
(l) The fair valuation of securities in a Fund may be required when the Adviser becomes aware of significant events that may affect the pricing of all or a portion of a Fund’s portfolio. The Sub-Adviser will provide assistance in determining the fair value of the Assets, as necessary and reasonably requested by the Adviser or its agent, and use reasonable efforts to arrange for
the provision of valuation information or a price(s) from a party(ies) independent of the Sub-Adviser if market prices are not readily available, it being understood that the Sub-Adviser will not be responsible for determining the value of any such security.
2.Duties of the Adviser. The Adviser shall continue to have responsibility for all services to be provided to the Funds pursuant to the Advisory Agreement and shall oversee and review the Sub-Adviser’s performance of its duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that in connection with its management of the Assets, nothing herein shall be construed to relieve the Sub-Adviser of responsibility for compliance with the Prospectus, the Statement of Additional Information, the written instructions and directions of the Board, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Code, and all other applicable laws and regulations, as each is amended from time to time.
3.Delivery of Documents. The Adviser has furnished the Sub-Adviser with copies of each of the following documents:
(a) The Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust (such Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as in effect on the date of this Agreement and as amended from time to time, herein called the “Declaration of Trust”);
(b) Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Trust (such By-Laws, as in effect on the date of this Agreement and as amended from time to time, are herein called the “By-Laws”);
(c) Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Funds, as amended from time to time;
(d) Resolutions of the Board approving the engagement of the Sub-Adviser as a sub-adviser to the Funds;
(e) Resolutions, policies and procedures adopted by the Board with respect to the Assets to the extent such resolutions, policies and procedures may affect the duties of the Sub-Adviser hereunder;
(f) A list of the Trust’s principal underwriter and each affiliated person of the Adviser, the Trust or the principal underwriter; and
(g) The terms and conditions of exemptive and no-action relief granted to the Trust, as amended from time to time.
The Adviser shall promptly furnish the Sub-Adviser from time to time with copies of all amendments of or supplements to the foregoing. Until so provided, the Sub-Adviser may continue to rely on those documents previously provided. The Adviser shall not, and shall not permit any of the Funds to use the Sub-Adviser’s name or make representations regarding Sub-Adviser or its affiliates without prior written consent of Sub-Adviser, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser’s approval is not required when the information regarding the Sub-Adviser used by the Adviser or the Fund is limited to information disclosed in materials provided by the Sub-Adviser to the Adviser in writing specifically for use in the Fund’s registration statement, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or in Fund shareholder reports or proxy statements and the information is used (a) as required by applicable law, rule or regulation, in the Prospectus of the Fund or in Fund shareholder reports or proxy statements; or (b) as may be otherwise specifically approved in writing by the Sub-Adviser prior to use.
4.Compensation to the Sub-Adviser. For the services to be provided by the Sub-Adviser pursuant to this Agreement, the Adviser will pay the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser agrees to accept as full compensation therefore, a sub-advisory fee at the rate specified in Schedule A which is attached hereto and made part of this Agreement. The fee will be calculated based on the daily value of the Assets under the Sub-Adviser’s management (as calculated as described in the Fund’s registration statement), shall be computed daily, and will be paid to the Sub-Adviser not less than monthly in arrears. Except as may otherwise be prohibited by law or regulation (including any then current SEC staff interpretations), the Sub-Adviser may, in its sole discretion and from time to time, waive a portion of its fee.
In the event of termination of this Agreement, the fee provided in this Section shall be computed on the basis of the period ending on the last business day on which this Agreement is in effect; provided, however that any minimum annual fee for any Fund (as noted on Schedule A) will not be prorated if this Agreement is terminated with respect to such Fund within twelve (12) months of its inception under this Agreement, but, rather, such minimum annual fee shall be paid by the Adviser in full (minus any investment management fees already paid during such period) at the time of termination.
5.Expenses. The Sub-Adviser will furnish, at its expense, all necessary facilities and personnel, including personnel compensation, expenses and fees required for the Sub-Adviser to perform its duties under this Agreement; administrative facilities, including operations and bookkeeping, and all equipment necessary for the efficient conduct of the Sub-Adviser’s duties under this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser may enter into an agreement with the Funds to limit the operating expenses of the Fund.
6.Indemnification. The Sub-Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Adviser, the Trust, all affiliated persons thereof (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act) and all controlling persons (as described in Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities or damages (including reasonable attorney’s fees and other related expenses) however arising from or in connection with the performance of the Sub-Adviser’s obligations under this Agreement to the extent resulting from or relating to Sub-Adviser’s own willful misfeasance, fraud, bad faith or gross negligence, or to the reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement.
The Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Sub-Adviser and all affiliated persons thereof from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities or damages (including reasonable attorney’s fees and other related expenses) however arising from or in connection with this Agreement (including, without limitation, any claims of infringement or misappropriation of the intellectual property rights of a third party against the Sub-Adviser or any affiliated person relating to any index or index data provided to Sub-Adviser by the Adviser or Adviser’s agent and used by the Sub-Adviser in connection with performing its duties under this Agreement); provided, however, that the Adviser’s obligation under this Section 6 shall be reduced to the extent that the claim against, or the loss, liability or damage experienced by the Sub-Adviser, is caused by or is otherwise directly related to the Sub-Adviser’s own willful misfeasance, fraud, bad faith or gross negligence, or to the reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no party to this Agreement shall be responsible or liable for its failure to perform under this Agreement or for any losses to the Assets resulting from any event beyond the reasonable control of such party or its agents, including, but not limited to, nationalization, expropriation, devaluation, seizure or similar action by any governmental authority, de facto or de jure; or enactment, promulgation, imposition or enforcement by any such governmental authority of currency restrictions, exchange controls, levies or other charges affecting the Assets; or the breakdown, failure or malfunction of any utilities or telecommunications systems; or any
order or regulation of any banking or securities industry including changes in market rules and market conditions affecting the execution or settlement of transactions; or acts or war, terrorism, insurrection or revolution; or acts of God, or any other similar event. In no event, shall any party be responsible for incidental, consequential or punitive damages hereunder.
The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
7.Representations and Warranties of Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser represents and warrants to the Adviser and the Trust as follows:
(a) The Sub-Adviser is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and will continue to be so registered so long as this Agreement remains in effect;
(b) The Sub-Adviser will immediately notify the Adviser of the occurrence of any event that would substantially impair the Sub-Adviser’s ability to fulfill its commitment under this Agreement or disqualify the Sub-Adviser from serving as an investment adviser of an investment company pursuant to Section 9(a) of the 1940 Act. The Sub-Adviser will also promptly notify the Trust and the Adviser if it, a member of its executive management or portfolio manager for the Assets is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any court, government agency, self-regulatory organization, public board or body, involving the affairs of the Funds or relating to the investment advisory services of the Sub-Adviser (other than any routine regulatory examinations);
(c) The Sub-Adviser will notify the Adviser immediately upon detection of (a) any material failure to manage the Fund(s) in accordance with the Fund(s)’ stated investment objectives, guidelines and policies or any applicable law or regulation; or (b) any material breach of any of the Fund(s)’ or the Sub-Adviser’s policies, guidelines or procedures relating to the Funds.
(d) The Sub-Adviser is fully authorized under all applicable law and regulation to enter into this Agreement and serve as Sub-Adviser to the Funds and to perform the services described under this Agreement;
(e) The Sub-Adviser is a limited liability company duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the state of Oklahoma with the power to own and possess its assets and carry on its business as it is now being conducted;
(f) The execution, delivery and performance by the Sub-Adviser of this Agreement are within the Sub-Adviser’s powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of its corporate members or board, and no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official is required on the part of the Sub-Adviser for the execution, delivery and performance by the Sub-Adviser of this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance by the Sub-Adviser of this Agreement do not contravene or constitute a default under (i) any provision of applicable law, rule or regulation, (ii) the Sub-Adviser’s governing instruments, or (iii) any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Sub-Adviser;
(g) This Agreement is a valid and binding agreement of the Sub-Adviser;
(h) The Form ADV of the Sub-Adviser previously provided to the Adviser is a true and complete copy of the form filed with the SEC and the information contained therein is accurate, current and complete in all material respects as of its filing date, and does not omit to state any material
fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(i) The Sub-Adviser shall not divert any Fund’s portfolio securities transactions to a broker or dealer in consideration of such broker or dealer’s promotion or sales of shares of the Fund, any other series of the Trust, or any other registered investment company.
(j) The Sub-Adviser agrees to maintain an appropriate level of errors and omissions or professional liability insurance coverage.
8.Duration and Termination. The effectiveness and termination dates of this Agreement shall be determined separately for each Fund as described below.
(a) Duration. This Agreement shall become effective with respect to a Fund upon the latest of (i) the approval by a vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval; (ii) the approval of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities, if required by the 1940 Act; and (iii) the commencement of the Sub-Adviser’s management of the Fund. This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of two years from the effective date described in this sub-paragraph, subject thereafter to being continued in force and effect from year to year if specifically approved each year by the Board or by the vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities. In addition to the foregoing, each renewal of this Agreement must be approved by the vote of a majority of the Board who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. Prior to voting on the renewal of this Agreement, the Board may request and evaluate, and the Sub-Adviser shall furnish, such information as may reasonably be necessary to enable the Board to evaluate the terms of this Agreement.
(b) Termination. Notwithstanding whatever may be provided herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated at any time with respect to a Fund, without payment of any penalty:
(i) By vote of a majority of the Board, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Funds, or by the Adviser, in each case, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Sub-Adviser;
(ii) By the Adviser upon breach by the Sub-Adviser of any representation or warranty contained in Section 7 and Section 9 hereof, which shall not have been cured within twenty (20) days of the Sub-Adviser’s receipt of written notice of such breach;
(iii) By the Adviser immediately upon written notice to the Sub-Adviser if the Sub-Adviser becomes unable to discharge its duties and obligations under this Agreement; or
(iv) By the Sub-Adviser upon ninety (90) days’ written notice to the Adviser and the Board.
This Agreement shall terminate automatically and immediately in the event of its assignment, or in the event of a termination of the Advisory Agreement with the Trust upon notice to the Sub-Adviser. As used in this Section 8, the terms “assignment” and “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” shall have the respective meanings set forth in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, subject to such exceptions as may be granted by the SEC under the 1940 Act.
9.Regulatory Compliance Program of the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser hereby represents and warrants that:
(a) in accordance with Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act, the Sub-Adviser has adopted and implemented and will maintain written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation by the Sub-Adviser and its supervised persons (as such term is defined in the Advisers Act) of the Advisers Act and the rules the SEC has adopted under the Advisers Act; and
(b) the Sub-Adviser has adopted and implemented and will maintain written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to prevent violation of the “federal securities laws” (as such term is defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act) by the Funds and the Sub-Adviser (the policies and procedures referred to in this Section 9(b), along with the policies and procedures referred to in Section 9(a), are referred to herein as the Sub-Adviser’s “Compliance Program”).
10.Confidentiality. Subject to the duty of the Adviser or Sub-Adviser to comply with applicable law and regulation, including any demand or request of any regulatory, governmental or tax authority having jurisdiction, the parties hereto shall treat as confidential all non-public information pertaining to the Funds and the actions of the Sub-Adviser and the Funds in respect thereof. It is understood that any information or recommendation supplied by the Sub-Adviser in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder is to be regarded as confidential and for use only by the Adviser, the Funds, the Board, or such persons as the Adviser may designate in connection with the Funds. It is also understood that any information supplied to the Sub-Adviser in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder is to be regarded as confidential and for use only by the Sub-Adviser, its affiliates and agents in connection with its obligation to provide investment advice and other services to the Funds and to assist or enable the effective management of the Adviser’s and the Funds’ overall relationship with the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates. The parties acknowledge and agree that all nonpublic personal information with regard to shareholders in the Funds shall be deemed proprietary and confidential information of the Adviser, and that the Sub-Adviser shall use that information solely in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement and shall take reasonable steps to safeguard the confidentiality of that information. Further, the Sub-Adviser shall maintain and enforce adequate security and oversight procedures with respect to all materials, records, documents and data relating to any of its responsibilities pursuant to this Agreement including all means for the effecting of investment transactions.
11.Reporting of Compliance Matters.
(a) The Sub-Adviser shall promptly provide to the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) the following:
(i) a report of any material violations of the Sub-Adviser’s Compliance Program or any “material compliance matters” (as such term is defined in Rule 38a1 under the 1940 Act) that have occurred with respect to the Sub-Adviser’s Compliance Program;
(ii) on a quarterly basis, a report of any material changes to the policies and procedures that compose the Sub-Adviser’s Compliance Program;
(iii) a copy of the Sub-Adviser’s chief compliance officer’s report (or similar document(s) which serve the same purpose) regarding his or her annual review of the Sub-Adviser’s Compliance Program, as required by Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act; and
(iv) an annual (or more frequently as the Trust’s CCO may reasonably request) representation regarding the Sub-Adviser’s compliance with Section 7 and Section 9 of this Agreement.
(b) The Sub-Adviser shall also provide the Trust’s CCO with reasonable access, during normal business hours, to the Sub-Adviser’s facilities for the purpose of conducting pre-arranged on-site compliance related due diligence meetings with personnel of the Sub-Adviser.
12.The Name “Grizzle.” The Adviser grants to the Sub-Adviser a sub-license to use the name “Grizzle” (the “Name”). The foregoing authorization by the Adviser to the Sub-Adviser to use the Name is not exclusive of the right of the Adviser itself to use, or to authorize others to use, the Name; the Sub-Adviser acknowledges and agrees that, as between the Sub-Adviser and the Adviser, the Adviser has the right to use, or authorize others to use, the Name. The Sub-Adviser shall only use the Name in a manner consistent with uses approved by the Adviser. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Sub-Adviser nor any affiliate or agent of it shall make reference to or use the Name or any of Adviser’s respective affiliates or clients names without the prior approval of Adviser, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided that the Sub-Adviser is authorized to disclose the Name and the Adviser’s and the Funds identities as clients of the Sub-Adviser in any representative client list prepared by the Sub-Adviser for use in marketing materials. The Sub-Adviser hereby agrees to make all reasonable efforts to cause any affiliate or agent of the Sub-Adviser to satisfy the foregoing obligation in connection with any services such affiliates or agents provide to the Sub-Adviser or the Funds under this Agreement. The Adviser has obtained all licenses and permissions necessary for the Sub-Adviser to use any index data provided to it by the Adviser or Adviser’s agent under this Agreement and the Sub-Adviser is not required to obtain any such licenses or permissions itself.
13.Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed as being inconsistent with the 1940 Act.
14.Severability. Should any part of this Agreement be held invalid by a court decision, statute, regulation, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors.
15.Notice. Any notice, advice, document, report or other client communication to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed sufficient if delivered or mailed by registered, certified or overnight mail, postage prepaid or electronically addressed by the party giving notice to the other party at the last address furnished by the other party. By consenting to the electronic delivery of any notice, advice, document, report or other client communication in respect of this Agreement or as required pursuant to applicable law, the Adviser authorizes the Sub-Adviser to deliver all communications by email or other electronic means.
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To the Adviser at:
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Grizzle Investment Management LLC
573 Coldstream Drive
Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312
Attention: Thomas George
Email: thomas@grizzle.com
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To the Trust at:
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U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
Attention: Kent Barnes, Secretary
Email: kent.barnes@usbank.com
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To the Sub-Adviser at:
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Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC
10900 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 400
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120
Attention: J. Garrett Stevens, CEO
Email: garrett@exchangetradedconcepts.com
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16.[Reserved]
17.Amendment of Agreement. This Agreement may be amended only by written agreement of the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and the Trust, and only in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
18.Representations and Warranties of the Adviser.
(a) Each Fund is an “eligible contract participant” as defined in Section 1a(18) of the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act (the “CEA”) and U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) Rule 1.3(m) thereunder and a “qualified eligible person” as defined in Rule 4.7 of the CFTC. The Adviser consents to each Fund being treated as an exempt account under Rule 4.7 of the CFTC;
(b) The Adviser is not registered with the National Futures Association as a commodity pool operator or commodity trading adviser because it does not engage in any activities requiring such registration or is otherwise exempt from such registration;
(c) The execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser and the Funds of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Adviser and the Board (including full authority to bind the Funds to the terms of this Agreement); and
(d) The Adviser will promptly notify the Sub-Adviser if any of the above representations in this Section are no longer true and accurate.
19.Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to this Agreement’s subject matter. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall, together, constitute only one instrument.
20.Interpretation. Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act will be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States courts or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations or orders of the SEC validly issued pursuant to the 1940 Act. Specifically, the terms “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities,” “interested persons,” “assignment,” and “affiliated persons,” as used herein will have the meanings assigned to them by Section 2(a) of the 1940 Act. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is relaxed by a rule, regulation or order of the SEC, whether of special or of general application, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
21.Headings. The headings in the sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and will not constitute a part hereof.
In the event the terms of this Agreement are applicable to more than one Fund of the Trust as specified in Schedule A attached hereto, the Adviser is entering into this Agreement with the Sub-Adviser on behalf of the respective Funds severally and not jointly, with the express intention that the provisions contained in each numbered paragraph hereof shall be understood as applying separately with respect to each Fund as if contained in separate agreements between the Adviser and Sub-Adviser for each such Fund. In the event that this Agreement is made applicable to any additional Funds by way of a Schedule executed subsequent to the date first indicated above, provisions of such Schedule shall be deemed to be incorporated into this Agreement as it relates to such Fund so that, for example, the execution date for purposes of Section 8 of this Agreement with respect to such Fund shall be the execution date of the relevant Schedule.
22.Miscellaneous.
(a) A copy of the Certificate of Trust is on file with the Secretary of State of Delaware, and notice is hereby given that the obligations of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders of the Fund or the Trust.
(b) Where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act or Advisers Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is altered by a rule, regulation or order of the SEC, whether of special or general application, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION IN CONNECTION WITH ACCOUNTS OF QUALIFIED ELIGIBLE PERSONS, THIS BROCHURE OR ACCOUNT DOCUMENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE, AND HAS NOT BEEN, FILED WITH THE COMMISSION. THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION DOES NOT PASS UPON THE MERITS OF PARTICIPATING IN A TRADING PROGRAM OR UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF COMMODITY TRADING ADVISOR DISCLOSURE. CONSEQUENTLY, THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION HAS NOT REVIEWED OR APPROVED THIS TRADING PROGRAM OR THIS BROCHURE OR ACCOUNT DOCUMENT.
[Signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day first set forth above.
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Grizzle Investment Management LLC
By: /s/ Thomas George
Name: Thomas George
Title: CEO
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Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC
By: /s/ J. Garrett Stevens
Name: J. Garrett Stevens
Title: CEO
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LISTED FUNDS TRUST
By: /s/ Kent Barnes
Name: Kent P. Barnes
Title: Secretary
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Signature Page to
Sub-Advisory Agreement
SCHEDULE A
to the
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
Dated December 9, 2021 between
EXCHANGE TRADED CONCEPTS, LLC
and
EXCHANGE TRADED CONCEPTS, LLC
and
LISTED FUNDS TRUST
The Adviser will pay to the Sub-Adviser as compensation for the Sub-Adviser’s services rendered, a fee, computed daily at an annual rate based on the daily net assets of the respective Fund in accordance with the following fee schedule:
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Fund
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Rate
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Grizzle Growth ETF
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0.05%
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FIRST AMENDMENT TO
ETF DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
This first amendment (“Amendment”) to the ETF distribution agreement (the “Agreement”) dated as of September 30, 2021, by and between Listed Funds Trust (“Trust”) and Foreside Fund Services, LLC (together with Trust, the “Parties”) is effective as of December 13, 2021.
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend Exhibit A to the Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Section 8(b) of the Agreement requires that all amendments and modifications to the Agreement be in writing and executed by the Parties.
NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
1.Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Agreement.
2.Exhibit A to the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced by Exhibit A attached hereto.
3.Except as expressly amended hereby, all of the provisions of the Agreement shall remain unamended and in full force and effect to the same extent as if fully set forth herein.
4.This Amendment shall be governed by, and the provisions of this Amendment shall be construed and interpreted under and in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Amendment to be executed in their names and on their behalf by and through their duly authorized officers.
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LISTED FUNDS TRUST
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FORESIDE FUND SERVICES, LLC
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By: /s/ Gregory C. Bakken
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By: /s/ Mark Fairbanks
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Name: Gregory C. Bakken, President
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Name: Mark Fairbanks, Vice President
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Date: December 13, 2021
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Date: December 13, 2021
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EXHIBIT A
As of December 13, 2021
Roundhill BITKRAFT Esports & Digital Entertainment ETF
Overlay Shares Large Cap Equity ETF
Overlay Shares Small Cap Equity ETF
Overlay Shares Foreign Equity ETF
Overlay Shares Core Bond ETF
Overlay Shares Municipal Bond ETF
TrueShares Technology, AI & Deep Learning ETF
TrueShares ESG Active Opportunities ETF
Roundhill Sports Betting & iGaming ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome July ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome August ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome September ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome October ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome November ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome December ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome January ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome February ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome March ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome April ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome May ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome June ETF
Horizon Kinetics Inflation Beneficiaries ETF
Changebridge Capital Long Short Equity ETF
Changebridge Capital Sustainable Equity ETF
Overlay Shares Hedged Large Cap Equity ETF
Overlay Shares Short-Term Bond ETF
Cabot Growth ETF
Morgan Creek - Exos SPAC Originated ETF
Swan Hedged Equity US Large Cap ETF
Roundhill Streaming Services & Technology ETF
Roundhill MVP ETF
TrueShares Low Volatility Equity Income ETF
TrueShares NASDAQ 100 Structured Outcome January ETF
TrueShares NASDAQ 100 Structured Outcome April ETF
TrueShares NASDAQ 100 Structured Outcome July ETF
TrueShares NASDAQ 100 Structured Outcome October ETF
TrueShares Russell 2000 Structured Outcome January ETF
TrueShares Russell 2000 Structured Outcome April ETF
TrueShares Russell 2000 Structured Outcome July ETF
TrueShares Russell 2000 Structured Outcome October ETF
Roundhill Ball Metaverse ETF
Alexis Practical Tactical ETF
Skyrocket Real Estate Cloud and Technology ETF
Skyrocket US Durable Real Estate Owner ETF
Spear Alpha ETF
Roundhill IO Digital Infrastructure ETF
Roundhill Cannabis ETF
Roundhill MEME ETF
Roundhill Digital Payments ETF
Roundhill Ecommerce ETF
Alpha Intelligent – Large Cap Growth ETF
Alpha Intelligent – Large Cap Value ETF
Alpha Intelligent – Mid Cap Growth ETF
Alpha Intelligent – Mid Cap Value ETF
Alpha Intelligent – Small Cap Growth ETF
Alpha Intelligent – Small Cap Value ETF
B.A.D. ETF
Grizzle Growth ETF
RiverNorth Volition America Patriot ETF
Morgan Creek-Exos Active SPAC Arbitrage ETF
Preferred-Plus ETF
Dividend Performers ETF
AMENDMENT TO THE
LISTED FUNDS TRUST CUSTODY AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDMENT to the Custody Agreement, dated as of April 25, 2019 (the “Agreement”), is entered into as of the last date on the signature block, by and between LISTED FUNDS TRUST, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association (the “Custodian”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the parties have entered into the Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to amend the Agreement to add the Grizzle Growth ETF to its series and to add the respective fee schedule as Exhibit 21; and
WHEREAS, Article XV, Section 15.02 of the Agreement allows for its amendment by a written instrument executed by both parties.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree to amend the Agreement as follows:
Exhibit 21 is hereby added to the Agreement and attached hereto.
This amendment will become effective upon the commencement of operations of the Fund. Except to the extent amended hereby, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by a duly authorized officer on one or more counterparts as of the date and year written below.
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LISTED FUNDS TRUST
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U.S. Bank N.A.
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By: /s/ Gregory C. Bakken
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By: /s/ Anita M. Zagrodnik
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Name: Gregory C. Bakken
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Name: Anita Zagrodnik
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Title: President
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Title: Senior Vice President
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Date: 12/9/2021
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Date: 12/10/2021
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EXHIBIT 21
to the Listed Funds Trust Custody Agreement
List of Funds and Fee Schedule at December 2021
Name of Series
Grizzle Growth ETF
Base Fee for Custody Services
The following reflects the greater of the basis point fee or annual minimum1 where Grizzle (the “Adviser”) acts as investment adviser to the fund(s) in the same Regulated Investment Company.
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Annual Minimum per Fund2
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Basis Points on Trust AUM2
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Funds 1-5
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$____
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First $1b
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____bp
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Funds 6+
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$____
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Balance
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____bp
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1 Each fund, regardless of asset size, will have fees allocated to it equal to the per fund minimum. Should the complex level basis point fee calculation exceed the complex level minimum fee level calculation, the fees in excess of the minimum will be allocated to each fund based on the percent on AUM.
Once a Fund is operational, should this service agreement with U.S. Bank be terminated prior to the end of the initial two year period, Adviser will be responsible for the balance of the minimum fees for the remainder of the service agreement’s 12-month period beginning with the Fund’s launch or any anniversary of launch. To avoid doubt, if Adviser launched a Fund on March 1, 2021 and terminated the relationship on June 30, 2022, Adviser would owe U.S. Bank up to 50% of $48,000 ($45,000 admin/acct/ta + $3,000 Custody).
Additional services not included above shall be mutually agreed upon at the time of the service being added. In addition to the fees described above, additional fees may be charged to the extent that changes to applicable laws, rules or regulations require additional work or expenses related to services provided (e.g., compliance with new liquidity risk management and reporting requirements).
2 Subject to annual CPI increase: All Urban Consumers – U.S. City Average” index, provided that the CPI adjustment will not decrease the base fees (even if the cumulative CPI rate at any point in time is negative).
Fees are calculated pro rata and billed monthly
EXHIBIT 21 (continued) to the Listed Funds Trust Custody Agreement
Custody Services in addition to the Base Fee
Portfolio Transaction Fees2
•$[ ] – Book entry DTC transaction, Federal Reserve transaction, principal paydown
•$[ ] – Repurchase agreement, reverse repurchase agreement, time deposit/CD or other non-depository transaction
•$[ ] – Option/SWAPS/future contract written, exercised or expired
•$[ ] – Mutual fund trade, Margin Variation Wire and outbound Fed wire
•$[ ] – Physical security transaction
•$[ ] – Check disbursement (waived if U.S. Bank is Administrator)
A transaction is a purchase/sale of a security, free receipt/free delivery, maturity, tender or exchange.
Miscellaneous Expenses
All other miscellaneous fees and expenses, including but not limited to the following, will be separately billed as incurred: expenses incurred in the safekeeping, delivery and receipt of securities, shipping, transfer fees, deposit withdrawals at custodian (DWAC) fees, SWIFT charges, negative interest charges and extraordinary expenses based upon complexity.
Additional Services
•Additional fees apply for global servicing. Fund of Fund expenses quoted separately.
•$[ ] per custody sub – account per year (e.g., per sub –adviser, segregated account, etc.)
•Class Action Services – $[ ] filing fee per class action per account, plus 3% of gross proceeds, up to a maximum per recovery not to exceed $[ ]
•No charge for the initial conversion free receipt.
•Overdrafts – charged to the account at prime interest rate plus 2%, unless a line of credit is in place
•Third Party lending - Additional fees will apply
Fees are calculated pro rata and billed monthly
Additional services not included above shall be mutually agreed upon at the time of the service being added. In addition to the fees described above, additional fees may be charged to the extent that changes to applicable laws, rules or regulations require additional work or expenses related to services provided (e.g., compliance with new liquidity risk management and reporting requirements).
2 “Sponsor trades” are defined as any trades put through the Portfolio, on behalf of the Fund by any portfolio manager/sub advisor and their affiliates authorized by the BOT to act on behalf of the Fund, outside of the create/redeem process. Cash-in-Lieu proceeds received as part of the create/redeem process, and their related transactions are not considered to be “Sponsor trades.
EXHIBIT 21 (continued) to the Listed Funds Trust Custody Agreement
Additional Global Sub-Custodial Services Annual Fee Schedule
Base Fee
A monthly base fee of $[ ] per fund will apply when foreign securities are held. If no global assets are held within a given month, the monthly base charge will not apply for that month. In addition, the follow may apply.
Plus:
Global Custody Transaction Fees1
Global Custody transaction fees associate with Sponsor Trades2. (See schedule below)
•A transaction is defined as any purchase/sale, free receipt / free delivery, maturity, tender or exchange of a security.
Global Safekeeping and Transaction Fees
(See schedule below)
Tax Reclamation Services
Miscellaneous Expenses
•Charges incurred by U.S. Bank, N.A. directly or through sub-custodians for account opening fees, tax reclaim fees, local taxes, stamp duties or other local duties and assessments, stock exchange fees, foreign exchange transactions, postage and insurance for shipping, facsimile reporting, extraordinary telecommunications fees, proxy services and other shareholder communications, recurring administration fees, negative interest charges, overdraft charges or other expenses which are unique to a country in which the client or its clients is investing will be passed along as incurred.
•A surcharge may be added to certain miscellaneous expenses listed herein to cover handling, servicing and other administrative costs associated with the activities giving rise to such expenses. Also, certain expenses are charged at a predetermined flat rate.
•SWIFT reporting and message fees.
Fees are calculated pro rata and billed monthly
1“Sponsor trades” are defined as any trades put through the Portfolio, on behalf of the Fund by any portfolio manager/sub advisor and their affiliates authorized by the BOT to act on behalf of the Fund, outside of the create/redeem process. Cash-in-Lieu proceeds received as part of the create/redeem process, and their related transactions are not considered to be “Sponsor trades.”
Acknowledged by
By: Grizzle Investment Management, LLC
By: ____________________________
Name: _________________________
Title: _____________________________
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Country
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Safekeeping (BPS)
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Transaction fee
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Country
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Safekeeping (BPS)
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Transaction fee
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Country
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Safekeeping (BPS)
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Transaction fee
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Argentina
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Hong Kong
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Poland
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Australia
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Hungary
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Portugal
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Austria
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Iceland
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Qatar
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Bahrain
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India
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Romania
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Bangladesh
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Indonesia
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Russia
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Belgium
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Ireland
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Saudi Arabia
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Bermuda
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Israel
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Serbia
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Botswana
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Italy
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Singapore
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Brazil
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Japan
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Slovakia
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Bulgaria
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Jordan
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South Africa
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Canada
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Kenya
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South Korea
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Chile
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Kuwait
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Spain
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China Connect
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Latvia
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Sri Lanka
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China (B Shares)
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Lithuania
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Sweden
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Colombia
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Luxembourg
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Switzerland
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Costa Rica
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Malaysia
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Taiwan
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Croatia
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Malta
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Thailand
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Cyprus
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Mauritius
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Tunisia
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Czech Republic
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Mexico
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Turkey
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Denmark
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Morocco
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UAE
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Egypt
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Namibia
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Uganda
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Estonia
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Netherlands
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Eswatini
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New Zealand
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Ukraine
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Euroclear
(Eurobonds)
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Nigeria
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United Kingdom
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Euroclear
(Non-Eurobonds)
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Rates are available upon request
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Rates are available upon request
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Norway
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Uruguay
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Finland
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Oman
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Vietnam
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France
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Pakistan
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West African Economic Monetary Union (WAEMU)*
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Germany
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Panama
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Zambia
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Ghana
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Peru
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Zimbabwe
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Greece
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Philippines
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* Includes Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Togo and Benin.
AMENDMENT TO THE
LISTED FUNDS TRUST
FUND SERVICING AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDMENT to the Fund Servicing Agreement, dated as of April 25, 2019 (the “Agreement”), is entered into as of the last date on the signature block, by and between LISTED FUNDS TRUST, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), and U.S. BANCORP FUND SERVICES, LLC d/b/a U.S. BANK GLOBAL FUND SERVICES, a Wisconsin limited liability company (“Fund Services”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the parties have entered into the Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to amend the Agreement to add the Grizzle Growth ETF to its series and to add the respective fee schedule as Exhibit 21; and
WHEREAS, Section 13 of the Agreement allows for its amendment by a written instrument executed by both parties.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree to amend the Agreement as follows:
Exhibit 21 is hereby added to the Agreement and attached hereto.
This amendment will become effective upon the commencement of operations of the Funds. Except to the extent amended hereby, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by a duly authorized officer on one or more counterparts as of the date and year last written below.
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LISTED FUNDS TRUST
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U.S. BANCORP FUND SERVICES, LLC
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By: /s/ Gregory C. Bakken
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By: /s/ Anita M. Zagrodnik
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Name: Gregory C. Bakken
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Name: Anita Zagrodnik
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Title: President
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Title: Senior Vice President
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Date: 12/09/2021
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Date: 12/10/2021
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Exhibit 21 to the Listed Funds Trust Fund Servicing Agreement
List of Funds and Fee Schedule at December 2021
Name of Series
Grizzle Growth ETF
Fund Start-up & Registration Services Project Fee Schedule
Regulatory Administration Service Proposal – In support of external legal counsel
(Subject to services provided; if applicable)
$[ ] per project – one fund
$[ ] per project – two funds
$[ ] per project – three funds
$[ ] per project – four funds
Negotiated Fee – five funds and above
Note: External legal costs are included in the above fee, unless otherwise stated, for the first fund(s) launched by adviser. Additional reviews by Trust counsel for extraordinary circumstances are billed at cost.
Fund startup and registration services project fee is paid for by the advisor and not the Fund(s). This non-refundable fee is not able to be recouped by the advisor under the expense waiver limitation or similar agreement. Fund startup and registration fees are billed [ ]% following the selection of U.S. Bank and [ ]% 75 days after the preliminary registration statement is filed with the SEC filings.
Additional Regulatory Administration Services
•Subsequent new fund launch – $[ ] per fund or as negotiated
•Drafting SEC exemptive order application for required relief Negotiated fee
Ongoing Annual Regulatory Administration Services
Add the following for regulatory administration services in support of external legal counsel, including annual registration statement update and drafting of supplements
•$[ ] for first three funds in same statutory prospectus
•Fees negotiated for funds 4+
All other miscellaneous fees and expenses, including but not limited to the following, will be separately billed as incurred:
•Postage, if necessary
•Federal and state regulatory filing fees
•Expenses from Board of Trustee meetings
•Third party auditing
•EDGAR/XBRL filing
•All other Miscellaneous expenses
Fund startup and registration services project fee is paid for by the advisor and not the Fund(s). This non-refundable fee is not able to be recouped by the advisor under the expense waiver limitation or similar agreement. Fund startup and registration fees are billed [ ]% following the selection of U.S. Bank and [ ]% 75 days after the preliminary registration statement is filed with the SEC filings.
Exhibit 21 to the Listed Funds Trust Fund Servicing Agreement
Base Fee for Accounting, Administration, Transfer Agent & Account Services
The following reflects the greater of the basis point fee or annual minimum1 where Grizzle (the “Adviser”) acts as investment adviser to the fund(s) in the same Regulated Investment Company.
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Annual Minimum per Fund2
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Basis Points on Trust AUM2
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Funds 1-5
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$____
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First $500m
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____bps
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Funds 6-10
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$____
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Next $500m
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____bps
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Funds 11+
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$____
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Next $2b
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____bps
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Balance
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____bps
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See APPENDIX A for Services and Associated Fees in addition to the Base Fee
See APPENDIX B for OPTIONAL Supplemental Services and Associated Fees
1 Each fund, regardless of asset size, will have fees allocated to it equal to the per fund minimum. Should the complex level basis point fee calculation exceed the complex level minimum fee level calculation, the fees in excess of the minimum will be allocated to each fund based on the percent on AUM.
Once a Fund is operational, should this service agreement with U.S. Bank be terminated prior to the end of the initial two year period, Adviser will be responsible for the balance of the minimum fees for the remainder of the service agreement’s 12-month period beginning with the Fund’s launch or any anniversary of launch. To avoid doubt, if Adviser launched a Fund on March 1, 2021 and terminated the relationship on June 30, 2022, Adviser would owe U.S. Bank up to [ ]% of $[ ] ($[ ] admin/acct/ta + $[ ] Custody).
Additional services not included above shall be mutually agreed upon at the time of the service being added. In addition to the fees described above, additional fees may be charged to the extent that changes to applicable laws, rules or regulations require additional work or expenses related to services provided (e.g., compliance with new liquidity risk management and reporting requirements).
2 Subject to annual CPI increase: All Urban Consumers – U.S. City Average” index, provided that the CPI adjustment will not decrease the base fees (even if the cumulative CPI rate at any point in time is negative).
Fees are calculated pro rata and billed monthly
Exhibit 21 to the Listed Funds Trust Fund Servicing Agreement
Accounting, Administration, Transfer Agent & Account Services (in addition to the Base Fee)
Pricing Services
For daily pricing of each securities (estimated 252 pricing days annually)
•$[ ] – Domestic Equities, Options, ADRs, Foreign Equities, Futures, Forwards, Currency Rates, Total Return Swaps
•$[ ] – Domestic Corporates, Domestic Convertibles, Domestic Governments and Agency, Mortgage Backed, and Municipal Bonds
•$[ ] – CMOs, Money Market Instruments, Foreign Corporates, Foreign Convertibles, Foreign Governments, Foreign Agencies, Asset Backed, and High Yield Bonds
•$[ ] – Interest Rate Swaps, Foreign Currency Swaps
•$[ ] – Bank Loans
•$[ ] – Swaptions, Intraday money market funds pricing, up to 3 times per day
•$[ ] – Credit Default Swaps
•$[ ] per Month Manual Security Pricing (>25 per day)
NOTE: Prices are based on using U.S. Bank primary pricing service which may vary by security type and are subject to change. Use of alternative and/or additional sources may result in additional fees. Pricing vendors may designate certain securities as hard to value or as a non-standard security type, such as CLOs and CDOs, which may result in additional fees. All schedules subject to change depending upon the use of unique security type requiring special pricing or accounting arrangements.
Corporate Action Services
Fee for ICE data used to monitor corporate actions
•$[ ] per Foreign Equity Security per Month
•$[ ] per Domestic Equity Security per Month
•$[ ] per CMOs, Asset Backed, Mortgage Backed Security per Month
Trust Chief Compliance Officer Annual Fee
•$[ ] for the first fund
•$[ ] for each additional fund 2-5
•$[ ] for each fund over 5 funds
•$[ ] per sub-adviser per fund (capped at $[ ] per sub-adviser over the fund complex)
•Per adviser relationship, and subject to change based upon board review and approval.
Third Party Administrative Data Charges (descriptive data for analytics, reporting and compliance)
•$[ ] per security per month for fund administrative
SEC Modernization Requirements
•Form N-PORT – $[ ] per year, per Fund
•Form N-CEN – $[ ] per year, per Fund
Section 15(c) Reporting
$[ ] per fund per standard reporting package*
*Standard reporting packages for annual 15(c) meeting
- Expense reporting package: 2 peer comparison reports (adviser fee) and (net expense ratio w classes on one report) OR Full 15(c) report
- Performance reporting package: Peer Comparison Report
Additional 15c reporting is subject to additional charges
Standard data source – Morningstar; additional charges will apply for other data services
Miscellaneous Expenses
All other miscellaneous fees and expenses, including but not limited to the following, will be separately billed as incurred: charges associated with accelerated effectiveness at DTCC, SWIFT processing, customized reporting, third-party data provider costs (including GICS, MSCI, Lipper, etc.), postage, stationary, programming, special reports, proxies, insurance, EDGAR/XBRL filing, retention of records, federal and state regulatory filing fees, expenses related to and including travel to and from Board of Trustee meetings, third party auditing and legal expenses, wash sales reporting (GainsKeeper), tax e-filing, PFIC monitoring, conversion expenses (if necessary), and travel related costs.
Additional services not included above shall be mutually agreed upon at the time of the service being added. In addition to the fees described above, additional fees may be charged to the extent that changes to applicable laws, rules or regulations require additional work or expenses related to services provided (e.g., compliance with new liquidity risk management and reporting requirements).
Fees are calculated pro rata and billed monthly
OPTIONAL Supplemental Services for Fund Accounting, Fund Administration & Portfolio Compliance (provided by U.S. Bank upon client request)
Daily Compliance Services
•Base fee – $[ ] per fund per year
•Setup – $[ ] per fund group
Section 18 Daily Compliance Testing (for derivatives and leverage)
•$[ ] set up fee per fund complex
•$[ ] per fund per month
C- Corp Administrative Services
•1940 Act C-Corp – U.S. Bank Fee Schedule plus $[ ]
•1933 Act C-Corp – U.S. Bank Fee Schedule plus $[ ]
Controlled Foreign Corporation (CFC)
•U.S. Bank Fee Schedule plus $[ ]
•Core Tax Services
M-1 book-to-tax adjustments at fiscal and excise year-end, prepare tax footnotes in conjunction with fiscal year-end audit, Prepare Form 1120-RIC federal income tax return and relevant schedules, Prepare Form 8613 and relevant schedules, Prepare Form 1099-MISC Forms, Prepare Annual TDF FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Reporting) filing, Prepare state returns (Limited to two) and Capital Gain Dividend Estimates (Limited to two).
Optional Tax Services:
•Prepare book-to-tax adjustments & Form 5471 for Controlled Foreign Corporations (CFCs) – $[ ] per year
•Additional Capital Gain Dividend Estimates – (First two included in core services) – $[ ] per additional estimate
•State tax returns - (First two included in core services) – $[ ] per additional return
Tax Reporting – C-Corporations
Federal Tax Returns
•Prepare corporate Book to tax calculation, average cost analysis and cost basis role forwards, and federal income tax returns for investment fund (Federal returns & 1099 Breakout Analysis) – $[ ]
•Prepare Federal and State extensions (If Applicable) – Included in the return fees
•Prepare provision estimates – $[ ] Per estimate
State Tax Returns
•Prepare state income tax returns for funds and blocker entities – $[ ] per state return
•Sign state income tax returns – $[ ] per state return
Assist in filing state income tax returns – Included with preparation of returns
•State tax notice consultative support and resolution – $[ ] per fund
Fees are calculated pro rata and billed monthly
Acknowledged by
By: Grizzle Investment Management, LLC
By: ____________________________
Name: _________________________
Title: _____________________________
December 13, 2021
Listed Funds Trust
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
Re: Registration Statement on Form N-1A
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Listed Funds Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), in connection with Post-Effective Amendment No. 155 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on or about December 13, 2021 (the “Registration Statement”), with respect to the issuance of shares of beneficial interest with no par value per share (collectively, the “Shares”) of the Trust’s Grizzle Growth ETF (the “Fund”). You have requested that we deliver this opinion to you in connection with the Trust’s filing of the Registration Statement.
In connection with the furnishing of this opinion, we have examined the following documents:
(a) A certificate of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, dated as of a recent date, as to the existence and good standing of the Trust;
(b) A copy, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, of the Trust’s Certificate of Trust and all amendments thereto, as filed with the Secretary of State (the “Certificate of Trust”);
(c) Copies of the Trust’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated March 19, 2019 (the “Declaration”), the Trust’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, as approved by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) on March 19, 2019 (the “Bylaws”), and resolutions approved by the Board authorizing the issuance of the Shares of the Fund (the “Resolutions”), each certified by an authorized officer of the Trust; and
(d) A printer’s proof of the Registration Statement.
In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the conformity to the originals of all of the documents reviewed by us as copies, including conformed copies, the authenticity and completeness of all original documents reviewed by us in original or copy form and the legal competence of each individual executing any document. We have assumed that the Registration Statement as filed with the Commission will be in substantially the form of the printer’s proof referred to in paragraph (d) above. We also have assumed for the purposes of this opinion that the Certificate of Trust, the Declaration, the Bylaws, and the Resolutions will not have been amended, modified or withdrawn with respect to matters relating to the Shares and will be in full force and effect on the date of the issuance of such Shares.
This opinion is based entirely on our review of the documents listed above and such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion and such investigation of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate. We have made no other review or investigation of any kind whatsoever, and we have assumed, without independent inquiry, the accuracy of the information set forth in such documents.
This opinion is limited solely to the Delaware Statutory Trust Act to the extent that the same may apply to or govern the transactions referred to herein, and we express no opinion with respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction or to any other laws of the State of Delaware. Further, we express no opinion as to any state or federal securities laws, including the securities laws of the State of Delaware. No opinion is given
herein as to the choice of law or internal substantive rules of law that any tribunal may apply to such transactions. In addition, to the extent that the Declaration or the Bylaws refer to, incorporate, or require compliance with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), or any other law or regulation applicable to the Trust, except for the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, we have assumed compliance by the Trust with the 1940 Act and such other laws and regulations.
We understand that all of the foregoing assumptions and limitations are acceptable to you.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that the Shares, when issued and sold in accordance with the Declaration, the Bylaws, the Resolutions, and the Registration Statement, will be validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable by the Trust.
This opinion is given as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update this opinion to reflect any changes in law or any other facts or circumstances which may hereafter come to our attention. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In rendering this opinion and giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the references to our firm in this Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Grizzle Growth ETF, a series of Listed Funds Trust, under the headings “Other Service Providers” in the Prospectus and “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Statement of Additional Information.
/s/ Cohen & Company, Ltd.
Cohen & Company, Ltd.
Cleveland, Ohio
December 13, 2021
APPENDIX A
Designated Funds
Wahed FTSE USA Shariah ETF
Roundhill BITKRAFT Esports & Digital Entertainment ETF
Overlay Shares Large Cap Equity ETF
Overlay Shares Small Cap Equity ETF
Overlay Shares Foreign Equity ETF
Overlay Shares Core Bond ETF
Overlay Shares Municipal Bond ETF
Core Alternative ETF
TrueShares ESG Active Opportunities ETF
TrueShares Technology, AI & Deep Learning ETF
Roundhill Sports Betting & iGaming ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome (July) ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome (August) ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome (September) ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome (October) ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome (November) ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome (December) ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome (January) ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome (February) ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome (March) ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome (April) ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome (May) ETF
TrueShares Structured Outcome (June) ETF
AAF First Priority CLO Bond ETF
Swan Hedged Equity US Large Cap ETF
Cabot Growth ETF
Horizon Kinetics Inflation Beneficiaries ETF
TrueShares Nasdaq 100 Structured Outcome (January) ETF
TrueShares Nasdaq 100 Structured Outcome (April) ETF
TrueShares Nasdaq 100 Structured Outcome (July) ETF
TrueShares Nasdaq 100 Structured Outcome (October) ETF
TrueShares Russell 2000 Structured Outcome (January) ETF
TrueShares Russell 2000 Structured Outcome (April) ETF
TrueShares Russell 2000 Structured Outcome (July) ETF
TrueShares Russell 2000 Structured Outcome (October) ETF
Overlay Shares Hedged Large Cap Equity ETF
Overlay Shares Short Term Bond ETF
Changebridge Capital Long/Short Equity ETF
Changebridge Capital Sustainable Equity ETF
Morgan Creek-Exos SPAC Originated ETF
Roundhill Streaming Services & Technology ETF
Roundhill Pro Sports, Media & Apparel ETF
TrueShares Low Volatility Equity Income ETF
Roundhill Ball Metaverse ETF
Alexis Practical Tactical ETF
Spear Alpha ETF
Alpha Intelligent – Large Cap Growth ETF
Alpha Intelligent – Large Cap Value ETF
Alpha Intelligent – Mid Cap Growth ETF
Alpha Intelligent – Mid Cap Value ETF
Alpha Intelligent – Small Cap Growth ETF
Alpha Intelligent – Small Cap Value ETF
Roundhill Cannabis ETF
Roundhill Digital Payments ETF
Roundhill IO Digital Infrastructure ETF
Roundhill Ecommerce ETF
Roundhill MEME ETF
Wahed Dow Jones Islamic World ETF
B.A.D. ETF
Grizzle Growth ETF
Morgan Creek-Exos Active SPAC Arbitrage ETF
RiverNorth Volition America Patriot ETF
Preferred-Plus ETF
Dividend Performers ETF
Grizzle Investment Management LLC
Code of Ethics
Introduction and Things You Should Know
This is the Code of Ethics (the "Code" or "Code of Ethics") of Grizzle Investment Management LLC (the "Company"). The Code includes the following sections:
•Definitions
•Fiduciary Duty Standards
•Code of Ethics Compliance and Administration
•Guidelines for Professional Standards
•Personal Trading Policies
•Sanctions and Reporting Violations
•Insider Trading Policies
Investment advisers are fiduciaries that owe their undivided loyalty to their clients. Investment advisers are trusted to represent clients’ interests in many matters, and advisers must hold themselves to the highest standard of fairness in all such situations.
Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act requires each registered investment adviser to adopt and implement a written code of ethics that contains provisions regarding:
•the adviser’s fiduciary duty to its clients;
•compliance with all applicable Federal Securities Laws;
•reporting and review of personal Securities transactions and holdings;
•reporting of violations of the code; and
•delivery of the code to all Associated Persons.
If you have any doubt or uncertainty about what this Code requires or permits, you should ask the Chief Compliance Officer. Do not speculate.
The Company expects all Associated Persons to comply with the spirit of the Code, as well as its specific requirements.
The Company treats violations of this Code (including violations of its spirit) very seriously. If you violate either the letter or the spirit of this Code, the Company may take disciplinary measures against you, including, without limitation, imposing penalties or fines, reducing your compensation, demoting you, requiring unwinding of the trade, requiring disgorgement of trading gains, suspending or terminating your employment, or any combination of the foregoing.
Improper trading activity can constitute a violation of this Code. You can also violate this Code by failing to file required reports, or by making inaccurate or misleading reports or statements concerning trading activity or securities accounts. Your conduct can violate this Code even if no clients are harmed by your conduct.
Definitions
These terms have special meanings as used in this Code of Ethics. Defined terms from the Company’s Compliance Manual are incorporated by reference into this Code of Ethics:
Access Person - An "Access Person" is a Supervised Person who has access to nonpublic information regarding any client's purchase or sale of securities, is involved in making securities recommendations to clients, or has access to such recommendations that are nonpublic. All of the Company's directors, officers, and partners are presumed to be Access Persons. The Company considers all of its employees Access Persons. Therefore, all employees are subject to the requirements of this Code of Ethics.
Advisers Act – The Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Automatic Investment Plan - means a program in which regular periodic purchases (or withdrawals) are made automatically in (or from) investment accounts in accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation. An automatic investment plan includes a dividend reinvestment plan.
Associated Person - For purposes of this Code, all Supervised Persons and Access Persons are collectively referred to as "Associated Persons."
Beneficial Interest/Ownership - Means any opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in the profit from any transaction in securities, including those owned by Members of the Family/Household who are living with the Access Person.
Chief Compliance Officer - Means James Alafriz, or another person that has been designated to perform the functions of Chief Compliance Officer. For purposes of reviewing the Chief Compliance Officer's own transactions and reports under this Code, the functions of the Chief Compliance Officer are performed by another qualified individual, and shall be clearly denoted in the Company's compliance files.
Client - Any person for whom, or entity for which, the Company serves as an investment adviser, renders investment advice, or makes any investment decisions for compensation is considered a client.
Covered Account - Means any account in which an Access Person has any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership.
Federal Securities Laws - Means the Securities Act of 1933 , the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 , the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 , the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, any rules adopted by the SEC under any of these statutes, the Bank Secrecy Act as it applies to investment companies and investment advisers, and any rules adopted thereunder by the SEC or the Department of the Treasury.
Material Nonpublic Information – See subsection 7 “Insider Trading Policy” herein.
Members of the Family/Household - "Members of the Family/Household" include:
•a spouse or domestic partner (unless they do not live in the same household as the Access Person and the Access Person does not contribute in any way to their support);
•children under the age of 18;
•children who are 18 or older (unless they do not live in the same household as the Access Person and the Access Person does not contribute in any way to their support); and
•any person who lives in the Access Person's household including stepchildren, grandchildren, parents, stepparents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, in-laws, adoptive relationships, significant others and roommates.
Non-Reportable Securities: See subsection titled “Reportable Securities” for a list of non-reportable securities.
Private Placement – Also known as a “Limited Offering.” An offering that is exempt from registration pursuant to sections 4(2) or 4(6) of the Securities Act, or pursuant to Rules 504, 505, or 506 of Regulation D.
Reportable Securities - Means all Securities, except Non-Reportable Securities, in which an Access Person has Beneficial Ownership.
RIC – Registered Investment Company, under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Security or Securities - Means anything that is considered a "security" under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. This is a very broad definition of security. It includes most kinds of investment instruments, including things that one might not ordinarily think of as "securities," such as:
•exchange traded funds;
•options on securities, on indexes and on currencies;
•investments in all kinds of limited partnerships;
•investments in foreign unit trusts and foreign mutual funds; and
•investments in private investment funds and hedge funds.
If there is any question or doubt about whether an investment is considered a security or a Reportable Security under this Code, ask the Chief Compliance Officer.
Supervised Person - A "Supervised Person" is any partner, officer, director (or other person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions), or employee of an investment adviser, or other person who provides investment advice on behalf of the investment adviser and is subject to the supervision and control of the investment adviser. This may also include all temporary workers, consultants, independent contractors, and anyone else designated by the Chief Compliance Officer. For purposes of the Code, such "outside individuals" will generally only be included in the definition of a Supervised Person, if their duties include access to certain types of information, which would put them in a position of sufficient knowledge to necessitate their inclusion under the Code. The Chief Compliance Officer shall make the final determination as to which of these are considered Supervised Persons.
Fiduciary Duty Standards
This Code of Ethics is based on the principle that the Company has a fiduciary duty to place the interests of clients ahead of the Company's interests. The Company must avoid activities, interests, and relationships that might interfere with making decisions in the best interests of the Company's clients.
All Associated Persons will act with competence, dignity, integrity, and in an ethical manner, when dealing with clients, the public, prospects, third-party service providers and fellow Associated Persons.
The Company Associated Persons designated as Access Persons by a RIC shall comply with the RIC’s Code of Ethics in addition to the Company’s Code of Ethics. Additionally, the CCO will provide to each RIC annually a written report regarding the Company's Code of Ethics, in accordance with IC Act Rule 17j-1(c)(2)(ii), and the Company will comply with the recordkeeping requirements of IC Act Rule 17j-1(f).
We expect all Associated Persons to adhere to the highest standards with respect to any potential conflicts of interest with clients. As a fiduciary, the Company must act in its clients’ best interests. Neither the Company, nor any Associated Person should ever benefit at the expense of any client. Notify the CCO promptly if you become aware of any practice that creates, or gives the appearance of, a material conflict of interest.
Guidelines for Professional Standards
•At all times, all Associated Persons must comply with applicable federal securities laws and must reflect the professional standards expected of those engaged in the investment advisory business, and they shall act within the spirit and the letter of the federal, state, and local laws and regulations pertaining to investment advisers and the general conduct of business. These standards require all personnel to be judicious, accurate, objective, and reasonable in dealing with both clients and other parties so that his or her personal integrity is unquestionable.
•All Associated Persons are required to report any violation of the Code, by any person, to the CCO or other appropriate persons of the Company promptly. Such reports will be held in confidence to the extent practicable. However, the Company remains responsible for satisfying the regulatory reporting and other obligations that may follow the reporting of a potential violation.
•Associated Persons must place the interests of clients first. All Associated Persons must scrupulously avoid serving his or her own personal interests ahead of the interests of the Company's clients. In addition, Associated Persons must work diligently to ensure that no client is preferred over any other client.
•Associated Persons must use good judgment in identifying and responding appropriately to actual or apparent conflicts. Conflicts of interest that involve the Company and/or its Associated Persons on one hand and clients on the other hand will generally be fully disclosed and/or resolved in a way that favors the interests of the clients over the interests of the Company and its Associated Persons. If an Associated Person believes that a conflict of interest has not been identified or appropriately addressed, that Associated Person should promptly bring the issue to the CCO’s attention.
•All Associated Persons are naturally prohibited from engaging in any practice that defrauds or misleads any client, or from engaging in any manipulative or deceitful practice with respect to clients or securities.
•No Associated Person may serve on the board of directors of any publicly traded company without prior written permission from the CCO.
•Associated Persons will not cause or attempt to cause any client to purchase, sell, or hold any security in a manner calculated to create any personal benefit, or on behalf of the Company.
•Associated Persons must use reasonable care and exercise independent professional judgment when conducting investment analysis, making investment recommendations, trading, promoting the Company’s services, and engaging in other professional activities.
•Associated Persons must conduct all personal securities transactions in full compliance with this Code. Doubtful situations should be resolved in favor of clients and in cooperation with the CCO. Technical compliance with the Code's provisions shall not automatically insulate from scrutiny any securities transactions or actions that could indicate a violation of the Company's fiduciary duties.
•Personal transactions in securities by Access Persons must be transacted to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest on the part of such personnel with the interests of the Company's clients. Likewise, Associated Persons must avoid actions or activities that allow (or appear to allow) a person to profit or benefit from his or her position with the Company at the expense of clients, or that otherwise bring into question the person's judgment.
•Associated Persons are subject to Insider Trading Policies adopted by the Company to detect and prevent the misuse of material nonpublic information.
•No Associated Person shall communicate information known to be false to others (including but not limited to clients, prospective clients and other Associated Persons) with the intention of manipulating financial markets for personal gain.
•Associated Persons are prohibited from accepting compensation for services from outside sources without the specific prior written permission of the CCO.
•When any Associated Person faces a conflict or potential conflict between his or her personal interest and the interests of clients, he or she is required to immediately report the conflict to the CCO for instructions regarding how to proceed.
•Associated Persons must treat recommendations and actions of the Company as confidential and private matters. Accordingly, we have adopted a Privacy Policy to prohibit the transmission, distribution, or communication of any information regarding securities transactions in client accounts or other nonpublic information, except to broker-dealers, other bona fide service providers, or regulators in the ordinary course of business. In addition, no information obtained during the course of employment regarding particular securities (including internal reports and recommendations) may be transmitted, distributed, or communicated to anyone who is not affiliated with the Company, without the prior written approval of the CCO.
•No Associated Person shall intentionally sell to or purchase from a client any security or other property without prior written authorization from the CCO.
•No Associated Person shall provide loans or receive loans from clients without the prior written authorization from the CCO.
Code of Ethics Compliance and Administration
The CCO administers the Code of Ethics and shall certify compliance with any RIC’s Code of Ethics to the RIC’s CCO on a quarterly basis. All questions regarding the Code should be directed to the CCO. You must cooperate to the fullest extent reasonably requested by the CCO to enable (i) the Company to comply with all applicable Federal Securities Laws; and (ii) the CCO to discharge duties under the Code of Ethics.
There are three Reporting Forms that an Access Person must complete under this Code. Additional information about, and copies of, these Reporting Forms are included below. You can also obtain copies of the Reporting Forms from the CCO.
Nothing herein shall prohibit or impede in any way an Associated Person or former Associated Person from reporting a possible securities law violation directly to the SEC or other regulatory authority. In addition, the Company will not retaliate in any way against an Associated Person or former Associated Person for providing information relating to a possible securities law violation to the SEC or other regulatory authority.
The Company's management will review the terms and provisions of this Code at least annually and make amendments as necessary. Any amendments will be distributed to all Associated Persons of the Company, and the Company shall require each Associated Person to provide in writing an acknowledgement of their receipt, understanding and acceptance of the change(s).
Associated Persons are generally expected to discuss any perceived risks or concerns about the Company’s business practices with their direct supervisor. However, if an Associated Person is uncomfortable discussing an issue with their supervisor, or if they believe that an issue has not been appropriately addressed, the Associated Person should bring the matter to the CCO’s attention, or if the supervisor is the CCO, then to the attention of a senior officer of the firm.
The Company will distribute the Company’s Code of Ethics to each Associated Person upon the commencement of employment or engagement and upon any amendment to the Code of Ethics.
All Associated Persons must acknowledge that they have received, read, understand, and agree to comply with the Company's Code of Ethics by completing the Agreement to Abide by Code of Ethics upon commencement of employment or engagement with the Company, and annually thereafter. All Associated Persons will be required to acknowledge in writing receipt of any amendments made to this Code of Ethics.
The Company will describe its Code of Ethics in Part 2A of Form ADV and, upon request, furnish clients with a copy of the Code of Ethics. All client requests for the Company’s Code of Ethics should be directed to the CCO.
The CCO will maintain a copy of this Code of Ethics in the Company's files. Additionally, the CCO will review the Code of Ethics at least annually to ensure it remains appropriately aligned with the Company's advisory business.
Personal Trading Policies
Personal Securities Transactions
Personal trading activity conducted by the Company’s Access Persons should be executed in a manner consistent with our fiduciary obligations to our clients: trades should avoid actual improprieties, as well as the appearance of impropriety. Access Person trades should not involve trading activity so excessive as to conflict with one’s ability to fulfill daily job responsibilities or to otherwise violate anti-manipulative or insider trading regulations.
Accounts Covered by the Code
The Company’s Code of Ethics applies to all Reportable Securities and Covered Accounts over which Access Persons have any Beneficial Ownership, which typically includes securities held by immediate family members sharing the same household. Immediate family members include children, stepchildren, grandchildren, parents, stepparents, grandparents, spouses, domestic partners, siblings, parents-in-law, and children-in-law, as well as adoptive relationships that meet the above criteria.
The Company considers all of its employees to be Access Persons.
It may be possible for Access Persons to exclude accounts held personally or by immediate family members sharing the same household if the Access Person does not have any direct or indirect influence or control over the accounts. Access Persons should consult with the CCO before excluding any accounts held by immediate family members sharing the same household.
The following policies and procedures apply to all securities owned or controlled by an Access Person, and any Covered Account. Any account in question should be addressed with the CCO immediately to determine if it is considered a Covered Account.
Improper trading activity can constitute a violation of this Code. Nevertheless, the Code can be violated by failing to file required reports, or by making inaccurate or misleading reports or statements concerning trading activity or securities accounts. Individual conduct can violate this Code even if no clients are harmed by such conduct.
Reportable Securities
The Company requires Access Persons to provide periodic reports regarding transactions and holdings in all “Reportable Securities,” which include any Security, except the following, which are Non-Reportable Securities:
•direct obligations of the Government of the United States;
•bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high-quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements;
•shares issued by money market funds;
•Shares issued by open-end investment companies registered in the U.S., none of which are advised or underwritten by the Company or an affiliate;
•interests in 529 college savings plans; and
•shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in unaffiliated mutual funds.
Exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, are somewhat similar to open-end registered investment companies. However, ETFs are Reportable Securities and are subject to the reporting requirements contained in the Company’s Code of Ethics.
The term “digital asset” refers to an asset that is issued and/or transferred using distributed ledger or blockchain technology, including, but not limited to, “virtual currencies,” “coins,” and “tokens.” A particular digital asset may or may not meet the definition of “security” under the federal securities laws. If you have any questions as to whether your digital asset is reportable, contact the CCO.
Reporting Requirements
The Company must collect information regarding the personal trading activities and holdings of all Access Persons. Access Persons must promptly report to the Company the opening of any new
Covered Accounts, submit quarterly reports regarding Reportable Securities transactions, and report Reportable Securities holdings on an annual basis.
The CCO will make all required records of personal transactions in Reportable Securities available to the required regulatory authority, promptly upon request. These include statements for all accounts for personal securities transactions.
All Access Persons must file reports as described below, even if there are no holdings, transactions, or accounts to list in the reports. Copies of the reporting forms are included at the end of the Code or can be obtained from the CCO. The Company may rely on brokerage statements to the extent such statements are made accessible to the CCO.
1. Initial Holdings Reports
No later than 10 calendar days after an Associated Person becomes an Access Person (or within 10 days of the adoption of this Code if the Associated Person was already an Access Person at the time of its adoption), that Access Person must submit an Initial Holdings Report to the CCO. The information must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date the person becomes an Access Person.
2. Annual Holdings Reports
By January 31 of each year, each Access Person must file an Annual Personal Securities Holdings Report with the CCO.
Content Requirements for Initial and Annual Holdings Reports
Each holdings report (initial and annual) must contain at a minimum:
1.the title and type of security, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of shares, and principal amount of each Reportable Security in which the Access Person has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership;
2.the name of any broker, dealer or bank with which the Access Person maintains an account in which any securities (including securities that are not Reportable Securities) are held for the Access Person's direct or indirect benefit; and
3.the date the Access Person submits the report.
All information contained in the holding report must be current as of the date no more than 45 days prior to the date the report is submitted. If you do not have any holdings to report, this should be indicated on the relevant holdings report.
3. Quarterly Transaction Reports
No later than 30 calendar days after the end of March, June, September, and December, each year, each Access Person must file a Quarterly Report of Personal Securities Transactions form with the CCO.
The Quarterly Report of Personal Securities Transactions form requires each Access Person to list all transactions in Reportable Securities during the most recent calendar quarter in which the Access Person had Beneficial Ownership.
Content Requirements for Quarterly Transactions Reports
Each transaction report must contain, at a minimum, the following information about each transaction involving a reportable security in which the Access Person had, or as a result of the transaction acquired, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership:
1.the date of the transaction, the title, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, interest rate and maturity date, number of shares, and principal amount of each reportable security involved;
2.the nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition);
3.the price of the security at which the transaction was effected;
4.the name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through which the transaction was effected; and
5.the date the Access Person submits the report.
The quarterly transaction reporting requirement may be satisfied by instructing the custodian for these accounts to send duplicate confirmations and brokerage account statements for the Covered Accounts, in which such transactions took place, to the Company, c/o the CCO, provided all required information is included in the report and the Company receives the confirmations or statements not later than 30 days after the close of the calendar quarter in which the transaction(s) took place. Alternatively, Access Persons may submit this information on the Quarterly Report of Personal Securities Transactions form provided by the Company.
If you did not have any transactions or account openings to report, this should be indicated on the Quarterly Report of Personal Securities Transactions form. Signed and dated Quarterly Report of Personal Securities Transactions form and/or duplicate account statements must be submitted to the CCO within 30 days of the end of each calendar quarter.
Exceptions from Reporting Requirements
There are limited exceptions from certain reporting requirements. Specifically, Access Persons are not required to submit:
•quarterly reports for any transactions effected pursuant to an Automatic Investment Plan. However, any transaction that overrides the pre-set schedule or allocations of the Automatic Investment Plan must be included in a quarterly transaction report; or
•any reports with respect to Reportable Securities held in accounts over which the Access Person had no direct or indirect influence or control (as defined in the next paragraph), such as a blind trust, wherein the Access Person has no knowledge of the specific management actions taken by the trustee and no right to intervene in the trustee’s management.
Any investment plans or accounts for which an Access Person claims an exception based on “no direct or indirect influence or control” must be brought to the attention of the CCO who will, exercising the CCO's discretion, on a case-by-case basis, determine whether the plan or account qualifies for an exception and make record of such determination. Unless and until such exception is granted, all applicable reporting requirements shall apply.
“No direct or indirect influence or control” with respect to an account shall mean that the Access Person has 1) no knowledge of the specific management actions taken by the trustee or third party manager; 2) no right to intervene in the management of the account by the trustee or third party manager; 3) no discussions with the trustee or third party manager concerning account holdings which could reflect control or influence; and 4) no discussions with the trustee or third party manager wherein the Access Person provides investment directions or suggestions.
In making a determination of whether or not the Access Person has direct or indirect influence or control, the CCO will ask for information about the Access Person’s relationship with the party responsible for making the investment decisions regarding the account (i.e., independent professional versus friend or relative; unaffiliated versus affiliated firm).
The Company requires that all Access Persons seeking a reporting exception for an account based on “no direct or indirect influence or control” submit such a request in writing to the CCO initially when the exception is first sought, and no less than annually thereafter confirm in writing that the exception still applies.
The CCO may periodically request information or a certification from a party responsible for managing the account and may also periodically request reporting on the account to identify transactions that would have been prohibited pursuant to this Code of Ethics, absent the exception granted.
Review and Recordkeeping
The CCO shall review personal trading reports for all Access Persons no less than quarterly, and will otherwise take reasonable steps to monitor compliance with, and enforce this Code of Ethics. Evidence of the reviews shall be maintained in the Company's files. Another appropriately designated individual will review the CCO's personal securities trading reports.
The Company reserves the right to require the Access Person to reverse, cancel, or freeze, at the Access Person's expense, any transaction or position in a specific security if the Company believes the transaction or position violates its policies or appears improper. The Company will keep all such information confidential except as required to enforce this policy or to participate in any investigation concerning violations of applicable law.
The Company’s Code of Ethics is designed to mitigate material conflicts of interest associated with Access Persons’ personal trading activities. Accordingly, the CCO, or designee, monitors Access Persons’ trading to detect potential issues including but not limited to:
•trading in securities appearing on the Restricted List;
•frequent short-term trades detrimental to their work;
•front-Running and other trading in conflict with client interests; and
•trading that appears to be based on Material Nonpublic Information.
The CCO will review reports submitted pursuant to the Code of Ethics for potential behavior issues. The CCO’s trades are reviewed by the CEO. Upon review, the CCO/CEO will initial and date each report received, and document a written description of any issues noted. Personal trading that appears problematic may result in further inquiry by the CCO/CEO.
Prohibited and Restricted Transactions
•Access Persons may not acquire or participate in an initial public offering without first obtaining written approval from the CCO. (For the CCO' s personal trades, the CCO must first obtain written approval from the CEO, CIO.)
•Any Access Person wishing to purchase or sell a security obtained through a private placement must first obtain written approval by the CCO. In addition, if an Associated Person who owns a security in a private company knows that the company is about to engage in an IPO, he or she must disclose this information to the CCO.
•Participation in investment clubs must be approved in writing by the CCO in advance of any such participation.
Case-by-Case Exemptions
Because no written policy can provide for every possible contingency, the CCO may consider granting additional exemptions from the Prohibitions on Trading on a case-by-case basis. Any request for such consideration must be submitted by the Access Person in writing to the CCO. Exceptions will only be granted in those cases in which the CCO determines that granting the request will create no actual, potential, or apparent conflict of interest.
Pre-Clearance
Access Persons are prohibited from engaging in any transaction in a Reportable Security in any account in which the Access Person has any Beneficial Ownership, unless the Access Person obtains the CCO's pre-clearance for that transaction in advance of the transaction. (For the CCO' s personal trades, the CCO must first obtain written pre-clearance from the Chief Executive Officer.)
If pre-clearance is obtained, the approval is valid for the day on which it is granted and the immediately following business day. The CCO may revoke a pre-clearance any time after it is granted and before the transaction is executed. The CCO may deny or revoke pre-clearance for any reason.
The Company or its Employees may receive information that may be deemed to be Material Nonpublic Information. Consequently, the Company may choose to restrict personal trading in a security of a company or issuer by placing the company or issuer on the Restricted List. Refer to the Company’s Insider Trading Policy in this Code for further information and requirements.
As noted above, transactions in private placements and initial public offerings are always prohibited, unless pre-clearance is obtained, in advance of the transaction. Pre-clearance is obtained by first completing and signing the Personal Securities Trading Request Form. (A copy of the Personal Securities Trading Request Form is included in this Code, or a copy can be obtained from the CCO.) The Personal Securities Trading Request Form is then submitted to the CCO for approval.
If pre-clearance is obtained, the Access Person shall act promptly taking the necessary steps to effectuate the IPO or private placement investment. The CCO may revoke a pre-clearance any time up until the Access Person has made a firm commitment to invest.
Timing of Personal Transactions
When the Company is purchasing or selling, or considering for purchase or sale a Reportable Security on behalf of a client account, no Access Person with knowledge of such Company’s purchase or sale may effect a transaction in a the Reportable Security prior to the client purchase or sale having been executed, or until the Company’s decision has been made not to pursue the transaction. Access Persons are permitted to purchase or sell Reportable Securities as part of the Company’s aggregated orders. Other exceptions include trades as a result of an automatic investment plan, dividend reinvestments plans, and approved third party managed accounts.
Blackout Period
The blackout period described below (the “Blackout Period”) applies to all Access Persons and their Reportable Accounts. It is designed to prevent front running, coat tailing and various other activities that create potential conflicts with client interests.
No Access Person may purchase or sell a Reportable Security for an account in which the Access Person has Beneficial Ownership within two trading days immediately before or after a day on which any client account purchases or sells that Reportable Security (or of the same issuer, such as an option or a related convertible or exchangeable security). This includes transactions on the other side of the market (e.g., client account sells ABC and Access Person purchases ABC).
Accounts beneficially owned by Access Persons which are managed by the Company and traded at the same time, terms and execution prices with client accounts as part of an aggregated order may participate in the aggregated order without violating the Blackout Period. Other exceptions include trades as a result of an automatic investment plan, dividend reinvestments plans, and approved third-party managed accounts.
Blackout Period violations are subject to disciplinary measures including the cancelling of the trade or other measures the Company may determine. The Company recognizes that certain situations may occur entirely in good faith and may choose not to take disciplinary measures in such instances if it appears that the Access Person acted in good faith and in the best interests of clients.
Restricted List
The Company has adopted a Restricted List which includes companies and issuers in whose securities Associated Persons are prohibited from trading without first receiving written clearance from the CCO. Associated Persons may use the Personal Securities Trading Request Form for this purpose.
When a trading request is submitted, the CCO will check the trade request against the Restricted List. The trade request then is either approved or rejected depending on how the request compares with the Restricted List.
The CCO maintains the Restricted List and will distribute it to Associated Persons when changes occur.
Issuers are placed on the Restricted List due to one or more of the following reasons:
• the issuer is a client, or an affiliate of a client of the Company;
• one or more of the Company’s clients holds concentrated positions in securities of the issuer;
• the Company or one or more of its Associated Persons has inside Material Nonpublic Information about the issuer;
• the CCO believes that trading in a specific company or issuer may present a conflict of interest to the Company or its clients.
Sanctions and Reporting Violations of the Code
Disciplinary Responses
All disciplinary responses to violations of the Code shall be administered by the CCO, subject to approval by the CEO of the Company. Determinations regarding appropriate disciplinary responses will be administered on a case-by-case basis.
Violations of this Code of Ethics, or the other policies and procedures set forth in the Compliance Manual, may warrant sanctions including, without limitation, requiring that personal trades be reversed, requiring the disgorgement of profits or gifts, issuing a letter of caution or warning, suspending personal trading rights, imposing a fine, suspending employment (with or without compensation), making a civil referral to the SEC, making a criminal referral, terminating employment for cause, and/or a combination of the foregoing. Violations may also subject an Associated Person to civil, regulatory or criminal sanctions. No Associated Person will determine whether he or she committed a violation of the Code of Ethics, or impose any sanction against himself or herself. All sanctions and other actions taken will be in accordance with applicable employment laws and regulations.
Associated Persons must promptly report any suspected violations of the Code of Ethics to the CCO. To the extent practicable, the Company will protect the identity of an Associated Person who reports a suspected violation. However, the Company remains responsible for satisfying the regulatory reporting and other obligations that may follow the reporting of a potential violation. The CCO shall be responsible for ensuring a thorough investigation of all suspected violations of the Code and shall maintain a report of all violations. Retaliation against any Associated Person who reports a violation of the Code of Ethics is strictly prohibited and will be cause for corrective action, up to and including dismissal.
Insider Trading Policy
Background
Section 204A of the Advisers Act requires every investment adviser to establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed, taking into consideration the nature of such investment adviser’s business, to prevent the misuse of Material Nonpublic Information by such investment adviser or any associated person. Federal Securities Laws have been interpreted to prohibit, among other things, the following activities:
•trading by an insider while in possession of Material Nonpublic Information;
•trading by a non-insider while in possession of Material Nonpublic Information, where the information was disclosed to the non-insider in violation of an insider’s duty to keep it confidential;
•trading by a non-insider who obtained Material Nonpublic Information through unlawful means such as computer hacking;
•communicating Material Nonpublic Information to others in breach of a fiduciary duty; and
•trading or tipping Material Nonpublic Information regarding an unannounced tender offer.
Definitions
Material Information. "Material Information" generally includes:
•any information that a reasonable investor would likely consider important in making his or her investment decision; or
•any information that is reasonably certain to have a substantial effect on the price of a company's securities.
Examples of Material Information include the following: dividend changes, earnings estimates, changes in previously released earnings estimates, significant merger or acquisition proposals or agreements, major litigation, liquidation problems and extraordinary management developments.
Information provided by a company could be material because of its expected effect on a particular class of securities, all of a company’s securities, the securities of another company, or the securities of several companies. The prohibition against misusing Material Nonpublic Information applies to all types of financial instruments including, but not limited to, stocks, bonds, warrants, options, futures, forwards, swaps, commercial paper, and government-issued securities. Material Information need not relate to a company’s business. For example, information about the contents of an upcoming newspaper column may affect the price of a security, and therefore be considered material.
Nonpublic Information. Information is "nonpublic" until it has been effectively communicated to the market and the market has had time to "absorb" the information. For example, information found in a report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or appearing in Dow Jones, Reuters Economic Services, The Wall Street Journal, or other publications of general circulation would be considered public.
Once information has been effectively distributed to the investing public, it is no longer nonpublic. However, the distribution of Material Nonpublic Information must occur through commonly recognized channels for the classification to change. In addition, there must be adequate time for the public to receive and digest the information. Nonpublic Information does not change to public information solely by selective dissemination. Examples of the ways in which Nonpublic Information might be transmitted include, but are not limited to in person, in writing, by telephone, during a presentation, by email, instant messaging, text message, or through social networking sites.
Associated Persons must be aware that even where there is no expectation of confidentiality, a person may become an insider upon receiving Material Nonpublic Information.
Policies and Procedures
The purpose of these policies and procedures (the "Insider Trading Policies") is to educate our Associated Persons regarding insider trading, and to detect and prevent insider trading by any person associated with the Company. The term "insider trading" is not defined in the securities laws, but
generally, it refers to the use of Material Nonpublic Information to trade in securities or the communication of Material Nonpublic Information to others.
Prohibited Use or Disclosure of Material Nonpublic Information
Associated Persons are strictly forbidden from engaging in Insider Trading, either personally or on behalf of the Company or its clients.
In certain situations, depending on facts and circumstances, Material Nonpublic Information may also be received subject to a confidentiality agreement. The CCO must approve all written confidentiality agreements relating to the receipt of Material Nonpublic Information. Any disclosure or use of Material Nonpublic Information in violation of such an agreement is prohibited.
Associated Persons may disclose Material Nonpublic Information only to the Company Associated Persons and outside parties who have a valid business reason for receiving the information, and only in accordance with any confidentiality agreement or information barriers that apply.
Selective Disclosure
Nonpublic Information about the Company’s investment strategies may not be shared with third parties except as is necessary to implement investment decisions and conduct other legitimate business. The dissemination of such information may be a violation of the fiduciary duty that the Company owes to its clients.
Receipt of Information
In certain instances, Associated Persons of the Company may receive information that may be deemed to be Material Nonpublic Information. To the extent possible, Associated Persons should seek pre-approval from the CCO prior to accessing such information. In all cases, Associated Persons should immediately inform the CCO if they have or believe they have received Material Nonpublic Information.
If Associated Persons have questions as to whether they are in possession of Material Nonpublic Information, they should contact the CCO immediately. The CCO will conduct research to determine if the information is likely to be considered material, and whether the information has been publicly disseminated. The CCO may also consult legal counsel.
Upon knowledge that any persons associated with the Company may have received unauthorized Material Nonpublic Information, the CCO will take immediate action to investigate the matter thoroughly. Where an Associated Person may have received Material Nonpublic Information, the CCO will prepare a written memorandum describing the information, its source, and the date that the information was received. The CCO will determine what precautions may be appropriate to protect the improper dissemination or use of the information. The CCO will communicate restriction requirements to all Associated Persons in writing immediately after determining the need for such additional measures.
Relationships with Potential Insiders
The concept of "insider" is broad, and includes all persons associated with a company. In addition, any person may be a temporary insider if she/he enters into a special, confidential relationship with a company in the conduct of a company's affairs and as a result has access to information solely for the company's purposes. Any person associated with the Adviser may become a temporary insider for a company it advises or for which it performs other services. Temporary insiders may also include the following: a company's attorneys, accountants, consultants, bank-lending officers and the Associated Persons of such organizations.
Third parties with whom the Company has a relationship, such as the Company’s analyst or researcher, may possess Material Nonpublic Information. Access to such information could come as a result of, among other things:
•being employed or previously employed by an issuer (or sitting on the issuer’s board of directors);
•working for an investment bank, consulting firm, supplier, or customer of an issuer;
•sitting on an issuer’s creditors committee;
•personal relationships with connected individuals; and
•a spouse’s involvement in any of the preceding activities.
An Associated Person may become a temporary insider for a company he or she advises. Temporary insiders may also include a company’s attorneys, accountants, consultants, or bank lending officers.
Individuals associated with a third party who have access to Material Nonpublic Information may have an incentive to disclose the information to the Company due to the potential for personal gain. Associated Persons should be extremely cautious about investment recommendations, or information about issuers that they receive from third parties. Associated Persons should inquire about the basis for any such recommendations or information, and should consult with the CCO if there is any appearance that the recommendations or information are based on Material Nonpublic Information.
Paying Industry Experts for Research
The Company’s Associated Persons may pay to consult with industry experts as part of the Company’s research process. Associated Persons who wish to speak with a paid industry expert must:
•inform the expert at the beginning of the meeting about the topics that are likely to be discussed and confirm that the expert is allowed to discuss such topics and is not bound by any confidentiality agreement which would prevent the expert from discussing the subject;
•tell the expert at the beginning of the meeting that the Company is an investment adviser that intends to consider such information for potential investment purposes therefore the Company does not want to receive any information that is confidential, or any Material Nonpublic Information; and
•immediately report the receipt of any potentially Material Nonpublic Information to the CCO.
•the Associated Person(s) responsible for engaging third party experts must maintain a log of all such meetings including the name of the expert, the date of the discussion and the general topics discussed.
The CCO may periodically attend meetings with paid industry experts in order to understand the types of information that are discussed.
Rumors
Creating or passing rumors with the intent to manipulate securities prices or markets may violate the anti-fraud provisions of Federal Securities Laws. Such conduct is contradictory to the Company’s Code of Ethics, as well as the Company’s expectations regarding appropriate behavior of its Associated Persons. Associated Persons are prohibited from knowingly circulating rumors or sensational information with the intent to manipulate securities or markets.
This policy is not intended to discourage or prohibit appropriate communications between Associated Persons of the Company and other market participants and trading counter parties.
Consult with the CCO if you have questions about the appropriateness of any communications.
Penalties for Insider Trading
The legal consequences for trading on or communicating Material Nonpublic Information are severe, both for individuals involved in such unlawful conduct and their employers. A person can be subject to some or all of the penalties below even if he/she does not personally benefit from the violation. Penalties may include:
•civil injunctions;
•jail sentences;
•revocation of applicable securities-related registrations and licenses;
•fines for the person who committed the violation of up to three times the profit gained or loss avoided, whether or not the person actually benefited; and
•fines for the Associated Person or other controlling person of up to the greater of $1,000,000 or three times the amount of the profit gained or loss avoided.
Gifts and Entertainment
Policies and Procedures
Associated Persons must consult with the CCO if there is any question as to whether gifts or entertainment need to be pre-cleared and/or reported in connection with this Policy. The prohibitions and limitations below do not apply to gifts or entertainment between an Associated Person and a Company client who is an immediate family member of the Associated Person.
Gift Giving Policy
The Company's Associated Persons are prohibited from giving gifts that may appear lavish or excessive, and must receive written approval from the CCO prior to giving a gift valued in excess of $100 to any client, prospect, individual, or entity with whom the Company does, or is seeking to do, business. Associated Persons should use the Gifts and Entertainment Reporting Form to meet the requirements of this policy. Associated Persons are prohibited from giving a cash payment of any kind or a gift of more than nominal value to a person for soliciting or referring clients or potential clients unless specifically permitted under the Company’s Cash Payment for Client Solicitation Policy.
Entertainment Giving Policy
The Company's Associated Persons are prohibited from giving entertainment that may appear lavish or excessive, and must receive written approval from the CCO prior to giving entertainment valued in excess of $100 to any client, prospect, individual, or entity with whom the Company does, or is seeking to do, business. Associated Persons should use the Gifts and Entertainment Reporting Form to meet the requirements of this Policy.
These policies are not intended to prohibit normal business entertainment.
Associated Persons’ Receipt of Gifts
On occasion, Associated Persons may be offered, or may receive without notice, gifts from clients, brokers, vendors, or other persons. Associated Persons are prohibited from accepting gifts that may appear lavish or excessive, and must promptly report the receipt of gifts valued in excess of $100 to the CCO.
Use the Gifts and Entertainment Reporting Form to meet the requirements of this Policy. Gifts such as gift baskets or lunches delivered to the Company’s offices, which are received on behalf of the Company, do not require reporting.
Associated Persons’ Receipt of Entertainment
Associated Persons are prohibited from accepting entertainment that may appear lavish or excessive, and must promptly report the receipt of entertainment valued in excess of $100 to the CCO. Use the Gifts and Entertainment Reporting Form to meet the requirements of this Policy.
Gifts and Entertainment Given to Union Officials
Any gift or entertainment provided by the Company to a labor union or a union official in excess of $250 per fiscal year must be reported on Department Labor Form LM-10 within 90 days following the end of the Company’s fiscal year. Consequently, all gifts and entertainment provided to labor unions or union officials must be reported to the CCO on the Gifts and Entertainment Reporting Form.
Gifts and Entertainment Given to Foreign Governments and “Government Instrumentalities”
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) prohibits the direct or indirect giving of, or a promise to give, “things of value” in order to corruptly obtain a business benefit from an officer, employee, or other “instrumentality” of a foreign government. Companies that are owned, even partly, by a foreign government may be considered an “instrumentality” of that government. In particular, government investments in foreign financial institutions may make the FCPA applicable to those institutions. Individuals acting in an official capacity on behalf of a foreign government or a foreign political party may also be “instrumentalities” of a foreign government.
Associated Persons should use the Gifts and Entertainment Reporting Form to disclose all gifts and entertainment that may be subject to the FCPA, irrespective of value and including food and beverages provided during a legitimate business meeting.
Agreement to Abide by Code of Ethics
This agreement is entered into by and between Grizzle Investment Management LLC (the "Company") and the Associated Person whose name and signature is represented below.
By signing this agreement, I, , acknowledge that:
___ I have received a copy of the Company's Code of Ethics;
___ I have read and understand the information contained in the Code of Ethics; and
___ I will abide by the Code of Ethics and any subsequent amendments thereto.
To comply with the Company’s Personal Trading Policies and the Company's Code of Ethics, I further certify that I have directed each broker with whom I have a Covered Account containing Reportable Securities and to send to the Company's designated Chief Compliance Officer duplicate copies of all periodic statements relating to my accounts or have otherwise complied with the reporting requirements of the Company's Personal Trading Policies and Code of Ethics.
To meet the disclosure requirements of pertinent securities laws, rules and regulations, I further certify that I will disclose all legal and disciplinary events for which I am, or have been personally involved, including information regarding any actions or fines by any regulatory organization.
Signature:
Date:
Associated Persons Report
Grizzle Investment Management LLC
As of ___________, 20______
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NAME
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TITLE
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT OF
CODE OF ETHICS
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ACCESS PERSON?
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Personal Securities Trading Request Form
Grizzle Investment Management LLC
Name: _________________________________
Details of Proposed Transaction:
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Circle One
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Purchase/Sale
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Date of Transaction
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Indicate Name of Issuer and Symbol
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Type of Security (e.g., Note, Common Stock, Preferred Stock)
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Quantity of Shares or Units
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Price Per Share/Unit
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Approximate Dollar Amount
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Account for Which Transaction will be Made
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Name of Broker
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Date of Request _________________________________
You ____ may / ____ may not execute the proposed transaction described above.
Authorized Signature: _________________________________
Date of Response: _________________________________
Initial Personal Securities Holdings Report
(page 1 of 2)
To: Chief Compliance Officer, Grizzle Investment Management LLC
From: _________________________________
(Access Person - Please Print)
NOTE: IN LIEU OF THE REPORTING FORM, DUPLICATE COPIES OF BROKERAGE STATEMENTS MAY BE SUBMITTED PROVIDED THE STATEMENTS INCLUDE THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BELOW.
Re: Initial Personal Securities Holdings Report:
As of ____________, 20___, I hold the following Reportable Securities:
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Date of Transaction
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Security Title*
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Type of Transaction
(Purchase/Sale/Other)
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Type of Security
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Ticker/CUSIP
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# of Shares
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Principal Amount
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Price
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Name of Broker-Dealer
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*Include interest rate and maturity date, if applicable. Use additional sheet(s), if necessary.
(page 2 of 2)
_______The following broker-dealer, bank, or other custodian holds accounts invested in Non-Reportable Securities in which I have Beneficial Ownership.
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Account Number
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Use additional sheet(s), if necessary.
______As of _____________, 20______, I do not have any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership in any account containing any securities. However, I agree to promptly notify the designated Chief Compliance Officer, if any such account is opened, so long as I am an Access Person with Grizzle Investment Management LLC.
Signed: _________________________________ Date:_________________________________
Report reviewed by:________________________ Date:_________________________________
Quarterly Report of Personal Securities Transactions
(page 1 of 2)
To: Chief Compliance Officer, Grizzle Investment Management LLC
From: _________________________________
(Access Person - Please Print)
NOTE: IN LIEU OF THE REPORTING FORM, DUPLICATE COPIES OF BROKERAGE STATEMENTS MAY BE SUBMITTED PROVIDED THE STATEMENTS INCLUDE THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BELOW.
Re: Quarterly Report of Personal Securities Transactions, as amended:
During the quarter ending _______________, I have purchased, sold, or have otherwise obtained Beneficial Ownership in the following securities:
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Security Title*
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Type of Transaction
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Type of Security
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Ticker/CUSIP
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# of Shares
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Principal Amount
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Price
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*Include interest rate and maturity date, if applicable. Use additional sheet(s), if necessary.
(page 2 of 2)
______During the above period, I have not purchased or sold any Reportable Securities in which I have direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership.
______During the above period, I have disclosed to the Company all new accounts in which I have direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership.
______I do not currently have any Beneficial Ownership in any Covered Accounts. However, I agree to promptly notify Grizzle Investment Management LLC, if I obtain Beneficial Ownership in any account, so long as I am an Access Person of Grizzle Investment Management LLC.
Signed: _________________________________ Date:_________________________________
Report reviewed by:________________________ Date:_________________________________
Annual Certification of Compliance
With the Personal Securities Transactions Disclosure Requirements
and Code of Ethics for Grizzle Investment Management LLC
In accordance with the policies and procedures regarding Personal Securities Transactions and the Code of Ethics for Grizzle Investment Management LLC, I certify that during the year ending December 31, ________:
______I have reported all Reportable Securities holdings in which I have Beneficial Ownership.
______I have obtained pre-clearance for all Covered Securities transactions in which I have Beneficial Ownership, except for transactions that are exempt from pre-clearance or those for which I have received a written exception from the Chief Compliance Officer.
______I have reported all Reportable Securities transactions in which I have Beneficial Ownership, except for transactions, which are exempt from reporting, or for which I have received a written exception from the Chief Compliance Officer.
______I have complied with the Code of Ethics in all other respects.
Print Name: _________________________________
Signature: _________________________________
Dated: _________________________________
Annual Personal Securities Holdings Report
(page 1 of 2)
To: Chief Compliance Officer, Grizzle Investment Management LLC
From: _________________________________
(Access Person - Please Print)
NOTE: IN LIEU OF THE REPORTING FORM, DUPLICATE COPIES OF BROKERAGE STATEMENTS MAY BE SUBMITTED PROVIDED THE STATEMENTS INCLUDE THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BELOW.
Re: Annual Personal Securities Holdings Report:
As of, ___________, 20_____, I hold the following Reportable Securities:
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Security Title*
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# of Shares
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Principal Amount
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Name of Broker-Dealer
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*Include interest rate and maturity date, if applicable. Use additional sheet(s), if necessary.
(page 2 of 2)
_____The following broker-dealer, bank, or other custodian holds accounts invested in Non-Reportable Securities in which I have Beneficial Ownership.
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Use additional sheet(s), if necessary
_________As of ___________, 20______, I do not have any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership in any account containing any securities. However, I agree to promptly notify the designated Chief Compliance Officer, if any such account is opened, so long as I am an Associated Person with Grizzle Investment Management LLC.
Signed: _________________________________ Date:_________________________________
Report reviewed by:________________________ Date:_________________________________
Gifts and Entertainment Reporting Form
I gave / received a gift / entertainment. (circle as applicable)
Describe the gift or entertainment:
Approximate cost or value (whichever is higher):
Third-party giver or recipient:
Describe any known relationship between the third-party giver or recipient and any public issuer or government entity:
Describe the relationship between the third party and yourself and/or the Company.
If known, describe the reason that the gift or entertainment was given or received:
List any other gifts or entertainment given by, or received from, the third party within the past 12 months, along with their approximate cost or value.
Is the recipient a union official or otherwise associated with a Taft-Hartley Fund? Yes / No
__________________________________ __________
Signature Date
______________________________
Print Name
Reviewer Use Only
__________ Approved ___________ Not Approved
Reviewed by: ________________________________
Title: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Additional Notes (if needed):
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Seyfarth Shaw LLP
975 F Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 463-2400
fax (202) 828-5393
www.seyfarth.com
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December 13, 2021
Grizzle Investment Management, LLC
573 Coldstream Drive
Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312
Re: Opinions with Respect to the Execution of Derivatives
and Purchase of Psychedelics Company Securities
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Grizzle Investment Management, LLC (the “Advisor”) acts as investment advisor to the Grizzle Growth ETF (the “Fund”), a series of the Listed Funds Trust (the “Trust”) of US Bank. The Fund, an exchange-traded fund regulated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, 15 U.S.C. §§ 80a-1–80a-64 (the “1940 Act”), is subject to the oversight of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) and has retained Seyfarth Shaw LLP for purposes of rendering opinions for the benefit of the Fund and its beneficial owners, or beneficiaries.
The Advisor has asked us whether: (i) the Fund’s investment in securities issued by Psychedelics Companies (a term which we define below); and (ii) the Fund’s purchase of securities issued by certain Cannabis Companies a term which we define below) would violate certain laws (which we define in the paragraph that follows as “Applicable Federal Law”) and whether the Fund and its beneficial owners would incur liability arising out of any such violation. The Advisor has also asked us whether the Fund, in the event that it executes in the future total return swaps (as further described in the pages that follow, “TRS’s”), would violate Applicable Federal Law and result in the beneficial owners of the Fund incurring liability in connection with such violation. We would be pleased to render TRS-related opinions in the event that the Fund executes TRS’s in a manner that is consistent with market practice, which includes the use of forms of derivatives documentation (e.g., 1992 or 2002 ISDA Master Agreement and accompanying Schedule, Credit Support Annex, Confirmations and Master Confirmation Agreements, collectively referred to as an “ISDA”). If a TRS is executed, we assume that such TRS would be executed using a market-standard ISDA.
Based upon our analysis and for purposes of this letter, the applicable federal laws are (i) the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. § 801, et seq. (the “CSA”), (ii) the Money Laundering Control Act, 18 U.S.C. §1956, et seq., as amended (the “MCA”) and (iii) the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. §78a et seq. (“1934 Act”) (as amended by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Pub. L. 111-203, H.R. 4173,124 Stat. 1376 (2010)(“Dodd-Frank”1)(for purposes of this letter and
1When we refer in this letter to “Dodd-Frank,” we are referring to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act generally and in particular, The Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act, which is Title VII of Dodd-Frank, and which generally became effective, subject to rulemaking, on July 16, 2010, Public Law 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376. Title VII of Dodd-Frank amended the 1934 Act and the Commodity Exchange Act, ch. 545, 49 Stat. 1491, enacted on June 15, 1936, as amended (“CEA”), by defining “swap,” 7 U.S.C. 1a(47)(E)(i)), and “Security-Based Swap,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(68) of the 1934 Act.
Legal Opinion prepared for Grizzle Investment Management, LLC
Grizzle Growth ETF
December 13, 2021
Page 2
collectively with the regulations promulgated thereunder, he foregoing applicable laws in (i), (ii), and (iii) are collectively referred to herein as the “Applicable Federal Law”).
As described more fully below, our opinion is that the Fund and its beneficial owners will not violate the CSA and MCA for the Fund’s purchase of securities issued by companies, so long as those companies issuing securities have listed those securities on regulated exchanges and either (i) participate in the psychedelics industry in full compliance with local and state law, and/or the law of a non-U.S. country (so long as local and state law permit the business activity of a company operating lawfully under non-U.S. law), which expressly2 permits such participation (collectively, “Psychedelics Companies”) or (ii) engage in the legal cultivation, production, marketing and/or distribution of cannabis, including industrial hemp, and legal products for legal medical or legal non-medical purposes and which participates in the cannabis industry in full compliance with U.S. federal and state law (each such company is a “Cannabis
2A Psychedelics Company is a company whose business in the psychedelics industry, that is, the commercialization of psychedelics, is expressly permitted, without exception, by local and state law, and/or the law of a non-U.S. country (so long as local and state law permit the business activity of a company operating lawfully under non-U.S. law) as we state in this footnote and in the footnote which follows. We assume for purposes of this letter that a Psychedelics Company is also a company whose securities are listed on a regulated exchange and by way of illustration, Psychedelics Companies are in the business of psychedelic medicine and these companies include life sciences companies having significant business activities in, or significant exposure to, the psychedelics industry, including producers or distributors of psychedelic medicines, biotechnology companies engaged in research and development of psychedelic medicines, and Psychedelics Companies provide psychotherapy treatments and mental health services using psychedelics. In contrast, companies, whether formally incorporated or not, that develop, market or sell “designer” psychedelics (i.e., manufacturers of psychedelic drugs circumventing existing law and regulation and controls by creating analogs or synthetically modified drugs to sidestep established law) or other drugs such as LSD or MDMA are, for our purposes, not Psychedelic Companies, and companies whose practices are merely subject to “low law enforcement priorities” (see, e.g., Sean McAllister, Esq., “Myths and Realities About the Decriminalization of Psychedelics in the U.S.” Mar. 18, 2020, available at https://chacruna.net/myths-and-realities-about-the-decriminalization-of-psychedelics-in-the-us/ accessed on June 11, 2021) are also not, for purposes of this letter, Psychedelic Companies, nor are individuals or groups of people, or corporate entities which either do not observe corporate formalities or are not legally conducting business, or corporate entities whose corporate status has been revoked. See also, Psychedelics.com, “Are There Legal Psychedelic Drugs?” available at https://psychedelics.com/psychedelic-facts/are-there-legal-psychedelic-drugs/ accessed on June 11, 2021. See also footnote 3.
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Company.3 We also consider a “Cannabis Company” a company that is registered with the Drug Enforcement Agency (the “DEA”) specifically for the purpose of handling marijuana for lawful research and development of cannabis or cannabinoid-related products.
These opinions are being provided for inclusion with the Fund’s Registration Statement filed on Form N-1A (the “Registration Statement”). Our opinions are subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein as of the date of this opinion letter.
Our opinions are expressed herein solely with respect to Applicable Federal Law and are based on these laws as in effect on the date hereof and not the law of any other jurisdiction. Our opinions in all respects are subject to and may be limited by future legislation, regulations, guidance, formal and informal interpretations and/or case law. The opinions expressed herein represent our reasonable professional judgment as to the matters of law addressed herein, based upon the facts presented or assumed, and are not a guarantee that a court or regulator will reach any particular result.
In connection with this opinion letter, we have examined and relied upon the originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records, documents, certificates, agreements and other instruments which in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinions expressed below. As to certain factual matters, we have relied upon a certificate of an officer of the Advisor and have not sought to independently verify such matters. The Advisor has supplied us with a list of companies in which the Fund may invest as of the date of this letter and we have not confirmed full compliance with applicable local, state or other law by such companies. We base our opinions in this letter on Psychedelic Companies’ and Cannabis Companies’ securities being purchased by the Fund, as well as on other assumptions, qualifications and statements in this letter. Our opinions also assume that the Fund will invest in securities in full compliance with the Fund’s publicly disclosed investment guidelines and other applicable law.
This opinion letter is limited to the matters stated herein, and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated. This opinion letter is
3As stated in footnote 2, a Psychedelics Company is a company whose commercial and other operations are specifically permitted by express statutory and regulatory provisions of local and state law, and/or the law of a non-U.S. country (so long as local and state law permit the business activity of a company operating lawfully under non-U.S. law; and companies whose securities are listed on regulated exchanges) for lawfully manufacturing, selling and distributing controlled substances. Psychedelic Companies specifically include, for example, licensed psilocybin product manufacturers in full compliance with Oregon law (including the Oregon Uniform Controlled Substances Act) including Oregon Health Authority (“OHA”) regulations provided that the companies have been properly issued an annual license for premises where the psilocybin products are produced. These licensed companies in Oregon are approved by the OHA, which promulgates rules and prescribes the nature and number of psilocybin products permitted on premises sanctioned for use under state law codifying Measure 109, which is summarized in the pages that follow. Accordingly, Psychedelic Companies may also include, in addition to manufacturing companies, companies which have been issued licenses for the administration of psilocybin in accordance with Oregon statutory law and rules promulgated and guidance issued by the OHA and the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board (“OPAB”). Psychedelic Companies may also include companies sponsoring service centers as well as facilitators and manufacturers of psilocybin and other companies whose commercial operations are in full compliance with state law, OHA and OPAB rules and those companies which satisfy obligations arising out of the Oregon Psilocybin Control and Regulation Fund. See also footnote 2.
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December 13, 2021
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given as of the date hereof, and we expressly disclaim any obligation to update or supplement our opinions contained herein to reflect any facts or circumstances that may hereafter come to our attention or any changes in laws or regulations or reported decisions that may hereafter occur or be published. Unless otherwise stated, when we use the term “invest” (or derivations thereof, e.g., “investment”) in this letter, we mean the purchase of a security issued by a Psychedelics Company or Cannabis Company. We express no opinion as to the law (other than Applicable Federal Law) of any other jurisdiction that may be applicable or relevant to the subject matter hereof. We are not rendering any opinion as to compliance with any federal, state, local or non-U.S. law, rule or regulation relating to securities, or to the sale or issuance thereof.
We have examined certain publicly available information regarding the companies in which the Advisor informs us that the Fund intends to invest. We have examined what has been made available to us with respect to the various business relationships/interests of the target investments to determine if their businesses violate Applicable Federal Law by assessing if they are engaged in the growth, cultivation and/or sale of cannabis in the United States. In this regard, we have solely reviewed publicly available filings available through the SEC. The following opinions solely rely upon the review of the information available in the public resources noted above in this paragraph. We have not reviewed the target investments with respect to their compliance with the laws of any country or other jurisdiction except as noted above in this paragraph.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND FOR OPINION
Description of the Fund’s principal investment strategy
We understand that the Fund is an actively managed investment vehicle which, for purposes of this letter we assume will achieve its investment objectives principally through the investment in exchange-listed securities, including common and preferred stock, of mid-, small and micro-capitalized Psychedelics Companies and Cannabis Companies. The Fund will not invest by the purchase of securities directly in (or hold ownership in any companies that engage in) psychedelics-related businesses unless permitted by national and/or local laws of the relevant jurisdiction, including U.S. federal and state laws. As presently stated in the Fund’s Registration Statement or as otherwise represented to us by the Advisor, the principal investment strategy of the Fund is as follows:
•The Fund seeks to invest at least: (a) 2% of its net assets in: securities of Psychedelics Companies that derive at least 50% of their net revenue from or devote 50% of their assets to psychedelic drugs and (b) 2% of its net assets in: securities of companies that derive at least 50% of their net revenue directly from the marijuana and hemp business or from providing services, products or technology to legal marijuana and hemp businesses (i.e., Cannabis Companies, as described herein).
•Currently, portfolio managers contemplate that the Fund will invest in Psychedelics Companies and Cannabis Companies whose equity is listed on regulated exchanges and traded in the United States and/or Canada, and, we assume for purposes of this opinion letter that equity investments by the Fund will
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December 13, 2021
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be purchased on regulated, major stock exchanges, such as the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market or other established markets.
•The Fund will concentrate at least 2% of its investments in the pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and life sciences industry group within the health care sector, including Psychedelics Companies. The Fund will concentrate at least 2% of its investments in the cannabis sector. The Fund will only invest either directly in such Psychedelics Companies and Cannabis Companies unless such business is permitted by national and local laws of the relevant jurisdiction, including U.S. federal and state (including local) laws. The Fund is non-diversified and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer than a diversified fund.
•As we assume throughout this letter, the Fund will invest in Psychedelics Companies and Cannabis Companies which are subject to various laws and regulations that may differ at the state, local and federal levels, although the legal landscape for psychedelics continues to change; the opinions stated in this letter are as of the date hereof. In the United States, scheduling determinations by the Drug Enforcement Agency (“DEA”) are dependent on Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) approval of a substance or a specific formulation of a substance. Unless and until psilocybin, psilocin, or other psychedelics-based products receive FDA approval, such products may be prohibited from sale, at least at the federal level. Even if approved by the FDA, the manufacture, importation, exportation, domestic distribution, storage, sale, and legitimate use of such products will continue to be subject to a significant degree of regulation by the DEA. For purposes of this letter, we assume that the Fund will not execute a derivative, and will not invest indirectly or directly in, or hold ownership in any company that engages in psychedelics-related business except as expressly permitted by national and local laws of the relevant jurisdiction(s), including U.S. federal and state laws and in full compliance with the regulations, guidance and determinations of the DEA, FDA and other federal departments or agencies (and their state counterpart departments and agencies).
In rendering the opinions in this letter, we base our opinions on our understanding of --and our assumptions herein are based on-- the investment strategy disclosed in the registration statement and made known to us by the Advisor. The Advisor has further represented to us that the following principles, that are reflected in the Fund’s Registration Statement’s Statement of Additional Information, will be adhered to in selecting investments for the Fund:
•The Fund will not invest in any Psychedelics Company that grows, produces, distributes, or sells plant products in a country, state, province, locality or other political subdivision where this activity is illegal under applicable law; Psychedelics Companies may include those which are described, as examples, in footnote 3 of this letter. To clarify and to confirm, Psychedelics Companies do not include companies that grow, produce, distribute, or sell plant products derived from plants inside the U.S. if any such activities are not in full compliance with local and state law; this is the case regardless of whether such a company is listed on a U.S. exchange or an exchange in a country where psychedelics are legal.
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•Psychedelics Companies do not include companies that grow, produce, distribute, or sell plant products derived from plants both in a country where its activities are entirely legal and in the U.S. where its activities are legal under state and local law but not under U.S. federal law.
•Psychedelics Companies only supply products and/or perform activities that are legal under applicable national and local laws, including U.S. federal, state, and local laws. Psychedelics Companies may, however, supply such products and perform such activities in the U.S. to companies that grow, produce, distribute, or sell products derived from plants in a manner that is legal under state and local law but not under U.S. federal law.
•Psychedelics Companies with a presence in the U.S. may engage in pharmaceutical activities and/or grow, produce, distribute, or sell products derived from plants but only if such activities are properly licensed and legal under applicable U.S. federal, state, and local laws.
•If, after acquiring a Psychedelics Company’s or Cannabis Company’s securities, the Advisor identifies or becomes aware that holding a particular Psychedelics Company’s securities would violate Applicable Federal Law, the Fund will promptly sell that position.
In summary, we understand and assume that the investment strategy of the Fund partially entails investment in exchange-listed equity securities, including the common and preferred stock of U.S. and foreign mid, small and micro-capitalized Psychedelics Companies, and may in the future include within its investment strategy the execution of TRS’s (with respect to which we will render opinions in the future upon request by the Advisor) with an eye toward getting economic exposure to Psychedelics Companies, so long as those companies are engaging in the permitted development, manufacture/service and sale of psychedelic drugs as permitted on a local, state or other level, including psilocybin, including but not limited to psychedelic medicine.4
On November 4, 2020, the electorate in Oregon voted to approve Measure 109.5 This measure gives non-criminal access to psilocybin in certain prescribed instances such as, for example, where non-criminal possession of substances is permitted by the measure, such as in the case of psilocybin, possession of up to 11.99 grams6, and the measure permits services involving mushroom products used for mental health treatment in supervised setting. In this way, Oregon became the first state to remove criminal statutory penalties from, in certain narrowly prescribed circumstances,
4Psilocybin is a naturally-occurring psychedelic prodrug compound produced by more than 200 species of fungi.
5See the Psilocybin Services Act, “Oregon Measure 109, Psilocybin Mushroom Services Program Initiative (2020), available at https://ballotpedia.org/Oregon_Measure_109,_Psilocybin_Mushroom_Services_Program_Initiative_(2020) accessed on June 11, 2021; see also Measure 110 (2020) Background Brief, Oregon Legislative Policy and Research Office, available at https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/lpro/Publications/Background-Brief-Measure-110-(2020).pdf accessed on June 11, 2021 (reducing to civil penalties certain drug crimes previously prosecuted as felonies).
6Patrick Lynch, M.A., “What Does It mean that Oregon Decriminalized All Drugs?” WayofLeaf.com (Jan. 7, 2021) available at What Oregon Decriminalizing Drugs Means [Demystifying Laws] (wayofleaf.com), accessed on June 11, 2021.
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December 13, 2021
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psilocybin7 and other jurisdictions continue to move in this direction.8 The District of Columbia electorate similarly voted to approve psychedelic substances with the passage of Initiative 81.9 On June 1, 2021 a bill which cleared three Senate committees passed 21-16 on the floor of the California Senate legalizes possession of psychedelics in California.10
After over five decades of prohibition, the electorate in the United States has in limited instances become more accepting of psychedelics in certain controlled circumstances. There are over 70 clinical studies involving psychedelics in the U.S. and as stated in the preceding paragraph, Oregon and other jurisdictions referenced in this letter on the pages that follow have legalized therapeutic and controlled use of psilocybin.11 Psychedelics such as MDMA and psilocybin are also used legally in FDA-approved clinical research to treat patients with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD, or other mental health conditions12 and for purposes of this letter, companies providing psychedelics for these sanctioned purposes are also referred to as Psychedelics Companies.
Many local jurisdictions around the United States have passed decriminalization bills. Generally, decriminalization means that arrest, investigation and prosecution for the possession of certain psychedelics becomes low priority for enforcement. However, approved decriminalization initiatives do not render psychedelics legal and accordingly a Psychedelics Company is not one whose commercial activities are a “low priority” for
7See Oregon Secretary of State election results for November 4, 2020, available at https://results.oregonvotes.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=SMEA&map=CTY accessed on June 11, 2021; see also Will Feuer, “Oregon Becomes First State to Legalize Magic Mushrooms as More States Ease Drug Laws in ‘Psychedelic Renaissance,’” CNBC.com (Nov. 4, 2020); see also Natalie O’Neill, “Oregon Becomes First State to Legalize Magic Mushrooms, Decriminalize Street Drugs,” NYPost.com (November 4, 2020), available at https://nypost.com/2020/11/04/oregon-becomes-1st-state-to-legalize-magic-mushrooms/ accessed on June 11, 2021.
8“41 states have their own version of the federal Right to Try Act.” Serena Wu, “Legality of Psychedelics in the U.S.,” Pscyhable, available at https://psychable.com/law/legality-of-psychedelics-in-the-us/ accessed on June 11, 2021. “President Trump signed the Right to Try Act in May 2018. It permits terminally ill patients to have access to experimental therapies that have finished Phase I testing but are not FDA approved. The federal legislation came only after the vast majority of states had already signed their own versions of the Right to Try legislation into law.” Lynn Marie Moraski, MD, Esq., “Psychedelics: Are They Legal in the USA?” WayofLeaf.com (Feb. 24, 2021), available at Are Psychedelics Legal in the USA? [Fully Explained] (wayofleaf.com) accessed on June 11, 2021.
9Will Feuer, “Oregon Becomes First State to Legalize Magic Mushrooms as More States Ease Drug Laws in ‘Psychedelic Renaissance,’” CNBC.com (Nov. 4, 2020).
10Kyle Jaeger, “California Senate Approves Bill to Legalize Possession of Psychedelics Like Psilocybin and LSD,” MarijuanaMoment.com (June 1, 2021), available at https://www.marijuanamoment.net/california-senate-approves-bill-to-legalize-possession-of-psychedelics-like-psilocybin-and-lsd/ accessed on June 11, 2021.
11Serena Wu, “Legality of Psychedelics in the U.S.,” Pscyhable, available at https://psychable.com/law/legality-of-psychedelics-in-the-us/ accessed on June 11, 2021.
12Id. “People who do not qualify for the clinical trials could get access through an expanded access program. For terminally ill patients, they could work with their doctors to petition the FDA for compassionate use of investigational drugs, such as MDMA and psilocybin. Alternatively, patients with immediately life-threatening diseases or conditions could petition the drug developer for access to investigational drugs under the Right to Try Act. There are unique challenges to these processes. Some individuals use certain psychedelics, such as ayahuasca, as a sacrament to exercise their religious faith and practice. These visionary churches rely on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to protect their sincere religious exercises involving certain psychedelics. However, this type of use is not without risks and exposure to potential prosecution.” Id.
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Grizzle Growth ETF
December 13, 2021
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local, state and federal law enforcement.13 We do however recognize that decriminalization is an important step forward on the path to legalize psychedelics. The following jurisdictions have decriminalized certain activities (e.g., possession of a small amount) with respect to psilocybin and other psychedelics:
•Washington, D.C.;
•California (Santa Cruz, Oakland);
•Colorado (Denver);
•New Jersey;
•Michigan: (Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County); and
•Massachusetts: (Somerville, North Hampton, Cambridge).14
The Fund will directly invest in companies that list their securities on exchanges that require compliance with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to their business, including U.S. federal laws. The current exchanges identified by the Fund that meet these requirements are the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”), TSX Exchange, (“TSX”) and TSX Venture Exchange (“TSX Venture”).
The NYSE and NASDAQ are national securities exchanges that are registered with the SEC under Section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Before a company’s securities can trade on a U.S. exchange, the company must register that class of securities with the SEC under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act.
We assume for purposes of this letter and the legal opinions in it that the Fund will not invest directly in or hold ownership in any companies that engage in psychedelics-related business or in any Cannabis Company unless permitted by national and local laws of the relevant jurisdiction, including U.S. federal and state laws.
13See supra, footnotes 2 and 3, and accompanying text.
14Serena Wu, “Legality of Psychedelics in the U.S.,” Pscyhable, available at https://psychable.com/law/legality-of-psychedelics-in-the-us/ accessed on June 11, 2021. Note that with respect to Washington D.C., Oakland, and North Hampton, each of these jurisdictions has decriminalized possession of all psychedelics, including ayahausca, ibogaine, MDMA and others. See also Esther Honig, “In Close Vote, Denver Becomes 1st U.S. City to Decriminalize Psychedelic Mushrooms,” NPR.org (May 9, 2019), available at https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/05/09/721660053/in-close-vote-denver-becomes-first-u-s-city-to-decriminalize-psychedelic-mushrooms accessed on June 11, 2021 (“Officials with the DEA office in Denver said they will continue prosecuting cases of psilocybin possession and trafficking. Under federal law, it remains a Schedule 1 drug that’s considered to have ‘no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.’”); Kyle Jaeger, “Third Massachusetts City Approves Psychedelics Decriminalization Measure,” Marijuana Moment (April 2, 2021) available at https://www.marijuanamoment.net/third-massachusetts-city-approves-psychedelics-decriminalization-measure/ accessed on June 11, 2021; Elizabeth Weise and Marco della Cava, “Oakland in California Decriminalizes Magic Mushrooms and Peyote,” USAToday.com (June 5, 2019)(“The vote [in Oakland] makes Oakland the second U.S. city to decriminalize the natural hallucinogens after Denver decriminalized them on May 8 [2019]”), available at https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2019/06/05/oakland-california-legalizes-magic-mushrooms-and-peyote/1347888001/ accessed on June 11, 2021; Kelly McCarthy, “Santa Cruz Decriminalizes Psychedelic Mushrooms,” ABCNews.com, available at https://abcnews.go.com/US/santa-cruz-decriminalizes-psychedelic-mushrooms/story?id=68611065 accessed on June 11, 2021.
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Grizzle Growth ETF
December 13, 2021
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Detailed information on exchange traded securities utilized by the Fund
The Fund will directly invest in companies that list their securities on exchanges that require compliance with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to their business, including U.S. federal laws. The current exchanges identified by the Fund that meet these requirements are the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”), TSX Exchange, (“TSX”) and TSX Venture Exchange (“TSX Venture”).
The NYSE and NASDAQ are national securities exchanges that are registered with the SEC under Section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Before a company’s securities can trade on a U.S. exchange, the company must register that class of securities with the SEC under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act.
Further information on each of these exchanges is as follows:
NYSE
The NYSE is one of the largest equities marketplaces in the world. The NYSE acquired the American Stock Exchange in 2008 (now known as NYSE American or NYSE MKT). The NYSE MKT is open to listing companies involved in the cannabis industry who are involved in biotech (AbbVie: ABBV); investment in the industry outside of United States (Compass Diversified Holdings: CODI; ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF: MJ); the agricultural sector (Scott’s Miracle Grow Co.: SMG); and the real estate sector (Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc.: IIPR). United States based companies that “touch the plant” (i.e., those that grow or distribute cannabis) are not eligible to list at this time. Canadian and other non-U.S. companies whose cannabis related activities are legal in their home jurisdiction are eligible to list if they meet the exchange’s listing requirements, such as number of shareholders, earnings and stock price. The NYSE governs listing requirements and continued listing requirements. Listing issuers must comply with their agreements with the NYSE and SEC requirements in all material respect.
Further, NYSE Regulation (“NYSER”) is responsible for monitoring activities on the NYSE’s equities, options, and bonds markets – i.e., the New York Stock Exchange LLC (equities and bonds), NYSE Arca, Inc. (equities and options) and NYSE National, Inc. (equities), and NYSE Chicago, Inc. (equities) (collectively, the “NYSE Exchanges”) – and for addressing non-compliance with the NYSE Exchanges’ rules and federal securities laws. NYSER enforces both the NYSE Exchanges’ and their members’ compliance with NYSE Exchange rules and applicable federal securities requirements. It also monitors and enforces listed companies’ compliance with applicable listing standards of the NYSE Exchanges. By performing these duties, NYSER supports the NYSE Exchanges’ efforts to promote just and equitable principles of trade, encourage free and open markets, and protect investors and the public interest. Many of these regulatory functions are performed directly by NYSER; others are performed by FINRA or other self-regulatory organizations pursuant to a regulatory services agreement, national market system plans, or other arrangements.
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Grizzle Growth ETF
December 13, 2021
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NASDAQ
The Nasdaq Stock Market requires the companies listing on its exchange to comply with U.S. federal laws. The following paragraph below is from its website under FAQ:
In determining whether to initially list a company or continue a company’s listing when it changes its business activities, Nasdaq does not make subjective or value judgements about the business the company operates. However, Nasdaq cannot initially list or continue the listing of a company whose current or planned activities are in violation of U.S. federal law or the law in a jurisdiction where the company operates. In assessing the legality of a company’s activity, Nasdaq largely relies on the risk factors and other disclosures made in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, although Nasdaq may also request additional information from the company where necessary.15
TSX
The TSX is the 8th largest exchange in the world by market capitalization. On October 16, 2017, the TSX issued Staff Notice 51-352 (the “Staff Notice”)16 regarding listed companies engaged in the marijuana business, whether directly or indirectly, in the United States. The Staff Notice states the general requirements that the business of applicants or listed issuers “will be conducted (i) with integrity and in the best interests of the issuer’s security holders and the investing public, and (ii) in compliance with the rules and regulations of TSX and all regulatory bodies having jurisdiction.” Due to the significant number of inquiries received regarding entities engaging in activities related to the cultivation, distribution or possession of marijuana in the U.S. (“Subject Entities”), TSX issued the Staff Notice to provide clarity regarding the application of the requirements to applicants and listed issuers in the marijuana sector. The Staff Notice notes that although a number of U.S. states have legalized the cultivation, distribution or possession of marijuana subject to various conditions, marijuana remains a Schedule I drug under the CSA. More specifically, it is illegal under U.S. federal law to cultivate, distribute or possess marijuana, and financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, marijuana-related business activities in the U.S. may form the basis for prosecution under applicable U.S. federal money-laundering legislation.
The Staff Notice states that as part of TSX’s standard continued listing review of listed issuers, TSX selects issuers for in depth reviews based on their continuous disclosure records. As required by the TSX manual, each listed issuer is required to disclose material information regarding its business and affairs. As part of its continued listing review of listed issuers in the marijuana sector, TSX contacted listed issuers at the end of 2017 for a more comprehensive review of their marijuana-related activities (if any) in the U.S. If a listed company engages in activities that are contrary to TSX requirements, the TSX has the discretion to initiate delisting review of that company.
15 Available at https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/Material_Search.aspx?cid=34&mcd=LQ (Identification No. 1474).
16See Staff Notice 51-352 dated October 16, 2017 available at https://decisia.lexum.com/tsx/sn/en/item/454533/index.do.
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On February 8, 2018, the TSX issued Staff Notice 51-352 (Revised) (the “Revised Staff Notice”)17 to provide specific disclosure expectations for Subject Entities in U.S. states where such activity is legal under state law. In furtherance of that purpose, the Revised Staff Notice sets forth a table of the specific disclosure it expects. This includes, for example, discussing the risk of enforcement action based on statements and other available guidance made by federal authorities or prosecutors, outlining U.S. state regulation in which the Subject Entity operates, and confirming how the Subject Entity complies with applicable licensing requirements and the regulatory framework enacted by the applicable U.S. state. The Revised Staff Notice goes on to add that Subject Entities are expected to updated disclosures based on government policy changes or amended guidance.
TSX Venture
In determining whether to list entities with U.S. marijuana-related activities, each Canadian stock exchange applies its own listing requirements as outlined in its rules, including rules related to compliance with applicable laws. The TSX Venture Exchange mostly contains small-cap Canadian stocks. TSX Venture provided a Notice to Issuers bulletin dated October 16, 2017 (the “Bulletin”)18 that specifically addressed business activities related to marijuana in the United States. The Bulletin clarified its requirements to list and to continue listing on its exchange. The Bulletin states the general requirements “that (i) the business of applicants or listed issuers will be conducted with integrity and in the best interests of the issuer’s security holders, and (ii) applicants or listed issuers will comply with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to their business or undertaking.” These requirements apply to all applicants and listed issuers. Due to the “significant number of inquiries received regarding entities engaging in activities related to the cultivation, distribution or possession of marijuana in the United States”, TSX Venture issued the Bulletin to provide clarity regarding the application of the requirements to applicants and listed issuers in the marijuana sector. The Bulletin notes that although a number of U.S. states have legalized the cultivation, distribution, or possession of marijuana to various degrees and subject to various conditions, marijuana remains a Schedule I drug under the CSA and cannabis financial transactions are prohibited under the MCA.
According to the Bulletin, companies listed on TSX Venture with ongoing business activities that violate United States federal law regarding marijuana do not comply with the requirements of TSX Venture. These business activities may include, among other things:
(i) direct or indirect ownership of, or investment in, Subject Entities; (ii) commercial interests or arrangements with Subject Entities that are similar in substance to ownership of, or investment in, Subject Entities; (iii) providing services or products that are specifically designed for, or targeted at, Subject Entities; or (iv) commercial interests or arrangements with entities engaging in the business activities described in (iii).
17 See Staff Notice 51-352 dated February 8, 2018 available at https://www.osc.ca/sites/default/files/pdfs/irps/csa_20180208_51-352_marijuana-related-activities.pdf
18 See Notice to Issuers bulletin dated October 16, 2017 available at https://www.tsx.com/resource/en/1609.
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Grizzle Growth ETF
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The Bulletin states that, as part of TSX Venture’s standard continued listing review of listed issuers, TSX Venture selects issuers for in depth reviews based on their continuous disclosure records. As required by the TSX Venture manual, each listed issuer is required to disclose material information regarding its business and affairs. As part of its continued listing review of listed issuers in the marijuana sector, TSX Venture contacted listed issuers at the end of 2017 for a more comprehensive review of their marijuana-related activities (if any) in the United States. If a listed company engages in activities that are contrary to TSX Venture’s requirements, TSX Venture has the discretion to initiate a delisting review of that company.
We next proceed with our legal analysis and the opinions which we render in this letter, first in Parts I, II and III, insofar as the Fund’s purchase of securities is concerned, and finally in Part IV, insofar as the Fund’s execution and settlement of a TRS is concerned.
***
LEGAL ANALYSIS
Beyond the limits of investing in companies described above, we analyzed the potential criminal exposure to the Fund and its shareholders solely under Applicable Federal Law in connection with the Fund’s proposed investment in Psychedelics Companies and Cannabis Companies.19 The legal landscape in psychedelics and cannabis industries is rapidly changing, and enforcement priorities for prosecutors, investigators, and regulators are difficult (if not impossible) to predict, may be influenced by political considerations (and thus a moving target), and may lack consistent application, all of which are beyond the scope of this opinion.
Subject to the considerations set forth in the preceding paragraph, based on our review of the case law and other authorities, we note the following:
•Federal prosecutors have considerable discretion to pursue potential psychedelics-related and cannabis-based offenses under U.S. criminal laws. We see as guidance which is instructive on this point the cases involving cannabis. To date, the matters filed by prosecutors have been focused on growers, producers, and distributors within the U.S. that have violated federal law and/or the state and local laws where they are located.20
19 For purposes of this opinion, we do not assess potential regulatory issues with the SEC, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCen”), or foreign authorities.
20 See, e.g., Superseding Indictment, U.S. v. Hoang, Case No. 3:17-cr-70, 2017 WL 9855203 (S.D. Iowa); Press Release, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, California Realtor Sentenced to Prison for Filing a False Tax Return - Did Not Report Over $1 million In Income From Marijuana Distribution Business (Nov. 2, 2018), available at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/california-realtor-sentenced-prison-filing-false-tax-return; Press Release, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, D.C. Post Office Manager and Two Letter Carriers Found Guilty of Bribery and Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana (Jul. 24, 2017), available at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/washington-dc-post-office-manager-and-two-letter-carriers-found-guilty-bribery-and-conspiracy.
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•We do not have actual knowledge of any Psychedelics Company which has been prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice (the “DOJ”).21 We have reviewed examples of U.S. exchange listed companies that have invested or are investing in cannabis companies, and, to date, we have not found public records showing corresponding action by the U.S. Department of Justice (the “DOJ”).22 Indeed, May 2020, Constellation Brands, Inc., a New York-based Fortune 500 company that is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, increased its investment from 9.9% to 38.6% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Canopy Growth Corporation, a Canadian producer and exporter of cannabis listed on the NYSE.
•We have reviewed two open-end investment companies registered under the 1940 Act with principal investment strategies of investing in Cannabis Companies. First, the ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF, which is publicly traded on NYSE Arca, Inc., has as its principal investment strategy to invest in “exchange-listed common stock” (or corresponding ADRs) or GDRs of cannabis companies, including U.S. companies, that (i) are engaged in the legal cultivation of cannabis, including industrial hemp, or the legal production, marketing or distribution of cannabis, including industrial hemp and products for medical or nonmedical purposes; (ii) engage in the lawful creation, marketing or distribution of prescription drugs that utilize cannabinoids as an active ingredient; (iii) trade tobacco or produce tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars or electronic cigarettes; (iv) produce cigarette and cigar components, such as cigarette paper and filters; or (v) engage in the creation, production and distribution of fertilizers, plant foods, pesticides or growing equipment to be used in the cultivation of cannabis or tobacco.23 The Fund may invest in ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF. The second is the American Growth Fund Series Two, which has as its principal investment strategy to invest in a “portfolio which is made up primarily of common stocks involved in the legal cannabis business.”24
21This statement does not mean that no action may be brought in the future or that no confidential investigation is proceeding in the status quo; it simply means that we have not found evidence of the same through publicly available resources that we reviewed as noted above. We are aware of the indictment of a member of, and the involvement in DOJ investigations of NutraHQ LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (whose corporate status has been revoked), as well as a subpoena being served on Capsule Connection LLC, in DOJ investigations and proceedings and accordingly, for purposes of this letter, none of NutraHQ LLC, Spice Jungle, LLC, Freund Container or Capsule Connection LLC is a “Psychedelics Company” (because from publicly available information concerning DOJ action we gather that none of those entities was operating in compliance with local, state or federal law), which we define and describe on page 2 and in footnotes 2 and 3. Seyfarth Shaw LLP has conducted research to locate the investigations and proceedings by the DOJ and we have in our due diligence identified and reviewed the matters involving NutraHQ LLC, Spice Jungle, LLC, Freund Container or Capsule Connection LLC, and as we have discussed in this letter, we consider none of the proceeding companies to be a “Psychedelics Company.”
22This does not mean that no action may be brought in the future or that no confidential investigation is proceeding in the status quo, it simply means that we have not found evidence of the same through publicly available resources that we reviewed as noted above. See also supra, footnote 37.
23 ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF’s Summary Prospectus dated January 29, 2021, available on the SEC’s EDGAR database at https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001467831/000121390021005017/s130101_485bpos.htm.
24 American Growth Fund Series Two’s Summary Prospectus dated November 30, 2019 available on the SEC’s EDGAR database at https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/5138/000000513819000027/series2n1a.htm.
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•In addition, we have reviewed examples of other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act with investments in cannabis companies. The Vanguard Developed Markets Index Fund held, at the very least, each of the following cannabis companies as of August 31, 2021: Aurora Cannabis Inc., Cronos Group Inc., and Canopy Growth Corp.
•Notwithstanding the above, there could be a risk of criminal exposure for aiding and abetting liability under the CSA. The CSA generally proscribes the manufacture and/or production of controlled substances, such as psychedelics, which as we have said are considered Schedule 1 substances, and cannabis. Liability here would be determined based on whether (i) the CSA applies to conduct occurring entirely in another country, such as Canada or Australia, and (ii) whether investment in Psychedelics Companies or Cannabis Companies would constitute an underlying violation of law, particularly where the proposed investment criteria proscribes investment in companies that manufacture and/or produce plant based and/or psychedelic drugs and the proposed investments contemplate the purchase of securities on secondary markets in Canada and Australia. We have not found case law or other guidance suggesting an extension of enforcement of the CSA in the manner outlined above as to any Psychedelics Companies or Cannabis Companies.
Our opinion focuses on Applicable Federal Law, and based on the current status of state laws regarding psychedelics and marijuana, it is our view that Applicable Federal Law is more stringent in each instance. Therefore, it is our opinion that, if the Fund complies with Applicable Federal Law, the Fund will meet state law standards because the Fund will not be investing in companies engaged in the manufacturing, distribution or possession of psychedelics in the U.S. other than Psychedelics Companies nor in companies engaged in the cultivation, distribution or possession of marijuana in the U.S.
I.FEDERAL LAW
A.Executing Federal Laws
Congress gives federal agencies significant authority in executing federal laws, including the DEA, the law enforcement arm of the federal government primarily responsible for enforcing the CSA.25 Further, federal prosecutors have wide latitude in determining when, who, how and even whether to prosecute for alleged violations of federal criminal law.26 In our legal system, “the decision whether or not to prosecute, and what charge to file or bring before a grand jury, generally rests entirely in [the prosecutor’s] discretion.”27 “This broad discretion ... is particularly ill-suited to judicial review.”28 That discretion extends to, for example, the decision to prosecute a matter,
25 See 21 U.S.C § 811.
26 Oyler v. Boles, 368 U.S. 448 (1962).
27 Bordenkircher v. Hayes, 434 U.S. 357, 364 (1978).
28 Wayte v. United States, 470 U.S. 598, 607 (1985).
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the selection of charges, whether to enter into a plea agreement, and participation in sentencing.29
With respect to business organizations, such as the Fund, the United States Justice Manual provides the following guidelines to prosecutors to promote the reasoned exercise of discretion:30
•The nature and seriousness of the offense, including the risk of harm to the public, and applicable policies and priorities, if any, governing the prosecution of business organizations for particular categories of crime;
•The pervasiveness of wrongdoing within the business organization, including the complicity in, or the condoning of, the wrongdoing by management;
•The business organization’s history of similar misconduct, including prior criminal, civil, and regulatory enforcement actions against it;
•The business organization’s identification of individuals responsible for the misconduct and production of misconduct information;
•The existence, effectiveness, and enforcement of the business organization’s pre-existing compliance program;
•The business organization’s timely and voluntary disclosure of wrongdoing;
•The business organization’s remedial actions, including any efforts to implement an effective corporate compliance program or to improve an existing one, to replace responsible management, to discipline or terminate wrongdoers, to pay restitution, and to discipline wrongdoers;
•Collateral consequences, including whether there is disproportionate harm to shareholders, pension holders, employees, and others not proven personally culpable, as well as impact on the public arising from the prosecution;
•The adequacy of remedies such as civil or regulatory enforcement actions; and
•The adequacy of the prosecution of individuals responsible for the business organization’s malfeasance.
B.DOJ Position on Enforcement of Federal Law
We are not aware of the DOJ’s position on the enforcement of federal law (solely pertaining to psychedelics). We know that in the context of cannabis and that during the Obama administration, Deputy Attorney General David Ogden and Deputy Attorney General James Cole released several memoranda that addressed federal enforcement
29 See United States Justice Manual at § 9-27.110, available at https://www.justice.gov/jm/jm-9-27000-principles-federal-prosecution#9-27.110.
30 United States Justice Manual at §§ 9-28.300, 9-28.400, 9-28.500, 9-28.600, 9-28.700, 9-28.800, 9-28.900, 9-28.1000, 9-28.1100, 9-28.1200, and 9-28.1300, available at https://www.justice.gov/jm/jm-9-28000-principles-federal-prosecution-business-organizations.
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priorities regarding the CSA. These memoranda were intended to adapt the federal government’s position on marijuana as states legalized the drug for medical purposes.
Most notably, in 2013, Deputy Attorney General Cole released a memorandum31 (the “Cole Memo”) that reiterated the DOJ’s commitment to enforcing the CSA, but that directed law enforcement and prosecutors only to focus on conduct that implicated the following, and again, the Cole Memo was issued in the context of cannabis, which we believe is instructive insofar as psychedelics are concerned:
•Preventing the distribution of marijuana to minors;
•Preventing revenue from the sale of marijuana from going to criminal enterprises, gangs, and cartels;
•Preventing the diversion of marijuana from states where it is legal under state law in some form to other states;
•Preventing state-authorized marijuana activity from being used as a cover or pretext for the trafficking of other illegal drugs or other illegal activity;
•Preventing violence and the use of firearms in the cultivation and distribution of marijuana;
•Preventing drugged driving and the exacerbation of other adverse public health consequences associated with marijuana use;
•Preventing the growing of marijuana on public lands and the attendant public safety and environmental dangers posed by marijuana production on public lands; and
•Preventing marijuana possession or use on federal property.
The Cole Memo further conditioned this guidance on the existence of a state regulatory scheme that provides “robust controls and procedures [which are] effective in practice,” in which case “enforcement of state law by state and local law enforcement and regulatory bodies should remain the primary means of addressing marijuana-related activity.” Taken together, the Cole Memo and other related memoranda provided that the federal government would give some leeway to states’ control over medical marijuana use and production for medical purposes. Importantly, though, the Cole Memo did not have the force of law, but only reflected a policy subject to change at any time.
In January 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a new memorandum (the “Sessions Memo”) repealing the policy statements in the Cole Memo: “Given the Department’s well-established general principles, previous nationwide guidance specific
31 Memorandum from James Cole, U.S. Deputy Attorney General, on Guidance Regarding Marijuana Enforcement (Aug. 29, 2013) available at https://www.justice.gov/iso/opa/resources/3052013829132756857467.pdf.
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to marijuana enforcement is unnecessary and is rescinded, effective immediately.”32 The Sessions Memo reinforces the prosecutorial discretion to pursue penalties for marijuana cultivation, distribution, and possession under Applicable Federal Law for financial transactions.33
The Sessions Memo provides that the federal government may pursue action against violations of federal law related to marijuana. To the extent that they have done so, it appears that federal prosecutors have focused on growers and producers within the states, rather than investors.34
Moreover, there are multiple U.S. exchange-listed companies that either are investing in Canadian cannabis companies, or are Canadian cannabis companies themselves, such as Tilray Inc., a cannabis research, cultivation, processing, and distribution firm traded on NASDAQ. Similarly, we have not identified any public reports concerning any DOJ action with respect to the increase by Constellation Brands, Inc., a New York-based Fortune 500 company that is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, of its investment in Canopy Growth Corporation, a Canadian producer and exporter of cannabis listed on the NYSE35 from 9.9% to 38.6% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Canopy Growth Corporation.
Further, the SEC appears to have scrutinized the registration statements and other disclosure documents made by Cannabis Companies that are listed on U.S. exchanges. For instance, the SEC requested changes to Tilray’s public disclosure documents, including increased disclosures regarding the company’s capital structure and risks associated with operating in the cannabis industry, such as compliance with U.S. laws and potential market volatility.36
32 Memorandum from Jeffrey Sessions, U.S. Attorney General, on Marijuana Enforcement, (Jan. 4, 2018) available at https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1022196/download.
33During confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee for appointment as Attorney General, in February, 2021, new Attorney General Merrick Garland responded to questioning by Senator Cory Booker as follows: “It does not seem to me a useful use of limited resources that we have, to be pursuing prosecutions in states that have legalized and that are regulating the use of marijuana, either medically or otherwise. I don’t think that’s a useful use.” See https://mjbizdaily.com/attorney-general-nominee-merrick-garland-signals-friendlier-marijuana-stance/. In subsequent written responses to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Garland stated that he did not think it worth the department’s time to pursue prosecutions “of those who are complying with the laws in states that have legalized and are effectively regulating marijuana.” See https://www.rollcall.com/2021/03/01/senate-judiciary-sends-garland-nomination-to-the-floor/. Separate and apart from these pronouncements, Congress has withheld funding to the DOJ (pursuant to the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment to federal spending bills) to prosecute state-compliant business in the medical marijuana space since 2014.
34 See, e.g., Superseding Indictment, U.S. v. Hoang, Case No. 3:17-cr-70, 2017 WL 9855203 (S.D. Iowa) (criminal charges filed against growers, not investors, related to marijuana production and/or distribution within the states).
35Constellation Brands increases stake in Canopy Growth, (May. 2020), available at https://www.beveragedaily.com/Article/2020/05/05/Constellation-Brands-increases-stake-in-Canopy-Growth-Corp.
36See Letter from Sec. & Exch, Comm’n to Brendan Kennedy, President and CEO of Tilray, Inc. (Apr. 17, 2018), available at https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1731348/000000000018011638/filename1.pdf;
see also Securities and Exchange Commission, Investor Alert: Marijuana Investments and Fraud (Sep. 9, 2018), available at https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/general-resources/news-alerts/alerts-bulletins/investor-alerts/investor-12 (the SEC appears to be concerned with ensuring that investors are aware of market volatility and concerns about potentially fraudulent disclosures).
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Finally, we have found nothing in the publicly available resources noted above that suggests that any of the Cannabis Companies being considered for investment are engaged in any cannabis touching business in the U.S. except to the extent that they are either registered with the DEA specifically for the purpose of handling marijuana for lawful research and development of cannabis or cannabinoid-related products or, to the extent that they are handling hemp, that such activities comply with applicable laws. Moreover, we have found no publicly reported civil, criminal or regulatory proceedings against any of the Cannabis Companies for a violation of the CSA and/or MCA.37 This opinion is only based upon and limited to that publicly available information available from the SEC.
We have also found nothing in the publicly available resources noted above that suggests that any Psychedelics Company is or would be in violation of the CSA and/or MCA.38 This opinion is only based upon and limited to that publicly available information available from the SEC and other regulators listed in this letter.
Based on the foregoing and the Fund’s representation that it will only invest in certain exchange traded securities compliant with U.S. federal law, we believe the Fund would not violate the CSA or be subject to DOJ psychedelics or marijuana enforcement so long as the companies are Psychedelics Companies or Cannabis Companies.
II.THE CSA
Under Section 841(a) of the CSA, it is unlawful for a person to knowingly or intentionally “manufacture, distribute, or dispense, or possess with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense, a controlled substance . . . .”39 The statute defines “manufacture” as the production, preparation, propagation, compounding, or processing of a drug or other substance, either directly or indirectly or by extraction, and includes any packaging or repackaging of such substance, except as complying with applicable state law.40 In addition, Section 846 of the CSA prohibits conspiring to commit substantive offenses under the Act, and provides that any individual who attempts or conspires to commit a violation of the CSA will be subject to the same penalties as the underlying offense.41
Based solely on the plain language of the Fund’s Registration Statement (including the Statement of Additional Information) and the proposed investments,
37Our review yielded, as of the date hereof, no publicly-available indicator of a current DOJ or DEA investigation involving the TRS Companies (as such term is defined in Part IV of this letter) or any of the Cannabis Companies whose equity securities may be purchased by the Fund. The statements and opinions in this letter pertain to Applicable Law and to relevant proceedings made known or available to the public; this letter is based entirely on publicly available research, data and information. We are aware that the DEA issued a subpoena to the Bureau of Cannabis Control of California in connection with the DEA’s investigation of three cannabis companies purportedly operating within the law of the State of California, but the names of the three companies are not publicly available as of the date of this letter. See United States of America v. The Bureau of Cannabis Control (Case No. 3:20-cv-01375)(Dist. Ct. SD). Accordingly, we assume for purposes of this letter that the three companies are not Cannabis Companies or TRS Companies.
38See footnote 21.
3921 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1).
4021 U.S.C. § 802(15).
4121 U.S.C. § 846.
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including our analysis of their businesses as derived from the publicly available resources noted above, from what we can see, none of the businesses of Psychedelics Companies or Cannabis Companies, to the extent that we understand them and based on the assumptions herein, would be non-compliant with applicable local law and their operations would as of today violate Applicable Federal Law.
Based on the foregoing, it is our opinion that the Fund would not have direct liability under Section 841(a) or Section 846 of the CSA because it will not be investing in any business other than in the business of a Psychedelics Company or Cannabis Company so long as, as we assume, such company does not undertake a commercial or other activity which expressly violates the terms of the CSA.
III.COMPLYING WITH FEDERAL MONEY LAUNDERING LAWS
In addition to complying with the CSA, the Fund must also comply with federal money laundering laws. Section 1956 of the MCA provides that (i) “[w]hoever, knowing that the property involved in a financial transaction represents the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity, conducts or attempts to conduct such a financial transaction which in fact involves the proceeds of specified unlawful activity… with the intent to promote the carrying on of specified unlawful activity…42” or (ii) “[w]hoever transports, transmits, or transfers, or attempts to transport, transmit, or transfer a monetary instrument or funds from a place in the United States to or through a place outside the United States or to a place in the United States from or through a place outside the United States…with the intent to promote the carrying on of specified unlawful activity…”43 is in violation of federal law.
Based on the foregoing, in our opinion the Fund’s investment activity would not constitute an offense under Section 1961(1) (i.e., obtaining proceeds from an unlawful activities) because we assume that the Fund’s investments are in exchange-listed companies that require compliance with U.S. federal laws in addition to the laws of their respective jurisdictions.
IV. TOTAL RETURN SWAPS
As we previously stated in this letter, it is our understanding that the investment strategy of the Fund may in the future include the execution and settlement of total return swaps (as we have previously defined, “TRS’s”), a straightforward form of over-the-counter or OTC derivative. The Advisor has indicated that in the future the Fund will execute one or more TRS’s, each referencing either a single Psychedelics Company or Cannabis Company (each such company, is also referred to in this letter as a “TRS Company”) and that all TRS’s that may be executed in the future will be financially settled, or cash settled (and at no time will the Fund have any direct, indirect, actual or beneficial ownership of any TRS Company by means of a TRS).
4218 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)-(A)(i).
43 18 U.S.C. § 1956 (a)(2)-(A).
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It is our understanding and a fundamental assumption of this letter that the Fund will not (a) invest directly in any Psychedelics Company that grows, produces, distributes, or sells plant products or drugs in a country, state, province, locality or other political subdivision where this activity is illegal under applicable law or in any Cannabis Company that grows, produces, distributes, or sells cannabis or products derived from cannabis in a country, state, province, locality or other political subdivision where this activity is illegal under applicable law; or (b) execute at any time in the future any TRS (or any other OTC derivative or exchange traded derivative) which references (i) any Psychedelics Company that grows, produces, distributes, or sells plant products or drugs derived in a country, state, province, locality or other political subdivision where this activity is illegal under applicable law; (ii) any Cannabis Company that grows, produces, distributes, or sells cannabis or products derived from cannabis in a country, state, province, locality or other political subdivision where this activity is illegal under applicable law; (iii) any index which includes as a component any Psychedelics Company that grows, produces, distributes, or sells plant products or drugs in a country, state, province, locality or other political subdivision where this activity is illegal under applicable law; or (iv) any index which includes as a component any Cannabis Company that grows, produces, distributes, or sells cannabis or products derived from cannabis in a country, state, province, locality or other political subdivision where this activity is illegal under applicable law.
Total Return Swaps and the Controlled Substances Act, Generally
We are aware of no guidance, regulation, or formal or informal prohibition by the DOJ or any federal regulator (including derivatives regulators in the United States (e.g., the SEC and CFTC)) with respect to a derivative based on a Psychedelics Company or Cannabis Company or investment vehicle investing in a Psychedelics Company or Cannabis Company.
We are also aware of no reported decision by a court or other tribunal as to whether a derivative referencing a Psychedelics Company or Cannabis Company (whether operating with or outside of a state license, permission or mandate) is legal --or illegal. We were able to locate no rule (proposed or final), no solicitation for market input for a prospective rule, no guidance or other regulatory pronouncement directly relating to what we understand to be a Psychedelics Company or Cannabis Company on which a TRS may in the future be based.
In the absence of on-point regulatory or other guidance, we have considered other commercial and contractual arrangements which we believe would be entered into by Psychedelics Companies or Cannabis Companies, such as insurance policies. The insurance contract has for decades been compared to a derivative and vice-versa.44
Cannabis and Cannabis Insurance Caselaw as a Guide
We are aware of state insurance commissioners approving the issuance of insurance policies undertaking risks relating to lawful state cannabis businesses, which, as we have previously written, is something of a precedent for business in psychedelics.
For instance, the California Cannabis Control Board submitted proposed regulations to the California Office of Administrative Law in December 2018 establishing
44See, e.g., Risk, Speculation, and OTC Derivatives at 2-3.
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minimum general liability coverage for cannabis distributors.45 Former California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones lobbied California's admitted insurers to begin serving the cannabis industry46 and was ultimately successful in persuading admitted insurance carriers (i.e., carriers authorized to do business in California by the Secretary of State) to provide a cannabis insurance product,47 including Golden Bear Insurance Company,48 North River Insurance Company, United States Fire Insurance Company, White Pine Insurance Company,49 Continental Heritage Insurance Company50 and California Mutual Insurance Company.51
For the sake of completeness we note that a federal court in Hawaii52 held that an insured individual growing cannabis for personal use in compliance with state law could not recover under her homeowner’s policy because the federal public policy against cannabis trumps the express terms of an insurance policy; however, a federal court in Colorado refused to follow that court in Hawaii, and refused to absolve a property insurance carrier of its coverage obligation when the property insurance policy was written for a state-legal cannabis business, because the policy was written specifically to provide coverage for the insured's state-legal marijuana business.53
45 CAL. CODE REGS. tit. 16, §5308 (2019).
46https://www.natlawreview.com/article/california-s-insurance-commissioner-encourages-admitted-carriers-to-insure-cannabis
47https://www.horstcounsel.com/single-post/2017/10/02/Admitted-Carriers-Offer-Some-Benefits-Some-Dangers-for-Cannabis-Industry
48http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/archives/release119-17.cfm; https://www.goldenbear.com/news/how-to-cover-the-cannabis-sector-from-a-broker-whos-deep-in-the-weeds/
49 http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2018/release088-18.cfm
50 http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2018/release055-18.cfm
51 http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2018/release046-18.cfm
52Tracy v. USAA Cas. Ins. Co., No. 11-00487 LEK-KSC, 2012 WL 928186, at *13 (D.
Haw. Mar. 16, 2012).
53Green Earth Wellness Ctr., LLC v. Atain Specialty Ins. Co., 163 F. Supp. 3d 821, 833-34 (D. Colo. 2016)(“Green Earth Wellness Center”).
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For purposes of evaluating financial derivatives generally and more particularly in the context of the CSA, we considered the federal judiciary’s upholding of contracts54 including those evidencing payment obligations albeit in the insurance context. The upholding of contracts in the insurance context is helpful guidance. As of this date of this letter, we are aware of no guidance from a federal regulator in the U.S. that expressly indicates that under the CSA, the DOJ and federal prosecutors will pursue action with respect to a total return swap evidenced by an ISDA executed by parties to a swap referencing Psychedelics Companies or Cannabis Companies, and we reserve the right to reevaluate these conclusions and statements and issue formal opinions concerning any TRS to be executed by the Fund in the future.
Although this opinion represents our considered legal judgment, this has no binding effect and, therefore, there can be no assurance that the SEC, CFTC or other U.S. or state regulator, department or agency will not be able to successfully challenge a TRS that the Fund may execute in the future on grounds of enforceability or any of the conclusions reached by us in this letter. We do not express any opinion with respect to the law of any jurisdiction outside of the United States, conflict of law principles or law, the rules of any derivatives exchange or clearinghouse, the internal policies of any party to a future TRS or custodian or bank which may be involved in the performance of a TRS in the future. We do not in this letter formally express any legal opinion concerning any TRS because the Advisor has indicated to us that TRS’s may in the future be executed by, or on behalf of the Fund, and the statements that we include in this letter about derivatives are made based on our current understanding and we are under no obligation to monitor the law or body of regulation to update this letter.
Our opinions are limited to the facts, matters and law expressly set forth herein and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond what is expressly stated in this letter. Our opinions are for the benefit of the Fund and its beneficial owners and may not be
54We note that when we refer in this paragraph to “the federal judiciary,” we refer primarily to the federal district court in Green Earth Wellness Center, and federal courts’ decisions subsequent to Green Earth Wellness Center (see, e.g., Greenwood v. Green Leaf Lab LLC, 2017 U.S.Dist. LEXIS 125143 (2017); In re Way to Grow, Inc., 597 B.R. 111, 2018 Bankr. LEXIS 4142 (2018); see also In re Malul, 614 B.R. 699, 2020 Bankr. LEXIS , 68 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (LRP) 147)(2020)(“At oral argument, Malul attacked the relevance of Green Earth Wellness on two grounds. First, Malul argued Green Earth Wellness is inapplicable because it was evaluating the legality of state insurance laws, not necessarily federal drug laws. Second, Malul argued the insurance policy in Green Earth Wellness is a different situation to a declaratory judgment or breach of fiduciary duty claim, because there is an underlying equity interest at stake in the latter. The Court agrees [that] the facts of Green Earth Wellness are distinguishable in these respects, but it is not clear whether, or how, those factual differentiators mediate a different result. Rather, the operative decision point in Green Earth Wellness was Judge Krieger's careful distinction between ordering the insurer to pay for damages to specific items (i.e., marijuana plants) and merely ordering compliance with the contract, which could be accomplished without reference to the existence of any marijuana asset.”)). We also note that at least one federal court has declined to invalidate an insurance contract (where an insurer underwrites a cannabis company (not a psychedelics company), in compliance with state law) on the grounds that the contract contravenes public policy; the federal district court in Green Earth Wellness Center refused to invalidate the insurance contact at issue in that case on public policy grounds “in light of several additional years evidencing a continued erosion of any clear and consistent federal public policy in this area” and on that basis the federal district court “declines [insurer] Atain’s indirect invitation to declare the [insurance] Policy void on public policy grounds.” See Green Earth Wellness Center, 163 F.Supp.3d at 834-35. We finally note that it appears that federal prosecutors have focused on growers and producers within the states, rather than investors, see also Superseding Indictment, U.S. v. Hoang, Case No. 3:17-cr-70, 2017 WL 9855203 (S.D. Iowa) (criminal charges filed against growers, not investors, related to marijuana production and/or distribution within the states).
Legal Opinion prepared for Grizzle Investment Management, LLC
Grizzle Growth ETF
December 13, 2021
Page 23
relied upon by any other person or entity without the express written consent of Seyfarth Shaw LLP.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of the Fund, including any amendments and supplements thereto. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act, or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ Seyfarth Shaw LLP