UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES




Investment Company Act file number  811-22668


ETF Series Solutions
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)



615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)



Kristina R. Nelson
ETF Series Solutions
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(Name and address of agent for service)



(414) 765-6076
Registrant's telephone number, including area code


Date of fiscal year end: August 31


Date of reporting period:  August 31, 2020



Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.






Annual Report
August 31, 2020
 

 

 
VIDENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
Ticker: VIDI

VIDENT CORE U.S. EQUITY FUND
Ticker: VUSE

VIDENT CORE U.S. BOND STRATEGY ETF
Ticker: VBND



Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Funds’ shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the Funds’ reports from your financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer or bank. Instead, the reports will be made available on a website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.
 
If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. Please contact your financial intermediary to elect to receive shareholder reports and other Fund communications electronically.
 
You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. Please contact your financial intermediary to inform them that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of shareholder reports and for details about whether your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held with your financial intermediary.


VIDENT FUNDS


TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
Page
Letters to Shareholders
1
Performance Summary
8
Portfolio Allocation
14
Schedules of Investments
17
Statements of Assets and Liabilities
48
Statements of Operations
49
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
50
Financial Highlights
53
Notes to Financial Statements
56
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
71
Trustees and Officers
72
Expense Examples
74
Federal Tax Information
76
Approval of Advisory Agreement & Board Consideration
78
Review of Liquidity Risk Management Program
80
Information About Portfolio Holdings
81
Information About Proxy Voting
81
Frequency Distribution of Premium and Discounts
81





VIDENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND


Dear Shareholders,
 
On behalf of the entire team, we want to express our appreciation for the confidence you have placed in the Vident International Equity Fund (“VIDI” or the “Fund”). The following information pertains to the fiscal period of September 1, 2019 through August 31, 2020 (the “Period”). The Fund seeks to track the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the Vident Core International Equity Index (the “Index”). This index strategy seeks to provide investors with a well-diversified set of global equities exposures across countries, regions and stocks, emphasizing countries with more favorable conditions for investment as well as economic and financial market resilience. The Index also seeks to enhance investors’ stock exposures, systematically selecting higher quality stocks with more favorable valuations and with a confirming price trend.
 
The Fund had negative performance during the Period ending on August 31, 2020. The market price for VIDI decreased 2.21% and the NAV decreased 1.98%, while the Morningstar Global Markets ex-U.S. Index gained 8.71% and the Morningstar Global ex-U.S. Large-Mid Index gained 8.68% over the same Period. The Fund’s Index fell 1.37%. Meanwhile, outstanding shares ended the period at 20,300,000.
 
For the Period, the largest positive contributor to return was Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (FMG AU), adding 0.47% to the return of the Fund, gaining 93.55% with an average weighting of 0.35%. The second largest contributor to return was Sinotruk Hong Kong Ltd. (3808 HK), adding 0.41% to the return of the Fund, gaining 71.33% with an average weighting of 0.61%. The third largest contributor to return was Unimicron Technology Corporation (3037 TT), adding 0.40% to the return of the Fund, gaining 79.31% with an average weighting of 0.53%.
 
For the Period, the largest negative contributor to return was Qudian, Inc. (QD US), detracting 0.52% from the return of the Fund, declining 79.72% with an average weighting of 0.33%. The security contributing second-most negatively was Telkom SA SOC Ltd. (TKG SJ), detracting 0.47% from the return of the Fund, and declining 73.63% with an average weighting of 0.37%. The third largest negative contributor to return was Societe Generale SA (GLE FP), detracting 0.31% from the return of the Fund, and declining 52.56% with an average weight of 0.18%.
 
For the Period, the best performing security in the Fund was Plus500 Ltd. (PLUS LN), gaining 155.01% and contributing 0.18% to the return of the Fund. The second-best performing security for the period was Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (FMG AU), gaining 93.55% and contributing 0.47% to the return of the Fund. The third-best performing security was Harmony Gold Mining Company Ltd. (HAR SJ), gaining 90.39% for the period and contributing 0.26% to the return of the Fund.
 

 
 
1

VIDENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

 
For the Period, the worst performing security in the Fund was Qudian, Inc. (QD US), declining 79.72% and reducing the return of the Fund by 0.52%. The second-worst performing security in the Fund was Telkom SA SOC Ltd. (TKG SJ), declining 73.63% and reducing the return of the Fund by 0.47%. The third-worst performing security in the Fund was Dufry AG (DUFN SW), declining 65.24% and reducing the return of the Fund by 0.04%.
 
Sincerely,
 
Deborah K. Kimery, CFA
Chief Executive Officer, Vident Advisory, LLC
 









2

VIDENT CORE U.S. EQUITY FUND


Dear Shareholders,
 
On behalf of the entire team, we want to express our appreciation for the confidence you have placed in the Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund (“VUSE” or the “Fund”). The following information pertains to the fiscal period of September 1, 2019 through August 31, 2020 (the “Period”). The Fund seeks to track the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the Vident Core U.S. Stock Index (the “Index”). This index strategy represents a portfolio of U.S. equities that adhere to higher standards of corporate governance and accounting, as measured by numerous research metrics. This research is integrated into a systematic and structured selection process that seeks to provide an index of higher quality U.S. companies across small, medium and large-capitalization ranges. The Index also seeks to mitigate some of the risks often associated with market capitalization-weighted indices, including issuer concentration.
 
The Fund had positive performance during the Period ending on August 31, 2020. The market price for VUSE increased 2.98% and the NAV increased 2.70%, while the S&P 500 Index, a broad market index, gained 21.94% over the same Period. The Fund’s Index returned 3.05%. Meanwhile, outstanding shares ended the period at 11,000,000.
 
For the Period, the largest positive contributor to return was Apple, Inc. (AAPL US), adding 0.47% to the return of the Fund, gaining 105.26% with an average weighting of 0.57%. The second largest contributor to return was Big Lots, Inc. (BIG US), adding 0.44% to the return of the Fund, gaining 79.82% with an average weighting of 0.34%. The third largest contributor to return was Green Dot Corporation (GDOT US), adding 0.43% to the return of the Fund, gaining 73.07% with an average weighting of 0.40%.
 
For the Period, the largest negative contributor to return was Nordstrom, Inc. (JWN US), detracting 0.37% from the return of the Fund, declining 62.35% with an average weighting of 0.17%. The security contributing second-most negatively was Newmark Group, Inc. (NMRK US), detracting 0.32% from the return of the Fund, and declining 64.99% with an average weighting of 0.12%. The third largest negative contributor to return was Cardtronics PLC (CATM US), detracting 0.31% from the return of the Fund, and declining 51.76% with an average weight of 0.20%.
 
For the Period, the best performing security in the Fund was Apple, Inc. (AAPL US), gaining 105.26% and contributing 0.47% to the return of the Fund. The second-best performing security for the Period was Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS US), gaining 95.74% and contributing 0.42% to the return of the Fund. The third-best performing security was Winnebago Industries, Inc. (WGO US), gaining 90.55% for the Period and contributing 0.21% to the return of the Fund.
 
 
3

VIDENT CORE U.S. EQUITY FUND

 
For the Period, the worst performing security in the Fund was Newmark Group, Inc. (NMRK US), declining 64.99% and reducing the return of the Fund by 0.32%. The second-worst performing security in the Fund was Peabody Energy Corporation (BTU US), declining 62.89% and reducing the return of the Fund by 0.15%. The third-worst performing security in the Fund was Nordstrom, Inc. (JWN US), declining 62.35% and reducing the return of the Fund by 0.37%.
 
Sincerely,
 
Deborah K. Kimery, CFA
Chief Executive Officer, Vident Advisory, LLC
 









4

VIDENT CORE U.S. BOND STRATEGY ETF


Dear Shareholders,
 
On behalf of the entire team, we want to express our appreciation for the confidence you have placed in the Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF (“VBND” or the “Fund”). The following information pertains to the fiscal period of September 1, 2019 through August 31, 2020 (the “Period”). The Fund seeks to track the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the Vident Core U.S. Bond Index (the “Index”). This Index seeks to diversify interest rate and credit risks through the application of time-tested principles. In addition to diversifying across fixed income sectors, the strategy seeks to improve corporate bond exposures by screening for companies with stronger leadership, governance and creditworthiness factors.
 
The Fund had positive performance during the Period ending on August 31, 2020. The market price for VBND increased 4.17% and the NAV increased 4.26%, while the FTSE Broad Investment-Grade (BIG) Bond Index, a broad market index, gained 6.55% over the same Period. The Fund’s Index returned 5.03%. Meanwhile, outstanding shares ended the period at 7,700,000.
 
For the Period, the largest positive contributor to return was a U.S. Treasury note (T 33/4 11/15/43), adding 0.27% to the return of the Fund, gaining 12.67% with an average weighting of 1.93%. The second largest contributor to return was a U.S. Treasury note (T 43/8 05/15/41), adding 0.25% to the return of the Fund, gaining 12.31% with an average weighting of 2.00%. The third largest contributor to return was a U.S. Treasury note (T 35/8 08/15/43), adding 0.21% to the return of the Fund, gaining 12.86% with an average weighting of 1.52%.
 
For the Period, the largest negative contributor to return was SM Energy Company (SM 63/4 09/15/26), detracting 0.15% from the return of the Fund, declining 37.40% with an average weighting of 0.12%. The security contributing second-most negatively was Denbury Resources, Inc. (DNR 73/4 02/15/24), detracting 0.14% from the return of the Fund, and declining 42.31% with an average weighting of 0.10%. The third largest negative contributor to return was W&T Offshore, Inc. (WTI 93/4 11/01/23), detracting 0.12% from the return of the Fund, and declining 29.02% with an average weight of 0.17%.
 
For the Period, the best performing security in the Fund was Embarq Corporation (CTL 7.995 06/01/36), gaining 29.02% and contributing 0.12% to the return of the Fund. The second-best performing security for the Period was Conagra Brands, Inc. (CAG 5.4 11/01/48), gaining 26.89% and contributing 0.09% to the return of the Fund. The third-best performing security was CF Industries, Inc. (CF 53/8 03/15/44), gaining 25.94% for the Period and contributing 0.03% to the return of the Fund.
 

 
5

VIDENT CORE U.S. BOND STRATEGY ETF

 
For the Period, the worst performing security in the Fund was Denbury Resources, Inc. (DNR 73/4 02/15/24), declining 42.31% and reducing the return of the Fund by 0.14%. The second-worst performing security in the Fund was SM Energy Company. (SM 63/4 09/15/26), declining 37.40% and reducing the return of the Fund by 0.15%. The third-worst performing security in the Fund was Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. (XOG 55/8 02/01/26), declining 34.52% and reducing the return of the Fund by 0.09%.
 
Sincerely,
 
Deborah K. Kimery, CFA
Chief Executive Officer, Vident Advisory, LLC
 









6

VIDENT FUNDS


Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
 
Opinions expressed are subject to change, are not guaranteed and should not be considered investment advice or recommendations to buy or sell any security.
 
Fund holdings are subject to change and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security. For more complete information regarding performance and holdings, please refer to the Schedules of Investments on pages 17-47.
 
Investments involve risk. Principal loss is possible. The Funds have the same risks as the underlying securities traded on the exchange throughout the day at market price. Redemptions are limited and often commissions are charged on each trade. Investments in foreign securities involve political, economic and currency risks, greater volatility and differences in accounting methods. These risks are greater for investments in emerging markets. A fund that concentrates its investments in the securities of a particular industry or geographic area may be more volatile than a fund that invests in a broader range of industries. VIDI and VBND may invest in illiquid or thinly traded securities which involve additional risks such as limited liquidity and greater volatility. VBND may make investments in debt securities. The Fund’s investments in high yield securities expose it to a substantial degree of credit risk. These investments are considered speculative under traditional investment standards. Debt issuers and other counterparties may not honor their obligations or may have their debt downgraded by ratings agencies. An increase in interest rates may cause the value of fixed-income securities held by the Fund to decline.  During periods of rising interest rates, certain debt obligations will be paid off substantially more slowly than originally anticipated and the value of those securities may fall sharply, resulting in a decline in the Fund’s income and potentially in the value of the Fund’s investments. VBND may also invest in asset backed and mortgage backed securities which include additional risks that investors should be aware of such as credit risk, prepayment risk, possible illiquidity and default, as well as increased susceptibility to adverse economic developments. The performance of the Funds may diverge from that of the Indices. Because the Funds employ a representative sampling strategy and may also invest up to 20% of their assets in securities that are not included in the Indices, the Funds may experience tracking error to a greater extent than a fund that seeks to replicate an index. The Funds are not actively managed and may be affected by a general decline in market segments related to the Indices. The Funds invest in securities included in, or representative of securities included in, the Indices, regardless of their investment merits. Small and medium-capitalization companies tend to have more limited liquidity and greater price volatility than large-capitalization companies. Unlike mutual funds, ETFs may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value.
 
The Vident Core International Equity Index (Bloomberg Symbol: VIEQX) is a strategy seeking to balance risk across developed and emerging countries and emphasize those with favorable conditions for growth. The Vident Core U.S. Stock Index (Bloomberg Symbol: VCUSX) is a strategy which seeks to apply principles-based reasoning, expressed through innovative risk design to address the risks and opportunities of U.S. equity investing. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. The Vident Core U.S. Bond Index (Bloomberg Symbol: VUBDX) is a strategy which seeks to diversify and improve interest rate and credit risks of traditional U.S. core bonds.
 
Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in a declining market.
 
Must be preceded or accompanied by a Prospectus.
 


7

VIDENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
(Unaudited)

Growth of $10,000



This chart illustrates the performance of a hypothetical $10,000 investment made on October 29, 2013, and is not intended to imply any future performance. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. The chart assumes reinvestment of capital gains and dividends.  It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
 

 

 
8

VIDENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
(Unaudited) (Continued)

Average Annual Returns
One
Three
Five
Since
August 31, 2020
Year
Years
Years
Inception(1)
Vident International
       
  Equity Fund – NAV
-1.98%
-4.88%
3.20%
0.12%
Vident International
       
  Equity Fund – Market
-2.21%
-5.05%
3.42%
0.06%
Vident Core International
       
  Equity Index/Vident International
       
  Equity Index(2)(3)
-1.37%
-4.36%
3.87%
0.94%
Morningstar Global ex-U.S.
       
  Large-Mid Index(2)(4)
 8.68%
 2.96%
5.99%
3.28%
Morningstar Global Markets
       
  ex-US Index(2)(5)
 8.71%
 2.80%
6.25%
3.58%

The Performance data quoted is historical.  Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted.  The principal value and investment return of an investment will fluctuate so that your shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.  The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemptions of Fund shares. The total operating expenses as stated in the fee table to the Fund’s prospectus dated January 1, 2020 as supplemented January 22, 2020 and June 19, 2020, is 0.61%.  For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-800-617-0004.
 
(1)
Inception date is October 29, 2013.
(2)
Indexes are unmanaged statistical composites and their returns do not include fees an investor would pay to purchase the securities they represent.  Such costs would lower performance.  It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
(3)
Effective January 6, 2016, the Fund’s investment objective changed to track the performance, before fees and expenses, of the Vident Core International Equity Index. Prior to January 6, 2016, the Fund’s investment objective was to track the price and total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the Vident International Equity Index. Performance shown for periods beginning January 6, 2016 is that of the Vident Core International Equity Index, and performance shown for periods prior to January 6, 2016 is that of the Vident International Equity Index.
(4)
Morningstar Global ex-U.S. Large-Mid Total Return Index measures the performance of Global Markets Ex-U.S. equity markets targeting the top 90% of stocks by market capitalization.
(5)
Morningstar Global Markets ex-US Index provides exposure to the top 97% market capitalization in each of two economic segments, developed markets, excluding the United States, and emerging markets.



9

VIDENT CORE U.S. EQUITY FUND

PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
(Unaudited)

Growth of $10,000



This chart illustrates the performance of a hypothetical $10,000 investment made on January 21, 2014, and is not intended to imply any future performance. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. The chart assumes reinvestment of capital gains and dividends.  It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
 

 

 
10

VIDENT CORE U.S. EQUITY FUND

PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
(Unaudited) (Continued)

Average Annual Returns
One
Three
Five
Since
August 31, 2020
Year
Years
Years
Inception(1)
Vident Core U.S.
       
  Equity Fund – NAV
  2.70%
  1.75%
  4.96%
  4.29%
Vident Core U.S.
       
  Equity Fund – Market
  2.98%
  1.78%
  4.98%
  4.32%
Vident Core U.S. Stock
       
  Index/Vident Core
       
  U.S. Equity Index(2)(3)
  3.05%
  2.02%
  5.10%
  4.32%
Morningstar U.S. Market
       
  Total Return Index(2)(4)
21.82%
14.24%
14.08%
12.08%
S&P 500 Index(2)(5)
21.94%
14.52%
14.46%
12.46%

The performance data quoted is historical.  Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted.  The principal value and investment return of an investment will fluctuate so that your shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.  The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemptions of Fund shares. The total operating expenses as stated in the fee table to the Fund’s prospectus dated January 1, 2020 as supplemented January 22, 2020 and June 19, 2020, is 0.50%.  For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-800-617-0004.
 
(1)
Inception date is January 21, 2014.
(2)
Indexes are unmanaged statistical composites and their returns do not include fees an investor would pay to purchase the securities they represent.  Such costs would lower performance.  It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
(3)
Effective January 6, 2016, the Fund’s investment objective changed to track the performance, before fees and expenses, of the Vident Core U.S. Stock Index. Prior to January 6, 2016, the Fund’s investment objective was to track the price and total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the Vident Core U.S. Equity Index. Performance shown for periods beginning January 6, 2016 is that of the Vident Core U.S. Stock Index, and performance shown for periods prior to January 6, 2016 is that of the Vident Core U.S. Equity Index.
(4)
Morningstar U.S. Market Total Return Index is a diversified broad market index that targets 97% market capitalization coverage of the investable universe.
(5)
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500) is an unmanaged index containing common stocks of 500 industrial, transportation, utility, and financial companies, regarded as generally representative of the U.S. stock market.  The index return reflects the reinvestment of income dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, but does not reflect fees, brokerage commissions, or other expenses of investing.


11

VIDENT CORE U.S. BOND STRATEGY ETF

PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
(Unaudited)

Growth of $10,000



This chart illustrates the performance of a hypothetical $10,000 investment made on October 15, 2014, and is not intended to imply any future performance. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. The chart assumes reinvestment of capital gains and dividends.  It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
 

 

 
12

VIDENT CORE U.S. BOND STRATEGY ETF

PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
(Unaudited) (Continued)

Average Annual Returns
One
Three
Five
Since
August 31, 2020
Year
Years
Years
Inception(1)
Vident Core U.S. Bond
       
  Strategy ETF – NAV
4.26%
3.94%
3.60%
3.04%
Vident Core U.S. Bond
       
  Strategy ETF – Market
4.17%
3.84%
3.55%
3.00%
Vident Core U.S. Bond
       
  Index/Vident Core U.S. Bond
       
  Strategy Index(2)(3)
5.03%
4.69%
4.39%
3.92%
FTSE Broad Investment-Grade
       
  (BIG) Bond Index(2)(4)
6.55%
5.17%
4.38%
3.78%

The performance data quoted is historical.  Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted.  The principal value and investment return of an investment will fluctuate so that your shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.  The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemptions of Fund shares. The total operating expenses as stated in the fee table to the Fund’s prospectus dated January 1, 2020 as supplemented January 22, 2020 and June 19, 2020, is 0.43%.  For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-800-617-0004.
 
(1)
Inception date is October 15, 2014.
(2)
Indexes are unmanaged statistical composites and their returns do not include fees an investor would pay to purchase the securities they represent.  Such costs would lower performance.  It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
(3)
Effective January 6, 2016, the Fund’s investment objective changed to track the performance, before fees and expenses, of the Vident Core U.S. Bond Index. Prior to January 6, 2016, the Fund’s investment objective was to track the price and total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy Index. Performance shown for periods beginning January 6, 2016 is that of the Vident Core U.S. Bond Index, and performance shown for periods prior to January 6, 2016 is that of the Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy Index.
(4)
FTSE Broad Investment-Grade (BIG) Bond Index tracks the performance of the U.S. Dollar-denominated bonds issued in the U.S. investment-grade bond market.


13

VIDENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

PORTFOLIO ALLOCATION
As of August 31, 2020 (Unaudited)

 
Percentage of
Country
Net Assets
Republic of Korea
   
7.7
%
 
Japan
   
7.3
%
 
Singapore
   
6.7
%
 
Hong Kong
   
6.5
%
 
Germany
   
5.3
%
 
Australia
   
5.2
%
 
Taiwan
   
5.0
%
 
Norway
   
4.9
%
 
Switzerland
   
4.9
%
 
Canada
   
4.8
%
 
Sweden
   
4.8
%
 
United Kingdom
   
4.7
%
 
China
   
4.1
%
 
Thailand
   
4.1
%
 
Brazil
   
3.1
%
 
South Africa
   
2.6
%
 
Netherlands
   
2.2
%
 
Indonesia
   
2.1
%
 
Russian Federation
   
1.9
%
 
Chile
   
1.6
%
 
Mexico
   
1.6
%
 
           
(a) Less than 0.05%
         
           
 
Percentage of
Country
Net Assets
Malaysia
   
1.4
%
 
Israel
   
1.3
%
 
France
   
1.2
%
 
Ireland
   
1.0
%
 
Denmark
   
0.6
%
 
Finland
   
0.5
%
 
Italy
   
0.5
%
 
Poland
   
0.5
%
 
Belgium
   
0.4
%
 
Colombia
   
0.4
%
 
Spain
   
0.3
%
 
India
   
0.0
%(a)
 
Turkey
   
0.0
%(a)
 
Short-Term Investments
   
0.2
%
 
Investments Purchased
         
  with Proceeds from
         
  Securities Lending
   
2.4
%
 
Liabilities in Excess of
         
  Other Assets
   
(1.8
)%
 
Total
   
100.0
%
 


14

VIDENT CORE U.S. EQUITY FUND

PORTFOLIO ALLOCATION
As of August 31, 2020 (Unaudited)

 
Percentage of
Sector
Net Assets
Information Technology
   
21.9
%
 
Consumer Discretionary
   
14.9
%
 
Financials
   
11.8
%
 
Health Care
   
11.6
%
 
Industrials
   
10.2
%
 
Communication Services
   
8.5
%
 
Consumer Staples
   
8.1
%
 
Energy
   
3.4
%
 
Materials
   
3.4
%
 
Real Estate
   
3.1
%
 
Utilities
   
3.0
%
 
Short-Term Investments
   
0.0
%(a)
 
Investments Purchased with Proceeds from Securities Lending
   
22.3
%
 
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets
   
(22.2
)%
 
Total
   
100.0
%
 

(a) Less than 0.05%



15

VIDENT CORE U.S. BOND STRATEGY ETF

PORTFOLIO ALLOCATION
As of August 31, 2020 (Unaudited)

 
Percentage of
Asset Type
Net Assets
U.S. Government Notes/Bonds
   
61.5
%
 
Corporate Bonds
   
25.0
%
 
Mortgage Backed Securities – U.S. Government Agency
   
11.5
%
 
U.S. Government Agency Issues
   
1.4
%
 
Short-Term Investments
   
9.8
%
 
Investments Purchased with Proceeds from Securities Lending
   
21.7
%
 
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets
   
(30.9
)%
 
Total
   
100.0
%
 





16

VIDENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020

Shares
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
COMMON STOCKS – 97.7%
     
           
   
Australia – 5.2%
     
 
178,849
 
AGL Energy Ltd.
 
$
1,957,568
 
 
77,632
 
Ansell Ltd.
   
2,220,731
 
 
1,353,197
 
Beach Energy Ltd.
   
1,521,155
 
 
80,432
 
BHP Billiton Ltd
   
2,255,025
 
 
252,148
 
BlueScope Steel Ltd.
   
2,366,387
 
 
329,120
 
Crown Resorts Ltd.
   
2,193,046
 
 
279,057
 
Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd.
   
2,730,370
 
 
183,766
 
Fortescue Metals Group Ltd.
   
2,367,457
 
 
48,943
 
JB Hi-Fi Ltd. (a)
   
1,815,586
 
 
26,962
 
Mineral Resources Ltd.
   
581,843
 
 
556,562
 
Qantas Airways Ltd.
   
1,621,730
 
 
1,496,441
 
Whitehaven Coal Ltd.
   
1,029,227
 
           
22,660,125
 
     
Belgium – 0.4%
       
 
75,325
 
Proximus SADP
   
1,494,501
 
 
1,884
 
UCB SA
   
224,234
 
           
1,718,735
 
     
Brazil – 2.2%
       
 
156,706
 
Cia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo
   
1,376,558
 
 
334,710
 
EDP – Energias do Brasil SA
   
1,143,990
 
 
311,101
 
JBS SA
   
1,269,152
 
 
787,690
 
Minerva SA/Brazil (b)
   
1,875,213
 
 
761,179
 
TIM Participacoes SA
   
1,995,252
 
 
180,695
 
Vale SA
   
1,979,249
 
           
9,639,414
 
     
Canada – 4.8%
       
 
176,014
 
Air Canada (b)
   
2,377,563
 
 
87,295
 
Canadian Solar, Inc. (b)
   
2,836,214
 
 
108,771
 
Crescent Point Energy Corporation
   
191,170
 
 
83,727
 
Empire Company Ltd. – Class A
   
2,181,612
 
 
24,533
 
George Weston Ltd.
   
1,774,239
 
 
41,507
 
Loblaw Companies Ltd.
   
2,147,425
 
 
44,227
 
Magna International, Inc.
   
2,156,107
 
 
123,370
 
Manulife Financial Corporation
   
1,821,742
 
 
79,382
 
Parex Resources, Inc. (b)
   
1,087,508
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

17

VIDENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Shares
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
COMMON STOCKS – 97.7% (Continued)
     
           
   
Canada – 4.8% (Continued)
     
 
52,744
 
Sun Life Financial, Inc.
 
$
2,203,756
 
 
53,218
 
TFI International, Inc.
   
2,355,079
 
           
21,132,415
 
     
Chile – 1.6%
       
 
24,563,150
 
Banco Santander Chile
   
946,966
 
 
13,834,109
 
Enel Americas SA
   
1,995,464
 
 
26,143,930
 
Enel Chile SA
   
2,015,817
 
 
609,651
 
Falabella SA
   
1,925,867
 
           
6,884,114
 
     
China – 4.1%
       
 
161,000
 
Anhui Conch Cement Company Ltd. – Class H
   
1,167,487
 
 
1,770,000
 
China Medical System Holdings Ltd.
   
1,998,349
 
 
1,253,000
 
China Shenhua Energy Company Ltd. – Class H
   
2,092,065
 
 
7,212,000
 
China Telecom Corporation Ltd. – Class H
   
2,363,629
 
 
1,939,000
 
CNOOC Ltd.
   
2,206,664
 
 
647,500
 
CSC Financial Company Ltd. – Class H (a) (c)
   
962,459
 
 
2,062,500
 
Great Wall Motor Company Ltd. – Class H
   
2,238,102
 
 
3,712,000
 
Lenovo Group Ltd.
   
2,481,005
 
 
688,000
 
Sinotruk Hong Kong Ltd.
   
1,788,765
 
 
696,000
 
Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Ltd. – Class H (a)
   
536,134
 
           
17,834,659
 
     
Colombia – 0.4%
       
 
2,675,758
 
Ecopetrol SA
   
1,562,651
 
               
     
Denmark – 0.6%
       
 
1,636
 
AP Moller – Maersk A/S – Class B
   
2,513,668
 
               
     
Finland – 0.5%
       
 
150,730
 
Neles Oyj
   
2,062,226
 
               
     
France – 1.2%
       
 
16,139
 
Carrefour SA
   
259,796
 
 
54,966
 
Cie de Saint-Gobain (b)
   
2,233,717
 
 
10,474
 
Cie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
   
1,185,240
 
 
57,889
 
Peugeot SA (b)
   
994,863
 
 
5,862
 
Sanofi
   
594,991
 
           
5,268,607
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

18

VIDENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Shares
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
COMMON STOCKS – 97.7% (Continued)
     
           
   
Germany – 4.7%
     
 
9,954
 
Allianz SE
 
$
2,160,890
 
 
7,021
 
Aurubis AG
   
504,979
 
 
20,144
 
Continental AG
   
2,197,107
 
 
172,124
 
Deutsche Lufthansa AG (a) (b)
   
1,797,075
 
 
124,052
 
Deutsche Telekom AG
   
2,188,298
 
 
23,712
 
Fresenius Medical Care AG & Company KGaA
   
2,015,134
 
 
12,169
 
Hannover Rueck SE
   
2,075,320
 
 
13,623
 
Hella GmbH & Company KGaA
   
667,986
 
 
7,820
 
Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft
       
     
  AG in Muenchen
   
2,260,445
 
 
15,221
 
Rheinmetall AG
   
1,411,496
 
 
12,294
 
Siltronic AG
   
1,145,946
 
 
26,391
 
Suedzucker AG
   
540,344
 
 
49,304
 
Uniper SE
   
1,617,994
 
           
20,583,014
 
     
Hong Kong – 6.5%
       
 
314,500
 
China Mobile Ltd.
   
2,197,399
 
 
1,642,000
 
China Resources Cement Holdings Ltd.
   
2,394,096
 
 
1,212,800
 
China Taiping Insurance Holdings Company Ltd.
   
1,927,923
 
 
4,242,000
 
China Traditional Chinese Medicine
       
     
  Holdings Company Ltd.
   
1,811,709
 
 
3,900,000
 
China Unicom Hong Kong Ltd.
   
2,762,656
 
 
391,000
 
CK Asset Holdings Ltd.
   
2,123,972
 
 
669,000
 
Haier Electronics Group Company Ltd.
   
2,291,820
 
 
2,564,000
 
Kunlun Energy Company Ltd.
   
1,912,211
 
 
2,172,000
 
Nine Dragons Paper Holdings Ltd. (a)
   
2,410,173
 
 
533,500
 
Shimao Property Holdings Ltd.
   
2,402,424
 
 
1,800,000
 
Sino Land Company Ltd.
   
2,097,250
 
 
1,503,000
 
Sun Art Retail Group Ltd. (a)
   
1,958,711
 
 
2,485,000
 
WH Group Ltd. (c)
   
2,145,075
 
           
28,435,419
 
     
India – 0.0% (d)
       
 
14,597
 
Tata Motors Ltd. – ADR (b)
   
142,175
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

19

VIDENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Shares
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
COMMON STOCKS – 97.7% (Continued)
     
           
   
Indonesia – 2.1%
     
 
1,533,600
 
Astra International Tbk PT
 
$
537,089
 
 
5,349,200
 
Bank Mandiri Persero Tbk PT
   
2,185,596
 
 
6,759,900
 
Bank Negara Indonesia Persero Tbk PT
   
2,367,416
 
 
25,555,500
 
Perusahaan Gas Negara Persero Tbk PT
   
2,202,380
 
 
10,340,100
 
Telekomunikasi Indonesian Persero Tbk PT
   
2,030,742
 
           
9,323,223
 
     
Ireland – 1.0%
       
 
16,803
 
Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC (b)
   
2,258,155
 
 
37,946
 
Perrigo Company PLC (a)
   
1,984,576
 
           
4,242,731
 
     
Israel – 1.3%
       
 
653,354
 
Israel Discount Bank Ltd.
   
2,097,438
 
 
41,238
 
Plus500 Ltd.
   
805,324
 
 
185,393
 
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (a) (b)
   
1,773,312
 
 
38,259
 
Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (b)
   
753,252
 
           
5,429,326
 
     
Italy – 0.5%
       
 
97,038
 
Assicurazioni Generali SpA
   
1,509,256
 
 
234,295
 
UnipolSai Assicurazioni SpA
   
673,609
 
           
2,182,865
 
     
Japan – 7.3%
       
 
100,400
 
Alfresa Holdings Corporation
   
2,016,616
 
 
89,800
 
Dai Nippon Printing Company Ltd.
   
1,908,710
 
 
28,000
 
Daiwabo Holdings Company Ltd.
   
1,684,568
 
 
16,000
 
Fujitsu Ltd.
   
2,085,153
 
 
45,300
 
Kaken Pharmaceutical Company Ltd.
   
2,093,168
 
 
131,800
 
Kinden Corporation
   
2,175,020
 
 
159,900
 
K’s Holdings Corporation
   
2,266,299
 
 
886,300
 
Mebuki Financial Group, Inc.
   
2,147,948
 
 
113,100
 
Medipal Holdings Corporation
   
2,161,853
 
 
105,000
 
Mixi, Inc. (a)
   
2,324,862
 
 
38,000
 
NEC Corporation
   
2,003,112
 
 
49,800
 
Otsuka Holdings Company Ltd.
   
2,186,983
 
 
165,700
 
Seino Holdings Company Ltd.
   
2,532,884
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

20

VIDENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Shares
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
COMMON STOCKS – 97.7% (Continued)
     
           
   
Japan – 7.3% (Continued)
     
 
4,500
 
Sekisui House Ltd.
 
$
88,943
 
 
100,400
 
Showa Corporation
   
2,152,950
 
 
29,100
 
Sugi Holdings Company Ltd.
   
2,099,250
 
           
31,928,319
 
     
Malaysia – 1.4%
       
 
884,500
 
Genting Bhd
   
745,311
 
 
1,165,400
 
MISC Bhd
   
2,129,083
 
 
3,118,900
 
Sime Darby Bhd
   
1,639,753
 
 
637,900
 
Tenaga Nasional Bhd
   
1,663,088
 
           
6,177,235
 
     
Mexico – 1.6%
       
 
3,251,858
 
America Movil SAB de CV – Series L
   
1,976,136
 
 
440,077
 
Arca Continental SAB de CV
   
2,000,112
 
 
170,572
 
Gruma SAB de CV
   
2,014,661
 
 
315,035
 
Grupo Mexico SAB de CV
   
840,631
 
           
6,831,540
 
     
Netherlands – 2.2%
       
 
32,130
 
EXOR NV
   
1,898,227
 
 
73,726
 
Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV
   
2,223,701
 
 
118,178
 
Mylan NV (a) (b)
   
1,935,756
 
 
57,712
 
NN Group NV
   
2,177,590
 
 
46,331
 
Signify NV (b) (c)
   
1,550,905
 
           
9,786,179
 
     
Norway – 4.9%
       
 
138,527
 
Equinor ASA
   
2,260,362
 
 
53,305
 
Gjensidige Forsikring ASA (b)
   
1,143,128
 
 
375,139
 
Leroy Seafood Group ASA
   
2,387,091
 
 
757,251
 
Norsk Hydro ASA (b)
   
2,433,710
 
 
222,108
 
Orkla ASA
   
2,275,852
 
 
46,668
 
Salmar ASA (b)
   
2,546,358
 
 
321,771
 
Storebrand ASA (b)
   
1,989,656
 
 
132,199
 
Telenor ASA
   
2,164,724
 
 
99,157
 
TGS NOPEC Geophysical Company ASA
   
1,298,593
 
 
17,673
 
TOMRA Systems ASA (b)
   
862,470
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

21

VIDENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Shares
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
COMMON STOCKS – 97.7% (Continued)
     
           
   
Norway – 4.9% (Continued)
     
 
51,158
 
Yara International ASA
 
$
2,157,620
 
           
21,519,564
 
     
Poland – 0.5%
       
 
61,462
 
KGHM Polska Miedz SA (b)
   
2,292,752
 
               
     
Republic of Korea – 7.7%
       
 
30,502
 
Daelim Industrial Company Ltd.
   
2,231,353
 
 
55,776
 
Dongbu Insurance Company Ltd.
   
2,049,518
 
 
345,606
 
Doosan Infracore Company Ltd. (b)
   
2,339,147
 
 
33,782
 
DoubleUGames Company Ltd.
   
2,078,849
 
 
97,213
 
GS Engineering & Construction Corporation
   
2,021,350
 
 
101,429
 
Hankook Tire & Technology Company Ltd.
   
2,518,861
 
 
74,422
 
Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company Ltd.
   
2,020,464
 
 
12,635
 
Hyundai Mobis Company Ltd.
   
2,382,557
 
 
68,674
 
Kia Motors Corporation
   
2,454,088
 
 
29,351
 
Kumho Petrochemical Company Ltd.
   
2,483,185
 
 
34,936
 
LG Electronics, Inc.
   
2,476,312
 
 
16,377
 
LG Innotek Company Ltd.
   
1,999,045
 
 
225,554
 
LG Uplus Corporation
   
2,269,021
 
 
7,044
 
NongShim Company Ltd.
   
2,131,760
 
 
9,825
 
Samsung Electronics Company Ltd.
   
446,628
 
 
11,389
 
Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Company Ltd.
   
1,792,864
 
           
33,695,002
 
     
Russian Federation – 1.9%
       
 
420,578
 
Gazprom PJSC – ADR
   
2,048,215
 
 
12,833
 
LUKOIL PJSC – ADR
   
875,852
 
 
36,810
 
Magnit PJSC – GDR (e)
   
540,003
 
 
236,927
 
Mobile TeleSystems PJSC – ADR (a)
   
2,208,159
 
 
22,746
 
Novolipetsk Steel PJSC – GDR (e)
   
476,756
 
 
165,602
 
Rosneft Oil Company PJSC – GDR (e)
   
841,258
 
 
27,839
 
Severstal PJSC – GDR (e)
   
351,885
 
 
22,332
 
Tatneft PJSC – ADR (b)
   
997,794
 
           
8,339,922
 
     
Singapore – 6.7%
       
 
320,900
 
City Developments Ltd.
   
1,895,283
 
 
2,161,500
 
ComfortDelGro Corporation Ltd.
   
2,352,913
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

22

VIDENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Shares
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
COMMON STOCKS – 97.7% (Continued)
     
           
   
Singapore – 6.7% (Continued)
     
 
99,600
 
DBS Group Holdings Ltd.
 
$
1,528,870
 
 
184,056
 
Flex Ltd. (b)
   
1,998,848
 
 
3,741,700
 
Genting Singapore Ltd.
   
1,926,442
 
 
146,000
 
Jardine Cycle & Carriage Ltd.
   
2,034,937
 
 
95,100
 
Keppel DC REIT (f)
   
203,546
 
 
39,867
 
Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc.
   
956,011
 
 
1,175,700
 
NetLink NBN Trust (e)
   
838,797
 
 
331,900
 
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Ltd.
   
2,116,485
 
 
956,800
 
Sembcorp Industries Ltd.
   
1,315,987
 
 
826,000
 
Singapore Airlines Ltd.
   
2,217,490
 
 
356,600
 
Singapore Exchange Ltd.
   
2,258,257
 
 
147,619
 
United Overseas Bank Ltd.
   
2,123,733
 
 
198,800
 
UOL Group Ltd.
   
960,662
 
 
174,100
 
Venture Corporation Ltd.
   
2,541,840
 
 
690,500
 
Wilmar International Ltd.
   
2,214,313
 
           
29,484,414
 
     
South Africa – 2.6%
       
 
246,614
 
Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd. (b)
   
1,977,861
 
 
525,406
 
Barloworld Ltd.
   
1,854,602
 
 
257,320
 
Exxaro Resources Ltd.
   
2,083,622
 
 
64,045
 
Kumba Iron Ore Ltd. (a)
   
2,007,402
 
 
329,248
 
MultiChoice Group (b)
   
1,883,028
 
 
1,184,215
 
Telkom SA SOC Ltd.
   
1,586,759
 
           
11,393,274
 
     
Spain – 0.3%
       
 
104,146
 
Mapfre SA
   
197,790
 
 
162,567
 
Repsol SA
   
1,287,455
 
           
1,485,245
 
     
Sweden – 4.8%
       
 
75,062
 
Boliden AB
   
2,244,476
 
 
87,011
 
Getinge AB – Class B
   
1,937,961
 
 
221,959
 
Husqvarna AB – Class B
   
2,418,531
 
 
43,405
 
ICA Gruppen AB
   
2,134,783
 
 
35,688
 
Investor AB – Class B
   
2,281,563
 
 
214,345
 
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB – Class A (b)
   
2,130,788
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

23

VIDENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Shares
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
COMMON STOCKS – 97.7% (Continued)
     
           
   
Sweden – 4.8% (Continued)
     
 
102,410
 
Skanska AB – Class B (b)
 
$
2,092,144
 
 
109,969
 
SKF AB – Class B
   
2,200,668
 
 
102,943
 
Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (b)
   
2,312,501
 
 
116,996
 
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson – Class B
   
1,359,874
 
           
21,113,289
 
     
Switzerland – 4.9%
       
 
41,099
 
Adecco Group AG
   
2,157,076
 
 
13,845
 
Baloise Holding AG
   
2,160,278
 
 
16,194
 
Chubb Ltd.
   
2,024,250
 
 
78,280
 
Dufry AG (b)
   
2,362,005
 
 
127,416
 
Ferrexpo PLC
   
314,595
 
 
796,156
 
Glencore PLC
   
1,803,490
 
 
10,654
 
Helvetia Holding AG
   
1,006,300
 
 
25,512
 
Novartis AG
   
2,211,068
 
 
6,162
 
Roche Holding AG
   
2,160,413
 
 
18,582
 
STMicroelectronics NV
   
560,242
 
 
5,703
 
Swiss Life Holding AG
   
2,310,461
 
 
26,577
 
Swiss Re AG
   
2,143,987
 
           
21,214,165
 
     
Taiwan – 5.0%
       
 
295,000
 
Asustek Computer, Inc.
   
2,443,127
 
 
728,000
 
Chicony Electronics Company Ltd.
   
2,195,798
 
 
3,439,000
 
Compal Electronics Ltd.
   
2,168,311
 
 
831,000
 
Hon Hai Precision Industry Company Ltd.
   
2,177,936
 
 
2,585,000
 
Inventec Corporation
   
2,004,286
 
 
1,386,000
 
Lite-On Technology Corporation
   
2,191,790
 
 
351,000
 
Radiant Opto-Electronics Corporation
   
1,291,958
 
 
408,000
 
Sino-American Silicon Products, Inc.
   
1,340,463
 
 
2,908,000
 
United Microelectronics Corporation
   
2,101,106
 
 
1,898,000
 
Wistron Corporation
   
2,063,500
 
 
493,000
 
Zhen Ding Technology Holding Ltd.
   
2,066,663
 
           
22,044,938
 
     
Thailand – 4.1%
       
 
2,065,300
 
Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL – NVDR
   
2,140,121
 
 
794,800
 
Kasikornbank PCL – NVDR
   
2,151,559
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

24

VIDENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Shares
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
COMMON STOCKS – 97.7% (Continued)
     
           
   
Thailand – 4.1% (Continued)
     
 
3,691,800
 
Krung Thai Bank PCL – NVDR
 
$
1,132,836
 
 
730,900
 
PTT Exploration & Production PCL – NVDR
   
2,090,131
 
 
1,770,170
 
PTT PCL – NVDR
   
2,047,590
 
 
2,770,800
 
Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL – NVDR (a) (b)
   
2,314,750
 
 
5,086,300
 
Thai Union Group PCL – NVDR
   
2,304,340
 
 
1,497,600
 
Thanachart Capital PCL – NVDR
   
1,551,855
 
 
963,400
 
The Siam Commercial Bank PCL – NVDR
   
2,244,245
 
           
17,977,427
 
     
Turkey – 0.0% (d)
       
 
1
 
Yapi ve Kredi Bankasi AS (b)
   
0
 
               
     
United Kingdom – 4.7%
       
 
38,189
 
Dialog Semiconductor PLC (b)
   
1,657,432
 
 
201,171
 
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (b)
   
2,220,878
 
 
891,746
 
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA
   
2,582,643
 
 
615,808
 
J Sainsbury PLC
   
1,515,505
 
 
95,985
 
Janus Henderson Group PLC
   
1,988,809
 
 
627,080
 
Kingfisher PLC
   
2,269,528
 
 
29,237
 
Rio Tinto Ltd.
   
2,118,984
 
 
27,679
 
Rio Tinto PLC
   
1,717,777
 
 
366,185
 
Royal Mail PLC
   
880,099
 
 
906,352
 
Taylor Wimpey PLC
   
1,486,619
 
 
1,311,420
 
Vodafone Group PLC
   
1,956,814
 
           
20,395,088
 
     
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $445,277,724)
   
427,293,720
 
         
PREFERRED STOCKS – 1.5%
       
               
     
Brazil – 0.9%
       
 
170,308
 
Cia Paranaense de Energia
   
1,941,844
 
 
222,922
 
Telefonica Brasil SA
   
1,963,505
 
           
3,905,349
 
     
Germany – 0.6%
       
 
53,803
 
Schaeffler AG
   
362,586
 
 
12,509
 
Volkswagen AG (b)
   
2,084,534
 
           
2,447,120
 
     
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS (Cost $8,083,964)
   
6,352,469
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

25

VIDENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Principal
         
Amount
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS – 0.2%
     
           
   
Money Market Deposit Account – 0.2%
     
$
768,206
 
U.S. Bank Money Market
     
     
  Deposit Account, 0.040% (g)
 
$
768,206
 
     
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
       
     
  (Cost $768,206)
   
768,206
 
             
Units
           
INVESTMENTS PURCHASED WITH PROCEEDS
       
  FROM SECURITIES LENDING – 2.4%
       
               
     
Private Funds – 1.1%
       
 
4,956,305
 
Mount Vernon Liquid Assets
       
     
  Portfolio, LLC, 0.210% (h)
   
4,956,305
 
           
4,956,305
 
Principal
           
Amount
           
     
Repurchase Agreements – 1.3%
       
$
1,324,289
 
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. – 0.090%, dated
       
     
  08/31/20, matures 09/01/20, repurchase price
       
     
  $1,324,292 (collateralized by various U.S. Government
       
     
  obligations: Total Value $1,350,775)
   
1,324,289
 
 
1,324,289
 
HSBC Securities, Inc. – 0.080%, dated 08/31/20,
       
     
  matures 09/01/20, repurchase price
       
     
  $1,324,292 (collateralized by various U.S. Government
       
     
  obligations: Total Value $1,350,775)
   
1,324,289
 
 
1,324,289
 
MUFG Securities International, Inc. – 0.090%, dated
       
     
  08/31/20, matures 09/01/20, repurchase price
       
     
  $1,324,292 (collateralized by various U.S. Government
       
     
  obligations: Total Value $1,350,775)
   
1,324,289
 
 
392,557
 
Nomura Securities International, Inc. – 0.090%, dated
       
     
  08/31/20, matures 09/01/20, repurchase price
       
     
  $392,558 (collateralized by various U.S. Government
       
     
  obligations: Total Value $400,408)
   
392,557
 



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

26

VIDENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Principal
         
Amount
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
INVESTMENTS PURCHASED WITH PROCEEDS
     
  FROM SECURITIES LENDING – 2.4% (Continued)
     
           
   
Repurchase Agreements – 1.3% (Continued)
     
$
1,324,289
 
RBC Dominion Securities, Inc. – 0.090%, dated
     
     
  08/31/20, matures 09/01/20, repurchase price
     
     
  $1,324,292 (collateralized by various U.S. Government
     
     
  obligations: Total Value $1,350,775)
 
$
1,324,289
 
           
5,689,713
 
     
TOTAL INVESTMENTS PURCHASED WITH
       
     
  PROCEEDS FROM SECURITIES LENDING
       
     
  (Cost $10,646,018) (i)
   
10,646,018
 
     
TOTAL INVESTMENTS – 101.8%
       
     
  (Cost $464,775,912)
   
445,060,413
 
     
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets – (1.8)%
   
(7,759,333
)
     
NET ASSETS – 100.0%
 
$
437,301,080
 

Percentages are stated as a percent of net assets.
(a)
 
All or a portion of this security is out on loan as of August 31, 2020. Total value of securities out on loan is $10,204,225 or 2.3% of net assets.
(b)
 
Non-income producing security.
(c)
 
Security exempt from registration under Rule 144(a) and Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933. Such securities are treated as liquid securities, according to the Fund’s liquidity guidelines. At August 31, 2020, the value of these securities amounted to $4,658,439 or 1.1% of net assets.
(d)
 
Less than 0.05%.
(e)
 
Security exempt from registration under Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933. Such securities are treated as liquid securities, according to the Fund’s liquidity guidelines. At August 31, 2020, the value of these securities amounted to $3,048,699 or 0.7% of net assets.
(f)
 
Real Estate Investment Trust.
(g)
 
The Money Market Deposit Account (the “MMDA”) is a short-term investment vehicle in which the Fund holds cash balances. The MMDA will bear interest at a variable rate that is determined based on conditions and may change daily and by any amount. The rate shown is as of August 31, 2020.
(h)
 
Annualized seven-day yield as of August 31, 2020.
(i)
 
Investments purchased with cash proceeds from securities lending. As of August 31, 2020, total cash collateral has a value of $10,646,018. Additionally, total non-cash collateral has a value of $302,184.
ADR – American Depositary Receipt
GDR – Global Depositary Receipt
NVDR – Non-Voting Depositary Receipt



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

27

VIDENT CORE U.S. EQUITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020

Shares
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
COMMON STOCKS – 99.9%
     
           
   
Communication Services – 8.5%
     
 
896
 
Alphabet, Inc. – Class A (a)
 
$
1,460,059
 
 
64,583
 
AMC Networks, Inc. – Class A (a) (b)
   
1,568,721
 
 
52,445
 
AT&T, Inc. (b)
   
1,563,385
 
 
157,441
 
CenturyLink, Inc. (b)
   
1,692,491
 
 
2,774
 
Charter Communications, Inc. – Class A (a) (b)
   
1,707,702
 
 
41,163
 
Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (b)
   
603,038
 
 
36,035
 
Comcast Corporation – Class A
   
1,614,728
 
 
11,553
 
Electronic Arts, Inc. (a)
   
1,611,297
 
 
60,493
 
Fox Corporation – Class A (b)
   
1,685,335
 
 
70,019
 
Liberty Latin America Ltd. – Class C (a)
   
667,981
 
 
113,951
 
Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation – Class A (a) (b)
   
1,109,883
 
 
13,327
 
Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corporation (a)
   
1,001,791
 
 
122,508
 
News Corporation – Class A
   
1,852,321
 
 
28,487
 
Omnicom Group, Inc. (b)
   
1,540,862
 
 
64,822
 
Telephone & Data Systems, Inc.
   
1,499,333
 
 
84,578
 
The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.
   
1,502,105
 
 
14,898
 
T-Mobile US, Inc. (a)
   
1,738,299
 
 
14,172
 
United States Cellular Corporation (a)
   
515,577
 
 
27,087
 
Verizon Communications, Inc.
   
1,605,446
 
 
66,090
 
Yelp, Inc. (a) (b)
   
1,528,001
 
           
28,068,355
 
     
Consumer Discretionary – 14.9%
       
 
38,247
 
Adtalem Global Education, Inc. (a)
   
1,269,800
 
 
15,039
 
Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (a)
   
1,590,976
 
 
28,540
 
AutoNation, Inc. (a) (b)
   
1,622,784
 
 
38,361
 
Big Lots, Inc. (b)
   
1,808,721
 
 
40,444
 
BorgWarner, Inc. (b)
   
1,641,622
 
 
39,171
 
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (b)
   
1,354,142
 
 
59,186
 
General Motors Company
   
1,753,681
 
 
17,343
 
Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (b)
   
1,499,129
 
 
40,392
 
Hanesbrands, Inc. (b)
   
617,594
 
 
23,830
 
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. – Class A
   
754,220
 
 
46,301
 
KB Home
   
1,655,724
 
 
34,890
 
Kohl’s Corporation (b)
   
745,250
 
 
30,980
 
La-Z-Boy, Inc.
   
1,006,850
 
 
13,341
 
Lear Corporation
   
1,519,940
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

28

VIDENT CORE U.S. EQUITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Shares
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
COMMON STOCKS – 99.9% (Continued)
     
           
   
Consumer Discretionary – 14.9% (Continued)
     
 
22,125
 
Lennar Corporation – Class A
 
$
1,655,393
 
 
6,982
 
Lithia Motors, Inc. – Class A (b)
   
1,738,239
 
 
55,388
 
LKQ Corporation (a)
   
1,758,015
 
 
15,918
 
Meritage Homes Corporation (a)
   
1,528,606
 
 
18,289
 
Mohawk Industries, Inc. (a)
   
1,688,623
 
 
11,692
 
Murphy USA, Inc. (a)
   
1,576,783
 
 
109,500
 
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (a) (b)
   
1,873,545
 
 
72,251
 
Perdoceo Education Corporation (a)
   
1,038,247
 
 
35,804
 
PulteGroup, Inc.
   
1,596,500
 
 
47,033
 
Rent-A-Center, Inc.
   
1,443,913
 
 
12,630
 
Target Corporation
   
1,909,782
 
 
223,845
 
The Michaels Company, Inc. (a) (b)
   
2,518,256
 
 
70,361
 
The ODP Corporation (b)
   
1,645,040
 
 
12,274
 
TopBuild Corporation (a)
   
1,887,741
 
 
92,739
 
TRI Pointe Group, Inc. (a)
   
1,565,434
 
 
64,463
 
Urban Outfitters, Inc. (a) (b)
   
1,517,459
 
 
9,574
 
Whirlpool Corporation (b)
   
1,701,491
 
 
18,648
 
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (b)
   
1,636,549
 
           
49,120,049
 
     
Consumer Staples – 8.1%
       
 
37,711
 
BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (a) (b)
   
1,674,745
 
 
9,560
 
Casey’s General Stores, Inc.
   
1,700,246
 
 
56,416
 
Darling Ingredients, Inc. (a)
   
1,803,620
 
 
52,980
 
Edgewell Personal Care Company (a) (b)
   
1,521,056
 
 
17,837
 
Fresh Del Monte Produce, Inc. (b)
   
413,640
 
 
23,568
 
General Mills, Inc.
   
1,507,174
 
 
17,707
 
Ingredion, Inc. (b)
   
1,424,351
 
 
42,871
 
Molson Coors Brewing Company – Class B
   
1,613,664
 
 
35,870
 
Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (b)
   
1,695,575
 
 
64,689
 
Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation (a)
   
1,035,024
 
 
14,643
 
PriceSmart, Inc.
   
962,777
 
 
57,627
 
Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (a)
   
1,345,590
 
 
14,250
 
The JM Smucker Company (b)
   
1,712,565
 
 
44,198
 
The Kroger Company
   
1,576,985
 
 
25,636
 
Tyson Foods, Inc. – Class A
   
1,609,941
 
 
77,313
 
United Natural Foods, Inc. (a) (b)
   
1,395,500
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

29

VIDENT CORE U.S. EQUITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Shares
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
COMMON STOCKS – 99.9% (Continued)
     
           
   
Consumer Staples – 8.1% (Continued)
     
 
14,245
 
Universal Corporation
 
$
618,375
 
 
19,271
 
USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (a)
   
1,511,039
 
 
11,819
 
Walmart, Inc.
   
1,641,068
 
           
26,762,935
 
     
Energy – 3.4%
       
 
85,226
 
Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation
   
1,616,737
 
 
17,473
 
Chevron Corporation (b)
   
1,466,509
 
 
39,967
 
ConocoPhillips
   
1,514,350
 
 
112,669
 
EQT Corporation
   
1,788,057
 
 
41,090
 
HollyFrontier Corporation (b)
   
980,818
 
 
60,630
 
Marathon Oil Corporation (b)
   
320,126
 
 
253,802
 
Range Resources Corporation
   
1,893,363
 
 
632,946
 
Southwestern Energy Company (a) (b)
   
1,759,590
 
           
11,339,550
 
     
Financials – 11.8%
       
 
22,363
 
Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (b)
   
1,535,220
 
 
10,737
 
Aflac, Inc.
   
389,968
 
 
10,108
 
Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (b)
   
1,584,934
 
 
14,692
 
Assurant, Inc. (b)
   
1,785,960
 
 
101,044
 
CNO Financial Group, Inc.
   
1,647,017
 
 
48,442
 
Federated Hermes, Inc.
   
1,158,248
 
 
29,745
 
First American Financial Corporation
   
1,563,695
 
 
17,734
 
Globe Life, Inc.
   
1,462,700
 
 
30,490
 
Green Dot Corporation (a)
   
1,587,309
 
 
94,598
 
Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.
   
1,659,249
 
 
20,352
 
LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.
   
1,672,120
 
 
28,689
 
Mercury General Corporation
   
1,283,259
 
 
41,423
 
Metlife, Inc. (b)
   
1,593,129
 
 
79,835
 
Old Republic International Corporation
   
1,286,142
 
 
38,384
 
OneMain Holdings, Inc.
   
1,116,207
 
 
11,903
 
Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.
   
1,091,267
 
 
33,328
 
Stifel Financial Corporation (b)
   
1,690,063
 
 
67,465
 
Synchrony Financial (b)
   
1,673,807
 
 
16,876
 
The Allstate Corporation
   
1,569,468
 
 
13,384
 
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.
   
1,371,726
 
 
38,494
 
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
   
1,557,082
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

30

VIDENT CORE U.S. EQUITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Shares
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
COMMON STOCKS – 99.9% (Continued)
     
           
   
Financials – 11.8% (Continued)
     
 
17,812
 
The Progressive Corporation
 
$
1,692,853
 
 
13,537
 
The Travelers Companies, Inc. (b)
   
1,570,833
 
 
51,411
 
Unum Group
   
950,075
 
 
31,855
 
Voya Financial, Inc.
   
1,653,593
 
 
106,213
 
Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (b)
   
1,672,855
 
 
18,215
 
Walker & Dunlop, Inc.
   
997,818
 
           
38,816,597
 
     
Health Care – 11.6%
       
 
16,099
 
AbbVie, Inc.
   
1,541,801
 
 
14,800
 
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)
   
1,690,456
 
 
15,249
 
AmerisourceBergen Corporation
   
1,479,610
 
 
6,101
 
Amgen, Inc.
   
1,545,505
 
 
5,872
 
Anthem, Inc.
   
1,653,085
 
 
5,555
 
Biogen, Inc. (a)
   
1,597,840
 
 
27,521
 
Cardinal Health, Inc.
   
1,396,966
 
 
8,974
 
Cigna Corporation
   
1,591,718
 
 
24,610
 
CVS Health Corporation
   
1,528,773
 
 
17,696
 
DaVita, Inc. (a)
   
1,535,305
 
 
21,119
 
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
   
1,409,693
 
 
12,562
 
HCA Healthcare, Inc. (b)
   
1,704,915
 
 
23,628
 
Henry Schein, Inc. (a)
   
1,569,844
 
 
4,027
 
Humana, Inc.
   
1,671,890
 
 
7,923
 
Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (a)
   
1,392,467
 
 
11,430
 
Magellan Health, Inc. (a)
   
862,508
 
 
10,119
 
McKesson Corporation (b)
   
1,552,659
 
 
69,724
 
MEDNAX, Inc. (a)
   
1,295,472
 
 
19,539
 
Merck & Company, Inc.
   
1,666,091
 
 
8,579
 
Molina Healthcare, Inc. (a)
   
1,586,858
 
 
62,085
 
Patterson Companies, Inc. (b)
   
1,801,086
 
 
39,900
 
Pfizer, Inc.
   
1,507,821
 
 
40,685
 
Prestige Consumer Healthcare, Inc. (a)
   
1,482,155
 
 
12,612
 
Quest Diagnostics, Inc.
   
1,402,959
 
 
10,406
 
Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b)
   
228,828
 
 
5,192
 
UnitedHealth Group, Inc.
   
1,622,760
 
           
38,319,065
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

31

VIDENT CORE U.S. EQUITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Shares
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
COMMON STOCKS – 99.9% (Continued)
     
           
   
Industrials – 10.2%
     
 
23,659
 
Arcosa, Inc.
 
$
1,095,175
 
 
27,790
 
BMC Stock Holdings, Inc. (a)
   
1,109,377
 
 
69,666
 
Builders FirstSource, Inc. (a) (b)
   
2,133,173
 
 
7,984
 
Cummins, Inc.
   
1,654,684
 
 
20,599
 
EMCOR Group, Inc.
   
1,545,131
 
 
39,062
 
GMS, Inc. (a)
   
1,034,752
 
 
25,390
 
Hub Group, Inc. – Class A (a)
   
1,366,998
 
 
36,011
 
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.
   
1,637,060
 
 
21,987
 
ManpowerGroup, Inc.
   
1,611,867
 
 
31,616
 
MasTec, Inc. (a) (b)
   
1,460,975
 
 
19,616
 
Oshkosh Corporation
   
1,510,628
 
 
25,422
 
Owens Corning
   
1,719,544
 
 
18,222
 
PACCAR, Inc.
   
1,564,177
 
 
39,390
 
Quanta Services, Inc.
   
2,018,738
 
 
16,994
 
Regal Beloit Corporation
   
1,680,027
 
 
11,002
 
Saia, Inc. (a) (b)
   
1,476,468
 
 
58,159
 
Schneider National, Inc. – Class B
   
1,573,783
 
 
24,198
 
SkyWest, Inc.
   
814,263
 
 
27,584
 
UFP Industries, Inc.
   
1,637,110
 
 
8,265
 
UniFirst Corporation
   
1,592,004
 
 
9,835
 
United Rentals, Inc. (a)
   
1,741,287
 
 
36,548
 
Werner Enterprises, Inc.
   
1,681,573
 
           
33,658,794
 
     
Information Technology – 21.9%
       
 
36,195
 
Alliance Data Systems Corporation
   
1,632,756
 
 
25,943
 
Amdocs Ltd.
   
1,588,490
 
 
91,420
 
Amkor Technology, Inc. (a)
   
1,114,867
 
 
23,237
 
Arrow Electronics, Inc. (a)
   
1,825,499
 
 
59,727
 
Avnet, Inc.
   
1,643,090
 
 
27,402
 
Belden, Inc. (b)
   
922,899
 
 
6,932
 
CACI International, Inc. (a)
   
1,623,405
 
 
41,464
 
Cardtronics PLC (a) (b)
   
900,183
 
 
39,701
 
Cerence, Inc. (a) (b)
   
2,112,093
 
 
27,038
 
Ciena Corporation (a)
   
1,534,947
 
 
6,749
 
Cirrus Logic, Inc. (a)
   
408,922
 
 
33,645
 
Cisco Systems, Inc.
   
1,420,492
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

32

VIDENT CORE U.S. EQUITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Shares
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
COMMON STOCKS – 99.9% (Continued)
     
           
   
Information Technology – 21.9% (Continued)
     
 
24,858
 
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation
 
$
1,662,006
 
 
51,491
 
Corning, Inc.
   
1,671,398
 
 
14,324
 
CSG Systems International, Inc.
   
609,773
 
 
26,228
 
Dell Technologies, Inc. – Class C (a)
   
1,733,146
 
 
21,793
 
Diodes, Inc. (a)
   
1,064,806
 
 
33,120
 
EchoStar Corporation – Class A (a)
   
973,066
 
 
26,379
 
First Solar, Inc. (a) (b)
   
2,020,368
 
 
40,390
 
FormFactor, Inc. (a)
   
1,055,391
 
 
164,250
 
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company
   
1,588,297
 
 
93,238
 
HP, Inc.
   
1,822,803
 
 
31,623
 
Intel Corporation (b)
   
1,611,192
 
 
12,510
 
International Business Machines Corporation (b)
   
1,542,608
 
 
47,589
 
Jabil, Inc.
   
1,625,164
 
 
64,184
 
Juniper Networks, Inc. (b)
   
1,604,600
 
 
70,745
 
KBR, Inc.
   
1,767,918
 
 
17,267
 
Leidos Holdings, Inc. (b)
   
1,562,491
 
 
17,208
 
ManTech International Corporation – Class A
   
1,288,019
 
 
21,406
 
MAXIMUS, Inc.
   
1,660,035
 
 
31,086
 
Micron Technology, Inc. (a)
   
1,414,724
 
 
36,253
 
NetApp, Inc. (b)
   
1,718,030
 
 
45,303
 
NETGEAR, Inc. (a)
   
1,510,855
 
 
37,701
 
NetScout Systems, Inc. (a) (b)
   
872,401
 
 
58,318
 
Nuance Communications, Inc. (a) (b)
   
1,747,207
 
 
9,955
 
OSI Systems, Inc. (a) (b)
   
783,956
 
 
62,504
 
Perspecta, Inc.
   
1,298,208
 
 
21,669
 
Plexus Corporation (a)
   
1,648,361
 
 
13,732
 
Qorvo, Inc. (a)
   
1,761,404
 
 
17,219
 
QUALCOMM, Inc.
   
2,050,783
 
 
47,448
 
Sanmina Corporation (a) (b)
   
1,342,778
 
 
19,820
 
Sykes Enterprises, Inc. (a)
   
656,141
 
 
20,066
 
Synaptics, Inc. (a) (b)
   
1,712,232
 
 
12,827
 
SYNNEX Corporation
   
1,630,953
 
 
17,898
 
Teradyne, Inc.
   
1,520,793
 
 
90,830
 
TTM Technologies, Inc. (a) (b)
   
1,040,912
 
 
69,327
 
Western Union Company (b)
   
1,635,424
 
 
103,520
 
Xerox Holdings Corporation
   
1,952,387
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

33

VIDENT CORE U.S. EQUITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Shares
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
COMMON STOCKS – 99.9% (Continued)
     
           
   
Information Technology – 21.9% (Continued)
     
 
60,465
 
Xperi Holding Corporation (b)
 
$
757,626
 
 
5,743
 
Zebra Technologies Corporation (a) (b)
   
1,645,542
 
           
72,291,441
 
     
Materials – 3.4%
       
 
30,929
 
Boise Cascade Company
   
1,416,548
 
 
78,403
 
Commercial Metals Company
   
1,636,271
 
 
50,396
 
Domtar Corporation
   
1,437,294
 
 
5,544
 
Eastman Chemical Company
   
405,322
 
 
36,616
 
Nucor Corporation
   
1,664,563
 
 
15,533
 
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Company
   
1,628,946
 
 
56,974
 
Steel Dynamics, Inc.
   
1,681,872
 
 
45,837
 
WestRock Company
   
1,390,236
 
           
11,261,052
 
     
Real Estate – 3.1%
       
 
115,357
 
Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc.
   
1,173,181
 
 
37,207
 
CBRE Group, Inc. (a)
   
1,749,845
 
 
109,412
 
CoreCivic, Inc.
   
1,018,626
 
 
48,842
 
Equity Commonwealth
   
1,533,150
 
 
100,815
 
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (b)
   
1,132,152
 
 
5,691
 
Lexington Realty Trust
   
64,707
 
 
169,750
 
Realogy Holdings Corporation (b)
   
1,880,830
 
 
137,747
 
Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc.
   
1,147,433
 
 
62,150
 
Xenia Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
   
558,107
 
           
10,258,031
 
     
Utilities – 3.0%
       
 
7,927
 
Avangrid, Inc. (b)
   
380,813
 
 
41,008
 
Exelon Corporation
   
1,513,605
 
 
37,219
 
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.
   
1,288,150
 
 
32,208
 
MDU Resources Group, Inc.
   
760,753
 
 
37,557
 
National Fuel Gas Company
   
1,714,101
 
 
46,149
 
NRG Energy, Inc. (b)
   
1,587,987
 
 
29,994
 
Portland General Electric Company
   
1,144,271
 
 
85,507
 
Vistra Energy Corporation
   
1,644,300
 
           
10,033,980
 
     
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $327,268,594)
   
329,929,849
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

34

VIDENT CORE U.S. EQUITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Principal
         
Amount
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS – 0.0% (c)
     
           
   
Money Market Deposit Account – 0.0% (c)
     
$
129,632
 
U.S. Bank Money Market
     
     
  Deposit Account, 0.040% (d)
 
$
129,632
 
     
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
       
     
  (Cost $129,632)
   
129,632
 
             
Units
           
INVESTMENTS PURCHASED WITH PROCEEDS
       
  FROM SECURITIES LENDING – 22.3%
       
               
     
Private Funds – 22.3%
       
 
73,793,231
 
Mount Vernon Liquid Assets
       
     
  Portfolio, LLC, 0.210% (e)
   
73,793,231
 
     
TOTAL INVESTMENTS PURCHASED WITH
       
     
  PROCEEDS FROM SECURITIES LENDING
       
     
  (Cost $73,793,231)
   
73,793,231
 
     
TOTAL INVESTMENTS – 122.2%
       
     
  (Cost $401,191,457)
   
403,852,712
 
     
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets – (22.2)%
   
(73,495,806
)
     
NET ASSETS – 100.0%
 
$
330,356,906
 

Percentages are stated as a percent of net assets.
(a)
 
Non-income producing security.
(b)
 
All or a portion of this security is out on loan as of August 31, 2020. Total value of securities out on loan is $70,934,546 or 21.5% of net assets.
(c)
 
Less than 0.05%.
(d)
 
The Money Market Deposit Account (the “MMDA”) is a short-term investment vehicle in which the Fund holds cash balances. The MMDA will bear interest at a variable rate that is determined based on conditions and may change daily and by any amount. The rate shown is as of August 31, 2020.
(e)
 
Annualized seven-day yield as of August 31, 2020.

The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®) was developed by and/or is the exclusive property of MSCI, Inc. (“MSCI”) and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”). GICS® is a service mark of MSCI and S&P and has been licensed for use by the Fund’s Administrator, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC.
 



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

35

VIDENT CORE U.S. BOND STRATEGY ETF

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020

Principal
         
Amount
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
CORPORATE BONDS – 25.0%
     
           
   
Communication Services – 1.5%
     
$
885,000
 
AT&T, Inc.
     
     
   08/15/2058, 5.300%
 
$
1,169,626
 
 
830,000
 
Charter Communications Operating LLC /
       
     
  Charter Communications Operating Capital
       
     
   10/23/2055, 6.834%
   
1,146,138
 
 
935,000
 
The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.
       
     
   10/01/2048, 5.400%
   
1,110,695
 
 
1,125,000
 
VeriSign, Inc.
       
     
   07/15/2027, 4.750%
   
1,200,617
 
 
970,000
 
ViacomCBS, Inc.
       
     
   04/30/2036, 6.875%
   
1,327,498
 
           
5,954,574
 
     
Consumer Discretionary – 2.6%
       
 
1,095,000
 
Darden Restaurants, Inc.
       
     
   05/01/2027, 3.850%
   
1,130,639
 
 
805,000
 
General Motors Company
       
     
   04/01/2046, 6.750%
   
979,728
 
 
910,000
 
Hasbro, Inc. (a)
       
     
   03/15/2040, 6.350%
   
1,084,957
 
 
1,000,000
 
Kohl’s Corporation
       
     
   05/15/2025, 9.500%
   
1,205,375
 
 
1,185,000
 
Las Vegas Sands Corporation
       
     
   08/08/2029, 3.900%
   
1,200,863
 
 
1,070,000
 
Lear Corporation
       
     
   09/15/2027, 3.800%
   
1,144,110
 
 
1,225,000
 
Mohawk Industries, Inc.
       
     
   05/15/2030, 3.625%
   
1,313,996
 
 
1,510,000
 
Nordstrom, Inc.
       
     
   04/01/2030, 4.375%
   
1,221,436
 
 
1,065,000
 
Tapestry, Inc.
       
     
   07/15/2027, 4.125%
   
1,041,367
 
           
10,322,471
 
     
Consumer Staples – 0.9%
       
 
1,005,000
 
Altria Group, Inc.
       
     
   01/31/2044, 5.375%
   
1,250,960
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

36

VIDENT CORE U.S. BOND STRATEGY ETF

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Principal
         
Amount
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
CORPORATE BONDS – 25.0% (Continued)
     
           
   
Consumer Staples – 0.9% (Continued)
     
$
950,000
 
Kraft Heinz Foods Company
     
     
   02/09/2040, 6.500%
 
$
1,210,363
 
 
1,090,000
 
Molson Coors Brewing Company
       
     
   05/01/2042, 5.000%
   
1,236,408
 
           
3,697,731
 
     
Energy – 5.7%
       
 
1,155,000
 
Cimarex Energy Company
       
     
   05/15/2027, 3.900%
   
1,191,070
 
 
990,000
 
Concho Resources, Inc.
       
     
   10/01/2027, 3.750%
   
1,087,591
 
 
940,000
 
Devon Energy Corporation (a)
       
     
  09/30/2031, 7.875%
   
1,237,272
 
 
1,370,000
 
Enable Midstream Partners LP (a)
       
     
   05/15/2044, 5.000%
   
1,184,463
 
 
1,009,000
 
Energy Transfer Operating LP
       
     
   07/01/2038, 7.500%
   
1,189,796
 
     
Enterprise Products Operating LLC (b)
       
 
1,570,000
 
  08/16/2077, 4.875%
   
1,397,300
 
 
165,000
 
  02/15/2078, 5.375%
   
150,687
 
     
Halliburton Company
       
 
100,000
 
  09/15/2038, 6.700%
   
128,246
 
 
900,000
 
  09/15/2039, 7.450%
   
1,230,298
 
 
1,150,000
 
Hess Corporation
       
     
   01/15/2040, 6.000%
   
1,334,183
 
 
980,000
 
HollyFrontier Corporation
       
     
   04/01/2026, 5.875%
   
1,078,695
 
 
1,010,000
 
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP
       
     
   01/15/2038, 6.950%
   
1,346,556
 
     
Marathon Oil Corporation
       
 
195,000
 
  03/15/2032, 6.800%
   
215,803
 
 
1,010,000
 
  10/01/2037, 6.600%
   
1,091,412
 
 
1,115,000
 
MPLX LP
       
     
   04/15/2058, 4.900%
   
1,189,872
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

37

VIDENT CORE U.S. BOND STRATEGY ETF

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Principal
         
Amount
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
CORPORATE BONDS – 25.0% (Continued)
     
           
   
Energy – 5.7% (Continued)
     
$
1,260,000
 
Newfield Exploration Company
     
     
   01/01/2026, 5.375%
 
$
1,252,768
 
     
ONEOK Partners LP
       
 
1,430,000
 
  10/01/2036, 6.650%
   
1,651,884
 
 
150,000
 
  10/15/2037, 6.850%
   
172,390
 
 
1,075,000
 
Phillips 66 Partners LP
       
     
   10/01/2046, 4.900%
   
1,163,333
 
 
1,200,000
 
Plains All American Pipeline LP /
       
     
  PAA Finance Corporation
       
     
   01/15/2037, 6.650%
   
1,361,402
 
 
930,000
 
The Williams Companies, Inc.
       
     
   04/15/2040, 6.300%
   
1,174,789
 
 
670,000
 
Valero Energy Corporation
       
     
   06/15/2037, 6.625%
   
908,466
 
           
22,738,276
 
     
Financials – 5.2%
       
 
1,115,000
 
American Equity Investment Life Holding Company
       
     
   06/15/2027, 5.000%
   
1,219,439
 
 
1,115,000
 
American International Group, Inc. (b)
       
     
   04/01/2048, 5.750%
   
1,232,357
 
 
1,155,000
 
Ares Capital Corporation
       
     
   03/01/2025, 4.250%
   
1,193,913
 
 
1,000,000
 
Athene Holding Ltd.
       
     
   04/03/2030, 6.150%
   
1,208,391
 
 
1,225,000
 
Brighthouse Financial, Inc.
       
     
   06/22/2047, 4.700%
   
1,184,212
 
 
1,150,000
 
Discover Bank (b)
       
     
   08/09/2028, 4.682%
   
1,203,987
 
 
1,050,000
 
Enstar Group Ltd.
       
     
   06/01/2029, 4.950%
   
1,172,555
 
 
705,000
 
Fifth Third Bancorp
       
     
   03/01/2038, 8.250%
   
1,173,824
 
 
1,150,000
 
GLP Capital LP / GLP Financing II, Inc.
       
     
   06/01/2028, 5.750%
   
1,311,305
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

38

VIDENT CORE U.S. BOND STRATEGY ETF

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Principal
         
Amount
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
CORPORATE BONDS – 25.0% (Continued)
     
           
   
Financials – 5.2% (Continued)
     
$
1,245,000
 
Host Hotels & Resorts LP
     
     
   12/15/2029, 3.375%
 
$
1,211,897
 
 
920,000
 
Legg Mason, Inc.
       
     
   01/15/2044, 5.625%
   
1,255,236
 
 
1,010,000
 
Markel Corporation
       
     
   04/05/2046, 5.000%
   
1,332,752
 
 
735,000
 
MetLife, Inc.
       
     
   08/01/2069, 10.750%
   
1,197,761
 
 
1,000,000
 
Prudential Financial, Inc. (b)
       
     
   09/15/2048, 5.700%
   
1,156,752
 
 
1,205,000
 
Synchrony Financial
       
     
   08/04/2026, 3.700%
   
1,256,108
 
 
305,000
 
The Allstate Corporation (b)
       
     
   05/15/2067, 6.500%
   
395,974
 
 
1,035,000
 
Unum Group
       
     
   08/15/2042, 5.750%
   
1,185,984
 
 
1,155,000
 
Voya Financial, Inc. (b)
       
     
   05/15/2053, 5.650%
   
1,208,990
 
           
21,101,437
 
     
Health Care – 0.3%
       
 
1,035,000
 
Cardinal Health, Inc.
       
     
   06/15/2047, 4.368%
   
1,155,561
 
               
     
Industrials – 2.2%
       
 
1,020,000
 
BNSF Funding Trust I (b)
       
     
   12/15/2055, 6.613%
   
1,155,760
 
 
1,045,000
 
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
       
     
   04/19/2028, 4.375%
   
979,123
 
 
950,000
 
FedEx Corporation
       
     
   01/15/2044, 5.100%
   
1,201,920
 
 
1,240,000
 
Kirby Corporation
       
     
   03/01/2028, 4.200%
   
1,308,440
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

39

VIDENT CORE U.S. BOND STRATEGY ETF

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Principal
         
Amount
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
CORPORATE BONDS – 25.0% (Continued)
     
           
   
Industrials – 2.2% (Continued)
     
$
1,170,000
 
Owens Corning
     
     
   07/15/2047, 4.300%
 
$
1,259,113
 
 
1,125,000
 
Southwest Airlines Company
       
     
   06/15/2027, 5.125%
   
1,229,621
 
 
650,000
 
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (a) (b)
       
     
   03/15/2060, 4.000%
   
683,474
 
 
1,050,000
 
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation (g)
       
     
   09/15/2028, 4.950%
   
1,208,999
 
           
9,026,450
 
     
Information Technology – 1.6%
       
 
270,000
 
Corning, Inc.
       
     
   11/15/2079, 5.450%
   
338,924
 
 
950,000
 
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company
       
     
   10/15/2045, 6.350%
   
1,227,272
 
 
945,000
 
HP, Inc.
       
     
   09/15/2041, 6.000%
   
1,163,516
 
 
1,170,000
 
Jabil, Inc.
       
     
   01/12/2028, 3.950%
   
1,288,958
 
 
970,000
 
Micron Technology, Inc.
       
     
   02/06/2029, 5.327%
   
1,160,982
 
 
1,085,000
 
Seagate HDD Cayman
       
     
   06/01/2027, 4.875%
   
1,215,352
 
           
6,395,004
 
     
Materials – 1.2%
       
 
1,035,000
 
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.
       
     
   12/15/2047, 4.250%
   
1,173,469
 
 
920,000
 
Sonoco Products Company
       
     
   11/01/2040, 5.750%
   
1,209,895
 
 
700,000
 
The Dow Chemical Company
       
     
   05/15/2039, 9.400%
   
1,193,500
 
 
1,005,000
 
Vulcan Materials Company
       
     
   06/15/2047, 4.500%
   
1,175,093
 
           
4,751,957
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

40

VIDENT CORE U.S. BOND STRATEGY ETF

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Principal
         
Amount
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
CORPORATE BONDS – 25.0% (Continued)
     
           
   
Real Estate – 1.6%
     
$
1,155,000
 
Brixmor Operating Partnership LP
     
     
   07/01/2030, 4.050%
 
$
1,243,813
 
 
1,330,000
 
EPR Properties
       
     
   08/15/2029, 3.750%
   
1,177,219
 
 
1,110,000
 
MPT Operating Partnership LP /
       
     
  MPT Finance Corporation
       
     
   10/15/2027, 5.000%
   
1,175,795
 
 
1,125,000
 
Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. (a)
       
     
   01/15/2026, 5.250%
   
1,235,611
 
 
1,190,000
 
Sabra Health Care LP
       
     
   08/15/2026, 5.125%
   
1,297,980
 
 
205,000
 
United Rentals North America, Inc.
       
     
   11/15/2027, 3.875%
   
213,969
 
           
6,344,387
 
     
Utilities – 2.2%
       
 
1,150,000
 
Dominion Energy, Inc. (b)
       
     
   10/01/2054, 5.750%
   
1,232,545
 
 
1,210,000
 
Edison International
       
     
   03/15/2028, 4.125%
   
1,264,935
 
 
920,000
 
Exelon Generation Company LLC
       
     
   10/01/2039, 6.250%
   
1,139,139
 
 
1,115,000
 
National Fuel Gas Company
       
     
   01/15/2026, 5.500%
   
1,223,767
 
 
1,200,000
 
NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc. (b)
       
     
   12/01/2077, 4.800%
   
1,296,135
 
 
815,000
 
PSEG Power LLC
       
     
   04/15/2031, 8.625%
   
1,204,340
 
 
1,325,000
 
The Southern Company (b)
       
     
   03/15/2057, 5.500%
   
1,367,972
 
           
8,728,833
 
     
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS
       
     
  (Cost $94,863,615)
   
100,216,681
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

41

VIDENT CORE U.S. BOND STRATEGY ETF

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Principal
         
Amount
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES –
     
  U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY – 11.5%
     
   
Federal Home Loan Banks
     
$
240,000
 
  11/29/2021, 1.875%
 
$
245,194
 
 
265,000
 
  12/10/2021, 2.625%
   
273,478
 
 
140,000
 
  03/11/2022, 2.250%
   
144,448
 
 
145,000
 
  03/11/2022, 2.500%
   
150,186
 
 
175,000
 
  06/10/2022, 2.125%
   
181,131
 
 
150,000
 
  09/09/2022, 2.000%
   
155,703
 
 
100,000
 
  12/09/2022, 1.875%
   
103,807
 
 
100,000
 
  02/17/2023, 1.375%
   
102,926
 
 
100,000
 
  03/10/2023, 2.125%
   
104,895
 
 
50,000
 
  06/09/2023, 2.125%
   
52,592
 
 
95,000
 
  12/08/2023, 3.375%
   
104,569
 
 
360,000
 
  06/09/2028, 3.250%
   
428,015
 
 
200,000
 
  11/16/2028, 3.250%
   
238,993
 
 
150,000
 
  07/15/2036, 5.500%
   
234,714
 
           
2,520,651
 
     
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
       
 
255,000
 
  01/13/2022, 2.375%
   
262,840
 
 
50,000
 
  05/05/2023, 0.375%
   
50,145
 
 
50,000
 
  06/19/2023, 2.750%
   
53,509
 
 
150,000
 
  09/15/2029, 6.750%
   
225,749
 
 
200,000
 
  03/15/2031, 6.750%
   
312,845
 
 
50,000
 
  07/15/2032, 6.250%
   
78,258
 
           
983,346
 
     
Federal National Mortgage Association
       
 
260,000
 
  01/05/2022, 2.000%
   
266,664
 
 
335,000
 
  01/11/2022, 2.625%
   
346,242
 
 
130,000
 
  04/05/2022, 1.875%
   
133,571
 
 
125,000
 
  04/12/2022, 2.250%
   
129,310
 
 
130,000
 
  09/06/2022, 1.375%
   
133,140
 
 
110,000
 
  10/05/2022, 2.000%
   
114,208
 
 
110,000
 
  01/19/2023, 2.375%
   
115,743
 
 
100,000
 
  09/24/2026, 1.875%
   
107,988
 
 
350,000
 
  05/15/2029, 6.250%
   
505,887
 
 
200,000
 
  01/15/2030, 7.125%
   
309,214
 
 
220,000
 
  05/15/2030, 7.250%
   
346,483
 
 
150,000
 
  11/15/2030, 6.625%
   
230,772
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

42

VIDENT CORE U.S. BOND STRATEGY ETF

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Principal
         
Amount
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES –
     
  U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY – 11.5% (Continued)
     
   
Federal National Mortgage Association (Continued)
     
$
100,000
 
  07/15/2037, 5.625%
 
$
159,123
 
 
1,500,000
 
  09/01/2040, 4.000% (c)
   
1,598,848
 
 
8,400,000
 
  09/15/2041, 3.500% (c)
   
8,861,672
 
 
8,140,000
 
  09/15/2041, 4.500% (c)
   
8,792,790
 
 
4,890,000
 
  09/15/2042, 3.000% (c)
   
5,155,130
 
 
1,680,000
 
  09/15/2046, 2.500% (c)
   
1,768,200
 
           
29,074,985
 
     
Government National Mortgage Association
       
 
1,710,000
 
  09/15/2040, 4.000% (c)
   
1,808,525
 
 
1,600,000
 
  09/15/2041, 4.000% (c)
   
1,704,187
 
 
1,600,000
 
  09/15/2042, 3.000% (c)
   
1,684,875
 
 
1,600,000
 
  09/15/2042, 3.500% (c)
   
1,680,625
 
 
1,600,000
 
  09/15/2042, 3.500% (c)
   
1,683,938
 
 
1,600,000
 
  09/01/2043, 3.000% (c)
   
1,679,125
 
 
1,600,000
 
  09/15/2050, 2.500% (c)
   
1,681,625
 
 
1,600,000
 
  09/15/2050, 2.500% (c)
   
1,686,000
 
           
13,608,900
 
     
TOTAL MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES –
       
     
  U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY
       
     
  (Cost $45,824,408)
   
46,187,882
 
         
U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY ISSUES – 1.4%
       
               
     
Utilities – 1.4%
       
     
Tennessee Valley Authority
       
 
340,000
 
  08/15/2022, 1.875%
   
350,908
 
 
180,000
 
  09/15/2024, 2.875%
   
198,374
 
 
325,000
 
  11/01/2025, 6.750%
   
426,674
 
 
670,000
 
  02/01/2027, 2.875%
   
761,852
 
 
475,000
 
  05/01/2030, 7.125%
   
737,408
 
 
650,000
 
  04/01/2036, 5.880%
   
1,016,977
 
 
660,000
 
  01/15/2038, 6.150%
   
1,077,389
 
 
500,000
 
  09/15/2039, 5.250%
   
766,968
 
 
130,000
 
  12/15/2042, 3.500%
   
165,896
 
           
5,502,446
 
     
TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY ISSUES
       
     
  (Cost $5,047,326)
   
5,502,446
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

43

VIDENT CORE U.S. BOND STRATEGY ETF

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Principal
         
Amount
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
U.S. GOVERNMENT NOTES/BONDS – 61.5%
     
           
   
U.S. Treasury Bonds – 28.6%
     
   
United States Treasury Bonds
     
$
600,000
 
  08/15/2023, 6.250%
 
$
708,234
 
 
10,125,000
 
  02/15/2026, 6.000% (a)
   
13,236,460
 
 
950,000
 
  11/15/2027, 6.125%
   
1,332,227
 
 
8,820,000
 
  08/15/2028, 5.500% (a)
   
12,236,372
 
 
3,035,000
 
  11/15/2028, 5.250%
   
4,182,017
 
 
5,230,000
 
  02/15/2029, 5.250%
   
7,254,786
 
 
1,905,000
 
  05/15/2030, 6.250%
   
2,912,492
 
 
400,000
 
  11/15/2039, 4.375%
   
623,594
 
 
1,140,000
 
  02/15/2040, 4.625%
   
1,832,639
 
 
1,850,000
 
  05/15/2040, 4.375%
   
2,897,924
 
 
3,095,000
 
  11/15/2040, 4.250%
   
4,797,008
 
 
3,375,000
 
  02/15/2041, 4.750%
   
5,556,489
 
 
4,745,000
 
  05/15/2041, 4.375%
   
7,492,837
 
 
3,295,000
 
  08/15/2041, 3.750%
   
4,826,660
 
 
1,140,000
 
  02/15/2043, 3.125%
   
1,540,737
 
 
4,835,000
 
  08/15/2043, 3.625%
   
7,038,513
 
 
4,885,000
 
  11/15/2043, 3.750%
   
7,241,058
 
 
2,905,000
 
  02/15/2044, 3.625%
   
4,235,740
 
           
89,945,787
 
     
United States Treasury Inflation Indexed Bonds
       
 
199,399
 
  07/15/2023, 0.375%
   
210,882
 
 
497,376
 
  10/15/2024, 0.125%
   
532,957
 
 
1,012,061
 
  01/15/2025, 2.375%
   
1,188,251
 
 
1,756,568
 
  04/15/2025, 0.125%
   
1,889,806
 
 
1,805,429
 
  01/15/2026, 2.000%
   
2,149,821
 
 
1,390,533
 
  01/15/2028, 1.750%
   
1,710,337
 
 
1,753,290
 
  04/15/2028, 3.625%
   
2,429,853
 
 
1,344,818
 
  01/15/2029, 2.500%
   
1,777,065
 
 
1,850,441
 
  04/15/2029, 3.875%
   
2,693,489
 
 
1,122,240
 
  01/15/2030, 0.125%
   
1,256,442
 
 
1,699,285
 
  04/15/2032, 3.375%
   
2,614,386
 
 
1,097,312
 
  02/15/2040, 2.125%
   
1,678,307
 
 
1,094,796
 
  02/15/2041, 2.125%
   
1,693,114
 
 
410,720
 
  02/15/2042, 0.750%
   
513,728
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

44

VIDENT CORE U.S. BOND STRATEGY ETF

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Principal
         
Amount
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
U.S. GOVERNMENT NOTES/BONDS – 61.5% (Continued)
     
           
   
U.S. Treasury Bonds – 28.6% (Continued)
     
   
United States Treasury Inflation
     
   
  Indexed Bonds (Continued)
     
$
790,509
 
  02/15/2043, 0.625%
 
$
968,931
 
 
503,294
 
  02/15/2044, 1.375%
   
713,744
 
 
197,059
 
  02/15/2045, 0.750%
   
250,611
 
 
146,881
 
  02/15/2046, 1.000%
   
198,323
 
           
24,470,047
 
     
U.S. Treasury Notes – 32.9%
       
     
United States Treasury Notes
       
 
5,695,000
 
  11/30/2021, 1.750%
   
5,807,565
 
 
4,530,000
 
  11/30/2021, 1.875%
   
4,627,501
 
 
6,060,000
 
  12/31/2021, 2.000%
   
6,209,606
 
 
5,315,000
 
  12/31/2021, 2.125%
   
5,454,934
 
 
5,135,000
 
  01/15/2022, 2.500%
   
5,300,383
 
 
3,940,000
 
  01/31/2022, 1.500%
   
4,015,414
 
 
5,245,000
 
  01/31/2022, 1.875% (a)
   
5,372,847
 
 
1,465,000
 
  02/15/2022, 2.000%
   
1,504,458
 
 
3,770,000
 
  02/15/2022, 2.500%
   
3,899,226
 
 
910,000
 
  02/28/2022, 1.750%
   
931,861
 
 
1,015,000
 
  02/28/2022, 1.875%
   
1,041,287
 
 
12,460,000
 
  08/15/2022, 1.500% (a)
   
12,791,942
 
 
16,295,000
 
  08/15/2022, 1.625% (a)
   
16,770,483
 
 
13,080,000
 
  08/31/2022, 1.625% (a)
   
13,469,845
 
 
10,540,000
 
  08/31/2022, 1.875% (a)
   
10,906,430
 
 
8,430,000
 
  09/30/2022, 1.750%
   
8,714,513
 
 
4,730,000
 
  09/30/2022, 1.875%
   
4,901,462
 
 
3,130,000
 
  10/15/2022, 1.375%
   
3,212,163
 
 
505,000
 
  10/31/2022, 2.000% (a)
   
525,338
 
           
115,457,258
 
     
United States Treasury Inflation Indexed Notes
       
 
1,756,727
 
  01/15/2024, 0.625%
   
1,882,734
 
 
2,156,758
 
  04/15/2024, 0.500%
   
2,310,505
 
 
575,426
 
  07/15/2024, 0.125%
   
614,147
 
 
1,442,157
 
  01/15/2025, 0.250%
   
1,553,731
 
 
565,287
 
  07/15/2025, 0.375%
   
619,732
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

45

VIDENT CORE U.S. BOND STRATEGY ETF

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Principal
         
Amount
 
Security Description
 
Value
 
U.S. GOVERNMENT NOTES/BONDS – 61.5% (Continued)
     
           
   
U.S. Treasury Notes – 32.9% (Continued)
     
   
United States Treasury Inflation
     
   
  Indexed Notes (Continued)
     
$
1,009,004
 
  01/15/2026, 0.625%
 
$
1,123,332
 
 
559,255
 
  07/15/2026, 0.125%
   
612,997
 
 
976,506
 
  01/15/2027, 0.375%
   
1,086,652
 
 
879,981
 
  07/15/2027, 0.375%
   
988,576
 
 
1,280,284
 
  01/15/2028, 0.500%
   
1,451,381
 
 
1,201,602
 
  07/15/2028, 0.750%
   
1,400,290
 
 
1,342,576
 
  01/15/2029, 0.875%
   
1,581,807
 
 
987,673
 
  07/15/2029, 0.250%
   
1,118,409
 
           
16,344,293
 
     
TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT NOTES/BONDS
       
     
  (Cost $235,632,523)
   
246,217,385
 
             
Principal
           
Amount
           
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS – 9.8%
       
               
     
Money Market Deposit Account – 9.8%
       
$
39,341,125
 
U.S. Bank Money Market
       
     
  Deposit Account, 0.040% (d) (e)
   
39,341,125
 
     
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
       
     
  (Cost $39,341,125)
   
39,341,125
 
             
Units
           
INVESTMENTS PURCHASED WITH PROCEEDS
       
  FROM SECURITIES LENDING – 21.7%
       
               
     
Private Funds – 21.7%
       
 
86,980,495
 
Mount Vernon Liquid Assets
       
     
  Portfolio, LLC, 0.210% (f)
   
86,980,495
 
     
TOTAL INVESTMENTS PURCHASED WITH
       
     
  PROCEEDS FROM SECURITIES LENDING
       
     
  (Cost $86,980,495)
   
86,980,495
 
     
TOTAL INVESTMENTS – 130.9%
       
     
  (Cost $507,689,492)
   
524,446,014
 
     
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets – (30.9)%
   
(123,951,573
)
     
NET ASSETS – 100.0%
 
$
400,494,441
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

46

VIDENT CORE U.S. BOND STRATEGY ETF

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Percentages are stated as a percent of net assets.
(a)
 
All or a portion of this security is out on loan as of August 31, 2020. Total value of securities out on loan is $85,241,001 or 21.3% of net assets.
(b)
 
Variable or Floating Rate Security based on a reference index and spread. Certain securities are fixed to variable and currently in the fixed phase. Rate disclosed is the rate in effect as of August 31, 2020.
(c)
 
Security purchased on a forward-commitment basis (“TBA commitment”).  On August 31, 2020, the total value of TBA commitments was $39,785,540 or 9.9% of net assets. (See Note 2).
(d)
 
The Money Market Deposit Account (the “MMDA”) is a short-term investment vehicle in which the Fund holds cash balances. The MMDA will bear interest at a variable rate that is determined based on conditions and may change daily and by any amount. The rate shown is as of August 31, 2020.
(e)
 
All or portion of this security has been pledged as collateral in connection with TBA commitments. At August 31, 2020, the value of securities pledged amounted to $39,341,125. In addition, the Fund held cash collateral in the amount of $800,000.
(f)
 
Annualized seven-day yield as of August 31, 2020.
(g)
 
Variable rate security. Coupon changes periodically based upon a predetermined schedule or bond rating. Interest rate disclosed is that which is in effect at August 31, 2020.

The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®) was developed by and/or is the exclusive property of MSCI, Inc. (“MSCI”) and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”). GICS® is a service mark of MSCI and S&P and has been licensed for use by the Fund’s Administrator, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC.
 



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

47

VIDENT FUNDS

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
August 31, 2020

   
Vident
   
Vident
   
Vident
 
   
International
   
Core U.S.
   
Core U.S. Bond
 
   
Equity Fund
   
Equity Fund
   
Strategy ETF
 
ASSETS
                 
Investments in Securities, at Value*+
 
$
445,060,413
   
$
403,852,712
   
$
524,446,014
 
Cash Held as Collateral
                       
  for TBA Commitments
   
     
     
800,000
 
Foreign Currency, at Value*
   
167,165
     
     
 
Interest and Dividends Receivable
   
1,207,075
     
428,929
     
2,251,557
 
Dividend Tax Reclaim Receivable
   
1,709,992
     
     
 
Securities Lending Income Receivable
   
23,000
     
2,473
     
1,733
 
Total Assets
   
448,167,645
     
404,284,114
     
527,499,304
 
LIABILITIES
                       
Payable for Investment
                       
  Securities Purchased
   
     
     
39,891,884
 
Management Fees Payable,
                       
  Net of Waiver
   
220,547
     
133,977
     
132,484
 
Collateral Received for
                       
  Securities Loaned (See Note 4)
   
10,646,018
     
73,793,231
     
86,980,495
 
Total Liabilities
   
10,866,565
     
73,927,208
     
127,004,863
 
NET ASSETS
 
$
437,301,080
   
$
330,356,906
   
$
400,494,441
 
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:
                       
Paid-in Capital
 
$
628,899,185
   
$
416,856,973
   
$
389,901,560
 
Total Distributable Earnings
                       
  (Accumulated Deficit)
   
(191,598,105
)
   
(86,500,067
)
   
10,592,881
 
Net Assets
 
$
437,301,080
   
$
330,356,906
   
$
400,494,441
 
Net Asset Value
                       
  (unlimited shares authorized):
                       
Net Assets
 
$
437,301,080
   
$
330,356,906
   
$
400,494,441
 
Shares Outstanding (No Par Value)
   
20,300,000
     
11,000,000
     
7,700,000
 
Net Asset Value, Offering and
                       
  Redemption Price per Share
 
$
21.54
   
$
30.03
   
$
52.01
 
* Identified Cost:
                       
Investments in Securities
 
$
464,775,912
   
$
401,191,457
   
$
507,689,492
 
Foreign Currency
   
166,481
     
     
 
+ Includes loaned securities
                       
     with a value of
 
$
10,204,225
   
$
70,934,546
   
$
85,241,001
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

48

VIDENT FUNDS

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Year Ended August 31, 2020

   
Vident
   
Vident
   
Vident
 
   
International
   
Core U.S.
   
Core U.S. Bond
 
   
Equity Fund
   
Equity Fund
   
Strategy ETF
 
INVESTMENT INCOME
                 
Dividends*
 
$
15,279,612
   
$
8,091,245
   
$
 
Securities Lending Income, Net
   
169,953
     
159,521
     
1,733
 
Interest
   
9,918
     
5,211
     
12,437,620
 
Total Investment Income
   
15,459,483
     
8,255,977
     
12,439,353
 
EXPENSES
                       
Management Fees
   
3,252,186
     
2,033,173
     
1,803,273
 
Total Expenses
   
3,252,186
     
2,033,173
     
1,803,273
 
Fees Waived by Adviser
                       
  (See Note 3)
   
(55,490
)
   
(40,228
)
   
(48,927
)
Net Expenses
   
3,196,696
     
1,992,945
     
1,754,346
 
Net Investment Income (Loss)
   
12,262,787
     
6,263,032
     
10,685,007
 
                         
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED
                       
  GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS
                       
Net Realized Gain (Loss) on:
                       
Investments in Securities
   
(31,522,678
)
   
(9,974,496
)
   
11,008,383
 
Foreign Currency
   
(451,064
)
   
     
 
Net Change in Unrealized
                       
  Appreciation (Depreciation) of:
                       
Investments in Securities
   
(4,680,547
)
   
5,800,865
     
(5,965,822
)
Foreign Currency and Translation
                       
  of Other Assets and Liabilities
                       
  in Foreign Currency
   
124,074
     
     
 
Net Realized and Unrealized
                       
  Gain (Loss) on Investments
   
(36,530,215
)
   
(4,173,631
)
   
5,042,561
 
NET INCREASE (DECREASE)
                       
  IN NET ASSETS RESULTING
                       
  FROM OPERATIONS
 
$
(24,267,428
)
 
$
2,089,401
   
$
15,727,568
 
*  Net of withholding tax of
 
$
(1,993,041
)
 
$
   
$
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

49

VIDENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS


   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
August 31, 2020
   
August 31, 2019
 
OPERATIONS
           
Net Investment Income (Loss)
 
$
12,262,787
   
$
18,058,604
 
Net Realized Gain (Loss) on Investments
               
  and Foreign Currency
   
(31,973,742
)
   
(36,158,428
)
Change in Unrealized Appreciation
               
  (Depreciation) of Investments
               
  and Foreign Currency
   
(4,556,473
)
   
(30,876,279
)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
               
  Resulting from Operations
   
(24,267,428
)
   
(48,976,103
)
                 
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS
               
Net Distributions to Shareholders
   
(15,484,939
)
   
(16,869,109
)
Total Distributions to Shareholders
   
(15,484,939
)
   
(16,869,109
)
                 
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
               
Proceeds from Shares Sold
   
67,694,030
     
50,953,440
 
Payments for Shares Redeemed
   
(160,109,650
)
   
(25,420,650
)
Transaction Fees (Note 7)
   
124,045
     
29,913
 
Net Increase (Decrease) in
               
  Net Assets Derived from
               
  Capital Share Transactions(a)
   
(92,291,575
)
   
25,562,703
 
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
 
$
(132,043,942
)
 
$
(40,282,509
)
                 
NET ASSETS
               
Beginning of Period
 
$
569,345,022
   
$
609,627,531
 
End of Period
 
$
437,301,080
   
$
569,345,022
 
                 
(a)  Summary of capital share transactions is as follows:
               
   
Shares
   
Shares
 
Shares Sold
   
2,900,000
     
2,100,000
 
Shares Redeemed
   
(7,800,000
)
   
(1,100,000
)
Net Increase (Decrease)
   
(4,900,000
)
   
1,000,000
 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

50

VIDENT CORE U.S. EQUITY FUND

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS


   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
August 31, 2020
   
August 31, 2019
 
OPERATIONS
           
Net Investment Income (Loss)
 
$
6,263,032
   
$
8,106,238
 
Net Realized Gain (Loss) on Investments
   
(9,974,496
)
   
(13,053,122
)
Change in Unrealized Appreciation
               
  (Depreciation) of Investments
   
5,800,865
     
(87,329,242
)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
               
  Resulting from Operations
   
2,089,401
     
(92,276,126
)
                 
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS
               
Net Distributions to Shareholders
   
(6,628,517
)
   
(8,142,853
)
Total Distributions to Shareholders
   
(6,628,517
)
   
(8,142,853
)
                 
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
               
Proceeds from Shares Sold
   
14,116,270
     
25,283,130
 
Payments for Shares Redeemed
   
(157,633,130
)
   
(117,807,110
)
Transaction Fees (Note 7)
   
     
779
 
Net Increase (Decrease) in
               
  Net Assets Derived from
               
  Capital Share Transactions(a)
   
(143,516,860
)
   
(92,523,201
)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
 
$
(148,055,976
)
 
$
(192,942,180
)
                 
NET ASSETS
               
Beginning of Period
 
$
478,412,882
   
$
671,355,062
 
End of Period
 
$
330,356,906
   
$
478,412,882
 
                 
(a)  Summary of capital share transactions is as follows:
               

 
Shares
     
Shares
 
Shares Sold
   
600,000
     
800,000
 
Shares Redeemed
   
(5,700,000
)
   
(3,700,000
)
Net Increase (Decrease)
   
(5,100,000
)
   
(2,900,000
)


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

51

VIDENT CORE U.S. BOND STRATEGY ETF

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS


   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
August 31, 2020
   
August 31, 2019
 
OPERATIONS
           
Net Investment Income (Loss)
 
$
10,685,007
   
$
15,085,361
 
Net Realized Gain (Loss) on Investments
   
11,008,383
     
5,058,083
 
Change in Unrealized Appreciation
               
  (Depreciation) of Investments
   
(5,965,822
)
   
26,256,305
 
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
               
  Resulting from Operations
   
15,727,568
     
46,399,749
 
                 
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS
               
Net Distributions to Shareholders
   
(11,728,591
)
   
(15,195,394
)
Total Distributions to Shareholders
   
(11,728,591
)
   
(15,195,394
)
                 
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
               
Proceeds from Shares Sold
   
     
28,692,070
 
Payments for Shares Redeemed
   
(90,220,560
)
   
(110,139,270
)
Transaction Fees (Note 7)
   
103,997
     
58,942
 
Net Increase (Decrease) in
               
  Net Assets Derived from
               
  Capital Share Transactions(a)
   
(90,116,563
)
   
(81,388,258
)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
 
$
(86,117,586
)
 
$
(50,183,903
)
                 
NET ASSETS
               
Beginning of Period
 
$
486,612,027
   
$
536,795,930
 
End of Period
 
$
400,494,441
   
$
486,612,027
 
                 
(a)  Summary of capital share transactions is as follows:
               
   
Shares
   
Shares
 
Shares Sold
   
     
600,000
 
Shares Redeemed
   
(1,800,000
)
   
(2,300,000
)
Net Increase (Decrease)
   
(1,800,000
)
   
(1,700,000
)


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

52

VIDENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
For a capital share outstanding throughout each year

   
Year Ended August 31,
 
   
2020
   
2019
   
2018
   
2017
   
2016
 
Net Asset Value,
                             
  Beginning of Period
 
$
22.59
   
$
25.19
   
$
27.16
   
$
21.60
   
$
20.82
 
                                         
INCOME (LOSS) FROM
                                       
  INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
                                       
Net Investment Income (Loss)(a)
   
0.51
     
0.74
     
0.60
     
0.50
     
0.46
 
Net Realized and Unrealized
                                       
  Gain (Loss) on Investments
   
(0.93
)(d)
   
(2.64
)
   
(1.91
)
   
5.60
     
0.70
 
Total from Investment
                                       
  Operations
   
(0.42
)
   
(1.90
)
   
(1.31
)
   
6.10
     
1.16
 
                                         
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:
                                       
From Net Investment Income
   
(0.64
)
   
(0.70
)
   
(0.66
)
   
(0.54
)
   
(0.38
)
Total Distributions
   
(0.64
)
   
(0.70
)
   
(0.66
)
   
(0.54
)
   
(0.38
)
                                         
CAPITAL SHARE
                                       
  TRANSACTIONS:
                                       
Transaction Fees (See Note 7)
   
0.01
     
(b) 
   
(b) 
   
(b) 
   
(b) 
Net Asset Value, End of Period
 
$
21.54
   
$
22.59
   
$
25.19
   
$
27.16
   
$
21.60
 
Total Return
   
-1.98
%
   
-7.61
%
   
-4.97
%
   
28.70
%
   
5.68
%
                                         
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
                                       
Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)
 
$
437,301
   
$
569,345
   
$
609,628
   
$
722,364
   
$
583,078
 
                                         
RATIOS TO AVERAGE
                                       
  NET ASSETS:
                                       
Expenses to Average
                                       
  Net Assets (Before
                                       
  Management Fees Waived)
   
0.61
%
   
0.61
%
   
0.64
%
   
0.68
%
   
0.68
%
Expenses to Average
                                       
  Net Assets (After
                                       
  Management Fees Waived)
   
0.60
%
   
0.61
%
   
0.63
%
   
0.68
%
   
0.68
%
Net Investment Income to
                                       
  Average Net Assets (Before
                                       
  Management Fees Waived)
   
2.29
%
   
3.09
%
   
2.18
%
   
2.13
%
   
2.25
%
Net Investment Income to
                                       
  Average Net Assets (After
                                       
  Management Fees Waived)
   
2.30
%
   
3.09
%
   
2.19
%
   
2.13
%
   
2.25
%
Portfolio Turnover Rate(c)
   
79
%
   
76
%
   
66
%
   
73
%
   
106
%

(a)
Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b)
Less than $0.005.
(c)
Excludes impact of in-kind transactions.
(d)
Realized and unrealized gains and losses per share in this caption are balancing amounts necessary to reconcile the change in net asset value per share for the period, and may not reconcile with the aggregate gains and losses in the Statement of Operations due to share transactions for the period.


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

53

VIDENT CORE U.S. EQUITY FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
For a capital share outstanding throughout each year

   
Year Ended August 31,
 
   
2020
   
2019
   
2018
   
2017
   
2016
 
Net Asset Value,
                             
  Beginning of Period
 
$
29.72
   
$
35.33
   
$
29.83
   
$
26.55
   
$
25.37
 
                                         
INCOME (LOSS) FROM
                                       
  INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
                                       
Net Investment Income (Loss)(a)
   
0.45
     
0.49
     
0.40
     
0.35
     
0.47
 
Net Realized and Unrealized
                                       
  Gain (Loss) on Investments
   
0.33
(d) 
   
(5.60
)
   
5.52
     
3.20
     
1.17
 
Total from Investment
                                       
  Operations
   
0.78
     
(5.11
)
   
5.92
     
3.55
     
1.64
 
                                         
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:
                                       
From Net Investment Income
   
(0.47
)
   
(0.50
)
   
(0.42
)
   
(0.27
)
   
(0.46
)
Total Distributions
   
(0.47
)
   
(0.50
)
   
(0.42
)
   
(0.27
)
   
(0.46
)
                                         
CAPITAL SHARE
                                       
  TRANSACTIONS:
                                       
Transaction Fees (See Note 7)
   
     
(b) 
   
     
     
 
Net Asset Value, End of Period
 
$
30.03
   
$
29.72
   
$
35.33
   
$
29.83
   
$
26.55
 
Total Return
   
2.70
%
   
-14.49
%
   
19.95
%
   
13.42
%
   
6.61
%
                                         
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
                                       
Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)
 
$
330,357
   
$
478,413
   
$
671,355
   
$
501,156
   
$
467,248
 
                                         
RATIOS TO AVERAGE
                                       
  NET ASSETS:
                                       
Expenses to Average
                                       
  Net Assets (Before
                                       
  Management Fees Waived)
   
0.50
%
   
0.50
%
   
0.52
%
   
0.55
%
   
0.55
%
Expenses to Average
                                       
  Net Assets (After
                                       
  Management Fees Waived)
   
0.49
%
   
0.50
%
   
0.51
%
   
0.55
%
   
0.55
%
Net Investment Income to
                                       
  Average Net Assets (Before
                                       
  Management Fees Waived)
   
1.53
%
   
1.56
%
   
1.20
%
   
1.24
%
   
1.87
%
Net Investment Income to
                                       
  Average Net Assets (After
                                       
  Management Fees Waived)
   
1.54
%
   
1.56
%
   
1.21
%
   
1.24
%
   
1.87
%
Portfolio Turnover Rate(c)
   
66
%
   
71
%
   
63
%
   
68
%
   
114
%

(a)
Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b)
Less than $0.005.
(c)
Excludes impact of in-kind transactions.
(d)
Realized and unrealized gains and losses per share in this caption are balancing amounts necessary to reconcile the change in net asset value per share for the period, and may not reconcile with the aggregate gains and losses in the Statement of Operations due to share transactions for the period.


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

54

VIDENT CORE U.S. BOND STRATEGY ETF

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
For a capital share outstanding throughout each year

   
Year Ended August 31,
 
   
2020
   
2019
   
2018
   
2017
   
2016
 
Net Asset Value,
                             
  Beginning of Period
 
$
51.22
   
$
47.93
   
$
50.26
   
$
51.65
   
$
49.57
 
                                         
INCOME (LOSS) FROM
                                       
  INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
                                       
Net Investment Income (Loss)(a)
   
1.23
     
1.50
     
1.17
     
0.92
     
0.86
 
Net Realized and Unrealized
                                       
  Gain (Loss) on Investments
   
0.88
(d) 
   
3.34
     
(2.39
)
   
(0.74
)
   
1.96
 
Total from Investment
                                       
  Operations
   
2.11
     
4.84
     
(1.22
)
   
0.18
     
2.82
 
                                         
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:
                                       
From Net Investment Income
   
(1.33
)
   
(1.56
)
   
(1.11
)
   
(0.93
)
   
(0.74
)
From Net Realized Gains
   
     
     
     
(0.65
)
   
 
Total Distributions
   
(1.33
)
   
(1.56
)
   
(1.11
)
   
(1.58
)
   
(0.74
)
                                         
CAPITAL SHARE
                                       
  TRANSACTIONS:
                                       
Transaction Fees (See Note 7)
   
0.01
     
0.01
     
(b) 
   
0.01
     
(b) 
Net Asset Value, End of Period
 
$
52.01
   
$
51.22
   
$
47.93
   
$
50.26
   
$
51.65
 
Total Return
   
4.26
%
   
10.37
%
   
-2.42
%
   
0.50
%
   
5.76
%
                                         
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
                                       
Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)
 
$
400,494
   
$
486,612
   
$
536,796
   
$
557,851
   
$
480,334
 
                                         
RATIOS TO AVERAGE
                                       
  NET ASSETS:
                                       
Expenses to Average
                                       
  Net Assets (Before
                                       
  Management Fees Waived)
   
0.41
%
   
0.41
%
   
0.43
%
   
0.45
%
   
0.45
%
Expenses to Average
                                       
  Net Assets (After
                                       
  Management Fees Waived)
   
0.40
%
   
0.41
%
   
0.42
%
   
0.45
%
   
0.45
%
Net Investment Income to
                                       
  Average Net Assets (Before
                                       
  Management Fees Waived)
   
2.42
%
   
3.11
%
   
2.42
%
   
1.86
%
   
1.72
%
Net Investment Income to
                                       
  Average Net Assets (After
                                       
  Management Fees Waived)
   
2.43
%
   
3.11
%
   
2.43
%
   
1.86
%
   
1.72
%
Portfolio Turnover Rate(c)
   
247
%
   
384
%
   
324
%
   
296
%
   
440
%

(a)
Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b)
Less than $0.005.
(c)
Excludes impact of in-kind transactions.
(d)
Realized and unrealized gains and losses per share in this caption are balancing amounts necessary to reconcile the change in net asset value per share for the period, and may not reconcile with the aggregate gains and losses in the Statement of Operations due to share transactions for the period.


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

55

VIDENT FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2020

NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION
 
Vident International Equity Fund, Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund and Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF (individually each a “Fund” or collectively the “Funds”) are diversified series of ETF Series Solutions (“ESS” or the “Trust”), an open-end management investment company consisting of multiple investment series, organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 9, 2012. The Trust is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company and the offering of the Funds’ shares is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The investment objectives of the Funds are to seek to track the performance, before fees and expenses, of the Vident Core International Equity Index, the Vident Core U.S. Stock Index and the Vident Core U.S. Bond Index, respectively. Vident International Equity Fund commenced operations on October 29, 2013; Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund commenced operations on January 21, 2014; and Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF commenced operations on October 15, 2014.
 
The end of the reporting period for the Funds is August 31, 2020, and the period covered by these Notes to Financial Statements is the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020 (the “current fiscal period”).
 
NOTE 2 – SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
The Funds are investment companies and accordingly follow the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 Financial Services – Investment Companies.
 
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds. These policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).
 
A.
Security Valuation. All equity securities, including domestic and foreign common stocks, preferred stocks, and exchange traded funds that are traded on a national securities exchange, except those listed on the Nasdaq Global Market®, Nasdaq Global SelectMarket® and Nasdaq Capital Market® exchanges (collectively “Nasdaq”), are valued at the last reported sale price on the exchange on which the security is principally traded. Securities traded on Nasdaq will be valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If, on a particular day, an exchange traded or Nasdaq security does not trade, then the mean between the most recent quoted bid and asked prices will be used. All equity securities that are not traded on a listed exchange are valued at the last sale price in the over-the-counter market. If a non-exchange traded security does not trade on a particular day, then the mean between the last quoted closing bid and asked price will be used. Prices denominated in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollar equivalents at the current exchange rate, which approximates fair value.

 
56

VIDENT FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

 
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their net asset value (“NAV”) per share.
   
 
Debt securities, including short-term debt instruments, are valued in accordance with prices provided by a pricing service. Pricing services may use various valuation methodologies such as the mean between the bid and asked prices, matrix pricing and other analytical pricing models as well as market transactions and dealer quotations.
   
 
Units of Mount Vernon Liquid Assets Portfolio are not traded on an exchange and are valued at the investment company’s NAV per share as provided by its administrator. These shares are generally classified as Level 2 instruments.
   
 
Deposit accounts are valued at acquisition cost, which approximates fair value.
   
 
Securities for which quotations are not readily available are valued at their respective fair values in accordance with pricing procedures adopted by the Funds’ Board of Trustees (the “Board”). When a security is “fair valued,” consideration is given to the facts and circumstances relevant to the particular situation, including a review of various factors set forth in the pricing procedures adopted by the Board. The use of fair value pricing by the Funds may cause the NAV of the shares to differ significantly from the NAV that would be calculated without regard to such considerations.
   
 
As described above, the Funds utilize various methods to measure the fair value of their investments on a recurring basis. U.S. GAAP establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuations methods. The three levels of inputs are:

 
Level 1 –
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Funds have the ability to access.
     
 
Level 2 –
Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.
     
 
Level 3 –
Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant inputs are not available; representing the Funds’ own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.

 
The availability of observable inputs can vary from security to security and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of security, whether the security is new and not yet established in the marketplace, the liquidity of markets, and other characteristics particular to the security. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3.
   
 
The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety, is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

 
57

VIDENT FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

 
The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Funds’ investments as of the end of the current fiscal period:

 
Vident International Equity Fund
                       
                           
 
Assets^
 
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
 
Common Stocks
 
$
427,293,720
   
$
   
$
   
$
427,293,720
 
 
Preferred Stocks
   
6,352,469
     
     
     
6,352,469
 
 
Short-Term Investments
   
768,206
     
     
     
768,206
 
 
Investments Purchased
                               
 
  with Proceeds from
                               
 
  Securities Lending
   
     
10,646,018
     
     
10,646,018
 
 
Total Investments
                               
 
  in Securities
 
$
434,414,395
   
$
10,646,018
   
$
   
$
445,060,413
 
                                   
 
^  See Schedule of Investments for country breakouts.
                               
                                   
 
Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund
                               
                                   
 
Assets^
 
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
 
Common Stocks
 
$
329,929,849
   
$
   
$
   
$
329,929,849
 
 
Short-Term Investments
   
129,632
     
     
     
129,632
 
 
Investments Purchased
                               
 
  with Proceeds from
                               
 
  Securities Lending
   
     
73,793,231
     
     
73,793,231
 
 
Total Investments
                               
 
  in Securities
 
$
330,059,481
   
$
73,793,231
   
$
   
$
403,852,712
 
                                   
 
^  See Schedule of Investments for sector breakouts.
                               
                                   
 
Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF
                               
                                   
 
Description^
 
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
 
Corporate Bonds
 
$
   
$
100,216,681
   
$
   
$
100,216,681
 
 
Mortgage Backed
                               
 
  Securities – U.S.
                               
 
  Government Agency
   
     
46,187,882
     
     
46,187,882
 
 
U.S. Government
                               
 
  Agency Issues
   
     
5,502,446
     
     
5,502,446
 
 
U.S. Government
                               
 
  Notes/Bonds
   
     
246,217,385
     
     
246,217,385
 
 
Short-Term Investments
   
39,341,125
     
     
     
39,341,125
 
 
Investments Purchased
                               
 
  with Proceeds from
                               
 
  Securities Lending
   
     
86,980,495
     
     
86,980,495
 
 
Total Investments
                               
 
  in Securities
 
$
39,341,125
   
$
485,104,889
   
$
   
$
524,446,014
 
                                   
 
^  See Schedule of Investments for sector breakouts.
                               

 
58

VIDENT FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

 
During the current fiscal period, the Funds did not recognize any transfers into or out of Level 3.
   
B.
Foreign Currency.  Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollar amounts at the date of valuation. Purchases and sales of investment securities and income and expense items denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollar amounts on the respective dates of such transactions. The Funds do not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments and currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments. The Funds report net realized foreign exchange gains or losses that arise from sales of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on foreign currency transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Funds’ books and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the values of assets and liabilities, other than investments in securities at fiscal period end, resulting from changes in exchange rates.
   
C.
Securities Purchased or Sold on a Forward-Commitment Basis.  Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF may enter into TBA commitments, Mortgage Dollar Roll Transactions or other purchase and sale transactions that specify forward delivery of a financial security. TBA commitments are forward agreements for the purchase or sale of mortgage-backed pass-through securities for a fixed price, with payment and delivery on an agreed upon future settlement date. Most commitments in mortgage-backed pass-through securities occur for future delivery in which the exact mortgage pools to be delivered are not specified until a few days prior to settlement. The specific securities to be delivered are not identified at the trade date. However, delivered securities must follow general trade parameters, including issuer, rate and mortgage terms. When entering into TBA commitments, the Fund may take possession of or deliver the underlying mortgage-backed pass-through securities but can extend the settlement or roll the transaction. In order to better define contractual rights and to secure rights that will help the Fund mitigate counterparty risk, TBA commitments may be entered into by a Fund under Master Securities Forward Transaction Agreements (each, an “MSFTA”). An MSFTA typically contains, among other things, collateral posting terms and netting provisions in the event of default and/or termination event. The collateral requirements are typically calculated by netting the mark-to-market amount for each transaction under such agreement and comparing that amount to the value of the collateral currently pledged by a Fund and the counterparty. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover the obligations of the Trust or cash collateral received

 
59

VIDENT FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

 
from the counterparty, if any, is reported separately on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as cash held as collateral for TBA commitments or cash received as collateral for TBA commitments, respectively. Noncash collateral pledged by the Fund, if any, is noted in the Schedule of Investments. In connection with this ability, the Fund may enter into mortgage “dollar rolls” in which a Fund sells TBA mortgage-backed securities and simultaneously contracts to repurchase substantially similar (i.e., same type, coupon and maturity) securities on a specific future date at an agreed upon price. During the period between the sale and repurchase, a Fund is not entitled to receive interest and principal payments on the securities sold. Mortgage dollar roll transactions are treated as purchases and sales and the Fund realizes gains and losses on these transactions.
   
 
The value of TBA commitments on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities for the Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF as of the end of the current fiscal period is as follows:
   
 
Statement of Assets and Liabilities – Values of TBA Commitments as of the end of the current fiscal period

   
Liabilities
   
Location
 
Value
 
TBA Commitments –
Payable for Investment
   
 
  Credit/interest rate risk
Securities Purchased
 
$39,891,884

 
The effect of TBA Commitments on the Statement of Operations for the current fiscal period

 
Amount of Realized Gain (Loss) on TBA
 
Change in Unrealized Appreciation
 
Commitments Recognized in Income
 
(Depreciation) Recognized in Income
   
Investments
   
Investments
   
in Securities
   
in Securities
 
TBA Commitments
$1,200,414
 
TBA Commitments
$(189,331)

 
The average monthly value of TBA Commitments during the current fiscal period was $43,468,558.
   
 
OFFSETTING ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
   
 
The Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF is subject to various MSFTAs, which govern the terms of certain transactions with select counterparties. The MSFTAs allow the Fund to close out and net its total exposure to a counterparty in the event of a default with respect to all the transactions governed under a single agreement with a counterparty. The MSFTAs also specify collateral posting arrangements at prearranged exposure levels. Under the MSFTAs, collateral is routinely transferred if the total net exposure to certain transactions (net of existing collateral already in place) governed under the relevant MSFTAs with a counterparty in a given account exceeds a specified threshold depending on the counterparty and type of MSFTAs.

 
60

VIDENT FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

 
The following is a summary of the Assets and Liabilities subject to offsetting in the Fund as of the end of the current fiscal period.

 
Liabilities
             
Gross Amounts not offset
     
                 
in the Statement of
     
                 
Assets and Liabilities
     
             
Net
             
         
Gross
 
Amounts
             
         
Amounts
 
Presented
             
     
Gross
 
Offset in the
 
in the
             
     
Amounts of
 
Statement of
 
Statement of
             
 
Description /
 
Recognized
 
Assets and
 
Assets and
 
Financial
 
Collateral
 
Net
 
 
Counterparty
 
Liabilities
 
Liabilities
 
Liabilities
 
Instruments
 
Pledged
 
Amount
 
 
TBA Commitments
                         
 
  Goldman Sachs
                         
 
    & Co. LLC
   
$
20,706,020
   
$
   
$
20,706,020
   
$
(20,406,020
)
 
$
(300,000
)
 
$
 
 
  Wells Fargo
                                                 
 
    Securities, LLC
     
19,185,864
     
     
19,185,864
     
(18,685,864
)
   
(500,000
)
   
 
       
$
39,891,884
   
$
   
$
39,891,884
   
$
(39,091,884
)
 
$
(800,000
)
 
$
 

 
In some instances, the collateral amounts disclosed in the tables were adjusted due to the requirement to limit the collateral amounts to avoid the effect of overcollateralization. Actual collateral received/pledged may be more than the amounts disclosed herein.
   
D.
Federal Income Taxes. The Funds’ policy is to comply with the provisions of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of their net investment income and net capital gains to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. Each Fund plans to file U.S. Federal and various state and local tax returns.
   
 
Each Fund recognizes the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only when the position is more likely than not to be sustained. Management has analyzed each Fund’s uncertain tax positions and concluded that no liability for unrecognized tax benefits should be recorded related to uncertain tax positions. Management is not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will change materially in the next 12 months. Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. The Funds recognize interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits on uncertain tax positions as income tax expenses in the Statements of Operations. During the current fiscal period, the Funds did not incur any interest or penalties.
   
E.
Security Transactions and Investment Income. Investment securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Gains and losses realized from sales of securities are determined on a specific identification basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends and foreign taxes on

 
61

VIDENT FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

 
capital gains have been provided for in accordance with the Funds’ understanding of the applicable tax rules and regulations. Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased are accreted and amortized using the effective yield method. Paydown gains and losses on mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities are recorded as components of interest income on the Statements of Operations.
   
 
Distributions received from the Funds’ investments in real estate investment trusts (“REIT”) may be characterized as ordinary income, net capital gain, or a return of capital. The proper characterization of REIT distributions is generally not known until after the end of each calendar year. As such, the Funds must use estimates in reporting the character of their income and distributions received during the current calendar year for financial statement purposes. The actual character of distributions to the Funds’ shareholders will be reflected on the Form 1099 received by shareholders after the end of the calendar year. Due to the nature of REIT investments, a portion of the distributions received by a Fund’s shareholders may represent a return of capital.
   
F.
Distributions to Shareholders.  Distributions to shareholders from net investment income for the Funds are declared and paid at least on a quarterly basis and distributions from net realized gains on securities are normally declared and paid on an annual basis. Distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
   
G.
Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the current fiscal period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
   
H.
Share Valuation.  The NAV per share of each Fund is calculated by dividing the sum of the value of the securities held by the Fund, plus cash and other assets, minus all liabilities (including estimated accrued expenses) by the total number of shares outstanding for the Fund, rounded to the nearest cent. The Funds’ shares will not be priced on the days on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (“NYSE”) is closed for trading. The offering and redemption price per share for each Fund is equal to the Fund’s NAV per share.
   
I.
Guarantees and Indemnifications. In the normal course of business, the Funds enter into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses. Each Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Funds that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Funds expect the risk of loss to be remote.
   
J.
Reclassification of Capital Accounts.  U.S. GAAP requires that certain components of net assets relating to permanent differences be reclassified between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or NAV per share. The

 
62

VIDENT FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

 
permanent differences are primarily due to differing book and tax treatments for in-kind transactions. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020 the following table shows the reclassifications made:

   
Distributable Earnings
       
   
(Accumulated Deficit)
   
Paid-In Capital
 
 
Vident International Equity Fund
 
$
862,106
     
$
(862,106
)
 
Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund
 
$
3,156,054
     
$
(3,156,054
)
 
Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF
 
$
(2,017,575
)
   
$
2,017,575
 

 
During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020, the Funds realized the following net capital gains/(losses) resulting from in-kind redemptions, in which shareholders exchanged Fund shares for securities held by the Fund rather than for cash. Because such gains/(losses) are not taxable to the Funds, and gains are not distributed to shareholders, they have been reclassified from distributable earnings (accumulated deficit) to paid-in capital.

 
Vident International Equity Fund
 
$
(862,106
)
 
 
Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund
 
$
(3,156,054
)
 
 
Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF
 
$
2,017,575
   

K.
Subsequent Events. In preparing these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through the date the financial statements were issued. There were no events or transactions that occurred during the period subsequent to the end of the current fiscal period that materially impacted the amounts or disclosures in the Funds’ financial statements.
   
L.
New Accounting Pronouncements.  In August 2018, FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU 2018-13”). The primary focus of ASU 2018-13 is to improve the effectiveness of the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. The changes affect all companies that are required to include fair value measurement disclosures. In general, the amendments in ASU 2018-13 are effective for all entities for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. An entity is permitted to early adopt the removed or modified disclosures upon the issuance of ASU 2018-13 and may delay adoption of the additional disclosures, which are required for public companies only, until their effective date. Management has evaluated the impact of these changes and has adopted the disclosure framework.
   
 
In March 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-08, Receivables-Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. The amendments in the ASU shorten the amortization period for certain callable debt securities, held at a premium, to be amortized to the earliest call date. The ASU does not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount;

 
63

VIDENT FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

 
which continues to be amortized to estimated maturity. The ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Management has evaluated and adopted ASU 2017-08 and concluded these changes do not have a material impact on the Funds’ financial statements.
 
NOTE 3 – COMMITMENTS AND OTHER RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
Vident Advisory, LLC (the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser to the Funds, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vident Financial, LLC, the Index Provider (“Vident Financial”). Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (“Advisory Agreement”) between the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and the Adviser, the Adviser provides investment advice to the Funds and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Funds, subject to the direction and control of the Board and the officers of the Trust. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser has agreed 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 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, Vident Investment Advisory, LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”) a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vident Financial.  For its services, the Sub-Adviser is paid a fee by the Adviser, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate based on the average daily net assets of each Fund. For services provided to the Funds, Vident International Equity Fund pays the Adviser 0.61%, Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund pays the Adviser 0.50%, and Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF pays the Adviser 0.41% at an annual rate based on each Fund’s average daily net assets. Effective February 1, 2020, the Adviser contractually waived 0.02% of its advisory fee from each of the Funds until at least January 31, 2021. Fees waived under this waiver agreement are not subject to recoupment by the Adviser.
 
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (“Fund Services” or “Administrator”), doing business as U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, acts as the Funds’ Administrator and, in that capacity, performs various administrative and accounting services for the Funds. The Administrator prepares various federal and state regulatory filings, reports and returns for the Funds, including regulatory compliance monitoring and financial reporting; prepares reports and materials to be supplied to the Board; monitors the activities of the Funds’ Custodian, transfer agent and accountants. Fund Services also serves as the transfer agent and fund accountant to the Funds. U.S. Bank N.A. (the “Custodian”), an affiliate of Fund Services, serves as the Funds’ Custodian.
 

 
64

VIDENT FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Effective January 2, 2020, ALPS Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”) acts as the Funds’ principal underwriter in a continuous public offering of the Funds’ shares. Prior to January 2, 2020, Quasar Distributors, LLC acted as the Funds’ principal underwriter.
 
The Custodian and Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY” or the “Sub-Custodian”) (together the “Securities Lending Agents”) act as Vident International Equity Fund’s securities lending agents. The Custodian acts as securities lending agent (the “Securities Lending Agent”) for the Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund and Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF.
 
A Trustee and all officers of the Trust are affiliated with the Administrator and Custodian.
 
NOTE 4 – SECURITIES LENDING
 
The Funds may lend up to 331/3% of the value of the securities in their portfolios to brokers, dealers and financial institutions (but not individuals) under terms of participation in a securities lending programs administered by the Securities Lending Agents. The securities lending agreements require that loans are collateralized at all times in an amount equal to at least 102% of the value of any domestic loaned securities at the time of the loan, plus accrued interest. The use of loans of foreign securities, which are denominated and payable in U.S. dollars, shall be collateralized in an amount equal to 105% of the value of any loaned securities at the time of the loan plus accrued interest. The Funds receive compensation in the form of fees and earn interest on the non-cash and cash collateral. The amount of fees depends on a number of factors including the type of security and length of the loan. The Funds continue to receive interest payments or dividends on the securities loaned during the borrowing period. Gain or loss in the value of securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Funds. The Funds have the right under the terms of the securities lending agreements to recall the securities from the borrower on demand.
 
The securities lending agreements provide that, in the event of a borrower’s material default, the Securities Lending Agents shall take all actions the Securities Lending Agents deem appropriate to liquidate the collateral, purchase replacement securities at the Securities Lending Agents’ expense, or pay the Fund an amount equal to the market value of the loaned securities, subject to certain limitations which are set forth in detail in the securities lending agreements between the Funds and the Securities Lending Agents.
 
As of the end of the current fiscal period, the Funds had loaned securities that were collateralized by cash equivalents. The cash collateral is invested by the Securities Lending Agents in accordance with approved investment guidelines. Those guidelines require the cash collateral to be invested in readily marketable, high quality, short-term obligations; however, such investments are subject to risk of payment delays or default on the part of the issuer or counterparty or otherwise may not generate sufficient interest to support the costs associated with securities lending. The Funds could also experience delays in recovering their securities and possible loss of income or value if the borrower fails to return the borrowed securities, although the Funds are indemnified from this risk by contract with the Securities Lending Agents.
 

 
65

VIDENT FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

As of the end of the current fiscal period, the values of the securities on loan and payable for collateral due to the Securities Lending Agents were as follows:
 
   
Value of
   
Payable for Collateral
   
Securities
   
Received (excludes
Fund
 
on Loan
   
non-cash collateral)
Vident International Equity Fund
 
$
10,204,225
     
$
10,646,018
 
Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund
 
$
70,934,546
     
$
73,793,231
 
Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF
 
$
85,241,001
     
$
86,980,495
 

Vident International Equity Fund receives cash and non-cash as collateral in return for securities loaned as part of the securities lending program. The cash collateral is invested in private funds and repurchase agreements with selected commercial banks and broker dealers, under which the Fund acquires U.S. Government obligations, as collateral subject to an obligation of the counterparty to repurchase and the Fund to resell the securities at an agreed upon time and price. The Fund, through the Sub-Custodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing repurchase agreements. The Fund requires the Sub-Custodian to take possession of all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. The Fund and the counterparties are permitted to sell, re-pledge, or use the collateral associated with the transaction and it is the Fund’s policy that the fair value of the collateral be at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price. The value of the related collateral that the Fund received for repurchase agreements exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at the end of the current fiscal period. The Schedule of Investments for the Fund includes the investments purchased with particular cash collateral holdings as of the end of the current fiscal period.  Non-cash collateral received by Vident International Equity Fund was in the form of U.S. Treasury Notes and Bonds with a value of $302,184.
 
The interest income earned by the Funds on non-cash collateral and investments of cash collateral received from borrowers for the securities loaned to them (“Securities Lending Income”) is reflected in the Funds’ Statements of Operations. Fees and interest income earned on collateral investments and recognized by the Funds during the current fiscal period, were as follows:
 
Fund
Fees and Interest Earned
 
Vident International Equity Fund
 
$
169,953
   
Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund
 
$
159,521
   
Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF
 
$
1,733
   

SECURED BORROWINGS
 
The following represents gross obligations for secured borrowings by the type of collateral pledged and remaining time to maturity.
 

 
66

VIDENT FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

Vident International Equity Fund
 
   
Remaining Contractual Maturity of the Agreements
 
Securities
 
Overnight
               
Greater
       
Lending
 
and
   
Up to
   
30-90
   
than
       
Transactions
 
Continuous
   
30 Days
   
Days
   
90 Days
   
Total
 
Repurchase agreements
                               
  collateralized by various
                               
  U.S. government
                               
  obligations
 
$
5,689,713
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
5,689,713
 
Private Funds(a)
 
$
4,956,305
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
4,956,305
 
U.S. Treasury
                                       
  Notes and Bonds
 
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
302,184
   
$
302,184
 
Total Borrowings
 
$
10,646,018
   
$
   
$
   
$
302,184
   
$
10,948,202
 

Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund
 
   
Remaining Contractual Maturity of the Agreements
 
Securities
 
Overnight
               
Greater
       
Lending
 
and
   
Up to
   
30-90
   
than
       
Transactions
 
Continuous
   
30 Days
   
Days
   
90 Days
   
Total
 
Private Funds(a)
 
$
73,793,231
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
73,793,231
 
Total Borrowings
 
$
73,793,231
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
73,793,231
 

Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF
 
   
Remaining Contractual Maturity of the Agreements
 
Securities
 
Overnight
               
Greater
       
Lending
 
and
   
Up to
   
30-90
   
than
       
Transactions
 
Continuous
   
30 Days
   
Days
   
90 Days
   
Total
 
Private Funds(a)
 
$
86,980,495
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
86,980,495
 
Total Borrowings
 
$
86,980,495
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
86,980,495
 

(a)
The cash collateral received was invested in the Mount Vernon Liquid Assets Portfolio, LLC as shown on the Schedule of Investments, a short-term investment portfolio with an overnight and continuous maturity. The investment objective is to seek to maximize current income to the extent consistent with the preservation of capital and liquidity and maintain a stable NAV of $1.00 per unit.

Due to the absence of a master netting agreement related to the Funds’ participation in securities lending, no additional offsetting disclosures have been made on behalf of the Funds.
 
NOTE 5 – PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES
 
During the current fiscal period, purchases and sales of securities by the Funds, excluding short-term securities and in-kind transactions, were as follows:
 
   
Purchases
   
Sales
 
Vident International Equity Fund
 
$
412,971,539
   
$
426,601,882
 
Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund
 
$
266,775,633
   
$
266,664,022
 
Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF
 
$
1,080,985,307
   
$
1,115,251,727
 

 
67

VIDENT FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

During the current fiscal period, in-kind transactions associated with creations and redemptions were as follows:
 
   
Purchases
   
Sales
 
Vident International Equity Fund
 
$
53,219,042
   
$
133,974,383
 
Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund
 
$
14,072,922
   
$
157,295,765
 
Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF
 
$
   
$
53,245,210
 

There were no purchases or sales of U.S. Government securities in Vident International Equity Fund or Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund during the current fiscal period. Included in the amounts for Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF are $853,244,194 of purchases and $883,094,218 of sales of U.S. Government securities during the current fiscal period.
 
NOTE 6 – INCOME TAX INFORMATION
 
The components of distributable earnings (accumulated deficit) and cost basis of investments and net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) for federal income tax purposes as of August 31, 2020, were as follows:
 
   
Vident
   
Vident
   
Vident
 
   
International
   
Core U.S.
   
Core U.S. Bond
 
   
Equity Fund
   
Equity Fund
   
Strategy ETF
 
Tax cost of investments
 
$
468,439,444
   
$
402,206,019
   
$
507,747,451
 
Gross tax unrealized appreciation
 
$
30,853,224
   
$
34,180,146
   
$
17,870,779
 
Gross tax unrealized depreciation
   
(54,147,666
)
   
(32,533,453
)
   
(1,172,215
)
Net tax unrealized
                       
  appreciation/(depreciation)
   
(23,294,442
)
   
1,646,693
     
16,698,564
 
Undistributed ordinary income
   
4,883,478
     
1,059,454
     
2,030,360
 
Undistributed long-term capital gain
   
     
     
 
Other accumulated gain/(loss)
   
(173,187,141
)
   
(89,206,214
)
   
(8,136,043
)
Distributable earnings/
                       
  (accumulated deficit)
 
$
(191,598,105
)
 
$
(86,500,067
)
 
$
10,592,881
 

The differences between book and tax-basis cost are attributable to the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains on investments in passive foreign investment companies and wash sales.
 
A regulated investment company may elect for any taxable year to treat any portion of any qualified late year loss as arising on the first day of the next taxable year. Qualified late year losses are certain capital and ordinary losses which occur during the portion of the Funds’ taxable year subsequent to October 31 and December 31, respectively. For the taxable year ended August 31, 2020, the Funds did not elect to defer any post-October capital losses or late-year ordinary losses.
 

 
68

VIDENT FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

As of August 31, 2020, the Funds had the following capital loss carryforwards available for federal income tax purposes, with an indefinite expiration:
 
   
Short-Term
   
Long-Term
 
Vident International Equity Fund
 
$
146,810,502
   
$
26,362,969
 
Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund
 
$
89,206,214
   
$
 
Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF
 
$
2,922,642
   
$
5,213,400
 

Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF utilized $8,987,183 of capital loss carryforward during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020.
 
The tax character of distributions paid by the Funds during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020, was as follows:
 
   
Ordinary Income
   
Capital Gains
 
Vident International Equity Fund
 
$
15,484,939
   
$
 
Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund
 
$
6,628,517
   
$
 
Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF
 
$
11,728,591
   
$
 

The tax character of distributions paid by the Funds during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2019, was as follows:
 
   
Ordinary Income
   
Capital Gains
 
Vident International Equity Fund
 
$
16,869,109
   
$
 
Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund
 
$
8,142,853
   
$
 
Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF
 
$
15,195,394
   
$
 
 
NOTE 7 – SHARE TRANSACTIONS
 
Shares of the Funds are listed and traded on New York Stock Exchange Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca”). Market prices for the shares may be different from their NAV. The Funds issue and redeem shares on a continuous basis at NAV generally in blocks of 100,000 shares.  The general blocks of shares issued or redeemed are called “Creation Units.” Creation Units are issued and redeemed principally in-kind for securities included in a specified universe. Once created, shares generally trade in the secondary market at market prices that change throughout the day. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares are not redeemable securities of a Fund. Creation Units of a Fund may only be purchased or redeemed by certain financial institutions (“Authorized Participants”). An Authorized Participant is either (i) a broker-dealer or other participant in the clearing process through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the National Securities Clearing Corporation or (ii) a Depository Trust Company participant and, in each case, must have executed a Participant Agreement with the Distributor. Most retail investors do not qualify as Authorized Participants nor have the resources to buy and sell whole Creation Units. Therefore, they are unable to purchase or redeem the shares directly from a Fund. Rather, most retail investors may purchase shares in the secondary market with the assistance of a broker and are subject to customary brokerage commissions or fees.
 

 
69

VIDENT FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
August 31, 2020 (Continued)

The Funds each currently offer one class of shares, which have no front-end sales loads, no deferred sales charges, and no redemption fees. A fixed transaction fee is imposed for the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the purchase or sale of Creation Units. Vident International Equity Fund charges $5,000; Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund and Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF each charge $750 for the standard fixed transaction fee, payable to the Custodian. The fixed transaction fee may be waived on transaction orders if the Funds’ Custodian has determined to waive some or all of the 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 each Fund may be charged on all cash transactions or substitutes for Creation Units of up to a maximum of 2% in Vident International Equity Fund and Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund and up to a maximum of 3% in Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF as a percentage of the value of the Creation Units subject to the transaction.
 
Variable fees are imposed to compensate the Funds for the transaction costs associated with the cash transactions fees. Variable fees received by each Fund, if any, are displayed in the Capital Share Transactions sections of the Statements of Changes in Net Assets. Each Fund may issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest, with no par value. Shares of each Fund have equal rights and privileges.
 
NOTE 8 – RISKS
 
COVID-19 Risk. The recent global outbreak of COVID-19 has disrupted economic markets and the prolonged economic impact is uncertain. The operational and financial performance of the issuers of securities in which the Funds invest depends on future developments, including the duration and spread of the outbreak, and such uncertainty may in turn impact the value of the Funds’ investments.
 
NOTE 9 – BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
 
The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of 25% or more of the voting securities of a fund creates a presumption of control of a fund, under section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of the end of the current fiscal period, Thrivent Trust Company, as a beneficial shareholder, owned greater than 25% of the outstanding shares of each Fund.
 


70

VIDENT FUNDS

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders of Vident Funds and
Board of Trustees of ETF Series Solutions
 
Opinion on the Financial Statements
 
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, of Vident International Equity Fund, Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund, and Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF (the “Funds”), each a series of ETF Series Solutions, as of August 31, 2020, the related statements of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the Funds as of August 31, 2020, the results of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
Basis for Opinion
 
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements based on our audits.  We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Funds in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement whether due to error or fraud.
 
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of August 31, 2020, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers.  Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
We have served as the auditor of one or more of Vident Advisory, LLC’s investment companies since 2013.
 
 
COHEN & COMPANY, LTD.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
October 30, 2020
 


71

VIDENT FUNDS

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
(Unaudited)

Additional information about each Trustee of the Trust is set forth below. The address of each Trustee of the Trust is c/o USBFS, 615 E. Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202.
 
   
Term of
 
Number of
Other
 
Position
Office
 
Portfolios
Directorships
 
Held
and
 
in Fund
Held by
Name
with
Length
 
Complex
Trustee
and Year
the
of Time
Principal Occupation(s)
Overseen by
During Past
of Birth
Trust
Served
During Past Five Years
Trustee
Five Years
Independent Trustees
         
           
Leonard M.
Lead
Indefinite
Retired; formerly Chief
46
Independent
Rush, CPA
Indepen-
term;
Financial Officer,
 
Trustee,
Born: 1946
dent
since 2012
Robert W. Baird
 
Managed
 
Trustee
 
& Co. Incorporated
 
Portfolio Series
 
and
 
(wealth management
 
(39 portfolios)
 
Audit
 
firm) (2000–2011).
 
(since 2011).
 
Committee
       
 
Chairman
       
           
David A. Massart
Trustee
Indefinite
Co-Founder, President,
46
Independent
Born: 1967
 
term;
and Chief Investment
 
Trustee,
   
since 2012
Strategist, Next Generation
 
Managed
     
Wealth Management, Inc.
 
Portfolio Series
     
(since 2005).
 
(39 portfolios)
         
(since 2011).
           
Janet D. Olsen
Trustee
Indefinite
Retired; formerly Managing
46
Independent
Born: 1956
 
term;
Director and General Counsel,
 
Trustee,
   
since 2018
Artisan Partners Limited
 
PPM Funds
     
Partnership (investment adviser)
 
(9 portfolios)
     
(2000–2013); Executive Vice
 
(since 2018).
     
President and General Counsel,
   
     
Artisan Partners Asset
   
     
Management Inc. (2012–2013);
   
     
Vice President and General
   
     
Counsel, Artisan Funds, Inc.
   
     
(investment company)
   
     
(2001–2012).
   
           
Interested Trustee
         
           
Michael A. Castino
Trustee
Indefinite
Senior Vice President, U.S.
46
None
Born: 1967
and
term;
Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
   
 
Chairman
Trustee
(since 2013); Managing Director
   
   
since 2014;
of Index Services, Zacks
   
   
Chairman
Investment Management
   
   
since 2013
(2011–2013).
   

 

 
72

VIDENT FUNDS

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
(Unaudited) (Continued)

The officers of the Trust conduct and supervise its daily business. The address of each officer of the Trust is c/o USBFS, 615 E. Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202. Additional information about the Principal Officers of the Trust is as follows:
 
   
Term of
 
 
Position(s)
Office
 
 
Held
and
 
Name
with
Length
 
and Year
the
of Time
 
of Birth
Trust
Served
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years
Principal Officers of the Trust
     
       
Kristina R. Nelson
President
Indefinite
Senior Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
Born: 1982
 
term;
(since 2020); Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services,
   
since 2019
LLC (2014–2020); Assistant Vice President, U.S. Bancorp
     
Fund Services, LLC (2013–2014).
       
Michael D.
Vice
Indefinite
Senior Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
Barolsky
President
term;
(since 2019); Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services,
Born: 1981
and
since 2014
LLC (2012–2019); Associate, Thompson Hine LLP
 
Secretary
(other roles
(law firm) (2008–2012).
   
since 2013)
 
       
James R. Butz
Chief
Indefinite
Senior Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
Born: 1982
Compliance
term;
(since 2015); Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services,
 
Officer
since 2015
LLC (2014–2015); Assistant Vice President, U.S. Bancorp
     
Fund Services, LLC (2011–2014).
       
Kristen M.
Treasurer
Indefinite
Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (since 2015);
Weitzel, CPA
 
term;
Assistant Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
Born: 1977
 
since 2014
(2011–2015); Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
   
(other roles
(accounting firm) (2005–2011).
   
since 2013)
 
       
Brett M.
Assistant
Indefinite
Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (since 2017);
Wickmann
Treasurer
term;
Assistant Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
Born: 1982
 
since 2017
(2012–2017).
       
Elizabeth A.
Assistant
Indefinite
Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (since 2020);
Winske
Treasurer
term;
Assistant Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
Born: 1983
 
since 2017
(2016–2020); Officer, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
     
(2012–2016).
       
Jason E. Shlensky
Assistant
Indefinite
Assistant Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
Born: 1987
Treasurer
term;
(since 2019); Officer, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
   
since 2019
(2014–2019).
       
Isabella K. Gentile
Assistant
Indefinite
Regulatory Administration Attorney, U.S. Bancorp Fund
Born: 1994
Secretary
term;
Services, LLC (since 2019), Regulatory Administration
   
since 2020
Intern, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2018–2019) and
     
Law Student (2016–2019).

The Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) includes additional information about the Trustees and is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll free (800) 617-0004, by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by accessing the website at www.videntfinancialsolutions.com.
 


73

VIDENT FUNDS

EXPENSE EXAMPLES
For the Six-Months Ended August 31, 2020 (Unaudited)

As a shareholder of the Funds you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of Fund shares, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period as indicated below in the Expense Example Table.
 
Actual Expenses
 
The first line of the table provides information about actual account values based on actual returns and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then, multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
 
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
 
The second line of the table provides information about hypothetical account values based on a hypothetical return and hypothetical expenses based on the Funds’ actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Funds’ actual returns. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Funds and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds. Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as brokerage commissions paid on purchases and sales of Fund shares. Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. If these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
 

 

 

 
74

VIDENT FUNDS

EXPENSE EXAMPLES
For the Six-Months Ended August 31, 2020 (Unaudited) (Continued)

Vident International Equity Fund
 
 
Beginning
Ending
Expenses
 
Account Value
Account Value
Paid During
 
March 1, 2020
August 31, 2020
the Period(a)
Actual
$1,000.00
$1,007.30
$2.98
Hypothetical
     
  (5% annual return
     
  before expenses)
$1,000.00
$1,002.17
$3.00
       
Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund
     
 
Beginning
Ending
Expenses
 
Account Value
Account Value
Paid During
 
March 1, 2020
August 31,2020
the Period(b)
Actual
$1,000.00
$1,048.60
$2.47
Hypothetical
     
  (5% annual return
     
  before expenses)
$1,000.00
$1,022.72
$2.44
       
Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF
     
 
Beginning
Ending
Expenses
 
Account Value
Account Value
Paid During
 
March 1, 2020
August 31, 2020
the Period(c)
Actual
$1,000.00
$1,017.70
$1.98
Hypothetical
     
  (5% annual return
     
  before expenses)
$1,000.00
$1,023.18
$1.98

(a)
The dollar amounts shown as expenses paid during the period are equal to the annualized expense ratio, 0.59%, multiplied by the average account value during the period, multiplied by 184/366, to reflect the one-half year period. See Note 3.
(b)
The dollar amounts shown as expenses paid during the period are equal to the annualized expense ratio, 0.48%, multiplied by the average account value during the period, multiplied by 184/366, to reflect the one-half year period. See Note 3.
(c)
The dollar amounts shown as expenses paid during the period are equal to the annualized expense ratio, 0.39%, multiplied by the average account value during the period, multiplied by 184/366, to reflect the one-half year period. See Note 3.



75

VIDENT FUNDS

FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION
(Unaudited)

QUALIFIED DIVIDEND INCOME
 
For the year ended August 31, 2020, certain dividends paid by the Funds may be subject to a maximum tax rate of 23.8%, as provided for by the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. The percentage of dividends declared from ordinary income designated as qualified dividend income was as follows:
 
Vident International Equity Fund
77.81%
 
Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund
100.00%
 
Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF
0.00%
 

 
DIVIDENDS RECEIVED DEDUCTION
 
For corporate shareholders, the percent of ordinary income distributions qualifying for the corporate dividends received deduction for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020 was as follows:
 
Vident International Equity Fund
0.64%
 
Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund
100.00%
 
Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF
0.00%
 

 
SHORT-TERM CAPITAL GAIN
 
For the year ended August 31, 2020, the percentage of taxable ordinary income distributions that are designated as short-term capital gain distributions under Internal Revenue Section 871(k)(2)(C) for each Fund were as follows:
 
Vident International Equity Fund
0.00%
 
Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund
0.00%
 
Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF
0.00%
 



76

VIDENT FUNDS

FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION
(Unaudited) (Continued)

FOREIGN TAX CREDIT PASS THROUGH
 
Pursuant to Section 853 of the Internal Revenue code, the Funds designated the following amounts as foreign taxes paid for the year ended August 31, 2020.  Foreign taxes paid for purposes of Section 853 may be less than actual foreign taxes paid for financial statement purposes.
 
               
Portion of
 
               
Ordinary Income
 
               
Distribution
 
   
Creditable
   
Per
   
Derived from
 
   
Foreign Taxes
   
Share
   
Foreign
 
   
Paid
   
Amount
   
Sourced Income
 
Vident International Equity Fund
   
1,908,421
   
$
0.0940
     
100.00
%
Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund
   
     
     
 
Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF
   
     
     
 

Foreign taxes paid or withheld should be included in taxable income with an offsetting deduction from gross income or as a credit for taxes paid to foreign governments.
 
Above figures may differ from those cited elsewhere in this report due to difference in the calculation of income and gains under U.S. GAAP purposes and Internal Revenue Service purposes.
 
Shareholders are strongly advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the tax consequences of their investments in the Funds.
 







77

VIDENT FUNDS

APPROVAL OF ADVISORY AGREEMENT & BOARD CONSIDERATION
(Unaudited)

Pursuant to Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), at a meeting held on April 21-22, 2020 (the “Meeting”), the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of ETF Series Solutions (the “Trust”) considered the approval of the continuation of the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (the “Agreement”) among Vident Advisory, LLC (“Vident” or the “Adviser”), Vident Investment Advisory, LLC (“VIA” or the “Sub-Adviser”), and the Trust, on behalf of the Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund, Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF, and Vident International Equity Fund (each, a “Fund” or collectively, the “Funds”).
 
Prior to the Meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not parties to the Agreement or “interested persons” of any party thereto, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), reviewed written materials from the Sub-Adviser (the “Materials”) regarding, among other things: (i) the nature, extent, and quality of the services provided by the Sub-Adviser; (ii) the historical performance of each Fund; (iii) the cost of the services provided and the profits realized by the Sub-Adviser from services rendered to the Funds; (iv) the extent to which the sub-advisory fee for each Fund reflects economies of scale shared with the applicable Fund shareholders; and (v) other factors the Board deemed to be relevant.
 
The Board also considered that the Sub-Adviser, along with other service providers of the Funds, presented written information to help the Board evaluate the Sub-Adviser’s fees and other aspects of the Agreement. Additionally, representatives from the Sub-Adviser provided an oral overview of the services provided to the Funds by the Sub-Adviser and additional information about the Sub-Adviser’s personnel and operations. The Board then discussed the written materials and oral presentation that it had received and any other information that the Board received at the Meeting and deliberated on the approval of the Agreement in light of this information. In its deliberations, the Board did not identify any single piece of information discussed below that was all-important or controlling.
 
Approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement with the Sub-Adviser
 
Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services Provided. The Board considered the scope of services provided to each Fund under the Sub-Advisory Agreement, noting that VIA would continue to provide investment management services to the Funds. The Board noted the responsibilities that VIA has as each Fund’s investment sub-adviser, including: responsibility for the general management of the day-to-day investment and reinvestment of the assets of each Fund; determining the daily baskets of deposit securities and cash components; executing portfolio security trades for purchases and redemptions of each Fund’s shares conducted on a cash-in-lieu basis; oversight of general portfolio compliance with relevant law; responsibility for daily monitoring of tracking error and quarterly reporting to the Board; and implementation of Board directives as they relate to the Funds.
 
In considering the nature, extent, and quality of the services provided by VIA, the Board considered reports of the Trust’s CCO with respect to VIA’s compliance program and VIA’s experience providing investment management services to other ETFs, including other series of the Trust. VIA’s registration form (“Form ADV”) was provided to the
 

 
78

VIDENT FUNDS

APPROVAL OF ADVISORY AGREEMENT & BOARD CONSIDERATION
(Unaudited) (Continued)

Board, as was the response of VIA to a detailed series of questions which included, among other things, information about the background and experience of the portfolio managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds. The Board further considered the oral information provided by the Sub-Adviser with respect to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Sub-Adviser’s operations.
 
Historical Performance. The Board noted that it had received information regarding each Fund’s performance for various time periods in the Materials and primarily considered each Fund’s performance for periods ended March 31, 2020. Because each Fund is designed to track the performance of an index, the Board considered the extent to which each Fund tracked its index before fees and expenses.
 
Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund: The Board noted that the Fund slightly outperformed its underlying index before fees and expenses for the one-year, three-year, five-year, and since inception periods.
 
Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF: The Board noted that the Fund slightly outperformed its underlying index before fees and expenses for the one-year, three-year, five-year, and since inception periods.
 
Vident International Equity ETF: The Board noted that the Fund performed in line with its underlying index before fees and expenses for the one-year, three-year, five-year, and since inception periods.
 
Cost of Services Provided and Economies of Scale. The Board reviewed the advisory fees paid by Vident to VIA for its services to each Fund. The Board considered that the fees paid to VIA are paid by its affiliate, Vident, and compared the fees to the fees charged by VIA for other funds. The Board also took into account analyses of VIA’s profitability with respect to each Fund.
 
The Board expressed the view that it currently appeared that VIA might realize economies of scale in managing the Funds as assets grow in size and noted that the fee schedule includes breakpoints as assets grow in size. The Board further noted that because each Fund pays Vident a unified fee, any benefits from the breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule would accrue to Vident, rather than to the applicable Fund shareholders. Consequently, the Board determined that it would monitor fees as each Fund grows to determine whether economies of scale were being effectively shared with the applicable Fund and its shareholders.
 
Conclusion.  No single factor was determinative of the Board’s decision to approve the Sub-Advisory Agreement; rather, the Board based its determination on the total mix of information available to it. Based on a consideration of all the factors in their totality, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, determined that the Sub-Advisory Agreement, including the compensation payable under the agreement, was fair and reasonable to each Fund. The Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, therefore determined that the approval of the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders.
 


79

VIDENT FUNDS

REVIEW OF LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
(Unaudited)

Pursuant to Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Trust, on behalf of the series of the Trust covered by this shareholder report (the “Series”), has adopted a liquidity risk management program to govern the Trust’s approach to managing liquidity risk. Rule 22e-4 seeks to promote effective liquidity risk management, thereby reducing the risk that a fund will be unable to meet its redemption obligations and mitigating dilution of the interests of fund shareholders. The Trust’s liquidity risk management program is tailored to reflect the Series’ particular risks, but not to eliminate all adverse impacts of liquidity risk, which would be incompatible with the nature of such Series.
 
The investment adviser to the Series has adopted and implemented its own written liquidity risk management program (the “Program”) tailored specifically to assess and manage the liquidity risk of the Series.
 
At a recent meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the Trustees received a report pertaining to the operation, adequacy, and effectiveness of implementation of the Program for the period ended December 31, 2019. The report concluded that the Program is reasonably designed to assess and manage the Series’ liquidity risk and has operated adequately and effectively to manage such risk. The report reflected that there were no liquidity events that impacted the Series’ ability to timely meet redemptions without dilution to existing shareholders. The report further noted that no material changes have been made to the Program since its implementation.
 
There can be no assurance that the Program will achieve its objectives in the future. Please refer to the prospectus for more information regarding the Series’ exposure to liquidity risk and other principal risks to which an investment in the Series may be subject.
 







80

VIDENT FUNDS

INFORMATION ABOUT PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
(Unaudited)

The Funds file their complete schedules of portfolio holdings for their first and third fiscal quarters with the SEC on Part F of Form N-PORT. The Funds’ Part F of Form N-PORT is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free at (800) 617-0004.  Furthermore, you may obtain the Part F of Form N-PORT on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Each Fund’s portfolio holdings are posted on their website at www.videntfunds.com daily.
 

INFORMATION ABOUT PROXY VOTING
(Unaudited)

A description of the policies and procedures the Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is provided in the SAI.  The SAI is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free at (800) 617-0004, by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by accessing the website at www.videntfunds.com.
 
Information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the period ending June 30 is available by calling toll-free at (800) 617-0004 or by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
 

FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION OF PREMIUMS AND DISCOUNTS
(Unaudited)

Information regarding how often shares of the Funds trade on the exchange at a price above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a discount) the NAV of the Funds is available, without charge, on the Funds’ website at www.videntfunds.com.
 






81

Adviser
Vident Advisory, LLC
1125 Sanctuary Parkway, Suite 515
Alpharetta, Georgia  30009

Sub-Adviser
Vident Investment Advisory, LLC
1125 Sanctuary Parkway, Suite 515
Alpharetta, Georgia  30009

Index Provider
Vident Financial, LLC
1125 Sanctuary Parkway, Suite 515
Alpharetta, Georgia  30009

Distributor
ALPS Distributors, Inc.
1290 Broadway, Suite 1000
Denver, Colorado  80203

Custodian
U.S. Bank National Association
1555 North Rivercenter Drive, Suite 302
Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53212

Transfer Agent
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53202

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Cohen & Company, Ltd.
342 North Water Street, Suite 830
Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53202

Legal Counsel
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
1111 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC  20004-2541

Vident International Equity Fund
Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund
Symbol – VIDI
Symbol – VUSE
CUSIP – 26922A404
CUSIP – 26922A503

Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF
Symbol – VBND
CUSIP – 26922A602


Item 2. Code of Ethics.

The registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer.  The registrant has not made any substantive amendments to its code of ethics during the period covered by this report.  The registrant has not granted any waivers from any provisions of the code of ethics during the period covered by this report.

A copy of the registrant’s Code of Ethics is filed herewith.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

The registrant’s board of trustees has determined that there is at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee. Mr. Leonard Rush is the “audit committee financial expert” and is considered to be “independent” as each term is defined in Item 3 of Form N‑CSR.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

The registrant has engaged its principal accountant to perform audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services during the past two fiscal years.  “Audit services” refer to performing an audit of the registrant's annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years.  “Audit-related services” refer to the assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit.  “Tax services” refer to professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning. There were no “Other services” provided by the principal accountant. The following table details the aggregate fees billed or expected to be billed for each of the last two fiscal years for audit fees, audit-related fees, tax fees and other fees by the principal accountant.

Vident International Equity Fund
 
FYE  8/31/2020
FYE  8/31/2019
Audit Fees
$16,000
          $16,000
Audit-Related Fees
N/A
N/A
Tax Fees
$3,000
$3,000
All Other Fees
N/A
N/A

Vident Core U.S Equity Fund
 
FYE  8/31/2020
FYE  8/31/2019
Audit Fees
$14,500
           $14,500
Audit-Related Fees
N/A
N/A
Tax Fees
$3,000
$3,000
All Other Fees
N/A
N/A

Vident Core U.S Bond Strategy ETF
 
FYE  8/31/2020
FYE  8/31/2019
Audit Fees
$16,000
           $16,000
Audit-Related Fees
N/A
N/A
Tax Fees
$3,000
$3,000
All Other Fees
N/A
N/A

The audit committee has adopted pre-approval policies and procedures that require the audit committee to pre‑approve all audit and non‑audit services of the registrant, including services provided to any entity affiliated with the registrant.

The percentage of fees billed by Cohen & Company Ltd. applicable to non-audit services pursuant to waiver of pre-approval requirement were as follows:

Vident International Equity Fund
 
FYE  8/31/2020
FYE  8/31/2019
Audit-Related Fees
0%
0%
Tax Fees
0%
0%
All Other Fees
0%
0%

Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund
 
FYE  8/31/2020
FYE  8/31/2019
Audit-Related Fees
0%
0%
Tax Fees
0%
0%
All Other Fees
0%
0%

Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF
 
FYE  8/31/2020
FYE  8/31/2019
Audit-Related Fees
0%
0%
Tax Fees
0%
0%
All Other Fees
0%
0%

All of the principal accountant’s hours spent on auditing the registrant’s financial statements were attributed to work performed by full‑time permanent employees of the principal accountant.  The following table indicates the non-audit fees billed or expected to be billed by the registrant’s accountant for services to the registrant and to the registrant’s investment adviser (and any other controlling entity, etc.—not sub-adviser) for the last two years.  The audit committee of the board of trustees/directors has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant's investment adviser is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant's independence and has concluded that the provision of such non-audit services by the accountant has not compromised the accountant’s independence.

Vident International Equity Fund
Non-Audit Related Fees
FYE  8/31/2020
FYE  8/31/2019
Registrant
N/A
N/A
Registrant’s Investment Adviser
N/A
            N/A

Vident Core U.S. Equity Fund
Non-Audit Related Fees
FYE  8/31/2020
FYE  8/31/2019
Registrant
N/A
N/A
Registrant’s Investment Adviser
N/A
            N/A

Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy ETF
Non-Audit Related Fees
FYE  8/31/2020
FYE  8/31/2019
Registrant
N/A
N/A
Registrant’s Investment Adviser
N/A
            N/A

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

The registrant is an issuer as defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, (the “Act”) and has a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Act.  The independent members of the committee are as follows: David A. Massart, Leonard M. Rush, and Janet D. Olsen.

Item 6. Investments.

Schedule of Investments is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.
 
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed‑End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of trustees.

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

(a)
The Registrant’s President (principal executive officer) and Treasurer (principal financial officer) have reviewed the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”)) as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report, as required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the Act and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d‑15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Based on their review, such officers have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in this report is appropriately recorded, processed, summarized and reported and made known to them by others within the Registrant and by the Registrant’s service provider.

(b)
There were no changes in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act) that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

Item 13. Exhibits.



(3) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c‑1 under the Act sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the registrant to 10 or more persons.  Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

(4) Change in registrant’s independent public accountant. There was no change in the registrant’s public accountant for the period covered by this report.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


Registrant)  ETF Series Solutions

By (Signature and Title)*    /s/Kristina R. Nelson
 Kristina R. Nelson, President (principal executive officer)

Date    November 5, 2020


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

By (Signature and Title)*    /s/Kristina R. Nelson
  Kristina R. Nelson, President (principal executive officer)

Date    November 5, 2020

By (Signature and Title)*     /s/Kristen M. Weitzel
  Kristen M. Weitzel, Treasurer (principal financial officer)

Date    November 5, 2020

* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.











ETF Series Solutions

Code of Ethics
For Principal Executive Officer & Principal Financial Officer

This Code of Ethics is designed to comply with Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) thereunder.  This Code of Ethics is in addition to, not in replacement of, the ETF Series Solutions (the “Trust”) Code of Ethics for access persons (the “Investment Company Code of Ethics”), adopted pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). The persons covered by this Code of Ethics may also be subject to the Investment Company Code of Ethics.

 The Trust requires its Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer, or other Trust officers performing similar functions (the “Principal Officers”), to maintain the highest ethical and legal standards while performing their duties and responsibilities to the Trust and each of its series (each a “Fund,” collectively the “Funds”), with particular emphasis on those duties that relate to the preparation and reporting of the financial information of the Funds.  The following principles and responsibilities shall govern the professional conduct of the Principal Officers:

1. HONEST AND ETHICAL CONDUCT.

The Principal Officers shall act with honesty and integrity, avoiding actual or apparent conflicts of interest in personal and professional relationships, and shall report any material transaction or relationship that reasonably could be expected to give rise to such conflict between their interests and those of a Fund to the Audit Committee, the full Board of Trustees of the Trust, and, in addition, to any other appropriate person or entity that may reasonably be expected to deal with any conflict of interest in timely and expeditious manner.

The Principal Officers shall act in good faith, responsibly, with due care, competence and diligence, without misrepresenting material facts or allowing their independent judgment to be subordinated or compromised.

2. FINANCIAL RECORDS AND REPORTING

The Principal Officers shall provide full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in the reports and/or other documents to be filed with or submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission or other applicable body by a Fund, or that is otherwise publicly disclosed or communicated. The Principal Officers shall comply with applicable rules and regulations of federal, state, and local governments, and other appropriate private and public regulatory agencies.

The Principal Officers shall respect the confidentiality of information acquired in the course of their work and shall not disclose such information except when authorized or legally obligated to disclose. The Principal Officers will not use confidential information acquired in the course of their duties as Principal Officers.

The Principal Officers shall share knowledge and maintain skills important and relevant to the Trust’s needs; shall proactively promote ethical behavior of the Trust’s employees and with industry peers and associates; and shall maintain control over and responsibly manage assets and resources employed or entrusted to them by the Trust.

3. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS

The Principal Officers shall establish and maintain mechanisms to oversee the compliance of the Funds with applicable federal, state or local law, regulation or administrative rule, and to identify, report and correct in a swift and certain manner, any detected deviations from applicable federal, state or local law regulation or rule.

4. COMPLIANCE WITH THIS CODE OF ETHICS

The Principal Officers shall promptly report any violations of this Code of Ethics to the Audit Committee as well as the full Board of Trustees of the Trust and shall be held accountable for strict adherence to this Code of Ethics.  A proven failure to uphold the standards stated herein shall be grounds for such sanctions as shall be reasonably imposed by the Board of Trustees of the Trust.

5. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

This Code of Ethics may only be amended or modified by approval of the Board of Trustees.  Any substantive amendment that is not technical or administrative in nature or any material waiver, implicit or otherwise, of any provision of this Code of Ethics, shall be communicated publicly in accordance with Item 2 of Form N-CSR under the Investment Company Act of 1940.


Adopted: March 27, 2012





CERTIFICATIONS

I, Kristina R. Nelson, certify that:

 
1.
 
I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of ETF Series Solutions;
 
2.
 
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.
 
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.
 
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:
 
(a)
 
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
(b)
 
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
(c)
 
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and
 
(d)
 
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
 
5.
 
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
 
(a)
 
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and
 
(b)
 
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:    November 5, 2020
 
/s/Kristina R. Nelson
Kristina R. Nelson
President (principal executive officer)
ETF Series Solutions


CERTIFICATIONS

I, Kristen M. Weitzel, certify that:

 
1.
 
I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of ETF Series Solutions;
 
2.
 
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.
 
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.
 
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:
 
(a)
 
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
(b)
 
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
(c)
 
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and
 
(d)
 
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
 
5.
 
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
 
(a)
 
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and
 
(b)
 
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:    November 5, 2020
  /s/Kristen M. Weitzel
Kristen M. Weitzel
Treasurer (principal financial officer)
ETF Series Solutions




Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, each of the undersigned officers of the ETF Series Solutions, does hereby certify, to such officer’s knowledge, that the report on Form N-CSR of the ETF Series Solutions for the year ended August 31, 2020 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as applicable, and that the information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the ETF Series Solutions for the stated period.


/s/Kristina R. Nelson
Kristina R. Nelson
President (principal executive officer)
ETF Series Solutions
 
/s/Kristen M. Weitzel
Kristen M. Weitzel
Treasurer (principal financial officer)
ETF Series Solutions
Dated:    November 5, 2020
Dated:    November 5, 2020


This statement accompanies this report on Form N-CSR pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not be deemed as filed by ETF Series Solutions for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.