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: December 31
Date of reporting period: June 30, 2021
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
(a)
Semi-Annual Report
June 30, 2021
Defiance Quantum ETF
Ticker: QTUM
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF
Ticker: FIVG
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF
Ticker: IBBJ
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF
Ticker: SPAK
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF
Ticker: HDRO
Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF
Ticker: PSY
Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF
Ticker: CRUZ
Defiance ETFs
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
Page |
|
|
Letters to Shareholders |
1 |
|
Portfolio Allocations |
9 |
|
Schedules of Investments |
12 |
|
Statements of Assets and Liabilities |
29 |
|
Statements of Operations |
30 |
|
Statements of Changes in Net Assets |
31 |
|
Financial Highlights |
38 |
|
Notes to Financial Statements |
45 |
|
Expense Examples |
56 |
|
Review of Liquidity Risk Management Program |
58 |
|
Approval of Advisory Agreements and Board Considerations |
59 |
|
Federal Tax Information |
68 |
|
Information About Portfolio Holdings |
68 |
|
Information About Proxy Voting |
69 |
|
Information About the Funds’ Trustees |
69 |
|
Frequency Distribution of Premiums and Discounts |
69 |
Defiance Quantum ETF
Letters to Shareholders
(Unaudited)
Dear Shareholders,
On behalf of the entire team, we want to express our appreciation for the confidence you have placed in the Defiance Quantum ETF (“QTUM” or the “Fund”). The following information pertains to the period from January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021 (the “current fiscal period”).
The Fund seeks to track the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index® (the “Index”). The Index is a rules-based index that tracks the performance of a group of globally listed stocks of companies involved in a range of industries, collectively defined, by BlueStar Indexes, as quantum computing and machine learning companies. Index components are reviewed semi-annually for eligibility, and the weights are re-set accordingly.
The Fund had positive performance during the current fiscal period. The market price for QTUM increased 20.42% and the Net Asset Value (“NAV”) increased 20.40%, while the S&P 500®, a broad market index, increased 15.25% over the same period. The Fund’s Index increased 20.93%. Meanwhile, outstanding shares ended the current fiscal period at 2,300,000.
For the current fiscal period, the largest positive contributor to return was Teradata Corporation, adding 1.65% to the return of the Fund, gaining 122.39% with an average weighting of 2.16%. The second largest contributor to return was Microstrategy, Inc., adding 0.89% to the return of the Fund, gaining 71.02% with an average weighting of 2.26%. The third largest contributor to return was Blackberry, Ltd., adding 0.68% to the return of the Fund, gaining 84.59% with an average weighting of 1.65%.
For the current fiscal period, the largest negative contributor to return was IQE plc, detracting 0.48% from the return of the Fund, declining 36.62% with an average weighting of 1.05%. The security contributing second-most negatively was Atos SE, detracting 0.44% from the return of the Fund, and declining 32.42% with an average weighting of 0.99%. The third largest negative contributor to return was Alteryx, Inc., detracting 0.39% from the return of the Fund, and declining 29.37% with an average weight of 0.99%.
We look forward to keeping you well informed as things progress.
Sincerely,
Matthew Bielski, Chief Executive Officer
Defiance ETFs LLC, Adviser to the Fund
1
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF
Letters to Shareholders
(Unaudited) (Continued)
Dear Shareholders,
On behalf of the entire team, we want to express our appreciation for the confidence you have placed in the Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF (“FIVG” or the “Fund”). The following information pertains to the period from January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021 (the “current fiscal period”).
The Fund seeks to track the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the BlueStar 5G Communications Index™ (the “Index”). The Index is a rules-based index that tracks the performance of a group of US-listed stocks, of global companies that are involved in the development of, or are otherwise instrumental in the rollout of 5G networks. Index components are reviewed semi-annually for eligibility, and the weights are re-set accordingly.
The Fund had positive performance during the current fiscal period. The market price for FIVG increased 13.78% and the Net Asset Value (“NAV”) increased 13.72%, while the S&P 500®, a broad market index, increased 15.25% over the same period. The Fund’s Index increased 13.90%. Meanwhile, outstanding shares ended the current fiscal period at 33,700,000.
For the current fiscal period, the largest positive contributor to return was NXP Semiconductors N.V., adding 1.45% to the return of the Fund, gaining 30.13% with an average weighting of 5.41%. The second largest contributor to return was Nokia Corporation, adding 0.99% to the return of the Fund, gaining 36.06% with an average weighting of 3.11%. The third largest contributor to return was Analog Devices, Inc., adding 0.83% to the return of the Fund, gaining 17.56% with an average weighting of 5.09%.
For the current fiscal period, the largest negative contributor to return was Inseego Corporation, detracting 0.26% from the return of the Fund, declining 34.78% with an average weighting of 0.52%. The security contributing second-most negatively was Qualcomm, Inc., detracting 0.20% from the return of the Fund, and declining 5.23% with an average weighting of 4.35%. The third largest negative contributor to return was Xilinx, Inc., detracting 0.10% from the return of the Fund, and declining 2.02% with an average weight of 3.29%.
We look forward to keeping you well informed as things progress.
Sincerely,
Matthew Bielski, Chief Executive Officer
Defiance ETFs LLC, Adviser to the Fund
2
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF
Letters to Shareholders
(Unaudited) (Continued)
Dear Shareholders,
On behalf of the entire team, we want to express our appreciation for the confidence you have placed in the Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF (“IBBJ” or the “Fund”). The following information pertains to the period from January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021 (the “current fiscal period”).
The Fund seeks to track the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of The Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology Index (the “Index”). The Index is designed to track the performance of a set of securities listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market® that are classified as either biotechnology or pharmaceutical according to the Industry Classification Benchmark.
The Fund had negative performance during the current fiscal period. The market price for IBBJ decreased 4.17% and the Net Asset Value (“NAV”) decreased 4.23%, while the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index increased 8.17% over the same period. The Fund’s Index decreased 3.95%. Meanwhile, outstanding shares ended the current fiscal period at 250,000.
For the current fiscal period, the largest positive contributor to return was Intellia Therapeutics, Inc., adding 1.98% to the return of the Fund, gaining 197.63% with an average weighting of 1.25%. The second largest contributor to return was Beam Therapeutics, Inc., adding 0.82% to the return of the Fund, gaining 57.66% with an average weighting of 1.37%. The third largest contributor to return was GW Pharmaceuticals plc, adding 0.73% to the return of the Fund, gaining 89.72% with an average weighting of 1.04%.
For the current fiscal period, the largest negative contributor to return was Chemocentryx, Inc., detracting 0.97% from the return of the Fund, declining 78.38% with an average weighting of 0.78%. The security contributing second-most negatively was Immunovant, Inc., detracting 0.86% from the return of the Fund, and declining 77.12% with an average weighting of 0.54%. The third largest negative contributor to return was Amicus Therapeutics, Inc., detracting 0.82% from the return of the Fund, and declining 58.25% with an average weight of 0.89%.
We look forward to keeping you well informed as things progress.
Sincerely,
Matthew Bielski, Chief Executive Officer
Defiance ETFs LLC, Adviser to the Fund
3
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF
Letters to Shareholders
(Unaudited) (Continued)
Dear Shareholders,
On behalf of the entire team, we want to express our appreciation for the confidence you have placed in the Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF (“SPAK” or the “Fund”). The following information pertains to the period from January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021 (the “current fiscal period”).
The Fund seeks to track the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the Indxx SPAC & NextGen IPO Index (the “Index”). The Index is a passive rules-based index that tracks the performance of the common stock of newly listed Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (“SPACs”), ex-warrants, and initial public offerings (“IPOs”) derived from acquisition companies.
The Fund had negative performance during the current fiscal period. The market price for SPAK decreased 7.75% and the Net Asset Value (“NAV”) decreased 7.72%, while the S&P 500®, a broad market index, increased 15.25% over the same period. The Fund’s Index decreased 7.44%. Meanwhile, outstanding shares ended the current fiscal period at 2,300,000.
For the current fiscal period, the largest positive contributor to return was Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc., adding 4.13% to the return of the Fund, gaining 93.85% with an average weighting of 2.82%. The second largest contributor to return was Vertiv Holdings Company, adding 1.24% to the return of the Fund, gaining 46.22% with an average weighting of 3.23%. The third largest contributor to return was Draftkings, Inc. – Class A, adding 1.19% to the return of the Fund, gaining 12.05% with an average weighting of 8.90%.
For the current fiscal period, the largest negative contributor to return was Opendoor Technologies, Inc., detracting 1.76% from the return of the Fund, declining 22.00% with an average weighting of 3.49%. The security contributing second-most negatively was Vivint Smart Home, Inc., detracting 0.84% from the return of the Fund, and declining 36.39% with an average weighting of 1.47%. The third largest negative contributor to return was Desktop Metal, Inc. – Class A, detracting 0.83% from the return of the Fund, and declining 33.14% with an average weight of 1.25%.
We look forward to keeping you well informed as things progress.
Sincerely,
Matthew Bielski, Chief Executive Officer
Defiance ETFs LLC, Adviser to the Fund
4
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF
Letters to Shareholders
(Unaudited) (Continued)
Dear Shareholders,
On behalf of the entire team, we want to express our appreciation for the confidence you have placed in the Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF (“HDRO” or the “Fund”). The following information pertains to the period from inception on March 9, 2021 through June 30, 2021 (the “current fiscal period”).
The Fund seeks to track the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the BlueStar Hydrogen & NextGen Fuel Cell Index (the “Index”). The index is a rules-based index that tracks the performance of a group of globally listed equities and of companies involved in the development of hydrogen-based energy sources and fuel cell technologies. Index components are reviewed quarterly for eligibility, and the weights are re-set accordingly.
The Fund had negative performance during the current fiscal period. The market price for HDRO decreased 10.51% and the Net Asset Value (“NAV”) decreased 10.71%, while the S&P 500®, a broad market index, increased 11.38% over the same period. The Fund’s Index decreased 9.56%. Meanwhile, outstanding shares ended the current fiscal period at 1,575,000.
For the current fiscal period, the largest positive contributor to return was AFC Energy plc, adding 0.95% to the return of the Fund, gaining 30.40% with an average weighting of 4.40%. The second largest contributor to return was Cell Impact AB, adding 0.66% to the return of the Fund, gaining 22.88% with an average weighting of 3.76%. The third largest contributor to return was Air Liquide S.A., adding 0.53% to the return of the Fund, gaining 12.64% with an average weighting of 4.27%.
For the current fiscal period, the largest negative contributor to return was Fuelcell Energy, Inc., detracting 2.83% from the return of the Fund, declining 45.33% with an average weighting of 4.61%. The security contributing second-most negatively was Plug Power, Inc., detracting 1.91% from the return of the Fund, and declining 20.17% with an average weighting of 8.29%. The third largest negative contributor to return was Ballard Power Systems, Inc., detracting 1.22% from the return of the Fund, and declining 22.20% with an average weight of 5.54%.
We look forward to keeping you well informed as things progress.
Sincerely,
Matthew Bielski, Chief Executive Officer
Defiance ETFs LLC, Adviser to the Fund
5
Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF
Letters to Shareholders
(Unaudited) (Continued)
Dear Shareholders,
On behalf of the entire team, we want to express our appreciation for the confidence you have placed in the Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF (“PSY” or the “Fund”). The following information pertains to the period from inception on May 27, 2021 through June 30, 2021 (the “current fiscal period”).
The Fund seeks to track the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the BITA Medical Psychedelics, Cannabis, and Ketamine Index (the “Index”). The Index is a passive rules-based index that tracks the performance of public listed life sciences companies on North American Exchanges conducting federally legal medical activities in the Psychedelic, Medical cannabis, Hemp and CBD industries.
The Fund had negative performance during the current fiscal period. The market price for PSY decreased 2.53% and the Net Asset Value (“NAV”) decreased 2.45%, while the S&P 500®, a broad market index, increased 2.43% over the same period. The Fund’s Index decreased 2.47%. Meanwhile, outstanding shares ended the current fiscal period at 275,000.
For the current fiscal period, the largest positive contributor to return was Cybin, Inc., adding 1.78% to the return of the Fund, gaining 43.14% with an average weighting of 4.86%. The second largest contributor to return was Field Trip Health, Ltd., adding 0.86% to the return of the Fund, gaining 23.41% with an average weighting of 4.66%. The third largest contributor to return was Compass Pathways plc, adding 0.51% to the return of the Fund, gaining 9.94% with an average weighting of 5.48%.
For the current fiscal period, the largest negative contributor to return was Charlottes Web Holdings, Inc., detracting 2.02% from the return of the Fund, declining 26.67% with an average weighting of 6.68%. The security contributing second-most negatively was Medipharm Labs Corporation, detracting 1.22% from the return of the Fund, and declining 24.36% with an average weighting of 4.29%. The third largest negative contributor to return was Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc., detracting 0.96% from the return of the Fund, and declining 15.67% with an average weight of 5.60%.
We look forward to keeping you well informed as things progress.
Sincerely,
Matthew Bielski, Chief Executive Officer
Defiance ETFs LLC, Adviser to the Fund
6
Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF
Letters to Shareholders
(Unaudited) (Continued)
Dear Shareholders,
On behalf of the entire team, we want to express our appreciation for the confidence you have placed in the Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF (“CRUZ” or the “Fund”). The following information pertains to the period from inception on June 3, 2021 through June 30, 2021 (the “current fiscal period”).
The Fund seeks to track the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the BlueStar Global Hotels, Airlines, and Cruises Index (the “Index”). The Index is a rules-based weighted index of companies primarily engaged in the passenger airline, hotel and cruise industries. The Index is reconstituted on a semi-annual basis and rebalanced quarterly.
The Fund had negative performance during the current fiscal period. The market price for CRUZ decreased 6.63% and the Net Asset Value (“NAV”) decreased 7.19%, while the S&P 500®, a broad market index, increased 2.58% over the same period. The Fund’s Index decreased 7.25%. Meanwhile, outstanding shares ended the current fiscal period at 275,000.
For the current fiscal period, the largest positive contributor to return was Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc., adding 0.06% to the return of the Fund, gaining 5.94% with an average weighting of 1.08%. The second largest contributor to return was Shangri -La Asia, Ltd., adding 0.05% to the return of the Fund, gaining 5.44% with an average weighting of 0.83%. The third largest contributor to return was Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación S.A.B. de C.V., adding 0.02% to the return of the Fund, gaining 3.34% with an average weighting of 0.16%.
For the current fiscal period, the largest negative contributor to return was Carnival Corporation, detracting 0.93% from the return of the Fund, declining 13.69% with an average weighting of 6.44%. The security contributing second-most negatively was Southwest Airlines Company, detracting 0.59% from the return of the Fund, and declining 9.33% with an average weighting of 5.91%. The third largest negative contributor to return was International Consolidated Airlines Group SA, detracting 0.43% from the return of the Fund, and declining 13.91% with an average weight of 2.80%.
We look forward to keeping you well informed as things progress.
Sincerely,
Matthew Bielski, Chief Executive Officer
Defiance ETFs LLC, Adviser to the Fund
7
Defiance ETFs
Letters to Shareholders
(Unaudited) (Continued)
Must be preceded or accompanied by a current Fund prospectus.
Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. As ETFs, the Funds may trade at a premium or discount to NAV. Shares of any ETF are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. The Funds are not actively managed and would not sell a security due to current or projected under-performance unless that security is removed from the Index or is required upon a reconstitution of the Index. A portfolio concentrated in a single industry or country, may be subject to a higher degree of risk. The value of stocks of information technology companies are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition. The Funds are considered to be non-diversified, so they may invest more of their assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers. Investments in foreign securities involve certain risks including risk of loss due to foreign currency fluctuations or to political or economic instability. This risk is magnified in emerging markets. Small and mid-cap companies are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than securities of large-cap companies.
The possible applications of quantum computing and 5G technologies are only in the exploration stages, and the possible returns are uncertain and may not be realized in the near future.
Market price is the price at which shares in the ETF can be bought or sold on the exchanges during trading hours, while the net asset value (NAV) represents the value of each share’s portion of the Funds’ underlying assets and cash at the end of the trading day.
The S&P 500® Index is a broad-based index of 500 stocks, which is widely recognized as representative of the equity market in general.
It is not possible to invest directly in the Index.
Opinions expressed are subject to change at any time, are not guaranteed and should not be considered investment advice.
Fund holdings and sector allocations are subject to change and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security. Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to risk.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
The Defiance ETFs are distributed by Foreside Distributors, LLC
8
Defiance ETFs
Portfolio Allocations
As of June 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
Defiance Quantum ETF
|
Country |
Percentage of
|
|
United States |
61.1% |
|
Japan |
12.6 |
|
Netherlands |
4.2 |
|
Taiwan |
4.1 |
|
France |
3.8 |
|
China |
3.0 |
|
Israel |
1.5 |
|
Ireland |
1.4 |
|
Italy |
1.4 |
|
Germany |
1.4 |
|
Switzerland |
1.3 |
|
Finland |
1.3 |
|
India |
1.3 |
|
Canada |
1.1 |
|
Short-Term Investments and Other Assets and Liabilities |
0.5 |
|
Total |
100.0% |
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF
|
Sector |
Percentage of
|
|
Information Technology (a) |
73.0% |
|
Communication Services |
16.0 |
|
Real Estate |
9.1 |
|
Consumer Discretionary |
1.0 |
|
Industrials |
0.6 |
|
Short-Term Investments and Other Assets and Liabilities |
0.3 |
|
Total |
100.0% |
|
(a) |
To the extent that the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors of the economy, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. See Note 8 in Notes to Financial Statements. |
9
Defiance ETFs
Portfolio Allocations
As of June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF
|
Country |
Percentage of
|
|
United States |
88.6% |
|
China |
3.7 |
|
Ireland |
2.6 |
|
Canada |
1.2 |
|
Hong Kong |
0.6 |
|
Spain |
0.6 |
|
Denmark |
0.5 |
|
Israel |
0.5 |
|
Netherlands |
0.4 |
|
United Kingdom |
0.3 |
|
Short-Term Investments and Other Assets and Liabilities |
0.3 |
|
Germany |
0.3 |
|
Switzerland |
0.2 |
|
Belgium |
0.1 |
|
France |
0.1 |
|
Total |
100.0% |
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF
|
Sector |
Percentage of
|
|
Special Purpose Acquisition Companies |
36.8% |
|
Industrials |
15.9 |
|
Consumer Discretionary |
14.8 |
|
Information Technology |
9.3 |
|
Health Care |
7.7 |
|
Financials |
4.4 |
|
Materials |
3.9 |
|
Communication Services |
2.8 |
|
Consumer Staples |
2.1 |
|
Real Estate |
1.8 |
|
Short-Term Investments and Other Assets and Liabilities |
0.4 |
|
Energy |
0.1 |
|
Total |
100.0% |
10
Defiance ETFs
Portfolio Allocations
As of June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF
|
Country |
Percentage of
|
|
United States |
24.5% |
|
United Kingdom |
16.9 |
|
Norway |
14.2 |
|
Canada |
10.2 |
|
Sweden |
8.9 |
|
Ireland |
7.8 |
|
Republic of Korea |
7.4 |
|
Germany |
3.6 |
|
France |
3.1 |
|
Israel |
1.5 |
|
Denmark |
1.3 |
|
Short-Term Investments and Other Assets and Liabilities |
0.6 |
|
Total |
100.0% |
Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF
|
Country |
Percentage of
|
|
Canada |
70.9% |
|
United States |
18.7 |
|
United Kingdom |
6.6 |
|
Short-Term Investments and Other Assets and Liabilities |
3.8 |
|
Total |
100.0% |
Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF
|
Country |
Percentage of
|
|
United States |
67.8% |
|
United Kingdom |
4.6 |
|
Ireland |
3.9 |
|
Japan |
3.8 |
|
Spain |
2.9 |
|
China |
2.7 |
|
France |
2.4 |
|
Australia |
2.1 |
|
Singapore |
1.8 |
|
Canada |
1.7 |
|
Thailand |
1.3 |
|
Switzerland |
1.2 |
|
Germany |
1.1 |
|
Hong Kong |
0.7 |
|
Brazil |
0.6 |
|
Mexico |
0.5 |
|
Short-Term Investments and Other Assets and Liabilities |
0.5 |
|
Panama |
0.4 |
|
Total |
100.0% |
11
Defiance Quantum ETF
Schedule of Investments
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
|
Shares |
Security Description |
Value |
||||||
|
COMMON STOCKS — 99.5% |
||||||||
|
Communication Services — 6.8% |
||||||||
| 654 |
Alphabet, Inc. - Class A (a) |
$ | 1,596,931 | |||||
| 8,432 |
Baidu, Inc. - ADR (a) |
1,719,285 | ||||||
| 489,755 |
Koninklijke KPN NV |
1,529,831 | ||||||
| 59,500 |
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corporation |
1,551,696 | ||||||
| 121,825 |
Orange SA - ADR |
1,393,678 | ||||||
| 7,791,421 | ||||||||
|
Consumer Discretionary — 1.5% |
||||||||
| 7,381 |
Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd. - ADR (a) |
1,673,863 | ||||||
|
Industrials — 10.7% |
||||||||
| 11,685 |
Airbus SE (a) |
1,502,682 | ||||||
| 18,015 |
Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation |
1,534,518 | ||||||
| 28,100 |
Hitachi, Ltd. |
1,610,452 | ||||||
| 4,071 |
Lockheed Martin Corporation |
1,540,263 | ||||||
| 96,900 |
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation |
1,407,796 | ||||||
| 4,226 |
Northrop Grumman Corporation |
1,535,855 | ||||||
| 17,724 |
Raytheon Technologies Corporation |
1,512,034 | ||||||
| 36,300 |
Toshiba Corporation |
1,571,506 | ||||||
| 12,215,106 | ||||||||
|
Information Technology — 79.1% (b) |
||||||||
| 5,575 |
Accenture plc - Class A |
1,643,454 | ||||||
| 19,697 |
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (a)(c) |
1,850,139 | ||||||
| 19,983 |
Alteryx, Inc. - Class A (a) |
1,718,938 | ||||||
| 16,359 |
Ambarella, Inc. (a) |
1,744,360 | ||||||
| 9,467 |
Analog Devices, Inc. (c) |
1,629,839 | ||||||
| 11,696 |
Applied Materials, Inc. |
1,665,510 | ||||||
| 2,307 |
ASML Holding NV - NY |
1,593,768 | ||||||
| 113,000 |
Asustek Computer, Inc. |
1,506,667 | ||||||
| 24,288 |
Atos SE |
1,477,604 | ||||||
| 103,873 |
BlackBerry, Ltd. (a)(c) |
1,269,328 | ||||||
| 16,362 |
Brooks Automation, Inc. |
1,558,971 | ||||||
| 12,574 |
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (a) |
1,720,375 | ||||||
| 13,652 |
Cerence, Inc. (a)(c) |
1,456,805 | ||||||
| 20,203 |
Cirrus Logic, Inc. (a) |
1,719,679 | ||||||
| 99,414 |
Cloudera, Inc. (a) |
1,576,706 | ||||||
| 11,976 |
Elastic NV - (a) |
1,745,622 | ||||||
| 46,596 |
FormFactor, Inc. (a)(c) |
1,698,890 | ||||||
| 9,300 |
Fujitsu, Ltd. |
1,742,860 | ||||||
| 100,643 |
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (c) |
1,467,375 | ||||||
| 39,169 |
Infineon Technologies AG |
1,570,959 | ||||||
| 27,633 |
Intel Corporation |
1,551,317 | ||||||
| 10,446 |
International Business Machines Corporation (c) |
1,531,279 | ||||||
|
COMMON STOCKS — 99.5% (Continued) |
||||||||
|
Information Technology — 79.1% (b) (Continued) |
||||||||
| 5,013 |
KLA Corporation |
$ | 1,625,265 | |||||
| 2,483 |
Lam Research Corporation |
1,615,688 | ||||||
| 31,516 |
Lattice Semiconductor Corporation (a) |
1,770,569 | ||||||
| 31,280 |
Marvell Technology, Inc. (c) |
1,824,562 | ||||||
| 15,295 |
Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. |
1,611,481 | ||||||
| 45,000 |
MediaTek, Inc. |
1,553,701 | ||||||
| 10,375 |
Microchip Technology, Inc. |
1,553,553 | ||||||
| 20,022 |
Micron Technology, Inc. (a) |
1,701,470 | ||||||
| 6,204 |
Microsoft Corporation |
1,680,664 | ||||||
| 3,069 |
MicroStrategy, Inc. - Class A (a)(c) |
2,039,351 | ||||||
| 8,821 |
MKS Instruments, Inc. (c) |
1,569,697 | ||||||
| 38,361 |
National Instruments Corporation |
1,621,903 | ||||||
| 33,600 |
NEC Corporation |
1,731,616 | ||||||
| 286,882 |
Nokia Corporation - ADR (a) |
1,526,212 | ||||||
| 101,100 |
NTT Data Corporation |
1,578,577 | ||||||
| 2,268 |
NVIDIA Corporation |
1,814,627 | ||||||
| 7,977 |
NXP Semiconductors NV (c) |
1,641,028 | ||||||
| 42,294 |
ON Semiconductor Corporation (a) |
1,619,014 | ||||||
| 21,684 |
Onto Innovation, Inc. (a)(c) |
1,583,799 | ||||||
| 11,851 |
QUALCOMM, Inc. |
1,693,863 | ||||||
| 142,300 |
Renesas Electronics Corporation (a) |
1,539,799 | ||||||
| 9,610 |
Reply SpA |
1,579,557 | ||||||
| 13,567 |
Splunk, Inc. (a) |
1,961,517 | ||||||
| 42,464 |
STMicroelectronics NV - NY |
1,544,840 | ||||||
| 11,515 |
Synaptics, Inc. (a)(c) |
1,791,504 | ||||||
| 6,147 |
Synopsys, Inc. (a) |
1,695,281 | ||||||
| 13,469 |
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd. - ADR |
1,618,435 | ||||||
| 32,978 |
Teradata Corporation (a)(c) |
1,647,911 | ||||||
| 12,628 |
Teradyne, Inc. |
1,691,647 | ||||||
| 8,446 |
Texas Instruments, Inc. |
1,624,166 | ||||||
| 58,888 |
Tower Semiconductor, Ltd. (a) |
1,733,074 | ||||||
| 192,935 |
Wipro, Ltd. - ADR |
1,506,822 | ||||||
| 12,505 |
Xilinx, Inc. |
1,808,723 | ||||||
| 90,540,361 | ||||||||
|
Materials — 1.4% |
||||||||
| 55,100 |
JSR Corporation |
1,668,042 | ||||||
|
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $93,169,669) |
113,888,793 | |||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
12
Defiance Quantum ETF
Schedule of Investments
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
|
Shares |
Security Description |
Value |
||||||
|
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS — 0.4% |
||||||||
| 503,538 |
First American Government Obligations Fund - Class X, 0.03% (d) |
$ | 503,538 | |||||
|
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (Cost $503,538) |
503,538 | |||||||
|
Units |
||||||||
|
INVESTMENTS PURCHASED WITH PROCEEDS FROM SECURITIES LENDING — 16.6% |
||||||||
| 18,960,801 |
Mount Vernon Liquid Assets Portfolio, LLC, 0.11% (d)(e) |
18,960,801 | ||||||
|
TOTAL INVESTMENTS PURCHASED WITH PROCEEDS FROM SECURITIES LENDING (Cost $18,960,801) |
18,960,801 | |||||||
|
TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 116.5% (Cost $112,634,008) |
133,353,132 | |||||||
|
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (16.5)% |
(18,909,722 | ) | ||||||
|
NET ASSETS — 100.0% |
$ | 114,443,410 | ||||||
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 U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
13
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF
Schedule of Investments
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
|
Shares |
Security Description |
Value |
||||||
|
COMMON STOCKS — 99.7% |
||||||||
|
Communication Services — 16.0% |
||||||||
| 196,293 |
Altice USA, Inc. - Class A (a) |
$ | 6,701,443 | |||||
| 1,289,319 |
AT&T, Inc. |
37,106,601 | ||||||
| 278,389 |
BCE, Inc. |
13,730,146 | ||||||
| 35,091 |
Charter Communications, Inc. - Class A (a)(b) |
25,316,402 | ||||||
| 430,638 |
KT Corporation - ADR (a) |
6,007,400 | ||||||
| 440,477 |
Lumen Technologies, Inc. (b) |
5,986,082 | ||||||
| 638,698 |
Orange SA - ADR |
7,306,705 | ||||||
| 133,594 |
Rogers Communications, Inc. - Class B |
7,099,185 | ||||||
| 207,798 |
SK Telecom Company, Ltd. - ADR (a) |
6,526,935 | ||||||
| 1,729,560 |
Telefonica SA - ADR |
8,128,932 | ||||||
| 202,397 |
T-Mobile US, Inc. (a) |
29,313,158 | ||||||
| 655,620 |
Verizon Communications, Inc. |
36,734,389 | ||||||
| 836,032 |
Vodafone Group plc - ADR (b) |
14,321,228 | ||||||
| 204,278,606 | ||||||||
|
Consumer Discretionary — 1.0% |
||||||||
| 3,797 |
Amazon.com, Inc. (a) |
13,062,288 | ||||||
|
Industrials — 0.6% |
||||||||
| 200,949 |
Maxar Technologies, Inc. (b) |
8,021,884 | ||||||
|
Information Technology — 73.0% (c) |
||||||||
| 612,655 |
A10 Networks, Inc. (a)(b) |
6,898,495 | ||||||
| 303,768 |
ADTRAN, Inc. (b) |
6,272,809 | ||||||
| 779,621 |
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (a)(b) |
73,229,800 | ||||||
| 319,607 |
Airgain, Inc. (a) |
6,590,296 | ||||||
| 301,407 |
Akamai Technologies, Inc. (a) |
35,144,056 | ||||||
| 618,658 |
Akoustis Technologies, Inc. (a)(b) |
6,625,827 | ||||||
| 251,543 |
Amdocs, Ltd. |
19,459,367 | ||||||
| 293,186 |
Analog Devices, Inc. (b) |
50,474,902 | ||||||
| 98,069 |
Apple, Inc. |
13,431,530 | ||||||
| 34,657 |
Arista Networks, Inc. (a)(b) |
12,556,578 | ||||||
| 26,871 |
Broadcom, Inc. |
12,813,168 | ||||||
| 153,747 |
Calix, Inc. (a) |
7,302,983 | ||||||
| 131,697 |
Cambium Networks Corporation (a) |
6,367,550 | ||||||
| 704,785 |
Casa Systems, Inc. (a) |
6,251,443 | ||||||
| 1,702,221 |
Ceragon Networks, Ltd. (a) |
6,417,373 | ||||||
| 147,209 |
CEVA, Inc. (a) |
6,962,986 | ||||||
| 286,196 |
Ciena Corporation (a) |
16,281,691 | ||||||
| 230,797 |
Cisco Systems, Inc. |
12,232,241 | ||||||
| 155,672 |
Clearfield, Inc. (a) |
5,829,916 | ||||||
| 312,821 |
CommScope Holding Company, Inc. (a) |
6,666,216 | ||||||
| 285,165 |
Comtech Telecommunications Corporation |
6,889,586 | ||||||
|
COMMON STOCKS — 99.7% (Continued) |
||||||||
|
Information Technology — 73.0% (c) (Continued) |
||||||||
| 204,416 |
Corning, Inc. |
$ | 8,360,614 | |||||
| 145,975 |
CSG Systems International, Inc. |
6,887,101 | ||||||
| 168,876 |
CTS Corporation |
6,275,432 | ||||||
| 119,925 |
Dell Technologies, Inc. - Class C (a) |
11,952,925 | ||||||
| 314,184 |
DZS, Inc. (a) |
6,519,318 | ||||||
| 629,261 |
EMCORE Corporation (a) |
5,801,786 | ||||||
| 564,796 |
Extreme Networks, Inc. (a) |
6,303,123 | ||||||
| 103,350 |
F5 Networks, Inc. (a)(b) |
19,291,311 | ||||||
| 88,411 |
GDS Holdings, Ltd. - ADR (a)(b) |
6,939,379 | ||||||
| 728,447 |
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company |
10,620,757 | ||||||
| 91,188 |
II-VI, Inc. (a)(b) |
6,619,337 | ||||||
| 609,764 |
Infinera Corporation (a)(b) |
6,219,593 | ||||||
| 621,121 |
Inseego Corporation (a)(b) |
6,267,111 | ||||||
| 218,730 |
Intel Corporation |
12,279,502 | ||||||
| 86,749 |
InterDigital, Inc. |
6,335,280 | ||||||
| 32,120 |
IPG Photonics Corporation (a)(b) |
6,769,932 | ||||||
| 307,164 |
Juniper Networks, Inc. |
8,400,935 | ||||||
| 254,494 |
Keysight Technologies, Inc. (a) |
39,296,419 | ||||||
| 162,098 |
Lattice Semiconductor Corporation (a)(b) |
9,106,666 | ||||||
| 1,949,258 |
Limelight Networks, Inc. (a)(b) |
6,140,163 | ||||||
| 80,190 |
Lumentum Holdings, Inc. (a)(b) |
6,577,986 | ||||||
| 111,938 |
MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc. (a) |
7,172,987 | ||||||
| 503,779 |
Marvell Technology, Inc. (b) |
29,385,429 | ||||||
| 184,884 |
Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. |
19,479,378 | ||||||
| 174,227 |
MaxLinear, Inc. (a) |
7,402,905 | ||||||
| 184,037 |
National Instruments Corporation |
7,781,084 | ||||||
| 589,557 |
NeoPhotonics Corporation (a) |
6,019,377 | ||||||
| 211,284 |
NetScout Systems, Inc. (a) |
6,030,045 | ||||||
| 5,619,688 |
Nokia Corporation - ADR (a) |
29,896,740 | ||||||
| 17,954 |
NVIDIA Corporation |
14,364,995 | ||||||
| 204,585 |
NXP Semiconductors NV |
42,087,226 | ||||||
| 96,656 |
Qorvo, Inc. (a) |
18,910,746 | ||||||
| 469,097 |
QUALCOMM, Inc. |
67,048,034 | ||||||
| 213,555 |
Radware, Ltd. (a) |
6,573,223 | ||||||
| 1,663,521 |
Resonant, Inc. (a)(b) |
5,339,902 | ||||||
| 793,801 |
Ribbon Communications, Inc. (a) |
6,040,826 | ||||||
| 396,852 |
Sierra Wireless, Inc. (a) |
7,536,220 | ||||||
| 145,415 |
Silicom, Ltd. (a) |
6,406,985 | ||||||
| 139,983 |
Skyworks Solutions, Inc. |
26,841,740 | ||||||
| 3,060,649 |
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson - ADR |
38,502,964 | ||||||
| 20,913 |
Ubiquiti, Inc. (b) |
6,528,830 | ||||||
| 391,092 |
Viavi Solutions, Inc. (a)(b) |
6,906,685 | ||||||
| 66,255 |
VMware, Inc. - Class A (a)(b) |
10,598,812 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
14
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF
Schedule of Investments
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
|
Shares |
Security Description |
Value |
||||||
|
COMMON STOCKS — 99.7% (Continued) |
||||||||
|
Information Technology — 73.0% (c) (Continued) |
||||||||
| 208,451 |
Xilinx, Inc. |
$ | 30,150,353 | |||||
| 934,668,969 | ||||||||
|
Real Estate — 9.1% |
||||||||
| 122,771 |
American Tower Corporation |
33,165,358 | ||||||
| 47,238 |
CoreSite Realty Corporation |
6,358,235 | ||||||
| 116,924 |
Crown Castle International Corporation |
22,811,872 | ||||||
| 80,167 |
CyrusOne, Inc. (b) |
5,733,544 | ||||||
| 54,278 |
Digital Realty Trust, Inc. |
8,166,668 | ||||||
| 24,232 |
Equinix, Inc. |
19,448,603 | ||||||
| 82,011 |
QTS Realty Trust, Inc. - Class A |
6,339,450 | ||||||
| 27,733 |
SBA Communications Corporation |
8,838,507 | ||||||
| 575,357 |
Uniti Group, Inc. |
6,093,031 | ||||||
| 116,955,268 | ||||||||
|
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $1,054,702,197) |
1,276,987,015 | |||||||
|
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS — 0.2% |
||||||||
| 2,939,551 |
First American Government Obligations Fund - Class X, 0.03% (d) |
2,939,551 | ||||||
|
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (Cost $2,939,551) |
2,939,551 | |||||||
|
Units |
||||||||
|
INVESTMENTS PURCHASED WITH PROCEEDS FROM SECURITIES LENDING — 9.0% |
||||||||
| 115,662,184 |
Mount Vernon Liquid Assets Portfolio, LLC, 0.11% (d)(e) |
115,662,184 | ||||||
|
TOTAL INVESTMENTS PURCHASED WITH PROCEEDS FROM SECURITIES LENDING (Cost $115,662,184) |
115,662,184 | |||||||
|
TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 108.9% (Cost $1,173,303,932) |
1,395,588,750 | |||||||
|
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (8.9)% |
(114,263,411 | ) | ||||||
|
NET ASSETS — 100.0% |
$ | 1,281,325,339 | ||||||
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 U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
15
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF
Schedule of Investments
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
|
Shares |
Security Description |
Value |
||||||
|
COMMON STOCKS — 99.7% |
||||||||
|
Health Care — 99.7% (a) |
||||||||
| 1,655 |
AC Immune SA (b) |
$ | 13,124 | |||||
| 3,105 |
Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc - ADR (b) |
13,227 | ||||||
| 725 |
Adicet Bio, Inc. (b) |
7,460 | ||||||
| 2,230 |
Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. (b) |
7,805 | ||||||
| 1,115 |
Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc. (b) |
7,760 | ||||||
| 1,065 |
Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
17,051 | ||||||
| 2,710 |
Affimed NV (b) |
23,035 | ||||||
| 1,400 |
Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
77,154 | ||||||
| 3,645 |
Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
13,815 | ||||||
| 795 |
Akero Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
19,724 | ||||||
| 785 |
Akouos, Inc. (b) |
9,852 | ||||||
| 1,815 |
Alector, Inc. (b) |
37,806 | ||||||
| 3,650 |
Alkermes plc (b) |
89,498 | ||||||
| 1,220 |
Allakos, Inc. (b) |
104,151 | ||||||
| 3,220 |
Allogene Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
83,978 | ||||||
| 1,480 |
Allovir, Inc. (b) |
29,215 | ||||||
| 875 |
Altimmune, Inc. (b) |
8,619 | ||||||
| 915 |
ALX Oncology Holdings, Inc. (b) |
50,032 | ||||||
| 8,875 |
Amarin Corporation plc - ADR (b) |
38,872 | ||||||
| 6,055 |
Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
58,370 | ||||||
| 1,085 |
Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
21,874 | ||||||
| 625 |
AnaptysBio, Inc. (b) |
16,206 | ||||||
| 290 |
ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
10,164 | ||||||
| 870 |
Annexon, Inc. (b) |
19,584 | ||||||
| 1,830 |
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
115,656 | ||||||
| 870 |
Applied Molecular Transport, Inc. (b) |
39,794 | ||||||
| 595 |
Applied Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
12,364 | ||||||
| 480 |
Aprea Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
2,342 | ||||||
| 2,195 |
Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (b) |
6,651 | ||||||
| 600 |
Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (b) |
20,304 | ||||||
| 1,145 |
Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. (b) |
31,247 | ||||||
| 2,245 |
Ardelyx, Inc. (b) |
17,017 | ||||||
| 1,380 |
Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
94,116 | ||||||
| 1,115 |
Arvinas, Inc. (b) |
85,855 | ||||||
| 915 |
Assembly Biosciences, Inc. (b) |
3,550 | ||||||
| 1,915 |
Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. (b) |
29,778 | ||||||
| 2,130 |
Athenex, Inc. (b) |
9,841 | ||||||
| 685 |
Atreca, Inc. - Class A (b) |
5,836 | ||||||
| 2,915 |
Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
37,778 | ||||||
| 1,230 |
Autolus Therapeutics plc - ADR (b) |
8,167 | ||||||
| 1,330 |
Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc - ADR (b) |
8,951 | ||||||
| 855 |
Avidity Biosciences, Inc. (b) |
21,127 | ||||||
| 950 |
Avrobio, Inc. (b) |
8,445 | ||||||
| 855 |
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
57,678 | ||||||
|
COMMON STOCKS — 99.7% (Continued) |
||||||||
|
Health Care — 99.7% (a) (Continued) |
||||||||
| 1,425 |
Beam Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
$ | 183,412 | |||||
| 4,045 |
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
63,951 | ||||||
| 2,245 |
BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. (b) |
8,037 | ||||||
| 825 |
Black Diamond Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
10,057 | ||||||
| 1,535 |
Bluebird Bio, Inc. (b) |
49,089 | ||||||
| 3,400 |
Bridgebio Pharma, Inc. (b) |
207,264 | ||||||
| 565 |
Cabaletta Bio, Inc. (b) |
4,859 | ||||||
| 1,685 |
Calithera Biosciences, Inc. (b) |
3,522 | ||||||
| 1,140 |
Cara Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
16,268 | ||||||
| 570 |
Castle Biosciences, Inc. (b) |
41,798 | ||||||
| 430 |
Cellectis SA - ADR (b) |
6,652 | ||||||
| 1,590 |
ChemoCentryx, Inc. (b) |
21,290 | ||||||
| 1,320 |
Chiasma, Inc. (b) |
6,244 | ||||||
| 1,015 |
Chinook Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
14,332 | ||||||
| 2,380 |
Clovis Oncology, Inc. (b) |
13,804 | ||||||
| 1,470 |
Codexis, Inc. (b) |
33,310 | ||||||
| 1,725 |
Coherus Biosciences, Inc. (b) |
23,857 | ||||||
| 800 |
Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. (b) |
18,912 | ||||||
| 1,905 |
Compugen, Ltd. (b) |
15,773 | ||||||
| 730 |
Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
3,081 | ||||||
| 1,090 |
Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
36,842 | ||||||
| 675 |
Cortexyme, Inc. (b) |
35,775 | ||||||
| 855 |
Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
16,117 | ||||||
| 1,570 |
Cymabay Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
6,845 | ||||||
| 1,635 |
Cytokinetics, Inc. (b) |
32,357 | ||||||
| 1,480 |
CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
9,368 | ||||||
| 1,320 |
Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
48,325 | ||||||
| 1,750 |
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
65,310 | ||||||
| 300 |
Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc./DE (b) |
12,840 | ||||||
| 1,545 |
Editas Medicine, Inc. (b) |
87,509 | ||||||
| 775 |
Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
6,603 | ||||||
| 460 |
Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
20,245 | ||||||
| 5,310 |
Endo International plc (b) |
24,851 | ||||||
| 2,320 |
Epizyme, Inc. (b) |
19,279 | ||||||
| 640 |
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
13,536 | ||||||
| 2,140 |
Fate Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
185,731 | ||||||
| 2,095 |
FibroGen, Inc. (b) |
55,790 | ||||||
| 1,135 |
Flexion Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
9,341 | ||||||
| 1,080 |
Forma Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (b) |
26,881 | ||||||
| 780 |
Frequency Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
7,769 | ||||||
| 745 |
Fulcrum Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
7,808 | ||||||
| 965 |
Fusion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
7,797 | ||||||
| 960 |
G1 Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
21,062 | ||||||
| 165 |
Galapagos NV - ADR (b) |
11,367 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
16
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF
Schedule of Investments
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
|
Shares |
Security Description |
Value |
||||||
|
COMMON STOCKS — 99.7% (Continued) |
||||||||
|
Health Care — 99.7% (a) (Continued) |
||||||||
| 1,350 |
Gamida Cell, Ltd. (b) |
$ | 8,654 | |||||
| 1,290 |
Generation Bio Company (b) |
34,701 | ||||||
| 1,090 |
Genmab AS - ADR (b) |
44,505 | ||||||
| 7,250 |
Geron Corporation (b) |
10,222 | ||||||
| 1,415 |
Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
49,553 | ||||||
| 1,730 |
Gossamer Bio, Inc. (b) |
14,048 | ||||||
| 2,720 |
Grifols SA - ADR |
47,192 | ||||||
| 3,240 |
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
147,128 | ||||||
| 740 |
Harpoon Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
10,264 | ||||||
| 1,300 |
Homology Medicines, Inc. (b) |
9,451 | ||||||
| 1,230 |
Hutchmed China, Ltd. - ADR (b) |
48,302 | ||||||
| 750 |
Ideaya Biosciences, Inc. (b) |
15,742 | ||||||
| 585 |
IGM Biosciences, Inc. (b) |
48,672 | ||||||
| 725 |
I-Mab - ADR (b) |
60,864 | ||||||
| 495 |
Immunic, Inc. (b) |
6,069 | ||||||
| 8,740 |
ImmunityBio, Inc. (b) |
124,807 | ||||||
| 4,550 |
ImmunoGen, Inc. (b) |
29,984 | ||||||
| 2,230 |
Immunovant, Inc. (b) |
23,571 | ||||||
| 1,580 |
Innoviva, Inc. (b) |
21,188 | ||||||
| 4,765 |
Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
44,172 | ||||||
| 535 |
Inozyme Pharma, Inc. (b) |
9,116 | ||||||
| 2,620 |
Insmed, Inc. (b) |
74,565 | ||||||
| 1,550 |
Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
250,960 | ||||||
| 755 |
Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
15,077 | ||||||
| 1,850 |
Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc. (b) |
75,517 | ||||||
| 3,685 |
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
47,426 | ||||||
| 800 |
iTeos Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
20,520 | ||||||
| 2,055 |
IVERIC bio, Inc. (b) |
12,967 | ||||||
| 1,165 |
Jounce Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
7,922 | ||||||
| 3,915 |
Kadmon Holdings, Inc. (b) |
15,151 | ||||||
| 1,470 |
Kala Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
7,791 | ||||||
| 970 |
Kaleido Biosciences, Inc. (b) |
7,217 | ||||||
| 555 |
KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
13,298 | ||||||
| 1,020 |
Kamada, Ltd. (b) |
5,936 | ||||||
| 670 |
Karuna Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
76,373 | ||||||
| 1,710 |
Karyopharm Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
17,647 | ||||||
| 530 |
Keros Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
22,509 | ||||||
| 1,095 |
Kezar Life Sciences, Inc. (b) |
5,946 | ||||||
| 735 |
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. - Class A (b) |
10,239 | ||||||
| 1,165 |
Kodiak Sciences, Inc. (b) |
108,345 | ||||||
| 505 |
Krystal Biotech, Inc. (b) |
34,340 | ||||||
| 1,510 |
Kura Oncology, Inc. (b) |
31,483 | ||||||
| 350 |
Larimar Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
3,437 | ||||||
| 570 |
Legend Biotech Corporation - ADR (b) |
23,398 | ||||||
|
COMMON STOCKS — 99.7% (Continued) |
||||||||
|
Health Care — 99.7% (a) (Continued) |
||||||||
| 380 |
Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
$ | 49,852 | |||||
| 1,075 |
Luminex Corporation |
39,560 | ||||||
| 1,365 |
MacroGenics, Inc. (b) |
36,664 | ||||||
| 380 |
Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
37,016 | ||||||
| 1,325 |
Magenta Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
12,959 | ||||||
| 5,670 |
MannKind Corporation (b) |
30,902 | ||||||
| 835 |
Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
14,980 | ||||||
| 1,110 |
MediciNova, Inc. (b) |
4,718 | ||||||
| 820 |
Medpace Holdings, Inc. (b) |
144,837 | ||||||
| 1,010 |
MeiraGTx Holdings plc (b) |
15,655 | ||||||
| 1,585 |
Mersana Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
21,524 | ||||||
| 1,755 |
Myriad Genetics, Inc. (b) |
53,668 | ||||||
| 1,030 |
NanoString Technologies, Inc. (b) |
66,734 | ||||||
| 4,150 |
Nektar Therapeutics (b) |
71,214 | ||||||
| 965 |
Neoleukin Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
8,907 | ||||||
| 630 |
NextCure, Inc. (b) |
5,059 | ||||||
| 1,755 |
NGM Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
34,609 | ||||||
| 745 |
Nkarta, Inc. (b) |
23,609 | ||||||
| 1,010 |
Nurix Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
26,795 | ||||||
| 1,735 |
Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. (b) |
24,602 | ||||||
| 875 |
Odonate Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
3,054 | ||||||
| 1,420 |
Omeros Corporation (b) |
21,073 | ||||||
| 15,255 |
OPKO Health, Inc. (b) |
61,783 | ||||||
| 1,520 |
Orchard Therapeutics plc - ADR (b) |
6,673 | ||||||
| 835 |
ORIC Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
14,771 | ||||||
| 1,430 |
Osmotica Pharmaceuticals plc (b) |
4,304 | ||||||
| 1,545 |
Ovid therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
6,041 | ||||||
| 4,515 |
Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. (b) |
157,890 | ||||||
| 1,000 |
Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (b) |
60,680 | ||||||
| 1,070 |
Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
7,297 | ||||||
| 1,230 |
Passage Bio, Inc. (b) |
16,285 | ||||||
| 2,625 |
PDL BioPharma, Inc. (b)(f) |
6,484 | ||||||
| 1,000 |
Personalis, Inc. (b) |
25,300 | ||||||
| 645 |
PetIQ, Inc. (b) |
24,897 | ||||||
| 465 |
Phibro Animal Health Corporation - Class A |
13,429 | ||||||
| 815 |
Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
23,733 | ||||||
| 1,415 |
Poseida Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
14,178 | ||||||
| 4,700 |
Precigen, Inc. (b) |
30,644 | ||||||
| 1,310 |
Precision BioSciences, Inc. (b) |
16,401 | ||||||
| 1,000 |
Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
44,880 | ||||||
| 1,005 |
Prothena Corporation plc (b) |
51,667 | ||||||
| 1,445 |
Provention Bio, Inc. (b) |
12,181 | ||||||
| 1,605 |
PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
67,843 | ||||||
| 920 |
Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (b) |
8,446 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
17
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF
Schedule of Investments
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
|
Shares |
Security Description |
Value |
||||||
|
COMMON STOCKS — 99.7% (Continued) |
||||||||
|
Health Care — 99.7% (a) (Continued) |
||||||||
| 1,075 |
Radius Health, Inc. (b) |
$ | 19,608 | |||||
| 570 |
RAPT Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
18,120 | ||||||
| 715 |
Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - Class A (b) |
101,194 | ||||||
| 1,060 |
Redhill Biopharma, Ltd. - ADR (b) |
7,293 | ||||||
| 970 |
REGENXBIO, Inc. (b) |
37,685 | ||||||
| 2,105 |
Relay Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
77,022 | ||||||
| 380 |
Relmada Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
12,164 | ||||||
| 840 |
Repare Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
26,191 | ||||||
| 1,060 |
Replimune Group, Inc. (b) |
40,725 | ||||||
| 1,630 |
Revance Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
48,313 | ||||||
| 1,670 |
REVOLUTION Medicines, Inc. (b) |
53,006 | ||||||
| 1,145 |
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
22,419 | ||||||
| 3,875 |
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
16,818 | ||||||
| 1,445 |
Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
63,999 | ||||||
| 2,035 |
Rubius Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
49,674 | ||||||
| 1,330 |
Sage Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
75,557 | ||||||
| 3,275 |
Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
39,202 | ||||||
| 785 |
Scholar Rock Holding Corporation (b) |
22,687 | ||||||
| 2,575 |
Selecta Biosciences, Inc. (b) |
10,764 | ||||||
| 2,085 |
Seres Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
49,727 | ||||||
| 1,730 |
SIGA Technologies, Inc. (b) |
10,864 | ||||||
| 3,675 |
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
13,781 | ||||||
| 675 |
Spero Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
9,423 | ||||||
| 1,115 |
SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
91,887 | ||||||
| 835 |
Stoke Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
28,106 | ||||||
| 2,215 |
Summit Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
16,526 | ||||||
| 1,205 |
Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
37,102 | ||||||
| 990 |
Surface Oncology, Inc. (b) |
7,385 | ||||||
| 1,050 |
Sutro Biopharma, Inc. (b) |
19,520 | ||||||
| 1,100 |
Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
18,887 | ||||||
| 1,410 |
Syros Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
7,685 | ||||||
| 870 |
TCR2 Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
14,277 | ||||||
| 8,950 |
TherapeuticsMD, Inc. (b) |
10,651 | ||||||
|
COMMON STOCKS — 99.7% (Continued) |
||||||||
|
Health Care — 99.7% (a) (Continued) |
||||||||
| 1,485 |
Theravance Biopharma, Inc. (b) |
$ | 21,562 | |||||
| 1,715 |
Translate Bio, Inc. (b) |
47,231 | ||||||
| 1,375 |
Travere Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
20,061 | ||||||
| 1,145 |
Tricida, Inc. (b) |
4,946 | ||||||
| 1,120 |
Turning Point Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
87,382 | ||||||
| 1,115 |
Twist Bioscience Corporation (b) |
148,574 | ||||||
| 1,050 |
uniQure NV (b) |
32,340 | ||||||
| 1,250 |
UNITY Biotechnology, Inc. (b) |
5,800 | ||||||
| 510 |
UroGen Pharma, Ltd. (b) |
7,788 | ||||||
| 1,265 |
Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
27,210 | ||||||
| 1,170 |
Vaxcyte, Inc. (b) |
26,337 | ||||||
| 1,530 |
Veracyte, Inc. (b) |
61,169 | ||||||
| 3,915 |
Verastem, Inc. (b) |
15,934 | ||||||
| 2,960 |
Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (b) |
139,949 | ||||||
| 860 |
Voyager Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
3,552 | ||||||
| 1,170 |
VYNE Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
4,107 | ||||||
| 1,135 |
WaVe Life Sciences, Ltd. (b) |
7,559 | ||||||
| 685 |
XBiotech, Inc. (b) |
11,344 | ||||||
| 1,325 |
Xencor, Inc. (b) |
45,699 | ||||||
| 935 |
Xenon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
17,410 | ||||||
| 1,510 |
Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
6,146 | ||||||
| 990 |
Y-mAbs Therapeutics, Inc. (b) |
33,462 | ||||||
| 1,395 |
Zai Lab, Ltd. - ADR (b) |
246,902 | ||||||
| 940 |
Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b) |
50,008 | ||||||
| 4,905 |
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. (b) |
12,949 | ||||||
| 1,270 |
Zogenix, Inc. (b) |
21,946 | ||||||
| 8,215,429 | ||||||||
|
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $7,656,977) |
8,215,429 | |||||||
|
CONTINGENT VALUE RIGHTS — 0.0% (c) |
||||||||
| 43 |
Adicet Bio, Inc. (b)(d)(e) |
0 | ||||||
|
TOTAL CONTINGENT VALUE RIGHTS (Cost $0) |
0 | |||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
18
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF
Schedule of Investments
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
| Shares | Security Description | Value | ||||||
| SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS — 0.3% | ||||||||
| 29,507 | First American Government Obligations Fund - Class X, 0.03% (g) | $ | 29,507 | |||||
| TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (Cost $29,507) | 29,507 | |||||||
| TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 100.0% (Cost $7,686,484) | 8,244,936 | |||||||
| Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.0)% (c) | (2,725 | ) | ||||||
| NET ASSETS — 100.0% | $ | 8,242,211 | ||||||
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 U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
19
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF
Schedule of Investments
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
|
Shares |
Security Description |
Value |
||||||
|
COMMON STOCKS — 62.8% |
||||||||
|
Communication Services — 2.8% |
||||||||
| 18,228 |
Advantage Solutions, Inc. (a) |
$ | 196,680 | |||||
| 5,914 |
AST SpaceMobile, Inc. - Class A (a) |
76,527 | ||||||
| 6,354 |
CuriosityStream, Inc. (a) |
86,668 | ||||||
| 4,523 |
Digital Media Solutions, Inc. - Class A (a) |
43,783 | ||||||
| 7,793 |
Genius Sports, Ltd. (a) |
146,275 | ||||||
| 5,131 |
Playstudios, Inc. (a) |
38,072 | ||||||
| 52,818 |
Skillz, Inc. (a) |
1,147,207 | ||||||
| 1,735,212 | ||||||||
|
Consumer Discretionary — 14.8% |
||||||||
| 14,493 |
Accel Entertainment, Inc. (a) |
172,032 | ||||||
| 14,939 |
Arko Corporation (a) |
137,289 | ||||||
| 30,898 |
Arrival SA (a) |
484,172 | ||||||
| 5,512 |
Beachbody Company, Inc. (a) |
57,325 | ||||||
| 3,776 |
Betterware de Mexico SAB de CV |
188,875 | ||||||
| 22,963 |
Canoo, Inc. (a) |
228,252 | ||||||
| 16,730 |
CarLotz, Inc. (a) |
91,346 | ||||||
| 65,184 |
DraftKings, Inc. - Class A (a) |
3,400,649 | ||||||
| 6,439 |
Electric Last Mile Solutions, Inc. (a) |
64,905 | ||||||
| 30,742 |
Fisker, Inc. (a) |
592,706 | ||||||
| 9,449 |
Golden Nugget Online Gaming, Inc. (a) |
120,569 | ||||||
| 13,834 |
Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company (a) |
54,368 | ||||||
| 20,699 |
Kaixin Auto Holdings (a) |
48,643 | ||||||
| 5,666 |
Landsea Homes Corporation (a) |
47,424 | ||||||
| 2,407 |
Lazydays Holdings, Inc. (a) |
52,954 | ||||||
| 25,351 |
Lordstown Motors Corporation - Class A (a) |
280,382 | ||||||
| 39,040 |
Luminar Technologies, Inc. (a) |
856,928 | ||||||
| 12,036 |
OneSpaWorld Holdings, Ltd. (a) |
116,629 | ||||||
| 6,778 |
PARTS iD, Inc. (a) |
40,939 | ||||||
| 2,634 |
PLBY Group, Inc. (a) |
102,436 | ||||||
| 15,134 |
Porch Group, Inc. (a) |
292,692 | ||||||
| 29,455 |
QuantumScape Corporation (a) |
861,853 | ||||||
| 10,484 |
Rush Street Interactive, Inc. (a) |
128,534 | ||||||
| 11,686 |
Shift Technologies, Inc. (a) |
100,266 | ||||||
| 18,895 |
Target Hospitality Corporation (a) |
70,100 | ||||||
| 6,609 |
The Original BARK Company (a) |
73,228 | ||||||
| 10,056 |
Vivint Smart Home, Inc. (a) |
132,739 | ||||||
| 21,054 |
XL Fleet Corporation (a) |
175,380 | ||||||
| 8,973,615 | ||||||||
|
Consumer Staples — 2.1% |
||||||||
| 13,947 |
AppHarvest, Inc. (a) |
223,152 | ||||||
| 3,717 |
Bioceres Crop Solutions Corporation (a) |
52,224 | ||||||
|
COMMON STOCKS — 62.8% (Continued) |
||||||||
|
Consumer Staples — 2.1% (Continued) |
||||||||
| 8,369 |
HF Foods Group, Inc. (a) |
$ | 44,272 | |||||
| 10,768 |
Tattooed Chef, Inc. (a) |
230,973 | ||||||
| 14,941 |
The Beauty Health Company - Class A (a) |
251,009 | ||||||
| 13,234 |
Utz Brands, Inc. |
288,369 | ||||||
| 6,015 |
Vintage Wine Estates, Inc. (a) |
72,180 | ||||||
| 7,988 |
Whole Earth Brands, Inc. (a) |
115,826 | ||||||
| 1,278,005 | ||||||||
|
Energy — 0.1% |
||||||||
| 11,998 |
Falcon Minerals Corporation |
60,950 | ||||||
|
Financials — 4.4% |
||||||||
| 8,769 |
Blue Owl Capital, Inc. - Class A (a) |
112,945 | ||||||
| 28,659 |
Broadmark Realty Capital, Inc. |
303,499 | ||||||
| 8,594 |
Diginex, Ltd. (a) |
56,291 | ||||||
| 10,629 |
Finance Of America Companies, Inc. - Class A (a) |
81,099 | ||||||
| 7,575 |
GCM Grosvenor, Inc. - Class A |
78,931 | ||||||
| 6,736 |
International General Insurance Holdings, Ltd. |
62,645 | ||||||
| 7,860 |
Katapult Holdings, Inc. (a) |
84,966 | ||||||
| 16,020 |
MetroMile, Inc. (a) |
146,583 | ||||||
| 22,634 |
Open Lending Corporation - Class A (a) |
975,299 | ||||||
| 6,416 |
Perella Weinberg Partners (a) |
82,510 | ||||||
| 25,854 |
SoFi Technologies, Inc. (a) |
495,621 | ||||||
| 20,586 |
UWM Holdings Corporation |
173,952 | ||||||
| 2,654,341 | ||||||||
|
Health Care — 7.7% |
||||||||
| 16,160 |
23andMe Holding Company - Class A (a) |
188,910 | ||||||
| 12,968 |
AdaptHealth Corporation (a) |
355,453 | ||||||
| 6,702 |
ATI Physical Therapy, Inc. - Class A (a) |
63,937 | ||||||
| 31,269 |
Butterfly Network, Inc. (a) |
452,775 | ||||||
| 17,554 |
Cano Health, Inc. - Class A (a) |
212,404 | ||||||
| 4,620 |
CareMax, Inc. - Class A (a) |
59,598 | ||||||
| 8,420 |
Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (a) |
215,720 | ||||||
| 7,787 |
Clene, Inc. (a) |
87,526 | ||||||
| 5,335 |
Clever Leaves Holdings, Inc. (a) |
54,150 | ||||||
| 25,062 |
Clover Health Investments Corporation (a) |
333,826 | ||||||
| 5,360 |
DermTech, Inc. (a) |
222,815 | ||||||
| 6,373 |
Gemini Therapeutics, Inc. (a) |
41,233 | ||||||
| 15,293 |
Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (a) |
166,541 | ||||||
| 9,569 |
Immatics NV (a) |
111,096 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
20
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF
Schedule of Investments
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
|
Shares |
Security Description |
Value |
||||||
|
COMMON STOCKS — 62.8% (Continued) |
||||||||
|
Health Care — 7.7% (Continued) |
||||||||
| 9,254 |
Immunovant, Inc. (a) |
$ | 97,815 | |||||
| 69,018 |
Multiplan Corporation (a) |
657,051 | ||||||
| 4,639 |
Nautilus Biotechnology, Inc. (a) |
46,854 | ||||||
| 19,657 |
New Frontier Health Corporation (a) |
219,569 | ||||||
| 4,131 |
NRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) |
48,002 | ||||||
| 35,858 |
Nuvation Bio, Inc. (a) |
333,838 | ||||||
| 25,740 |
Quantum-Si, Inc. - Class A (a) |
315,572 | ||||||
| 7,747 |
SOC Telemed, Inc. (a) |
44,081 | ||||||
| 13,414 |
Talkspace, Inc. (a) |
111,470 | ||||||
| 26,092 |
UpHealth, Inc. (a) |
175,860 | ||||||
| 3,247 |
Vincerx Pharma, Inc. (a) |
42,179 | ||||||
| 4,658,275 | ||||||||
|
Industrials — 15.9% |
||||||||
| 6,582 |
Advent Technologies Holdings, Inc. (a) |
63,451 | ||||||
| 4,485 |
AerSale Corporation (a) |
55,883 | ||||||
| 5,033 |
Alta Equipment Group, Inc. (a) |
66,889 | ||||||
| 6,084 |
Atlas Technical Consultants, Inc. (a) |
58,893 | ||||||
| 8,932 |
Blade Air Mobility, Inc. - Class A (a) |
93,786 | ||||||
| 33,490 |
ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (a) |
1,163,443 | ||||||
| 74,336 |
Clarivate plc (a) |
2,046,470 | ||||||
| 6,864 |
Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc. (a) |
58,138 | ||||||
| 10,488 |
Custom Truck One Source, Inc. - Class A (a) |
99,846 | ||||||
| 31,227 |
Desktop Metal, Inc. - Class A (a) |
359,111 | ||||||
| 9,530 |
Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. (a) |
171,159 | ||||||
| 24,046 |
Hyliion Holdings Corporation (a) |
280,136 | ||||||
| 11,076 |
Janus International Group, Inc. (a) |
156,504 | ||||||
| 8,410 |
Lightning eMotors, Inc. (a) |
69,887 | ||||||
| 10,376 |
Lion Electric Company (a) |
201,709 | ||||||
| 14,547 |
PAE, Inc. (a) |
129,468 | ||||||
| 8,968 |
Proterra, Inc. (a) |
153,442 | ||||||
| 20,915 |
Romeo Power, Inc. (a) |
170,248 | ||||||
| 17,413 |
Skillsoft Corporation (a) |
171,518 | ||||||
| 11,590 |
Stem, Inc. (a) |
417,356 | ||||||
| 63,388 |
Vertiv Holdings Company |
1,730,492 | ||||||
| 27,219 |
View, Inc. (a) |
230,817 | ||||||
| 36,751 |
Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (a) |
1,690,546 | ||||||
| 9,639,192 | ||||||||
|
Information Technology — 9.3% |
||||||||
| 18,948 |
Aeva Technologies, Inc. (a) |
200,280 | ||||||
| 20,776 |
BTRS Holdings, Inc. (a) |
262,193 | ||||||
| 39,080 |
E2open Parent Holdings, Inc. (a) |
446,294 | ||||||
| 6,534 |
Global Blue Group Holding AG (a) |
64,817 | ||||||
| 5,748 |
Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc. - Class A (a) |
86,392 | ||||||
|
COMMON STOCKS — 62.8% (Continued) |
||||||||
|
Information Technology — 9.3% (Continued) |
||||||||
| 11,173 |
indie Semiconductor, Inc. - Class A (a) |
$ | 110,389 | |||||
| 29,578 |
Innoviz Technologies, Ltd. (a) |
312,640 | ||||||
| 32,483 |
ironSource, Ltd. - Class A (a) |
341,072 | ||||||
| 4,169 |
Kaleyra, Inc. (a) |
51,029 | ||||||
| 9,744 |
Latch, Inc. (a) |
119,559 | ||||||
| 6,493 |
LiveVox Holdings, Inc. (a) |
54,217 | ||||||
| 20,813 |
Ouster, Inc. (a) |
259,954 | ||||||
| 17,974 |
Paya Holdings, Inc. (a) |
198,074 | ||||||
| 24,368 |
Payoneer Global, Inc. (a) |
252,696 | ||||||
| 164,563 |
Paysafe, Ltd. (a) |
1,992,858 | ||||||
| 17,348 |
Repay Holdings Corporation (a) |
417,046 | ||||||
| 7,409 |
Taboola.com, Ltd. (a) |
76,683 | ||||||
| 6,890 |
Triterras, Inc. - Class A (a) |
47,954 | ||||||
| 23,189 |
Velodyne Lidar, Inc. (a) |
246,731 | ||||||
| 8,119 |
WM Technology, Inc. (a) |
145,005 | ||||||
| 5,685,883 | ||||||||
|
Materials — 3.9% |
||||||||
| 15,686 |
Danimer Scientific, Inc. (a) |
392,934 | ||||||
| 14,461 |
Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation (a) |
44,251 | ||||||
| 24,885 |
MP Materials Corporation (a) |
917,261 | ||||||
| 23,207 |
Origin Materials, Inc. (a) |
190,297 | ||||||
| 18,881 |
PureCycle Technologies, Inc. (a) |
446,536 | ||||||
| 14,291 |
Ranpak Holdings Corporation (a) |
357,704 | ||||||
| 2,348,983 | ||||||||
|
Real Estate — 1.8% |
||||||||
| 57,913 |
Opendoor Technologies, Inc. (a) |
1,026,798 | ||||||
| 22,979 |
Ucommune International, Ltd. - Class A (a) |
51,013 | ||||||
| 1,077,811 | ||||||||
|
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $42,190,365) |
38,112,267 | |||||||
|
SPECIAL PURPOSE ACQUISITION COMPANIES — 36.8% |
||||||||
| 5,417 |
10X Capital Venture Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
53,953 | ||||||
| 5,976 |
ACE Convergence Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
59,491 | ||||||
| 6,522 |
ACON S2 Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
64,568 | ||||||
| 12,115 |
AEA-Bridges Impact Corporation - Class A (a) |
118,000 | ||||||
| 23,532 |
Ajax I - Class A (a) |
234,379 | ||||||
| 15,426 |
Altimeter Growth Corporation (a) |
180,484 | ||||||
| 14,088 |
Altimeter Growth Corporation 2 - Class A (a) |
144,402 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
21
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF
Schedule of Investments
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
|
Shares |
Security Description |
Value |
||||||
|
SPECIAL PURPOSE ACQUISITION COMPANIES — 36.8% (Continued) |
||||||||
| 6,888 |
Altitude Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
$ | 67,434 | |||||
| 9,305 |
Alussa Energy Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
92,213 | ||||||
| 11,417 |
Apex Technology Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
139,858 | ||||||
| 19,808 |
Apollo Strategic Growth Capital - Class A (a) |
193,722 | ||||||
| 10,936 |
Apollo Strategic Growth Capital II - Class A (a) |
106,517 | ||||||
| 25,984 |
Ares Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
253,344 | ||||||
| 13,430 |
Ascendant Digital Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
133,629 | ||||||
| 7,787 |
Aspirational Consumer Lifestyle Corporation - Class A (a) |
77,714 | ||||||
| 5,579 |
Atlantic Avenue Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
54,172 | ||||||
| 12,992 |
Atlas Crest Investment Corporation - Class A (a) |
129,400 | ||||||
| 15,843 |
Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation I - Class A (a) |
157,163 | ||||||
| 31,687 |
Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II - Class A (a) |
308,315 | ||||||
| 19,228 |
Avanti Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
187,281 | ||||||
| 19,732 |
Bluescape Opportunities Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
193,571 | ||||||
| 15,655 |
BowX Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
180,033 | ||||||
| 5,069 |
Bridgetown 2 Holdings, Ltd. - Class A (a) |
51,704 | ||||||
| 16,851 |
Bridgetown Holdings, Ltd. - Class A (a) |
170,532 | ||||||
| 9,916 |
Broadstone Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
97,970 | ||||||
| 11,205 |
Burgundy Technology Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
110,369 | ||||||
| 6,698 |
Capitol Investment Corporation V - Class A (a) |
66,779 | ||||||
| 8,858 |
Capstar Special Purpose Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
86,720 | ||||||
| 9,245 |
Carney Technology Acquisition Corporation II - Class A (a) |
89,676 | ||||||
| 9,243 |
CBRE Acquisition Holdings, Inc. - Class A (a) |
89,750 | ||||||
| 26,611 |
CC Neuberger Principal Holdings II - Class A (a) |
263,183 | ||||||
|
SPECIAL PURPOSE ACQUISITION COMPANIES — 36.8% (Continued) |
||||||||
| 7,672 |
Cerberus Telecom Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
$ | 76,183 | |||||
| 7,470 |
CF Finance Acquisition Corporation III (a) |
74,924 | ||||||
| 7,795 |
CHP Merger Corporation - Class A (a) |
77,560 | ||||||
| 66,959 |
Churchill Capital Corporation IV - Class A (a) |
1,929,758 | ||||||
| 9,188 |
Churchill Capital Corporation V - Class A (a) |
92,523 | ||||||
| 35,859 |
Churchill Capital Corporation VII - Class A (a) |
348,908 | ||||||
| 8,964 |
CITIC Capital Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
88,833 | ||||||
| 5,976 |
Climate Change Crisis Real Impact I Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
89,760 | ||||||
| 11,504 |
CM Life Sciences, Inc. - Class A (a) |
161,171 | ||||||
| 26,861 |
Cohn Robbins Holdings Corporation - Class A (a) |
264,581 | ||||||
| 25,575 |
Compute Health Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
251,146 | ||||||
| 6,295 |
Concord Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
62,006 | ||||||
| 24,275 |
Conx Corporation - Class A (a) |
239,351 | ||||||
| 11,173 |
D8 Holdings Corporation - Class A (a) |
111,395 | ||||||
| 5,865 |
Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
60,468 | ||||||
| 7,308 |
dMY Technology Group Inc III - Class A (a) |
78,123 | ||||||
| 9,695 |
DPCM Capital, Inc. - Class A (a) |
95,787 | ||||||
| 21,827 |
Dragoneer Growth Opportunities Corporation - Class A (a) |
217,397 | ||||||
| 8,858 |
Dragoneer Growth Opportunities Corporation II (a) |
89,466 | ||||||
| 6,666 |
Dragoneer Growth Opportunities Corporation III - Class A (a) |
66,660 | ||||||
| 19,244 |
E.Merge Technology Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
187,821 | ||||||
| 8,964 |
East Resources Acquisition Company - Class A (a) |
87,489 | ||||||
| 8,113 |
Empower, Ltd. - Class A (a) |
81,211 | ||||||
| 13,414 |
Equity Distribution Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
132,262 | ||||||
| 13,321 |
Executive Network Partnering Corporation - Class A (a) |
129,747 | ||||||
| 11,124 |
Falcon Capital Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
103,231 | ||||||
| 13,642 |
Far Peak Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
135,738 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
22
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF
Schedule of Investments
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
|
Shares |
Security Description |
Value |
||||||
|
SPECIAL PURPOSE ACQUISITION COMPANIES — 36.8% (Continued) |
||||||||
| 6,463 |
Fast Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
$ | 76,328 | |||||
| 7,751 |
FG New America Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
79,138 | ||||||
| 7,919 |
Fifth Wall Acquisition Corporation I - Class A (a) |
97,483 | ||||||
| 5,701 |
Fintech Acquisition Corporation V - Class A (a) |
69,495 | ||||||
| 10,757 |
FirstMark Horizon Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
106,817 | ||||||
| 33,130 |
Foley Trasimene Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
323,680 | ||||||
| 9,094 |
Fusion Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
90,485 | ||||||
| 18,303 |
GO Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
179,003 | ||||||
| 7,845 |
Golden Falcon Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
76,253 | ||||||
| 16,695 |
Gores Holdings V, Inc. - Class A (a) |
168,619 | ||||||
| 6,339 |
Gores Holdings VI, Inc. - Class A (a) |
102,755 | ||||||
| 7,726 |
Gores Metropoulos II, Inc. - Class A (a) |
76,410 | ||||||
| 24,295 |
GS Acquisition Holdings Corporation II - Class A (a) |
252,668 | ||||||
| 9,338 |
GX Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
95,061 | ||||||
| 16,240 |
Health Assurance Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
162,562 | ||||||
| 8,606 |
Healthcare Services Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
83,306 | ||||||
| 6,049 |
Hennessy Capital Investment Corporation V - Class A (a) |
61,155 | ||||||
| 9,457 |
HIG Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
91,827 | ||||||
| 7,253 |
Holicity, Inc. - Class A (a) |
89,575 | ||||||
| 12,569 |
Horizon Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
125,062 | ||||||
| 17,034 |
Horizon Acquisition Corporation II - Class A (a) |
166,422 | ||||||
| 8,055 |
HPX Corporation - Class A (a) |
79,342 | ||||||
| 7,795 |
IG Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
75,923 | ||||||
| 9,845 |
Investindustrial Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
96,087 | ||||||
| 5,741 |
Ivanhoe Capital Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
58,386 | ||||||
| 20,170 |
Jaws Mustang Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
196,859 | ||||||
|
SPECIAL PURPOSE ACQUISITION COMPANIES — 36.8% (Continued) |
||||||||
| 7,840 |
Jaws Spitfire Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
$ | 78,478 | |||||
| 5,928 |
Khosla Ventures Acquisition Company (a) |
58,628 | ||||||
| 6,334 |
KINS Technology Group, Inc. - Class A (a) |
62,453 | ||||||
| 10,280 |
Kismet Acquisition One Corporation (a) |
101,875 | ||||||
| 18,824 |
KKR Acquisition Holdings I Corporation - Class A (a) |
184,852 | ||||||
| 15,655 |
Landcadia Holdings III, Inc. - Class A (a) |
194,122 | ||||||
| 5,450 |
Lefteris Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
53,137 | ||||||
| 5,781 |
Legato Merger Corporation (a) |
57,926 | ||||||
| 9,754 |
Liberty Media Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
99,296 | ||||||
| 7,488 |
Lionheart Acquisition Corporation II - Class A (a) |
73,832 | ||||||
| 5,760 |
Live Oak Acquisition Corporation II - Class A (a) |
57,139 | ||||||
| 11,205 |
Lux Health Tech Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
110,817 | ||||||
| 8,469 |
Marquee Raine Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
83,843 | ||||||
| 13,338 |
Montes Archimedes Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
131,913 | ||||||
| 7,607 |
Motive Capital Corporation - Class A (a) |
74,320 | ||||||
| 5,811 |
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation II - Class A (a) |
72,405 | ||||||
| 5,152 |
Natural Order Acquisition Corporation (a) |
50,387 | ||||||
| 7,470 |
NavSight Holdings, Inc. - Class A (a) |
74,551 | ||||||
| 5,131 |
Nebula Caravel Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
51,259 | ||||||
| 12,180 |
NextGen Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
121,069 | ||||||
| 9,054 |
Northern Star Investment Corporation II - Class A (a) |
90,178 | ||||||
| 6,496 |
Oaktree Acquisition Corporation II - Class A (a) |
64,180 | ||||||
| 5,461 |
Omnichannel Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
53,682 | ||||||
| 6,853 |
One - Class A (a) |
68,393 | ||||||
| 10,090 |
Osprey Technology Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
100,799 | ||||||
| 7,795 |
Peridot Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
94,943 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
23
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF
Schedule of Investments
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
|
Shares |
Security Description |
Value |
||||||
|
SPECIAL PURPOSE ACQUISITION COMPANIES — 36.8% (Continued) |
||||||||
| 64,898 |
Pershing Square Tontine Holdings, Ltd. - Class A (a) |
$ | 1,477,078 | |||||
| 6,999 |
Pioneer Merger Corporation - Class A (a) |
69,360 | ||||||
| 15,797 |
Pontem Corporation - Class A (a) |
153,547 | ||||||
| 7,258 |
Primavera Capital Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
70,911 | ||||||
| 5,522 |
Prime Impact Acquisition I - Class A (a) |
53,840 | ||||||
| 9,587 |
Property Solutions Acquisition Corporation (a) |
149,365 | ||||||
| 8,291 |
Qell Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
82,495 | ||||||
| 18,416 |
RedBall Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
179,924 | ||||||
| 22,411 |
Reinvent Technology Partners - Class A (a) |
223,662 | ||||||
| 11,943 |
Reinvent Technology Partners Y - Class A (a) |
117,997 | ||||||
| 7,470 |
Reinvent Technology Partners Z - Class A (a) |
74,177 | ||||||
| 6,592 |
Revolution Acceleration Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
65,722 | ||||||
| 12,750 |
Ribbit LEAP, Ltd. - Class A (a) |
136,298 | ||||||
| 7,705 |
Rice Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
139,075 | ||||||
| 7,865 |
RMG Acquisition Corporation II - Class A (a) |
78,257 | ||||||
| 7,470 |
Rodgers Silicon Valley Acquisition Corporation (a) |
171,586 | ||||||
| 7,521 |
Roman DBDR Tech Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
76,037 | ||||||
| 5,816 |
Rotor Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
58,044 | ||||||
| 6,821 |
Sandbridge Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
68,074 | ||||||
| 13,203 |
ScION Tech Growth I - Class A (a) |
128,993 | ||||||
| 5,976 |
SCVX Corporation - Class A (a) |
59,103 | ||||||
| 7,607 |
Senior Connect Acquisition Corporation I - Class A (a) |
74,016 | ||||||
| 5,938 |
Seven Oaks Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
58,727 | ||||||
| 30,299 |
Soaring Eagle Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
301,778 | ||||||
| 14,756 |
Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings Corporation IV - Class A (a) |
153,315 | ||||||
| 36,979 |
Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings Corporation VI - Class A (a) |
377,186 | ||||||
|
SPECIAL PURPOSE ACQUISITION COMPANIES — 36.8% (Continued) |
||||||||
| 7,763 |
Spartan Acquisition Corporation II - Class A (a) |
$ | 77,552 | |||||
| 14,486 |
Sports Entertainment Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
146,019 | ||||||
| 5,602 |
Spring Valley Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
56,076 | ||||||
| 5,581 |
Stable Road Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
77,967 | ||||||
| 7,040 |
Star Peak Corporation II - Class A (a) |
69,696 | ||||||
| 13,113 |
Starboard Value Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
131,130 | ||||||
| 13,070 |
Supernova Partners Acquisition Company, Inc. - Class A (a) |
129,785 | ||||||
| 7,795 |
Sustainable Opportunities Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
77,560 | ||||||
| 18,789 |
SVF Investment Corporation - Class A (a) |
185,635 | ||||||
| 5,863 |
SVF Investment Corporation 2 - Class A (a) |
58,337 | ||||||
| 5,857 |
SVF Investment Corporation 3 - Class A (a) |
58,219 | ||||||
| 5,875 |
Switchback II Corporation - Class A (a) |
58,104 | ||||||
| 10,806 |
Tailwind Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
107,736 | ||||||
| 7,470 |
Tekkorp Digital Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
72,833 | ||||||
| 6,743 |
Tiga Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
67,632 | ||||||
| 11,177 |
Tortoise Acquisition Corporation II - Class A (a) |
112,105 | ||||||
| 11,335 |
TPG Pace Beneficial Finance Corporation - Class A (a) |
145,881 | ||||||
| 14,535 |
TPG Pace Tech Opportunities Corporation - Class A (a) |
144,333 | ||||||
| 16,573 |
Trebia Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
164,073 | ||||||
| 9,122 |
Tuscan Holdings Corporation (a) |
124,333 | ||||||
| 19,001 |
TWC Tech Holdings II Corporation - Class A (a) |
188,680 | ||||||
| 6,470 |
Union Acquisition Corporation II (a) |
65,282 | ||||||
| 8,315 |
Vector Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
90,550 | ||||||
| 7,667 |
Vector Acquisition Corporation II - Class A (a) |
76,133 | ||||||
| 5,866 |
Virtuoso Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
58,191 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
24
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF
Schedule of Investments
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
|
Shares |
Security Description |
Value |
||||||
|
SPECIAL PURPOSE ACQUISITION COMPANIES — 36.8% (Continued) |
||||||||
| 6,735 |
VPC Impact Acquisition Holdings - Class A (a) |
$ | 67,417 | |||||
| 14,997 |
Vy Global Growth - Class A (a) |
149,220 | ||||||
| 8,407 |
Yucaipa Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
82,977 | ||||||
| 6,729 |
Zanite Acquisition Corporation - Class A (a) |
67,694 | ||||||
| 22,344,720 | ||||||||
|
TOTAL SPECIAL PURPOSE ACQUISITION COMPANIES (Cost $23,508,533) |
22,344,720 | |||||||
|
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS — 0.4% |
||||||||
| 236,229 |
First American Government Obligations Fund - Class X, 0.03% (b) |
236,229 | ||||||
|
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (Cost $236,229) |
236,229 | |||||||
|
TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 100.0% (Cost $65,935,127) |
60,693,216 | |||||||
|
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.0)% (c) |
(6,645 | ) | ||||||
|
NET ASSETS — 100.0% |
$ | 60,686,571 | ||||||
|
Percentages are stated as a percent of net assets. |
|
|
(a) |
Non-income producing security. |
|
(b) |
Rate shown is the annualized seven-day yield as of June 30, 2021. |
|
(c) |
Represents less than 0.05% of net assets. |
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 U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
25
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF
Schedule of Investments
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
|
Shares |
Security Description |
Value |
||||||
|
COMMON STOCKS — 99.4% |
||||||||
|
Energy — 1.3% |
||||||||
| 60,369 |
Everfuel AS (a) |
$ | 491,780 | |||||
|
Industrials — 90.2% (b) |
||||||||
| 140,852 |
Advent Technologies Holdings, Inc. (a) |
1,357,813 | ||||||
| 1,805,867 |
AFC Energy plc (a) |
1,584,138 | ||||||
| 135,311 |
Ballard Power Systems, Inc. (a) |
2,451,835 | ||||||
| 82,662 |
Bloom Energy Corporation - Class A (a) |
2,221,128 | ||||||
| 247,039 |
Cell Impact AB (a) |
1,627,737 | ||||||
| 126,359 |
Ceres Power Holdings plc (a) |
1,845,077 | ||||||
| 42,949 |
Doosan Fuel Cell Company, Ltd. (a) |
1,906,895 | ||||||
| 313,000 |
dynaCERT, Inc. (a) |
92,260 | ||||||
| 198,670 |
FuelCell Energy, Inc. (a) |
1,768,163 | ||||||
| 103,198 |
Fusion Fuel Green plc - Class A (a) |
1,488,115 | ||||||
| 161,637 |
Gencell, Ltd. (a) |
560,533 | ||||||
| 330,440 |
Hexagon Purus ASA (a) |
1,487,234 | ||||||
| 346,113 |
ITM Power plc (a) |
2,177,431 | ||||||
| 47,156 |
McPhy Energy SA (a) |
1,194,502 | ||||||
| 1,031,674 |
NEL ASA (a) |
2,407,383 | ||||||
| 116,941 |
Plug Power, Inc. (a) |
3,998,213 | ||||||
| 67,612 |
PowerCell Sweden AB (a) |
1,785,931 | ||||||
| 7,964,304 |
Powerhouse Energy Group plc (a) |
515,455 | ||||||
| 434,597 |
Proton Motor Power Systems plc (a) |
312,193 | ||||||
| 41,541 |
SFC Energy AG (a) |
1,386,769 | ||||||
| 30,810 |
S-Fuelcell Company, Ltd. |
915,149 | ||||||
| 413,801 |
Xebec Adsorption, Inc. (a) |
1,350,041 | ||||||
| 34,433,995 | ||||||||
|
Materials — 7.9% |
||||||||
| 1,593,839 |
Aker Clean Hydrogen AS (a) |
1,507,676 | ||||||
| 5,218 |
Linde plc |
1,508,524 | ||||||
| 3,016,200 | ||||||||
|
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $38,912,662) |
37,941,975 | |||||||
|
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS — 0.6% |
||||||||
| 230,829 |
First American Government Obligations Fund - Class X, 0.03% (c) |
$ | 230,829 | |||||
|
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (Cost $230,829) |
230,829 | |||||||
|
TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 100.0% (Cost $39,143,491) |
38,172,804 | |||||||
|
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.0% (d) |
14,217 | |||||||
|
NET ASSETS — 100.0% |
$ | 38,187,021 | ||||||
|
Percentages are stated as a percent of net assets. |
|
(a) |
Non-income producing security. |
|
(b) |
To the extent that the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors of the economy, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. See Note 8 in Notes to Financial Statements. |
|
(c) |
Rate shown is the annualized seven-day yield as of June 30, 2021. |
|
(d) |
Represents less than 0.05% of net assets. |
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 U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
26
Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF
Schedule of Investments
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
|
Shares |
Security Description |
Value |
||||||
|
COMMON STOCKS — 96.2% |
||||||||
|
Consumer Staples — 8.2% |
||||||||
| 269,005 |
Neptune Wellness Solutions, Inc. (a) |
$ | 312,822 | |||||
| 995,500 |
Red Light Holland Corporation (a) |
245,197 | ||||||
| 558,019 | ||||||||
|
Health Care — 88.0% (b) |
||||||||
| 920,500 |
Aleafia Health, Inc. (a) |
301,060 | ||||||
| 57,783 |
Aurora Cannabis, Inc. (a) |
524,027 | ||||||
| 108,955 |
Cardiol Therapeutics, Inc. - Class A (a) |
262,203 | ||||||
| 106,746 |
cbdMD, Inc. (a) |
309,563 | ||||||
| 119,790 |
Charlottes Web Holdings, Inc. (a) |
428,547 | ||||||
| 11,781 |
Compass Pathways plc - ADR (a) |
449,445 | ||||||
| 164,062 |
Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (a) |
300,234 | ||||||
| 54,747 |
Cronos Group, Inc. (a) |
472,178 | ||||||
| 220,506 |
Cybin, Inc. (a) |
452,302 | ||||||
| 55,282 |
Field Trip Health, Ltd. (a) |
312,504 | ||||||
| 803,000 |
MediPharm Labs Corporation (a) |
291,811 | ||||||
| 123,409 |
Mind Medicine MindMed, Inc. (a) |
425,761 | ||||||
| 416,000 |
Numinus Wellness, Inc. (a) |
305,710 | ||||||
| 260,337 |
PharmaCielo, Ltd. (a) |
277,513 | ||||||
| 103,477 |
Seelos Therapeutics, Inc. (a) |
273,179 | ||||||
| 297,715 |
Willow Biosciences, Inc. (a) |
242,827 | ||||||
| 74,404 |
Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) |
393,597 | ||||||
| 6,022,461 | ||||||||
|
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $6,954,942) |
6,580,480 | |||||||
|
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS — 0.1% |
||||||||
| 7,682 |
First American Government Obligations Fund - Class X, 0.03% (c) |
$ | 7,682 | |||||
|
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (Cost $7,682) |
7,682 | |||||||
|
TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 96.3% (Cost $6,962,624) |
6,588,162 | |||||||
|
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 3.7% |
255,330 | |||||||
|
NET ASSETS — 100.0% |
$ | 6,843,492 | ||||||
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 U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
27
Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF
Schedule of Investments
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
| Shares | Security Description | Value | ||||||
| COMMON STOCKS — 98.9% | ||||||||
| Consumer Discretionary — 41.8% (a) | ||||||||
| 3,223 | Accor SA (b) | $ | 120,360 | |||||
| 15,147 | Carnival Corporation (b) | 399,275 | ||||||
| 825 | Choice Hotels International, Inc. | 98,059 | ||||||
| 3,388 | Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (b) | 408,661 | ||||||
| 1,474 | Huazhu Group, Ltd. - ADR (b) | 77,842 | ||||||
| 429 | Hyatt Hotels Corporation - Class A (b) | 33,308 | ||||||
| 2,992 | InterContinental Hotels Group plc - ADR (b) | 199,536 | ||||||
| 3,751 | Marriott International, Inc. - Class A (b) | 512,087 | ||||||
| 88,000 | Minor International pcl (b) | 82,371 | ||||||
| 6,402 | Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd. (b) | 188,283 | ||||||
| 2,200 | Resorttrust, Inc. | 35,956 | ||||||
| 3,597 | Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. (b) | 306,752 | ||||||
| 44,000 | Shangri-La Asia, Ltd. (b) | 43,060 | ||||||
| 1,320 | Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. | 95,423 | ||||||
| 2,600,973 | ||||||||
| Industrials — 48.0% (a) | ||||||||
| 5,302 | Air Canada (b) | 109,183 | ||||||
| 66,000 | Air China, Ltd. - H-Shares (b) | 48,528 | ||||||
| 5,731 | Air France-KLM (b) | 27,661 | ||||||
| 1,815 | Alaska Air Group, Inc. (b) | 109,463 | ||||||
| 209 | Allegiant Travel Company (b) | 40,546 | ||||||
| 10,483 | American Airlines Group, Inc. (b) | 222,344 | ||||||
| 3,300 | ANA Holdings, Inc. (b) | 77,661 | ||||||
| 66,000 | China Southern Airlines Company, Ltd. - H-Shares (b) | 40,964 | ||||||
| 1,639 | Controladora Vuela Cia de Aviacion SAB de CV - ADR (b) | 31,485 | ||||||
| 319 | Copa Holdings SA - Class A (b) | 24,030 | ||||||
| 10,450 | Delta Air Lines, Inc. (b) | 452,067 | ||||||
| 5,874 | Deutsche Lufthansa AG (b) | 66,107 | ||||||
| 6,908 | easyJet plc (b) | 85,391 | ||||||
| 74,448 | International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (b) | 178,695 | ||||||
| 3,300 | Japan Airlines Company, Ltd. (b) | 71,388 | ||||||
| 4,081 | JetBlue Airways Corporation (b) | 68,479 | ||||||
| 38,456 | Qantas Airways, Ltd. (b) | 134,538 | ||||||
| 2,266 | Ryanair Holdings plc - ADR (b) | 245,204 | ||||||
| 30,800 | Singapore Airlines, Ltd. (b) | 111,129 | ||||||
| 737 | SkyWest, Inc. (b) | 31,743 | ||||||
| 7,722 | Southwest Airlines Company (b) | 409,961 | ||||||
| 1,760 | Spirit Airlines, Inc. (b) | 53,574 | ||||||
| 5,159 | United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (b) | 269,764 | ||||||
| COMMON STOCKS — 98.9% (Continued) | ||||||||
| Industrials — 48.0% (a) (Continued) | ||||||||
| 1,122 | Wizz Air Holdings plc (b) | $ | 72,369 | |||||
| 2,982,274 | ||||||||
| Real Estate — 9.1% | ||||||||
| 4,059 | Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. | 61,940 | ||||||
| 9,053 | Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (b) | 154,716 | ||||||
| 88 | Japan Hotel REIT Investment Corporation | 52,805 | ||||||
| 3,366 | Park Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (b) | 69,373 | ||||||
| 1,859 | Pebblebrook Hotel Trust | 43,780 | ||||||
| 2,266 | RLJ Lodging Trust | 34,511 | ||||||
| 869 | Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (b) | 68,616 | ||||||
| 2,695 | Service Properties Trust | 33,957 | ||||||
| 3,806 | Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (b) | 47,271 | ||||||
| 566,969 | ||||||||
| TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $6,314,653) | 6,150,216 | |||||||
| PREFERRED STOCKS — 0.6% | ||||||||
| Industrials — 0.6% | ||||||||
| 1,463 | Azul SA - ADR (b) | 38,624 | ||||||
| TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS (Cost $39,347) | 38,624 | |||||||
| SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS — 0.2% | ||||||||
| 11,064 | First American Government Obligations Fund - Class X, 0.03% (c) | 11,064 | ||||||
| TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (Cost $11,064) | 11,064 | |||||||
| TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 99.7% (Cost $6,365,064) | 6,199,904 | |||||||
| Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.3% | 17,683 | |||||||
| NET ASSETS — 100.0% | $ | 6,217,587 | ||||||
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 U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
28
Defiance ETFs
Statements of Assets and Liabilities
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
|
Defiance
|
Defiance
|
Defiance
|
Defiance
|
Defiance
|
Defiance
|
Defiance
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
ASSETS |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Investments in securities, at value * + (Note 2) |
$ | 133,353,132 | $ | 1,395,588,750 | $ | 8,244,936 | $ | 60,693,216 | $ | 38,172,804 | $ | 6,588,162 | $ | 6,199,904 | ||||||||||||||
|
Dividends and interest receivable |
71,898 | 1,585,448 | 109 | 4,945 | 5 | — | 97 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Reclaims receivable |
15,271 | 102,508 | 50 | — | 3,327 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Securities lending income receivable |
625 | 20,605 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Receivable for securities sold |
— | — | — | 2,378,478 | — | 258,028 | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Transaction fees receivable |
12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Foreign currency, at value |
— | — | — | — | 18,814 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Receivable for capital shares sold |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 3,956,645 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Other receivables |
— | — | 52 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total assets |
$ | 133,440,938 | $ | 1,397,297,311 | $ | 8,245,147 | $ | 63,076,639 | $ | 38,194,950 | $ | 6,846,190 | $ | 10,156,646 | ||||||||||||||
|
LIABILITIES |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Collateral received for securities loaned (Note 4) |
18,960,801 | 115,662,184 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Management fees payable |
36,727 | 309,788 | 2,936 | 22,198 | 7,929 | 2,698 | 707 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Payable for securities purchased |
— | — | — | 2,367,870 | — | — | 3,938,352 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total liabilities |
18,997,528 | 115,971,972 | 2,936 | 2,390,068 | 7,929 | 2,698 | 3,939,059 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
NET ASSETS |
$ | 114,443,410 | $ | 1,281,325,339 | $ | 8,242,211 | $ | 60,686,571 | $ | 38,187,021 | $ | 6,843,492 | $ | 6,217,587 | ||||||||||||||
|
Net Assets Consist of: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Paid-in capital |
$ | 89,466,072 | $ | 1,024,556,109 | $ | 7,579,050 | $ | 71,418,998 | $ | 40,626,070 | $ | 7,231,490 | $ | 6,392,645 | ||||||||||||||
|
Total distributable earnings (accumulated deficit) |
24,977,338 | 256,769,230 | 663,161 | (10,732,427 | ) | (2,439,049 | ) | (387,998 | ) | (175,058 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets |
$ | 114,443,410 | $ | 1,281,325,339 | $ | 8,242,211 | $ | 60,686,571 | $ | 38,187,021 | $ | 6,843,492 | $ | 6,217,587 | ||||||||||||||
|
Net Asset Value: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net assets |
$ | 114,443,410 | $ | 1,281,325,339 | $ | 8,242,211 | $ | 60,686,571 | $ | 38,187,021 | $ | 6,843,492 | $ | 6,217,587 | ||||||||||||||
|
Shares outstanding ^ |
2,300,000 | 33,700,000 | 250,000 | 2,300,000 | 1,575,000 | 275,000 | 275,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share |
$ | 49.76 | $ | 38.02 | $ | 32.97 | $ | 26.39 | $ | 24.25 | $ | 24.89 | $ | 22.61 | ||||||||||||||
|
* Identified cost: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Investments in securities |
$ | 112,634,008 | $ | 1,173,303,932 | $ | 7,686,484 | $ | 65,935,127 | $ | 39,143,491 | $ | 6,962,624 | $ | 6,365,064 | ||||||||||||||
|
Foreign currency |
— | — | — | — | 18,877 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
^ |
No par value, unlimited number of shares authorized. |
|
+ |
Including securities on loan of $18,561,628, $112,294,350, $0, $0, $0, $0, and $0, respectively. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
29
Defiance ETFs
Statements of Operations
For the Six-Months/Period Ended June 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
|
(1) |
The Fund commenced operations on March 9, 2021. The information presented is for the period from March 9, 2021 to June 30, 2021. |
|
(2) |
The Fund commenced operations on May 27, 2021. The information presented is for the period from May 27, 2021 to June 30, 2021. |
|
(3) |
The Fund commenced operations on June 3, 2021. The information presented is for the period from June 3, 2021 to June 30, 2021. |
|
* |
Net of foreign withholding taxes of $37,484, $260,613, $189, $326, $3,536, $0 and $0, respectively. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
30
Defiance Quantum ETF
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
|
Six-Months
|
Year
|
|||||||
|
OPERATIONS |
||||||||
|
Net investment income (loss) |
$ | 294,326 | $ | 229,549 | ||||
|
Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency |
4,315,876 | 4,444,925 | ||||||
|
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and foreign currency |
9,439,874 | 9,097,521 | ||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
14,050,076 | 13,771,995 | ||||||
|
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS |
||||||||
|
Net distributions to shareholders |
(283,471 | ) | (221,124 | ) | ||||
|
Total distributions to shareholders |
(283,471 | ) | (221,124 | ) | ||||
|
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS |
||||||||
|
Proceeds from shares sold |
59,140,935 | 33,659,285 | ||||||
|
Payments for shares redeemed |
(14,439,030 | ) | (11,832,470 | ) | ||||
|
Transaction fees (Note 7) |
34,226 | 4,983 | ||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions (a) |
44,736,131 | 21,831,798 | ||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets |
$ | 58,502,736 | $ | 35,382,669 | ||||
|
NET ASSETS |
||||||||
|
Beginning of period/year |
$ | 55,940,674 | $ | 20,558,005 | ||||
|
End of period/year |
$ | 114,443,410 | $ | 55,940,674 | ||||
|
(a) |
A summary of capital share transactions is as follows: |
|
Shares |
Shares |
|||||||
|
Subscriptions |
1,250,000 | 950,000 | ||||||
|
Redemptions |
(300,000 | ) | (300,000 | ) | ||||
|
Net increase (decrease) |
950,000 | 650,000 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
31
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
|
Six-Months
|
Year
|
|||||||
|
OPERATIONS |
||||||||
|
Net investment income (loss) |
$ | 6,442,000 | $ | 5,446,296 | ||||
|
Net realized gain (loss) on investments |
43,524,685 | 4,957,822 | ||||||
|
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments |
88,054,432 | 131,041,762 | ||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
138,021,117 | 141,445,880 | ||||||
|
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS |
||||||||
|
Net distributions to shareholders |
(5,774,806 | ) | (5,446,296 | ) | ||||
|
Tax return of capital to shareholders |
— | (407,082 | ) | |||||
|
Total distributions to shareholders |
(5,774,806 | ) | (5,853,378 | ) | ||||
|
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS |
||||||||
|
Proceeds from shares sold |
390,997,285 | 615,223,530 | ||||||
|
Payments for shares redeemed |
(132,209,885 | ) | (22,985,155 | ) | ||||
|
Transaction fees (Note 7) |
— | 193 | ||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions (a) |
258,787,400 | 592,238,568 | ||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets |
$ | 391,033,711 | $ | 727,831,070 | ||||
|
NET ASSETS |
||||||||
|
Beginning of period/year |
$ | 890,291,628 | $ | 162,460,558 | ||||
|
End of period/year |
$ | 1,281,325,339 | $ | 890,291,628 | ||||
|
(a) |
A summary of capital share transactions is as follows: |
|
Shares |
Shares |
|||||||
|
Subscriptions |
10,850,000 | 21,050,000 | ||||||
|
Redemptions |
(3,650,000 | ) | (750,000 | ) | ||||
|
Net increase (decrease) |
7,200,000 | 20,300,000 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
32
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF
StatementS of Changes in Net Assets
|
Six-Months
|
Period
|
|||||||
|
OPERATIONS |
||||||||
|
Net investment income (loss) |
$ | (17,734 | ) | $ | (7,951 | ) | ||
|
Net realized gain (loss) on investments |
121,389 | 664,072 | ||||||
|
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments |
(468,040 | ) | 1,026,492 | |||||
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
(364,385 | ) | 1,682,613 | |||||
|
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS |
||||||||
|
Net distributions to shareholders |
— | (59,962 | ) | |||||
|
Total distributions to shareholders |
— | (59,962 | ) | |||||
|
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS |
||||||||
|
Proceeds from shares sold |
— | 8,743,625 | ||||||
|
Payments for shares redeemed |
— | (1,759,680 | ) | |||||
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions (a) |
— | 6,983,945 | ||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets |
$ | (364,385 | ) | $ | 8,606,596 | |||
|
NET ASSETS |
||||||||
|
Beginning of period |
$ | 8,606,596 | $ | — | ||||
|
End of period |
$ | 8,242,211 | $ | 8,606,596 | ||||
|
(a) |
A summary of capital share transactions is as follows: |
|
Shares |
Shares |
|||||||
|
Subscriptions |
— | 300,000 | ||||||
|
Redemptions |
— | (50,000 | ) | |||||
|
Net increase (decrease) |
— | 250,000 | ||||||
|
(1) |
The Fund commenced operations on August 3, 2020. The information shown is for the period from August 3, 2020 to December 31, 2020. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
33
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF
StatementS of Changes in Net Assets
|
Six-Months
|
Period
|
|||||||
|
OPERATIONS |
||||||||
|
Net investment income (loss) |
$ | (120,833 | ) | $ | (10,642 | ) | ||
|
Net realized gain (loss) on investments |
(3,601,024 | ) | (1,783,336 | ) | ||||
|
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments |
(9,101,510 | ) | 3,859,599 | |||||
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
(12,823,367 | ) | 2,065,621 | |||||
|
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS |
||||||||
|
Proceeds from shares sold |
77,043,675 | 51,598,750 | ||||||
|
Payments for shares redeemed |
(54,281,980 | ) | (2,917,278 | ) | ||||
|
Transaction fees (Note 7) |
1,097 | 53 | ||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions (a) |
22,762,792 | 48,681,525 | ||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets |
$ | 9,939,425 | $ | 50,747,146 | ||||
|
NET ASSETS |
||||||||
|
Beginning of period |
$ | 50,747,146 | $ | — | ||||
|
End of period |
$ | 60,686,571 | $ | 50,747,146 | ||||
|
(a) |
A summary of capital share transactions is as follows: |
|
Shares |
Shares |
|||||||
|
Subscriptions |
2,525,000 | 1,900,000 | ||||||
|
Redemptions |
(2,000,000 | ) | (125,000 | ) | ||||
|
Net increase (decrease) |
525,000 | 1,775,000 | ||||||
|
(1) |
The Fund commenced operations on September 30, 2020. The information shown is for the period from September 30, 2020 to December 31, 2020. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
34
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
|
Period
|
||||
|
OPERATIONS |
||||
|
Net investment income (loss) |
$ | 4,578 | ||
|
Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency |
(1,465,896 | ) | ||
|
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and foreign currency |
(970,827 | ) | ||
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
(2,432,145 | ) | ||
|
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS |
||||
|
Net distributions to shareholders |
(6,904 | ) | ||
|
Total distributions to shareholders |
(6,904 | ) | ||
|
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS |
||||
|
Proceeds from shares sold |
41,275,067 | |||
|
Payments for shares redeemed |
(654,260 | ) | ||
|
Transaction fees (Note 7) |
5,263 | |||
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions (a) |
40,626,070 | |||
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets |
$ | 38,187,021 | ||
|
NET ASSETS |
||||
|
Beginning of period |
$ | — | ||
|
End of period |
$ | 38,187,021 | ||
|
(a) |
A summary of capital share transactions is as follows: |
|
Shares |
||||
|
Subscriptions |
1,600,000 | |||
|
Redemptions |
(25,000 | ) | ||
|
Net increase (decrease) |
1,575,000 | |||
|
(1) |
The Fund commenced operations on March 9, 2021. The information shown is for the period from March 9, 2021 to June 30, 2021. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
35
Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
|
Period
|
||||
|
OPERATIONS |
||||
|
Net investment income (loss) |
$ | (2,698 | ) | |
|
Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency |
(10,611 | ) | ||
|
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and foreign currency |
(374,689 | ) | ||
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
(387,998 | ) | ||
|
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS |
||||
|
Proceeds from shares sold |
8,524,735 | |||
|
Payments for shares redeemed |
(1,293,245 | ) | ||
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions (a) |
7,231,490 | |||
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets |
$ | 6,843,492 | ||
|
NET ASSETS |
||||
|
Beginning of period |
$ | — | ||
|
End of period |
$ | 6,843,492 | ||
|
(a) |
A summary of capital share transactions is as follows: |
|
Shares |
||||
|
Subscriptions |
325,000 | |||
|
Redemptions |
(50,000 | ) | ||
|
Net increase (decrease) |
275,000 | |||
|
(1) |
The Fund commenced operations on May 27, 2021. The information shown is for the period from May 27, 2021 to June 30, 2021. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
36
Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
|
Period
|
||||
|
OPERATIONS |
||||
|
Net investment income (loss) |
$ | 1,869 | ||
|
Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency |
(11,767 | ) | ||
|
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and foreign currency |
(165,160 | ) | ||
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
(175,058 | ) | ||
|
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS |
||||
|
Proceeds from shares sold |
6,392,645 | |||
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions (a) |
6,392,645 | |||
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets |
$ | 6,217,587 | ||
|
NET ASSETS |
||||
|
Beginning of period |
$ | — | ||
|
End of period |
$ | 6,217,587 | ||
|
(a) |
A summary of capital share transactions is as follows: |
|
Shares |
||||
|
Subscriptions |
275,000 | |||
|
Redemptions |
— | |||
|
Net increase (decrease) |
275,000 | |||
|
(1) |
The Fund commenced operations on June 3, 2021. The information shown is for the period from June 3, 2021 to June 30, 2021. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
37
Defiance Quantum ETF
Financial Highlights
For a capital share outstanding throughout the period/year
|
(1) |
Commencement of operations on September 4, 2018. |
|
(2) |
Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period/year. |
|
(3) |
Represents less than $0.005 per share. |
|
(4) |
Not annualized. |
|
(5) |
Effective January 14, 2019, the Adviser reduced its management fee from 0.65% to 0.40%. |
|
(6) |
Annualized. |
|
(7) |
Excludes the impact of in-kind transactions. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
38
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF
Financial Highlights
For a capital share outstanding throughout the period/year
|
(1) |
Commencement of operations on March 4, 2019. |
|
(2) |
Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period/year. |
|
(3) |
Represents less than $0.005 per share. |
|
(4) |
Not annualized. |
|
(5) |
Annualized. |
|
(6) |
Excludes the impact of in-kind transactions. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
39
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF
Financial Highlights
For a capital share outstanding throughout the period
|
Six-Months
|
Period
|
|||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 34.43 | $ | 25.00 | ||||
|
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |
||||||||
|
Net investment income (loss) (2) |
(0.07 | ) | (0.05 | ) | ||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments |
(1.39 | ) | 9.78 | |||||
|
Total from investment operations |
(1.46 | ) | 9.73 | |||||
|
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS: |
||||||||
|
From realized gains |
— | (0.30 | ) | |||||
|
Total distributions |
— | (0.30 | ) | |||||
|
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 32.97 | $ | 34.43 | ||||
|
Total return |
-4.23 | %(3) | 38.90 | %(3) | ||||
|
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: |
||||||||
|
Net assets at end of period (000’s) |
$ | 8,242 | $ | 8,607 | ||||
|
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |
||||||||
|
Expenses to average net assets |
0.45 | %(4) | 0.45 | %(4) | ||||
|
Net investment income (loss) to average net assets |
-0.42 | %(4) | -0.43 | %(4) | ||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate (5) |
12 | %(3) | 66 | %(3) | ||||
|
(1) |
Commencement of operations on August 3, 2020. |
|
(2) |
Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
|
(3) |
Not annualized. |
|
(4) |
Annualized. |
|
(5) |
Excludes the impact of in-kind transactions. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
40
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF
Financial Highlights
For a capital share outstanding throughout the period
|
Six-Months
|
Period
|
|||||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 28.59 | $ | 25.24 | ||||
|
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |
||||||||
|
Net investment income (loss) (2) |
(0.05 | ) | (0.01 | ) | ||||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments |
(2.15 | ) | 3.36 | |||||
|
Total from investment operations |
(2.20 | ) | 3.35 | |||||
|
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS: |
||||||||
|
Transaction fees (Note 7) |
0.00 | (3) | 0.00 | (3) | ||||
|
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 26.39 | $ | 28.59 | ||||
|
Total return |
-7.72 | %(4) | 13.29 | %(4) | ||||
|
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: |
||||||||
|
Net assets at end of period (000’s) |
$ | 60,687 | $ | 50,747 | ||||
|
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |
||||||||
|
Expenses to average net assets |
0.45 | %(5) | 0.45 | %(5) | ||||
|
Net investment income (loss) to average net assets |
-0.35 | %(5) | -0.16 | %(5) | ||||
|
Portfolio turnover rate (6) |
77 | %(4) | 64 | %(4) | ||||
|
(1) |
Commencement of operations on September 30, 2020. |
|
(2) |
Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
|
(3) |
Represents less than $0.005 per share. |
|
(4) |
Not annualized. |
|
(5) |
Annualized. |
|
(6) |
Excludes the impact of in-kind transactions. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
41
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF
Financial Highlights
For a capital share outstanding throughout the period
|
Period
|
||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 27.16 | ||
|
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |
||||
|
Net investment income (loss) (2) |
0.00 | (3) | ||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency |
(2.92 | ) | ||
|
Total from investment operations |
(2.92 | ) | ||
|
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS: |
||||
|
From net investment income |
(0.00 | )(3) | ||
|
Total distributions |
(0.00 | )(3) | ||
|
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS: |
||||
|
Transaction fees (Note 7) |
0.01 | |||
|
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 24.25 | ||
|
Total return |
-10.71 | %(4) | ||
|
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: |
||||
|
Net assets at end of period (000’s) |
$ | 38,187 | ||
|
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |
||||
|
Expenses to average net assets |
0.30 | %(5) | ||
|
Net investment income (loss) to average net assets |
0.06 | %(5) | ||
|
Portfolio turnover rate (6) |
51 | %(4) | ||
|
(1) |
Commencement of operations on March 9, 2021. |
|
(2) |
Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
|
(3) |
Represents less than $0.005 per share. |
|
(4) |
Not annualized. |
|
(5) |
Annualized. |
|
(6) |
Excludes the impact of in-kind transactions. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
42
Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF
Financial Highlights
For a capital share outstanding throughout the period
|
Period
|
||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 25.51 | ||
|
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |
||||
|
Net investment income (loss) (2) |
(0.02 | ) | ||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency |
(0.60 | ) | ||
|
Total from investment operations |
(0.62 | ) | ||
|
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 24.89 | ||
|
Total return |
-2.45 | %(3) | ||
|
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: |
||||
|
Net assets at end of period (000’s) |
$ | 6,843 | ||
|
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |
||||
|
Expenses to average net assets |
0.75 | %(4) | ||
|
Net investment income (loss) to average net assets |
-0.75 | %(4) | ||
|
Portfolio turnover rate (5) |
6 | %(3) | ||
|
(1) |
Commencement of operations on May 27, 2021. |
|
(2) |
Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
|
(3) |
Not annualized. |
|
(4) |
Annualized. |
|
(5) |
Excludes the impact of in-kind transactions. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
43
Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF
Financial Highlights
For a capital share outstanding throughout the period
|
Period
|
||||
|
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 24.36 | ||
|
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |
||||
|
Net investment income (loss) (2) |
0.02 | |||
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency |
(1.77 | ) | ||
|
Total from investment operations |
(1.75 | ) | ||
|
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 22.61 | ||
|
Total return |
-7.19 | %(3) | ||
|
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: |
||||
|
Net assets at end of period (000’s) |
$ | 6,218 | ||
|
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |
||||
|
Expenses to average net assets |
0.45 | %(4) | ||
|
Net investment income (loss) to average net assets |
1.19 | %(4) | ||
|
Portfolio turnover rate (5) |
6 | %(3) | ||
|
(1) |
Commencement of operations on June 3, 2021. |
|
(2) |
Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
|
(3) |
Not annualized. |
|
(4) |
Annualized. |
|
(5) |
Excludes the impact of in-kind transactions. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
44
Defiance ETFs
Notes to Financial Statements
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION
Defiance Quantum ETF, Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF, Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF, Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF, Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF, Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF and Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF (individually each a “Fund” or collectively the “Funds”) are each a non-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 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 objective of Defiance Quantum ETF is to track the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index®. The investment objective of Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF is to track the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the BlueStar 5G Communications Index™. The investment objective of Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF is to track the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology Index. The investment objective of Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF is to track the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the Indxx SPAC & NextGen IPO Index. The investment objective of Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF is to track the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the BlueStar Hydrogen & NextGen Fuel Cell Index. The investment objective of Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF is to track the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the BITA Medical Psychedelics, Cannabis, and Ketamine Index. The investment objective of Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF is to track the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the BlueStar Global Hotels, Airlines, and Cruises Index. Defiance Quantum ETF commenced operations on September 4, 2018, Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF commenced operations on March 4, 2019, Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF commenced operations on August 3, 2020, Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF commenced operations on September 30, 2020, Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF commenced operations on March 9, 2019, Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF commenced operations on May 27, 2021 and Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF commenced operations on June 3, 2021.
The end of the reporting period for the Funds is June 30, 2021, and the period covered by these Notes to Financial Statements is the six-month period from January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021 for Defiance Quantum ETF, Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF, Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF and Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF, the period from March 9, 2021 through June 30, 2021 for Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF, the period from May 27, 2021 through June 30, 2021 for Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF and the period from June 3, 2021 through June 30, 2021 for Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF (each, respectively, 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, special purchase acquisition companies (“SPAC”) and exchange-traded funds, that are traded on a national securities exchange, except those listed on the Nasdaq Global Market®, Nasdaq Global Select Market® and the 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. |
|
|
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their net asset value (“NAV”) per share. |
45
Defiance ETFs
Notes to Financial Statements
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
|
|
Units of Mount Vernon Liquid Assets Portfolio, LLC are not traded on an exchange and are valued at the investment company’s NAV per share as provided by the underlying fund’s administrator. These shares are generally classified as Level 2 Investments. |
|
|
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 their 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 observable 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. |
|
|
The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Funds’ investments as of the end of the current fiscal period: |
Defiance Quantum ETF
|
Assets^ |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 113,888,793 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 113,888,793 | ||||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
503,538 | — | — | 503,538 | ||||||||||||
|
Investments Purchased with Proceeds from Securities Lending |
— | 18,960,801 | — | 18,960,801 | ||||||||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities, at value |
$ | 114,392,331 | $ | 18,960,801 | $ | — | $ | 133,353,132 | ||||||||
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF
|
Assets^ |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 1,276,987,015 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,276,987,015 | ||||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
2,939,551 | — | — | 2,939,551 | ||||||||||||
|
Investments Purchased with Proceeds from Securities Lending |
— | 115,662,184 | — | 115,662,184 | ||||||||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities, at value |
$ | 1,279,926,566 | $ | 115,662,184 | $ | — | $ | 1,395,588,750 | ||||||||
46
Defiance ETFs
Notes to Financial Statements
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF
|
Assets^ |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 8,208,945 | $ | 6,484 | $ | — | $ | 8,215,429 | ||||||||
|
Contingent Value Rights |
— | — | 0 | (1) | 0 | (1) | ||||||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
29,507 | — | — | 29,507 | ||||||||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities, at value |
$ | 8,238,452 | $ | 6,484 | $ | 0 | (1) | $ | 8,244,936 | |||||||
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF
|
Assets^ |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 38,112,267 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 38,112,267 | ||||||||
|
Special Purpose Acquisition Companies |
22,344,720 | — | — | 22,344,720 | ||||||||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
236,229 | — | — | 236,229 | ||||||||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities, at value |
$ | 60,693,216 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 60,693,216 | ||||||||
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF
|
Assets^ |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 37,941,975 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 37,941,975 | ||||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
230,829 | — | — | 230,829 | ||||||||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities, at value |
$ | 38,172,804 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 38,172,804 | ||||||||
Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF
|
Assets^ |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 6,580,480 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 6,580,480 | ||||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
7,682 | — | — | 7,682 | ||||||||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities, at value |
$ | 6,588,162 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 6,588,162 | ||||||||
Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF
|
Assets^ |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
||||||||||||
|
Common Stocks |
$ | 6,150,216 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 6,150,216 | ||||||||
|
Preferred Stocks |
38,624 | — | — | 38,624 | ||||||||||||
|
Short-Term Investments |
11,064 | — | — | 11,064 | ||||||||||||
|
Total Investments in Securities, at value |
$ | 6,199,904 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 6,199,904 | ||||||||
|
^ |
See Schedule of Investments for breakout of investments by sector classification. |
|
(1) |
Represents less than $0.50. |
During the current fiscal period, the Funds did not recognize any transfers to or from Level 3.
|
B. |
Federal Income Taxes. The Funds’ policy is to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all net taxable investment income and net capital gains to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Funds plan to file U.S. Federal and various state and local tax returns. |
|
|
The Funds recognize the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only when the position is more likely than not to be sustained. Management has analyzed the Funds’ 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 |
47
Defiance ETFs
Notes to Financial Statements
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
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 expense in the Statements of Operations. During the current fiscal period, the Funds did not incur any interest or penalties.
|
C. |
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 trade and settle dates on security 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 fair values of assets and liabilities, other than investments in securities at fiscal period end, resulting from changes in exchange rates. |
|
D. |
Security Transactions and Investment Income. Investment securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Gains and losses realized on sales of securities are determined on a specific identification basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends, if any, have been provided for in accordance with the Funds’ understanding of the applicable tax rules and regulations. |
|
|
Distributions received from the Funds’ investments in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) 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 the Funds’ shareholders may represent a return of capital. |
|
E. |
Distributions to Shareholders. Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains on securities for the Funds are declared and paid at least annually by each Fund. Distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. |
|
F. |
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. |
|
G. |
Share Valuation. The NAV per share of each Fund is calculated by dividing the sum of the value of the securities held by each Fund, plus cash and other assets, minus all liabilities (including estimated accrued expenses) by the total number of shares outstanding for each Fund, rounded to the nearest cent. The Funds’ shares will not be priced on the days on which the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is closed for trading. The offering and redemption price per share for creation units of each Fund is equal to each Fund’s NAV per share. |
|
H. |
Guarantees and Indemnifications. In the normal course of business, the Funds enter into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be against the Funds that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Funds expect the risk of loss to be remote. |
48
Defiance ETFs
Notes to Financial Statements
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
|
I. |
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 and are primarily due to differing book and tax treatments for in-kind transactions. During the fiscal period ended December 31, 2020, the following table shows the reclassifications made: |
|
Distributable
|
Paid-In
|
|||||||
|
Defiance Quantum ETF |
$ | (4,370,561 | ) | $ | 4,370,561 | |||
|
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF |
(9,523,796 | ) | 9,523,796 | |||||
|
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF |
(595,105 | ) | 595,105 | |||||
|
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF |
25,319 | (25,319 | ) | |||||
During the fiscal period ended December 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 Funds rather than for cash. Because such gains are not taxable to the Funds, and are not distributed to shareholders, they have been reclassified from distributable earnings (accumulated deficit) to paid-in capital.
|
Defiance Quantum ETF |
$ | 4,370,561 | ||
|
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF |
9,523,796 | |||
|
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF |
595,105 | |||
|
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF |
(25,319 | ) |
|
J. |
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. |
NOTE 3 – COMMITMENTS AND OTHER RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Defiance ETFs, LLC (the “Adviser”), serves as the investment adviser to the Funds. 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 is also responsible for arranging, in consultation with Penserra Capital Management LLC, (the “Sub-Adviser”), transfer agency, custody, fund administration and accounting, and other non-distribution related services necessary for the Funds to operate. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser has agreed to pay all expenses of the Funds except for: the fee paid to the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, interest charges on any borrowings, dividends, and other expenses on securities sold short, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, acquired fund fees and expenses, accrued deferred tax liability, extraordinary expenses, and distribution (12b-1) fees and expenses.
49
Defiance ETFs
Notes to Financial Statements
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
The Funds pay the Adviser the following annual rate based on each Fund’s average daily net assets:
|
Defiance Quantum ETF |
0.40 | % | ||
|
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF |
0.30 | % | ||
|
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF |
0.45 | % | ||
|
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF |
0.45 | % | ||
|
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF |
0.30 | % | ||
|
Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF |
0.75 | % | ||
|
Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF |
0.45 | % |
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, doing business as U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (“Fund Services” or “Administrator”), 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 and monitors the activities of the Funds’ Custodian, transfer agent and fund accountant. 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.
The Custodian acts as the securities lending agent (the “Securities Lending Agent”) for Defiance Quantum ETF and Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF.
A Trustee and all officers of the Trust are affiliated with the Administrator and Custodian.
NOTE 4 – SECURITIES LENDING
Defiance Quantum ETF and Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF may lend up to 33⅓ percent 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 program administered by the Securities Lending Agent. The securities lending agreement requires 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 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 agreement provides that, in the event of a borrower’s material default, the Securities Lending Agent shall take all actions the Securities Lending Agent deems appropriate to liquidate the collateral, purchase replacement securities at the Securities Lending Agent’s 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 agreement between the Funds and the Securities Lending Agent.
As of the end of the current fiscal period, the Funds had loaned securities and received cash collateral for the loans. The cash collateral is invested by the Securities Lending Agent in accordance with the Trust 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 Agent.
50
Defiance ETFs
Notes to Financial Statements
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
As of the end of the current fiscal period, the values of the securities on loan and payable for collateral due to broker were as follows:
|
Fund |
Value of
|
Payable for
|
||||||
|
Defiance Quantum ETF |
$ | 18,561,628 | $ | 18,960,801 | ||||
|
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF |
112,294,350 | 115,662,184 | ||||||
|
* |
The cash collateral received was invested in Mount Vernon Liquid Assets Portfolio, LLC as shown on the Schedules 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. |
The interest income earned by the Funds on the investment 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
|
|||
|
Defiance Quantum ETF |
$ | 4,732 | ||
|
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF |
131,543 | |||
Due to the absence of a master netting agreement related to the Funds’ participation in securities lending, no 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 |
|||||||
|
Defiance Quantum ETF |
$ | 25,292,653 | $ | 21,007,369 | ||||
|
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF |
184,599,775 | 175,842,186 | ||||||
|
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF |
989,100 | 1,009,694 | ||||||
|
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF |
51,243,485 | 51,051,805 | ||||||
|
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF |
19,561,328 | 14,875,339 | ||||||
|
Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF |
282,172 | 543,425 | ||||||
|
Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF |
383,350 | 389,205 | ||||||
During the current fiscal period, there were no purchases or sales of U.S. Government securities by the Funds.
51
Defiance ETFs
Notes to Financial Statements
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
During the current fiscal period, the in-kind security transactions associated with creations and redemptions were as follows:
|
In-Kind
|
In-Kind
|
|||||||
|
Defiance Quantum ETF |
$ | 53,398,336 | $ | 13,258,350 | ||||
|
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF |
379,931,892 | 131,239,561 | ||||||
|
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF |
— | — | ||||||
|
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF |
76,614,435 | 54,201,216 | ||||||
|
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF |
36,213,562 | 575,862 | ||||||
|
Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF |
8,517,188 | 1,292,055 | ||||||
|
Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF |
6,371,368 | — | ||||||
NOTE 6 – INCOME TAX INFORMATION
The components of distributable earnings (accumulated deficit) and cost basis of investments for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2020 were as follows:
|
Defiance
|
Defiance
|
Defiance
|
Defiance Next
|
|||||||||||||
|
Tax cost of investments |
$ | 55,705,572 | $ | 875,012,045 | $ | 7,704,242 | $ | 49,126,497 | ||||||||
|
Gross tax unrealized appreciation |
$ | 11,792,037 | $ | 145,775,572 | $ | 1,345,705 | $ | 5,222,007 | ||||||||
|
Gross tax unrealized depreciation |
(702,029 | ) | (16,296,737 | ) | (445,667 | ) | (3,579,903 | ) | ||||||||
|
Net tax unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
11,090,008 | 129,478,835 | 900,038 | 1,642,104 | ||||||||||||
|
Undistributed ordinary income |
20,905 | — | 127,508 | 448,836 | ||||||||||||
|
Undistributed long-term capital gain |
99,820 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
|
Other accumulated gain (loss) |
— | (4,955,916 | ) | — | — | |||||||||||
|
Distributable earnings (accumulated deficit) |
$ | 11,210,733 | $ | 124,522,919 | $ | 1,027,546 | $ | 2,090,940 | ||||||||
|
* |
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF, Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF and Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF commenced operations after December 31, 2020 and therefore do not appear in this table. |
The difference between the cost basis for financial statement and federal income tax purposes is due primarily to timing differences in recognizing wash sales and unrealized gains on investments in passive foreign investment companies.
For the fiscal year/period ended December 31, 2020, the Funds had no post-October capital losses and no late-year ordinary losses.
As of December 31, 2020, the Funds had the following capital loss carryforwards with no expiration date:
|
Short-Term |
Long-Term |
|||||||
|
Defiance Quantum ETF |
$ | — | $ | — | ||||
|
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF |
1,839,504 | 3,116,412 | ||||||
|
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF |
— | — | ||||||
|
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF |
— | — | ||||||
|
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF |
N/A | N/A | ||||||
|
Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF |
N/A | N/A | ||||||
|
Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF |
N/A | N/A | ||||||
52
Defiance ETFs
Notes to Financial Statements
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
The tax character of distributions paid by the Funds during the fiscal period ended December 31, 2020, were as follows:
|
Ordinary
|
Return of
|
|||||||
|
Defiance Quantum ETF |
$ | 221,124 | $ | — | ||||
|
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF |
5,446,296 | 407,082 | ||||||
|
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF |
59,962 | — | ||||||
|
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF |
— | — | ||||||
|
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF |
N/A | N/A | ||||||
|
Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF |
N/A | N/A | ||||||
|
Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF |
N/A | N/A | ||||||
The tax character of distributions paid by the Defiance Quantum ETF and Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF during the fiscal year/period ended December 31, 2019 was $63,308 and $938,468 of ordinary income, respectively.
NOTE 7 – SHARE TRANSACTIONS
Shares of Defiance Quantum ETF, Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF, Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF, Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF, Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF and Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF are listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca”). Shares of Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF are listed and traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC. 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 shares, called “Creation Units.” The Funds generally issue Creation Units in blocks of 50,000 shares, except for Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF and Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF that generally issue Creation Units in blocks of 25,000 shares. 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 the Funds. Creation Units 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 shares directly from the Funds. 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.
The Funds each currently offer one class of shares, which has no front-end sales load, no deferred sales charge, and no redemption fee. A fixed transaction fee is imposed for the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the purchase or sale of Creation Units. The standard fixed transaction fee for the Funds is $500, payable to the Custodian, except for Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF whose standard fixed transaction fee is $250. The fixed transaction fee may be waived on certain 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 may be charged on all cash transactions or substitutes for Creation Units of up to a maximum of 2% of the value of the Creation Units subject to the transaction. Variable fees are imposed to compensate the Funds for transaction costs associated with the cash transactions. Variable fees received by the Funds, if any, are displayed in the capital shares transactions section of the Statements of Changes in Net Assets. The Funds may issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest, with no par value. All shares of the Funds have equal rights and privileges.
NOTE 8 – PRINCIPAL 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.
53
Defiance ETFs
Notes to Financial Statements
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
Sector Risk. To the extent that a Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors of the economy, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors.
Information Technology Sector Risk. (Defiance Quantum ETF) The Fund is generally expected to invest significantly in companies in the information technology sector, including the semiconductor industry, and therefore the performance of the Fund could be negatively impacted by events affecting this sector. Market or economic factors impacting information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a significant effect on the value of the Fund’s investments. The value of stocks of information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Information technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology may also be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber-attacks and/or technological malfunctions.
5G Investment Risk. (Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF) Companies across a wide variety of industries, primarily in the technology sector, are exploring the possible applications of 5G technologies. The extent of such technologies’ versatility has not yet been fully explored. Consequently, the Fund’s holdings may include equity securities of operating companies that focus on or have exposure to a wide variety of industries, and the economic fortunes of certain companies held by the Fund may not be significantly tied to such technologies. Currently, there are few public companies for which 5G technologies represent an attributable and significant revenue or profit stream, and such technologies may not ultimately have a material effect on the economic returns of companies in which the Fund invests.
Biotechnology Investment Risk. (Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF) The success of biotechnology companies is highly dependent on the development, procurement and/or marketing of drugs. The values of biotechnology companies are also dependent on the development, protection and exploitation of intellectual property rights and other proprietary information, and the profitability of biotechnology companies may be affected significantly by such things as the expiration of patents or the loss of, or the inability to enforce, intellectual property rights. The research and development and other costs associated with developing or procuring new drugs, products or technologies and the related intellectual property rights can be significant, and the results of such research and expenditures are unpredictable and may not necessarily lead to commercially successful products. Governmental regulation may delay or inhibit the release of new products, and the process for obtaining regulatory approval for products is long, costly, and unpredictable. Biotechnology companies may be adversely affected by government regulation and changes in reimbursement rates. A biotechnology company’s valuation can often be based largely on the potential or actual performance of a limited number of products.
Associated Risks of SPAC-Derived Companies. (Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF) The Fund invests in companies that are derived from a SPAC. These companies may be unseasoned and lack a trading history, a track record of reporting to investors, and widely available research coverage. SPAC-derived companies are thus often subject to extreme price volatility and speculative trading. These stocks may have above-average price appreciation in connection with a potential business combination with a SPAC prior to inclusion in the Index. The price of stocks included in the Index may not continue to appreciate and the performance of these stocks may not replicate the performance exhibited in the past. In addition, SPAC-derived companies may share similar illiquidity risks of private equity and venture capital. The free float shares held by the public in a SPAC-derived company are typically a small percentage of the market capitalization. The ownership of many SPAC-derived companies often includes large holdings by venture capital and private equity investors who seek to sell their shares in the public market in the months following a business combination transaction when shares restricted by lock.
Concentration in Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Companies Risk. (Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF) The Fund’s investments will be concentrated in an industry or group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. In such event, the value of the Shares may rise and fall more than the value of shares of a fund that invests in securities of companies in a broader range of industries. The Index is expected to be concentrated in hydrogen and fuel cell companies. Such companies may depend largely on the availability of hydrogen gas, certain third-party key suppliers for components in their products, and a small number of customers for a significant portion of their business. Hydrogen and fuel cell companies are also subject to risks related to the obsolescence of existing technology, short product cycles, falling prices and profits, competition from new market entrants, and
54
Defiance ETFs
Notes to Financial Statements
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
general economic conditions that significantly affect the hydrogen, fuel cell, and overall clean energy industry. Risks associated with hazardous materials, fluctuations in energy prices and supply and demand of alternative energy fuels, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects and tax and other government regulations can also significantly affect this industry. Shares in the companies involved in this industry may be significantly more volatile than shares of companies operating in other, more established industries.
Concentration in Medical Cannabis Companies Risk. (Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF) The companies in which the Fund invests are subject to various laws, regulations and guidelines relating to the cultivation, production, manufacture, management, transportation, storage and disposal of cannabis, as well as those relating to health and safety, the conduct of operations and the protection of the environment. Even if a company’s operations are permitted under current law, they may not be permitted in the future or they may not be permitted under federal law, in which case such company may not be in a position to carry on its operations in its current locations or may be subject to administrative, civil, or criminal enforcement action brought by regulatory, law enforcement, or governmental authorities. Additionally, controlled substance legislation differs between countries, and legislation in certain countries may restrict or limit the ability of certain companies in which the Fund invests to develop, produce, or sell their products. These laws and regulations may significantly affect a cannabis-related company’s ability to secure financing, impact the market for sales and services, and set limitations on cannabis use, production, processing, transportation, sale, marketing, and storage. In addition to regulatory action, litigation initiated by private citizens or companies could have a negative impact on the financial and/or operational status of cannabis-related companies. Cannabis-related companies may also be required to secure permits and authorizations from government agencies to cultivate, process, transport, store, market, sell, or research cannabis-based products. In addition, cannabis-related companies are subject to the risks associated with the agricultural, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical industries.
Concentration in Travel Companies Risk. (Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF) The Fund’s investments will be concentrated in an industry or group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. In such event, the value of the Shares may rise and fall more than the value of shares of a fund that invests in securities of companies in a broader range of industries. Travel Companies may be adversely affected by a downturn in economic conditions that can result in decreased demand for leisure and business travel. Due to the discretionary nature of business and leisure travel spending, Travel Company revenues are heavily influenced by the condition of the U.S. and foreign economies. Travel Companies may also be significantly affected by changes in labor relations and insurance costs. Travel Companies in the airline and cruise industries may also be significantly affected by changes in fuel prices, which may be very volatile and may not be able to be passed on to customers by increasing fares. Airline companies may also be highly dependent on aircraft or related equipment from a small number of suppliers, and consequently, issues affecting the availability, reliability, safety, or longevity of such aircraft or equipment (e.g., the inability of a supplier to meet aircraft demand or the grounding of an aircraft due to safety concerns) may have a significant effect on the operations and profitability of airline companies. Companies in the hotel and lodging industry, as well as the cruise industry, are subject to various risks that may cause significant losses, which includes risks related to uncertainty in travel (due to global, regional or local events), guest safety, security, and privacy, changing consumer demands, shortages of experienced personnel, consumer perception of risk (for example, due to terrorist attacks, pandemics, and political or social violence), and changing or increased regulations.
55
Defiance ETFs
Expense Examples
For the Period Ended June 30, 2021 (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 in the following Expense Example Tables.
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 return. 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.
Defiance Quantum ETF
|
Beginning
|
Ending
|
Expenses
|
|
|
Actual |
$1,000.00 |
$ 1,204.00 |
$2.19 |
|
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
$1,000.00 |
$ 1,022.81 |
$2.01 |
|
(1) |
The dollar amounts shown as expenses paid during the period are equal to the annualized expense ratio, 0.40%, multiplied by the average account value during the six-month period, multiplied by 181/365, to reflect the one-half year period. |
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF
|
Beginning
|
Ending
|
Expenses
|
|
|
Actual |
$1,000.00 |
$ 1,137.20 |
$1.59 |
|
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
$1,000.00 |
$ 1,023.31 |
$1.51 |
|
(2) |
The dollar amounts shown as expenses paid during the period are equal to the annualized expense ratio, 0.30%, multiplied by the average account value during the six-month period, multiplied by 181/365, to reflect the one-half year period. |
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF
|
Beginning
|
Ending
|
Expenses
|
|
|
Actual |
$1,000.00 |
$ 957.70 |
$2.18 |
|
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
$1,000.00 |
$ 1,022.56 |
$2.26 |
|
(3) |
The dollar amounts shown as expenses paid during the period is equal to the annualized expense ratio, 0.45%, multiplied by the average account value during the period, multiplied by 181/365, to reflect the one-half year period. |
56
Defiance ETFs
Expense Examples
For the Period Ended June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) (Continued)
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF
|
Beginning
|
Ending
|
Expenses
|
|
|
Actual |
$1,000.00 |
$ 922.80 |
$2.15 |
|
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
$1,000.00 |
$ 1,022.56 |
$2.26 |
|
(4) |
The dollar amounts shown as expenses paid during the period is equal to the annualized expense ratio, 0.45%, multiplied by the average account value during the period, multiplied by 181/365, to reflect the one-half year period. |
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF
|
Beginning
|
Ending
|
Expenses
|
|
|
Actual |
$1,000.00 |
$ 892.90 |
$0.88(6) |
|
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
$1,000.00 |
$ 1,023.31 |
$1.51(7) |
|
(5) |
Fund commencement. |
|
(6) |
The dollar amount shown as expenses paid during the period is equal to the annualized expense ratio, 0.30%, multiplied by the average account value during the period, multiplied by 113/365, to reflect the period. |
|
(7) |
The dollar amount shown as expenses paid during the period is equal to the annualized expense ratio, 0.30%, multiplied by the average account value during the period, multiplied by 181/365, to reflect the one-half year period. |
Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF
|
Beginning
|
Ending
|
Expenses
|
|
|
Actual |
$1,000.00 |
$ 975.50 |
$0.69(9) |
|
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
$1,000.00 |
$ 1,021.08 |
$3.76(10) |
|
(8) |
Fund commencement. |
|
(9) |
The dollar amount shown as expenses paid during the period is equal to the annualized expense ratio, 0.75%, multiplied by the average account value during the period, multiplied by 34/365, to reflect the period. |
|
(10) |
The dollar amount shown as expenses paid during the period is equal to the annualized expense ratio, 0.75%, multiplied by the average account value during the period, multiplied by 181/365, to reflect the one-half year period. |
Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF
|
Beginning
|
Ending
|
Expenses
|
|
|
Actual |
$1,000.00 |
$ 928.10 |
$0.32(12) |
|
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) |
$1,000.00 |
$ 1,022.56 |
$2.26(13) |
|
(11) |
Fund commencement. |
|
(12) |
The dollar amount shown as expenses paid during the period is equal to the annualized expense ratio, 0.45%, multiplied by the average account value during the period, multiplied by 27/365, to reflect the period. |
|
(13) |
The dollar amount shown as expenses paid during the period is equal to the annualized expense ratio, 0.45%, multiplied by the average account value during the period, multiplied by 181/365, to reflect the one-half year period. |
57
Defiance ETFs
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, 2020. 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.
58
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF
Defiance Quantum ETF
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF
Approval of Advisory Agreements and Board Considerations
(Unaudited)
Pursuant to Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), at a meeting held on April 20-21, 2021 (the “Meeting”), the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of ETF Series Solutions (the “Trust”) considered the approval of the continuation of the Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) between Defiance ETFs, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the Trust, on behalf of Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF, Defiance Quantum ETF, and Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology (each, a “Fund”, and collectively, the “Funds”), and the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement” and together with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) among the Adviser, the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and Penserra Capital Management, LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”).
Prior to the Meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not parties to the Agreements or “interested persons” of any party thereto, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), reviewed written materials from the Adviser and Sub-Adviser (the “Materials”) regarding, among other things: (i) the nature, extent, and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser; (ii) the historical performance of each Fund; (iii) the cost of the services provided and the profits realized by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser from services rendered to each Fund; (iv) comparative fee and expense data for each Fund and other investment companies with similar investment objectives; (v) the extent to which the advisory fee for each Fund reflects economies of scale shared with its respective Fund shareholders; and (vi) other factors the Board deemed to be relevant.
The Board also considered that the Adviser and Sub-Adviser, along with other service providers of the Funds, presented written information to help the Board evaluate the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s fees and other aspects of the Agreements. Additionally, representatives from the Adviser and Sub-Adviser provided an oral overview of each Fund’s strategy, the services provided to each Fund by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser, and additional information about the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s personnel and operations. The Board then discussed the written materials and oral presentations that it had received and any other information that the Board received at the Meeting and deliberated on the approval of the Agreements 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 Continuation of the Advisory Agreement with the Adviser
Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services Provided. The Trustees considered the scope of services provided under the Advisory Agreement, noting that the Adviser would continue to provide investment management services to the Funds. In considering the nature, extent, and quality of the services provided by the Adviser, the Board considered the quality of the Adviser’s compliance infrastructure and past reports from the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”). The Board also considered its previous experience with the Adviser providing investment management services to the Funds. The Board noted that it had previously received a copy of the Adviser’s registration form (“Form ADV”), as well as the response of the Adviser to a detailed series of questions which included, among other things, information about the background and experience of the firm’s key personnel, the firm’s cybersecurity policy, and the services provided by the Adviser.
The Board also considered other services currently provided by the Adviser to the Funds, such as monitoring adherence to the Fund’s investment restrictions, monitoring compliance with various policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations, and monitoring the extent to which each Fund achieved its investment objective as a passively-managed fund. The Board further considered the oral information provided by the Adviser with respect to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the 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 December 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 respective index before fees and expenses.
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF: The Board noted that, for the one-year and since inception periods, the Fund slightly underperformed its underlying index, before fees and expenses. The Board also considered that, for the one-year period, the Fund significantly outperformed the S&P 500 Total Return Index, but slightly underperformed for the since inception period.
The Board further noted that, for the one-year period, the Fund outperformed all other funds in the Communications category as reported by Morningstar, but underperformed the median for funds in the Technology category as reported by Morningstar (the categories together, the “Category Peer Group”).
59
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF
Defiance Quantum ETF
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF
Approval of Advisory Agreements and Board Considerations
(Unaudited) (Continued)
The Board also considered the Fund’s performance relative to the sole competitor identified by the Adviser that focuses on the buildout of 5G technology (the “Selected Peer Fund”). The Board noted that the Fund outperformed the Selected Peer Fund for the one-period.
Defiance Quantum ETF: The Board noted that, for the one-year and since inception periods, the Fund underperformed its underlying index, before fees and expenses. The Board also considered that for the one-year and since inception periods, the Fund significantly outperformed the S&P 500 Total Return Index. The Board further noted that, for the one-year period, the Fund underperformed the median for funds in the Technology category as reported by Morningstar (the “Category Peer Group”).
The Board also considered that the Adviser did not believe the Fund had any direct competitors, and consequently, the Board considered the Fund’s performance relative to a large, broad-based technology index ETF (a “Benchmark ETF”). The Board noted that the Fund underperformed the Benchmark ETF for the one-period ended, although the Board noted the limited usefulness of such comparison given the Fund’s more targeted investment strategy.
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF: The Board noted that the Fund commenced operations on August 3, 2020 and thus had been operating for less than one year, which was a relatively short period of time over which to evaluate the Fund’s performance and draw meaningful conclusions. The Board, however, noted that for the since inception period, the Fund underperformed its underlying index, before fees and expenses. The Board also considered that for the since inception periods ended December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, the Fund significantly outperformed its benchmark, the NASDAQ Biotech Index. The Board further noted that, for the three-month period ended December 31, 2020, the Fund significantly outperformed the median for funds in the universe of Health ETFs as reported by Morningstar (the “Category Peer Group”).
Cost of Services Provided and Economies of Scale. The Board reviewed the expense ratio for each of the Funds, the full amount of which was the “unified fee” described below, and compared each Fund’s expense ratio to its respective peer groups as follows:
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF: The Board noted that the expense ratio for the Fund was lower than the median of its Category Peer Group and significantly lower than the expense ratio of the Selected Peer Fund.
Defiance Quantum ETF: The Board noted that the expense ratio for the Fund was lower than the median of its Category Peer Group. The Board further noted that the Fund’s expense ratio was higher than the expense ratio for the Benchmark ETF, although the Board noted the limited usefulness of such comparison given the Fund’s more targeted investment strategy.
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF: The Board noted that the expense ratio for the Fund was in line with the median of its Category Peer Group. The Board further noted that the Fund’s expense ratio was slightly lower than the expense ratio for the sole competitor identified by the Adviser that focuses on small-capitalization biotechnology companies.
The Board took into consideration that the Adviser charges a “unified fee,” meaning the Funds pay no expenses other than the advisory fee and certain other costs such as interest, brokerage, acquired fund fees and expenses, extraordinary expenses, and, to the extent it is implemented, fees pursuant to a Distribution and/or Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Plan. The Board noted that the Adviser continued to be responsible for compensating the Trust’s other service providers and paying each Fund’s other expenses out of its own fee and resources. The Board also evaluated the compensation and benefits received by the Adviser from its relationship with the Funds, taking into account analyses of the Adviser’s profitability with respect to each Fund.
The Board expressed the view that it currently appeared that the Adviser might realize economies of scale in managing the Funds as assets grow in size. The Board further determined that, based on the amount and structure of each Fund’s unitary fee, such economies of scale would be shared with the respective Fund shareholders, although the Board intends to monitor fees as the Funds grow in size and assess whether fee breakpoints may be warranted.
Conclusion. No single factor was determinative of the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of the 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 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 Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of each Fund and its respective shareholders.
60
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF
Defiance Quantum ETF
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF
Approval of Advisory Agreements and Board Considerations
(Unaudited) (Continued)
Approval of the Continuation 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 the Sub-Adviser would continue to provide investment management services to each Fund. The Board noted the responsibilities that the Sub-Adviser 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 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 the Sub-Adviser, the Board considered reports of the Trust’s CCO with respect to the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and the Sub-Adviser’s experience providing investment management services to other ETFs, including other series of the Trust. The Board also considered the Sub-Adviser’s resources and capacity with respect to portfolio management, compliance, and operations given the number of funds for which it provides sub-advisory services. The Board further considered 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 the Fund’s performance for periods ended December 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 respective index before fees and expenses. The Board noted that each Fund underperformed its respective underlying index before fees and expenses for the since inception period. The Board further considered that the Sub-Adviser attributed such underperformance to the portion of each Fund’s portfolio held uninvested to accommodate on-going fund operations and expenses.
Costs of Services to be Provided and Economies of Scale. The Board reviewed the advisory fee to be paid by the Adviser to the Sub-Adviser for its services to the Funds. The Board considered the fees to be paid to the Sub-Adviser would be paid by the Adviser from the fee the Adviser receives from each Fund and noted that the fee reflected an arm’s-length negotiation between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser. The Board further determined that the fee reflected an appropriate allocation of the advisory fee paid to each firm given the work performed by each firm and noted that the fees were generally in line with those charged by the Sub-Adviser in connection with other funds managed by the Sub-Adviser. The Board noted that the Sub-Adviser has an affiliated broker-dealer that execute a limited amount of the brokerage transactions for certain Funds, and consequently, the Sub-Adviser indirectly benefited from commissions paid to such affiliated broker-dealer. The Board also evaluated the compensation and benefits expected to be received by the Sub-Adviser from its relationship with the Funds, taking into account an analysis of the Sub-Adviser’s estimated profitability with respect to each Fund.
The Board expressed the view that it currently appeared that the Sub-Adviser might realize economies of scale in managing the Funds as assets grow in size. The Board determined that it would monitor fees as each Fund’s assets grow to determine whether economies of scale were being effectively shared with such 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 respective shareholders.
61
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF
Approval of Advisory Agreements and Board Considerations
(Unaudited)
Pursuant to Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), at a meeting held on January 27-28, 2021 (the “Meeting”), the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of ETF Series Solutions (the “Trust”) considered the approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) between Defiance ETFs, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the Trust, on behalf of the Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF (the “Fund”), and the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) (together, the “Agreements”) among the Adviser, the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and Penserra Capital Management LLC (“Penserra” or the “Sub-Adviser”).
Prior to the Meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not parties to the Agreements or “interested persons” of any party thereto, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), reviewed written materials from the Adviser and Sub-Adviser (the “Materials”) regarding, among other things: (i) the nature, extent, and quality of the services to be provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser; (ii) the cost of the services to be provided and the profits expected to be realized by the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, or their affiliates from services rendered to the Fund; (iii) comparative fee and expense data for the Fund and other investment companies with similar investment objectives; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the Fund grows and whether the advisory fee for the Fund reflects these economies of scale for the benefit of the Fund; and (v) any other financial benefits to the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, and their affiliates resulting from services rendered to the Fund.
The Board also considered that the Adviser and Sub-Adviser, along with other service providers of the Fund, had provided written updates on the firm over the course of the year with respect to their roles as adviser and sub-adviser to other series in the Trust, and the Board considered that information alongside the Materials in its evaluation of the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s fees and other aspects of the Agreements. The Board then discussed the Materials, the Adviser’s oral presentation, and any other information that the Board received at the Meeting, and deliberated on the approval of the Agreements 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 Advisory Agreement with the Adviser
Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services to be Provided. The Trustees considered the scope of services to be provided under the Advisory Agreement, noting that the Adviser will be providing investment management services to the Fund. In considering the nature, extent, and quality of the services to be provided by the Adviser, the Board considered the quality of the Adviser’s compliance program and past reports from the Trust’s CCO regarding his review of the Adviser’s compliance program, as well as the Board’s experience with the Adviser as the investment adviser to other series of the Trust. The Board noted that it had previously received a copy of the Adviser’s registration form (“Form ADV”), as well as the response of the Adviser to a detailed series of questions that included, among other things, information about the Adviser’s decision making process, details about the Fund, and the services to be provided by the Adviser.
The Board also considered other services to be provided to the Fund, such as monitoring adherence to the Fund’s investment restrictions, oversight of the Sub-Adviser, monitoring compliance with various Fund policies and with applicable securities regulations, and monitoring the extent to which the Fund achieves its investment objective as a passively-managed fund. The Board further considered the oral information provided by the Adviser with respect to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Adviser’s operations.
Additionally, the Board considered that the Adviser had partnered with the Fund’s index provider to co-develop the methodology used to determine the securities included in the index that would be tracked by the Fund. The Board noted the Adviser’s belief that shareholders will invest in the Fund based on the strength of the intellectual property behind such index, the Adviser’s reputation in the industry, and the expectation that the Adviser will provide advisory services to the Fund based on the index.
Historical Performance. The Board noted that the Fund had not yet commenced operations and concluded that the performance of the Fund, thus, was not a relevant factor in the context of the Board’s deliberations on the Advisory Agreement. The Board also considered that the Fund is designed to track the performance of an index. Consequently, with respect to the Fund’s performance, the Board in the future would focus on the Adviser’s services, including its oversight of the Sub-Adviser’s day-to-day management of the Fund in seeking to track the index as closely as possible.
62
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF
Approval of Advisory Agreements and Board Considerations
(Unaudited) (Continued)
Cost of Services to be Provided and Economies of Scale. The Board then reviewed the Fund’s proposed expense ratio, the full amount of which was anticipated to be the “unified fee” described below, and compared it to the universe of Miscellaneous Sector ETFs as reported by Morningstar (the “Category Peer Groups”). The Board noted that the proposed expense ratio for the Fund was lower than the expense ratios for funds in the Category Peer Group.
The Board further noted that the Fund’s proposed expense ratio was significantly lower than the expense ratios for the Fund’s ETF competitors identified by the Adviser that were focused on providing exposure to clean energy (the “Selected Peer Group). The Board determined that the Fund’s anticipated expense ratio was reasonable given the nature of the investment strategy.
The Board took into consideration that the Adviser would charge a “unified fee,” meaning the Fund would pay no expenses other than the advisory fee and certain other costs such as interest, brokerage, acquired fund fees and expenses, extraordinary expenses and, to the extent it is implemented, fees pursuant to a Distribution and/or Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Plan. The Board noted that the Adviser would be responsible for compensating the Trust’s other service providers and paying the Fund’s other expenses out of its own fee and resources. The Board also evaluated the compensation and benefits expected to be received by the Adviser from its relationship with the Fund, taking into account an analysis of the Adviser’s anticipated profitability with respect to the Fund and the financial resources the Adviser had committed and proposed to commit to its business. The Board determined such analyses were not a significant factor given that the Fund had not yet commenced operations and consequently, the future size of the Fund and the Adviser’s future profitability were generally unpredictable.
The Board expressed the view that the Adviser might realize economies of scale in managing the Fund as assets grow in size. The Board further determined that, based on the amount and structure of the Fund’s unitary fee, such economies of scale would be shared with Fund shareholders in the initial period of the Fund’s operations, although the Board intends to monitor fees as the Fund grows in size and assess whether fee breakpoints may be warranted.
Conclusion. No single factor was determinative of the Board’s decision to approve the 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 Advisory Agreement, including the compensation payable under the agreement, was fair and reasonable to the Fund. The Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, therefore determined that the approval of the Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
Approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement with the Sub-Adviser
Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services to be Provided. The Board considered the scope of services to be provided to the Fund under the Sub-Advisory Agreement, noting that the Sub-Adviser would provide investment management services to the Fund. The Board noted the responsibilities that the Sub-Adviser would have as Fund’s investment sub-adviser, including: responsibility for the general management of the day-to-day investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund; determining the daily baskets of deposit securities and cash components; executing portfolio security trades for purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares conducted on a cash-in-lieu basis; oversight of general portfolio compliance with relevant law; responsibility for daily monitoring of portfolio exposures and quarterly reporting to the Board; and implementation of Board directives as they relate to the Fund.
In considering the nature, extent, and quality of the services to be provided by the Sub-Adviser, the Board considered reports of the Trust’s CCO with respect to the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and the Sub-Adviser’s experience providing investment management services to other ETFs, including other series of the Trust. The Trustees further noted that they had received and reviewed the Materials with regard to the Sub-Adviser and they had reviewed additional detailed information about the Sub-Adviser at previous Board meetings. The Board also considered the Sub-Adviser’s resources and capacity with respect to portfolio management, compliance, and operations given the number of funds for which it would be sub-advising. The Board further considered 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 the Fund had not yet commenced operations. Consequently, the Board determined that performance was not a relevant consideration in the context of the Board’s deliberations on the Sub-Advisory Agreement. The Board also considered that the Fund is designed to track the performance of an index. Consequently, with respect to the Fund’s performance, the Board in the future would focus on the Sub-Adviser’s services, including whether Fund’s performance exhibited significant tracking error.
63
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF
Approval of Advisory Agreements and Board Considerations
(Unaudited) (Continued)
Costs of Services to be Provided and Economies of Scale. The Board reviewed the advisory fee to be paid by the Adviser to Penserra for its services to the Fund. The Board considered the fees to be paid to Penserra would be paid by the Adviser from the fee the Adviser receives from the Fund and noted that the fee reflected an arm’s-length negotiation between the Adviser and Penserra. The Board further determined the fee reflected an appropriate allocation of the advisory fee paid to each adviser given the work performed by each firm and noted that the fees were generally in line with those charged by Penserra in connection with other funds managed by Penserra. The Board noted that the Sub-Adviser has an affiliated broker-dealer that was expected to execute some or all of the brokerage transactions for the Fund, and consequently, the Sub-Adviser would indirectly benefit from commissions paid to such affiliated broker-dealer. The Board also evaluated the compensation and benefits expected to be received by Penserra from its relationship with the Fund, taking into account an analysis of Penserra’s estimated profitability with respect to the Fund.
The Board expressed the view that it currently appeared that the Sub-Adviser might realize economies of scale in managing the Fund as assets grow in size. The Board determined that it would monitor fees as the Fund’s assets grow to determine whether economies of scale were being effectively shared with the 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 the Fund. The Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, therefore determined that the approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
64
Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF
Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF
Approval of Advisory Agreements and Board Considerations
(Unaudited)
Pursuant to Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), at a meeting held on April 20-21, 2021 (the “Meeting”), the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of ETF Series Solutions (the “Trust”) considered the approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) between Defiance ETFs, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the Trust, on behalf of the Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF and Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF (each, a “Fund”, and together, the “Funds”), and the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement” and, together with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) among the Adviser, the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and Penserra Capital Management LLC (“Penserra” or the “Sub-Adviser”).
Prior to the Meeting, the Board, including the Trustees who are not parties to the Agreements or “interested persons” of any party thereto, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), reviewed written materials from the Adviser and Sub-Adviser (the “Materials”) regarding, among other things: (i) the nature, extent, and quality of the services to be provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser; (ii) the cost of the services to be provided and the profits expected to be realized by the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, or their affiliates from services rendered to the Funds; (iii) comparative fee and expense data for each Fund and other investment companies with similar investment objectives; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as each Fund grows and whether the advisory fee for each Fund reflects these economies of scale for the benefit of the applicable Fund; and (v) any other financial benefits to the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, and their affiliates resulting from services rendered to the Funds.
Additionally, representatives from the Adviser and Sub-Adviser provided an oral overview of the Fund’s strategy, the services to be provided to the Fund by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser, and additional information about the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s personnel and operations. The Board also considered that the Adviser and Sub-Adviser, along with other service providers of the Funds, had provided written updates on the firm over the course of the year with respect to their roles as adviser and sub-adviser to other series in the Trust, and the Board considered that information alongside the Materials in its evaluation of the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s fees and other aspects of the Agreements. The Board then discussed the Materials, the Adviser’s oral presentation, and any other information that the Board received at the Meeting, and deliberated on the approval of the Agreements 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 Advisory Agreement with the Adviser
Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services to be Provided. The Trustees considered the scope of services to be provided under the Advisory Agreement, noting that the Adviser will be providing investment management services to each Fund. In considering the nature, extent, and quality of the services to be provided by the Adviser, the Board considered the quality of the Adviser’s compliance program and past reports from the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding his review of the Adviser’s compliance program, as well as the Board’s experience with the Adviser as the investment adviser to other series of the Trust. The Board noted that it had previously received a copy of the Adviser’s registration form (“Form ADV”), as well as the response of the Adviser to a detailed series of questions that included, among other things, details about the Funds and the services to be provided by the Adviser.
The Board also considered other services to be provided to the Funds, such as monitoring adherence to each Fund’s investment restrictions, oversight of the Sub-Adviser, monitoring compliance with various Fund policies and with applicable securities regulations, and monitoring the extent to which each Fund achieves its investment objective as a passively-managed fund. The Board further considered the oral information provided by the Adviser with respect to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Adviser’s operations.
Historical Performance. The Board noted that each Fund had not yet commenced operations and concluded that the performance of each Fund, thus, was not a relevant factor in the context of the Board’s deliberations on the Advisory Agreement. The Board also considered that each Fund is designed to track the performance of an index. Consequently, with respect to each Fund’s performance, the Board in the future would focus on the Adviser’s services, including its oversight of the Sub-Adviser’s day-to-day management of each Fund in seeking to track the index as closely as possible.
65
Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF
Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF
Approval of Advisory Agreements and Board Considerations
(Unaudited) (Continued)
Cost of Services to be Provided and Economies of Scale. The Board then reviewed each Fund’s proposed expense ratio, the full amount of which was anticipated to be the “unified fee” described below, and compared each Fund’s expense ratio to its respective Category Peer Group and Selected Peer Group (each defined below) as follows:
Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF: The Board then compared the Fund’s proposed expense ratio to the universe of Miscellaneous Sector ETFs as reported by Morningstar (the “Category Peer Group”). The Board noted that the proposed expense ratio for the Fund was above the median for the Category Peer Group, but within the range of expense ratios for funds in the Category Peer Group. The Board also noted that due to the Fund’s unique investment strategy, the Category Peer Group may not allow for an apt comparison by which to judge the Fund’s expense ratio. The Board further noted that the Fund’s proposed expense ratio was lower than the expense ratio for the Fund’s sole competitor identified by the Adviser that is focused on investments in the psychedelics industry.
Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF: The Board noted that the expense ratio for the Fund was significantly lower than the median of the universe of Miscellaneous Sector ETFs as reported by Morningstar (the “Category Peer Group”). The Board also noted that due to the Fund’s unique investment strategy, the Category Peer Group may not allow for an apt comparison by which to judge the Fund’s expense ratio. The Board further noted that the Fund’s proposed expense ratio was significantly lower than the expense ratios for the Fund’s competitors identified by the Adviser that are focused on the travel industry (the “Selected Peer Group).
The Board took into consideration that the Adviser would charge a “unified fee,” meaning the Funds would pay no expenses other than the advisory fee and certain other costs such as interest, brokerage, acquired fund fees and expenses, extraordinary expenses and, to the extent it is implemented, fees pursuant to a Distribution and/or Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Plan. The Board noted that the Adviser would be responsible for compensating the Trust’s other service providers and paying each Fund’s other expenses out of its own fee and resources. The Board also evaluated the compensation and benefits expected to be received by the Adviser from its relationship with the Funds, taking into account an analysis of the Adviser’s anticipated profitability with respect to each Fund and the financial resources the Adviser had committed and proposed to commit to its business. The Board determined such analyses were not a significant factor given that the Funds had not yet commenced operations and consequently, the future size of each Fund and the Adviser’s future profitability were generally unpredictable.
The Board expressed the view that the Adviser might realize economies of scale in managing the Funds as assets grow in size. The Board further determined that, based on the amount and structure of each Fund’s unitary fee, such economies of scale would be shared the respective Fund shareholders in the initial period of such Fund’s operations, although the Board intends to monitor fees as each Fund grows in size and assess whether fee breakpoints may be warranted.
Conclusion. No single factor was determinative of the Board’s decision to approve the 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 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 Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders.
Approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement with the Sub-Adviser
Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services to be Provided. The Board considered the scope of services to be provided to the Funds under the Sub-Advisory Agreement, noting that the Sub-Adviser would provide investment management services to each Fund. The Board noted the responsibilities that the Sub-Adviser would have as the Funds’ investment sub-adviser, including: responsibility for the general management of the day-to-day investment and reinvestment of the assets of the 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 portfolio exposures and quarterly reporting to the Board; and implementation of Board directives as they relate to each Fund.
66
Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF
Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF
Approval of Advisory Agreements and Board Considerations
(Unaudited) (Continued)
In considering the nature, extent, and quality of the services to be provided by the Sub-Adviser, the Board considered reports of the Trust’s CCO with respect to the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and the Sub-Adviser’s experience providing investment management services to other ETFs, including other series of the Trust. The Trustees further noted that they had received and reviewed the Materials with regard to the Sub-Adviser and they had reviewed additional detailed information about the Sub-Adviser at previous Board meetings. The Board also considered the Sub-Adviser’s resources and capacity with respect to portfolio management, compliance, and operations given the number of funds for which it would be providing sub-advisory services. The Board further considered 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 the Funds had not yet commenced operations. Consequently, the Board determined that performance was not a relevant consideration in the context of the Board’s deliberations on the Sub-Advisory Agreement. The Board also considered that each Fund is designed to track the performance of an index. Consequently, with respect to each Fund’s performance, the Board in the future would focus on the Sub-Adviser’s services, including whether each Fund’s performance exhibited significant tracking error.
Costs of Services to be Provided and Economies of Scale. The Board reviewed the advisory fee to be paid by the Adviser to the Sub-Adviser for its services to the Funds. The Board considered the fees to be paid to the Sub-Adviser would be paid by the Adviser from the fee the Adviser receives from each Fund and noted that the fee reflected an arm’s-length negotiation between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser. The Board further determined the fee reflected an appropriate allocation of the advisory fee paid to each adviser given the work performed by each firm and noted that the fees were generally in line with those charged by the Sub-Adviser in connection with other funds managed by the Sub-Adviser. The Board noted that the Sub-Adviser has an affiliated broker-dealer that was expected to execute some or all of the brokerage transactions for each Fund, and consequently, the Sub-Adviser would indirectly benefit from commissions paid to such affiliated broker-dealer. The Board also evaluated the compensation and benefits expected to be received by the Sub-Adviser from its relationship with the Funds, taking into account an analysis of the Sub-Adviser’s estimated profitability with respect to each Fund.
The Board expressed the view that it currently appeared that the Sub-Adviser might realize economies of scale in managing the Funds as assets grow in size. The Board determined that it would monitor fees as each Fund’s assets grow to determine whether economies of scale were being effectively shared with such 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 the Fund. The Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, therefore determined that the approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders.
67
Defiance ETFs
Federal Tax Information
(Unaudited)
For the fiscal year/period ended December 31, 2020, certain dividends paid by the Funds may be subject to a maximum 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:
|
Defiance Quantum ETF |
100.00% |
|
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF |
99.88% |
|
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF |
0.98% |
|
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF |
0.00% |
|
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF |
N/A |
|
Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF |
N/A |
|
Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF |
N/A |
For corporate shareholders, the percent of ordinary income distributions qualifying for the corporate dividend received deduction for the year/period ended December 31, 2020 was as follows:
|
Defiance Quantum ETF |
90.24% |
|
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF |
69.16% |
|
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF |
0.06% |
|
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF |
0.00% |
|
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF |
N/A |
|
Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF |
N/A |
|
Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF |
N/A |
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 was as follows:
|
Defiance Quantum ETF |
10.07% |
|
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF |
0.00% |
|
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF |
100.00% |
|
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF |
0.00% |
|
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF |
N/A |
|
Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF |
N/A |
|
Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF |
N/A |
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 or the Funds’ website at www.defianceetfs.com. Each Fund’s portfolio holdings are posted on their website at www.defianceetfs.com daily.
68
Defiance ETFs
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 Statement of Additional Information (“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 Funds’ website at www.defianceetfs.com.
When available, 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.
Information About the Funds’ Trustees
(Unaudited)
The SAI includes additional information about the Funds’ Trustees and is available without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 617-0004 or by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or by accessing the Funds’ website at www.defianceetfs.com.
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 Funds’ NAV is available, without charge, on the Funds’ website at www.defianceetfs.com.
69
|
Adviser
Defiance ETFs, LLC
|
Index Provider (PSY)
BITA GmbH
|
|
Sub-Adviser
Penserra Capital Management LLC
|
Distributor
Foreside Fund Services, LLC
|
|
Index Provider (QTUM, FIVG)
BlueStar Global Investors, LLC
|
Custodian
U.S. Bank National Association
|
|
Index Provider (IBBJ)
Nasdaq Global Indexes
|
Transfer Agent
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
|
|
Index Provider (SPAK)
Indxx, LLC
|
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Cohen & Company, Ltd.
|
|
Index Provider (HDRO, CRUZ)
MV Index Solutions GmbH
|
Legal Counsel
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
|
|
Defiance Quantum ETF
Symbol – QTUM
|
Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF
Symbol – FIVG
|
Defiance Nasdaq Junior Biotechnology ETF
Symbol – IBBJ
|
|
Defiance Next Gen SPAC Derived ETF
|
Defiance Next Gen H2 ETF
|
Defiance Next Gen Altered Experience ETF
Symbol – PSY
|
|
Defiance Hotel, Airlines, and Cruise ETF
Symbol – CRUZ
|
| (b) | Not applicable. |
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
Not applicable for semi-annual reports.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
Not applicable for semi-annual reports.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Not applicable for semi-annual reports.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Not applicable for semi-annual reports.
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 has materially affected, or is 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.
| (a) | (1) Any code of ethics or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy Item 2 requirements through filing an exhibit. Not Applicable. |
(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 the registrant’s independent public accountant. There was no change in the registrant’s independent public accountant for the period covered by this report.
| (b) | Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Furnished herewith. |
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 |
8/31/2021 |
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 |
8/31/2021 |
|
| By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Kristen M. Weitzel | |
| Kristen M. Weitzel, Treasurer (principal financial officer) | ||
| Date |
8/31/2021 |
| * | Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature. |
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 second fiscal quarter of 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: |
8/31/2021 |
/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 second fiscal quarter of 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: |
8/31/2021 |
/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 ETF Series Solutions, does hereby certify, to such officer’s knowledge, that the report on Form N-CSR of ETF Series Solutions, for the period ended June 30, 2021 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 ETF Series Solutions for the stated period.
| /s/ Kristina R. Nelson | /s/ Kristen M. Weitzel | ||||
| Kristina R. Nelson | Kristen M. Weitzel | ||||
| President (principal executive officer) | Treasurer (principal financial officer) | ||||
| ETF Series Solutions | ETF Series Solutions | ||||
| Dated: |
8/31/2021 |
Dated: |
8/31/2021 |
||
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.