497K 1 fp0075788_497k.htm

 

 

May 9, 2022

 

Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund’s prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. You can find the Fund’s prospectus and other information about the Fund online at www.smartetfs.com. You may also obtain this information at no cost by calling 866-307-5990 or by sending an e-mail request to mail@smartetfs.com. The Fund’s Statutory Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, both dated May 1, 2022, are incorporated by reference into this Summary Prospectus.

 

Investment Objective

SmartETFs Sustainable Energy II ETF’s investment objective is long-term capital appreciation.

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

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

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a
percentage of the value of your investments)

 

Management Fees:

0.79%

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees:

None

Other Expenses:

2.05%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expense

2.84%

Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement(1)

-2.05%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement(1)

0.79%

 

(1)

The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its fees and/or pay ETF expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes, dividends on short positions and extraordinary expenses) in order to limit the Fund’s total annual operating expenses to 0.79% through June 30, 2025. This contractual arrangement may be terminated by the Board of the Fund at any time without penalty upon 60 days’ notice.

 

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in SmartETFs Sustainable Energy II ETF with the cost of investing in other investment companies. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then sell all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. This example does not include brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell shares. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, under these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

$81

$252

$909

$2,679

 

 

 

 

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when the Fund’s shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, may affect the Fund’s performance. During the Fund’s most recent fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 24.21% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

The Sustainable Energy II ETF invests, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in publicly-traded equity securities of sustainable energy companies (both U.S. and non-U.S.). The Fund will invest in companies that the Adviser considers to be “Sustainable Energy” companies, which are companies that, in the Adviser’s view, generate, produce or provide alternative or renewable sources of energy (as compared to more traditional sources of energy that can be environmentally depletive, such as fossil fuels like oil or coal or other hydrocarbon-based fuels), or that produce, generate, transport, or deliver energy or energy applications in a way that makes alternative or renewable energy more efficient or accessible or reduces the use of environmentally depletive energy resources. The Fund expects to invest in:

 

 

energy companies that generate power through solar, wind, hydroelectric, tidal wave, geothermal, biomass or biofuels;

 

 

companies that provide the equipment and technologies that enable these types of energy to be tapped, used, stored or transported, and

 

 

companies that create, facilitate or improve technologies that conserve or enable more efficient use of energy.

 

The Fund will not change this policy unless it gives shareholders at least 60 days’ notice.

 

In determining whether to buy or sell a portfolio position, the Adviser uses proprietary and independent research and applies traditional fundamental analysis to assess a company’s business and business prospects, market capitalization, the valuation of the company, its dividend history, its ratio of debt to equity, as well as how the company’s business relates to sustainable characteristics like growth or development of alternative or renewable energy. The Adviser conducts an independent assessment of each portfolio company’s business. The Adviser categorizes the universe of companies it deems to be Sustainable Energy companies into four key areas related to the specific aspects of the energy business. Currently, these key areas are:

 

Generation:

 

companies involved in generating sustainable energy or companies working to transition from hydrocarbon-based fuels

Installation:

 

companies involved in manufacturing equipment for generation and consumption of sustainable energy

Displacement:

 

companies involved in the displacement or improved efficient usage of existing hydrocarbon-based energy

Electrification:

 

companies effectuating the switching from hydrocarbon-based fuel demand towards electricity or other renewal energy sources, especially for transportation

 

The Fund’s holdings in each key area may vary and the Fund may invest in Sustainable Energy companies that do not fall within these key areas. The Fund will not invest in companies that derive the majority of their revenues or profits from fossil fuel extraction or coal. Currently, the Adviser considers portfolio companies’ alignment with four of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy; Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; and Goal 13: Climate Action. The Adviser may change these considerations at any time without notice to shareholders.

 

Equity securities may include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks, rights and warrants. The Fund is actively managed and the Fund’s allocations may vary depending on changing market conditions (including but not limited to, liquidity, volatility, and the number of companies meeting selection criteria). The Fund may invest in US companies and in companies economically tied to foreign countries, including, potentially, companies domiciled or traded in emerging markets, including China. For more information about how the Adviser determines that a company is economically tied to a foreign country, see “More About the Fund’s Investment Strategies and Risks” in this Prospectus. The Fund’s allocations among countries may vary depending

 

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on changing market conditions (including but not limited to, liquidity, volatility, and the number of companies meeting selection criteria). The Fund’s currency is US Dollars, while some of its investments are denominated in foreign currencies.

 

The Fund will normally hold around 30 positions of approximately equal weight, but the portfolio may vary over time, and under normal market conditions, the Fund may have as few as 25 holdings, or may hold securities in 75 or more companies. The Fund may invest in companies of any market capitalization size, but under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest in companies with a minimum market capitalization of $500 million. Additional information on Principal Investment Strategies can be found in the prospectus. Also see Additional Investment Strategies and Risks in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

For temporary defensive purposes, any portion of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in cash and cash equivalents, including money market funds, to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions. While the Fund is applying this temporary defensive strategy, it may be unable to achieve its investment objective.

 

The Fund is designed for investors who seek long-term capital appreciation through focused investment in equity securities of energy companies, wherever located, that are engaged in Sustainable Energy businesses.

 

Principal Risks

You can lose money by investing in shares of SmartETFs Sustainable Energy II ETF, and investing in shares of this Fund may be more risky than investing in a fund that only invests in U.S. securities due to increased volatility of foreign markets. Risks associated with an investment in the Fund can increase during times of market volatility. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Risks associated with investments in the Fund can increase during times of market volatility.

 

The Fund is subject to the following risks, which could affect the Fund’s net asset value per share (“NAV”), trading price, yield, total return or the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective. These risks are also described in the “Principal Risks” and “Risks of Investing in Our Fund” sections of this prospectus and in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. You can lose money by investing in Shares of this Fund.

 

 

Industry Risks. Prices of energy, whether traditional or sustainable, may fluctuate or decline due to many factors, including international political or economic developments, real or perceived, demand for energy and sustainable energy, production and distribution policies of OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) and other oil-producing countries, energy conservation projects, changes in governmental regulations affecting companies in the energy business or related lines of business, including Sustainable Energy companies, changes in technology affecting Sustainable Energy, and changes in tax regulations relating to energy. Energy prices are also affected by limitations or incentives affecting particular energy sources. A decline in energy prices would likely have a negative effect on securities held by the Fund. The Fund’s focus on sustainable energy businesses exposes the Fund to greater market risk and potential monetary losses than if the Fund’s assets were diversified among various industries or sectors.

 

 

Equity Securities Risk. The Fund invests in publicly-traded equity securities, and their value may fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, which means a security may be worth more or less than when it was purchased. These fluctuations can be based on a variety of factors including a company’s financial condition as well as macro-economic factors such as interest rates, inflation rates, global market conditions, and non-economic factors such as market perceptions and social or political events.

 

 

Market Risk. General market conditions can affect the value of the Fund’s securities holdings. Market risk applies to individual securities, a particular sector or the entire economy. Recently, global financial markets have experienced a period of extreme stress which has resulted in unusual and extreme volatility in the equity markets and in the prices of individual securities. In some cases, the prices of securities issued by individual companies have been negatively impacted even though there may be little or no apparent degradation in the financial conditions or prospects of that company. Global events, financial market shocks or interest rate events could cause equity securities generally to decline in value, including if fixed income securities become more favorable. These market conditions add significantly to the risk of short term volatility of the Fund.

 

 

Global Risks. The Fund invests in companies in multiple countries, and companies in which the Fund invests may experience differing outcomes with respect to safety and security, economic uncertainties, natural and environmental conditions, health conditions (including pandemics such as Covid-19) and/or

 

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systemic market dislocations (including market dislocations due to events outside a company’s country or region, including supply chain events). The global interconnectivity of industries and companies, especially with respect to goods, can be negatively impacted by events occurring beyond a company’s principal geographic location. These events can contribute to volatility, valuation and liquidity issues, and can affect specific companies, countries, regions and global markets.

 

 

o

Pandemic Risk. In 2020, markets globally were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which is ongoing. This pandemic adversely affected industries, including supply chains, as well as general financial conditions, and has resulted in restrictions on commercial activity (shutdowns), interruptions in labor and supply markets, economic stimulus packages and other governmental interventions, and reallocation of market resources. Total economic effects of Covid-19 cannot be predicted. Covid-19 may continue in the foreseeable future and could adversely affect companies in the Fund’s portfolio, including by affecting their operating capabilities or their willingness or ability to pay dividends, which could negatively impact stock prices as well as yield.

 

 

o

Capital Controls and Sanctions Risk. In 2022, a number of countries imposed capital controls and economic and other sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The range of sanctions and their impact continues to evolve but has included asset seizures, restrictions on the transfer or exchange of currency, restrictions on asset transfers, exclusions from international banking systems, export limitations and limitations on listing shares of companies that are economically tied to Russia and Belarus, including depositary receipts on shares of affected companies. Sanctions programs have been imposed by individual countries, but also on a coordinated basis. The duration of sanctions programs and capital controls in response to the invasion of Ukraine cannot be predicted with any certainty. Capital controls and/or sanctions could adversely impact a Fund’s ability to buy, sell or otherwise transfer securities or currency, negatively impact the value and/or liquidity of such instruments, adversely affect the trading market and price for Fund shares, and otherwise cause the Fund to decline in value.

 

Risks Associated with Investments in Companies outside the United States

 

Investing in Non US Companies. Investing in companies outside the U.S., including in countries in Europe and Asia, involves different and additional political, social, economic, legal and regulatory risks, based on the size of their securities markets, competition for investments, interest rates, global or foreign trade activities (restrictions and tariffs or threats of changes to restrictions or tariffs), and changes in the global economy, such as “Brexit”, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (EU), as well as changes due to global or coordinated sanctions activities. Impacts of Brexit are likely to be higher on companies with significant contacts with the United Kingdom, including companies in Europe. Non-US companies, whether in developed or emerging markets, may be more sensitive to these factors, which can increase volatility, reduce liquidity and negatively affect economic growth. The Fund’s ability to access foreign securities markets can be limited, which can affect availability, liquidity and pricing of foreign securities.

 

 

o

Sensitivity to global events. Non US securities may be more sensitive to changes in global economic activity, including interest rates as well as trading activity, including trade restrictions, tariffs, or threats of changes to restrictions or tariffs. These companies may be more sensitive to global economic transitions and stresses, such as Brexit, central bank or government interventions (commonly involving interest rates but also stimulus and sanctions). Investing in non-US securities can also expose the Fund to risks associated with the potential imposition of economic or other sanctions against a particular country, or businesses or industries, including trade restrictions or tariffs (or threats thereof).

 

 

o

European Securities. The Fund may invest in companies in Europe and the United Kingdom. Companies in countries in the European Union and the UK may be more sensitive to changes as a result of Brexit, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. These changes could include changes in how goods, technology or services are delivered or received between the European Union countries and the United Kingdom.

 

 

o

Legal, Accounting, Audit and Disclosure may vary. Foreign countries have different legal, accounting, auditing and financial disclosure systems, which may make information about companies more difficult to understand, and less information may be available. Under foreign legal systems, different

 

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standards may apply for foreign governments to take over assets, restrict the ability to exchange currency or restrict the delivery of securities. Some foreign companies may be subject to special restrictions in U.S. markets due to non-compliance with U.S. audit inspection standards.

 

 

Securities of Companies in Asia. The Fund may invest in securities of companies in Asia, including China and South Korea. Investments in securities of Chinese companies can be impacted by currency and exchange rate fluctuations, in addition to price volatility, illiquidity and changes in China’s regulatory, monetary and socioeconomic policies, and limitations on access to Chinese issuers.

 

 

o

Asia Pacific stock markets may experience volatility and instability, and these risks can apply to entire economies, particular sectors and particular securities. Asia Pacific stocks could rise or fall with changes in economic or political circumstances in specific countries, may fall out of favor with investors, and currencies of countries in the Asia Pacific region may decline in comparison to the U.S. dollar. Stocks economically tied to the Asia Pacific region may be more sensitive to economic, political, social or legal changes in countries in the Asia Pacific region, which could adversely affect the Fund’s investments.

 

 

o

China. China’s government exercises significant control over its capital markets and currency markets, including its securities markets. China is also an emerging market. The Fund’s investments may be affected by currency and exchange rate fluctuations, price volatility, illiquidity and trading restrictions, which can differ between China’s stock exchanges and stock exchanges that list securities of companies economically tied to China. Changes in the regulatory, monetary or socioeconomic policies in China, and limitations on access to China issuers (including limitations on access through variable interest entities (VIEs)), could adversely affect the Fund’s investments in China. Foreign investors, such as the Fund, may face different risks than domestic investors when investing in companies in China, especially with respect to lack of transparency, fraud, volatility, corporate incentives, macro-economic shocks, national security and changes in US-China policy. China’s policies can also impact securities of companies economically tied to Hong Kong and Taiwan. See “Risks of Investing in our Funds” for specific risks of investing in companies economically tied to China.

 

 

o

South Korea Risks. South Korea’s economy is sensitive to changes in international trade, and could be adversely affected if there is a downturn in export markets globally. Substantial political tensions exist between North Korea and South Korea. South Korea’s economy and South Korean companies could be adversely affected by increases in tension between North Korea and South Korea.

 

 

Currency and Currency Exchange Risks. The Fund’s currency is US Dollars, while some of its investments are denominated in foreign currencies. Foreign currencies may fluctuate against the US Dollar and some foreign currencies are more volatile, especially during times of economic stress, and foreign countries may limit trading or repatriation of currencies. The Fund’s NAV could be affected by a change in foreign currency exchange rates. The Fund may incur costs associated with exchanging dollars into foreign currencies, and vice versa, for investing in foreign securities. The value of Fund shares could decline if the foreign currency of a market in which the Fund invests declines against the US Dollar.

 

 

o

China Currency Risk. The Fund’s investments in Chinese issuers are subject to risks associated with China’s currency, which is subject to economic objectives of China’s government including devaluation. China has only comparatively recently moved from a pegged currency to a managed float. China’s currency, the Renminbi Yuan, is not completely freely tradable and may not at all times reflect economic fundamentals of China’s economy. The value of the Renminbi Yuan is subject to changes based on the economic objectives of the Chinese government, including devaluation in order to improve the competitiveness of Chinese goods in an effort to improve the Chinese balance of trade.

 

 

o

Other Currency Risk. Currencies of some countries in the Asia Pacific region are subject to greater volatility as compared to the US dollar. Currency volatility is relative and can be periodic. For some countries, their currency may not reflect entirely the fundamental components of a country’s economy. Some currencies, such as South Korea (Won), trade only in local markets and may be more volatile than other currencies. The Fund could pay more if it had to acquire a foreign currency when the amplitude of its volatility is high as measured against the US Dollar.

 

 

Foreign Securities Market Risks. Foreign securities markets generally have lower trading volumes than U.S. markets, which means it may be more difficult for the Fund to buy or sell foreign securities. Additionally, trading on foreign securities markets may involve longer settlement periods and higher

 

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transaction costs. Some foreign securities markets are closed to trading for extended periods (foreseeable and unplanned), which could make the Fund’s holdings in those markets illiquid or hard to value. Government oversight of foreign stock exchanges and brokerage industries may be less stringent than in the United States. Some foreign securities markets restrict access by non-domestic investors. The Fund’s investments in securities traded on foreign markets could make this Fund more risky than a fund that only invests in securities traded on US exchanges.

 

 

Emerging Markets Risks. The Fund may invest in companies in emerging markets, including China. Emerging market countries may generally have less established economies, smaller capital markets and greater social, economic, regulatory or political risks. These factors could contribute to increased volatility, liquidity risks and valuation risks. These risks apply to direct holdings in foreign companies and to holdings in depository receipts for foreign companies.

 

 

Expropriation Risk. Investments in foreign countries are subject to expropriation risk, and the risk that foreign governments act to limit investment in foreign securities, through exchange controls, currency restrictions and taxation. There can be limits on the Fund’s ability to pursue and collect a legal judgment against a foreign government if an expropriation event occurs.

 

Other Principal Risks

 

Management Risk. The Fund’s strategy may not achieve its investment objective; the portfolio managers’ qualitative judgments about portfolio companies or their securities may be incorrect or the Adviser might not properly implement the strategy.

 

 

Capitalization Risk. The Fund invests in companies with a range of capitalizations, including small cap (under US$1 billion), medium cap (under US$5 billion) and large cap (US$10 billion or more). Small cap and medium cap companies may be more susceptible to financial downturns, have limited product lines, may be illiquid or experience volatility and may have limited financial resources. Large cap companies may have frequent price changes based on general economic conditions and may be adversely affected by declines among lines of business, and may be less agile in responding to market and product challenges. Investing in small-cap and medium-cap companies may make the Fund more risky than a fund that only invests in securities of larger capitalization companies.

 

 

Liquidity Risk. The Fund invests in securities, which may become illiquid, and there is liquidity risk associated with the Fund’s own shares. Securities in which the Fund invests could become illiquid, which means that the securities cannot be sold within seven days under current market conditions without significantly affecting the price at which the investment is carried on the Fund’s books. Investments that become illiquid may be more difficult to value. The Fund may be more sensitive to this risk because it invests in non-US securities. Some of the foreign markets in which the Fund invests may be closed for national holidays or other reasons, which may cause some holdings to be illiquid. Illiquidity in portfolio securities could cause the Fund’s shares to trade at a premium or discount. The Fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program to manage liquidity risk of its underlying portfolio.

 

 

Fund Cybersecurity Risk. Cybersecurity risk applies to the Fund, its service providers and the companies in which the Fund invests. Cybersecurity risk includes breaches, intentional or unintended, that may impact a company’s ability to operate, and could include data corruption, theft or loss, improper access to proprietary information, or interference with technology operations. Companies could suffer losses due to cybersecurity events, including fines, penalties, reputational injuries, as well as financial losses and legal and compliance expenses. Cybersecurity risks of the Fund include risks applicable to the Fund’s service providers. While the Fund and its service providers have established cybersecurity defenses, there is no guarantee that these defenses will be effective.

 

Risks of Investing in ETFs

 

Shares May Trade At Prices Other Than NAV. “ETF Shares” are the Fund’s individual exchange-traded shares, which are listed for trading on the NYSE Arca. Shares are bought and sold in the secondary market at a market price. The Fund’s NAV is calculated once per day, at the end of the day. The market price of a share on the exchange could be higher than the NAV (premium), or lower than the NAV (discount).

 

 

o

Market Price could vary from NAV. The market price of an ETF Share on the exchange can change throughout the day and may differ from the Fund’s NAV per share, which is calculated only once per day, at the end of the day.

 

6

 

 

 

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Market Price could vary from NAV due to foreign holdings. The Fund will hold shares of non-U.S. securities traded in local markets that close at a different time than the NYSE Arca. During the time when the NYSE Arca is open but after the applicable local market has closed, the price of a foreign security that is held by the Fund and included in the Fund’s NAV will be the most recent closing price in that security’s local market, updated for currency changes, until that local market opens again. In that case, the prices used in calculating the Fund’s NAV may be based on closing prices of securities traded in non-U.S. markets that have not been updated, except for currency changes. When all or a portion of the Fund’s portfolio consists of securities traded in a market that is closed when the market for the Fund’s shares is open, there could be differences between the value of ETF shares and the value of the Fund’s underlying portfolio. This could lead to differences between the market price of the ETF Shares and the underlying value of the Fund shares. These differences can be magnified during times of significant market activity and could contribute to the ETF Shares trading at a premium or discount.

 

 

o

Costs of buying, selling or holding Fund Shares. Purchases and sales of ETF Shares on the exchange through a broker may incur a brokerage charge or commission, frequently a fixed amount; this may be a significant proportional cost for investors transacting in small numbers of shares. The difference between the price investors are willing to pay for ETF Shares (the “bid” price) and the price at which investors are willing to sell ETF Shares (the “ask” price) is called the “spread.” The spread with respect to ETF Shares varies over time based on the Fund’s trading volume and market liquidity, and is generally lower (or “narrower”) if the Fund has a lot of trading volume and market liquidity and higher (or “wider”) if the Fund has little trading volume and market liquidity. When the spread widens, or when premiums or discounts become larger than usual, particularly in times of market stress, investors may pay significantly more or receive significantly less than the underlying value of the Fund shares when they buy or sell ETF Shares in the secondary market. Because of the costs of buying and selling shares of the Fund, frequent trading may reduce investment returns. You could lose money if you sell your shares at a point when the market price is below the Fund’s NAV.

 

 

Cash Redemption Risk. The Fund may be required to sell portfolio securities if it is required to pay cash in redemption of Creation Units to Authorized Participants. Generally, the Fund will effectuate redemptions in kind. For some portfolio holdings traded in specific foreign markets that do not permit in-kind transfers, the Fund will need to sell securities and deliver cash to redeeming Authorized Participants. There is a risk that the Fund could lose money if it had to sell its securities in times of overall market turmoil or when the Fund’s portfolio securities have declined in value, or if the securities become illiquid. Selling securities could generate capital gains and cause the Fund to incur brokerage expenses and could result in tax consequences.

 

 

Redemption Risk. ETF Shares are not individually redeemable. The Fund only redeems ETF Shares in Creation Units, which are large blocks of shares, from Authorized Participants. If you want to liquidate some or all of your investment in shares of the Fund, you would have to sell them on the secondary market at prevailing market prices, which may be lower than NAV.

 

 

Absence of Active Trading Market Risk. Although ETF Shares will be listed on the NYSE Arca exchange, there is no guarantee that an active trading market for Fund shares will exist at all times. In times of market stress, markets can suffer erratic or unpredictable trading activity, extraordinary volatility or wide bid/ask spreads, which could cause some market makers and Authorized Participants to reduce their market activity or “step away” from making a market in ETF Shares, and market makers and Authorized Participants are not obligated to place or execute purchase and redemption orders. This could cause the Fund’s market price to deviate, materially, from the NAV, and reduce the effectiveness of the ETF arbitrage process (that is, arbitrage will be less effective at keeping the market price of ETF Shares aligned closely with the value of its underlying portfolio). Trading in ETF Shares on the NYSE Arca exchange may be halted if individual or market-wide “circuit breakers” are activated (circuit breakers halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a pre-determined percentage). Trading of the ETF Shares also could be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from the NYSE Arca exchange without first being listed on another exchange or (2) NYSE Arca exchange officials determine that halting is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or to protect investors. Any absence of an active trading market for ETF Shares could lead to a heightened risk that there will be a difference between the market price of an ETF Share and the underlying value of the ETF Share.

 

 

Authorized Participant Risk. Only a limited number of financial institutions that enter into an authorized participant agreement with the Fund may engage in creation or redemption transactions. If the Fund’s Authorized Participants decide not to create or redeem shares, shares may trade at a premium or discount

 

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to the Fund’s net asset value. This risk could be heightened because the Fund will invest in non-U.S. securities, which may be traded outside a collateralized settlement system. In such a case, Authorized Participants may be required to post collateral for some trades on an agency basis (that is, on behalf of other market participants), which only a limited number of Authorized Participants may be willing to do. This risk could also be heightened because the Fund uses a focused investment strategy. If Authorized Participants do not proceed with creation and redemption orders for shares, the Fund’s share price could trade at a discount to NAV and could face trading halts or de-listing.

 

For more information on the risks of investing in this Fund, please see the Principal Risks and Additional Risks of Investing in our Funds in the prospectus. You may also refer to the section Risk Factors and Special Considerations in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Performance

The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the SmartETFs Sustainable Energy II ETF by showing how the fund’s performance has varied from year to year and by showing how the average annual total returns of the Fund compare with the average annual total returns of a broad-based market index. Unlike the Fund’s returns, the index returns do not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses or taxes. For additional information on these indices, please see Index Descriptions in the prospectus. Updated performance information is available from the Fund’s website, www.smartetfs.com. Past performance does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in future periods.

 

The annual returns bar chart demonstrates the risks of investing in the SmartETFs Sustainable Energy II ETF by showing how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year. The table below also demonstrates these risks by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad-based securities market index. Unlike the Fund’s returns, the index returns do not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses or taxes. For additional information on these indices, please see Index Descriptions in the prospectus. Past performance, before or after taxes, is not indicative of future performance. Updated performance information is available on the Fund’s website www.smartetfs.com.

 

Calendar-Year Total Returns (before taxes)
For each calendar year at NAV

During the period shown in the bar chart, the best performance for a quarter was 4.96% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The worst performance was 1.61% (for the quarter ended September 30, 2021).

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/21

One Year

Since Inception
(November 11,
2020)

SmartETFs Sustainable Energy II ETF

 

 

Return Before Taxes

12.11%

28.22%

Return After Taxes on Distributions(1)

10.88%

27.05%

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares(1)

7.14%

21.10%

MSCI World Index (Net Return) (Reflects No Deductions for Fees and Expenses)

21.82%

30.80%

 

(1)

After-tax returns are calculated using the historically highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement

 

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accounts. In certain cases, the figure representing “Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares” may be higher than the other return figures for the same period. A higher after-tax return results when a capital loss occurs upon redemption and provides an assumed tax deduction that benefits the investor.

 

Investment Adviser

Guinness Atkinson™ Asset Management, Inc. serves as the Fund’s investment adviser. For more information on the Investment Adviser, please see Management of the Funds in the prospectus and the Investment Adviser in the Statement of Additional Information. All security analysis and selection is provided by the Investment Adviser.

 

Investment Sub-Adviser

Penserra Capital Management, LLC (“Penserra”). Penserra serves as a sub-adviser to provide limited services to the Investment Adviser as needed in connection with various functions related to portfolio management, including, but not limited to, investing cash inflows, implementing investment strategy, researching and reviewing investment strategy, and overseeing members of their portfolio management team with more limited responsibilities.

 

Portfolio Managers

Jonathan Waghorn and Will Riley, are the co-portfolio managers of the Fund. Mr. Waghorn has been with Guinness Atkinson since 2013, and Mr. Riley has been with Guinness Atkinson since 2007. Messrs. Waghorn and Riley are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

Dustin Lewellyn, Ernesto Tong and Anand Desai are the portfolio managers of the sub-adviser responsible for the Fund. Mr. Lewellyn has been with Penserra since 2012, and Messrs. Tong and Desai have been with Penserra since 2015. Together, these individuals are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

For additional information, please see Portfolio Management in the prospectus and Portfolio Manager in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

SmartETFs Sustainable Energy II ETF is traded on the NYSE Arca. Individual Fund shares may only be bought and sold in the secondary market (the exchange) through a broker or dealer at a market price. If you wish to purchase or sell Fund shares, you should contact your broker. You may incur a brokerage fee when purchasing or selling Fund shares. Because Fund shares trade on an exchange at a market price rather than at the net asset value, Fund shares may trade at a price greater than net asset value (premium) or less than net asset value (discount). You may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Fund shares (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Fund shares (ask) when buying or selling shares in the secondary market (the “bid-ask spread”).

 

Information about the Fund’s net asset value, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-asks spreads are available on the Fund’s website at www.smartetfs.com.

 

Only certain large investors that have contractually agreed to be, and have been designated as, Authorized Participants are able to purchase and redeem large blocks of ETF Shares directly with the Fund. Purchase and redemption activity conducted by Authorized Participants directly with the Fund will be done in increments of 10,000 share Creation Units. A Transaction Fee of $450 per Creation Unit transaction is charged to Authorized Participants who create or redeem shares in Creation Units. The Fund will issue or redeem Creation Units in return for a basket of assets that the Fund specifies each day and are effected at the net asset value (“NAV”) next determined after the receipt of an order in proper form. The value of the minimum initial or subsequent investment by an Authorized Participant varies with the value of the basket of assets specified by the Fund each day. ETF Shares may only be purchased or redeemed in Creation Units by submitting an order to the Fund’s transfer agent. More information about the purchase and sale of ETF Shares in Creation Units can be found in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information under “Purchase and Redemption of Shares in Creation Units”.

 

Tax Information

The Fund intends to make distributions that will be taxable, and will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Withdrawals from such tax-deferred arrangements may be taxable at the time of withdrawal. For additional information, please see Distributions and Taxes in the prospectus and Tax Matters in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

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Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase Fund shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Adviser and its related companies may pay the intermediary for services related to the sale of Fund shares, which include participation in activities designed to inform intermediaries about the Fund, as well as marketing, education and training initiatives concerning the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary or your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

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