ANNUAL REPORT
December 31, 2022

 

CLO ETF CLOI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
800.826.2333 vaneck.com
 

 

 

President’s Letter 3
Management Discussion 5
Performance Comparison 6
About Fund Performance 7
Explanation of Expenses 8
Schedule of Investments 9
Statement of Assets and Liabilities 11
Statement of Operations 12
Statement of Changes in Net Assets 13
Financial Highlights 14
Notes to Financial Statements 15
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 20
Tax Information 21
Board of Trustees and Officers 22

 

 

 

Certain information contained in this report represents the opinion of the investment adviser which may change at any time. This information is not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results or investment advice. Current market conditions may not continue. Also, unless otherwise specifically noted, any discussion of the Fund’s holdings, the Fund’s performance, and the views of the investment adviser are as of December 31, 2022.

 

VANECK CLO ETF

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

December 31, 2022 (unaudited)

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

 

Back in July 2022, I said that Market Volatility Has One Final Act1. I think we’re still going through that final phase of U.S. Federal Reserve (“Fed”) tightening, and we don’t yet know the full impact on corporate profits or the real economy. But, unlike when this cycle started, long-term investors shouldn’t be hiding in cash. Instead, adjust your bond-stock mix. But bond prices have dropped significantly, and so, as you will see at the end of the letter, we are bullish bonds.

 

Discussion

 

To recap this cycle: stocks and bonds historically do not perform well when the Fed tightens monetary conditions, and that’s just what the Fed announced it would be doing at the end of 2021. This would include raising rates and changing its balance sheet actions, which doesn’t create a great environment for financial assets. If we’re in the last, third act of the play, the third act may last a very long time.

 

There are three things investors are facing, none of which is particularly positive for financial assets.

 

1.      Monetary Policy: Tightening

 

Money supply exploded during the COVID–19 pandemic, but declined dramatically in 2022, to low levels. This withdrawal of money supply is bad for stock and bond returns.

 

A second, modern component to monetary policy is the Fed balance sheet. After buying bonds during the pandemic, the Fed has now started shrinking the balance sheet—one estimate indicates $330B net out by the end of last November. The Fed has only shrunk its balance sheet once before, so we are facing an unknown.

 

Commodity prices and the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) receive much focus, but I think what the Fed is really fighting is wage inflation. That is the kind of inflation that is endemic and hard to manage once it takes hold, not least because it creates a spiraling effect. I think the Fed knows it can’t control oil prices or supply chain directly, but it wants to manage this wage inflation psychology.

 

Services typically don’t reflect the price of commodities and, in 2022, we saw services inflation increase significantly. That’s not slowing down, and this is a battle the Fed is fighting that I think will last for an extended period of time.

 

2.      Fiscal Tightening

 

A second bearish factor is that government spending is unlikely to increase this year. The Republicans, who won control of the House of Representatives, are looking to slow government spending. And even Democrats like Larry Summers believe that stimulus spending during the pandemic led to inflation, so we’re unlikely to see another big stimulus spending bill regardless of who controls government.

 

3.      Global Growth is at Low Levels

 

Both Chinese and European growth, for different reasons, were slow in 2022. Over the last 20 years, U.S. and

China have been the two main pillars of global growth. While China has loosened its Draconian domestic COVID-19 restrictions, and I think there will be a growth surge, the growth may be more domestic and consumer-led, which may not stimulate global growth as much as it has in recent decades.

 

The range in China growth estimates is from low (1% to 3%) to “high” (4% to 5%). In coming years, we will likely have to look to India, Indonesia and Africa to take up the baton as pillars of higher percentage global growth.

 

I don’t believe that we will escape these three dampeners on stock and bond returns in 2023—higher interest rates, no government spending growth and tepid global growth. We will need upside corporate profitability surprises or high Chinese growth to substantially boost markets this year, in our view.

 

However, after the 2022 losses, bond investments are now offering attractive yields, so this is currently our favorite asset class to buy. (See What to Buy? Bonds. When? Now2.) Because of higher interest rates, bonds

   3  

VANECK CLO ETF

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

(unaudited) (continued)

 

can offer adequate returns, as they did in the 1970s even though that decade was the worst for interest rates in the last 100 years.

 

We thank you for investing in VanEck’s investment strategies. On the following pages, you will find a performance discussion and financial statements for the Fund for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2022. As always, we value your continued confidence in us and look forward to helping you meet your investment goals in the future.

 

Jan F. van Eck
CEO and President
VanEck ETF Trust

 

January 19, 2023

 

PS The investing outlook can change suddenly. To get our quarterly investment outlooks, please subscribe to “VanEck News & Insights”. Should you have any questions regarding fund performance, please contact us at 800.826.2333 or visit our website.

 

1 Market Volatility Has One Final Act, https://www.vaneck.com/us/en/blogs/investment-outlook/jan-van-eck-market-volatility-has-one-final-act/.
   
2 What to Buy? Bonds. When? Now, https://www.vaneck.com/us/en/blogs/investment-outlook/jan-van-eck-what-to-buy-bonds-when-now/.
   4  

VANECK CLO ETF

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION

December 31, 2022 (unaudited)

 

Collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) are securitized, actively managed portfolios of leveraged loans. Because of the subordination and other built-in risk protections they provide, CLOs allow investors to gain investment grade credit exposure with a yield pickup versus similarly rated bonds and loans. The CLO market has grown significantly over the past twenty years and is now valued at over $1 trillion globally.

 

The VanEck CLO ETF, a newly organized ETF, returned 3.26% between its inception on June 21, 2022 and December 31, 2022. The Fund invests primarily in investment grade CLOs and is actively managed by PineBridge Investments, the Fund’s sub-adviser. During this period, the Fund outperformed the J.P. Morgan CLO Index by 0.57%. Outperformance was driven by security selection, particularly within AA and BBB rated CLOs. In addition, allocation among rating buckets also generated outperformance. In particular, the portfolio became more conservative in late summer amid volatility in the loan and CLO markets.

   5  

VANECK CLO ETF

PERFORMANCE COMPARISON

December 31, 2022 (unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Return
    Share Price   NAV   JCLOAGTR1  
Life*   3.55%   3.26%   2.69%  

 

* Inception of Fund: 6/21/22; First Day of Secondary Market Trading: 6/22/22.
   
1 J.P. Morgan Collateralized Loan Obligation Index (CLOIE) (JCLOAGTR) is comprised of US dollar denominated broadly syndicated arbitrage CLOs.

 

Hypothetical Growth of $10,000 (Since Inception)
     
This chart shows the value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Fund at NAV since inception. The result is compared with the Fund’s benchmark and a broad based index.  

 

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares.

 

See “About Fund Performance” on page 7 for more information.

   6  

VANECK CLO ETF

ABOUT FUND PERFORMANCE

(unaudited)

 

The price used to calculate market return (Share Price) is determined by using the closing price listed on its primary listing exchange. Since the shares of the Fund did not trade in the secondary market until after the Fund’s commencement, for the period from commencement to the first day of secondary market trading in shares of the Fund, the NAV of the Fund is used as a proxy for the secondary market trading price to calculate market returns.

 

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. These returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund dividends and distributions or the sale of Fund shares.

 

Investment return and value of the shares of the Fund will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance may be lower or higher than performance data quoted. Fund returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions. Performance current to the most recent month-end is available by calling 800.826.2333 or by visiting vaneck.com.

 

Index returns assume the reinvestment of all income and do not reflect any management fees or brokerage expenses associated with Fund returns. Certain indices may take into account withholding taxes. Investors cannot invest directly in the Index. Returns for actual Fund investors may differ from what is shown because of differences in timing, the amount invested and fees and expenses.

   7  

VANECK CLO ETF

EXPLANATION OF EXPENSES

(unaudited)

 

Hypothetical $1,000 investment at beginning of period

As a shareholder of a Fund, you incur operating expenses, including management fees and other Fund expenses. This disclosure is intended to help you understand the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The disclosure is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022.

 

Actual Expenses

The first line in the table below provides information about account values 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.”

 

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s 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 your Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of 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. Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

    Beginning
Account
Value
July 1, 2022
  Ending
Account
Value
December 31, 2022
  Annualized
Expense
Ratio
During Period
  Expenses Paid
During the Period
July 1, 2022 -
December 31, 2022(a)
 
Actual   $1,000.00   $1,031.80   0.40%   $2.05  
Hypothetical(b)   $1,000.00   $1,023.19   0.40%   $2.04  

 

(a)  Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio (for the six months ended December 31, 2022), multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half year divided by the number of the days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half year period).
(b)  Assumes annual return of 5% before expenses
   8  

VANECK CLO ETF

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

December 31, 2022

 

    Par  
(000’s
)   Value  
COLLATERALIZED LOAN OBLIGATIONS: 98.5%

Ares LXI CLO Ltd. 144A

5.89% (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+1.65%), 10/20/34

  $ 2,500     $ 2,405,219  

Bain Capital Credit CLO 2021-4 Ltd. 144A

5.89% (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+1.65%), 10/20/34

    1,750       1,676,766  

Barings Clo Ltd. 2022-II 144A

4.28% (Term SOFR USD 3 Month+1.80%), 07/15/35

    1,250       1,231,951  

Cedar Funding VIII Clo Ltd. 144A

5.73% (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+1.65%), 10/17/34

    1,750       1,669,635  

CIFC Funding 2014-III Ltd. 144A

5.77% (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+1.45%), 10/22/31

    1,250       1,213,579  

Dryden 109 CLO Ltd. 144A

5.96% (Term SOFR USD 3 Month+2.00%), 04/20/35

    1,250       1,197,396  

Dryden 45 Senior Loan Fund 144A

5.48% (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+1.40%), 10/15/30

    1,250       1,212,765  

Dryden 80 CLO Ltd. 144A

5.61% (Term SOFR USD 3 Month+1.75%), 01/17/33

    1,250       1,202,870  
6.01% (Term SOFR USD 3 Month+2.15%), 01/17/33     1,250       1,189,271  
Dryden 93 CLO Ltd. 144A                
    Par  
(000’s
)   Value  
COLLATERALIZED LOAN OBLIGATIONS: 98.5% (continued)
5.68% (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+1.60%), 01/15/34   $ 1,750     $ 1,686,384  

Elmwood CLO 15 Ltd. 144A

5.38% (Term SOFR USD 3 Month+1.34%), 04/22/35

    1,250       1,225,334  

GoldenTree Loan Opportunities IX Ltd. 144A

5.71% (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+1.30%), 10/29/29

    1,250       1,222,426  

Gulf Stream Meridian 1 Ltd. 144A

5.45% (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+1.37%), 04/15/33

    1,250       1,225,694  

Gulf Stream Meridian 4 Ltd. 144A

5.28% (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+1.20%), 07/15/34

    1,250       1,222,329  

Myers Park CLO Ltd. 144A

5.64% (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+1.40%), 10/20/30

    1,250       1,210,658  

OCP CLO 2020-19 Ltd. 144A

5.94% (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+1.70%), 10/20/34

    1,750       1,676,164  

OCP CLO 2021-22 Ltd. 144A

5.42% (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+1.18%), 12/02/34

    1,250       1,217,328  

Signal Peak CLO 10 Ltd. 144A

6.33% (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+2.05%), 07/21/34

    1,250       1,179,371  
              24,865,140  
Total Collateralized Loan Obligations
(Cost: $24,603,050)
            24,865,140  
                 
Total Investments: 98.5%
(Cost: $24,603,050)
            24,865,140  
Other assets less liabilities: 1.5%             377,129  
NET ASSETS: 100.0%           $ 25,242,269  


 

 

Definitions:

 

LIBOR   London Interbank Offered Rate
SOFR Secured Overnight Financing Rate
USD United States Dollar

 

Footnotes:

 

144A  Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or otherwise restricted. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, unless otherwise noted, and the value amounted $24,865,140, or 98.5% of net assets.
   
Summary of Investments by Sector           % of
Investments
  Value  
Financials     100.0 %        $ 24,865,140  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

   9  

VANECK CLO ETF

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

(continued)

 

The summary of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2022 is as follows:

 

    Level 1
Quoted
Prices
    Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
    Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
    Value  
Collateralized Loan Obligations   $     $ 24,865,140     $     $ 24,865,140  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

   10  

VANECK CLO ETF

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

December 31, 2022

 

Assets:        
Investments, at value        
Unaffiliated issuers (1)   $ 24,865,140  
Cash     77,646  
Receivables:        
Interest     308,038  
Total assets     25,250,824  
         
Liabilities:        
Payables:        
Due to Adviser     8,555  
Total liabilities     8,555  
NET ASSETS   $ 25,242,269  
Shares outstanding     500,000  
Net asset value, redemption and offering price per share   $ 50.48  
         
Net Assets consist of:        
Aggregate paid in capital   $ 25,000,000  
Total distributable earnings (loss)     242,269  
NET ASSETS   $ 25,242,269  
(1) Cost of investments - Unaffiliated issuers   $ 24,603,050  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

   11  

VANECK CLO ETF

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

For the Period Ended December 31, 2022 (a)

 

Income:      
Interest   $ 639,973  
Total income     639,973  
Expenses:        
Management fees     53,044  
Total expenses     53,044  
Net investment income     586,929  
Net realized loss on:        
Investments     (42,600 )
Net realized loss     (42,600 )
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:        
Investments     262,090  
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)     262,090  
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations   $ 806,419  

 

(a) For the period June 22, 2022 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2022.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

   12  

VANECK CLO ETF

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

    Period
Ended
December 31,
2022 (a)
Operations:        
Net investment income   $ 586,929  
Net realized loss     (42,600 )
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)     262,090  
         
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations     806,419  
Distributions to shareholders from:        
Distributable earnings     (564,150 )
         
Share transactions*:        
Proceeds from sale of shares     25,000,000  
         
Increase in net assets resulting from share transactions     25,000,000  
         
Total increase in net assets     25,242,269  
Net Assets, beginning of period      
Net Assets, end of period   $ 25,242,269  
* Shares of Common Stock Issued (no par value):        
Shares sold     500,000  
         
Net increase     500,000  

 

(a) For the period June 22, 2022 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2022.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

   13  

VANECK CLO ETF

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

For a share outstanding throughout each period:

 

    Period
Ended
December
31, 2022(a)
       
Net asset value, beginning of period     $50.00  
Net investment income (b)     1.18  
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments     0.43  
Total from investment operations     1.61  
Distributions from:        
Net investment income     (1.13 )
Net asset value, end of period     $50.48  
         
Total return (c)     3.26% (d)
Ratios to average net assets        
Expenses     0.40% (e)
Net investment income     4.43% (e)
         
Supplemental data        
Net assets, end of period (in millions)     $25  
Portfolio turnover rate(f)     15% (d)

 

(a) For the period June 22, 2022 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2022.
(b) Calculated based upon average shares outstanding
(c) Returns include adjustments in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Net asset values and returns for financial reporting purposes may differ from those for shareholder transactions.
(d) Not Annualized
(e) Annualized
(f) Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

   14  

VANECK CLO ETF

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

December 31, 2022

 

Note 1—Fund Organization—VanEck ETF Trust (the “Trust”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management investment company. The Trust was incorporated in Delaware as a statutory trust on March 15, 2001. The Trust operates as a series fund, and offers multiple investment portfolios, each of which represents a separate series of the Trust.

 

These financial statements relate to the CLO ETF (the “Fund”). The Fund is actively managed and seeks to achieve its investment objective by primarily investing in investment-grade debt tranches of collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”). The Fund is classified as non-diversified, as defined in the 1940 Act. Van Eck Associates Corporation (the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser for the Fund.

 

Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

The Fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting requirements of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 946, Financial Services-Investment Companies.

 

The following summarizes the Fund’s significant accounting policies.

 

A. Security Valuation— The Fund values its investments in securities and other assets and liabilities at fair value daily. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Debt securities are valued on the basis of evaluated prices furnished by an independent pricing service or provided by securities dealers. The pricing services may use valuation models or matrix pricing, which consider: (i) yield or price with respect to bonds that are considered comparable in characteristics such as rating, interest rate and maturity date and or (ii) quotations from bond dealers to determine current value, and are categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy (described below). Short-term debt securities with sixty days or less to maturity are valued at amortized cost, which with accrued interest approximates fair value. The Board of Trustees (“Trustees”) has designated the Adviser as valuation designee under Rule 2a-5 to perform the Fund fair value determinations, subject to board oversight and certain reporting and other requirements. The Adviser has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to comply with the requirements of Rule 2a-5. Among other things, these procedures allow the Fund to utilize independent pricing services, quotations from securities dealers, and other market sources to determine fair value. The Pricing Committee convenes regularly to review the fair value of financial instruments or other assets. If market quotations for a security or other asset are not readily available, or if the Adviser believes they do not otherwise reflect the fair value of a security or asset, the security or asset will be fair valued by the Pricing Committee in accordance with the Fund’s valuation policies and procedures. The Pricing Committee employs various methods for calibrating the valuation approaches utilized to determine fair value, including a regular review of key inputs and assumptions, periodic comparisons to valuations provided by other independent pricing services, transactional back-testing and disposition analysis.
   
Certain factors such as economic conditions, political events, market trends, the nature of and duration of any restrictions on disposition, trading in similar securities of the issuer or comparable issuers and other security specific information are used to determine the fair value of these securities. Depending on the relative significance of valuation inputs, these securities may be categorized either as Level 2 or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The price which the Fund may realize upon sale of an investment may differ materially from the value presented in the Schedule of Investments.
   
  The Fund utilizes various methods to measure the fair value of their investments on a recurring basis, which includes a hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods used to measure fair value. The fair value hierarchy gives highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The inputs or methodologies used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
   15  


VANECK CLO ETF

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(continued)

 

  Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.
   
  Level 2 — Significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).
   
  Level 3 — Significant unobservable inputs (including each Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).
   
  A summary of the inputs and the levels used to value the Fund’s investments are located in the Schedule of Investments. Additionally, tables that reconcile the valuation of the Fund’s Level 3 investments and that present additional information about valuation methodologies and unobservable inputs, if applicable, are located in the Schedule of Investments.
   
B. Federal Income Taxes—It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.
   
C. Distributions to Shareholders— Dividends to shareholders from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid monthly by the Fund. Distributions of net realized capital gains, if any, are generally declared and paid annually. Income dividends and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. income tax regulations, which may differ from such amounts determined in accordance with GAAP. Dividends and distributions that exceed earnings and profit for tax purposes are reported for tax purposes as a return of capital.
   
D. Other— Security transactions are accounted for on trade date. Realized gains and losses are determined based on the specific identification method. Interest income, including amortization of premiums and discounts, is accrued as earned.
   
  The Fund earns interest income on uninvested cash balances held at the custodian bank. Such amounts, if any, are presented as interest income in the Statement of Operations.
   
  In the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these agreements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. However, the Adviser believes the risk of loss under these arrangements to be remote.

 

Note 3—Investment Management and Other Agreements—The Adviser is the investment adviser to the Fund. The Adviser receives a management fee, calculated daily and payable monthly based on an annual rate of 0.40% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Adviser has agreed to pay all expenses of the Fund except for the fee payment under the investment management agreement, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, offering costs, trading expenses, taxes, and extraordinary expenses, until at least May 1, 2024.

 

In addition, Van Eck Securities Corporation (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of the Adviser, acts as the Fund’s distributor. Certain officers and a Trustee of the Trust are officers, directors or stockholders of the Adviser and Distributor. At December 31, 2022, the Adviser owned approximately 64% of the Fund.

 

Note 4—Capital Share Transactions—As of December 31, 2022, there were an unlimited number of capital shares of beneficial interest authorized by the Trust with no par value. Fund shares are not individually redeemable and are issued and redeemed at their net asset value per share only through certain authorized broker-dealers (“Authorized Participants”) in blocks of shares (“Creation Units”).

 

The consideration for the purchase or redemption of Creation Units of the Fund generally consists of the in-kind contribution or distribution of a designated portfolio of securities (“Deposit Securities”) plus a balancing cash component to equate the transaction to the net asset value per share of the Fund on the transaction date. Cash may also be substituted in an amount equivalent to the value of certain Deposit Securities, generally as a result of market circumstances, or when the securities are not available in sufficient quantity for delivery, or are not eligible for trading by the Authorized Participant. The Fund may issue Creation Units in

   16  

 

 

advance of receipt of Deposit Securities subject to various conditions, including, for the benefit of the Fund, a requirement to maintain cash collateral on deposit at the custodian equal to at least 115% of the daily marked to market value of the missing Deposit Securities.

 

Authorized Participants purchasing and redeeming Creation Units may pay transaction fees directly to the transfer agent. In addition, the Fund may impose variable fees on the purchase or redemption of Creation Units for cash, or on transactions effected outside the clearing process, to defray certain transaction costs. These variable fees, if any, are reflected in share transactions in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets.

 

Note 5—Investments—For the period ended December 31, 2022, the cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments, excluding U.S. government securities and short-term investments, aggregated to $28,359,975 and $3,714,325, respectively.

 

Note 6—Income Taxes—As of December 31, 2022, for Federal income tax purposes, the identified cost, gross unrealized appreciation, gross unrealized depreciation and net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments owned were as follows:

 

Tax Cost of
Investments
  Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
  Gross
Unrealized
Depreciation
  Net Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
$ 24,603,050     $ 270,764     $ (8,674 )   $ 262,090  

 

At December 31, 2022, the components of total distributable earnings (losses) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
  (Accumulated
Capital Losses)/
Undistributed
Capital Gains
  Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
  Total
Distributable
Earnings (Loss)
$ 22,779     $ (42,600 )   $ 262,090     $ 242,269  

 

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders were as follows:

 

December 31, 2022
    Ordinary
Income
   
  $ 564,150    

 

At December 31, 2022, the Funds had capital loss carryforwards available to offset future capital gains, as follows:

 

Short-Term
Capital Losses
with No Expiration
  Long-Term
Capital Losses
with No Expiration
  Total
$ (42,600 )   $     $ (42,600 )

 

Each year, the Fund assesses the need for any reclassifications due to permanent book to tax differences that affect distributable earnings (losses) and aggregate paid in capital. Net assets are not affected by these reclassifications. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund did not have reclassifications.

 

The Fund recognizes the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only where the position is “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained assuming examination by applicable tax authorities. Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions, and has concluded that no liability for unrecognized tax benefits should be recorded related to uncertain tax positions taken on return filings for all open tax years. The Fund may be subject to foreign taxes on the appreciation in value of certain investments. The Fund provides for such taxes, if any, on both realized and unrealized appreciation.

   17  

VANECK CLO ETF

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(continued)

 

The Fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to uncertain tax positions as income tax expense in the Statement of Operations. During the period ended December 31, 2022, the Fund did not incur any interest or penalties.

 

Note 7—Principal Risks— Non-diversified funds generally hold securities of fewer issuers than diversified funds and may be more susceptible to the risks associated with these particular issuers, or to a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence affecting these issuers. Investments in debt instruments involve risks, including market fluctuations caused by factors such as economic and political developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in security prices.

 

The Fund’s assets are concentrated in CLO securities, organized as trusts or other special purpose vehicles that are typically collateralized by a pool of loans which may include, among others, domestic and foreign senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans, and including “covenant lite” loans, which have few or no financial maintenance covenants. CLOs include both the economic risks of the underlying loans combined with the risks associated with the CLO structure governing the priority of payments. The degree of such risk will generally correspond to the specific tranche in which the Fund is invested. The Fund invests primarily in investment grade-rated tranches of CLOs; however, the rating does not constitute a guarantee of credit quality and may be downgraded, and in stressed market environments it is possible that even senior CLO debt tranches could experience losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to defaults due to collateral default and the disappearance of the subordinated/ equity tranches, market anticipation of defaults, as well as negative market sentiment with respect to CLO securities as an asset class. The Fund’s portfolio managers may not be able to accurately predict how specific CLOs or the portfolio of underlying loans for such CLO securities will react to changes or stresses in the market, including changes in interest rates. The most common risks associated with investing in CLO securities are liquidity risk, interest rate risk, credit risk, call risk, and the risk of default of the underlying asset.

 

CLOs are generally privately-issued securities, and are normally purchased pursuant to Rule144A or Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Privately-issued securities typically may be resold only to qualified institutional buyers, in a privately negotiated transaction, to a limited number of purchasers, or in limited quantities after they have been held for a specified period of time and other conditions are met for an exemption from registration.

 

Securities with floating or variable interest rates can be less sensitive to interest rate changes than securities with fixed interest rates, but may decline in value if their interest rates do not rise as much, or as quickly, as interest rates in general. Conversely, floating rate securities will not generally increase in value if interest rates decline. A decline in interest rates may result in a reduction of income received from floating rate securities held by the Fund and may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s shares. Generally, floating rate securities carry lower yields than fixed notes of the same maturity.

 

The Fund invests in certain financial instruments that may pay interest based on, or otherwise have payments tied to, the London Inter-bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). At the end of 2021, certain LIBORs were discontinued, but the most widely used LIBORs may continue to be provided on a representative basis until June 30, 2023. Although the transition process away from LIBOR has become increasingly well-defined, there remains uncertainty regarding the future utilization of LIBOR and the nature of any replacement rates. The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could adversely impact (i) volatility and liquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, (ii) the market for, or value of, specific securities or payments linked to those reference rates resulting in a reduction in the value of certain instruments held by the Fund, (iii) availability or terms of borrowing or refinancing, or (iv) the effectiveness of hedging strategies. For these and other reasons, the elimination of LIBOR or changes to other interest rates may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and/or net asset value. Alternatives to LIBOR are established or in development in most major currencies including the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) that is intended to replace the U.S. dollar LIBOR.

   18  

 

 

Economies and financial markets throughout the world have experienced periods of increased volatility, uncertainty and distress as a result of conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. To the extent these conditions continue, the risks associated with an investment in a Fund could be heightened and the Fund’s investments (and thus a shareholder’s investment in a Fund) may be particularly susceptible to sudden and substantial losses, reduced yield or income or other adverse developments.

 

A more complete description of risks is included in the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.

 

Note 8—Trustee Deferred Compensation Plan—The Trust has a Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) for Trustees under which a Trustee can elect to defer receipt of trustee fees until retirement, disability or termination from the Board of Trustees. The fees otherwise payable to the participating Trustees are deemed invested in shares of the Funds of the Trust as directed by the Trustees. The Adviser is responsible for paying the expenses associated with the Plan.

 

Note 9—Bank Line of Credit— The Fund may participate in a $200 million committed credit facility (the “Facility”) to be utilized for temporary financing until the settlement of sales or purchases of portfolio securities, the repurchase or redemption of shares of the Fund at the request of the shareholders and other temporary or emergency purposes. The Fund have agreed to pay commitment fees, pro rata, based on the unused but available balance. Interest is charged to the Fund based on prevailing market rates in effect at the time of borrowings. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund had no borrowing under the Facility.

   19  

VANECK CLO ETF

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Trustees of VanEck ETF Trust and Shareholders of VanEck CLO ETF

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of VanEck CLO ETF (one of the funds constituting VanEck ETF Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2022, and the related statements of operations and changes in net assets, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for the period June 22, 2022 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2022 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2022, and the results of its operations, changes in its net assets, and the financial highlights for the period June 22, 2022 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2022, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audit of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

 

Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022, by correspondence with the custodian, and transfer agent. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 27, 2023

 

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the VanEck Funds complex since 2022.

   20  

VANECK CLO ETF

TAX INFORMATION

(unaudited)

 

The following information is provided with respect to the distributions paid during the taxable year ended December 31, 2022. Please consult your tax advisor for proper treatment of this information.

 

   
   
Payable: Monthly
Ordinary Income Paid Per Share $ 1.1283
Section 163(j) – Interest Dividends 99.84% *

 

* This amount represents distributions paid during the taxable year ended December 31, 2022 that are eligible to be treated as interest income for purposes of Section 163(j) and the regulations thereunder. To treat a dividend as interest income, shareholders must have held shares on which the dividend was paid for at least 180 days during the 361-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date of the distribution.

   21  

VANECK CLO ETF

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

December 31, 2022 (unaudited)

 

Name, Address1
and Year of Birth
      Position(s)
Held with
the Trust
      Term of
Office2 and
Length of
Time Served
      Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
      Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex3
Overseen
      Other Directorships Held
By Trustee During Past Five Years
Independent                    
Trustees                    
                     
David H. Chow, 1957*†   Trustee Chairperson   Since 2006
2008 to 2022
  Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management LLC (financial/strategy consulting firm and Registered Investment Adviser), March 1999 to present.   69   Trustee, Berea College of Kentucky, May 2009 to present and currently Chairman of the Investment Committee; Trustee, MainStay Fund Complex4, January 2016 to present and currently Chairman of the Investment Committee. Formerly, Member of the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council, October 2012 to September 2020.
                     
Laurie A. Hesslein, 1959*†   Trustee   Since 2019   Citigroup, Managing Director and Business Head, Local Consumer Lending North America, and CEO and President, CitiFinancial Servicing LLC (2013 - 2017).   69   Formerly, Trustee, First Eagle Senior Loan Fund, March 2017 to December 2021; and Trustee, Eagle Growth and Income Opportunities Fund, March 2017 to December 2020.
                     
R. Alastair Short, 1953*†   Trustee   Since 2006   President, Apex Capital Corporation (personal investment vehicle).   81   Chairman and Independent Director, EULAV Asset Management; Lead Independent Director, Total Fund Solution; Independent Director, Contingency Capital, LLC; Trustee, Kenyon Review; Trustee, Children’s Village. Formerly, Independent Director, Tremont offshore funds.
                     
Peter J. Sidebottom, 1962*†   Chairperson Trustee   Since 2022
Since 2012
  Global Lead Partner, Financial Services Strategy, Accenture, January 2021 to present; Lead Partner, North America Banking and Capital Markets Strategy, Accenture, May 2017 to December 2021.   69   Formerly, Board Member, Special Olympics, New Jersey, November 2011 to September 2013; Director, The Charlotte Research Institute, December 2000 to 2009; Board Member, Social Capital Institute, University of North Carolina Charlotte, November 2004 to January 2012; Board Member, NJ-CAN, July 2014 to 2016.
                     
Richard D. Stamberger, 1959*†   Trustee   Since 2006   Senior Vice President, B2B, Future Plc (a global media company), July 2020 to August 2022; President, CEO and co-founder, SmartBrief, Inc., 1999 to 2020.   81   Director, Food and Friends, Inc., 2013 to present.
Interested Trustee                
                     
Jan F. van Eck, 19635   Trustee, Chief Executive Officer and President   Trustee
(Since 2006);
Chief Executive
Officer and President
(Since 2009)
  Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of Van Eck Associates Corporation (VEAC), Van Eck Absolute Return Advisers Corporation (VEARA) and Van Eck Securities Corporation (VESC); Officer and/or Director of other companies affiliated with VEAC and/or the Trust.   81   Director, National Committee on US-China Relations.

 

 

1  The address for each Trustee and officer is 666 Third Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10017.
2  Each Trustee serves until resignation, death, retirement or removal. Officers are elected yearly by the Trustees.
3  The Fund Complex consists of the VanEck Funds, VanEck VIP Trust and the Trust.
   22  

 

 

4  The MainStay Fund Complex consists of MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust, MainStay VP Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay Defined Term Municipal Opportunities Fund.
5  “Interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Mr. van Eck is an officer of VEAC, VEARA and VESC.
* Member of the Audit Committee.
Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

 

Officer’s Name,
Address1 and
Year of Birth
  Position(s)
Held with
the Trust
  Term of Office2
And Length of
Time Served
  Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years
Officer Information        
             
Matthew A. Babinsky, 1983   Assistant Vice President and Assistant Secretary   Since 2016         Assistant Vice President, Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of VEAC, VEARA and VESC; Officer of other investment companies advised by VEAC and VEARA.  
             
Russell G. Brennan, 1964       Assistant Vice President and Assistant Treasurer   Since 2008         Assistant Vice President of VEAC; Officer of other investment companies advised by VEAC and VEARA.    
             
Charles T. Cameron, 1960     Vice President       Since 2006       Portfolio Manager of VEAC; Officer and/or Portfolio Manager of other investment companies advised by VEAC and VEARA. Formerly, Director of Trading of VEAC.
             
John J. Crimmins, 1957   Vice President, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer (Since 2012); Treasurer (Since 2009)   Vice President of VEAC and VEARA; Officer of other investment companies advised by VEAC and VEARA. Formerly, Vice President of VESC.      
             
Susan Curry, 1966     Assistant Vice President   Since 2022     Assistant Vice President of VEAC, VEARA and VESC; Formerly, Managing Director, Legg Mason, Inc.
             
Eduardo Escario, 1975   Vice President     Since 2012     Regional Director, Business Development/Sales for Southern Europe and South America of VEAC.
             
F. Michael Gozzillo, 1965   Chief Compliance Officer         Since 2018           Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of VEAC and VEARA; Chief Compliance Officer of VESC; Officer of other investment companies advised by VEAC and VEARA. Formerly, Chief Compliance Officer of City National Rochdale, LLC and City National Rochdale Funds.
             
Laura Hamilton, 1977     Vice President       Since 2019       Assistant Vice President of VEAC and VESC; Officer of other investment companies advised by VEAC and VEARA. Formerly, Operations Manager of Royce & Associates.
             
Nicholas Jackson, 1974     Assistant Vice President     Since 2018       Director, Business Development of VanEck Australia Pty Ltd. Formerly, Vice President, Business Development of VanEck Australia Pty Ltd.
             
Laura I. Martínez, 1980   Vice President and Assistant Secretary     Vice President (Since 2016); Assistant Secretary (Since 2008)   Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of VEAC, VEARA and VESC; Officer of other investment companies advised by VEAC and VEARA. Formerly, Assistant Vice President of VEAC, VEARA and VESC.
             
Matthew McKinnon, 1970     Assistant Vice President     Since 2018       Head of Asia - Business Development of VanEck Australia Pty Ltd. Formerly, Director, Intermediaries and Institutions of VanEck Australia Pty Ltd.
             
Lisa A. Moss, 1965   Assistant Vice President and Assistant Secretary   Since 2022         Assistant Vice President of VEAC, VEARA and VESC; Formerly, Senior Counsel, Perkins Coie LLP; Assistant General Counsel, Fred Alger Management, Inc.  
             
Arian Neiron, 1979     Vice President       Since 2018       CEO (since 2021) & Managing Director and Head of Asia Pacific of VanEck Australia Pty Ltd.; Officer and/or Director of other companies affiliated with VEAC and/or the Trust.
   23  

VANECK CLO ETF

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

(unaudited) (continued)

 

James Parker, 1969     Assistant Treasurer     Since 2014       Assistant Vice President of VEAC and VEARA; Manager, Portfolio Administration of VEAC and VEARA. Officer of other investment companies advised by VEAC and VEARA.
             
Adam Phillips, 1970   Vice President     Since 2018     ETF Chief Operating Officer of VEAC; Director of other companies affiliated with VEAC.
             
Philipp Schlegel, 1974   Vice President     Since 2016     Managing Director of Van Eck Switzerland AG.  
             
Jonathan R. Simon, 1974   Senior Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer   Senior Vice President (Since 2016);
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer (Since 2014)
  Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of VEAC, VEARA and VESC; Officer and/or Director of other companies affiliated with VEAC and/or the Trust. Formerly, Vice President of VEAC, VEARA and VESC.  
             
Andrew Tilzer, 1972   Assistant Vice President     Since 2021       Vice President of VEAC and VEARA; Vice President of Portfolio Administration of VEAC. Formerly, Assistant Vice President, Portfolio Operations of VEAC.

 

 

1  The address for each Trustee and officer is 666 Third Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10017.
2  Officers are elected yearly by the Trustees.
   24  

 

This report is intended for the Fund’s shareholders. It may not be distributed to prospective investors unless it is preceded or accompanied by a VanEck ETF Trust (the “Trust”) prospectus and summary prospectus, which includes more complete information. Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. An investor should consider the investment objective, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus, which contains this and other information, call 800.826.2333 or visit vaneck.com. Please read the prospectus and summary prospectus carefully before investing.

 

Additional information about the Trust’s Board of Trustees/Officers and a description of the policies and procedures the Trust uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities are provided in the Statement of Additional Information. The Statement of Additional Information and information regarding how the Trust voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve month period ending June 30 is available, without charge, by calling 800.826.2333, or by visiting vaneck.com, or on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

The Trust files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. The Trust’s Form N-PORT filings are available on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 202.942.8090. The Fund’s complete schedules of portfolio holdings are also available by calling 800.826.2333 or by visiting vaneck.com.

 

 
     
Investment Adviser: VanEck Associates Corporation  
Distributor: VanEck Securities Corporation  
  666 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017  
  vaneck.com  
Account Assistance:   800.826.2333 CLOIAR