Prospectus

 

October 31, 2022

 

ALPS ETF Trust

 

ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF (Cboe BZX: OUSA)

 

ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF (Cboe BZX: OUSM)

 

ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF (Cboe BZX: OGIG)

 

ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF (Cboe BZX: OEUR)

 

An ALPS Advisors Solution

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

     

Summary Section

2

ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF

2

ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF

7

ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF

12

ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF

18

Introduction—Alps ETF Trust

23

Tax-Advantaged Product Structure

23

ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF

23

ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF

24

ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF

24

ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF

25

Additional Information About the Funds’ Principal Investment Risks

26

Secondary Investment Strategies

31

Additional Risk Considerations

32

Investment Advisory Services

33

Purchase and Redemption Of Shares

34

How to Buy and Sell Shares

35

Frequent Purchases and Redemptions

38

Fund Service Providers

38

Index Provider

38

Disclaimers

38

Federal Income Taxation

39

Other Information

41

Financial Highlights

41

For More Information

Back Cover

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summary Section

 

ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF
(The “Fund”)

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The Fund seeks to track the performance (before fees and expenses) of the O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend Index (the “Underlying Index”).

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund (“Shares”). You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.

 

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

 

   

Management Fees

0.48%

Other Expenses

0.00%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

0.48%

 

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the costs of investing in other funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same each year.

 

 

One
Year

Three
Years

Five
Years

Ten
Years

Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

$49

$154

$269

$603

 

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. The O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF (the “Predecessor Fund”), a series of OSI ETF Trust, was reorganized into the Fund on June 17, 2022. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, the Fund had a portfolio turnover rate equal to 15% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

The Fund will seek investment results that replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index is designed to measure the performance of publicly-listed large-capitalization and mid-capitalization dividend-paying issuers in the United States that meet certain market capitalization, liquidity, high quality, low volatility and dividend yield thresholds, as determined by O’Shares Investment Advisers, LLC (the “Index Provider”). The high quality and low volatility requirements are designed to reduce exposure to high dividend equities that have experienced large price declines.

 

The constituents of the Underlying Index are selected from the S-Network US Equity Large-Cap 500 Index. As of June 30, 2022, the Underlying Index consisted of 99 securities.

 

The Underlying Index is constructed using a proprietary, rules-based methodology designed to select equity securities from the S-Network US Equity Large-Cap 500 Index that have exposure to the following four factors: 1) quality, 2) low volatility, 3) dividend yield and 4) dividend quality. The “quality” factor is calculated by combining measures of profitability and leverage with the objective of identifying companies with strong profitability and balance sheets. The “low volatility” factor measures the risk of price moves for a security with the objective of reducing allocations to riskier companies. The “dividend yield” factor measures the income generated by an investment with the objective of identifying companies with higher dividend yields. The “dividend quality” factor measures the income available to a company to pay dividends to common shareholders together with the growth of a company’s dividends over time, with the objective of identifying companies with less risk of dividend cuts or suspensions.

 

Each company in the S-Network US Equity Large-Cap 500 Index is weighted based on: (i) the company’s market capitalization weight in the S-Network US Equity Large-Cap 500 Index, as adjusted by (ii) the quality, low volatility, dividend yield and dividend quality factors, with the quality and low volatility factors receiving greater emphasis. The inclusion of each company is then subject to certain constraints (e.g., diversification, capacity and sector) prior to adjusting the final weights in the Underlying Index. The diversification constraint limits maximum position weights. All stocks included in the S-Network US Equity Large-Cap 500 Index are screened for free float (the number of shares readily available for purchase on the open market) and average daily trading volume. The sector constraints limit sector deviations. The Underlying Index is rebalanced quarterly and reconstituted annually. Individual index constituent weights are capped at 5% at each quarterly rebalance to avoid overexposure to any single security. The Underlying Index’s investable universe includes companies from the following GICS sectors within the S-Network US Equity Large-Cap 500 Index: Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, Consumer Staples, Financials, Health Care, Industrials, Information Technology, and Utilities.

 

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Prospectus | October 31, 2022

 

 

ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF

 

The Fund may use either a replication strategy or representative sampling strategy in seeking to track the performance of the Underlying Index. Under a replication strategy, the Fund intends to replicate the constituent securities of the Underlying Index as closely as possible. Under a representative sampling strategy, the Fund would invest in what it believes to be a representative sample of the component securities of the Underlying Index. The Fund may use a representative sampling strategy when a replication strategy might be detrimental to shareholders, such as when there are practical difficulties or substantial costs involved in compiling a portfolio of securities to follow the Underlying Index (e.g., where the Underlying Index contains component securities too numerous to efficiently purchase or sell); or, in certain instances, when a component security of the Underlying Index becomes temporarily illiquid, unavailable or less liquid. The Fund may also use a representative sampling strategy to exclude less liquid component securities contained in the Underlying Index from the Fund’s portfolio in order to create a more tradable portfolio and improve arbitrage opportunities. To the extent the Fund uses a representative sampling strategy, it may not track the Underlying Index with the same degree of accuracy as would an investment vehicle replicating the entire index.

 

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in the components of the Underlying Index. To the extent that the Underlying Index concentrates (i.e., holds 25% or more of its net assets) in the securities of a particular industry or group of industries, the Fund is expected to concentrate to approximately the same extent.

 

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in investments not included in the Underlying Index, but which ALPS Advisors, Inc. (the “Adviser”) believes will help the Fund track the Underlying Index. For example, there may be instances in which the Adviser may choose to purchase or sell investments, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and other investment company securities, and cash and cash equivalents, as substitutes for one or more Underlying Index components or in anticipation of changes in the Underlying Index’s components.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS

 

Investors should consider the following risk factors and special considerations associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause you to lose money.

 

Market Risk. Economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one country or region will adversely impact markets or issuers in other countries or regions. The values of equity securities, such as common stocks and preferred stock, may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political and social conditions, inflation (or expectations for inflation), deflation (or expectations for deflation), changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, global demand for particular products or resources, market instability, debt crises and downgrades, embargoes, tariffs, sanctions and other trade barriers, regulatory events, other governmental trade or market control programs and related geopolitical events, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. Equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. In addition, the value of the Fund’s investments may be negatively affected by the occurrence of global events such as war, terrorism, environmental disasters, natural disasters or events, country instability, and infectious disease epidemics or pandemics.

 

Multifactor Risk. The Underlying Index, and thus the Fund, seeks to achieve specific factor exposures identified in the Fund’s principal investment strategies above. There can be no assurance that targeting exposure to such factors will enhance the Fund’s performance over time, and targeting exposure to certain factors may detract from performance in some market environments. There is no guarantee the Index Provider’s methodology will be successful in creating an index that achieves the specific factor exposures identified above.

 

Quality Stocks Risk. This style of investing is subject to the risk that the past performance of these companies does not continue or that the returns on “quality” equity securities are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market. In addition, there may be periods when quality investing is out of favor and during which the investment performance of a fund using a quality strategy may suffer.

 

Dividend-Paying Stock Risk. The Fund’s emphasis on dividend-paying stocks involves the risk that such stocks may fall out of favor with investors and underperform the market. Also, a company may reduce or eliminate its dividend. An issuer of a security may also be unable or unwilling to make dividend payments when due and the related risk that the value of a security may decline because of concerns about the issuer’s ability to make such payments.

 

Volatility Risk. There is a risk that the present and future volatility of a security, relative to the S-Network US Equity Large-Cap 500 Index, will not be the same as it historically has been and thus that the Underlying Index will not be exposed to the less volatile securities in the S-Network US Equity Large-Cap 500 Index. Volatile stocks are subject to sharp swings in value.

 

Index Management Risk. Unlike many investment companies, the Fund is not “actively” managed. Therefore, it would not necessarily sell a security because the security’s issuer was in financial trouble unless that security is removed from the Underlying Index.

 

Sampling Risk. To the extent the Fund uses a representative sampling approach, it will hold a smaller number of securities than are in the Underlying Index. As a result, an adverse development respecting a security held by the Fund could result in a greater decline in NAV than would be the case if the Fund held all of the securities in the Underlying Index. Conversely, a positive development relating to a security in the

 

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Underlying Index that is not held by the Fund could cause the Fund to underperform the Underlying Index. To the extent the assets in the Fund are smaller, these risks will be greater.

 

Tracking Error Risk. Tracking error is the divergence of the Fund’s performance from that of the Underlying Index. Tracking error may occur due to, among other things, fees and expenses paid by the Fund, including the cost of buying and selling securities that are not reflected in the Underlying Index. If the Fund is small, it may experience greater tracking error. If the Fund is not fully invested, holding cash balances may prevent it from tracking the Underlying Index. In addition, the Fund’s NAV may deviate from the Underlying Index if the Fund fair values a portfolio security at a price other than the price used by the Underlying Index for that security. To the extent the Fund uses a representative sampling strategy to track the Underlying Index, such a strategy may produce greater tracking error than if the Fund employed a full replication strategy.

 

Concentration Risk. To the extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated in a particular industry or group of industries, the Fund is also expected to be concentrated in that industry or group of industries, which may subject the Fund to a greater loss as a result of adverse economic, business or other developments affecting that industry or group of industries.

 

Sector Risk. To the extent the Underlying Index, and thereby the Fund, emphasizes, from time to time, investments in a particular sector, the Fund is subject to a greater degree to the risks particular to that sector. Market conditions, interest rates, and economic, regulatory, or financial developments could significantly affect all the securities in a single sector. If the Fund invests in a few sectors, it may have increased exposure to the price movements of those sectors.

 

Mid-, and Large Capitalization Company Risk. Investing in securities of medium capitalization companies involves greater risk than customarily is associated with investing in larger, more established companies. Medium capitalization companies’ securities may be more volatile and less liquid than those of more established companies. These securities may have returns that vary, sometimes significantly, from the overall securities market. Often medium capitalization companies and the industries in which they focus are still evolving and, as a result, they may be more sensitive to changing market conditions. The large capitalization companies in which the Fund invests may underperform other segments of the equity market or the equity market as a whole.

 

Investment Risk. An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risk including the possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest.

 

Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell. Such securities may become illiquid under adverse market or economic conditions and/or due to specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer. If the Fund invests in illiquid securities or securities that become illiquid, Fund returns may be reduced because the Fund may be unable to sell the illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents Risk. Holding cash or cash equivalents, even strategically, may lead to missed investment opportunities. This is particularly true when the market for other investments in which the Fund may invest is rapidly rising.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The value of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole.

 

Fluctuation of Net Asset Value. The net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund’s Shares will generally fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s holdings. The market prices of the Shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in NAV as well as the relative supply of and demand for the Shares on the Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (the “Cboe BZX”). The Adviser cannot predict whether the Shares will trade below, at or above their NAV.

 

FUND PERFORMANCE

 

The Fund adopted the historical performance of the Predecessor Fund as the result of a reorganization in which the Fund acquired all of the assets, subject to liabilities, of the Predecessor Fund on June 17, 2022. The returns presented for the Fund for periods prior to June 17, 2022 reflect the performance of the Predecessor Fund. At the time of the reorganization, the investment objectives of the Fund and the Predecessor Fund were identical and the investment strategies of the Fund and the Predecessor Fund were substantially the same.

 

Previously, the Predecessor Fund had adopted the historical performance of the O’Shares FTSE U.S. Quality Dividend ETF (the “Previous Predecessor Fund”), a series of FQF Trust, as the result of a reorganization in which the Predecessor Fund acquired all of the assets, subject to liabilities, of the Previous Predecessor Fund on June 28, 2018. The returns presented for the Predecessor Fund for periods prior to June 28, 2018 reflect the performance of the Previous Predecessor Fund. At the time of the reorganization, the investment objectives of the Previous Predecessor Fund and the Predecessor Fund were identical and the investment strategies of the Previous Predecessor Fund and the Predecessor Fund were substantially the same.

 

Effective June 1, 2020, the Predecessor Fund’s underlying index was changed to the Underlying Index from the FTSE USA Qual/Vol/Yield Factor 5% Capped Index (the “Former Index”). Thus, Predecessor Fund performance shown below through May 31, 2020 reflects the Predecessor Fund seeking to track the performance of the Former Index, and Predecessor Fund performance shown below beginning June 1, 2020 reflects the Predecessor Fund seeking to track the performance of the Underlying Index. In addition, the Underlying Index

 

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Prospectus | October 31, 2022

 

 

ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF

 

performance shown below reflects the blended performance of the Former Index through May 31, 2020 and the Underlying Index thereafter.

 

The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Predecessor Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Predecessor Fund’s average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Underlying Index and of another benchmark of market performance. The Predecessor Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Total return figures assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions and include the effect of the Predecessor Fund’s recurring expenses. Updated performance information is available online at www.alpsfunds.com or by calling 866.759.5679.

 

Annual Total Returns (calendar years ended 12/31/2021)

 

 

Highest Quarterly Return

15.16%

(June 30, 2020)

Lowest Quarterly Return

(20.34)%

(March 31, 2020)

 

The year-to-date return as of the calendar quarter ended September 30, 2022 is (19.39)%.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Shares of the Fund through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

Average Annual Total Returns
For the periods ended December 31, 2021

 

 

One
Year

Five
Years

Since
Inception
(July 14, 2015)

Before Taxes

23.65%

13.77%

12.71%

After Taxes on Distributions

23.15%

13.14%

12.08%

After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares

14.30%

10.90%

10.15%

O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend Index(1)(2)

24.31%

14.33%

13.27%

Russell 1000 Value Index(1)

25.16%

11.16%

10.49%

 

(1)

Index performance shown in the table is total return, which assumes reinvestment of any dividends and distributions during the time periods shown.

 

(2)

The O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend Index performance information reflects the blended performance of the FTSE USA Qual/Vol/Yield Factor 5% Capped Index through May 31, 2020 and the O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend Index thereafter.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

 

ALPS Advisors, Inc. is the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

Ryan Mischker, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management & Research, and Andrew Hicks, Senior Vice President, Director of ETF Portfolio Management & Research of ALPS Advisors, Inc., are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Mr. Mischker and Mr. Hicks have each served in such capacity since June 2022.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

Individual Shares of the Fund may only be purchased and sold in secondary market transactions through a broker or dealer at a market price. Shares of the Fund are listed for trading on Cboe BZX under the ticker symbol OUSA and, because Shares trade at market prices rather than NAV, Shares of the Fund may trade at a price greater than NAV (i.e., a premium) or less than NAV (i.e., a discount).

 

An investor may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Shares of the Fund (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Shares (ask) when buying or selling Shares in the secondary market (the “bid/ask spread”).

 

Recent information, including information about the Fund’s NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and the bid/ask spreads, is included on the Fund’s website at www.alpsfunds.com.

 

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TAX INFORMATION

 

The Fund’s distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

 

PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

If you purchase Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the Adviser or other related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Shares or related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and 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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Prospectus | October 31, 2022

 

 

ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF

 

SUMMARY SECTION

 

ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF (THE “FUND”)

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The Fund seeks to track the performance (before fees and expenses) of the O’Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend Index (the “Underlying Index”).

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund (“Shares”). You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.

 

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

 

   

Management Fees

0.48%

Other Expenses

0.00%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

0.48%

 

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the costs of investing in other funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same each year.

 

 

One
Year

Three
Years

Five
Years

Ten
Years

Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

$49

$154

$269

$603

 

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. The O’Shares U.S. Small Cap Quality Dividend ETF (the “Predecessor Fund”), a series of OSI ETF Trust, was reorganized into the Fund on June 17, 2022. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, the Fund had a portfolio turnover rate equal to 34% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

The Fund will seek investment results that replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index is designed to reflect the performance of publicly-listed small-capitalization dividend-paying issuers in the United States that meet certain market capitalization, liquidity, high quality, low volatility and dividend yield thresholds, as determined by O’Shares Investment Advisers, LLC (the “Index Provider”). The high quality and low volatility factors are designed to reduce exposure to high dividend equities that have experienced large price declines, as may occur with some dividend investing strategies.

 

The constituents of the Underlying Index are selected from the S-Network US Equity Mid/Small-Cap 2500 Index. As of June 30, 2022, the Underlying Index consisted of 114 securities with a market capitalization range of between $500 million and $18 billion.

 

The Underlying Index is constructed using a proprietary, rules-based methodology designed to select equity securities from the S-Network US Equity Mid/Small-Cap 2500 Index that have exposure to the following four factors: 1) quality, 2) low volatility, 3) dividend yield and 4) dividend quality. The “quality” factor is calculated by combining measures of profitability and leverage with the objective of identifying companies with strong profitability and balance sheets. The “low volatility” factor measures the risk of price moves for a security with the objective of reducing allocations to riskier companies. The “dividend yield” factor measures the income generated by an investment with the objective of identifying companies with higher dividend yields. The “dividend quality” factor measures the income available to a company to pay dividends to common shareholders together with the growth of a company’s dividends over time, with the objective of identifying companies with less risk of dividend cuts or suspensions.

 

Each company in the S-Network US Equity Mid/Small-Cap 2500 Index is weighted based on: (i) the company’s market capitalization weight in the S-Network US Equity Mid/Small-Cap 2500 Index, as adjusted by (ii) the quality, low volatility, dividend yield and dividend quality factors, with the quality and low volatility factors receiving greater emphasis. The inclusion of each company is then subject to certain constraints (e.g., diversification, capacity and sector) prior to adjusting the final weights in the Underlying Index. The diversification constraint limits maximum position weights. All stocks included in the S-Network US Equity Mid/Small-Cap 2500 Index are screened for free float (the number of shares readily available for purchase on the open market) and average daily trading volume. The sector constraints limit sector deviations. The Underlying Index is rebalanced quarterly and reconstituted annually. Individual index constituent weights are capped at 2% at each quarterly rebalance to avoid overexposure to any single security. The Underlying Index’s investable universe includes companies from the following GICS sectors within the S-Network US

 

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Equity Mid/Small-Cap 2500 Index: Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, Consumer Staples, Financials, Health Care, Industrials, Information Technology, and Utilities.

 

The Fund may use either a replication strategy or representative sampling strategy in seeking to track the performance of the Underlying Index. Under a replication strategy, the Fund intends to replicate the constituent securities of the Underlying Index as closely as possible. Under a representative sampling strategy, the Fund would invest in what it believes to be a representative sample of the component securities of the Underlying Index. The Fund may use a representative sampling strategy when a replication strategy might be detrimental to shareholders, such as when there are practical difficulties or substantial costs involved in compiling a portfolio of securities to follow the Underlying Index (e.g., where the Underlying Index contains component securities too numerous to efficiently purchase or sell); or, in certain instances, when a component security of the Underlying Index becomes temporarily illiquid, unavailable or less liquid. The Fund may also use a representative sampling strategy to exclude less liquid component securities contained in the Underlying Index from the Fund’s portfolio in order to create a more tradable portfolio and improve arbitrage opportunities. To the extent the Fund uses a representative sampling strategy, it may not track the Underlying Index with the same degree of accuracy as would an investment vehicle replicating the entire index.

 

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in the components of the Underlying Index. The Fund considers the companies included in the Underlying Index to be “small capitalization” companies. To the extent that the Underlying Index concentrates (i.e., holds 25% or more of its net assets) in the securities of a particular industry or group of industries, the Fund is expected to concentrate to approximately the same extent. As of June 30, 2022, the Underlying Index was concentrated in the industrials sector.

 

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in investments not included in the Underlying Index, but which ALPS Advisors, Inc. (the “Adviser”) believes will help the Fund track the Underlying Index. For example, there may be instances in which the Adviser may choose to purchase or sell investments, including exchange-traded funds (“ETF”) and other investment company securities, and cash and cash equivalents, as substitutes for one or more Underlying Index components or in anticipation of changes in the Underlying Index’s components.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS

 

Investors should consider the following risk factors and special considerations associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause you to lose money.

 

Market Risk. Economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one country or region will adversely impact markets or issuers in other countries or regions. The values of equity securities, such as common stocks and preferred stock, may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political and social conditions, inflation (or expectations for inflation), deflation (or expectations for deflation), changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, global demand for particular products or resources, market instability, debt crises and downgrades, embargoes, tariffs, sanctions and other trade barriers, regulatory events, other governmental trade or market control programs and related geopolitical events, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. Equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. In addition, the value of the Fund’s investments may be negatively affected by the occurrence of global events such as war, terrorism, environmental disasters, natural disasters or events, country instability, and infectious disease epidemics or pandemics.

 

Multifactor Risk. The Underlying Index, and thus the Fund, seeks to achieve specific factor exposures identified in the Fund’s principal investment strategies above. There can be no assurance that targeting exposure to such factors will enhance the Fund’s performance over time, and targeting exposure to certain factors may detract from performance in some market environments. There is no guarantee the Index Provider’s methodology will be successful in creating an index that achieves the specific factor exposures identified above.

 

Quality Stocks Risk. This style of investing is subject to the risk that the past performance of these companies does not continue or that the returns on “quality” equity securities are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market. In addition, there may be periods when quality investing is out of favor and during which the investment performance of a fund using a quality strategy may suffer.

 

Dividend-Paying Stock Risk. The Fund’s emphasis on dividend-paying stocks involves the risk that such stocks may fall out of favor with investors and underperform the market. Also, a company may reduce or eliminate its dividend. An issuer of a security may also be unable or unwilling to make dividend payments when due and the related risk that the value of a security may decline because of concerns about the issuer’s ability to make such payments.

 

Volatility Risk. There is a risk that the present and future volatility of a security, relative to the S-Network US Equity Mid/Small-Cap 2500 Index, will not be the same as it historically has been and thus that the Underlying Index will not be exposed to the less volatile securities in the S-Network US Equity Mid/Small-Cap 2500 Index. Volatile stocks are subject to sharp swings in value.

 

Index Management Risk. Unlike many investment companies, the Fund is not “actively” managed. Therefore, it would not necessarily sell a security because the security’s issuer was in financial trouble unless that security is removed from the Underlying Index.

 

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Prospectus | October 31, 2022

 

 

ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF

 

Sampling Risk. To the extent the Fund uses a representative sampling approach, it will hold a smaller number of securities than are in the Underlying Index. As a result, an adverse development respecting a security held by the Fund could result in a greater decline in NAV than would be the case if the Fund held all of the securities in the Underlying Index. Conversely, a positive development relating to a security in the Underlying Index that is not held by the Fund could cause the Fund to underperform the Underlying Index. To the extent the assets in the Fund are smaller, these risks will be greater.

 

Tracking Error Risk. Tracking error is the divergence of the Fund’s performance from that of the Underlying Index. Tracking error may occur due to, among other things, fees and expenses paid by the Fund, including the cost of buying and selling securities that are not reflected in the Underlying Index. If the Fund is small, it may experience greater tracking error. If the Fund is not fully invested, holding cash balances may prevent it from tracking the Underlying Index. In addition, the Fund’s NAV may deviate from the Underlying Index if the Fund fair values a portfolio security at a price other than the price used by the Underlying Index for that security. To the extent the Fund uses a representative sampling strategy to track the Underlying Index, such a strategy may produce greater tracking error than if the Fund employed a full replication strategy.

 

Concentration Risk. To the extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated in a particular industry or group of industries, the Fund is also expected to be concentrated in that industry or group of industries, which may subject the Fund to a greater loss as a result of adverse economic, business or other developments affecting that industry or group of industries.

 

Sector Risk. To the extent the Underlying Index, and thereby the Fund, emphasizes, from time to time, investments in a particular sector, the Fund is subject to a greater degree to the risks particular to that sector. Market conditions, interest rates, and economic, regulatory, or financial developments could significantly affect all the securities in a single sector. If the Fund invests in a few sectors, it may have increased exposure to the price movements of those sectors.

 

Small- and Mid-Capitalization Company Risk. Investments in securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies are subject to the risks of common stocks. Investments in smaller and mid-sized companies may involve greater risks because these companies generally have a limited track record. Smaller and mid-sized companies often have narrower markets, less liquidity, more limited managerial and financial resources and a less diversified product offering than larger, more established companies. As a result, their performance can be more volatile, which may increase the volatility of a Fund’s portfolio.

 

Investment Risk. An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risk including the possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest.

 

Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell. Such securities may become illiquid under adverse market or economic conditions and/or due to specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer. If the Fund invests in illiquid securities or securities that become illiquid, Fund returns may be reduced because the Fund may be unable to sell the illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents Risk. Holding cash or cash equivalents, even strategically, may lead to missed investment opportunities. This is particularly true when the market for other investments in which the Fund may invest is rapidly rising.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The value of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole.

 

Fluctuation of Net Asset Value. The net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund’s Shares will generally fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s holdings. The market prices of the Shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in NAV as well as the relative supply of and demand for the Shares on the Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (the “Cboe BZX”). The Adviser cannot predict whether the Shares will trade below, at or above their NAV.

 

FUND PERFORMANCE

 

The Fund adopted the historical performance of the Predecessor Fund as the result of a reorganization in which the Fund acquired all of the assets, subject to liabilities, of the Predecessor Fund on June 17, 2022. The returns presented for the Fund for periods prior to June 17, 2022 reflect the performance of the Predecessor Fund. At the time of the reorganization, the investment objectives of the Fund and the Predecessor Fund were identical and the investment strategies of the Fund and the Predecessor Fund were substantially the same.

 

Effective May 4, 2018, the Predecessor Fund’s underlying index was changed from the FTSE USA Small Cap Qual/Vol/Yield Factor 3% Capped Index (the “Former Underlying Index 1”) to the FTSE USA Small Cap ex Real Estate 2Qual/Vol/Yield 3% Capped Factor Index (the “Former Underlying Index 2” and together with the Former Underlying Index 1, the “Former Underlying Indexes”). Effective June 1, 2020, the Predecessor Fund’s underlying index was changed from the Former Underlying Index 2 to the Underlying Index. Thus, Predecessor Fund performance shown below prior to May 4, 2018 reflects the Predecessor Fund seeking to track the performance of the Former Underlying Index 1, Predecessor Fund performance shown below from May 4, 2018 through May 31, 2020 reflects the Predecessor Fund seeking to track the performance of the Former Underlying Index 2, and Predecessor Fund performance shown below beginning June 1, 2020 reflects the Predecessor Fund seeking to track the performance of the Underlying Index. In addition, the Underlying Index performance shown below reflects the blended performance of the Former Underlying

 

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Index 1 through May 3, 2018, the Former Underlying Index 2 from May 4, 2018 through May 31, 2020 and the Underlying Index thereafter.

 

The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Predecessor Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Predecessor Fund’s average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Underlying Index and of another benchmark of market performance. The Predecessor Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Total return figures assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions and include the effect of the Predecessor Fund’s recurring expenses. Updated performance information is available online at www.alpsfunds.com or by calling 866.759.5679.

 

Annual Total Returns (calendar years ended 12/31/2021)

 

 

Highest Quarterly Return

19.32%

(December 31, 2020)

Lowest Quarterly Return

(28.24)%

(March 31, 2020)

 

The year-to-date return as of the calendar quarter ended September 30, 2022 is (18.25)%.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Shares of the Fund through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

Average Annual Total Returns
For the periods ended December 31, 2021

 

 

One
Year

Five
Years

Since
Inception
(December 30, 2016)

Before Taxes

21.56%

10.64%

10.59%

December 30, 2016

After Taxes on Distributions

21.09%

10.06%

10.02%

December 30, 2016

After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares

13.07%

8.31%

8.27%

December 30, 2016

O’Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend Index(1)(2)

22.13%

11.19%

11.13%

December 30, 2016

Russell 2000 Value Index(1)

28.27%

9.07%

8.96%

December 30, 2016

 

(1)

Index performance shown in the table is total return, which assumes reinvestment of any dividends and distributions during the time periods shown.

 

(2)

O’Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend Index performance information reflects the blended performance of the FTSE USA Small Cap Qual/Vol/Yield 3% Capped Factor Index through May 3, 2018, the FTSE USA Small Cap ex Real Estate 2Qual/Vol/Yield 3% Capped Factor Index from May 4, 2018 through May 31, 2020 and the O’Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend Index thereafter.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

 

ALPS Advisors, Inc. is the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

Ryan Mischker, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management & Research, and Andrew Hicks, Senior Vice President, Director of ETF Portfolio Management & Research of ALPS Advisors, Inc., are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Mr. Mischker and Mr. Hicks have each served in such capacity since June 2022.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

Individual Shares of the Fund may only be purchased and sold in secondary market transactions through a broker or dealer at a market price. Shares of the Fund are listed for trading on Cboe BZX under the ticker symbol OUSM and, because Shares trade at market prices rather than NAV, Shares of the Fund may trade at a price greater than NAV (i.e., a premium) or less than NAV (i.e., a discount).

 

An investor may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Shares of the Fund (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Shares (ask) when buying or selling Shares in the secondary market (the “bid/ask spread”).

 

Recent information, including information about the Fund’s NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and the bid/ask spreads, is included on the Fund’s website at www.alpsfunds.com.

 

10

Prospectus | October 31, 2022

 

 

ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The Fund’s distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

 

PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

If you purchase Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the Adviser or other related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Shares or related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

www.alpsfunds.com

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SUMMARY SECTION

 

ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF (THE “FUND”)

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The Fund seeks to track the performance (before fees and expenses) of the O’Shares Global Internet Giants Index (the “Underlying Index”).

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund (“Shares”). You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.

 

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

 

   

Management Fees

0.48%

Other Expenses

0.00%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

0.48%

 

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the costs of investing in other funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same each year.

 

 

One
Year

Three
Years

Five
Years

Ten
Years

Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

$49

$154

$269

$603

 

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. The O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF (the “Predecessor Fund”), a series of OSI ETF Trust, was reorganized into the Fund on June 17, 2022. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, the Fund had a portfolio turnover rate equal to 51% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

The Fund will seek investment results that replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index is a rules-based index intended to give investors a means of tracking stocks exhibiting quality and growth characteristics in the “internet sector”, as defined by O’Shares Investment Advisers, LLC (the “Index Provider”).

 

The Underlying Index is constructed using a proprietary, rules-based methodology designed to select equity securities from 2500 global stocks in two main business segments, Internet Technology and Internet Commerce, by identifying companies in the following industries: Application Software, Integrated Telecommunication Services, Interactive Media & Services, Internet & Direct Marketing Retail, Systems Software, Movies & Entertainment, Interactive Home Entertainment and Internet Services & Infrastructure, selecting those that have exposure to the following factors: 1) quality and 2) growth. The selection criteria include requirements for minimum capitalization (adjusted for free float), minimum price and minimum average daily trading volume. The universe of eligible securities includes the 1000 largest U.S. listed companies, the 500 largest European companies, the 500 largest Pacific basin companies and the 500 largest emerging market companies, measured by market capitalization. Constituents of the Fund’s Underlying Index must derive at least 50% of their revenues from Internet Technology and/or Internet Commerce. The “quality” factor is determined primarily by “cash burn rate”, the monthly rate that a company uses shareholder capital. Companies with a high ratio of cash burn rate to balance sheet cash and cash equivalents are excluded from the Underlying Index. The “growth” factor is measured by revenue growth and stocks are assigned a growth rating. The Underlying Index excludes pass-through securities such as real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), master limited partnerships (“MLPs”), business development companies (“BDCs”) and closed-end funds (“CEFs”).

 

The Fund may also invest in US- or Hong Kong-listed issuers that have entered into contractual relationships with a China-based business and/or individuals/entities affiliated with the business structured as a variable interest entity (“VIE”). In a VIE structure, instead of directly owning the equity interests in a Chinese company, the listed company has contractual arrangements with the Chinese company. These contractual arrangements are expected to provide the listed company (and investors in such company, such as the Fund) with exposure to the China-based company. These arrangements are often used because of Chinese governmental restrictions on non-Chinese ownership of companies in certain industries in China.

 

Stock weightings in the Underlying Index are determined according to a modified market capitalization weighting method, using the full market capitalization combined with the growth rating, subject to constraints for diversification and capacity. The diversification constraint limits maximum position weights. The capacity criteria include primary exchange listing, minimum capitalization, minimum price and minimum average

 

12

Prospectus | October 31, 2022

 

 

ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF

 

daily trading volume requirements. The Underlying Index is rebalanced quarterly and reconstituted semi-annually. At the quarterly rebalance, a capping methodology is applied to limit individual stock concentration and increase diversification in the Underlying Index. As of June 30, 2022, the Underlying Index was comprised of 90 securities.

 

The Fund may use either a replication strategy or representative sampling strategy in seeking to track the performance of the Underlying Index. Under a replication strategy, the Fund intends to replicate the constituent securities of the Underlying Index as closely as possible. Under a representative sampling strategy, the Fund would invest in what it believes to be a representative sample of the component securities of the Underlying Index. The Fund may use a representative sampling strategy when a replication strategy might be detrimental to shareholders, such as when there are practical difficulties or substantial costs involved in compiling a portfolio of securities to follow the Underlying Index (e.g., where the Underlying Index contains component securities too numerous to efficiently purchase or sell); or, in certain instances, when a component security of the Underlying Index becomes temporarily illiquid, unavailable or less liquid. The Fund may also use a representative sampling strategy to exclude less liquid component securities contained in the Underlying Index from the Fund’s portfolio in order to create a more tradable portfolio and improve arbitrage opportunities. To the extent the Fund uses a representative sampling strategy, it may not track the Underlying Index with the same degree of accuracy as would an investment vehicle replicating the entire index.

 

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in the components of the Underlying Index. To the extent that the Underlying Index concentrates (i.e., holds 25% or more of its net assets) in the securities of a particular industry or group of industries, the Fund is expected to concentrate to approximately the same extent. As of June 30, 2022, the Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary and Information Technology sectors each represented a substantial portion of the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index provides exposure to various global markets, including emerging markets. As of June 30, 2022 the Underlying Index included the following countries: Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, United Kingdom and United States.

 

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in investments not included in the Underlying Index, but which ALPS Advisors, Inc. (the “Adviser”) believes will help the Fund track the Underlying Index. For example, there may be instances in which the Adviser may choose to purchase or sell investments, including exchange-traded funds (“ETF”) and other investment company securities, and cash and cash equivalents, as substitutes for one or more Underlying Index components or in anticipation of changes in the Underlying Index’s components.

 

The Fund is classified as “non-diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), which means that a relatively high percentage of the Fund’s assets may be invested in a limited number of issuers.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS

 

Investors should consider the following risk factors and special considerations associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause you to lose money.

 

Market Risk. Economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one country or region will adversely impact markets or issuers in other countries or regions. The values of equity securities, such as common stocks and preferred stock, may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political and social conditions, inflation (or expectations for inflation), deflation (or expectations for deflation), changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, global demand for particular products or resources, market instability, debt crises and downgrades, embargoes, tariffs, sanctions and other trade barriers, regulatory events, other governmental trade or market control programs and related geopolitical events, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. Equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. In addition, the value of the Fund’s investments may be negatively affected by the occurrence of global events such as war, terrorism, environmental disasters, natural disasters or events, country instability, and infectious disease epidemics or pandemics.

 

Multifactor Risk. The Underlying Index, and thus the Fund, seeks to achieve specific factor exposures identified in the Fund’s principal investment strategies above. There can be no assurance that targeting exposure to such factors will enhance the Fund’s performance over time, and targeting exposure to certain factors may detract from performance in some market environments. There is no guarantee the Index Provider’s methodology will be successful in creating an index that achieves the specific factor exposures identified above.

 

Internet Companies Risk. Companies involved with the internet, technology and e-commerce are exposed to risks associated with rapid advances in technology, obsolescence of current products and services, the finite life of patents and the constant threat of global competition and substitutes. In addition to these risks, these companies may be adversely impacted by market and economic cyclicality and changing industry standards.

 

Quality Stocks Risk. This style of investing is subject to the risk that the past performance of these companies does not continue or that the returns on “quality” equity securities are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock

 

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market. In addition, there may be periods when quality investing is out of favor and during which the investment performance of a fund using a quality strategy may suffer.

 

Growth Investment Risk. Growth stocks tend to be more volatile than certain other types of stocks and their prices usually fluctuate more dramatically than the overall stock market. A stock with growth characteristics can have sharp price declines due to decreases in current or expected earnings.

 

Foreign Investment Risk. The Fund’s investments in non-U.S. issuers may involve unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers, including, among others, less liquidity generally, greater market volatility than U.S. securities and less complete financial information than for U.S. issuers. In addition, adverse political, economic or social developments could undermine the value of the Fund’s investments or prevent the Fund from realizing the full value of its investments. For example, the rights and remedies associated with investments in foreign securities may be different than investments in domestic securities. Finally, the value of the currency of the country in which the Fund has invested could decline relative to the value of the U.S. dollar, which may affect the value of the investment to U.S. investors.

 

Emerging Markets Risk. Emerging markets countries may have relatively unstable governments; may present heightened risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership, less liquidity and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets; and may have economies based on only a few industries, making them more vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions and more sensitive to debt burdens, inflation rates or adverse news and events.

 

Geographic Concentration Risk. To the extent the Underlying Index and the Fund are significantly comprised of securities of issuers from a single country, the Fund would be more likely to be impacted by events or conditions affecting that country.

 

China Risk. Investments in Chinese securities, including certain Hong Kong-listed securities, subject the Fund to risks specific to China. China may be subject to considerable degrees of economic, political and social instability. China is an emerging market and demonstrates significantly higher volatility from time to time in comparison to developed markets. Over the last few decades, the Chinese government has undertaken reform of economic and market practices and has expanded the sphere of private ownership of property in China. However, Chinese markets generally continue to experience inefficiency, volatility and pricing anomalies resulting from governmental influence, a lack of publicly available information, including restrictions on the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s (“PCAOB”) access to public accounting firms, and/or political and social instability. Internal social unrest or confrontations with other neighboring countries, including military conflicts in response to such events, may also disrupt economic development in China and result in a greater risk of currency fluctuations, currency non-convertibility, interest rate fluctuations and higher rates of inflation. China has experienced security concerns, such as terrorism and strained international relations. Incidents involving China’s or the region’s security may cause uncertainty in Chinese markets and may adversely affect the Chinese economy and the Fund’s investments. Export growth continues to be a major driver of China’s rapid economic growth. Reduction in spending on Chinese products and services, institution of additional tariffs or other trade barriers, including as a result of heightened trade tensions between China and the U.S., or a downturn in any of the economies of China’s key trading partners may have an adverse impact on the Chinese economy.

 

For investments using a VIE structure, all or most of the value of such an investment depends on the enforceability of the contracts between the listed company and the China-based VIE. To the Adviser’s knowledge, the Chinese government has never approved VIE structures. Investments through a VIE structure are subject to the risk that the VIE will breach its contracts with the listed company that holds such contractual rights; that any breach of such contracts will likely be subject to Chinese law and jurisdiction; and that Chinese law may be interpreted or change in a way that affects the enforceability of the VIE’s arrangements, or contracts between the VIE and the listed company may otherwise not be enforceable under Chinese law. As a result, the market value of the Fund’s associated holdings would likely be significantly negatively impacted, which may result in significant losses with little or no recourse available. Further, investments in the listed company may be affected by conflicts of interest and duties between the legal owners of the China-based VIE and the stockholders of the listed company, which may adversely impact the value of the investments of the listed company. Under extreme circumstances, China might prohibit the existence of VIEs, or sever their ability to transmit economic and governance rights to foreign individuals and entities; if so, the market value of the Fund’s associated portfolio holdings would likely suffer significant, detrimental, and possibly permanent effects, which could result in substantial investment losses.

 

Index Management Risk. Unlike many investment companies, the Fund is not “actively” managed. Therefore, it would not necessarily sell a security because the security’s issuer was in financial trouble unless that security is removed from the Underlying Index.

 

Sampling Risk. To the extent the Fund uses a representative sampling approach, it will hold a smaller number of securities than are in the Underlying Index. As a result, an adverse development respecting a security held by the Fund could result in a greater decline in NAV than would be the case if the Fund held all of the securities in the Underlying Index. Conversely, a positive development relating to a security in the Underlying Index that is not held by the Fund could cause the Fund to underperform the Underlying Index. To the extent the assets in the Fund are smaller, these risks will be greater.

 

14

Prospectus | October 31, 2022

 

 

ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF

 

Tracking Error Risk. Tracking error is the divergence of the Fund’s performance from that of the Underlying Index. Tracking error may occur due to, among other things, fees and expenses paid by the Fund, including the cost of buying and selling securities that are not reflected in the Underlying Index. If the Fund is small, it may experience greater tracking error. If the Fund is not fully invested, holding cash balances may prevent it from tracking the Underlying Index. In addition, the Fund’s NAV may deviate from the Underlying Index if the Fund fair values a portfolio security at a price other than the price used by the Underlying Index for that security. To the extent the Fund uses a representative sampling strategy to track the Underlying Index, such a strategy may produce greater tracking error than if the Fund employed a full replication strategy.

 

Non-Diversified Fund Risk. The Fund is considered non-diversified and can invest a greater portion of assets in securities of individual issuers than a diversified fund. As a result, changes in the market value of a single investment could cause greater fluctuations in share price than would occur in a diversified fund.

 

Concentration Risk. To the extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated in a particular industry or group of industries, the Fund is also expected to be concentrated in that industry or group of industries, which may subject the Fund to a greater loss as a result of adverse economic, business or other developments affecting that industry or group of industries.

 

Sector Risk. To the extent the Underlying Index, and thereby the Fund, emphasizes, from time to time, investments in a particular sector, the Fund is subject to a greater degree to the risks particular to that sector. Market conditions, interest rates, and economic, regulatory, or financial developments could significantly affect all the securities in a single sector. If the Fund invests in a few sectors, it may have increased exposure to the price movements of those sectors.

 

Large Capitalization Company Risk. The large capitalization companies in which the Fund invests may underperform other segments of the equity market or the equity market as a whole.

 

Small- and Mid-Capitalization Company Risk. Smaller and mid-size companies often have narrower markets, less liquidity, more limited managerial and financial resources and a less diversified product offering than larger, more established companies. As a result, their performance can be more volatile, which may increase the volatility of a Fund’s portfolio.

 

Investment Risk. An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risk including the possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest.

 

Depositary Receipts Risk. The risks of investments in depositary receipts are substantially similar to Foreign Investment Risk. In addition, depositary receipts may not track the price of the underlying foreign securities and their value may change materially at times when the U.S. markets are not open for trading.

 

Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell. Such securities may become illiquid under adverse market or economic conditions and/or due to specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer. If the Fund invests in illiquid securities or securities that become illiquid, Fund returns may be reduced because the Fund may be unable to sell the illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents Risk. Holding cash or cash equivalents, even strategically, may lead to missed investment opportunities. This is particularly true when the market for other investments in which the Fund may invest is rapidly rising.

 

Risk of Cash Transactions. Unlike many ETFs, the Fund expects to effect redemptions for cash, rather than in-kind. As a result, an investment in the Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in a more conventional ETF. ETFs generally are able to make in-kind redemptions and avoid being taxed on gain on the distributed portfolio securities at the Fund level. Because the Fund may effect redemptions for cash, rather than in-kind distributions, it may be required to sell portfolio securities in order to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds. If the Fund recognizes gain on these sales, this generally will cause the Fund to recognize gain it might not otherwise have recognized, or to recognize such gain sooner than would otherwise be required if it were to distribute portfolio securities in-kind. The Fund generally distributes these gains to shareholders to avoid being taxed on this gain at the Fund level and otherwise comply with the special tax rules that apply to it. This strategy may cause shareholders to be subject to tax on gains they would not otherwise be subject to, or at an earlier date than, if they had made an investment in a different ETF. Moreover, cash transactions may have to be carried out over several days if the securities market is relatively illiquid and may involve considerable brokerage fees. These brokerage fees, which will be higher than if the Fund redeemed its Shares in-kind, may be passed on to redeemers of Creation Units in the form of redemption transaction fees. In addition, these factors may result in wider spreads between the bid and the offered prices of the Fund’s Shares than for more conventional ETFs.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The value of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole.

 

Fluctuation of Net Asset Value. The net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund’s Shares will generally fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s holdings. The market prices of the Shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in NAV as well as the relative supply of and demand for the Shares on the Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (the “Cboe BZX”). The Adviser cannot predict whether the Shares will trade below, at or above their NAV.

 

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FUND PERFORMANCE

 

The Fund adopted the historical performance of the Predecessor Fund as the result of a reorganization in which the Fund acquired all of the assets, subject to liabilities, of the Predecessor Fund on June 17, 2022. The returns presented for the Fund for periods prior to June 17, 2022 reflect the performance of the Predecessor Fund. At the time of the reorganization, the investment objectives of the Fund and the Predecessor Fund were identical and the investment strategies of the Fund and the Predecessor Fund were substantially the same.

 

The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Predecessor Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Predecessor Fund’s average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Underlying Index and of another benchmark of market performance. The Predecessor Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

 

Total return figures assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions and include the effect of the Predecessor Fund’s recurring expenses. Updated performance information is available online at www.alpsfunds.com or by calling 866.759.5679.

 

Annual Total Returns (calendar years ended 12/31/2021)

 

Highest Quarterly Return

52.99%

(June 30, 2020)

Lowest Quarterly Return

(7.10)%

(September 30, 2021)

 

The year-to-date return as of the calendar quarter ended September 30, 2022 is (48.49)%.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Shares of the Fund through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

Average Annual Total Returns
For the periods ended December 31, 2021

 

 

One
Year

Since
Inception
(June 5, 2018)

Before Taxes

(9.07)%

20.95%

June 5, 2018

After Taxes on Distributions

(9.07)%

20.95%

June 5, 2018

After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares

(5.37)%

16.80%

June 5, 2018

O’Shares Global Internet Giants Index(1)

(8.74)%

21.55%

June 5, 2018

NASDAQ 100 Index(1)

27.51%

27.12%

June 5, 2018

 

(1)

Index performance shown in the table is total return, which assumes reinvestment of any dividends and distributions during the time periods shown.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

 

ALPS Advisors, Inc. is the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

Ryan Mischker, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management & Research, and Andrew Hicks, Senior Vice President, Director of ETF Portfolio Management & Research of ALPS Advisors, Inc., are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Mr. Mischker and Mr. Hicks have each served in such capacity since June 2022.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

Individual Shares of the Fund may only be purchased and sold in secondary market transactions through a broker or dealer at a market price. Shares of the Fund are listed for trading on Cboe BZX under the ticker symbol OGIG, and because Shares trade at market prices rather than NAV, Shares of the Fund may trade at a price greater than NAV (i.e., a premium) or less than NAV (i.e., a discount).

 

An investor may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Shares of the Fund (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Shares (ask) when buying or selling Shares in the secondary market (the “bid/ask spread”).

 

Recent information, including information about the Fund’s NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and the bid/ask spreads, is included on the Fund’s website at www.alpsfunds.com.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The Fund’s distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

 

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Prospectus | October 31, 2022

 

 

ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF

 

PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

If you purchase Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the Adviser or other related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Shares or related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

www.alpsfunds.com

17

 

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY SECTION

 

ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF (THE “FUND”)

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The Fund seeks to track the performance (before fees and expenses) of the O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend Index (the “Underlying Index”).

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund (“Shares”). You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.

 

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

 

   

Management Fees(1)

0.48%

Other Expenses

0.00%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

0.48%

 

(1)

Restated to reflect current fees.

 

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the costs of investing in other funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same each year.

 

 

One
Year

Three
Years

Five
Years

Ten
Years

Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

$49

$154

$269

$603

 

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. The O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF (the “Predecessor Fund”), a series of OSI ETF Trust, was reorganized into the Fund on June 17, 2022. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, the Fund had a portfolio turnover rate equal to 22% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

The Fund will seek investment results that replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Underlying Index.

 

The Underlying Index is designed to measure the performance of publicly-listed large-capitalization and mid-capitalization dividend-paying issuers in Europe that meet certain market capitalization, liquidity, high quality, low volatility and dividend yield thresholds, as determined by O’Shares Investment Advisers, LLC (the “Index Provider”). The high quality and low volatility requirements are designed to reduce exposure to high dividend equities that have experienced large price declines.

 

The constituents of the Underlying Index are selected from the S-Network Europe Equity 500 Index. S-Network Global Indexes Inc. determines eligible securities for the S-Network Europe Equity 500 Index in accordance with the S-Network Country Classification System, based on measures such as country of incorporation, country of domicile, country of primary listing and country in which the greatest percentage of revenue is generated. As of June 30, 2022, the Underlying Index consisted of 50 securities.

 

The Underlying Index is constructed using a proprietary, rules-based methodology designed to select equity securities from the S-Network Europe Equity 500 Index that have exposure to the following four factors: 1) quality, 2) low volatility, 3) dividend yield and 4) dividend quality. The “quality” factor is calculated by combining measures of profitability and leverage with the objective of identifying companies with strong profitability and balance sheets. The “low volatility” factor measures the risk of price moves for a security with the objective of reducing allocations to riskier companies. The “dividend yield” factor measures the income generated by an investment with the objective of identifying companies with higher dividend yields. The “dividend quality” factor measures the income available to a company to pay dividends to common shareholders together with the growth of a company’s dividends over time, with the objective of identifying companies with less risk of dividend cuts or suspensions.

 

Each company in the S-Network Europe Equity 500 Index is weighted based on: (i) the company’s market capitalization weight in the S-Network Europe Equity 500 Index, as adjusted by (ii) the quality, low volatility, dividend yield and dividend quality factors, with the quality and low volatility factors receiving greater emphasis. The inclusion of each company is then subject to certain constraints (e.g., diversification, capacity and sector) prior to adjusting the final weights in the Underlying Index. The diversification constraint limits maximum position weights. All stocks included in the S-Network Europe Equity 500 Index are screened for free float (the number of shares readily available for purchase on the open market) and average daily

 

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Prospectus | October 31, 2022

 

 

ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF

 

trading volume. The sector constraints limit sector deviations. The Underlying Index is rebalanced quarterly and reconstituted annually. Individual index constituent weights are capped at 5% at each quarterly rebalance to avoid overexposure to any single security. The Underlying Index’s investable universe includes companies from the following GICS sectors within the S-Network Europe Equity 500 Index: Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, Consumer Staples, Financials, Health Care, Industrials, Information Technology, and Utilities.

 

The Fund may use either a replication strategy or representative sampling strategy in seeking to track the performance of the Underlying Index. Under a replication strategy, the Fund intends to replicate the constituent securities of the Underlying Index as closely as possible. Under a representative sampling strategy, the Fund would invest in what it believes to be a representative sample of the component securities of the Underlying Index. The Fund may use a representative sampling strategy when a replication strategy might be detrimental to shareholders, such as when there are practical difficulties or substantial costs involved in compiling a portfolio of securities to follow the Underlying Index (e.g., where the Underlying Index contains component securities too numerous to efficiently purchase or sell); or, in certain instances, when a component security of the Underlying Index becomes temporarily illiquid, unavailable or less liquid. The Fund may also use a representative sampling strategy to exclude less liquid component securities contained in the Underlying Index from the Fund’s portfolio in order to create a more tradable portfolio and improve arbitrage opportunities. To the extent the Fund uses a representative sampling strategy, it may not track the Underlying Index with the same degree of accuracy as would an investment vehicle replicating the entire index.

 

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in the components of the Underlying Index and in depositary receipts representing such securities. To the extent that the Underlying Index concentrates (i.e., holds 25% or more of its net assets) in the securities of a particular industry or group of industries, the Fund is expected to concentrate to approximately the same extent.

 

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in investments not included in the Underlying Index, but which ALPS Advisors, Inc. (the “Adviser”) believes will help the Fund track the Underlying Index. For example, there may be instances in which the Adviser may choose to purchase or sell investments, including exchange-traded funds (“ETF”) and other investment company securities, and cash and cash equivalents, as substitutes for one or more Underlying Index components or in anticipation of changes in the Underlying Index’s components.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS

 

Investors should consider the following risk factors and special considerations associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause you to lose money.

 

Market Risk. Economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one country or region will adversely impact markets or issuers in other countries or regions. The values of equity securities, such as common stocks and preferred stock, may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political and social conditions, inflation (or expectations for inflation), deflation (or expectations for deflation), changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, global demand for particular products or resources, market instability, debt crises and downgrades, embargoes, tariffs, sanctions and other trade barriers, regulatory events, other governmental trade or market control programs and related geopolitical events, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. Equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. In addition, the value of the Fund’s investments may be negatively affected by the occurrence of global events such as war, terrorism, environmental disasters, natural disasters or events, country instability, and infectious disease epidemics or pandemics.

 

Multifactor Risk. The Underlying Index, and thus the Fund, seeks to achieve specific factor exposures identified in the Fund’s principal investment strategies above. There can be no assurance that targeting exposure to such factors will enhance the Fund’s performance over time, and targeting exposure to certain factors may detract from performance in some market environments. There is no guarantee the Index Provider’s methodology will be successful in creating an index that achieves the specific factor exposures identified above.

 

Quality Stocks Risk. This style of investing is subject to the risk that the past performance of these companies does not continue or that the returns on “quality” equity securities are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market. In addition, there may be periods when quality investing is out of favor and during which the investment performance of a fund using a quality strategy may suffer.

 

Dividend-Paying Stock Risk. The Fund’s emphasis on dividend-paying stocks involves the risk that such stocks may fall out of favor with investors and underperform the market. Also, a company may reduce or eliminate its dividend. An issuer of a security may also be unable or unwilling to make dividend payments when due and the related risk that the value of a security may decline because of concerns about the issuer’s ability to make such payments.

 

Volatility Risk. There is a risk that the present and future volatility of a security, relative to the S-Network Europe Equity 500 Index, will not be the same as it historically has been and thus that the Underlying Index will not be exposed to the less volatile securities in the S-Network Europe Equity 500 Index. Volatile stocks are subject to sharp swings in value.

 

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Europe Risk. Decreasing imports or exports, changes in governmental or European Union (the “EU”) regulations on trade, changes in the exchange rate of the euro, the default or threat of default by an EU member country on its sovereign debt, and/or an economic recession in an EU member country may have a significant adverse effect on the securities of EU issuers. The European financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adversity due to concerns about economic downturns, or rising government debt levels, in several European countries. These events have adversely affected the exchange rate of the euro and may continue to significantly affect every country in Europe. The risk of investing in Europe may be heightened due to the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from membership in the EU. In addition, if one or more countries were to exit the EU or abandon the use of the euro as a currency, the value of investments tied to those countries or the euro could decline significantly and unpredictably. Any such event could have a material adverse impact on the value and risk profile of the Fund’s portfolio. In addition, Russia’s recent military incursions in Ukraine have led to, and may lead to additional sanctions being levied by the United States, European Union and other countries against Russia. Russia’s military incursion and the resulting sanctions could adversely affect global energy and financial markets and thus could affect the value of the Fund’s investments, even beyond any direct exposure the Fund may have to Russian issuers or the adjoining geographic regions. While many countries in western Europe are considered to have developed markets, many eastern European countries are less developed, and investments in eastern European countries, even if denominated in Euros, may involve special risks associated with investments in emerging markets.

 

Foreign Investment Risk. The Fund’s investments in non-U.S. issuers may involve unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers, including, among others, less liquidity generally, greater market volatility than U.S. securities and less complete financial information than for U.S. issuers. In addition, adverse political, economic or social developments could undermine the value of the Fund’s investments or prevent the Fund from realizing the full value of its investments. For example, the rights and remedies associated with investments in foreign securities may be different than investments in domestic securities. Financial reporting standards for companies based in foreign markets differ from those in the United States. Finally, the value of the currency of the country in which the Fund has invested could decline relative to the value of the U.S. dollar, which may affect the value of the investment to U.S. investors.

 

Geographic Concentration Risk. To the extent the Underlying Index and the Fund are significantly comprised of securities of issuers from a single country, the Fund would be more likely to be impacted by events or conditions affecting that country.

 

Sampling Risk. To the extent the Fund uses a representative sampling approach, it will hold a smaller number of securities than are in the Underlying Index. As a result, an adverse development respecting a security held by the Fund could result in a greater decline in NAV than would be the case if the Fund held all of the securities in the Underlying Index. Conversely, a positive development relating to a security in the Underlying Index that is not held by the Fund could cause the Fund to underperform the Underlying Index. To the extent the assets in the Fund are smaller, these risks will be greater.

 

Tracking Error Risk. Tracking error is the divergence of the Fund’s performance from that of the Underlying Index. Tracking error may occur due to, among other things, fees and expenses paid by the Fund, including the cost of buying and selling securities that are not reflected in the Underlying Index. If the Fund is small, it may experience greater tracking error. If the Fund is not fully invested, holding cash balances may prevent it from tracking the Underlying Index. In addition, the Fund’s NAV may deviate from the Underlying Index if the Fund fair values a portfolio security at a price other than the price used by the Underlying Index for that security. To the extent the Fund uses a representative sampling strategy to track the Underlying Index, such a strategy may produce greater tracking error than if the Fund employed a full replication strategy.

 

Concentration Risk. To the extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated in a particular industry or group of industries, the Fund is also expected to be concentrated in that industry or group of industries, which may subject the Fund to a greater loss as a result of adverse economic, business or other developments affecting that industry or group of industries.

 

Sector Risk. To the extent the Underlying Index, and thereby the Fund, emphasizes, from time to time, investments in a particular sector, the Fund is subject to a greater degree to the risks particular to that sector. Market conditions, interest rates, and economic, regulatory, or financial developments could significantly affect all the securities in a single sector. If the Fund invests in a few sectors, it may have increased exposure to the price movements of those sectors.

 

Large Capitalization Securities Risk. The securities of large market capitalization companies may underperform other segments of the market because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.

 

Mid-Capitalization Securities Risk. The securities of mid-capitalization companies are often more volatile and less liquid than the securities of larger companies and may be more affected than other types of securities during market downturns. Compared to larger companies, mid-capitalization companies may have a shorter history of operations, and may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources.

 

Investment Risk. An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest.

 

Depositary Receipts Risk. The risks of investments in depositary receipts are substantially similar to Foreign Investment Risk. In addition, depositary receipts may not track

 

20

Prospectus | October 31, 2022

 

 

ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF

 

the price of the underlying foreign securities and their value may change materially at times when the U.S. markets are not open for trading.

 

Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk exists when investments are difficult to purchase or sell. This can reduce the Fund’s returns because the Fund or an entity in which it invests may be unable to transact at advantageous times or prices.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents Risk. Holding cash or cash equivalents, even strategically, may lead to missed investment opportunities. This is particularly true when the market for other investments in which the Fund may invest is rapidly rising.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. The value of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole.

 

Fluctuation of Net Asset Value. The net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund’s Shares will generally fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s holdings. The market prices of the Shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in NAV as well as the relative supply of and demand for the Shares on the Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (the “Cboe BZX”). The Adviser cannot predict whether the Shares will trade below, at or above their NAV.

 

FUND PERFORMANCE

 

The Fund adopted the historical performance of the Predecessor Fund as the result of a reorganization in which the Fund acquired all of the assets, subject to liabilities, of the Predecessor Fund on June 17, 2022. The returns presented for the Fund for periods prior to June 17, 2022 reflect the performance of the Predecessor Fund. At the time of the reorganization, the investment objectives of the Fund and the Predecessor Fund were identical and the investment strategies of the Fund and the Predecessor Fund were substantially the same.

 

Previously, the Predecessor Fund had adopted the historical performance of the O’Shares FTSE Europe Quality Dividend ETF (the “Previous Predecessor Fund”), a series of FQF Trust, as the result of a reorganization in which the Predecessor Fund acquired all of the assets, subject to liabilities, of the Previous Predecessor Fund on June 28, 2018. The returns presented for the Predecessor Fund for periods prior to June 28, 2018 reflect the performance of the Previous Predecessor Fund. At the time of the reorganization, the investment objectives of the Previous Predecessor Fund and the Predecessor Fund were identical and the investment strategies of the Previous Predecessor Fund and the Predecessor Fund were substantially the same.

 

Effective June 1, 2020, the Predecessor Fund’s underlying index was changed to the Underlying Index from the FTSE Developed Europe Qual/Vol/Yield 5% Capped Factor Index (the “Former Index”). Thus, Predecessor Fund performance shown below through May 31, 2020 reflects the Predecessor Fund seeking to track the performance of the Former Index, and Predecessor Fund performance shown below beginning June 1, 2020 reflects the Predecessor Fund seeking to track the performance of the Underlying Index. In addition, the Underlying Index performance shown below reflects the blended performance of the Former Index through May 31, 2020 and the Underlying Index thereafter.

 

The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Predecessor Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Predecessor Fund’s average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Underlying Index and of another benchmark of market performance. The Predecessor Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Total return figures assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions and include the effect of the Predecessor Fund’s recurring expenses. Updated performance information is available online at www.alpsfunds.com or by calling 866.759.5679.

 

Annual Total Returns (calendar years ended 12/31/2021)

 

Highest Quarterly Return

10.89%

(June 30, 2020)

Lowest Quarterly Return

(20.66)%

(March 31, 2020)

 

The year-to-date return as of the calendar quarter ended September 30, 2022 is (30.19)%.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Shares of the Fund through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

www.alpsfunds.com

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Average Annual Total Returns
For the periods ended December 31, 2021

 

 

One
Year

Five
Year

Since
Inception
(August 19, 2015)

Before Taxes

21.37%

9.85%

5.80%

After Taxes on Distributions

20.88%

9.26%

5.24%

After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares

13.15%

7.90%

4.62%

O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend Index(1)(2)

21.99%

10.43%

6.32%

EURO STOXX 50 Net Return USD Index(1)

14.64%

9.63%

6.28%

 

(1)

Index performance shown in the table is net total return. The net total return is obtained by reinvesting the net dividend, which is equal to the ordinary gross dividend minus the amount of withholding tax.

 

(2)

The O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend Index performance information reflects the blended performance of the FTSE Developed Europe Qual/Vol/Yield 5% Capped Factor Index through May 31, 2020 and the O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend Index thereafter.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

 

ALPS Advisors, Inc. is the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

Ryan Mischker, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management & Research, and Andrew Hicks, Senior Vice President, Director of ETF Portfolio Management & Research of ALPS Advisors, Inc., are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Mr. Mischker and Mr. Hicks have each served in such capacity since June 2022.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

Individual Shares may only be purchased and sold in secondary market transactions through a broker or dealer at a market price. Shares are listed for trading on Cboe BZX under the ticker symbol OEUR and, because Shares trade at market prices rather than NAV, Shares may trade at a price greater than or less than NAV.

 

An investor may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Shares of the Fund (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Shares (ask) when buying or selling Shares in the secondary market (the “bid/ask spread”).

 

Recent information, including information about the Fund’s NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and the bid/ask spreads, is included on the Fund’s website at www.alpsfunds.com.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The Fund’s distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

 

PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

If you purchase Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the Adviser or other related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Shares or related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

22

Prospectus | October 31, 2022

 

 

 

Introduction—Alps ETF Trust

 

ALPS ETF Trust (the “Trust”) is an investment company consisting of multiple separate exchange traded funds. This Prospectus relates to the ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF, ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF, ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF and ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF.

 

Each Fund’s shares (the “Shares”) are listed on the Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (the “Exchange” or “Cboe BZX”). Each Fund’s Shares trade at market prices that may differ from the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Shares. Unlike conventional mutual funds, each Fund issues and redeems Shares on a continuous basis, at NAV, only in large specified blocks of Shares, each of which is called a “Creation Unit.” Creation Units are issued and redeemed principally in kind for securities included in a specified index. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, Shares are not redeemable by the Funds.

 

Tax-Advantaged Product Structure

 

Unlike interests in many conventional mutual funds, the Shares are traded throughout the day on a national securities exchange, whereas mutual fund interests are typically only bought and sold at closing NAVs. The Shares have been designed to be tradable in the secondary market on a national securities exchange on an intra-day basis, and to be created and redeemed principally in-kind in Creation Units at each day’s next calculated NAV (except for ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF, which may effect creations and redemptions partly or wholly for cash). These arrangements are designed to protect ongoing shareholders from adverse effects on a Fund’s portfolio that could arise from frequent cash creation and redemption transactions. In a conventional mutual fund, redemptions can have an adverse tax impact on taxable shareholders because of the mutual fund’s need to sell portfolio securities to obtain cash to meet fund redemptions. These sales may generate taxable gains for the shareholders of the mutual fund, whereas the Shares’ in-kind redemption mechanism utilized by most exchange-traded funds, including the Funds, generally will not lead to a tax event for a Fund or its ongoing shareholders.

 

ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF

 

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance (before fees and expenses) of its Underlying Index (“Underlying Index”). The Fund’s investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. The Fund has adopted a policy that requires the Fund to provide shareholders with at least 60 days’ notice prior to any material change in the Fund’s investment objective.

 

Additional Information about Principal Investment Strategies

The Board of Trustees of the Trust may change the Fund’s investment strategy and other policies without shareholder approval, except as otherwise indicated.

 

Underlying Index Description

The Underlying Index is designed to measure the performance of publicly-listed large-capitalization and mid-capitalization dividend-paying issuers in the United States that meet certain market capitalization, liquidity, high quality, low volatility and dividend yield thresholds, as determined by O’Shares Investment Advisers, LLC (the “Index Provider”). The high quality and low volatility requirements are designed to reduce exposure to high dividend equities that have experienced large price declines.

 

The constituents of the Underlying Index are selected from the S-Network US Equity Large-Cap 500 Index. As of June 30, 2022, the Underlying Index consisted of 99 securities.

 

The Underlying Index is constructed using a proprietary, rules-based methodology designed to select equity securities from the S-Network US Equity Large-Cap 500 Index that have exposure to the following four factors: 1) quality, 2) low volatility, 3) dividend yield and 4) dividend quality. The “quality” factor is calculated by combining measures of profitability and leverage with the objective of identifying companies with strong profitability and balance sheets. The “low volatility” factor measures the risk of price moves for a security with the objective of reducing allocations to riskier companies. The “dividend yield” factor measures the income generated by an investment with the objective of identifying companies with higher dividend yields. The “dividend quality” measures the income available to a company to pay dividends to common shareholders together with the growth of a company’s dividends over time, with the objective of identifying companies with less risk of dividend cuts or suspensions.

 

Each company in the S-Network US Equity Large-Cap 500 Index is weighted based on: (i) the company’s market capitalization weight in the S-Network US Equity Large-Cap 500 Index, as adjusted by (ii) the quality, low volatility, dividend yield and dividend quality factors, with the quality and low volatility factors receiving greater emphasis. The inclusion of each company is then subject to certain constraints (e.g., diversification, capacity and sector) prior to adjusting the final weights in the Underlying Index. The diversification constraint limits maximum position weights. All stocks included in the S-Network US Equity Large-Cap 500 Index are screened for free float (the number of shares readily available for purchase on the open market) and average daily trading volume. The sector constraints limit sector deviations. The Underlying Index is rebalanced quarterly and reconstituted annually. Individual index constituent weights are capped at 5% at each quarterly rebalance to avoid overexposure to any single security. The Underlying Index’s investable universe includes companies from the following GICS sectors within the S-Network US Equity

 

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Large-Cap 500 Index: Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, Consumer Staples, Financials, Health Care, Industrials, Information Technology and Utilities.

 

The Underlying Index methodology was developed by the Index Provider. S-Network Global Indexes Inc. (“S-Network”), an independent third party (the “Calculation Agent”), is responsible for the ongoing maintenance, compilation, calculation and administration of the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index is unmanaged and cannot be invested in directly.

 

ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF

 

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance (before fees and expenses) of its Underlying Index (“Underlying Index”). The Fund’s investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. The Fund has adopted a policy that requires the Fund to provide shareholders with at least 60 days’ notice prior to any material change in the Fund’s investment objective.

 

Additional Information about Principal Investment Strategies

The Board of Trustees of the Trust may change the Fund’s investment strategy and other policies without shareholder approval, except as otherwise indicated.

 

Underlying Index Description

The Underlying Index is designed to reflect the performance of publicly-listed small-capitalization dividend-paying issuers in the United States that meet certain market capitalization, liquidity, high quality, low volatility and dividend yield thresholds, as determined by the Index Provider. The quality and low volatility factors are designed to reduce exposure to high dividend equities that have experienced large price declines, as may occur with some dividend investing strategies.

 

The constituents of the Underlying Index are selected from the S-Network US Equity Mid/Small-Cap 2500 Index. As of June 30, 2022, the Underlying Index consisted of 114 securities with a market capitalization range of between $500 million and $18 billion.

 

The Underlying Index is constructed using a proprietary, rules-based methodology designed to select equity securities from the S-Network US Equity Mid/Small-Cap 2500 Index that have exposure to the following four factors: 1) quality, 2) low volatility, 3) dividend yield and 4) dividend quality. The “quality” factor is calculated by combining measures of profitability and leverage with the objective of identifying companies with strong profitability and balance sheets. The “low volatility” factor measures the risk of price moves for a security with the objective of reducing allocations to riskier companies. The “dividend yield” factor measures the income generated by an investment with the objective of identifying companies with higher dividend yields. The “dividend quality” factor measures the income available to a company to pay dividends to common shareholders together with the growth of a company’s dividends over time, with the objective of identifying companies with less risk of dividend cuts or suspensions.

 

Each company in the S-Network US Equity Mid/Small-Cap 2500 Index is weighted based on: (i) the company’s market capitalization weight in the S-Network US Equity Mid/Small-Cap 2500 Index, as adjusted by (ii) the quality, low volatility, dividend yield and dividend quality factors, with the quality and low volatility factors receiving greater emphasis. The inclusion of each company is then subject to certain constraints (e.g., diversification, capacity and sector) prior to adjusting the final weights in the Underlying Index. The diversification constraint limits maximum position weights. All stocks included in the S-Network US Equity Mid/Small-Cap 2500 Index are screened for free float (the number of shares readily available for purchase on the open market) and average daily trading volume. The sector constraints limit sector deviations. The Underlying Index is rebalanced quarterly and reconstituted annually. Individual index constituent weights are capped at 2% at each quarterly rebalance to avoid overexposure to any single security. The Underlying Index’s investable universe includes companies from the following GICS sectors within the S-Network US Equity Mid/Small-Cap 2500 Index: Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, Consumer Staples, Financials, Health Care, Industrials, Information Technology and Utilities.

 

The Underlying Index methodology was developed by the Index Provider. S-Network Global Indexes Inc. (“S-Network”), an independent third party (the “Calculation Agent”), is responsible for the ongoing maintenance, compilation, calculation and administration of the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index is unmanaged and cannot be invested in directly.

 

ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF

 

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance (before fees and expenses) of its Underlying Index. The Fund’s investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. The Fund has adopted a policy that requires the Fund to provide shareholders with at least 60 days’ notice prior to any material change in the Fund’s investment objective.

 

Additional Information about Principal Investment Strategies

The Board of Trustees of the Trust may change the Fund’s investment strategy and other policies without shareholder approval, except as otherwise indicated.

 

Underlying Index Description

The Underlying Index is a rules-based index intended to give investors a means of tracking stocks exhibiting quality and growth characteristics in the “internet sector”, as defined by the Index Provider. The Underlying Index is constructed using

 

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a proprietary, rules-based methodology designed to select equity securities from 2500 global stocks in two main business segments, Internet Technology and Internet Commerce, by identifying companies in the following industries: Application Software, Integrated Telecommunication Services, Interactive Media & Services, Internet & Direct Marketing Retail, Systems Software, Movies & Entertainment, Interactive Home Entertainment and Internet Services & Infrastructure, selecting those that have exposure to the following factors: 1) quality and 2) growth. The selection criteria include requirements for minimum capitalization (adjusted for free float), minimum price and minimum average daily trading volume. The universe of eligible securities includes the 1000 largest U.S. listed companies, the 500 largest European companies, the 500 largest Pacific basin companies and the 500 largest emerging market companies, measured by market capitalization. Constituents of the Fund’s Underlying Index must derive at least 50% of their revenues from Internet Technology and/or Internet Commerce. The “quality” factor is determined primarily by “cash burn rate”, the monthly rate that a company uses shareholder capital. Companies with a high ratio of cash burn rate to balance sheet cash and cash equivalents are excluded from the Underlying Index. The “growth” factor is measured by revenue growth and stocks are assigned a growth rating. The Underlying Index excludes pass-through securities such as REITs, MLPs, BDCs and CEFs.

 

Stock weightings in the Underlying Index are determined according to a modified market capitalization weighting method, using the full market capitalization combined with the growth rating, subject to constraints for diversification and capacity. The diversification constraint limits maximum position weights. The capacity criteria include primary exchange listing, minimum capitalization, minimum price and minimum average daily trading volume requirements. The Underlying Index is rebalanced quarterly and reconstituted semi-annually. At the quarterly rebalance, a capping methodology is applied to limit individual stock concentration and increase diversification in the Underlying Index. As of June 30, 2022, the Underlying Index was comprised of 90 securities.

 

The Underlying Index methodology was developed by the Index Provider. S-Network Global Indexes Inc (“S-Network”), an independent third party (the “Calculation Agent”), is responsible for the ongoing maintenance, compilation, calculation and administration of the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index is unmanaged and cannot be invested in directly.

 

ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality
Dividend ETF

 

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance (before fees and expenses) of its Underlying Index. The Fund’s investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees of the Trust without shareholder approval. The Fund has adopted a policy that requires the Fund to provide shareholders with at least 60 days’ notice prior to any material change in the Fund’s investment objective.

 

Additional Information about Principal Investment Strategies

The Board of Trustees may change the Fund’s investment strategy and other policies without shareholder approval, except as otherwise indicated.

 

Underlying Index Description

The Underlying Index is designed to measure the performance of publicly-listed large-capitalization and mid-capitalization dividend-paying issuers in Europe that meet certain market capitalization, liquidity, high quality, low volatility and dividend yield thresholds, as determined by the Index Provider). The high quality and low volatility requirements are designed to reduce exposure to high dividend equities that have experienced large price declines.

 

The constituents of the Underlying Index are selected from the S-Network Europe Equity 500 Index. S-Network Global Indexes Inc. determines eligible securities for the S-Network Europe Equity 500 Index in accordance with the S-Network Country Classification System, based on measures such as country of incorporation, country of domicile, country of primary listing and country in which the greatest percentage of revenue is generated. As of June 30, 2022, the Underlying Index consisted of 50 securities.

 

The Underlying Index is constructed using a proprietary, rules-based methodology designed to select equity securities from the S-Network Europe Equity 500 Index that have exposure to the following four factors: 1) quality, 2) low volatility, 3) dividend yield and 4) dividend quality. The “quality” factor is calculated by combining measures of profitability and leverage with the objective of identifying companies with strong profitability and balance sheets. The “low volatility” factor measures the risk of price moves for a security with the objective of reducing allocations to riskier companies. The “dividend yield” factor measures the income generated by an investment with the objective of identifying companies with higher dividend yields. The “dividend quality” factor measures the income available to a company to pay dividends to common shareholders together with the growth of a company’s dividends over time, with the objective of identifying companies with less risk of dividend cuts or suspensions.

 

Each company in the S-Network Europe Equity 500 Index is weighted based on: (i) the company’s market capitalization weight in the S-Network Europe Equity 500 Index, as adjusted by (ii) the quality, low volatility, dividend yield and dividend quality factors, with the quality and low volatility factors receiving greater emphasis. The inclusion of each company is then subject to certain constraints (e.g., diversification, capacity and sector) prior to adjusting the final weights in the Underlying Index. The diversification constraint limits maximum position weights. All stocks included in the S-Network Europe Equity 500 Index are screened for free float (the number of shares readily

 

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available for purchase on the open market) and average daily trading volume. The sector constraints limit sector deviations. The Underlying Index is rebalanced quarterly and reconstituted annually. Individual index constituent weights are capped at 5% at each quarterly rebalance to avoid overexposure to any single security. The Underlying Index’s investable universe includes companies from the following GICS sectors within the S-Network Europe Equity 500 Index: Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, Consumer Staples, Financials, Health Care, Industrials, Information Technology and Utilities.

 

As of June 30, 2022, the Underlying Index included the following countries: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

 

The Underlying Index methodology was developed by the Index Provider. S-Network Global Indexes Inc (“S-Network”), an independent third party (the “Calculation Agent”), is responsible for the ongoing maintenance, compilation, calculation and administration of the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index is unmanaged and cannot be invested in directly.

 

Additional Information About the Funds’ Principal Investment Risks

 

Investors should consider the following additional information about the Funds’ principal investment risks.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents Risk. The Funds may hold cash or cash equivalents. Generally, such positions offer less potential for gain than other investments. Holding cash or cash equivalents, even strategically, may lead to missed investment opportunities. This is particularly true when the market for other investments in which the Fund may invest is rapidly rising. If a Fund holds cash uninvested it will be subject to the credit risk of the depositing institution holding the cash.

 

Risk of Cash Transactions. Unlike many ETFs, the ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF may effect creations and redemptions partly or wholly for cash, rather than in-kind. As a result, an investment in the Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in a more conventional ETF. ETFs generally are able to make in-kind redemptions and avoid being taxed on gains on the distributed portfolio securities at the Fund level. Because the Fund may effect redemptions partly or wholly for cash, rather than in-kind distributions, it may be required to sell portfolio securities in order to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds. If the Fund recognizes gains on these sales, this generally will cause the Fund to recognize gains it might not otherwise have recognized, or to recognize such gain sooner than would otherwise be required if it were to distribute portfolio securities in-kind. The Fund generally distributes these gains to shareholders to avoid being taxed on the gains at the Fund level and otherwise comply with the special tax rules that apply to it. This strategy may cause shareholders to be subject to tax on gains they would not otherwise be subject to, or at an earlier date, than if they had made an investment in a different ETF. Moreover, cash transactions may have to be carried out over several days if the securities market is relatively illiquid and may involve considerable brokerage fees and taxes. These brokerage fees and taxes, which will be higher than if the Fund sold and redeemed its Shares principally in-kind, will be passed on to purchasers and redeemers of Creation Units in the form of creation and redemption transaction fees. In addition, these factors may result in wider spreads between the bid and the offered prices of the Fund’s Shares than for more conventional ETFs.

 

Concentration Risk. To the extent that each Fund’s Underlying Index is concentrated in a particular sector, industry or group of industries, the Fund is also expected to be concentrated in that sector or industry and may subject the Fund to a greater loss as a result of adverse economic, business or other developments affecting that industry. In addition, the value of a Fund’s shares may change at different rates compared to the value of shares of a fund with investments in a more diversified mix of sectors or industries. An individual sector, industry or group of industries may have above-average performance during particular periods, but may also move up and down more than the broader market. A Fund’s performance could also be affected if the sectors or industries do not perform as expected.

 

Depositary Receipts Risk. The ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF’s and the ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF’s investments in foreign companies may be in the form of depositary receipts or other securities convertible into securities of foreign issuers, including American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), European Depositary Receipts (”EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”). ADRs, EDRs, and GDRs are generally subject to the risks of investing directly in foreign securities and, in some cases, there may be less information available about the underlying issuers than would be the case with a direct investment in the foreign issuer. ADRs are U.S. dollar-denominated receipts representing shares of foreign-based corporations. GDRs are similar to ADRs but are shares of foreign-based corporations generally issued by international banks in one or more markets around the world. EDRs are receipts issued in Europe that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. Generally, EDRs are designed for use in European securities markets. Investment in ADRs, GDRs and EDRs may be less liquid than the underlying shares in their primary trading market and may be more volatile. Distributions paid to holders of depositary receipts, such as the Fund, may be subject to a fee charged by the depositary. Depositary receipts may be ‘‘sponsored’’ or ‘‘unsponsored’’ and may be unregistered and unlisted. Sponsored depositary receipts are established jointly by a depositary and the underlying issuer, whereas unsponsored depositary receipts may be established by a depositary without participation by the underlying issuer. Holders of an unsponsored depositary receipt generally bear all the costs associated with establishing the unsponsored depositary receipt. In addition, the issuers of the securities underlying unsponsored depositary receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States and, therefore, there may be less information available

 

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regarding such issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the depositary receipts. The Fund’s investments may also include ADRs, GDRs and EDRs that are not purchased in the public markets and are restricted securities that can be offered and sold only to “qualified institutional buyers” under Rule 144A of the Securities Act. The Adviser will determine the liquidity of these investments pursuant to guidelines established by the Board. If a particular investment in such ADRs, GDRs or EDRs is deemed illiquid, that investment will be included within the Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities. Moreover, if adverse market conditions were to develop during the period between the Fund’s decision to sell these types of ADRs, GDRs or EDRs and the point at which the Fund is permitted or able to sell such security, the Fund might obtain a price less favorable than the price that prevailed when it decided to sell. Also, a Fund may have limited voting rights and investment restrictions in certain countries may adversely impact the value of the depositary receipt. Such restrictions may cause shares of the underlying issuer to trade at a discount or premium to the market price of the depositary receipt.

 

Dividend-Paying Stocks Risk. The ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF, the ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF and the ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF have exposure to dividend-paying stocks. High dividend-paying stocks may underperform non-dividend paying stocks and the market in general. A Fund’s ability to distribute income to shareholders will depend on the yield available on the securities held by the Fund. Changes in the dividend policies of companies held by a Fund could make it difficult for the Fund to provide a predictable level of income or increase the rate of dividend payout growth. Also, a company may reduce or eliminate its dividend after a Fund has gained exposure to such a company’s securities.

 

Europe Risk. The ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF has significant exposure to European investments. The Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union (the “EU”) requires compliance with restrictions on inflation rates, deficits, interest rates, debt levels and fiscal and monetary controls, each of which may significantly affect every country in Europe. Decreasing imports or exports, changes in governmental or EU regulations on trade, changes in the exchange rate of the euro, the default or threat of default by an EU member country on its sovereign debt, and/or an economic recession in an EU member country may have a significant adverse effect on the economies of EU member countries and their trading partners. The European financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns about economic downturns in, or rising government debt levels in several European countries, including Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain. These events have adversely affected the exchange rate of the euro and may continue to significantly affect every country in Europe, including countries that do not use the euro. The risk of investing in Europe may be heightened due to the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from membership in the EU. The economy and currency of the United Kingdom may be negatively impacted by changes to its economic and political relations with the EU. In addition, if one or more countries were to exit the EU or abandon the use of the euro as a currency, the value of investments tied to those countries or the euro could decline significantly and unpredictably. Any such event could have a material adverse impact on the value and risk profile of the Fund’s portfolio, and it would likely cause additional market disruption globally and introduce new legal and regulatory uncertainties.

 

The United Kingdom has one of the largest economies in Europe, and member countries of the EU are substantial trading partners of the United Kingdom. The City of London’s economy is dominated by financial services, some of which may have to move outside of the United Kingdom post-referendum (e.g., currency trading, international settlement). Under the referendum, banks may be forced to move staff and comply with two separate sets of rules or lose business to banks in Europe. Furthermore, the referendum creates the potential for decreased trade, the possibility of capital outflows, devaluation of the pound sterling, the cost of higher corporate bond spreads due to uncertainty, and the risk that all the above could damage business and consumer spending as well as foreign direct investment. As a result of the referendum, the economy and currency of the United Kingdom may be negatively impacted by changes to its economic and political relations with the EU.

 

The impact of Brexit in the near- and long-term is still unknown and could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world.

 

In addition, Russia’s recent military incursions in Ukraine have led to, and may lead to additional sanctions being levied by the United States, European Union and other countries against Russia. Russia’s military incursion and the resulting sanctions could adversely affect global energy and financial markets and thus could affect the value of a Fund’s investments, even beyond any direct exposure a Fund may have to Russian issuers or the adjoining geographic regions. While many countries in western Europe are considered to have developed markets, many eastern European countries are less developed, and investments in eastern European countries, even if denominated in Euros, may involve special risks associated with investments in emerging markets.

 

Foreign Investment Risk. The ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF’s and the ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF’s investments in non-U.S. issuers may involve unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers, including, among others, less liquidity generally, greater market volatility than U.S. securities and less complete financial information than for U.S. issuers. The imposition of exchange controls (including repatriation restrictions), foreign taxes, trade restrictions (including tariffs), sanctions, expropriations, confiscations or other government restrictions by the United States or other governments, as well as problems in registration, settlement or custody, may also result in losses. In addition, adverse political, economic, social, regulatory, business or environmental developments could undermine the value of

 

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the Fund’s investments or prevent the Fund from realizing the full value of its investments. For example, the rights and remedies associated with investments in foreign securities may be different than investments in domestic securities. Financial reporting standards for companies based in foreign markets also differ from those in the United States. Finally, the value of the currency of the country in which a Fund has invested could decline relative to the value of the U.S. dollar, which may affect the value of the investment to U.S. investors. A Fund will not enter into transactions to hedge against declines in the value of the Fund’s assets that are denominated in foreign currency.

 

Emerging Markets Risk. The ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF may invest in securities and instruments that are economically tied to emerging market countries. The Adviser generally considers an instrument to be economically tied to an emerging market country if the issuer or guarantor is a government of an emerging market country (or any political subdivision, agency, authority or instrumentality of such government), if the issuer or guarantor is organized under the laws of an emerging market country, or if the currency of settlement of the security is a currency of an emerging market country. Emerging market countries are countries that major international financial institutions, such as the World Bank, generally consider to be less economically mature than developed nations. Emerging market countries can include every nation in the world except the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and most countries located in Western Europe. Investing in foreign countries, particularly emerging market countries, entails the risk that news and events unique to a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers. Countries with emerging markets may have relatively unstable governments, may present the risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets. The economies of emerging markets countries also may be based on only a few industries, making them more vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, including sanctions and other trade barriers, and more sensitive to debt burdens or inflation rates. Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible at times. Certain investments may take more than seven days to settle. To the extent a substantial portion of a Fund’s Underlying Index consists of securities of issuers located in particular geographic areas, natural disasters, such as volcano eruptions, tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, typhoons, epidemics, or other such events, could have significant impact on the performance and/or risk of the Fund.

 

Fluctuation of Net Asset Value. The NAV of a Fund’s Shares will generally fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s holdings. The market prices of the Shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in NAV as well as the relative supply of and demand for the Shares on the Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (the “Cboe BZX”). The Adviser cannot predict whether the Shares will trade below, at or above their NAV. Price differences may be due, in large part, to the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for the Shares will be closely related to, but not identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of a Fund’s holdings trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time. In addition, transactions by large shareholders may account for a large percentage of the trading volume on the Cboe BZX and may, therefore, have a material effect on the market price of the Fund’s Shares.

 

Geographic Concentration Risk. Because the ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF’s and the ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF’s investments may be concentrated in a particular geographic region or country, the value of Fund shares may be affected by events that adversely affect that region or country and may fluctuate more than that of a less concentrated fund.

 

China Risk. The ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF is subject to the risks associated with holding investments in China. Investments in Chinese securities, including certain Hong Kong-listed securities, subject the Fund to risks specific to China. The Chinese economy is subject to a considerable degree of economic, political and social instability:

 

Political and Social Risk. The Chinese government is authoritarian and has periodically used force to suppress civil dissent. Disparities of wealth and the pace of economic liberalization may lead to social turmoil, violence and labor unrest. In addition, China continues to experience disagreements related to integration with Hong Kong and religious and nationalist disputes in Tibet and Xinjiang. There is also a greater risk in China than in many other countries of currency fluctuations, currency non-convertibility, interest rate fluctuations and higher rates of inflation as a result of internal social unrest or conflicts with other countries. Unanticipated political or social developments may result in sudden and significant investment losses. China’s growing income inequality, rapidly aging population and significant environmental issues also are factors that may affect the Chinese economy.

 

Government Control and Regulations. The Chinese government has implemented significant economic reforms in order to liberalize trade policy, promote foreign investment in the economy, reduce government control of the economy and develop market mechanisms. There can be no assurance these reforms will continue or that they will be effective. Despite recent reform and privatizations, government control over certain sectors or enterprises and significant regulation of investment and industry is still pervasive, including restrictions on investment in companies or industries deemed to be sensitive to particular national interests, and the Chinese government may restrict foreign ownership of Chinese corporations and/or the repatriation of assets by foreign investors. Limitations or restrictions on foreign ownership of securities may have adverse effects on the liquidity and performance of the Fund, and could lead to higher tracking error.

 

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Chinese government intervention in the market may have a negative impact on market sentiment, which may in turn affect the performance of the Chinese economy and the Fund’s investments. Chinese markets generally continue to experience inefficiency, volatility and pricing anomalies that may be connected to governmental influence, lack of publicly-available information, and political and social instability.

 

Economic Risk. The Chinese economy has grown rapidly in the recent past and there is no assurance that this growth rate will be maintained. In fact, the Chinese economy may experience a significant slowdown as a result of, among other things, a deterioration in global demand for Chinese exports, as well as contraction in spending on domestic goods by Chinese consumers. In addition, China may experience substantial rates of inflation or economic recessions, which would have a negative effect on its economy and securities market. Delays in enterprise restructuring, slow development of well-functioning financial markets and widespread corruption have also hindered performance of the Chinese economy. China continues to receive substantial pressure from trading partners to liberalize official currency exchange rates. Reduction in spending on Chinese products and services, institution of additional tariffs or other trade barriers, including as a result of heightened trade tensions between China and the U.S., or a downturn in any of the economies of China’s key trading partners may have an adverse impact on the Chinese economy.

 

Expropriation Risk. The Chinese government maintains a major role in economic policymaking and investing in China involves risk of loss due to expropriation, nationalization, or confiscation of assets and property or the imposition of restrictions on foreign investments and on repatriation of capital invested.

 

Security Risk. China has strained international relations with Taiwan, India, Russia and other neighbors due to territorial disputes, historical animosities, defense concerns and other security concerns. Relations between China’s Han ethnic majority and other ethnic groups in China, including Tibetans and Uighurs, are also strained and have been marked by protests and violence. These situations may cause uncertainty in the Chinese market and may adversely affect the Chinese economy. In addition, conflict on the Korean Peninsula could adversely affect the Chinese economy.

 

Chinese Equity Markets. The Fund invests in Chinese securities, including H-shares, A-shares, B-shares, Red-Chips and/or P-Chips. The issuance of B-shares and H-shares by Chinese companies and the ability to obtain a “back-door listing” through Red-Chips or P-Chips is still regarded by the Chinese authorities as an experiment in economic reform. “Back-door listing” is a means by which a mainland Chinese company issues Red-Chips or P-Chips to obtain quick access to international listing and international capital. All of these share mechanisms are relatively untested and subject to political and economic policies in China.

 

Hong Kong Political Risk. Hong Kong reverted to Chinese sovereignty on July 1, 1997 as 12 a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China under the principle of “one country, two systems.” Although China is obligated to maintain the current capitalist economic and social system of Hong Kong through June 30, 2047, the continuation of economic and social freedoms enjoyed in Hong Kong is dependent on the government of China. Any attempt by China to tighten its control over Hong Kong’s political, economic, legal or social policies may result in an adverse effect on Hong Kong’s markets. In addition, the Hong Kong dollar trades at a fixed exchange rate in relation to (or, is “pegged” to) the U.S. dollar, which has contributed to the growth and stability of the Hong Kong economy. However, it is uncertain how long the currency peg will continue or what effect the establishment of an alternative exchange rate system would have on the Hong Kong economy. Because the Fund’s NAV is denominated in U.S. dollars, the establishment of an alternative exchange rate system could result in a decline in the Fund’s NAV.

 

Growth Securities Risk. The ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF may hold growth securities. Growth companies are companies whose earnings growth potential appears to be greater than the market in general and whose revenue growth is expected to continue for an extended period of time. Stocks of growth companies or “growth securities” have market values that may be more volatile than those of other types of investments. Under certain market conditions, growth securities have performed better during the later stages of economic recovery (although there is no assurance that they will continue to do so). Therefore, growth securities may go outperform or underperform the broad market over time. Growth securities typically do not pay a dividend, which can help cushion stock prices in market downturns and reduce potential losses.

 

Index Management Risk. Unlike many investment companies, each Fund is not “actively” managed. Therefore, it would not necessarily sell a security because the security’s issuer was in financial trouble unless that security is removed from the Underlying Index.

 

Investment Risk. An investment in any of the Funds is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest.

 

Internet Companies Risk. The ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF may invest in internet companies. Companies involved with the internet, technology and e-commerce are exposed to risks associated with rapid advances in technology, obsolescence of current products and services, the finite life of patents and the constant threat of global competition and substitutes. In addition to these risks, these companies may be adversely impacted by market and economic cyclicality and changing industry standards.

 

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Issuer-Specific Risk. The value of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole.

 

Large Capitalization Company Risk. The ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF, the ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF and the ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF may invest in large capitalization companies. The large capitalization companies in which a Fund invests may underperform other segments of the equity market or the equity market as a whole.

 

Liquidity Risk. It may be more difficult for a Fund to buy and sell significant amounts of some securities without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices. As a result, these securities may be difficult to dispose of at a fair price at the times when the Adviser believes it is desirable to do so. The Fund’s investment in securities that are less actively traded or over time experience decreased trading volume may restrict its ability to take advantage of other market opportunities or to dispose of securities.

 

Market Risk. Economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one country or region will adversely impact markets or issuers in other countries or regions. A principal risk of investing in each Fund is market risk, which is the risk that the value of the securities held by the Fund will fall due to general market, economic, political and social conditions, perceptions regarding the industries in which the issuers of securities held by the Fund participate or factors relating to specific companies in which the Fund invests. For example, an adverse event, such as an unfavorable earnings report, may depress the value of equity securities of an issuer held by a Fund; the price of common stock of an issuer may be particularly sensitive to general movements in the stock market; or a drop in the stock market may depress the price of most or all of the common stocks and other equity securities held by the Fund. Securities in a Fund’s portfolio may underperform in comparison to securities in general financial markets, a particular financial market or other asset classes due to a number of factors, including inflation (or expectations for inflation), deflation (or expectations for deflation), interest rates, global demand for particular products or resources, market instability, debt crises and downgrades, embargoes, tariffs, sanctions and other trade barriers, regulatory events, other governmental trade or market control programs and related geopolitical events. In addition, the value of a Fund’s investments may be negatively affected by the occurrence of global events such as war, terrorism, environmental disasters, natural disasters or events, country instability, and infectious disease epidemics or pandemics.

 

For example, the outbreak of COVID-19, a novel coronavirus disease, has negatively affected economies, markets and individual companies throughout the world, including those in which the Fund invests. The effects of this pandemic to public health and business and market conditions, including exchange trading suspensions and closures may continue to have a significant negative impact on the performance of the Fund’s investments, increase the Fund’s volatility, negatively impact the Fund’s arbitrage and pricing mechanisms, exacerbate pre-existing political, social and economic risks to the Fund, and negatively impact broad segments of businesses and populations. The Fund’s operations may be interrupted as a result, which may contribute to the negative impact on investment performance. In addition, governments, their regulatory agencies, or self-regulatory organizations may take actions in response to the pandemic that affect the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that could have a significant negative impact on the Fund’s investment performance. The full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, or other future epidemics or pandemics, is currently unknown.

 

In addition, common stock of an issuer in a Fund’s portfolio may decline in price if the issuer fails to make anticipated dividend payments because, among other reasons, the issuer of the security experiences a decline in its financial condition. Common stock is subordinated to preferred stocks, bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure, in terms of priority to corporate income, and therefore will be subject to greater dividend risk than preferred stocks or debt instruments of such issuers. While broad market measures of common stocks have historically generated higher average returns than fixed income securities, common stocks have also experienced significantly more volatility in those returns.

 

Sampling Risk. To the extent each Fund uses a representative sampling approach, it will hold a smaller number of securities than are in the Underlying Index. As a result, an adverse development respecting a security held by the Fund could result in a greater decline in NAV than would be the case if the Fund held all of the securities in the Underlying Index. Conversely, a positive development relating to a security in the Underlying Index that is not held by the Fund could cause the Fund to underperform the Underlying Index. To the extent the assets in the Fund are smaller, these risks will be greater.

 

Small- and Mid-Capitalization Company Risk. The ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF may invest in the securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies and the ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF may invest in the securities of mid-capitalization companies. Investments in securities of small and mid-capitalization companies are subject to the risks of common stocks. Investments in smaller and mid-size companies may involve greater risks because these companies generally have a limited track record. Smaller and mid-size companies often have narrower markets, less liquidity, more limited managerial and financial resources and a less diversified product offering than larger, more established companies. As a result, their performance can be more volatile, which may increase the volatility of a Fund’s portfolio.

 

Multifactor Risk. The Underlying Indexes, and thus the Funds, seek to achieve specific factor exposures identified in the Funds’ principal investment strategies above. There

 

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can be no assurance that targeting exposure to such factors will enhance a Fund’s performance over time, and targeting exposure to certain factors may detract from performance in some market environments. There is no guarantee an Index Provider’s methodology will be successful in creating an index that achieves the specific factor exposures identified above.

 

Non-Diversification Risk. The ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF is subject to non-diversification risk. The Fund is classified as “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act, which means that the Fund may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers. As a result, the Fund may be more susceptible to a single adverse economic or regulatory occurrence affecting one or more of these issuers, experience increased volatility and be highly invested in certain issuers.

 

Quality Stocks Risk. This style of investing is subject to the risk that the past performance of these companies does not continue or that the returns on “quality” equity securities are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market. In addition, there may be periods when quality investing is out of favor and during which the investment performance of a fund using a quality strategy may suffer.

 

Sector Risk. To the extent an Underlying Index, and thereby a Fund, emphasizes, from time to time, investments in a particular sector, the Fund is subject to a greater degree to the risks particular to that sector. Market conditions, interest rates, and economic, regulatory, or financial developments could significantly affect all the securities in a single sector. If a Fund invests in a few sectors, it may have increased exposure to the price movements of those sectors.

 

Tracking Error Risk. Tracking error is the divergence of a Fund’s performance from that of its Underlying Index. A Fund’s return may not match the return of the Underlying Index for a number of other reasons. For example, a Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Underlying Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities, especially when reconstituting the Fund’s securities holdings to reflect changes in the composition of the Underlying Index. Because the Underlying Index’s components are reconstituted on an annual basis, a Fund’s costs associated with reconstitution may be greater than those incurred by other ETFs that track indices whose composition changes less frequently. If a Fund is not fully invested, holding cash balances may prevent it from tracking the Underlying Index. In addition, a Fund’s NAV may deviate from the Underlying Index if the Fund fair values a portfolio security at a price other than the price used by the Underlying Index for that security. In addition, to the extent a Fund employs a representative sampling strategy, the stocks held by the Fund may provide performance that differs from the aggregate performance of all of the securities comprising the Underlying Index.

 

Volatility Risk. All Funds apart from the ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF may be subject to volatility risk. There is a risk that the present and future volatility of a security, relative to the Underlying Index, will not be the same as it has historically been, and thus that the Underlying Index will not be exposed to the less volatile securities in the Underlying Index universe. Volatile stocks are subject to sharp swings in value.

 

Secondary Investment Strategies

 

As a principal investment strategy each Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in component securities that comprise its Underlying Index and, with respect to ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF, depositary receipts based on the securities in its Underlying Index. As a non-principal investment strategy, each Fund may invest its remaining assets in money market instruments, including repurchase agreements or other funds which invest exclusively in money market instruments, convertible securities, structured notes (notes on which the amount of principal repayment and interest payments are based on the movement of one or more specified factors, such as the movement of a particular stock or stock index), forward foreign currency exchange contracts and in swaps, options and futures contracts. Swaps, options and futures contracts (and convertible securities and structured notes) may be used by each Fund in seeking performance that corresponds to the Underlying Index, and in managing cash flows. The Adviser (defined below) anticipates that it may take approximately three business days (i.e., each day the NYSE is open) for additions and deletions to the Underlying Index to be reflected in the portfolio composition of each Fund.

 

Each Fund may borrow money from a bank up to a limit of 10% of the value of its total assets, but only for temporary or emergency purposes.

 

Each Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions desiring to borrow securities to complete transactions and for other purposes. In connection with such loans, a Fund receives liquid collateral equal to at least 102% of the value of the portfolio securities being lent. This collateral is marked to market on a daily basis, and will be maintained in an amount equal to at least 100% of the value of the portfolio securities being lent.

 

Each Fund operates as an index fund and is not actively managed. Each Fund employs a “passive management” – or indexing – investment to seek investment results that correspond generally, before fees and expenses to the performance of the Underlying Index. Because each Fund uses a passive management approach to seek to achieve its investment objective, each Fund does not take temporary defensive positions during periods of adverse market, economic or other conditions.

 

Each Fund generally will invest in all of the securities that comprise the Underlying Index in proportion to their weightings in the Underlying Index. However, under various circumstances, it may not be possible or practicable to purchase all of the securities in the Underlying Index in those weightings. In those circumstances, each Fund may purchase a sample of the securities in the Underlying Index in proportions expected

 

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by the Adviser to replicate generally the performance of the Underlying Index as a whole. There may also be instances in which the Adviser may choose to overweight another security in the Underlying Index, purchase (or sell) securities not in the Underlying Index which the Adviser believes are appropriate to substitute for one or more Underlying Index components or utilize various combinations of other available investment techniques, in seeking to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Underlying Index. In addition, from time to time securities are added to or removed from the Underlying Index. Each Fund may sell securities that are represented in the Underlying Index or purchase securities that are not yet represented in the Underlying Index in anticipation of their removal from or addition to the Underlying Index.

 

The investment objectives and policies described herein constitute non fundamental policies that may be changed by the Board of Trustees of the Trust without shareholder approval. Certain other fundamental policies of the Funds are set forth in the Statement of Additional Information under “Investment Restrictions.”

 

Additional Risk Considerations

 

In addition to the risks described previously, there are certain other risks related to investing in each Fund.

 

Trading Issues. Trading in Shares on the Exchange may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in Shares inadvisable. In addition, trading in Shares on the Exchange is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to the Exchange “Circuit breaker” rules. If a trading halt or unanticipated early closing of Exchange occurs, a shareholder may be unable to purchase or sell Shares of a Fund. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of each Fund will continue to be met or will remain unchanged.

 

While the creation/redemption feature is designed to help the Shares trade close to each Fund’s NAV, market prices are not expected to correlate exactly to a Fund’s NAV due to timing reasons, supply and demand imbalances and other factors. In addition, disruptions to creations and redemptions, adverse developments impacting market makers, authorized participants or other market participants, high market volatility or lack of an active trading market for the Shares (including through a trading halt) may result in market prices for Shares of a Fund that differ significantly from its NAV or to the intraday value of the Fund’s holdings. If an investor purchases Shares at a time when the market price is at a premium to the NAV of the Shares or sells at a time when the market price is at a discount to the NAV of the Shares, then the investor may sustain losses.

 

Given the nature of the relevant markets for certain of the securities for each Fund, Shares may trade at a larger premium or discount to NAV than shares of other kinds of ETFs. In addition, the securities held by such Funds may be traded in markets that close at a different time than the Exchange. Liquidity in those securities may be reduced after the applicable closing times. Accordingly, during the time when the Exchange is open but after the applicable market closing, fixing or settlement times, bid/ask spreads and the resulting premium or discount to the Shares’ NAV may widen.

 

When you buy or sell Shares of a Fund through a broker, you will likely incur a brokerage commission or other charges imposed by brokers. In addition, the market price of Shares, like the price of any exchange-traded security, includes a “bid/ask spread” charged by the market makers or other participants that trade the particular security. The spread of a Fund’s Shares varies over time based on the Fund’s trading volume and market liquidity and may increase if the Fund’s trading volume, the spread of the Fund’s underlying securities, or market liquidity decrease. In times of severe market disruption, including when trading of a Fund’s holdings may be halted, the bid/ask spread may increase significantly. This means that Shares may trade at a discount to a Fund’s NAV, and the discount is likely to be greatest during significant market volatility. During such periods, you may be unable to sell your Shares or may incur significant losses if you sell your Shares. There are various methods by which investors can purchase and sell shares of a Fund and various orders that may be placed. Investors should consult their financial intermediary before purchasing or selling shares of a Fund.

 

Shareholder Risk. Certain shareholders, including other funds advised by the Adviser, may from time to time own a substantial amount of a Fund’s Shares. In addition, a third party investor, the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser, an authorized participant, a market maker or another entity may invest in a Fund and hold its investment for a limited period of time. There can be no assurance that any large shareholder would not redeem its investment. Redemptions by shareholders could have a negative impact on a Fund. In addition, transactions by large shareholders may account for a large percentage of the trading volume on a Fund’s listing exchange and may, therefore, have a material effect on the market price of the Shares.

 

Authorized Participant Concentration Risk. Only an authorized participant may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with a Fund. A Fund has a limited number of intermediaries that act as authorized participants, and none of these authorized participants are or will be obligated to engage in creation or redemption transactions. To the extent that these intermediaries exit the business or are unable to or choose not to proceed with creation and/or redemption orders (including in situations where authorized participants have limited or diminished access to capital required to post collateral), with respect to a Fund and no other authorized participant is able to step forward to create or redeem, Shares may trade at a discount to NAV and possibly face trading halts and/or delisting (that is, investors would no longer be able to trade shares in the secondary market). The authorized participant concentration risk may be heightened in scenarios where authorized participants have limited or diminished access to the capital required to post collateral.

 

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No Guarantee of Active Trading Market Risk. While Shares are listed on the Exchange, there can be no assurance that active trading markets for the Shares will be maintained by market makers or authorized participants. Decisions by market makers or authorized participants to reduce their role or “step away” from these activities in times of market stress may inhibit the effectiveness of the arbitrage process in maintaining the relationship between the underlying value of a Fund’s holdings and the Fund’s NAV. Such reduced effectiveness could result in a Fund’s Shares trading at a discount to its NAV and also in greater than normal intraday bid/ask spreads for the Fund’s Shares. Additionally, in stressed market conditions, the market for a Fund’s Shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings. This adverse effect on liquidity for a Fund’s Shares in turn could lead to differences between the market price of the Fund’s Shares and the Fund’s NAV per share.

 

Securities Lending. Although each Fund will receive collateral in connection with all loans of its securities holdings, a Fund would be exposed to a risk of loss should a borrower default on its obligation to return the borrowed securities (e.g., the loaned securities may have appreciated beyond the value of the collateral held by a Fund). In the event of a bankruptcy of the borrower, a Fund could experience losses or delays in recovering the loaned securities. Loans of securities also involve a risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities or deliver the proper amount of collateral, which may result in a loss to a Fund. In addition, each Fund will bear the risk of loss of any cash collateral that it invests.

 

Operational Risk. The Funds are exposed to operational risk arising from a number of factors, including, but not limited to, human error, processing and communication errors, errors of the Funds’ service providers, counterparties or other third-parties, failed or inadequate processes and technology or system failures. The Funds seek to reduce these operational risks through controls and procedures. However, these measures do not address every possible risk and may be inadequate for those risks that they are intended to address.

 

These risks are described further in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Investment Advisory Services

 

Investment Adviser

ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“ALPS Advisors” or the “Adviser”) acts as the Funds’ investment adviser pursuant to an advisory agreement with the Trust on behalf of the Funds (the “Advisory Agreement”). The Adviser, located at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203, is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser. As of June 30, 2022, the Adviser provided supervisory and management services on approximately $18.4 billion in assets through closed-end funds, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser manages the investment and reinvestment of the Funds’ assets and administers the affairs of each Fund subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees.

 

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, each Fund pays the Adviser a unitary fee for the services and facilities it provides payable on a monthly basis as a percentage of the relevant Fund’s average daily net assets as set out below:

 

Fund

Advisory Fee

 

ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF

Average net assets up to and including $2 billion

0.48%

 

Average net assets greater than $2 billion up to and including $3 billion

0.44%

 

Average net assets greater than $3 billion up to and including $4 billion

0.40%

 

Average net assets greater than $4 billion up to and including $5 billion

0.36%

 

Average net assets greater than $5 billion

0.32%

ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF

Average net assets up to and including $2 billion

0.48%

 

Average net assets greater than $2 billion up to and including $3 billion

0.44%

 

Average net assets greater than $3 billion up to and including $4 billion

0.40%

 

Average net assets greater than $4 billion up to and including $5 billion

0.36%

 

Average net assets greater than $5 billion

0.32%

ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF

 

0.48%

ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF

 

0.48%

 

From time to time, the Adviser may waive all or a portion of its fee.

 

Out of the unitary management fee, the Adviser pays substantially all expenses of each Fund, including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit, trustees and other services, except for interest expenses, distribution fees or expenses, brokerage expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses such as litigation and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of each Fund’s business.

 

The Adviser’s unitary management fee is designed to pay substantially all of each Fund’s expenses and to compensate the Adviser for providing services for each Fund.

 

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Each Fund enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Funds’ investment adviser, who provide services to the Funds. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of those contractual arrangements.

 

This Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information provide information concerning the Funds that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Funds. Each Fund may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this Prospectus nor the Statement of Additional Information is intended to give rise to any contract rights or other rights in any shareholder, other than any rights conferred by federal or state securities laws.

 

Approval of Advisory Agreement

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Advisory Agreement for each of the Funds is available in the Funds’ annual report to shareholders for the period ended June 30, 2022.

 

Portfolio Management

Ryan Mischker, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management & Research and Andrew Hicks, Senior Vice President, Index Management of ALPS Advisors are the Portfolio Managers of the Funds and are also responsible for the refinement and implementation of the equity portfolio management process.

 

Mr. Mischker has been Portfolio Manager for the Funds since June 2022. Prior to joining ALPS Advisors, Mr. Mischker served as Compliance Manager of ALPS, where he was primarily responsible for managing all post-trade monitoring for IRS, SEC and registration statement investment guidelines and restrictions. Mr. Mischker has over 20 years of financial services experience and graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a B.S. in Finance and B.A. in Economics.

 

Mr. Hicks is Senior Vice President, Index Management at ALPS Advisors and has been a Portfolio Manager of the Funds since June 2022. He joined the firm as a Portfolio Manager in 2015. Prior to ALPS, Mr. Hicks was a senior equity trader and global research analyst with Virtus Investment Partners and SCM Advisors, an affiliate of Virtus. Mr. Hicks began his career in semiconductor equity research at Citi, and he earned an accounting degree from Miami University (Ohio) while interning each summer on the American Stock Exchange in New York City.

 

The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the portfolio managers’ compensation structure, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities of each Fund.

 

MANAGER OF MANAGERS STRUCTURE

 

ALPS ETF Trust and ALPS Advisors operate under a manager-of-managers structure under an order issued by the SEC (the “Order”). The Order permits ALPS Advisors to enter into, terminate or materially amend sub-advisory agreements without shareholder approval. This means ALPS Advisors has the ultimate responsibility, subject to oversight by the ALPS ETF Board, to oversee a sub-adviser, if any, and recommend the hiring, termination and replacement of a sub-adviser.

 

ALPS ETF Trust will furnish to shareholders of the Funds all information about a new sub-adviser or sub-advisory agreement that would be included in an information statement within 90 days after the addition of the new sub-adviser or the implementation of any material change in the sub-advisory agreement. The Order enables each Fund to operate with greater efficiency and without incurring the expense and delays associated with obtaining further shareholder approval of sub-advisory agreements. The Order does not permit investment advisory fees paid by a Fund to be increased or change ALPS Advisors’ obligation under the Advisory Agreement, including ALPS Advisors’ responsibility to monitor and oversee sub-advisory services furnished to a Fund, if any, without further shareholder approval. Pursuant to the Order, ALPS Advisors is not required to disclose its contractual fee arrangement with any sub-adviser.

 

ALPS Advisors will not enter into a sub-advisory agreement with any sub-adviser that is an affiliated person, as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act, of ALPS ETF Trust or ALPS Advisors other than by reason of serving as a sub-adviser to one or more funds without such agreement, including the compensation to be paid thereunder, being approved by the shareholders of a Fund. ALPS Advisors compensates each sub-adviser, if any, out of its management fee.

 

Purchase and Redemption Of Shares

 

General

The Shares are issued or redeemed by a Fund at NAV per Share only in Creation Unit size. See “How to Buy and Sell Shares.”

 

Most investors buy and sell Shares of a Fund in secondary market transactions through brokers. Shares of the Funds are listed for trading in the secondary market on the Cboe BZX. Shares can be bought and sold throughout the trading day like other publicly traded shares. There is no minimum investment. Although Shares are generally purchased and sold in “round lots” of 100 Shares, brokerage firms typically permit investors to purchase or sell Shares in smaller “odd lots,” at no per share price differential. When buying or selling Shares through a broker, you will incur customary brokerage commissions and charges, and you may pay some or all of the spread between the bid and the offered price in the secondary market on each leg of a round trip (purchase and sale) transaction. The Funds trade on the Cboe BZX at prices that may differ to varying degrees from the daily NAV of the Shares. Given that a Fund’s Shares can be issued and redeemed in Creation Units, the

 

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Adviser believes that large discounts and premiums to NAV should not be sustained for long. The Funds trade under the ticker symbols set forth below:

 

Name of Fund

Ticker Symbol

ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF

OUSA

ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF

OUSM

ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF

OGIG

ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF

OEUR

 

Share prices are reported in dollars and cents per Share.

 

Investors may acquire Shares directly from a Fund, and shareholders may tender their Shares for redemption directly to a Fund, only in Creation Units, as discussed in the “How to Buy and Sell Shares” section below.

 

Book-Entry

Shares are held in book-entry form, which means that no stock certificates are issued. The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee is the record owner of all outstanding Shares of the Funds and is recognized as the owner of all Shares for all purposes (except for tax purposes).

 

Investors owning Shares are beneficial owners as shown on the records of DTC or its participants. DTC serves as the securities depository for all Shares. Participants in DTC include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other institutions that directly or indirectly maintain a custodial relationship with DTC. As a beneficial owner of Shares, you are not entitled to receive physical delivery of stock certificates or to have Shares registered in your name, and you are not considered a registered owner of Shares. Therefore, to exercise any right as an owner of Shares, you must rely upon the procedures of DTC and its participants. These procedures are the same as those that apply to any other stocks that you hold in book-entry or “street name” form.

 

How to Buy and Sell Shares

 

Pricing Fund Shares

The trading price of each Fund’s Shares on the Exchange may differ from a Fund’s daily NAV and can be affected by market forces of supply and demand, economic conditions and other factors.

 

The Exchange disseminates the approximate value of Shares of each Fund every fifteen seconds. With respect to the ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF and the ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF, the approximate value calculations are based on local market prices and may not reflect events that occur subsequent to a local market’s close. As a result, premiums and discounts between the approximate value and the market price could be affected. This approximate value should not be viewed as a “real time” update of the NAV per Share of a Fund because the approximate value may not be calculated in the same manner as the NAV, which is computed once a day, generally at the end of the business day. No Fund is involved in, or responsible for, the calculation or dissemination of the approximate value and the Funds do not make any warranty as to its accuracy.

 

The NAV per Share for each Fund is determined once daily as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, each day the NYSE is open for trading, provided that (a) any assets or liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar shall be translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing market rates on the date of valuation as quoted by one or more major banks or dealers that makes a two-way market in such currencies (or a data service provider based on quotations received from such banks or dealers); and (b) U.S. fixed income assets may be valued as of the announced closing time for trading in fixed income instruments on any day that the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association announces an early closing time. NAV per Share is determined by dividing the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities, cash and other assets (including accrued interest), less all liabilities (including accrued expenses), by the total number of Shares outstanding.

 

Equity securities are valued at the last reported sale price on the principal exchange on which such securities are traded, as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE on the day the securities are being valued or, if there are no sales, at the mean of the most recent bid and asked prices. Equity securities that are traded in over the counter markets are valued at the last quoted sales price in the markets in which they trade or, if there are no sales, at the mean of the most recent bid and asked prices. For securities traded on NASDAQ, the NASDAQ Official Closing Price generally will be used. Mutual funds, such as government money market funds, are valued at their last closing net asset value. Short-term securities with a maturity of 60 days or less are valued on the basis of amortized cost provided such amount approximates market value. Securities for which market quotations (or other market valuations such as those obtained from a pricing service) are not readily available, including restricted securities, are valued by a method that the Adviser believes accurately reflects fair value. A market quotation is readily available only when that quotation is a quoted price (unadjusted) in active markets for identical investments that the Fund can access at the measurement date, provided that a quotation will not be readily available if it is not reliable. Securities will be fair valued by the Adviser when market quotations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable, such as when a security’s value or meaningful portion of a Fund’s portfolio is believed to have been materially affected by a significant event. Such events may include a natural disaster, an economic event like a bankruptcy filing, a trading halt in a security, an unscheduled early market close or a substantial fluctuation in domestic and foreign markets that has occurred between the close of the principal exchange and the NYSE. In such a case, the value for a security is likely to be different from the last quoted market price. This, in turn, could lead to differences between the market price of the Fund’s shares

 

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and the underlying value of those shares. In addition, due to the subjective and variable nature of fair market value pricing, it is possible that the value determined for a particular asset may be materially different from the value realized upon such asset’s sale. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Board of Trustees designated the Adviser as the valuation designee (“Valuation Designee”) for each Fund to perform the fair value determinations relating to all Fund investments. The Adviser may carry out its designated responsibilities as Valuation Designee through various teams and committees. The Valuation Designee is responsible for periodically assessing any material risks associated with the determination of the fair value of the fund’s investments; establishing and applying fair value methodologies; testing the appropriateness of fair value methodologies; and overseeing and evaluating third-party pricing services. The Valuation Designee may value Fund portfolio securities for which market quotations are not readily available and other Fund assets utilizing inputs from pricing services, quotation reporting systems, valuation agents and other third-party sources.

 

Debt securities, if any, are valued at market value. Market value generally means a valuation (i) obtained from an exchange, a pricing service or a major market maker (or dealer), (ii) based on a price quotation or other equivalent indication of value supplied by an exchange, a pricing service or a major market maker (or dealer) or (iii) based on amortized cost. A Fund’s debt securities, if any, are thus valued by reference to a combination of transactions and quotations for the same or other securities believed to be comparable in quality, coupon, maturity, type of issue, call provisions, trading characteristics and other features deemed to be relevant. To the extent a Fund’s debt securities, if any, are valued based on price quotations or other equivalent indications of value provided by a third-party pricing service, any such third-party pricing service may use a variety of methodologies to value some or all of a Fund’s debt securities to determine the market price. For example, the prices of securities with characteristics similar to those held by a Fund may be used to assist with the pricing process. In addition, the pricing service may use proprietary pricing models. If a price from a third-party pricing service is unavailable and there is not a current day, reliable trade price or broker quote, then the Valuation Designee will determine a fair value in good faith.

 

With respect to ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF and ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF, trading in securities on many foreign securities exchanges and over the counter markets is normally completed before the close of business on each U.S. business day. In addition, securities trading in a particular country or countries may not take place on all U.S. business days or may take place on days that are not U.S. business days. Changes in valuations on certain securities may occur at times or on days on which the Fund’s net asset value is not calculated and on which the Fund does not effect sales, redemptions and exchanges of its Shares.

 

Creation Units

Investors such as market makers, large investors and institutions who wish to deal in Creation Units (large specified blocks of Shares) directly with a Fund must have entered into an authorized participant agreement (such investors being “Authorized Participants” or “APs”) with ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. (the “Distributor”), and accepted by the transfer agent, or purchase through a dealer that has entered into such an agreement. Set forth below is a brief description of the procedures applicable to purchase and redemption of Creation Units. For more detailed information, see “Creation and Redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations” in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

How to Buy Shares

In order to purchase Creation Units of a Fund, an AP must generally deposit a designated portfolio of securities (the “Deposit Securities”) and generally make a cash payment referred to as the “Cash Component.” To the extent permitted or specified, cash in lieu of some or all of the Deposit Securities, or substitution of securities, may be available. The list of the names and the amounts of the Deposit Securities is made available by a Fund’s custodian through the facilities of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (the “NSCC”) immediately prior to the opening of business each day of the Exchange. The Cash Component represents the difference between the NAV of a Creation Unit and the market value of the Deposit Securities.

 

Orders must be placed in proper form by or through either a “Participating Party,” i.e., a broker-dealer or other participant in the Clearing Process of the Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC (the “Clearing Process”) or (ii) a participant of the DTC (“DTC Participant”) that has entered into an agreement with the Distributor, and accepted by the transfer agent, with respect to purchases and redemptions of Creation Units. All standard orders must be placed for one or more whole Creation Units of Shares of a Fund and must be received by the Distributor in proper form no later than the close of regular trading on the NYSE (ordinarily 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) (“Closing Time”) in order to receive that day’s closing NAV per Share. In the case of custom orders, as further described in the Statement of Additional Information, the order must be received by the Distributor no later than one hour prior to Closing Time in order to receive that day’s closing NAV per Share. A custom order may be placed by an AP in the event that the Trust permits or requires the substitution of securities or the substitution of an amount of cash to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security which may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery or which may not be eligible for trading by such AP or the investor for which it is acting or any other relevant reason.

 

A fixed creation transaction fee of $250 per transaction for ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF, $250 per transaction for ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF, $500 per transaction for ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF, and $750 per transaction for ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF (the “Creation Transaction Fee”) is applicable to

 

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each creation transaction regardless of the number of Creation Units purchased in the transaction. An additional variable charge for transactions effected outside the Clearing Process or for cash creations or partial cash creations may also be imposed to compensate a Fund for the costs associated with buying the applicable securities. Each Fund may adjust these fees from time to time based on actual experience. The price for each Creation Unit will equal the daily NAV per Share times the number of Shares in a Creation Unit plus the fees described above and, if applicable, any transfer taxes.

 

Shares of a Fund may be issued in advance of receipt of all Deposit Securities subject to various conditions, including a requirement to maintain cash at least equal to 115% of the market value of the missing Deposit Securities on deposit with the Trust.

 

For more detailed information, see “Creation and Redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations” in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Legal Restrictions on Transactions in Certain Stocks

An investor subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular stock required to be deposited in connection with the purchase of a Creation Unit may, at a Fund’s discretion, be permitted to deposit an equivalent amount of cash in substitution for any stock which would otherwise be included in the Deposit Securities applicable to the purchase of a Creation Unit. For more detailed information, see “Creation and Redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations” in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Redemption of Shares

Shares may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their NAV and only on a day the Exchange is open for business. The Funds’ custodian makes available immediately prior to the opening of business each day of the Exchange, through the facilities of the NSCC, the list of the names and the amounts of each Fund’s portfolio securities that will be applicable that day to redemption requests in proper form (“Fund Securities”). Fund Securities received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities, which are applicable to purchases of Creation Units. Unless cash redemptions or partial cash redemptions are available or specified for a Fund, the redemption proceeds consist of the Fund Securities, plus cash in an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of Shares being redeemed as next determined after receipt by the transfer agent of a redemption request in proper form, and the value of the Fund Securities (the “Cash Redemption Amount”), less the applicable redemption fee and, if applicable, any transfer taxes. Should the Fund Securities have a value greater than the NAV of Shares being redeemed, a compensating cash payment to the Fund equal to the differential, plus the applicable redemption fee and, if applicable, any transfer taxes will be required to be arranged for, by or on behalf of the redeeming shareholder.

 

An order to redeem Creation Units of a Fund may only be effected by or through an AP. An order to redeem must be placed for one or more whole Creation Units and must be received by the transfer agent in proper form no later than the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) in order to receive that day’s closing NAV per Share. In the case of custom orders, as further described in the Statement of Additional Information, the order must be received by the transfer agent no later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern time.

 

A fixed redemption transaction fee of $250 per transaction for ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF, $250 per transaction for ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF, $500 per transaction for ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF and $750 per transaction for ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF (the “Redemption Transaction Fee”) is applicable to each redemption transaction regardless of the number of Creation Units redeemed in the transaction. An additional variable charge for redemptions effected outside the Clearing Process for cash redemptions or partial cash redemptions may also be imposed to compensate a Fund for the costs associated with selling the applicable securities. Each Fund may adjust these fees from time to time based on actual experience. Each Fund reserves the right to effect redemptions wholly or partly in cash. A shareholder may request a cash redemption or partial cash redemption in lieu of securities, however, the Fund may, in its discretion, reject any such request.

 

For more detailed information, see “Creation and Redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations” in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

The Adviser or its affiliates may make payments to broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries (each, an “Intermediary”) related to marketing activities and presentations, educational training programs, the support of technology platforms and/or reporting systems, or their making shares of the Funds and certain other series of the Trust available to their customers. Such payments, which may be significant to the Intermediary, are not made by the Funds. Rather, such payments are made by the Adviser or its affiliates from their own resources, which come directly or indirectly in part from fees paid by the Trust, including the Funds. Payments of this type are sometimes referred to as revenue-sharing payments. An Intermediary may make decisions about which investment options it recommends or makes available, or the level of services provided, to its customers based on the revenue-sharing payments it is eligible to receive. Therefore, such payments to an Intermediary create conflicts of interest between the Intermediary and its customers and may cause the Intermediary to recommend the Funds or other series of the Trust over another investment. More information regarding these payments is contained in the SAI. Please contact your salesperson or other investment professional for more information regarding any such payments his or her firm may receive from the Adviser or its affiliates.

 

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Distributions

Dividends and Capital Gains. Fund shareholders are entitled to their share of a Fund’s income and net realized gains on its investments. Each Fund pays out substantially all of its net earnings to its shareholders as “distributions.”

 

Each Fund typically earns income dividends from stocks and interest from debt securities. These amounts, net of expenses, are passed along to Fund shareholders as “income dividend distributions.” Each Fund realizes capital gains or losses whenever it sells securities. Net long term capital gains are distributed to shareholders as “capital gain distributions.”

 

Income dividends, if any, are distributed to shareholders monthly. Net capital gains are distributed at least annually. Dividends may be declared and paid more frequently to improve Underlying Index tracking or to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Some portion of each distribution may result in a return of capital (which is a return of the shareholder’s investment in the Fund). Fund shareholders will be notified regarding the portion of the distribution that represents a return of capital. Shareholders should read any written disclosure provided pursuant to Section 19(a) of and Rule 19a-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), carefully, and should not assume that the source of any distribution from a Fund is net profit.

 

Distributions in cash may be reinvested automatically in additional whole Shares only if the broker through which the Shares were purchased makes such option available.

 

Frequent Purchases and Redemptions

 

The Funds impose no restrictions on the frequency of purchases and redemptions. The Board of Trustees evaluated the risks of market timing activities by the Funds’ shareholders when they determined that no restriction or policy was necessary. The Board noted that the Funds’ Shares can only be purchased and redeemed directly from a Fund in Creation Units by APs and that the vast majority of trading in the Funds’ Shares occurs on the secondary market. Because the secondary market trades do not involve a Fund directly, it is unlikely those trades would cause many of the harmful effects of market timing, including dilution, disruption of portfolio management, increases in the Funds’ trading costs and the realization of capital gains. To the extent a Fund may effect the purchase or redemption of Creation Units in exchange wholly or partially for cash, the Board noted that such trades could result in dilution to a Fund and increased transaction costs, which could negatively impact a Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective. However, the Board noted that direct trading by APs is critical to ensuring that the Fund’s Shares trade at or close to NAV. In addition, each Fund imposes fixed and variable transaction fees on purchases and redemptions of Creation Units to cover the custodial and other costs incurred by a Fund in effecting trades.

 

Fund Service Providers

 

ALPS Fund Services, Inc. is the administrator and fund accounting agent of the Funds.

 

State Street Bank and Trust Company is the custodian and transfer agent for the Funds.

 

Dechert LLP serves as counsel to the Funds.

 

BBD, LLP serves as the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for auditing the annual financial statements of the Funds.

 

Index Provider

 

O’Shares Investment Advisers, LLC developed the methodology for each Underlying Index and serves as the Index Provider. O’Shares Investment Advisers, LLC has licensed the use of the Underlying Indexes and related intellectual property to the Adviser. The Adviser pays licensing fees to the Index Provider from the Adviser’s own resources. The Index Provider is not affiliated with the Trust, the Adviser or the Distributor.

 

Disclaimers

 

S-Network Global Indexes Inc. (“S-Network”) Disclaimer

Shares of the Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S-Network Global Indexes Inc., or third-party licensors. Neither S-Network nor its third-party licensors make any representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of a Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in a Fund particularly or in the ability of a Fund to track the performance of its Underlying Index. S-Network and its third-party licensors are not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Funds’ shares to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which a Fund is to be converted into cash. S-Network has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Funds.

 

Neither S-Network nor its affiliates or third party licensors guarantee the adequacy, accuracy timeliness and/or the completeness of the Underlying Indexes or any data included therein or any communications, including but not limited to, oral or written communications (including electronic communications) with respect thereto. S-Network, its affiliates and their third-party licensors shall not be subject to any damages or liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions therein. S-Network makes no express or implied warranties and expressly disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use with respect to the Underlying Indexes or any data included therein. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event whatsoever shall S-Network, its affiliates or their third-party licensors have any liability for any indirect, special, incidental punitive or consequential damages,

 

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Prospectus | October 31, 2022

 

 

 

including but not limited to loss of profits, trading losses, lost time or goodwill, even if they have been advised of the possibility of such damages, whether in contract, tort, strict liability or otherwise.

 

Cboe BZX Disclaimer

Shares of the Funds are not sponsored, endorsed or promoted by Cboe BZX. Cboe BZX makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the shares of the Funds or any member of the public regarding the ability of a Fund to track the performance of its Underlying Index or the ability of an Underlying Index to track stock market performance. Cboe BZX is not responsible for, nor has it participated in, the determination of the compilation or the calculation of the Underlying Indexes, nor in the determination of the timing of, prices of, or quantities of shares of a Fund to be issued, nor in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the shares are redeemable. Cboe BZX has no obligation or liability to owners of the shares of a Fund in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the shares of the Funds.

 

Cboe BZX does not guarantee the accuracy and/or the completeness of the Underlying Indexes or any data included therein. Cboe BZX makes no warranty, express or implied, as to results to be obtained by the Trust on behalf of the Funds as licensee, licensee’s customers and counterparties, owners of the shares of the Funds, or any other person or entity from the use of the subject index or any data included therein in connection with the rights licensed as described herein or for any other use. Cboe BZX makes no express or implied warranties and hereby expressly disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose with respect to the Underlying Indexes or any data included therein. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall Cboe BZX have any liability for any direct, indirect, special, punitive, consequential or any other damages (including lost profits) even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

 

Adviser Disclaimer

The Adviser does not guarantee the accuracy and/or the completeness of each Underlying Index or any data included therein, and the Adviser shall have no liability for any errors, omissions or interruptions therein. Errors in respect of the quality, accuracy and completeness of the data used to compile the Underlying Index may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, particularly where the indices are less commonly used as benchmarks by funds or managers. Such errors may negatively or positively impact the Fund and its shareholders. For example, during a period where the Underlying Index contains incorrect constituents, the Fund would have market exposure to such constituents and would be underexposed to the Underlying Index’s other constituents. The Adviser makes no warranty, express or implied, as to results to be obtained by each Fund, owners of the Shares of each Fund or any other person or entity from the use of each Underlying Index or any data included therein. The Adviser makes no express or implied warranties, and expressly disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use with respect to each Underlying Index or any data included therein. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall the Adviser have any liability for any special, punitive, direct, indirect or consequential damages (including lost profits) arising out of matters relating to the use of each Underlying Index, even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

 

Index Provider Disclaimer

The Funds are not sponsored, managed or advised by the Index Provider. The Index Provider makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the shareholders of a Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in a Fund particularly or the ability of an Underlying Index to track performance of a market or sector. The Index Provider’s only relationship to the Adviser or the Funds is in relation to the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of the Index Provider and of one or more the Index Provider’s indexes, including the Underlying Indexes, each of which is determined, composed and calculated by the Index Provider without regard to the Adviser or the Funds.

 

The Index Provider does not guarantee the accuracy and/or the completeness of the Underlying Indexes or any data included therein and the Index Provider shall have no liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions therein. The Index Provider makes no warranty, express or implied, as to results to be obtained by the Adviser, the Funds, Fund shareholders, or any other person or entity from the use of the Underlying Indexes or any data included therein. The Index Provider makes no express or implied warranties, and expressly disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose of use with respect to the Underlying Indexes or any data included therein. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall the Index Provider have any liability for any special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages (including lost profits) resulting from the use of the Underlying Indexes or any data included therein, even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

 

Federal Income Taxation

 

As with any investment, you should consider how your investment in Shares will be taxed. The tax information in this Prospectus is provided as general information. You should consult your own tax professional about the tax consequences of an investment in Shares.

 

Unless your investment in the Shares is made through a tax exempt entity or tax deferred retirement account, such as an IRA plan, you need to be aware of the possible tax consequences when:

 

 

A Fund makes distributions,

 

You sell your Shares listed on the Exchange, and

 

You purchase or redeem Creation Units.

 

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Taxes on Distributions

Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid monthly. A Fund may also pay a special distribution at the end of the calendar year to comply with federal tax requirements. In general, your distributions are subject to federal income tax when they are paid, whether you take them in cash or reinvest them in the relevant Fund. Dividends paid out of a Fund’s income and net short term capital gains, if any, are taxable as ordinary income. Distributions of net long term capital gains, if any, in excess of net short term capital losses are taxable as long term capital gains, regardless of how long you have held the Shares.

 

The maximum individual rate applicable to long-term capital gains is either 15% or 20% depending on whether the individual’s income exceeds certain threshold amounts. In addition, some ordinary dividends declared and paid by a Fund to non-corporate shareholders may qualify for taxation at the lower reduced tax rates applicable to long term capital gains, provided that holding period and other requirements are met by the relevant Fund and the shareholder.

 

An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from a Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund Shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds certain threshold amounts.

 

Distributions in excess of a Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits are treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of your basis in the Shares, and as capital gain thereafter.

 

A distribution will reduce a Fund’s NAV per Share and may be taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gain even though, from an investment standpoint, the distribution may constitute a return of capital.

 

Dividends, interest and gains received by a Fund may give rise to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes. Shareholders of a Fund may, subject to certain limitations, be entitled to claim a credit or a deduction with respect to foreign taxes if the relevant Fund is eligible to and elects to pass through these taxes to them. If more than 50% of a Fund’s total assets at the end of its taxable year consists of foreign stock or securities, the relevant Fund intends to elect to “pass through” to its investors certain foreign income taxes paid by the relevant Fund, with the result that each investor will (i) include in gross income, as an additional dividend, even though not actually received, the investor’s pro rata share of the relevant Fund’s foreign income taxes, and (ii) either deduct (in calculating U.S. taxable income) or credit (in calculating U.S. federal tax), subject to certain limitations, the investor’s pro rata share of the relevant Fund’s foreign income taxes. It is expected that more than 50% of the ALPS|O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF’s assets will consist of foreign stock or securities.

 

If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, or if you are a foreign entity, a Fund’s ordinary income dividends (which include distributions of net short-term capital gains) will generally be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax, unless a lower treaty rate applies or unless such income is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the applicability of the U.S. withholding tax.

 

A Fund generally would be required to withhold a percentage of your distributions and proceeds if you have not provided a taxpayer identification number (generally your social security number) or otherwise provide proof of an applicable exemption from backup withholding. The backup withholding rate for an individual is 24%.

 

Taxes on Exchange Listed Shares Sales

Currently, any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Shares is generally treated as long term capital gain or loss if the Shares have been held for more than one year and as short term capital gain or loss if the Shares have been held for one year or less. The ability to deduct capital losses may be limited.

 

Taxes on Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units

An AP who exchanges equity securities for Creation Units generally will recognize a gain or a loss. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the market value of the Creation Units at the time of the exchange and the exchanger’s aggregate basis in the securities surrendered and the Cash Component paid. A person who exchanges Creation Units for equity securities will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the exchanger’s basis in the Creation Units and the aggregate market value of the securities received and the Cash Redemption Amount. The Internal Revenue Service, however, may assert that a loss realized upon an exchange of securities for Creation Units cannot be deducted currently under the rules governing “wash sales,” or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position. Persons exchanging securities should consult their own tax advisor with respect to whether the wash sale rules apply and when a loss might be deductible.

 

If you purchase or redeem Creation Units, you will be sent a confirmation statement showing how many and at what price you purchased or sold Shares.

 

The foregoing discussion summarizes some of the possible consequences under current federal tax law of an investment in a Fund. It is not a substitute for personal tax advice. You may also be subject to state and local taxation on Fund distributions, and sales of Fund Shares. Consult your personal tax advisor about the potential tax consequences of an investment in Fund Shares under all applicable tax laws. Changes in applicable

 

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Prospectus | October 31, 2022

 

 

 

tax authority could materially affect the conclusions discussed above and could adversely affect the Fund, and such changes often occur.

 

Other Information

 

For purposes of the 1940 Act, each Fund is treated as a registered investment company. Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act restricts investments by investment companies in the securities of other investment companies, including Shares of each Fund. In reliance on an SEC exemptive order or rules under Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act, registered investment companies may invest in exchange-traded funds offered by the Trust beyond the limits of Section 12(d)(1) subject to certain terms and conditions.

 

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

Each Fund’s portfolio holdings will be disclosed each day on its website at www.alpsfunds.com. A description of the Trust’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of each Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information.

 

Premium/Discount Information

Information regarding how often the Shares of each Fund traded on the Exchange at a price above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a discount) the NAV of each Fund during the most recently completed calendar year and subsequent quarters, when available, will be available at www.alpsfunds.com.

 

Financial Highlights

 

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF’s, ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF’s, ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF’s and ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF’s (together, the “Funds”) financial performance from commencement of operations through June 30, 2022. Each of the Funds adopted the financial performance and operating history of the O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF, O’Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF, O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF and O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF (each a “Predecessor Fund” and together, the “Predecessor Funds”), respectively. Information for periods prior to June 17, 2022 reflect that of the corresponding Predecessor Fund.

 

Each of the O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF and O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF previously adopted the financial performance and operating history of the O’Shares FTSE U.S. Quality Dividend ETF and the O’Shares FTSE Europe Quality Dividend ETF (each a “Previous Predecessor Fund” and together, the “Previous Predecessor Funds”), respectively. Information for periods prior to June 28, 2018 reflect that of the corresponding Previous Predecessor Fund.

 

Certain information reflects financial results for a single Predecessor Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (lost) on an investment in the Predecessor Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information for each Fund for the period ended on June 30, 2022, has been audited by BBD, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Predecessor Funds’ financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2022, is included in the annual report of the Funds and is available upon request. The Board of Trustees of the Trust has approved the change of the Funds' fiscal year-end from June 30 to November 30, effective November 30, 2022.

 

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Financial highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented

 

 

ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF

 

 

 

For the
Year Ended
June 30,
2022

For the
Year Ended
June 30,
2021

For the
Year Ended
June 30,
2020

For the
Year Ended
June 30,
2019

For the
Year Ended
June 30,
2018

NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD

  $ 42.00     $ 33.16     $ 34.13     $ 30.69     $ 29.25  

 

                                       

INCOME/(LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:

                               

Net investment income (a)

    0.77       0.69 (b)      0.93       0.89 (b)      0.78  

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)

    (1.72 )     8.81       (0.96 )     3.44       1.46  

Total from investment operations

    (0.95 )     9.50       (0.03 )     4.33       2.24  

 

                                       

DISTRIBUTIONS:

                                       

From net investment income

    (0.76 )     (0.66 )     (0.94 )     (0.89 )     (0.80 )

Total distributions

    (0.76 )     (0.66 )     (0.94 )     (0.89 )     (0.80 )

 

                                       

NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE

    (1.71 )     8.84       (0.97 )     3.44       1.44  

NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD

  $ 40.29     $ 42.00     $ 33.16     $ 34.13     $ 30.69  

TOTAL RETURN (c)

    (2.38 )%     28.84 %     (0.12 )%     14.31 %     7.67 %

 

                                       

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

                                       

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

  $ 737,229     $ 688,720     $ 479,121     $ 496,574     $ 411,269  

 

                                       

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

    0.48 %     0.48 %     0.48 %     0.48 %     0.48 %(d)

Ratio of expenses including waiver/reimbursement to average net assets

    0.48 %     0.48 %     0.48 %     0.48 %     0.48 %(d)

Ratio of net investment income excluding waiver/reimbursement to average net assets

    1.78 %     1.81 %     2.71 %     2.76 %     2.53 %

Ratio of net investment income including waiver/reimbursement to average net assets

    1.78 %     1.81 %(e)     2.71 %     2.76 %(e)     2.54 %

Portfolio turnover rate (f)

    15 %     26 %     64 %(g)     15 %     18 %

 

(a)

Based on average shares outstanding during the period.

(b)

The net investment income per share excluding the impact of large, non-recurring dividends (special dividends) was $0.67 during the year ended June 30, 2021 and $0.88 during the year ended June 30, 2019.

(c)

Total return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period and redemption at the net asset value on the last day of the period and assuming all distributions are reinvested at the reinvestment prices. Total return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized.

(d)

Prior to June 28, 2018, the unitary management fee was 0.48% and the former investment advisor to the Fund agreed to contractually waive its fees and reimburse expenses so that the total annual fund operating expenses were limited to 0.48%.

(e)

The ratio of net investment income, including waiver/reimbursement and excluding the impact of large, non-recurring dividends (special dividends) was 1.77% during the year ended June 30, 2021 and 2.71% during the year ended June 30, 2019.

(f)

Portfolio turnover for periods less than one year are not annualized and does not include securities received or delivered from processing creations or redemptions in-kind.

(g)

Increase in the portfolio turnover was a result of the Index change that was effective on June 1, 2020.

 

 

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Financial highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented

 

ALPS | O’Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF

 

 

 

For the
Year Ended
June 30,
2022

For the
Year Ended
June 30,
2021

For the
Year Ended
June 30,
2020

For the
Year Ended
June 30,
2019

For the
Year Ended
June 30,
2018

NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD

  $ 35.08     $ 24.99     $ 27.45     $ 27.07     $ 25.41  

 

                                       

INCOME/(LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:

                             

Net investment income (a)

    0.59       0.64 (b)      0.64 (b)      0.58 (b)      0.66  

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)

    (3.38 )     9.98       (2.48 )     0.38 (c)      1.70  

Total from investment operations

    (2.79 )     10.62       (1.84 )     0.96       2.36  

 

                                       

DISTRIBUTIONS:

                                       

From net investment income

    (0.62 )     (0.53 )     (0.57 )     (0.58 )     (0.66 )

From net realized gains/loss

                            (d) 

From tax return of capital

                (0.05 )           (0.04 )

Total distributions

    (0.62 )     (0.53 )     (0.62 )     (0.58 )     (0.70 )

 

                                       

NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE

    (3.41 )     10.09       (2.46 )     0.38       1.66  

NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD

  $ 31.67     $ 35.08     $ 24.99     $ 27.45     $ 27.07  

TOTAL RETURN (e)

    (8.12 )%     42.79 %     (6.82 )%     3.65 %     9.39 %

 

                                       

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

                                       

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

  $ 155,318     $ 149,215     $ 93,812     $ 97,570     $ 136,802  

 

                                       

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

    0.48 %     0.48 %     0.48 %     0.48 %     0.48 %

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

    1.69 %     2.08 %(f)     2.38 %(f)     2.16 %(f)     2.51 %

Portfolio turnover rate (g)

    34 %     60 %     101 %(h)     52 %     64 %

 

(a)

Based on average shares outstanding during the period.

(b)

The net investment income per share excluding the impact of large, non-recurring dividends (special dividends) was $0.57 during the year ended June 30, 2021, $0.62 during the year ended June 30, 2020 and $0.54 during the year ended June 30, 2019.

(c)

The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period is not in accordance with the aggregate net realized and unrealized gain (loss) for that period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of the Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market value of the investments in the Fund.

(d)

Per share amount is less than $0.01.

(e)

Total return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period and redemption at the net asset value on the last day of the period and assuming all distributions are reinvested at the reinvestment prices. Total return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized.

(f)

The ratio of net investment income, including waiver/reimbursement and excluding the impact of large, non-recurring dividends (special dividends) was 1.84% during the year ended June 30, 2021, 2.30% during the year ended June 30, 2020 and 2.03% during the year ended June 30, 2019.

(g)

Portfolio turnover for periods less than one year are not annualized and does not include securities received or delivered from processing creations or redemptions in-kind.

(h)

Increase in the portfolio turnover was a result of the Index change that was effective on June 1, 2020.

 

 

www.alpsfunds.com

43

 

 

 

 

 

Financial highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented

 

 

ALPS | O’Shares Global Internet Giants ETF

 

 

 

For the
Year Ended
June 30,
2022

For the
Year Ended
June 30,
2021

For the
Year Ended
June 30,
2020

For the
Year Ended
June 30,
2019

For the Period
June 5, 2018
(Commencement
of operations) to
June 30, 2018

NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD

  $ 57.04     $ 37.85     $ 25.04     $ 24.06     $ 25.00  

 

                                       

INCOME/(LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:

                             

Net investment loss (a)

    (0.15 )     (0.21 )     (0.10 )     (0.06 )(b)     (0.01 )

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)

    (29.81 )     19.40       12.91       1.04       (0.93 )

Total from investment operations

    (29.96 )     19.19       12.81       0.98       (0.94 )

 

                                       

NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE

    (29.96 )     19.19       12.81       0.98       (0.94 )

NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD

  $ 27.08     $ 57.04     $ 37.85     $ 25.04     $ 24.06  

TOTAL RETURN (c)

    (52.52 )%     50.70 %     51.16 %     4.07 %     (3.76 )%

 

                                       

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

                                       

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

  $ 209,867     $ 718,766     $ 272,512     $ 48,834     $ 51,735  

 

                                       

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

    0.48 %     0.48 %     0.48 %     0.48 %     0.48 %(d)

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets

    (0.32 )%     (0.40 )%     (0.34 )%     (0.28 )%(e)     (0.48 )%(d)

Portfolio turnover rate (f)

    51 %     48 %     38 %     55 %     8 %

 

(a)

Based on average shares outstanding during the period.

(b)

The net investment loss per share excluding the impact of large, non-recurring dividends (special dividends) was $(0.07) during the year ended June 30, 2019.

(c)

Total return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period and redemption at the net asset value on the last day of the period and assuming all distributions are reinvested at the reinvestment prices. Total return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized.

(d)

Annualized.

(e)

The ratio of net investment loss, including waiver/reimbursement and excluding the impact of large, non-recurring dividends (special dividends) was (0.31)% during the year ended June 30, 2019.

(f)

Portfolio turnover for periods less than one year are not annualized and does not include securities received or delivered from processing creations or redemptions in-kind.

 

 

44

Prospectus | October 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

Financial highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented

 

ALPS | O’Shares Europe Quality Dividend ETF

 

 

 

For the
Year Ended
June 30,
2022

For the
Year Ended
June 30,
2021

For the
Year Ended
June 30,
2020

For the
Year Ended
June 30,
2019

For the
Year Ended
June 30,
2018

NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD

  $ 28.00     $ 22.28     $ 24.28     $ 23.94     $ 24.69  

 

                                       

INCOME/(LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:

                           

Net investment income (a)

    0.58       0.55 (b)      0.64 (b)      0.76 (b)      0.69  

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)

    (5.33 )     5.97       (1.95 )     0.44       (0.55 )

Total from investment operations

    (4.75 )     6.52       (1.31 )     1.20       0.14  

 

                                       

DISTRIBUTIONS:

                                       

From net investment income

    (0.63 )     (0.80 )     (0.69 )     (0.86 )     (0.89 )

Total distributions

    (0.63 )     (0.80 )     (0.69 )     (0.86 )     (0.89 )

 

                                       

NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE

    (5.38 )     5.72       (2.00 )     0.34       (0.75 )

NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD

  $ 22.62     $ 28.00     $ 22.28     $ 24.28     $ 23.94  

TOTAL RETURN (c)

    (17.29 )%     29.72 %     (5.44 )%     5.16 %     0.53 %

 

                                       

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

                                       

Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

  $ 40,716     $ 26,597     $ 17,821     $ 25,498     $ 40,698  

 

                                       

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

    0.48 %     0.48 %     0.48 %     0.48 %     0.60 %(d)

Ratio of expenses including waiver/reimbursement to average net assets

    0.48 %     0.48 %     0.48 %     0.48 %     0.58 %(d)

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

    2.20 %     2.18 %     2.72 %     3.23 %     2.75 %

Ratio of net investment income including waiver/reimbursement to average net assets

    2.20 %     2.18 %(e)     2.72 %(e)     3.23 %(e)     2.77 %(e)

Portfolio turnover rate (f)

    22 %     42 %     72 %(g)     35 %     30 %

 

(a)

Based on average shares outstanding during the period.

(b)

The net investment income per share excluding the impact of large, non-recurring dividends (special dividends) was $0.54 during the year ended June 30, 2021, $0.63 during the year ended June 30, 2020 and $0.74 during the year ended June 30, 2019.

(c)

Total return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period and redemption at the net asset value on the last day of the period and assuming all distributions are reinvested at the reinvestment prices. Total return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized.

(d)

Prior to June 28, 2018, the unitary management fee was 0.58% and the former investment advisor to the Fund agreed to contractually waive its fees and reimburse expenses so that the total annual fund operating expenses were limited to 0.58%.

(e)

The ratio of net investment income, including waiver/reimbursement and excluding the impact of large, non-recurring dividends (special dividends) was 2.15% during the year ended June 30, 2021, 2.70% during the year ended June 30, 2020, 3.15% during the year ended June 30, 2019 and 2.76% during the year ended June 30, 2018.

(f)

Portfolio turnover for periods less than one year are not annualized and does not include securities received or delivered from processing creations or redemptions in-kind.

(g)

Increase in the portfolio turnover was a result of the Index change that was effective on June 1, 2020.

 

 

www.alpsfunds.com

45

 

 

 

 

For More
Information

Existing Shareholders or Prospective Investors

● Call your financial professional

● 866.675.2639

Dealers

● www.alpsfunds.com

● Distributor Telephone: 866.675.2639

Investment Adviser

ALPS Advisors, Inc.

1290 Broadway

Suite 1000

Denver, Colorado 80203

 

Distributor

ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc.

1290 Broadway

Suite 1000

Denver, Colorado 80203

 

Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company

225 Franklin Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

 

Legal Counsel

Dechert LLP

1095 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10036

 

Transfer Agent

State Street Bank and Trust Company

225 Franklin Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

BBD, LLP

1835 Market Street

3rd Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19103

A Statement of Additional Information dated October 31, 2022, as supplemented, which contains more details about the Funds, is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this Prospectus, which means that it is legally part of this Prospectus.

 

You will find additional information about each Fund in its annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, when available. The annual report explains the market conditions and investment strategies affecting each Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.

 

You can ask questions or obtain a free copy of the Funds’ shareholder reports, prospectus, Form N-CSR, Form N-CEN, or the Statement of Additional Information by calling 866.675.2639. Free copies of the Funds’ shareholder reports, prospectus, and the Statement of Additional Information are available from our website at www.alpsfunds.com.

 

The Funds send only one report to a household if more than one account has the same address. Contact the transfer agent if you do not want this policy to apply to you.

 

Information about the Funds, including their reports and the Statement of Additional Information, has been filed with the SEC. It can be reviewed on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s internet site (http://www.sec.gov). You can also request copies of these materials, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the SEC’s e-mail address: [email protected].

 

PROSPECTUS

 

Distributor

ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc.

1290 Broadway

Suite 1000

Denver, Colorado 80203

 

October 31, 2022

 

Investment Company Act File No. 811-22175.

 

 

 

Investment Company Act File No. 811-22175