Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Semi-Annual Report   September 30, 2023

ROYCE QUANT

SMALL-CAP QUALITY

VALUE ETF

SQLV

 

 

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted new regulations that will result in changes to the design and delivery of annual and semi-annual shareholder reports beginning in July 2024.

If you have previously elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will continue to do so and need not take any action.

Otherwise, paper copies of the Fund’s shareholder reports will be mailed to you beginning in July 2024. If you would like to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically instead of by mail, you may make that request at any time by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank).

 

LOGO

 

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE


Table of Contents
What’s inside      
Letter from the president     II  
Performance review     III  
Fund at a glance     1  
Fund expenses     2  
Schedule of investments     3  
Statement of assets and liabilities     13  
Statement of operations     14  
Statements of changes in net assets     15  
Financial highlights     16  
Notes to financial statements     17  
Board approval of management and subadvisory agreements     24  
Statement regarding liquidity risk management program     29  

Fund objective

The Fund seeks to achieve long-term growth of capital.

 

Letter from the president

 

LOGO

Dear Shareholder,

We are pleased to provide the semi-annual report of Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF for the six-month reporting period ended September 30, 2023. Please read on for Fund performance information during the Fund’s reporting period.

As always, we remain committed to providing you with excellent service and a full spectrum of investment choices. We also remain committed to supplementing the support you receive from your financial advisor. One way we accomplish this is through our website, www.franklintempleton.com. Here you can gain immediate access to market and investment information, including:

 

 

Fund net asset value and market price,

 

 

Market insights and commentaries from our portfolio managers, and

 

 

A host of educational resources.

We look forward to helping you meet your financial goals.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Patrick O’Connor

President and Chief Executive Officer - Investment Management President

October 31, 2023

 

II    Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF


Table of Contents

Performance review

 

Performance review

For the six months ended September 30, 2023, Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF generated a +1.92% return on a net asset value (“NAV”)i basis and +2.29% based on its market priceii per share.

The performance table shows the Fund’s total return for the six months ended September 30, 2023, based on its NAV and market price as of September 30, 2023. The Fund’s broad-based market index, the Russell 2000® Indexiii, returned -0.19% over the same time frame. Prior to May 10, 2022, the Fund operated as an index-based ETF that sought to track the investment results of the Royce Small-Cap Quality Value Index.

 

Performance Snapshot as of September 30, 2023 (unaudited)  
     6 months  
Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF:  

$35.97 (NAV)

     1.92 %* 

$ 35.98 (Market Price)

     2.29 %* 
Russell 2000® Index     -0.19

The performance shown represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown above. Principal value and investment returns will fluctuate so shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance data current to the most recent month-end is available at www.franklintempleton.com.

Investors buy and sell shares of an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) at market price (not NAV) in the secondary market throughout the trading day. These shares are not individually available for direct purchase from or direct redemption to the ETF. Market price returns shown are typically based upon the official closing price of the Fund’s shares. These returns do not represent investors’ returns had they traded shares at other times. Performance figures for periods shorter than one year represent cumulative figures and are not annualized.

Information showing the Fund’s net asset value, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads for various time periods is available by visiting the Fund’s website at www.franklintempleton.com.

As of the Fund’s current prospectus dated August 1, 2023, the gross total annual fund operating expense ratio for the Fund was 0.60%.

* Total returns are based on changes in NAV or market price, respectively. Returns reflect the deduction of all Fund expenses. Returns do not reflect the deduction of brokerage commissions or taxes that investors pay on distributions or the sale of shares.

† Total return assumes the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, at NAV.

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF   III


Table of Contents

Performance review (cont’d)

 

‡ Total return assumes the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, at market price, which typically is based upon the official closing price of the Fund’s shares.

Looking for additional information?

The Fund’s daily NAV is available online at www.franklintempleton.com. The Fund is traded under the symbol “SQLV” and its closing market price is available on most financial websites. In a continuing effort to provide information concerning the Fund, shareholders may call 1-877-721-1926 (toll free), Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern time, for the Fund’s current NAV, market price and other information.

Thank you for your investment in Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF. As always, we appreciate that you have chosen us to manage your assets and we remain focused on achieving the Fund’s investment goals.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Patrick O’Connor

President and Chief Executive Officer - Investment Management President

October 31, 2023

RISKS: The market values of securities or other assets will fluctuate, sometimes sharply and unpredictably, due to changes in general market conditions, overall economic trends or events, governmental actions or intervention, actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve or foreign central banks, market disruptions caused by trade disputes or other factors, political developments, armed conflicts, economic sanctions and countermeasures in response to sanctions, major cybersecurity events, investor sentiment, the global and domestic effects of a pandemic, and other factors that may or may not be related to the issuer of the security or other asset.

All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Equity securities are subject to price fluctuation and possible loss of principal. The Fund invests primarily in small-cap stocks, which may involve considerably more risk than investing in larger-cap stocks. The Fund has significant exposure to U.S. issuers. A decrease in imports or exports, changes in trade regulations and/or an economic recession in the United States may have a material adverse effect on the U.S. economy and the securities listed on U.S. exchanges. The Fund may focus its investments in certain industries, increasing its vulnerability to market volatility. Diversification does not ensure gains or protect against market declines. Please see the Fund’s prospectus for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and the Fund’s investment strategies.

 

IV    Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF


Table of Contents

The information provided is not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results or investment advice. Views expressed may differ from those of the firm as a whole.

 

 

i 

Net Asset Value (“NAV”) is calculated by subtracting total liabilities from total assets and dividing the results by the number of shares outstanding.

 

ii 

Market Price is determined by supply and demand. It is the price at which an investor purchases or sells shares of the Fund. The Market Price may differ from the Fund’s NAV.

 

iii

The Russell 2000® Index measures the performance of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell 2000® Index is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index representing approximately 10% of the total market capitalization of that index. It includes approximately 2,000 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership. The Russell 3000® Index measures the performance of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on total market capitalization, which represents approximately 98% of the U.S. equity market.

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF   V


Table of Contents

Fund at a glance (unaudited)

 

Investment breakdown (%) as a percent of total investments

 

 

LOGO

 

The bar graph above represents the composition of the Fund’s investments as of September 30, 2023 and March 31, 2023. The fund is actively managed. As a result, the composition of the Fund’s investments is subject to change at any time.

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report       1  


Table of Contents

Fund expenses (unaudited)

 

Example

As a shareholder of the Fund, you may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions paid on purchases and sales of Fund shares; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds.

This example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested on April 1, 2023 and held for the six months ended September 30, 2023.

Actual expenses

The table below titled “Based on actual total return” provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information provided in this table, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. To estimate the expenses you paid on your account, divide your ending account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 ending account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period”.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The table below titled “Based on hypothetical total return” provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5.00% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use the information provided in this table to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare the 5.00% hypothetical example relating to the Fund with the 5.00% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table below are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as brokerage commissions paid on purchases and sales of Fund shares. Therefore, the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transaction costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Based on actual total return1       Based on hypothetical total return1
Actual
Total
Return2
  Beginning
Account
Value
  Ending
Account
Value
  Annualized
Expense
Ratio
  Expenses
Paid During
the Period3
      Hypothetical
Annualized
Total Return
  Beginning
Account
Value
  Ending
Account
Value
  Annualized
Expense
Ratio
  Expenses
Paid During
the Period3
    1.92%       $ 1,000.00     $ 1,019.20       0.60 %     $ 3.03         5.00 %       $1,000.00       $ 1,022.00       0.60 %     $ 3.03

 

1 

For the six months ended September 30, 2023.

 

2 

Assumes the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, at net asset value. Total return is not annualized, as it may not be representative of the total return for the year. Performance figures may reflect fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements. In the absence of fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, the total return would have been lower. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

3 

Expenses (net of fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements) are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year (183), then divided by 366.

 

2     Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report


Table of Contents

Schedule of investments (unaudited)

September 30, 2023

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

Security                 Shares     Value  
Common Stocks — 99.9%                                
Communication Services — 5.4%                                

Diversified Telecommunication Services — 0.6%

                               

EchoStar Corp., Class A Shares

                    8,703     $ 145,775  * 

Entertainment — 0.4%

                               

Sciplay Corp., Class A Shares

                    4,878       111,072  * 

Interactive Media & Services — 2.3%

                               

Cargurus Inc.

                    4,991       87,442  * 

Shutterstock Inc.

                    2,557       97,294  

TripAdvisor Inc.

                    6,492       107,637  * 

Yelp Inc.

                    3,229       134,294  * 

Ziff Davis Inc.

                    2,102       133,877  * 

ZipRecruiter Inc., Class A Shares

                    5,094       61,077  * 

Total Interactive Media & Services

                            621,621  

Media — 2.1%

                               

Entravision Communications Corp., Class A Shares

                    21,627       78,938  

PubMatic Inc., Class A Shares

                    4,077       49,332  * 

Sinclair Inc.

                    11,905       133,574  

TechTarget Inc.

                    2,201       66,822  * 

TEGNA Inc.

                    11,387       165,909  

Thryv Holdings Inc.

                    4,219       79,191  * 

Total Media

                            573,766  

Total Communication Services

                            1,452,234  
Consumer Discretionary — 15.4%                                

Automobile Components — 0.6%

                               

LCI Industries

                    1,336       156,873  

Diversified Consumer Services — 1.5%

                               

Grand Canyon Education Inc.

                    1,095       127,984  * 

Perdoceo Education Corp.

                    8,583       146,769  

Stride Inc.

                    2,949       132,794  * 

Total Diversified Consumer Services

                            407,547  

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 2.0%

                               

Biglari Holdings Inc., Class B Shares

                    485       80,510  * 

Bloomin’ Brands Inc.

                    5,427       133,450  

Monarch Casino & Resort Inc.

                    1,677       104,142  

Nathan’s Famous Inc.

                    850       60,061  

SeaWorld Entertainment Inc.

                    1,686       77,977  * 

Target Hospitality Corp.

                    5,717       90,786  * 

Total Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

                            546,926  

Household Durables — 2.8%

                               

Ethan Allen Interiors Inc.

                    4,572       136,703  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report       3  


Table of Contents

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

September 30, 2023

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

Security                 Shares     Value  

Household Durables — continued

                               

Installed Building Products Inc.

                    1,162     $ 145,122  

MDC Holdings Inc.

                    4,277       176,341  

Skyline Champion Corp.

                    2,027       129,160  * 

Tri Pointe Homes Inc.

                    5,737       156,907  * 

Total Household Durables

                            744,233  

Leisure Products — 0.8%

                               

JAKKS Pacific Inc.

                    3,515       65,344  * 

Marine Products Corp.

                    5,693       80,897  

MasterCraft Boat Holdings Inc.

                    2,758       61,283  * 

Total Leisure Products

                            207,524  

Specialty Retail — 6.2%

                               

American Eagle Outfitters Inc.

                    15,083       250,529  

Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp.

                    14,377       100,783  

Buckle Inc.

                    5,572       186,049  

Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc.

                    4,316       126,933  

Chico’s FAS Inc.

                    21,695       162,279  * 

Group 1 Automotive Inc.

                    840       225,716  

Haverty Furniture Cos. Inc.

                    4,395       126,488  

J Jill Inc.

                    3,498       103,541  * 

Lands’ End Inc.

                    14,433       107,814  * 

ODP Corp.

                    3,738       172,509  * 

Zumiez Inc.

                    7,001       124,618  * 

Total Specialty Retail

                            1,687,259  

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — 1.5%

                               

Kontoor Brands Inc.

                    3,631       159,437  

Oxford Industries Inc.

                    1,254       120,547  

Steven Madden Ltd.

                    4,119       130,861  

Total Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

                            410,845  

Total Consumer Discretionary

                            4,161,207  
Consumer Staples — 3.9%                                

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail — 1.3%

                               

Andersons Inc.

                    3,955       203,722  

Ingles Markets Inc., Class A Shares

                    1,783       134,314  

Total Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail

                            338,036  

Food Products — 0.9%

                               

Cal-Maine Foods Inc.

                    3,151       152,571  

John B Sanfilippo & Son Inc.

                    1,016       100,381  

Total Food Products

                            252,952  

Personal Care Products — 1.2%

                               

Medifast Inc.

                    1,707       127,769  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

4     Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report


Table of Contents

 

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

Security                 Shares     Value  

Personal Care Products — continued

                               

Olaplex Holdings Inc.

                    46,694     $ 91,053  * 

USANA Health Sciences Inc.

                    1,690       99,051  * 

Total Personal Care Products

                            317,873  

Tobacco — 0.5%

                               

Vector Group Ltd.

                    13,058       138,937  

Total Consumer Staples

                            1,047,798  
Energy — 3.9%                                

Energy Equipment & Services — 0.9%

                               

Cactus Inc., Class A Shares

                    3,081       154,697  

Ranger Energy Services Inc.

                    6,549       92,865  

Total Energy Equipment & Services

                            247,562  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 3.0%

                               

Epsilon Energy Ltd.

                    12,348       65,197  

Excelerate Energy Inc., Class A Shares

                    5,311       90,500  

Overseas Shipholding Group Inc., Class A Shares

                    24,034       105,509  * 

Peabody Energy Corp.

                    9,142       237,601  

REX American Resources Corp.

                    2,663       108,437  * 

SandRidge Energy Inc.

                    6,441       100,866  

W&T Offshore, Inc.

                    21,919       96,005  * 

Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

                            804,115  

Total Energy

                            1,051,677  
Financials — 19.5%                                

Banks — 9.5%

                               

Bankwell Financial Group Inc.

                    3,248       78,829  

BCB Bancorp Inc.

                    7,376       82,169  

Civista Bancshares Inc.

                    5,113       79,251  

ConnectOne Bancorp Inc.

                    7,185       128,108  

Customers Bancorp Inc.

                    4,468       153,923  * 

Dime Community Bancshares Inc.

                    6,780       135,329  

Eagle Bancorp Inc.

                    5,951       127,649  

Evans Bancorp Inc.

                    2,961       79,355  

Financial Institutions Inc.

                    5,958       100,273  

First Bank

                    7,047       75,967  

First Business Financial Services Inc.

                    2,626       78,806  

First Merchants Corp.

                    5,508       153,232  

Hanmi Financial Corp.

                    6,873       111,549  

Hope Bancorp Inc.

                    17,379       153,804  

Horizon Bancorp Inc.

                    10,423       111,318  

Independent Bank Corp.

                    5,379       98,651  

Midland States Bancorp Inc.

                    5,315       109,170  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report       5  


Table of Contents

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

September 30, 2023

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

Security                 Shares     Value  

Banks — continued

                               

Northeast Bank

                    1,760     $ 77,616  

PCB Bancorp

                    5,138       79,382  

Preferred Bank

                    2,071       128,920  

RBB Bancorp

                    7,416       94,776  

Summit Financial Group Inc.

                    4,378       98,680  

Unity Bancorp Inc.

                    3,292       77,132  

Washington Federal Inc.

                    6,074       155,616  

Total Banks

                            2,569,505  

Capital Markets — 2.8%

                               

Brightsphere Investment Group Inc.

                    3,593       69,668  

Cohen & Steers Inc.

                    2,705       169,576  

Diamond Hill Investment Group Inc.

                    676       113,953  

Donnelley Financial Solutions Inc.

                    2,158       121,452  * 

Heritage Global Inc.

                    16,154       50,401  * 

Open Lending Corp.

                    11,164       81,721  * 

Victory Capital Holdings Inc., Class A Shares

                    4,430       147,696  

Total Capital Markets

                            754,467  

Consumer Finance — 1.4%

                               

Bread Financial Holdings Inc.

                    6,249       213,716  

Green Dot Corp., Class A Shares

                    6,039       84,123  * 

LendingClub Corp.

                    13,836       84,400  * 

Total Consumer Finance

                            382,239  

Financial Services — 3.4%

                               

Cass Information Systems Inc.

                    2,289       85,265  

Jackson Financial Inc., Class A Shares

                    8,869       338,973  

Merchants Bancorp

                    4,795       132,917  

NMI Holdings Inc., Class A Shares

                    5,032       136,317  * 

Paysign Inc.

                    17,545       34,213  * 

Radian Group Inc.

                    7,483       187,898  

Total Financial Services

                            915,583  

Insurance — 2.4%

                               

Ambac Financial Group Inc.

                    8,990       108,420  * 

F&G Annuities & Life Inc.

                    9,183       257,675  

Genworth Financial Inc., Class A Shares

                    37,964       222,469  * 

Kingsway Financial Services Inc.

                    5,306       40,060  * 

Total Insurance

                            628,624  

Total Financials

                            5,250,418  
Health Care — 14.4%                                

Biotechnology — 2.8%

                               

Anika Therapeutics Inc.

                    2,486       46,314  * 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

6     Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report


Table of Contents

 

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

Security                 Shares     Value  

Biotechnology — continued

                               

Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Inc.

                    6,426     $ 75,120  * 

Dynavax Technologies Corp.

                    7,816       115,442  * 

Eagle Pharmaceuticals Inc.

                    3,962       62,481  * 

Entrada Therapeutics Inc.

                    3,949       62,394  * 

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Inc.

                    10,126       97,513  * 

Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Class A Shares

                    4,486       77,922  * 

Point Biopharma Global Inc.

                    7,933       52,913  * 

Voyager Therapeutics Inc.

                    4,700       36,425  * 

Xencor Inc.

                    3,072       61,901  * 

Zymeworks Inc.

                    8,961       56,813  * 

Total Biotechnology

                            745,238  

Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 4.1%

                               

AngioDynamics Inc.

                    7,083       51,777  * 

Atrion Corp.

                    163       67,347  

Avanos Medical Inc.

                    4,205       85,025  * 

Embecta Corp.

                    4,615       69,456  

Globus Medical Inc., Class A Shares

                    2,029       100,740  * 

Integer Holdings Corp.

                    1,414       110,900  * 

Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp.

                    3,196       122,055  * 

iRadimed Corp.

                    1,468       65,135  

LeMaitre Vascular Inc.

                    1,315       71,641  

Orthofix Medical Inc.

                    4,762       61,239  * 

Semler Scientific Inc.

                    1,996       50,639  * 

STAAR Surgical Co.

                    1,465       58,864  * 

Utah Medical Products Inc.

                    735       63,210  

Varex Imaging Corp.

                    4,103       77,095  * 

Zynex Inc.

                    6,673       53,384  * 

Total Health Care Equipment & Supplies

                            1,108,507  

Health Care Providers & Services — 1.4%

                               

Addus HomeCare Corp.

                    1,083       92,261  * 

Cross Country Healthcare Inc.

                    3,733       92,541  * 

National Research Corp.

                    1,921       85,235  

Pediatrix Medical Group Inc.

                    8,467       107,615  * 

Total Health Care Providers & Services

                            377,652  

Health Care Technology — 1.2%

                               

HealthStream Inc.

                    3,271       70,588  

NextGen Healthcare Inc.

                    5,621       133,386  * 

Veradigm Inc.

                    9,227       121,243  * 

Total Health Care Technology

                            325,217  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report       7  


Table of Contents

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

September 30, 2023

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  

Life Sciences Tools & Services — 0.7%

               

Cytek Biosciences Inc.

    8,555     $ 47,224  * 

Maravai LifeSciences Holdings Inc., Class A Shares

    8,023       80,230  * 

Mesa Laboratories Inc.

    607       63,777  

OmniAb Inc., $ 12.50 EARNOUT

    298       0  *(a)(b)(c)(d) 

OmniAb Inc., $ 15.00 EARNOUT

    298       0  *(a)(b)(c)(d) 

Total Life Sciences Tools & Services

            191,231  

Pharmaceuticals — 4.2%

               

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc.

    1,983       91,198  * 

ANI Pharmaceuticals Inc.

    1,458       84,651  * 

Assertio Holdings Inc.

    11,530       29,517  * 

Collegium Pharmaceutical Inc.

    3,849       86,025  * 

Corcept Therapeutics Inc.

    4,275       116,472  * 

Harmony Biosciences Holdings Inc.

    2,558       83,826  * 

Innoviva Inc.

    8,281       107,570  * 

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc.

    1,230       73,702  * 

Pacira BioSciences Inc.

    2,745       84,217  * 

Phibro Animal Health Corp., Class A Shares

    7,536       96,235  

Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc.

    2,187       125,075  * 

SIGA Technologies Inc.

    14,457       75,899  

Supernus Pharmaceuticals Inc.

    3,228       88,996  * 

Total Pharmaceuticals

            1,143,383  

Total Health Care

            3,891,228  
Industrials — 17.7%                

Aerospace & Defense — 0.7%

               

National Presto Industries Inc.

    1,414       102,458  

Park Aerospace Corp.

    5,356       83,179  

Total Aerospace & Defense

            185,637  

Air Freight & Logistics — 0.3%

               

Radiant Logistics Inc.

    13,758       77,733  * 

Building Products — 1.3%

               

Gibraltar Industries Inc.

    1,865       125,906  * 

PGT Innovations Inc.

    3,812       105,783  * 

Quanex Building Products Corp.

    4,110       115,779  

Total Building Products

            347,468  

Commercial Services & Supplies — 2.0%

               

Brady Corp., Class A Shares

    2,848       156,412  

Civeo Corp.

    4,647       96,332  

Ennis Inc.

    5,163       109,559  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

8     Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report


Table of Contents

 

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  

Commercial Services & Supplies — continued

               

Heritage-Crystal Clean Inc.

    2,438       $110,563  * 

Liquidity Services Inc.

    4,643       81,810  * 

Total Commercial Services & Supplies

            554,676  

Construction & Engineering — 0.6%

               

Sterling Infrastructure Inc.

    2,094       153,867  * 

Electrical Equipment — 1.5%

               

Encore Wire Corp.

    770       140,494  

NEXTracker Inc., Class A Shares

    3,539       142,127  * 

Powell Industries Inc.

    1,598       132,474  

Total Electrical Equipment

            415,095  

Ground Transportation — 2.3%

               

ArcBest Corp.

    1,691       171,890  

PAM Transportation Services Inc.

    3,360       72,408  * 

RXO Inc.

    5,979       117,966  * 

Ryder System Inc.

    2,511       268,551  

Total Ground Transportation

            630,815  

Machinery — 1.7%

               

Commercial Vehicle Group Inc.

    8,008       62,142  * 

Kadant Inc.

    523       117,963  

Omega Flex Inc.

    742       58,418  

Titan International Inc.

    9,175       123,220  * 

Wabash National Corp.

    4,423       93,414  

Total Machinery

            455,157  

Marine Transportation — 1.8%

               

Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc.

    3,098       130,209  

Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd.

    9,703       135,745  

Matson Inc.

    2,349       208,403  

Total Marine Transportation

            474,357  

Professional Services — 3.1%

               

ASGN Inc.

    2,052       167,607  * 

Forrester Research Inc.

    2,776       80,226  * 

Heidrick & Struggles International Inc.

    3,972       99,380  

Kforce Inc.

    1,890       112,757  

Korn Ferry

    2,915       138,288  

RCM Technologies Inc.

    3,270       63,896  * 

Resources Connection Inc.

    6,519       97,198  

TrueBlue Inc.

    6,131       89,942  * 

Total Professional Services

            849,294  

Trading Companies & Distributors — 2.4%

               

BlueLinx Holdings Inc.

    1,450       119,030  * 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report       9  


Table of Contents

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

September 30, 2023

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  

Trading Companies & Distributors — continued

               

Boise Cascade Co.

    2,590     $ 266,874  

Global Industrial Co.

    4,906       164,351  

Karat Packaging Inc.

    4,067       93,785  

Total Trading Companies & Distributors

            644,040  

Total Industrials

            4,788,139  
Information Technology — 10.6%                

Communications Equipment — 0.8%

               

Extreme Networks Inc.

    4,086       98,922  * 

NetScout Systems Inc.

    4,448       124,633  * 

Total Communications Equipment

            223,555  

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 3.4%

               

Bel Fuse Inc., Class B Shares

    1,491       71,151  

Belden Inc.

    1,376       132,853  

Climb Global Solutions Inc.

    1,534       65,977  

CTS Corp.

    2,118       88,405  

PC Connection Inc.

    2,768       147,756  

Sanmina Corp.

    2,852       154,807  * 

TTM Technologies Inc.

    9,529       122,733  * 

Vishay Intertechnology Inc.

    5,895       145,724  

Total Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components

            929,406  

IT Services — 0.4%

               

Hackett Group Inc.

    4,200       99,078  

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 2.3%

               

Cohu Inc.

    2,757       94,951  * 

Kulicke & Soffa Industries Inc.

    2,450       119,144  

MaxLinear Inc.

    3,692       82,147  * 

NVE Corp.

    1,015       83,372  

Photronics Inc.

    4,581       92,582  * 

Synaptics Inc.

    1,534       137,201  * 

Total Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

            609,397  

Software — 3.0%

               

A10 Networks Inc.

    5,872       88,256  

Adeia Inc.

    14,179       151,432  

American Software Inc., Class A Shares

    8,195       93,915  

CommVault Systems Inc.

    1,371       92,693  * 

Consensus Cloud Solutions Inc.

    5,030       126,655  * 

CoreCard Corp.

    1,834       36,680  * 

InterDigital Inc.

    1,455       116,749  

Progress Software Corp.

    2,022       106,317  

Total Software

            812,697  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

10     Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report


Table of Contents

 

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals — 0.7%

               

Avid Technology Inc.

    2,851     $ 76,607  * 

CompoSecure Inc.

    9,400       60,630  * 

CPI Card Group Inc.

    2,335       43,244  * 

Total Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

            180,481  

Total Information Technology

            2,854,614  
Materials — 7.0%                

Chemicals — 1.4%

               

AdvanSix Inc.

    3,350       104,118  

American Vanguard Corp.

    5,197       56,803  

LSB Industries Inc.

    9,943       101,717  * 

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.

    35,855       126,927  * 

Total Chemicals

            389,565  

Construction Materials — 0.3%

               

United States Lime & Minerals Inc.

    435       87,435  

Containers & Packaging — 0.7%

               

Greif Inc., Class A Shares

    2,640       176,378  

Metals & Mining — 4.1%

               

Alpha Metallurgical Resources Inc.

    1,072       278,431  

Arch Resources Inc.

    1,366       233,122  

Olympic Steel Inc.

    2,349       132,037  

Ryerson Holding Corp.

    3,711       107,953  

TimkenSteel Corp.

    5,688       123,543  * 

Warrior Met Coal Inc.

    4,354       222,402  

Total Metals & Mining

            1,097,488  

Paper & Forest Products — 0.5%

               

Sylvamo Corp.

    3,291       144,607  

Total Materials

            1,895,473  
Real Estate — 0.9%                

Real Estate Management & Development — 0.9%

               

Forestar Group Inc.

    5,177       139,468  * 

Offerpad Solutions Inc.

    11,644       113,646  * 

Total Real Estate

            253,114  
Utilities — 1.2%                

Electric Utilities — 1.0%

               

ALLETE Inc.

    3,220       170,016  

Genie Energy Ltd., Class B Shares

    6,433       94,758  

Total Electric Utilities

            264,774  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report       11  


Table of Contents

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

September 30, 2023

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

Security          Shares     Value  

Water Utilities — 0.2%

                       

Pure Cycle Corp.

            4,854     $ 46,598  * 

Total Utilities

                    311,372  

Total Investments before Short-Term Investments (Cost — $27,091,819)

 

            26,957,274  
     Rate                
Short-Term Investments — 0.1%                        

Dreyfus Treasury Cash Management, Institutional Class (Cost — $21,806)

    5.218     21,806       21,806 (e) 

Total Investments — 100.0% (Cost — $27,113,625)

                    26,979,080  

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.0%††

                    1,276  

Total Net Assets — 100.0%

                  $ 26,980,356  

 

††

Represents less than 0.1%.

*

Non-income producing security.

(a) 

Security is valued in good faith in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees (Note 1).

(b) 

Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs (Note 1).

(c) 

Value is less than $1.

(d) 

Restricted security (Note 6).

(e) 

Rate shown is one-day yield as of the end of the reporting period.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

12     Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report


Table of Contents

Statement of assets and liabilities (unaudited)

September 30, 2023

 

Assets:         

Investments, at value (Cost — $27,113,625)

   $ 26,979,080  

Dividends and interest receivable

     14,689  

Total Assets

     26,993,769  
Liabilities:         

Investment management fee payable

     13,413  

Total Liabilities

     13,413  
Total Net Assets    $ 26,980,356  
Net Assets:         

Par value (Note 5)

   $ 8  

Paid-in capital in excess of par value

     33,208,229  

Total distributable earnings (loss)

     (6,227,881)  
Total Net Assets    $ 26,980,356  
Shares Outstanding      750,000  
Net Asset Value      $35.97  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report       13  


Table of Contents

Statement of operations (unaudited)

For the Six Months Ended September 30, 2023

 

Investment Income:         

Dividends

   $ 238,863  

Interest

     1,991  

Less: Foreign taxes withheld

     (290)  

Total Investment Income

     240,564  
Expenses:         

Investment management fee (Note 2)

     77,697  

Total Expenses

     77,697  
Net Investment Income      162,867  
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments (Notes 1 and 3):         

Net Realized Gain From Investment Transactions

     203,928  

Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) From Investments

     (19,476)  
Net Gain on Investments      184,452  
Increase in Net Assets From Operations    $ 347,319  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

14     Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report


Table of Contents

Statements of changes in net assets

 

 

For the Six Months Ended September 30, 2023 (unaudited)
and the Year Ended March 31, 2023
   September 30      March 31  
Operations:                  

Net investment income

   $ 162,867      $ 294,254  

Net realized gain (loss)

     203,928        (887,964)  

Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (19,476)        (918,740)  

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets From Operations

     347,319        (1,512,450)  
Distributions to Shareholders From (Note 1):                  

Total distributable earnings

     (152,500)        (300,658)  

Return of capital

            (11,796)  

Decrease in Net Assets From Distributions to Shareholders

     (152,500)        (312,454)  
Fund Share Transactions (Note 5):                  

Net proceeds from sale of shares (100,000 and 450,000 shares issued,respectively)

     3,761,667        16,112,292  

Cost of shares repurchased (50,000 and 250,000 shares repurchased,respectively)

     (1,825,050)        (8,758,342)  

Increase in Net Assets From Fund Share Transactions

     1,936,617        7,353,950  

Increase in Net Assets

     2,131,436        5,529,046  
Net Assets:                  

Beginning of period

     24,848,920        19,319,874  

End of period

   $ 26,980,356      $ 24,848,920  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report       15  


Table of Contents

Financial highlights

 

 

For a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each year ended March 31,
unless otherwise noted:
 
      2023 1,2      2023 1      2022 1,3      2021 1,4      2020 1,4      2019 1,4      2018 1,4 
Net asset value, beginning of period     $35.50       $38.64       $37.85       $22.80       $26.21       $30.06       $24.95  
Income (loss) from operations:              

Net investment income

    0.23       0.47       0.36       0.35       0.35       0.35       0.31  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

    0.45       (3.15)       0.82       15.03       (3.42)       (3.77)       4.91  

Total income (loss)from operations

    0.68       (2.68)       1.18       15.38       (3.07)       (3.42)       5.22  
Less distributions from:              

Net investment income

    (0.21)       (0.44)       (0.39)       (0.33)       (0.34)       (0.43)       (0.11)  

Return of capital

          (0.02)                                

Total distributions

    (0.21)       (0.46)       (0.39)       (0.33)       (0.34)       (0.43)       (0.11)  
Net asset value, end of period     $35.97       $35.50       $38.64       $37.85       $22.80       $26.21       $30.06  

Total return, based on NAV5

    1.92     (6.88)     3.15     67.77     (11.71)     (11.29)     20.97
Net assets, end of period (000s)     $26,980       $24,849       $19,320       $17,031       $11,402       $10,483       $4,509  
Ratios to average net assets:              

Gross expenses

    0.60 %6      0.60     0.60 %6      0.60     0.60     0.60     0.60

Net expenses

    0.60 6      0.60       0.60 6      0.60       0.60       0.60       0.60  

Net investment income

    1.26 6      1.33       1.39 6      1.13       1.46       1.30       1.12  
Portfolio turnover rate7     48     51     73     99     95     87     80

 

1 

Per share amounts have been calculated using the average shares method.

 

2 

For the six months ended September 30, 2023 (unaudited).

 

3 

For the period August 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022.

 

4 

For the year ended July 31.

 

5 

Performance figures may reflect fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements. In the absence of fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, the total return would have been lower. The total return calculation assumes that distributions are reinvested at NAV. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

6 

Annualized.

 

7 

Portfolio turnover excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of in-kind fund share transactions.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

16     Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. Organization and significant accounting policies

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF (the “Fund”) is a separate diversified investment series of Legg Mason ETF Investment Trust (the “Trust”). The Trust, a Maryland statutory trust, is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company.

The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund (“ETF”). ETFs are funds that trade like other publicly-traded securities. Unlike shares of a mutual fund, which can be bought from and redeemed by the issuing fund by all shareholders at a price based on net asset value (“NAV”), shares of the Fund may be directly purchased from and redeemed by the Fund at NAV solely by certain large institutional investors who have entered into agreements with the Fund’s distributor (“Authorized Participants”). Also unlike shares of a mutual fund, shares of the Fund are listed on a national securities exchange and trade in the secondary market at market prices that change throughout the day.

Shares of the Fund are listed and traded at market prices on NASDAQ. The market price for the Fund’s shares may be different from the Fund’s NAV. The Fund issues and redeems shares at NAV only in blocks of a specified number of shares or multiples thereof (“Creation Units”). Only Authorized Participants may purchase or redeem Creation Units directly with the Fund at NAV. Creation Units are created and redeemed principally in-kind (although under some circumstances its shares are created and redeemed partially for cash). Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares of the Fund are not redeemable securities. Shareholders who are not Authorized Participants may not redeem shares directly from the Funds at NAV.

The Fund seeks to achieve long-term growth of capital.

The Fund follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies (“ASC 946”). The following are significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund and are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), including, but not limited to, ASC 946. Estimates and assumptions are required to be made regarding assets, liabilities and changes in net assets resulting from operations when financial statements are prepared. Changes in the economic environment, financial markets and any other parameters used in determining these estimates could cause actual results to differ. Subsequent events have been evaluated through the date the financial statements were issued.

(a) Investment valuation. Equity securities for which market quotations are available are valued at the last reported sales price or official closing price on the primary market or exchange on which they trade. The valuations for fixed income securities (which may include, but are not limited to, corporate, government, municipal, mortgage-backed, collateralized mortgage obligations and asset-backed securities) and certain derivative instruments are typically the prices supplied by independent third party pricing services, which may use market prices or broker/dealer quotations or a variety of valuation techniques and methodologies. The independent third party pricing services typically use inputs that are observable such as issuer details, interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risks/spreads, default rates and quoted prices for similar securities. Investments in open-end funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share of each fund on the day of valuation. When the Fund holds securities or other assets that are

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report       17  


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont’d)

 

denominated in a foreign currency, the Fund will use the currency exchange rates, generally determined as of 4:00 p.m. (London Time). If independent third party pricing services are unable to supply prices for a portfolio investment, or if the prices supplied are deemed by the manager to be unreliable, the market price may be determined by the manager using quotations from one or more broker/dealers or at the transaction price if the security has recently been purchased and no value has yet been obtained from a pricing service or pricing broker. When reliable prices are not readily available, such as when the value of a security has been significantly affected by events after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded, but before the Fund calculates its net asset value, the Fund values these securities as determined in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

Pursuant to policies adopted by the Board of Trustees, the Fund’s manager has been designated as the valuation designee and is responsible for the oversight of the daily valuation process. The Fund’s manager is assisted by the Global Fund Valuation Committee (the “Valuation Committee”). The Valuation Committee is responsible for making fair value determinations, evaluating the effectiveness of the Fund’s pricing policies, and reporting to the Fund’s manager and the Board of Trustees. When determining the reliability of third party pricing information for investments owned by the Fund, the Valuation Committee, among other things, conducts due diligence reviews of pricing vendors, monitors the daily change in prices and reviews transactions among market participants.

The Valuation Committee will consider pricing methodologies it deems relevant and appropriate when making fair value determinations. Examples of possible methodologies include, but are not limited to, multiple of earnings; discount from market of a similar freely traded security; discounted cash-flow analysis; book value or a multiple thereof; risk premium/yield analysis; yield to maturity; and/or fundamental investment analysis. The Valuation Committee will also consider factors it deems relevant and appropriate in light of the facts and circumstances. Examples of possible factors include, but are not limited to, the type of security; the issuer’s financial statements; the purchase price of the security; the discount from market value of unrestricted securities of the same class at the time of purchase; analysts’ research and observations from financial institutions; information regarding any transactions or offers with respect to the security; the existence of merger proposals or tender offers affecting the security; the price and extent of public trading in similar securities of the issuer or comparable companies; and the existence of a shelf registration for restricted securities.

For each portfolio security that has been fair valued pursuant to the policies adopted by the Board of Trustees, the fair value price is compared against the last available and next available market quotations. The Valuation Committee reviews the results of such back testing monthly and fair valuation occurrences are reported to the Board of Trustees quarterly.

The Fund uses valuation techniques to measure fair value that are consistent with the market approach and/or income approach, depending on the type of security and the particular circumstance. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information

 

18     Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report


Table of Contents

 

generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable securities. The income approach uses valuation techniques to discount estimated future cash flows to present value.

GAAP establishes a disclosure hierarchy that categorizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to value assets and liabilities at measurement date. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

 

Level 1 — unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

 

 

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

 

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used to value securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s assets carried at fair value:

 

ASSETS  
Description   Quoted Prices
(Level 1)
    Other Significant
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
    Total  
Long-Term Investments†:                                

Common Stocks:

                               

Health Care

  $ 3,891,228           $ 0   $ 3,891,228  

Industrials

    4,677,576     $ 110,563             4,788,139  

Other Common Stocks

    18,277,907                   18,277,907  
Total Long-Term Investments     26,846,711       110,563       0     26,957,274  
Short-Term Investments†     21,806                   21,806  
Total Investments   $ 26,868,517     $ 110,563     $ 0   $ 26,979,080  

 

See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

*

Amount represents less than $1.

(b) Foreign investment risks. The Fund’s investments in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. Since securities may be denominated in foreign currencies, may require settlement in foreign currencies or may pay interest or dividends in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Fund. Foreign investments may also subject the Fund to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, all of which affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments.

(c) Security transactions and investment income. Security transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Interest income (including interest income from payment-in-kind securities) is recorded on the accrual basis. Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on debt securities are recorded to interest income over the lives of the respective securities, except for premiums on certain callable debt securities which are amortized to

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report       19  


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont’d)

 

the earliest call date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date for dividends received in cash and/or securities. Foreign dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as practicable after the Fund determines the existence of a dividend declaration after exercising reasonable due diligence. The cost of investments sold is determined by use of the specific identification method. To the extent any issuer defaults or a credit event occurs that impacts the issuer, the Fund may halt any additional interest income accruals and consider the realizability of interest accrued up to the date of default or credit event.

(d) Distributions to shareholders. Distributions from net investment income of the Fund, if any, are declared and paid on a quarterly basis. Distributions of net realized gains, if any, are declared at least annually. Distributions to shareholders of the Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend date and are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP.

(e) Federal and other taxes. It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the federal income and excise tax requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies. Accordingly, the Fund intends to distribute its taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders in accordance with timing requirements imposed by the Code. Therefore, no federal or state income tax provision is required in the Fund’s financial statements.

Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that as of March 31, 2023, no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements. The Fund’s federal and state income and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state departments of revenue.

(f) Reclassification. GAAP requires that certain components of net assets be reclassified to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value per share.

2. Investment management agreement and other transactions with affiliates

Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (“LMPFA”) is the Fund’s investment manager and Royce & Associates, LP (“Royce”) is the Fund’s subadviser. Western Asset Management Company, LLC (“Western Asset”) manages the portion of the Fund’s cash and short-term instruments allocated to it. LMPFA, Western Asset, and Royce are subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc. (“Franklin Resources”).

LMPFA provides administrative and certain oversight services to the Fund. LMPFA delegates to the subadviser the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. The Fund is responsible for paying interest expenses, taxes, brokerage expenses, future 12b-1 fees (if any), acquired fund fees and expenses, extraordinary expenses and the management fee payable to LMPFA under the investment management agreement.

Under the investment management agreement and subject to the general supervision of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, LMPFA provides or causes to be furnished all investment management, supervisory, administrative and other services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Fund, including certain distribution services (provided pursuant to a

 

20     Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report


Table of Contents

 

separate distribution agreement) and investment advisory services (provided pursuant to separate subadvisory agreements) under a unitary fee structure. The Fund pays an investment management fee, calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.60% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

As compensation for its subadvisory services, LMPFA pays Royce monthly 90% of the management fee paid by Fund to LMPFA, net of (i) all fees and expenses incurred by LMPFA under the investment management agreement (including without limitation any subadvisory fee paid to another subadviser to the Fund) and (ii) expense waivers, if any, and reimbursements. LMPFA pays Western Asset monthly a fee of 0.02% of the portion of the Fund’s average daily net assets allocated to Western Asset for the management of cash and other short-term instruments, net of expense waivers, if any, and reimbursements.

Franklin Distributors, LLC (“Franklin Distributors”) serves as the distributor of Creation Units for the Fund on an agency basis. Franklin Distributors is an indirect, wholly-owned broker-dealer subsidiary of Franklin Resources.

The Fund’s Board of Trustees has adopted a Rule 12b-1 shareholder services and distribution plan and under that plan, the Fund is authorized to pay service and/or distribution fees calculated at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of its average daily net assets. No service and/or distribution fees are currently paid by the Fund, and there are no current plans to impose these fees.

All officers and one Trustee of the Trust are employees of Franklin Resources or its affiliates and do not receive compensation from the Trust.

3. Investments

During the six months ended September 30, 2023, the aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments (excluding in-kind transactions and short-term investments) were as follows:

 

Purchases    $ 12,599,018  
Sales      12,514,009  

During the six months ended September 30, 2023, in-kind transactions (Note (Note 5)) were as follows:

 

Contributions    $ 3,728,638  
Redemptions      1,811,302  
Realized gain (loss)*      826,721  

 

*

Net realized gains on redemptions in-kind are not taxable to the remaining shareholders of the Fund.

The in-kind contributions and in-kind redemptions shown in this table may not agree with the Fund Share Transactions on the Statement of Changes in Net Assets. This table represents the accumulation of the Fund’s daily net shareholder transactions while the Statement of Changes in Net Assets reflects gross shareholder transactions including any cash component of the transactions.

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report       21  


Table of Contents

Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont’d)

 

At September 30, 2023, the aggregate cost of investments and the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments for federal income tax purposes were substantially as follows:

 

      Cost      Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Gross
Unrealized
Depreciation
     Net
Unrealized
Depreciation
 
Securities    $ 27,113,625      $ 2,652,942      $ (2,787,487)      $ (134,545)  

4. Derivative instruments and hedging activities

During the six months ended September 30, 2023, the Fund did not invest in derivative instruments.

5. Fund share transactions

At September 30, 2023, the Trust had an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest authorized with a par value of $0.00001 per share. Fund shares are issued and redeemed by the Fund only in Creation Units or Creation Unit aggregations, where 50,000 shares of the Fund constitute a Creation Unit. Such transactions are generally on an in-kind basis, with a separate cash payment, which is a balancing cash component to equate the transaction to the net asset value per share of the Fund on the transaction date. Transactions in capital shares of the Fund are disclosed in detail in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets. Authorized Participants are subject to standard creation and redemption transaction fees to offset transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance and redemption of Creation Units. Such transactions fees are treated as increases in capital and are disclosed in the Funds’ Statements of Changes in Net Assets. Creations and redemptions for cash (when cash creations and redemptions are available or specified) may be subject to an additional variable fee.

6. Restricted securities

The following Fund investments are restricted as to resale and, in the absence of readily ascertainable market values, are valued in good faith in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.

 

Security    Number of
Shares
     Acquisition
Date
     Cost      Fair Value
at 9/30/2023
     Value Per
Share
     Percent of
Net Assets
 
OmniAb Inc., $ 12.50 EARNOUT, Common Shares      298        11/22      $ 0 (a)     $ 0 (a)     $ 0.00 (b)       0.00 (c)
OmniAb Inc., $ 15.00 EARNOUT, Common Shares      298        11/22        0 (a)       0 (a)       0.00 (b)       0.00 (c) 
                       $ 0 (a)     $ 0 (a)                0.00 (c)

 

(a) 

Amount represents less than $1.

 

(b) 

Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.

 

(c) 

Amount represents less than 0.005%.

 

22     Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report


Table of Contents

 

7. Deferred capital losses

As of March 31, 2023, the Fund had deferred capital losses of $5,785,337, which have no expiration date, that will be available to offset future taxable capital gains.

8. Recent accounting pronouncement

In June 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-03, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) – Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions. The amendments in the ASU clarify that a contractual restriction on the sale of an equity security is not considered part of the unit of account of the equity security and, therefore, should not be considered in measuring fair value. The ASU is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2023, with the option of early adoption. Management has reviewed the requirements and believes that the adoption of the ASU will not have a material impact on the financial statements.

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF 2023 Semi-Annual Report       23  


Table of Contents

Board approval of management and subadvisory agreements (unaudited)

 

 

At a meeting held on May 11, 2023 (Meeting), the Board of Trustees (Board) of the Legg Mason ETF Investment Trust (Trust), including a majority of the trustees who are not “interested persons” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (Independent Trustees), reviewed and approved the continuance of (i) the investment management agreement between Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (LMPFA) and the Trust, on behalf of the Fund; (ii) the investment sub-advisory agreement between LMPFA and Royce & Associates, LP (Royce), an affiliate of LMPFA, on behalf of the Fund; and (iii) the investment sub-advisory agreement between LMPFA and Western Asset Management Company, LLC (Western Asset LLC), an affiliate of LMPFA, on behalf of the Fund (each a Management Agreement) for an additional one-year period. The Independent Trustees received advice from and met separately with Independent Trustee counsel in considering whether to approve the continuation of each Management Agreement. LMPFA, Royce and Western Asset LLC are each referred to herein as a Manager.

In considering the continuation of each Management Agreement, the Board reviewed and considered information provided by each Manager at the Meeting and throughout the year at meetings of the Board and its committees. The Board also reviewed and considered information provided in response to a detailed set of requests for information submitted to each Manager by Independent Trustee counsel on behalf of the Independent Trustees in connection with the annual contract renewal process. In addition, prior to the Meeting, the Independent Trustees held a virtual contract renewal meeting at which the Independent Trustees conferred amongst themselves and Independent Trustee counsel about contract renewal matters and, subsequently, requested additional information from management that the Independent Trustees reviewed and considered prior to and at the Meeting. The Board reviewed and considered all of the factors it deemed relevant in approving the continuance of each Management Agreement, including, but not limited to: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by each Manager; (ii) the investment performance of the Fund; (iii) the costs of the services provided and profits realized by each Manager and its affiliates from the relationship with the Fund; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale are realized as the Fund grows; and (v) whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale for the benefit of Fund investors.

In approving the continuance of each Management Agreement, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, determined that the terms of the Management Agreement are fair and reasonable and that the continuance of the Management Agreement is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. While attention was given to all information furnished, the following discusses some primary factors relevant to the Board’s determination.

 

24     Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF


Table of Contents

 

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services

The Board reviewed and considered information regarding the nature, extent and quality of investment management services provided by each Manager and its affiliates to the Fund and its shareholders. This information included, among other things, the qualifications, background and experience of the senior management and investment personnel of each Manager; the structure of investment personnel compensation; oversight of third-party service providers; investment performance reports and related financial information for the Fund; reports on expenses; legal and compliance matters; risk controls; pricing and other services provided by each Manager and its affiliates; and management fees charged by each Manager and its affiliates to US funds and other accounts, including management’s explanation of differences among accounts where relevant. The Board acknowledged management’s continued development of strategies to address areas of heightened concern in the registered fund industry, including various regulatory initiatives and continuing geopolitical concerns.

The Board also reviewed and considered the benefits provided to Fund shareholders of investing in a fund that is part of the Franklin Templeton (FT) family of funds. The Board noted the financial position of Franklin Resources, Inc. (FRI), the Managers’ parent, and its commitment to the registered fund business as evidenced by its continued introduction of new funds, reassessment of the fund offerings in response to the market environment and project initiatives and capital investments relating to the services provided to the Fund by the FT organization. The Board specifically noted FT’s commitment to technological innovation and advancement and investments to promote alternative investing.

Following consideration of such information, the Board was satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided by each Manager and its affiliates to the Fund and its shareholders.

Fund Performance

The Board reviewed and considered the performance results of the Fund for various time periods ended February 28, 2023. The Board considered the performance returns for the Fund in comparison to the performance returns of registered funds deemed comparable to the Fund included in a universe (Performance Universe) selected by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of investment company data. The Board received a description of the methodology used by Broadridge to select the registered funds included in a Performance Universe. The Board also reviewed and considered Fund performance reports provided and discussions that occurred with portfolio managers at Board meetings throughout the year. The Board noted its ongoing discussions with management about the performance of the Fund to date, particularly as compared to peers, the importance of performance to asset growth and growth of market share, and the performance of the Fund in periods of volatility. In addition, the Board acknowledged

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF       25  


Table of Contents

Board approval of management and subadvisory agreements (unaudited) (cont’d)

 

 

information provided regarding management’s strategy behind the overall product line up, the sources of asset growth, the nature of management’s research, potential use of innovative data and technology, and investments in marketing and distribution. Finally, the Board noted management’s high level of client engagement and the strength of its compliance program. A summary of the Fund’s performance results is below.

The Performance Universe for the Fund included the Fund and all retail and institutional small-cap core funds and exchange-traded funds. The Fund commenced operations on July 12, 2017, and thus has been in operation for less than 10 years. The Board noted that the Fund’s annualized total return for the one-, three- and five-year periods was above the median of its Performance Universe. The Board further noted that, effective May 10, 2022, the Fund changed its name, investment objective and principal investment strategies to reflect the Fund’s new investment approach as an actively managed portfolio. The Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

Comparative Fees and Expenses

The Board reviewed and considered information regarding the Fund’s actual total expense ratio, noting that the Fund pays a Unified Fee (as defined below). The Board considered the actual total expense ratio and, separately, the contractual management fee rate, without the effect of fee waivers, if any (Management Rate), of the Fund in comparison to the median expense ratio and median Management Rate, respectively, of other exchange-traded funds deemed comparable to and with a similar expense structure to the Fund selected by Broadridge (Expense Group). Broadridge fee and expense data is based upon information taken from each fund’s most recent annual or semi-annual report, which reflects historical asset levels that may be quite different from those currently existing, particularly in a period of market volatility. While recognizing such inherent limitation and the fact that expense ratios and Management Rates generally increase as assets decline and decrease as assets grow, the Board believed the independent analysis conducted by Broadridge to be an appropriate measure of comparative fees and expenses. The Broadridge Management Rate includes administrative charges. The Board received a description of the methodology used by Broadridge to select the exchange-traded funds included in an Expense Group.

The Expense Group for the Fund was comprised of actively managed exchange-traded funds, which included the Fund and eight other small-cap core funds. The Board noted that the Management Rate and actual total expense ratio for the Fund were below the medians of its Expense Group. The Board further noted that the Fund has implemented a unified management fee (Unified Fee) and that pursuant to the Unified Fee arrangement LMPFA pays for all operating expenses of the Fund, except interest expenses, taxes, brokerage expenses, future Rule 12b-1 fees (if any), acquired fund fees and expenses, extraordinary expenses and the management fee. The Board also noted that each of Royce and Western Asset LLC is paid by LMPFA out of the Unified Fee LMPFA receives from the Fund and that

 

26     Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF


Table of Contents

 

the allocation of the fee between LMPFA and each of Royce and Western Asset LLC reflected the services provided by each to the Fund. After consideration of the above, the Board concluded that the Management Rate charged to the Fund and the sub-advisory fee paid to each of Royce and Western Asset LLC are reasonable.

Profitability

The Board reviewed and considered information regarding the profits realized by each Manager and its affiliates in connection with the operation of the Fund. In this respect, the Board considered the Fund profitability analysis that addresses the overall profitability of FT’s US fund business, as well as its profits in providing investment management and other services to each of the individual funds during the 12-month period ended September 30, 2022, being the most recent fiscal year-end for FRI. The Board noted that although management continually makes refinements to its methodologies used in calculating profitability in response to organizational and product-related changes, the overall methodology has remained consistent with that used in the Fund’s profitability report presentations from prior years. The Board also noted that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, auditor to FRI and certain FT funds, has been engaged to periodically review and assess the allocation methodologies to be used solely by the Fund’s Board with respect to the profitability analysis.

The Board noted management’s belief that costs incurred in establishing the infrastructure necessary for the type of fund operations conducted by each Manager and its affiliates may not be fully reflected in the expenses allocated to the Fund in determining its profitability, as well as the fact that the level of profits, to a certain extent, reflected operational cost savings and efficiencies initiated by management. As part of this evaluation, the Board considered management’s outsourcing of certain operations, which effort has required considerable up-front expenditures but, over the long run, is expected to result in greater efficiencies. The Board also noted management’s expenditures in improving shareholder services provided to the Fund, as well as the need to implement systems and meet additional regulatory and compliance requirements resulting from recent US Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory requirements.

The Board also considered the extent to which each Manager and its affiliates might derive ancillary benefits from fund operations, including potential benefits resulting from personnel and systems enhancements necessitated by fund growth, as well as increased leverage with service providers and counterparties. Based upon its consideration of all these factors, the Board concluded that the level of profits realized by each Manager and its affiliates from providing services to the Fund was not excessive in view of the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund.

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF       27  


Table of Contents

Board approval of management and subadvisory agreements (unaudited) (cont’d)

 

 

Economies of Scale

The Board reviewed and considered the extent to which each Manager may realize economies of scale, if any, as the Fund grows larger and whether the Fund’s management fee structure reflects any economies of scale for the benefit of shareholders. The Board considered that the Fund would likely experience benefits from the Unified Fee at the Fund’s projected asset levels because of LMPFA’s contractual requirement to bear most of the Fund’s ordinary operating expenses. The Board noted that, under the Unified Fee, it is not anticipated that the Fund will generate significant, if any, profit for LMPFA and/or its affiliates for some time. The Board also considered management’s view that any analyses of potential economies of scale in managing a particular fund are inherently limited in light of the joint and common costs and investments each Manager incurs across the FT family of funds as a whole. The Board noted that, as of December 31, 2022, the Fund’s net assets were approximately $25.8 million. The Board recognized that there would not likely be any economies of scale until the Fund’s assets grow.

Conclusion

Based on its review, consideration and evaluation of all factors it believed relevant, including the above-described factors and conclusions, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of each Management Agreement for an additional one-year period.

 

28     Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF


Table of Contents

Statement regarding liquidity risk management program (unaudited)

 

Each of the Funds has adopted and implemented a written Liquidity Risk Management Program (the “LRMP”) as required by Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Liquidity Rule”). The LRMP is designed to assess and manage each Fund’s liquidity risk, which is defined as the risk that the Fund could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by the Fund without significant dilution of remaining investors’ interests in the Fund. Each of the Funds is an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) that is considered an “In-Kind ETF” under the Liquidity Rule, which means that the Fund satisfies requests for redemption through in-kind transfers of portfolio securities, positions, and other assets, except for a de minimis amount of cash, and publishes its portfolio holdings daily. In accordance with the Liquidity Rule, the LRMP includes policies and procedures that provide for: (1) assessment, management, and review (no less frequently than annually) of each Fund’s liquidity risk; (2) prohibiting the Fund’s acquisition of Illiquid investments that would result in the Fund holding more than 15% of its net assets in Illiquid assets. The LRMP also requires reporting to the SEC (on a non-public basis) and to the Board if the Fund’s holdings of Illiquid assets exceed 15% of the Fund’s net assets. As an In-Kind ETF, the Fund is not required to include in the LRMP policies and procedures relating to classification of portfolio holdings into four liquidity categories or establishing a highly liquid investment minimum (“HLIM”).

The Funds’ Board of Trustees approved the appointment of the Director of Liquidity Risk within the Investment Risk Management Group (the “IRMG”) as the Administrator of the LRMP. The IRMG maintains the Investment Liquidity Committee (the “ILC”) to provide oversight and administration of policies and procedures governing liquidity risk management for FT products and portfolios. The ILC includes representatives from Franklin Templeton’s Risk, Trading, Global Compliance, Legal, Investment Compliance, Investment Operations, Valuation Committee, Product Management and Global Product Strategy.

In assessing and managing each Fund’s liquidity risk, the ILC considers, as relevant, a variety of factors, including the Fund’s investment strategy and the liquidity of its portfolio investments during both normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions; its short and long-term cash flow projections; and its cash holdings and access to other funding sources including the Funds’ interfund lending facility and line of credit. Because the Funds are ETFs, the ILC also considers, as relevant, (1) the relationship between the Fund’s portfolio liquidity and the way in which, and the prices and spread at which, Fund shares trade, including the efficiency of the arbitrage function and the level of active participation by market participants, including authorized participants and (2) the effect of the composition of baskets on the overall liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio.

At meetings of the Funds’ Board of Trustees held in May 2023, the Program Administrator provided a written report to the Board addressing the adequacy and effectiveness of the program for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Program Administrator report concluded that (i.) the LRMP, as adopted and implemented, remains reasonably designed to

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF       29  


Table of Contents

Statement regarding liquidity risk management program (unaudited) (cont’d)

 

assess and manage each Fund’s liquidity risk; (ii.) the LRMP, including the Highly Liquid Investment Minimum (“HLIM”) where applicable, was implemented and operated effectively and achieved the goal of assessing and managing each Fund’s liquidity risk; and (iii.) each Fund was able to meet requests for redemption without significant dilution of remaining investors’ interests in the Fund.

 

30     Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF


Table of Contents

Royce Quant

Small-Cap Quality Value ETF

 

Trustees

Rohit Bhagat

Deborah D. McWhinney

Anantha K. Pradeep

Jennifer M. Johnson

Chair

 

Investment manager

Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC

Subadviser

Royce & Associates, LP

Custodian

The Bank of New York Mellon

Transfer agent

The Bank of New York Mellon

240 Greenwich Street

New York, NY 10286

Independent registered public accounting firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Baltimore, MD

 

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF

The Fund is a separate investment series of Legg Mason ETF Investment Trust, a Maryland statutory trust.

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF

Legg Mason Funds

620 Eighth Avenue, 47th Floor

New York, NY 10018

 

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Forms N-PORT are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. To obtain information on Form N-PORT, shareholders can call the Fund at 1-877-721-1926.

Information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the prior 12-month period ended June 30th of each year and a description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies related to portfolio transactions are available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at 1-877-721-1926, (2) at www.franklintempleton.com and (3) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF. This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.

Investors should consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other important information about the Fund. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

www.franklintempleton.com

© 2023 Franklin Distributors, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. All rights reserved.


Table of Contents

www.franklintempleton.com

© 2023 Franklin Distributors, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. All rights reserved.

ETFF436861 11/23