ck0000768847-20211231

VANECK FUNDS

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Dated May 1, 2022

EMERGING MARKETS LEADERS FUND

CLASS A: ELMAX / CLASS I: ELMIX / CLASS Y: ELMYX / CLASS Z: ELMZX

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY FUND

CLASS A: ENVAX / CLASS I: ENVIX / CLASS Y: ENVYX

CM COMMODITY INDEX FUND

CLASS A: CMCAX / CLASS I: COMIX / CLASS Y: CMCYX

EMERGING MARKETS BOND FUND

CLASS A: EMBAX / CLASS I: EMBUX / CLASS Y: EMBYX

EMERGING MARKETS FUND

CLASS A : GBFAX / CLASS C: EMRCX / CLASS I: EMRIX / CLASS Y: EMRYX/ CLASS Z: EMRZX

GLOBAL RESOURCES FUND

CLASS A : GHAAX / CLASS C: GHACX / CLASS I: GHAIX / CLASS Y: GHAYX

INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS GOLD FUND

CLASS A : INIVX / CLASS C: IIGCX / CLASS I: INIIX / CLASS Y: INIYX

VANECK MORNINGSTAR WIDE MOAT FUND

CLASS I: MWMIX / CLASS Z: MWMZX

This statement of additional information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with the prospectuses for VanEck Funds (the “Trust”) dated May 1, 2022, relating to CM Commodity Index Fund, Emerging Markets Bond Fund, Emerging Markets Fund, Emerging Markets Leaders Fund, Environmental Sustainability Fund, Global Resources Fund, International Investors Gold Fund and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund; (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), as each may be revised from time to time (each, a “Prospectus”). The audited financial statements of the Funds (except for Emerging Markets Leaders Fund ) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 are hereby incorporated by reference from the Funds’ Annual Report to shareholders. A copy of the Prospectuses and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports for the Trust, relating to the Funds, may be obtained without charge by visiting the VanEck website at vaneck.com, by calling toll-free 800.826.1115 or by writing to the Trust or Van Eck Securities Corporation, the Funds’ distributor (the “Distributor”). The Trust’s and the Distributor’s address is 666 Third Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10017. Capitalized terms used herein that are not defined have the same meaning as in the Prospectuses, unless otherwise noted.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


			Page

GENERAL INFORMATION			1
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS			1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CMCI			29
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT MORNINGSTAR WIDE MOAT FOCUS INDEX			30
FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS			31
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE			33
INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES			34
THE DISTRIBUTOR			38
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (12B-1 PLAN)			39
ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROCESSING SUPPORT PAYMENTS			40
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMPENSATION			41
PORTFOLIO MANAGER SHARE OWNERSHIP			41
OTHER ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS			42
SECURITIES LENDING ARRANGEMENTS			44
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE			45
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS			48
TRUSTEE INFORMATION			50
OFFICER INFORMATION			53
TRUSTEE SHARE OWNERSHIP			54
202 1 COMPENSATION TABLE			55
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS			56
POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST			74
PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES			74
CODE OF ETHICS			75
PURCHASE OF SHARES			75
AVAILABILITY OF DISCOUNTS			75
VALUATION OF SHARES			76
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE			78
CLASS CONVERSIONS			78
INVESTMENT PROGRAMS			78
TAXES			80
TAXATION OF THE FUNDS IN GENERAL			80
TAXATION OF THE FUNDS' INVESTMENTS			81
TAXATION OF U.S. INVESTORS			84
TAXATION OF NON-U.S. INVESTORS			86
FOREIGN ACCOUNT TAX COMPLIANCE ACT			86
ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION			87
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST			87
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION			88
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS			88
LICENSING AGREEMENTS AND DISCLAIMERS			88
APPENDIX A: VEAC AND VEARA PROXY VOTING POLICIES			A-1

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

MAY 1, 2022

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Trust is an open-end management investment company organized as a business trust under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on April 3, 1985. On May 1, 2016, Van Eck Funds changed its name to VanEck Funds. The Trust’s series which are currently being offered are the following: Emerging Markets Fund, which offers Class A, Class C, Class I, Class Y and Class Z shares; Global Resources Fund (formerly, Global Hard Assets Fund prior to May 1, 2021) and International Investors Gold Fund, each of which offers Class A, Class C, Class I and Class Y shares; CM Commodity Index Fund, Emerging Markets Bond Fund, and Environmental Sustainability Fund, each of which offers Class A, Class I and Class Y shares; VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund which offers Class I and Class Z shares, and Emerging Markets Leaders Fund which offers Class A, Class I, Class Y and Class Z shares. The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) has authority, without the necessity of a shareholder vote, to create additional series or funds, each of which may issue separate classes of shares.

Emerging Markets Bond Fund, Emerging Markets Leaders Fund, Environmental Sustainability Fund and International Investors Gold Fund are classified as non-diversified funds under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). CM Commodity Index Fund, Emerging Markets Fund, Global Resources Fund and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund are classified as diversified funds under the 1940 Act. Van Eck Associates Corporation (“VEAC”) serves as investment adviser to all the Funds, except for CM Commodity Index Fund. Van Eck Absolute Return Advisers Corporation (“VEARA” and together with VEAC, each an “Adviser” or the “Advisers”) serves as investment adviser to CM Commodity Index Fund.

INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS

The following is additional information regarding the investment policies and strategies used by the Funds in attempting to achieve their respective objectives, and should be read with the sections of the Funds’ Prospectuses titled “Summary Information - Principal Investment Strategies”, “Summary Information - Principal Risks” and “Investment Objectives, Strategies, Policies, Risks and Other Information”. The Funds, except for VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund, may take temporary defensive positions in anticipation of or in an attempt to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions. Such a position could have the effect of reducing any benefit a Fund may receive from a market increase. When taking a temporary defensive position, a Fund may invest all or a substantial portion of its total assets in cash or cash equivalents, government securities, short-term or medium-term fixed income securities, which may include, but not be limited to, shares of other mutual funds, U.S. Treasury bills, commercial paper or repurchase agreements. A Fund may not achieve its investment objective while it is investing defensively. Each of the Emerging Markets Bond Fund and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of its portfolio securities.

CM Commodity Index Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in instruments that derive their value from the performance of the UBS Bloomberg Constant Maturity Commodity Total Return Index (the “CMCI”), as described below, and in bonds, debt securities and other fixed income instruments (“Fixed Income Instruments”) issued by various U.S. public- or private-sector entities. CM Commodity Index Fund invests in commodity-linked derivative instruments, including commodity index-linked notes, swap agreements, commodity futures contracts and options on futures contracts that provide economic exposure to the investment returns of the commodities markets, as represented by the CMCI and its constituents. A derivative is an investment whose value depends on (or is derived from) that value of an underlying security. Commodities are assets that have tangible properties, such as oil, metals, and agricultural products. A commodity-linked derivative is a derivative instrument whose value is linked to the movement of a commodity, commodity index, commodity option or futures contract. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by overall market movements and other factors affecting the value of a particular industry or commodity, such as weather, disease, embargoes, or political and regulatory developments.

The CMCI is a rules-based, composite benchmark index diversified across 29 commodity components from the following five sectors: energy, precious metals, industrial metals, agriculture and livestock. The CMCI is comprised of futures contracts with maturities ranging from three months up to a maximum of about three years for each commodity, depending on liquidity. The return of the CMCI reflects a combination of (i) the returns on the futures contracts comprising the CMCI; and (ii) the fixed-income return that would be earned on a hypothetical portfolio of 13-week U.S. Treasury bills theoretically deposited as full collateral for the notional exposure of the hypothetical positions in the futures contracts comprising the CMCI. The selection and relative weightings of the components of the CMCI are designed to reflect the economic significance and market liquidity of each commodity, as determined based on global economic data, consumption data, commodity futures prices, open interest and volume data. The maturity of each commodity component in the CMCI remains fixed at a predefined time interval from the current date at all times by means of a continuous rolling process, in which a weighted percentage of shorter dated contracts for each commodity are swapped for longer dated contracts on a daily basis. The CMCI is rebalanced

monthly back to the target weightings of the commodity components of the CMCI and the target weightings of all commodity components are revised once per year. A more detailed description of the CMCI is contained in the section of this SAI entitled “Additional Information About the CMCI.”

CM Commodity Index Fund seeks to track the returns of the CMCI by entering into swap contracts and commodity index-linked notes with one or more counterparties, which contracts and notes will rise and fall in value in response to changes in the value of the CMCI. As of the date of this SAI, UBS was the only available counterparty with which CM Commodity Index Fund may enter into such swap contracts on the CMCI. CM Commodity Index Fund may enter into such contracts and notes directly or indirectly through a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fund (the “CMCI Subsidiary”). Commodity index-linked notes are derivative debt instruments with principal and/or coupon payments linked to the performance of commodity indices (such as the CMCI). These commodity index-linked notes are sometimes referred to as “structured notes” because the terms of these notes may be structured by the issuer and the purchaser of the note. CM Commodity Index Fund may also seek to gain exposure to the individual commodity components of the CMCI by investing in futures contracts that comprise the CMCI, either directly or indirectly through the Subsidiary.

Under normal conditions, the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in securities that comprise the Morningstar® Wide Moat Focus IndexSM (the “Wide Moat Index”). The Wide Moat Index is comprised of securities issued by companies that Morningstar, Inc. (“Morningstar”) determines to have sustainable competitive advantages based on a proprietary methodology that considers quantitative and qualitative factors (“wide moat companies”). Wide moat companies are selected from the universe of companies represented in the Morningstar® US Market IndexSM, a broad market index representing 97% of U.S. market capitalization. The Wide Moat Index targets a select group of wide moat companies: those that according to Morningstar’s equity research team are attractively priced as of each Wide Moat Index review. Out of the companies in the Morningstar US Market Index that Morningstar determines are wide moat companies, Morningstar selects companies to be included in Index as determined by the ratio of Morningstar’s estimate of fair value of the issuer’s common stock to the price. Morningstar’s equity research fair value estimates are calculated using a standardized, proprietary valuation model. Wide moat companies may include medium-capitalization companies. VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund’s 80% investment policy is non-fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. In seeking to achieve its investment objective, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund may also invest in VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (the “underlying fund”), an affiliated fund, which also seeks to replicate the price and yield performance of the Wide Moat Index, and such investment will count towards the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund’s 80% investment policy. VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate the price and yield performance of the Index by investing in a portfolio of securities that generally replicate the performance of the Wide Moat Index.

ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES

The Funds may invest in asset-backed securities. Asset-backed securities, directly or indirectly, represent interests in, or are secured by and payable from, pools of consumer loans (generally unrelated to mortgage loans) and most often are structured as pass-through securities. Interest and principal payments ultimately depend on payment of the underlying loans, although the securities may be supported by letters of credit or other credit enhancements. The value of asset-backed securities may also depend on the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the loan pool, the originator of the loans, or the financial institution providing the credit enhancement.

Asset-backed securities are subject to certain risks. These risks generally arise out of the security interest in the assets collateralizing the security. For example, credit card receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors are entitled to a number of protections from the state and through federal consumer laws, many of which give the debtor the right to offset certain amounts of credit card debts and thereby reducing the amounts due.

BELOW INVESTMENT GRADE SECURITIES

The Funds may invest in below investment grade debt securities. Investments in securities rated below investment grade that are eligible for purchase by a Fund are described as “speculative” by Moody’s, S&P and Fitch, Inc. Investments in lower rated corporate debt securities (“high yield securities” or “junk bonds”) generally provide greater income and increased opportunity for capital appreciation than investments in higher quality securities, but they also typically entail greater price volatility and principal and income risk.

These high yield securities are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to meet principal and interest payments. Analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of debt securities that are high yield may be more complex than for issuers of higher quality debt securities.

High yield securities may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse economic and competitive industry conditions than investment grade securities. The prices of high yield securities have been found to be less sensitive to interest-rate changes than higher-rated investments, but more sensitive to adverse economic downturns or individual corporate

developments. A projection of an economic downturn or of a period of rising interest rates, for example, could cause a decline in high yield security prices because the advent of a recession could lessen the ability of a highly leveraged company to make principal and interest payments on its debt securities. If an issuer of high yield securities defaults, in addition to risking payment of all or a portion of interest and principal, a Fund by investing in such securities may incur additional expenses to seek recovery. In the case of high yield securities structured as zero-coupon or pay-in-kind securities, their market prices are affected to a greater extent by interest rate changes, and therefore tend to be more volatile than securities which pay interest periodically and in cash.

The secondary market on which high yield securities are traded may be less liquid than the market for higher grade securities. Less liquidity in the secondary trading market could adversely affect the price at which a Fund could sell a high yield security, and could adversely affect the daily net asset value of the shares. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield securities, especially in a thinly-traded market. When secondary markets for high yield securities are less liquid than the market for higher grade securities, it may be more difficult to value the securities because such valuation may require more research, and elements of judgment may play a greater role in the valuation because there is less reliable, objective data available.

BORROWING; LEVERAGE

Borrowing to invest more is called “leverage.” A Fund may borrow from banks provided that the amount of borrowing is no more than one third of the net assets of the Fund plus the amount of the borrowings. A Fund is required to be able to restore borrowing to its permitted level within three days, if it should increase to more than one-third of its net assets as stated above. Methods that may be used to restore borrowings in this context include selling securities, even if the sale hurts a Fund’s investment performance. Leverage exaggerates the effect of rises or falls in prices of securities bought with borrowed money. Borrowing also costs money, including fees and interest. The Funds expect to borrow only through negotiated loan agreements with commercial banks or other institutional lenders.

COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS

The Funds may invest in collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”). CMOs are fixed-income securities which are collateralized by pools of mortgage loans or mortgage-related securities created by commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies and mortgage bankers. In effect, CMOs “pass through” the monthly payments made by individual borrowers on their mortgage loans. Prepayments of the mortgages included in the mortgage pool may influence the yield of the CMO. In addition, prepayments usually increase when interest rates are decreasing, thereby decreasing the life of the pool. As a result, reinvestment of prepayments may be at a lower rate than that on the original CMO. There are different classes of CMOs, and certain classes have priority over others with respect to prepayment of the mortgages. Timely payment of interest and principal (but not the market value) of these pools is supported by various forms of insurance or guarantees. Each Fund may buy CMOs without insurance or guarantees if, in the opinion of its Adviser, the pooler is creditworthy or if rated investment grade. In the event that any CMOs are determined to be investment companies, the Funds will be subject to certain limitations under the 1940 Act.

COMMERCIAL PAPER

The Funds may invest in commercial paper that is indexed to certain specific foreign currency exchange rates which may entail the risk of loss of principal. The terms of such commercial paper typically provide that its principal amount is adjusted upwards or downwards (but not below zero) at maturity to reflect changes in the exchange rate between two currencies while the obligation is outstanding. The Funds purchase such commercial paper with the currency in which it is denominated and, at maturity, will typically receive interest and principal payments thereon in that currency, but the amount or principal payable by the issuer at maturity will change in proportion to the change (if any) in the exchange rate between two specified currencies between the date the instrument is issued and the date the instrument matures.

The Funds may invest in commercial paper with the principal amount indexed to the difference, up or down, in value between two foreign currencies. The Funds segregate asset accounts with an equivalent amount of cash, U.S. government securities or other highly liquid securities equal in value to this commercial paper.

COMMODITIES AND COMMODITY-LINKED DERIVATIVES

Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Funds to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The commodities markets may fluctuate widely based on a variety of factors including changes in overall market movements, political and economic events and policies, war, disease, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and changes in interest rates or inflation rates. Prices of various commodities may also be affected by factors such as drought, floods, weather, embargoes, tariffs and other regulatory developments. The prices of commodities can also fluctuate widely due to supply and demand disruptions in major producing or consuming regions. Certain commodities may be produced in a limited number of countries and may be controlled by a small number of producers. As a result, political, economic and supply related events in such countries could have a disproportionate impact on the prices of such commodities.

Commodity-Linked “Structured” Securities. Because the value of a commodity-linked derivative instrument typically is based upon the price movements of a physical commodity, the value of the commodity-linked derivative instrument may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry. The value of these securities typically rises or falls in response to changes in the underlying commodity or related index of investment.

Structured Notes. Structured notes expose CM Commodity Index Fund economically to movements in commodity prices. The performance of a structured note is determined by the price movement of the commodity underlying the note. A liquid secondary market may not exist for structured notes, and there can be no assurance that one will develop. These notes are often leveraged, increasing the volatility of each note’s market value relative to changes in the underlying commodity, commodity futures contract or commodity index.

CONCENTRATION

To the extent that the Wide Moat Index is concentrated in a particular sector or sectors or industry or group of industries, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund will be subject to the risk that economic, political or other conditions that have a negative effect on that sector or industry may negatively impact the Fund to a greater extent than if the Fund’s assets were invested in a wider variety of sectors or industries.

CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES

The Funds may invest in securities that are convertible into common stock or other securities of the same or a different issuer or into cash within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. Convertible securities are generally fixed income securities (but may include preferred stock) and generally rank senior to common stocks in a corporation’s capital structure and, therefore, entail less risk than the corporation’s common stock. The value of a convertible security is a function of its “investment value” (its value as if it did not have a conversion privilege), and its “conversion value” (the security’s worth if it were to be exchanged for the underlying security, at market value, pursuant to its conversion privilege).

To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will generally be primarily a reflection of such investment value and its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security (the credit standing of the issuer and other factors may also have an effect on the convertible security’s value). If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will generally rise above its investment value and, in addition, will generally sell at some premium over its conversion value. (This premium represents the price investors are willing to pay for the privilege of purchasing a fixed-income security with a possibility of capital appreciation due to the conversion privilege.) At such times, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security. Convertible securities may be purchased by the Funds at varying price levels above their investment values and/or their conversion values in keeping with the Funds’ objectives.

CREDIT

Credit risk is the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a debt security or the counterparty to an over-the-counter (“OTC”) contract (including many derivatives) will be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments or otherwise honor its obligations. The Funds invest in debt securities that are subject to varying degrees of risk that the issuers of the securities will have their credit ratings downgraded or will default, potentially reducing the value of the securities. A Fund may enter into financial transactions that involve a limited number of counterparties, which may increase the Fund’s exposure to credit risk. The Fund does not specifically limit its credit risk with respect to any single counterparty. Further, there is a risk that no suitable counterparties will be willing to enter into, or continue to enter into, transactions with the Fund and, as a result, the Fund may not be able to achieve its investment objective.

CURRENCY FORWARDS

A currency forward transaction is a contract to buy or sell a specified quantity of currency at a specified date in the future at a specified price which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties. Currency forward contracts may be used to increase or reduce exposure to currency price movements.

The use of currency forward transactions involves certain risks. For example, if the counterparty under the contract defaults on its obligation to make payments due from it as a result of its bankruptcy or otherwise, a Fund may lose such payments altogether or collect only a portion thereof, which collection could involve costs or delays.

CURRENCY MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

Currency management strategies are generally used in an attempt to reduce the risk and impact of adverse currency movements to protect the value of, or seek to mitigate the currency exposure associated with, an investment (including, for example, mitigating the exposure to the Euro that may be embedded in the Polish zloty). Currency management strategies, including currency forward contracts (described above) and cross-hedging, may substantially change a Fund’s exposure to currency exchange rates and could result in losses to the Fund if currencies do not perform as an Adviser expects. In addition, currency management strategies, to the extent that such strategies reduce a Fund’s exposure to currency risks, may also reduce the Fund’s ability to benefit from favorable changes in currency exchange rates. There is no assurance that an Adviser’s use of currency management strategies will benefit a Fund or that they will be, or can be, used at appropriate times. Furthermore, there may not be a perfect correlation between the amount of exposure to a particular currency and the amount of securities in the portfolio denominated in that currency or exposed to that currency. Currency markets are generally less regulated than securities markets. Derivatives transactions, especially currency forward contracts, currency related futures contracts and swap agreements, may involve significant amounts of currency management strategies risk. The Emerging Markets Bond Fund, which may utilize these types of instruments to a significant extent, will be especially subject to currency management strategies risk.

CYBER SECURITY

The Funds and their service providers are susceptible to cyber security risks that include, among other things, theft, unauthorized monitoring, release, misuse, loss, destruction or corruption of confidential and highly restricted data; denial of service attacks; unauthorized access to relevant systems; compromises to networks or devices that the Funds and their service providers use to service the Funds’ operations; and operational disruption or failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support the Funds and their service providers. Cyber attacks against or security breakdowns of the Funds or their service providers may adversely impact the Funds and their shareholders, potentially resulting in, among other things, financial losses; the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business and the Funds to process transactions; the inability to calculate the Funds’ NAV; violations of applicable privacy and other laws; regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs; and/or additional compliance costs. The Funds may incur additional costs for cyber security risk management and remediation purposes. In addition, cyber security risks may also impact issuers of securities in which the Funds invest, which may cause the Funds’ investments in such issuers to lose value. There can be no assurance that the Funds or their service providers will not suffer losses relating to cyber attacks or other information security breaches in the future.

DEBT SECURITIES

The Funds may invest in debt securities. The market value of debt securities generally varies in response to changes in interest rates and the financial condition of each issuer and the value of a global resource if linked to the value of a global resource. Debt securities with similar maturities may have different yields, depending upon several factors, including the relative financial condition of the issuers. Investment grade means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s or BBB- or better by S&P, or of comparable quality in the judgment of a Fund’s Adviser or if no rating has been given by either service. Many securities of foreign issuers are not rated by these services. Therefore, the selection of such issuers depends to a large extent on the credit analysis performed by an Adviser. During periods of declining interest rates, the value of debt securities generally increases. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, the value of such securities generally declines. These changes in market value will be reflected in a Fund’s net asset value. Debt securities with similar maturities may have different yields, depending upon several factors, including the relative financial condition of the issuers. For example, higher yields are generally available from securities in the lower rating categories of S&P or Moody’s. However, the values of lower-rated securities generally fluctuate more than those of high-grade securities. Many securities of foreign issuers are not rated by these services. Therefore the selection of such issuers depends to a large extent on the credit analysis performed by an Adviser.

New issues of certain debt securities are often offered on a when-issued basis. That is, the payment obligation and the interest rate are fixed at the time the buyer enters into the commitment, but delivery and payment for the securities normally take place after the date of the commitment to purchase. The value of when-issued securities may vary prior to and after delivery depending on market conditions and changes in interest rate levels. However, the Funds do not accrue any income on these securities prior to delivery. The Funds may also invest in low rated or unrated debt securities. Low rated debt securities present a significantly greater risk of default than do higher rated securities, in times of poor business or economic conditions, the Funds may lose interest and/or principal on such securities.

The Funds may also invest in various money market securities for cash management purposes or when assuming a temporary defensive position. Money market securities may include commercial paper, bankers’ acceptances, bank obligations, corporate debt securities, certificates of deposit, U.S. government securities and obligations of savings institutions.

DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS

The Funds may invest in Depositary Receipts, which represent an ownership interest in securities of foreign companies (an “underlying issuer”) that are deposited with a depositary. Depositary Receipts are not necessarily denominated in the same currency as the underlying securities. Depositary Receipts include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and other types of Depositary Receipts (which, together with ADRs and GDRs, are hereinafter collectively referred to as “Depositary Receipts”). ADRs are dollar-denominated Depositary Receipts typically issued by a U.S. financial institution which evidence an ownership interest in a security or pool of securities issued by a foreign issuer. ADRs are listed and traded in the United States. GDRs and other types of Depositary Receipts are typically issued by foreign banks or trust companies, although they also may be issued by U.S. financial institutions, and evidence ownership interests in a security or pool of securities issued by either a foreign or a U.S. corporation. Generally, Depositary Receipts in registered form are designed for use in the U.S. securities market and Depositary Receipts in bearer form are designed for use in securities markets outside the United States.

Depositary Receipts may be “sponsored” or “unsponsored.” 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 unsponsored Depositary Receipts generally bear all the costs associated with establishing unsponsored Depositary Receipts. In addition, the issuers of the securities underlying unsponsored Depository Receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States and, therefore, there may be less information available regarding such issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the Depositary Receipts.

DERIVATIVES

The Funds may also use derivatives, such as futures contracts, options, forward contracts and swaps as part of various investment techniques and strategies, such as creating non-speculative “synthetic” positions (covered by segregation of liquid assets) or implementing “cross-hedging” strategies. A “synthetic” position is the duplication of a cash market transaction. “Cross-hedging” involves the use of one currency to hedge against the decline in the value of another currency. The use of such instruments as described herein involves several risks. First, there can be no assurance that the prices of such instruments and the hedge security or the cash market position will move as anticipated. If prices do not move as anticipated, a Fund may incur a loss on its investment, may not achieve the hedging protection it anticipated and/or may incur a loss greater than if it had entered into a cash market position. Second, investments in such instruments may reduce the gains which would otherwise be realized from the sale of the underlying securities or assets which are being hedged. Third, positions in such instruments can be closed out only on an exchange that provides a market for those instruments. There can be no assurance that such a market will exist for a particular derivative. If the Fund cannot close out an exchange traded derivative which it holds, it may have to perform its contract obligation or exercise its option to realize any profit and may incur transaction cost on the sale of the underlying assets. In addition, the use of derivative instruments involves the risk that a loss may be sustained as a result of the failure of the counterparty to the derivatives contract to make required payments or otherwise comply with the contract’s terms.

When the Funds intend to acquire securities (or gold bullion or coins as the case may be) for their portfolio, they may use call derivatives as a means of fixing the price of the security (or gold) they intend to purchase at the exercise price or contract price depending on the derivative. An increase in the acquisition cost may be offset, in whole or part, by a gain on the derivative. Options and futures contracts requiring delivery of a security may also be useful to the Funds in purchasing a large block of securities that would be more difficult to acquire by direct market purchases. If the Funds hold a call option rather than the underlying security itself, the Funds are partially protected from any unexpected decline in the market price of the underlying security and in such event could allow the call option to expire, incurring a loss only to the extent of the premium paid for the option. Using a futures contract would not offer such partial protection against market declines and the Funds may experience a loss as if they had owned the underlying security.

In addition, the Funds may invest in Participation Notes or P-Notes which are issued by banks or broker-dealers and are designed to offer a return linked to the performance of a particular underlying equity security or market. P-Notes can have the characteristics or take the form of various instruments, including, but not limited to, certificates or warrants. The holder of a P-Note that is linked to a particular underlying security is entitled to receive any dividends paid in connection with the underlying security. However, the holder of a P-Note generally does not receive voting rights as it would if it directly owned the underlying security. P-Notes constitute direct, general and unsecured contractual obligations of the banks or broker-dealers that issue them, which therefore subject a Fund to counterparty risk, as discussed below. Investments in P-Notes involve certain risks in addition to those associated with a direct investment in the underlying foreign companies or foreign securities markets whose return they seek to replicate. For instance, there can be no assurance that the trading price of a P-Note will equal the underlying value of the foreign company or foreign securities market that it seeks to replicate. As the purchaser of a P-Note, a Fund is relying on the creditworthiness of the counterparty issuing the P-Note and has no rights under a P-Note against the issuer of the underlying security. Therefore, if such counterparty were to become insolvent, a Fund would lose its investment.

The risk that a Fund may lose its investments due to the insolvency of a single counterparty may be amplified to the extent the Fund purchases P-Notes issued by one issuer or a small number of issuers. P-Notes also include transaction costs in addition to those applicable to a direct investment in securities. In addition, the use of P-Notes by VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund may cause the Fund’s performance to deviate from the performance of the portion of the Wide Moat Index to which the Fund is gaining exposure through the use of P-Notes.

Due to liquidity and transfer restrictions, the secondary markets on which P-Notes are traded may be less liquid than the markets for other securities, which may lead to the absence of readily available market quotations for securities in a Fund’s portfolio. The ability of a Fund to value its securities becomes more difficult and the judgment in the application of fair value procedures may play a greater role in the valuation of a Fund’s securities due to reduced availability of reliable objective pricing data. Consequently, while such determinations will be made in good faith, it may nevertheless be more difficult for a Fund to accurately assign a daily value to such securities.

On October 28, 2020, the SEC adopted new regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. The Funds will be required to implement and comply with Rule 18f-4 by August 19, 2022. Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives a fund can enter into, eliminate the asset segregation framework currently used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, treat derivatives as senior securities so that a failure to comply with the limits would result in a statutory violation and require funds whose use of derivatives is more than a limited specified exposure amount to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager.

DIRECT INVESTMENTS

The Funds, except CM Commodity Index Fund, Emerging Markets Bond Fund and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund, may not invest more than 10% of their total assets in direct investments. Direct investments include (i) the private purchase from an enterprise of an equity interest in the enterprise, and (ii) the purchase of such an equity interest in an enterprise from an investor in the enterprise. In each case, a Fund may, at the time of making an investment, enter into a shareholder or similar agreement with the enterprise and one or more other holders of equity interests in the enterprise.

Certain of the Funds’ direct investments may include investments in smaller, less seasoned companies. These companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, or they may be dependent on a limited management group. In some cases, the Funds’ direct investments may fund new start-up operations for an enterprise. With respect to Emerging Markets Fund and Emerging Markets Leaders Fund, such direct investments may be made in entities that are reasonably expected in the foreseeable future to become growth companies, either by expanding current operations or establishing significant operations.

Direct investments may involve a high degree of business and financial risk that can result in substantial losses. Because of the absence of any public trading market for these investments, the Funds may take longer to liquidate these positions than would be the case for publicly traded securities. Although these securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the prices on these sales could be less than those originally paid by the Funds. Furthermore, issuers whose securities are not publicly traded may not be subject to public disclosure and other investor protection requirements applicable to publicly traded securities. If such securities are required to be registered under the securities laws of one or more jurisdictions before being resold, the Funds may be required to bear the expense of the registration. Direct investments are generally considered illiquid and will be aggregated with other illiquid investments for purposes of the limitation on illiquid investments. Direct investments can be difficult to price. The pricing of direct investments may not be reflective of the price at which these assets could be liquidated.

EQUITY SECURITIES

The Funds may invest in equity securities. Equity securities, such as common stock, represent an ownership interest, or the right to acquire an ownership interest, in an issuer.

Common stock generally takes the form of shares in a corporation. The value of a company’s stock may fall as a result of factors directly relating to that company, such as decisions made by its management or lower demand for the company’s products or services. A stock’s value also may fall because of factors affecting not just the company, but also companies in the same industry or in a number of different industries, such as increases in production costs. The value of a company’s stock also may be affected by changes in financial markets that are relatively unrelated to the company or its industry, such as changes in interest rates or currency exchange rates. In addition, a company’s stock generally pays dividends only after the company invests in its own business and makes required payments to holders of its bonds, other debt and preferred stock. For this reason, the value of a company’s stock usually reacts more strongly than its bonds, other debt and preferred stock to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Stocks of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of larger companies. Stocks of companies that the portfolio manager believes are fast-growing may trade at a higher multiple of current earnings than other stocks. The value of such stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the values of other stocks.

Different types of equity securities provide different voting and dividend rights and priority in the event of the bankruptcy and/or insolvency of the issuer. In addition to common stock, equity securities may include preferred stock, convertible securities and warrants, which are discussed elsewhere in the Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information. Equity securities other than common stock are subject to many of the same risks as common stock, although possibly to different degrees.

ESG considerations, may be utilized as a component of a Fund’s investment process to implement its investment strategy in pursuit of its investment objective. ESG factors may be incorporated to evaluate an issuer, as part of risk analysis, opportunity analysis, or in other manners. ESG factors may vary across types of investments and issuers, and not every ESG factor may be identified or evaluated. The incorporation of ESG factors may affect a Fund’s exposure to certain issuers or industries and may not work as intended. A Fund may underperform other funds that do not assess an issuer’s ESG factors as part of the investment process or that use a different methodology to identify and/or incorporate ESG factors. Because ESG considerations may be used as one part of an overall investment process, a Fund may still invest in securities of issuers that are not considered ESG-focused or that may be viewed as having a high ESG risk profile. As investors can differ in their views regarding ESG factors, a Fund may invest in issuers that do not reflect the views with respect to ESG of any particular investor. Information used by a Fund to evaluate such factors, including information from reliance on third-party research and/or proprietary research, may not be readily available, complete or accurate, and may vary across providers and issuers as

ESG is not a uniformly defined characteristic, which could negatively impact a Fund’s ability to accurately assess an issuer, which could negatively impact a Fund’s performance. There is no guarantee that the evaluation of ESG considerations will be additive to a Fund’s performance.

FOREIGN SECURITIES

Foreign securities include securities issued by a foreign government, quasi-government or corporate entity, traded in foreign currencies or issued by companies with most of their business interests in foreign countries. Investors should recognize that investing in foreign securities involves certain special considerations that are not typically associated with investing in United States securities. Since investments in foreign companies frequently involve currencies of foreign countries, and since the Funds may hold securities and funds in foreign currencies, the Funds may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency rates and in exchange control regulations, if any, and may incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies. Most foreign stock markets, while growing in volume of trading activity, have less volume than the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), and securities of some foreign companies may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable domestic companies. Similarly, volume and liquidity in most foreign bond markets may be less than in the United States, and at times volatility of price can be greater than in the United States. Fixed commissions on foreign securities exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on United States exchanges. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and listed companies in foreign countries than in the United States. In addition, with respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of exchange control restrictions, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political, economic or social instability, which could affect investments in those countries. Foreign securities such as those purchased by the Funds may be subject to foreign government taxes, higher custodian fees, higher brokerage commissions and dividend collection fees which could reduce the yield on such securities.

Trading in futures contracts traded on foreign commodity exchanges may be subject to the same or similar risks as trading in foreign securities.

FOREIGN SECURITIES - EMERGING MARKET SECURITIES

The Funds, except for VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund, may have a substantial portion of their assets invested in emerging markets. A Fund’s Adviser has broad discretion to identify countries that it considers to qualify as emerging markets. Each Fund’s Adviser selects emerging market countries and currencies that the Fund will invest in based on the Adviser’s evaluation of economic fundamentals, legal structure, political developments and other specific factors the Adviser believes to be relevant. An instrument may qualify as an emerging market debt security if it is either (i) issued by an emerging market government, quasi-government or corporate entity (regardless of the currency in which it is denominated) or (ii) denominated in the currency of an emerging market country (regardless of the location of the issuer).

Investing in the equity and fixed income markets of emerging market countries involves exposure to potentially unstable governments, the risk of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership, prohibitions on repatriation of assets and a system of laws that may offer less protection of property rights. Emerging market economies may be based on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local and global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates.

Additionally, the government in an emerging market country may restrict or control to varying degrees the ability of foreign investors to invest in securities of issuers located or operating in such emerging market countries. These restrictions and/or controls may at times limit or prevent foreign investment in securities of issuers located or operating in emerging market countries. In addition, a Fund may not be able to buy or sell securities or receive full value for such securities. Moreover,

certain emerging market countries may require governmental approval or special licenses prior to investments by foreign investors and may limit the amount of investments by foreign investors in a particular industry and/or issuer; may limit such foreign investment to a certain class of securities of an issuer that may have less advantageous rights than the classes available for purchase by domiciliaries of such emerging market countries; and/or may impose additional taxes on foreign investors. A delay in obtaining a required government approval or a license would delay investments in those emerging market countries, and, as a result, a Fund may not be able to invest in certain securities while approval is pending. The government of certain emerging market countries may also withdraw or decline to renew a license that enables a Fund to invest in such country. These factors make investing in issuers located or operating in emerging market countries significantly riskier than investing in issuers located or operating in more developed countries, and any one of them could cause a decline in the value of a Fund’s shares.

Additionally, investments in issuers located in certain emerging market countries may be subject to a greater degree of risk associated with governmental approval in connection with the repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors. Moreover, there is the risk that if the balance of payments in an emerging market country declines, the government of such country may impose temporary restrictions on foreign capital remittances. Consequently, a Fund could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, required governmental approval for repatriation of capital, as well as by the application to the Fund of any restrictions on investments. Furthermore, investments in emerging market countries may require a Fund to adopt special procedures, seek local government approvals or take other actions, each of which may involve additional costs to a Fund.

The securities markets in emerging markets are substantially smaller, less liquid and more volatile than the major securities markets in the United States. A high proportion of the shares of many issuers may be held by a limited number of persons and financial institutions, which may limit the number of shares available for investment by the portfolio. Similarly, volume and liquidity in the bond markets in Asia, Eastern and Central Europe and other emerging markets are less than in the United States and, at times, price volatility can be greater than in the United States. A limited number of issuers in Asian and emerging market securities markets may represent a disproportionately large percentage of market capitalization and trading value. The limited liquidity of securities markets in these regions may also affect a Fund’s ability to acquire or dispose of securities at the price and time it wishes to do so. Accordingly, during periods of rising securities prices in the more illiquid regions’ securities markets, a Fund’s ability to participate fully in such price increases may be limited by its investment policy of investing not more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments. Conversely, the inability of a Fund to dispose fully and promptly of positions in declining markets may cause such Fund’s net asset values to decline as the values of the unsold positions are marked to lower prices. In addition, these securities markets are susceptible to being influenced by large investors trading significant blocks of securities. Also, stockbrokers and other intermediaries in emerging markets may not perform in the same way as their counterparts in the United States and other more developed securities markets. The prices at which a Fund may acquire investments may be affected by trading by persons with material non-public information and by securities transactions by brokers in anticipation of transactions by the Fund in particular securities.

The Funds may invest in Latin American, Asian, Eurasian and other countries with emerging economies or securities markets. Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of the United States. Certain such countries have in the past failed to recognize private property rights and have at times nationalized or expropriated the assets of private companies. As a result, the risks described above, including the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, may be heightened. In addition, unanticipated political or social developments may affect the value of the Fund’s investments in those countries and the availability to the Fund of additional investments in those countries. Emerging market countries may have different accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and may employ other regulatory practices and requirements as compared to more developed markets.

The Russian, Eastern and Central European, Chinese and Taiwanese stock markets are undergoing a period of growth and change which may result in trading volatility and difficulties in the settlement and recording of transactions, and in interpreting and applying the relevant law and regulations.

Certain Risks of Investing in Asia-Pacific Countries. In addition to the risks of foreign investing and the risks of investing in developing markets, the developing market Asia-Pacific countries in which a Fund may invest are subject to certain additional or specific risks. A Fund may make substantial investments in Asia-Pacific countries. In many of these markets, there is a high concentration of market capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing a limited number of industries, as well as a high concentration of investors and financial intermediaries. Many of these markets also may be affected by developments with respect to more established markets in the region such as in Japan and Hong Kong. Brokers in developing market Asia-Pacific countries typically are fewer in number and less well capitalized than brokers in the United States. These factors, combined with the U.S. regulatory requirements for open-end investment companies, result in potentially fewer investment opportunities for the Fund and may have an adverse impact on the investment performance of a Fund.

Many of the developing market Asia-Pacific countries may be subject to a greater degree of economic, political and social instability than is the case in the United States and Western European countries. Such instability may result from, among other things: (i) authoritarian governments or military involvement in political and economic decision-making, including changes in government through extra-constitutional means; (ii) popular unrest associated with demands for improved political, economic and social conditions; (iii) internal insurgencies; (iv) hostile relations with neighboring countries; and (v) ethnic, religious and racial disaffection. Public health crises or major health-related developments may have a substantial impact on the economy of certain Asian-Pacific countries. Outbreaks of contagious viruses and diseases, including the novel viruses commonly known as SARS, MERS, and Covid-19 (Coronavirus), may reduce business activity or disrupt market activity, and have the potential to exacerbate market risks such as volatility in exchange rates or the trading of Asian-Pacific securities listed domestically or abroad.

In addition, the governments of many of such countries, such as Indonesia, have a substantial role in regulating and supervising the economy. Another risk common to most such countries is that the economy is heavily export oriented and, accordingly, is dependent upon international trade. The existence of overburdened infrastructure and obsolete financial systems also presents risks in certain countries, as do environmental problems. Certain economies also depend to a significant degree upon exports of primary commodities and, therefore, are vulnerable to changes in commodity prices that, in turn, may be affected by a variety of factors.

Governments of many developing market Asia-Pacific countries have exercised and continue to exercise substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector. In certain cases, the government owns or controls many companies, including the largest in the country. Accordingly, government actions in the future could have a significant effect on economic conditions in developing market Asia-Pacific countries, which could affect private sector companies and a Fund itself, as well as the value of securities in the Fund’s portfolio. In addition, economic statistics of developing market Asia-Pacific countries may be less reliable than economic statistics of more developed nations.

Investments through Stock Connect. Each of the Emerging Markets Fund, Emerging Markets Leaders Fund and the Environmental Sustainability Fund may invest in A-shares listed and traded on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange through the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect Program and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect Program (together, “Stock Connect”), or on such other stock exchanges in China which participate in Stock Connect from time to time or in the future. Trading through Stock Connect is subject to a number of restrictions that may affect each of the Fund's investments and returns. For example, trading through Stock Connect is subject to daily quotas that limit the maximum daily net purchases on any particular day, which may restrict or preclude each of the Fund's ability to invest in Stock Connect A-shares. In addition, investments made through Stock Connect are subject to trading, clearance and settlement procedures that are relatively untested in the PRC, which could pose risks to the Funds. Furthermore, securities purchased via Stock Connect are generally held via a book entry omnibus account in the name of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited (“HKSCC”), Hong Kong’s clearing entity, at the China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited (“CSDCC”). These Funds' ownership interest in Stock Connect securities will not be reflected directly in book entry with CSDCC and will instead only be reflected on the books of its Hong Kong sub-custodian. The Funds may therefore depend on HKSCC’s ability or willingness as record-holder of Stock Connect securities to enforce each of the Fund’s shareholder rights. PRC law did not historically recognize the concept of beneficial ownership; while PRC regulations and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange have issued clarifications and guidance supporting the concept of beneficial ownership via Stock Connect, the interpretation of beneficial ownership in the PRC by regulators and courts may continue to evolve. Moreover, Stock Connect A-shares generally may not be sold, purchased or otherwise transferred other than through Stock Connect in accordance with applicable rules.

A primary feature of Stock Connect is the application of the home market’s laws and rules applicable to investors in A-shares. Therefore, each of the Fund’s investments in Stock Connect A-shares are generally subject to PRC securities regulations and listing rules, among other restrictions.The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Stock Exchange (“SZSE”) and Shanghai Stock Exchange (“SSE”) reserve the right to suspend trading if necessary for ensuring an orderly and fair market and managing risks prudently, which could adversely affect each of the Fund's ability to access the mainland China market. A stock may be recalled from the scope of eligible SSE securities or SZSE securities for trading via the Stock Connect for various reasons, and in such event, the stock can only be sold but is restricted from being bought. Stock Connect is only available on days when markets in both the PRC and Hong Kong are open, which may limit each of the Fund's ability to trade when it would be otherwise attractive to do so. Since the inception of Stock Connect, foreign investors (including each of the Funds) investing in A-shares through Stock Connect would be temporarily exempt from the PRC corporate income tax and value-added tax on the gains on disposal of such A-shares. Dividends would be subject to PRC corporate income tax on a withholding basis at 10%, unless reduced under a double tax treaty with China upon application to and obtaining approval from the competent tax authority. Aside from these temporary measures, uncertainties in permanent PRC tax rules governing taxation of income and gains from investments in Stock Connect A-shares could result in unexpected tax liabilities for the Funds.

The Funds may, through the Stock Connect, access securities listed on the ChiNext market and STAR Board of the SZSE. Listed companies on the ChiNext market and START Board are usually of an emerging nature with smaller operating

scale. Listed companies on the ChiNext Market and STAR Board are subject to wider price fluctuation limits and due to higher entry thresholds for investors, may have limited liquidity, compared to other boards. They are subject to higher fluctuation in stock prices and liquidity and have higher risks and turnover ratios than companies listed on the main board of the SZSE. Securities listed on the ChiNext Market may be overvalued and such exceptionally high valuation may not be sustainable. Stock prices may be more susceptible to manipulation due to fewer circulating shares. It may be more common and faster for companies listed on the ChiNext to delist. This may have an adverse impact on the Funds if the companies that it invests in are delisted. Also, the rules and regulations regarding companies listed on ChiNext Market and STAR Board are less stringent in terms of profitability and share capital than those on the main board. Investments in the ChiNext Market and STAR Board may result in significant losses for the Funds and their investors. STAR Board is a newly established board and may have a limited number of listed companies

during the initial stage. Investments in STAR board may be concentrated in a small number of stocks and subject the Funds to higher concentration risk.

The Stock Connect only operates on days when both the PRC and Hong Kong markets are open for trading and when banks in both markets are open on the corresponding settlement days. So it is possible that there are occasions when it is a normal trading day for the PRC market but the Fund cannot carry out any China A-Shares trading via the Stock Connect. The Fund may be subject to a risk of price fluctuations in China A-Shares during the time when any of the Stock Connect is not trading as a result.

PRC regulations require that before an investor sells any share, there should be sufficient shares in the account; otherwise the SSE or SZSE will reject the sell order concerned. SEHK will carry out pre-trade checking on China A-Shares sell orders of its participants (i.e. the stock brokers) to ensure there is no over-selling. If the Fund intends to sell certain China A-Shares it holds, it must transfer those China A-Shares to the respective accounts of its broker(s) before the market opens on the day of selling (“trading day”). If it fails to meet this deadline, it will not be able to sell those shares on the trading day. Because of this requirement, the Fund may not be able to dispose of its holdings of China A-Shares in a timely manner.

The Stock Connect program is a relatively new program and may be subject to further interpretation and guidance. There can be no assurance as to the program’s continued existence or whether future developments regarding the program may restrict or adversely affect each of the Fund's investments or returns. In addition, the application and interpretation of the laws and regulations of Hong Kong and the PRC, and the rules, policies or guidelines published or applied by relevant regulators and exchanges in respect of the Stock Connect program are uncertain, and they may have a detrimental effect on each of the Fund's investments and returns. Moreover, the rules and regulations may have potential retrospective effect. There can be no assurance that the Stock Connects will not be abolished. Investments in mainland China markets through the Stock Connects may adversely affect the Funds as a result of such changes.

Investments through Bond Connect and the China Interbank Bond Market Direct Access Program. The Emerging Markets Bond Fund may invest in Renminbi (“RMB”)-denominated bonds issued in the PRC by Chinese credit, government, and quasi-governmental issuers (“RMB Bonds”). RMB Bonds are available on the China interbank bond market (“CIBM”) to eligible foreign investors through the CIBM Direct Access Program and through the “Mutual Bond Market Access between Mainland China and Hong Kong” (“Bond Connect”) program. The Emerging Markets Bond Fund’s investments in bonds through either program will be subject to a number of additional risks and restrictions that may affect the Emerging Markets Bond Fund’s investments and returns.

Bond Connect Risks (VanEck Emerging Markets Bond Fund only)

The “Mutual Bond Market Access between Mainland China and Hong Kong” (“Bond Connect”) program is a new initiative established by China Foreign Exchange Trade System & National Interbank Funding Centre (“CFETS”), CSDCC, Shanghai Clearing House (“SHCH”), and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (“HKEx”) and Central Moneymarkets Unit (“CMU”) of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (“HKMA”) to facilitate investors from Mainland China and Hong Kong to trade in each other’s bond markets through connection between the Mainland China and Hong Kong financial institutions.

Under the prevailing PRC regulations, eligible foreign investors will be allowed to invest in the bonds available on the CIBM through the northbound trading of the Bond Connect (“Northbound Trading Link”). There will be no investment quota for the Northbound Trading Link.

Under the Northbound Trading Link, eligible foreign investors are required to appoint the CFETS or other institutions recognized by the PBOC as registration agents to apply for registration with the PBOC.

The Northbound Trading Link refers to the trading platform that is located outside of Mainland China and is connected to CFETS for eligible foreign investors to submit their trade requests for bonds circulated in the CIBM through the Bond Connect. HKEx and CFETS will work together with offshore electronic bond trading platforms to provide electronic trading

services and platforms to allow direct trading between eligible foreign investors and approved onshore dealers in Mainland China through CFETS.

Eligible foreign investors may submit trade requests for bonds circulated in the CIBM through the Northbound Trading Link provided by offshore electronic bond trading platforms, which will in turn transmit their requests for quotation to CFETS. CFETS will send the requests for quotation to a number of approved onshore dealers (including market makers and others engaged in the market-making business) in Mainland China. The approved onshore dealers will respond to the requests for quotation via CFETS, and CFETS will send their responses to those eligible foreign investors through the same offshore electronic bond trading platforms. Once the eligible foreign investor accepts the quotation, the trade is concluded on CFETS.

On the other hand, the settlement and custody of bond securities traded in the CIBM under the Bond Connect will be done through the settlement and custody link between the CMU, as an offshore custody agent, and the CSDCC and the SHCH, as onshore custodian and clearing institutions in Mainland China. Under the settlement link, CSDCC or the SHCH will effect gross settlement of confirmed trades onshore and the CMU will process bond settlement instructions from the CMU members on behalf of eligible foreign investors in accordance with its relevant rules.

Pursuant to the prevailing regulations in Mainland China, the CMU, being the offshore custody agent recognized by the HKMA, open omnibus nominee accounts with the onshore custody agent recognized by the PBOC (i.e., the CSDCC and Interbank Clearing Company Limited). All bonds traded by eligible foreign investors will be registered in the name of the CMU, which will hold such bonds as a nominee owner.

The Bond Connect is relatively new. Laws, rules, regulations, policies, notices, circulars or guidelines relating to the Bond Connect (the “Applicable Bond Connect Regulations”) as published or applied by any of the Bond Connect Authorities (as defined below) are untested and are subject to change from time to time. There can be no assurance that the Bond Connect will not be restricted, suspended or abolished. If such event occurs, the Fund’s ability to invest in the CIBM through the Bond Connect will be adversely affected, and if the Fund is unable to adequately access the CIBM through other means, the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective will be adversely affected. “Bond Connect Authorities” refers to the exchanges, trading systems, settlement systems, governmental, regulatory or tax bodies which provide services and/or regulate Bond Connect and activities relating to Bond Connect, including, without limitation, the PBOC, the HKMA, the HKEx, the CEFTS, the CMU, the CSDCC and the SHCH and any other regulator, agency or authority with jurisdiction, authority or responsibility in respect of Bond Connect.

Under the prevailing Applicable Bond Connect Regulations, eligible foreign investors who wish to participate in the Bond Connect may do so through an offshore custody agent, registration agent or other third parties (as the case may be), who would be responsible for making the relevant filings and account opening with the relevant authorities. The Fund is therefore subject to the risk of default or errors on the part of such agents.

Trading through the Bond Connect is performed through newly developed trading platforms and operational systems. There is no assurance that such systems will function properly (in particular, under extreme market conditions) or will continue to be adapted to changes and developments in the market. In the event that the relevant systems fails to function properly, trading through the Bond Connect may be disrupted. The Fund’s ability to trade through the Bond Connect (and hence to pursue its investment strategy) may therefore be adversely affected. In addition, where the Fund invests in the CIBM through the Bond Connect, it may be subject to risks of delays inherent in the order placing and/or settlement.

The CMU (i.e. the HKMA) is the “nominee holder” of the bonds acquired by the Fund through the Bond Connect. Whilst the Bond Connect Authorities have expressly stated that investors will enjoy the rights and interests of the bonds acquired through the Bond Connect in accordance with applicable laws, the exercise and the enforcement of beneficial ownership rights over such bonds in the courts in China is yet to be tested. In addition, in the event that the nominee holder (i.e. the HKMA) becomes insolvent, such bonds may form part of the pool of assets of the nominee holder available for distribution to its creditors and the Fund, as a beneficial owner, may have no rights whatsoever in respect thereof.

Risk of Investing through the CIBM Direct Access Program (VanEck Emerging Markets Bond Fund only)

The China interbank bond market (“CIBM”) is an OTC market established in 1997, and accounts for more than 95% of outstanding bond values of the total trading volume in the PRC. On CIBM, domestic institutional investors and certain foreign institutional investors can trade, on a one-to-one quote-driven basis, sovereign bonds, government bonds, corporate bonds, bond repo, bond lending, bills issued by the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”) and other financial debt instruments.

CIBM is regulated and supervised by the PBOC. The PBOC is responsible for, among others, promulgating the applicable CIBM listing, trading and operating rules, and supervising the market operators of CIBM. CIBM provides for two trading models: (i) bilateral negotiation and (ii) “click-and-deal.” The China Foreign Exchange Trading System (“CEFTS”) is the unified trading platform for CIBM, on which all products are traded through independent bilateral negotiation on a

transaction by transaction basis, and spot bonds and interest rate derivatives are traded by “click-and-deal.” A market-making mechanism has also been introduced to improve market liquidity and enhance efficiency with respect to trading on CIBM.

Once a transaction is agreed, the parties will, in accordance with the terms of the transaction, promptly send instructions for the delivery of bonds and funds. Parties are required to have sufficient bonds and funds for delivery on the agreed delivery date. CSDCC will deliver bonds according to the instructions sent by the parties. Funds clearing banks will handle the transfer and settlement of the payments of the bonds on behalf of the parties.

Pursuant to the Announcement (2016) No. 3 issued by the PBOC on February 24, 2016, eligible foreign institutional investors can conduct trading on the CIBM under a program established by the PBOC (“CIBM Direct Access Program”) subject to other rules and regulations as promulgated by the PRC authorities. There is no trading quota limitation.

The Fund’s investments in bonds through the CIBM Direct Access Program will be subject to a number of additional risks and restrictions that may affect the Fund’s investments and returns.

The CIBM Direct Access Program is relatively new. Laws, rules, regulations, policies, notices, circulars or guidelines relating to the CIBM Direct Access Program as published or applied by the PBOC and other PRC authorities are untested and are subject to change from time to time. There can be no assurance that the CIBM Direct Access Program will not be restricted, suspended or abolished. If such event occurs, the Fund’s ability to invest in the CIBM through the CIBM Direct Access Program will be adversely affected, and if the Fund is unable to adequately access the CIBM through other means, the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective will be adversely affected.

Under the prevailing PRC regulations, eligible foreign institutional investors who wish to invest directly in CIBM through the CIBM Direct Access Program may do so through an onshore settlement agent, who would be responsible for making the relevant filings and account opening with the relevant authorities. The Fund is therefore subject to the risk of default or errors on the part of such agent. Cash deposited in the cash account of the Fund with the relevant onshore settlement agent will not be segregated. In the event of the bankruptcy or liquidation of the onshore settlement agent, the Fund will not have any proprietary rights to the cash deposited in such cash account and may face difficulty and/or encounter delays in recovering such assets, or may not be able to recover it in full or at all, in which case the Fund will suffer losses.

Market volatility and potential lack of liquidity due to low trading volume of certain debt securities in the China interbank bond market may result in prices of certain debt securities traded on such market fluctuating significantly. The Fund is therefore subject to liquidity and volatility risks. The bid and offer spreads of the prices of such securities may be large, and the Fund may therefore incur significant trading and realization costs and may even suffer losses when selling such investments.

The Fund is also exposed to risks associated with settlement procedures and default of counterparties. The counterparty which has entered into a transaction with the Fund may default in its obligation to settle the transaction by delivery of the relevant security or by payment for value. Although there is no quota limitation regarding investment via the CIBM Direct Access Program, the Fund may be required to make further filings with the PBOC if it wishes to increase its anticipated investment size. There is no guarantee the PBOC will accept such further filings. In the event any further filings for an increase in the anticipated investment size are not accepted by the PBOC, the Fund’s ability to invest in the CIBM will be limited and the performance of the relevant Fund may be unfavorably affected as a result.

Investing in the CIBM is also subject to certain restrictions imposed by the PRC authorities on fund remittance and repatriation which may potentially affect the Fund’s performance and liquidity. Any non-compliance with or failure to meet the fund remittance and repatriation requirements may result in regulatory sanctions which in turn may have an adverse impact on the portion of the Fund’s investment via the CIBM Direct Access Program. Further, there is no assurance that the fund remittance and repatriation requirements in relation to investment in CIBM will not be changed as a result of change in government policies or foreign exchange control policies. The Fund may incur loss in the event such change in the fund remittance and repatriation requirements in relation to investment in CIBM occurs.

Chinese Variable Interest Entities Risks

Chinese operating companies sometimes rely on variable interest entity (“VIE”) structures to raise capital from non Chinese investors. In a VIE structure, a China-based operating company establishes an entity (typically offshore) that enters into service and other contracts with the Chinese company designed to provide economic exposure to the company. The offshore entity then issues exchange-traded shares that are sold to the public, including non-Chinese investors (such as a Fund). Shares of the offshore entity are not equity ownership interests in the Chinese operating company and therefore the ability of the offshore entity to control the activities of the Chinese company are limited and the Chinese company may engage in activities that negatively impact investment value. The VIE structure is designed to provide the offshore entity (and in turn, investors in the entity) with economic exposure to the Chinese company that replicates equity ownership, without actual equity

ownership. VIE structures are used due to Chinese government prohibitions on foreign ownership of companies in certain industries and it is not clear that the contracts are enforceable or that the structures will otherwise work as intended.

Intervention by the Chinese government with respect to VIE structures could adversely affect the Chinese operating company’s performance, the enforceability of the offshore entity’s contractual arrangements with the Chinese company and the value of the offshore entity’s shares. Further, if the Chinese government determines that the agreements establishing the VIE structure do not comply with Chinese law and regulations, including those related to prohibitions on foreign ownership, the Chinese government could subject the Chinese company to penalties, revocation of business and operating licenses or forfeiture of ownership interests. The offshore entity’s control over the Chinese company may also be jeopardized if certain legal formalities are not observed in connection with the agreements, if the agreements are breached or if the agreements are otherwise determined not to be enforceable. If any of the foregoing were to occur, the market value of a Fund’s associated portfolio holdings would likely fall, causing substantial investment losses for the Fund.

In addition, Chinese companies listed on U.S. exchanges, including ADRs and companies that rely on VIE structures, may be delisted if they do not meet U.S. accounting standards and auditor oversight requirements. Delisting could significantly decrease the liquidity and value of the securities of these companies, decrease the ability of a Fund to invest in such securities and increase the cost of the Fund if it is required to seek alternative markets in which to invest in such securities.

FOREIGN SECURITIES - FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

Although the Funds value their assets daily in terms of U.S. dollars, they do not generally physically convert their holdings of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars on a daily basis. The Funds may do so from time to time, and investors should be aware of the costs of currency conversion. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the “spread”) between the prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency to the Funds at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should the Funds desire to resell that currency to the dealer. The Funds may use forward contracts, along with futures contracts, foreign exchange swaps and put and call options (all types of derivatives) as part of their overall hedging strategy. The Funds generally conduct their foreign currency exchange transactions, either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through purchasing put and call options on, or entering into futures contracts or forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. See “Options, Futures, Warrants and Subscription Rights.”

Changes in currency exchange rates may affect the Funds’ net asset value and performance. The Adviser may not be able to anticipate currency fluctuations in exchange rates accurately. The Funds may invest in a variety of derivatives and enter into hedging transactions to attempt to moderate the effect of currency fluctuations. The Funds may purchase and sell put and call options on, or enter into futures contracts or forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. This may reduce a Fund’s losses on a security when a foreign currency’s value changes. Hedging against a change in the value of a foreign currency does not eliminate fluctuations in the prices of portfolio securities or prevent losses if the prices of such securities decline. Furthermore, such hedging transactions reduce or preclude the opportunity for gain if the value of the hedged currency should change relative to the other currency. Finally, when the Funds use options and futures in anticipation of the purchase of a portfolio security to hedge against adverse movements in the security’s underlying currency, but the purchase of such security is subsequently deemed undesirable, a Fund may incur a gain or loss on the option or futures contract.

The Funds may enter into forward contracts to duplicate a cash market transaction. See also “Options, Futures, Warrants and Subscription Rights.”

A Fund may (but is not required to) engage in these transactions in order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign exchange rates in the purchase and sale of securities. A Fund may also use foreign currency options and foreign currency forward contracts to increase exposure to a foreign currency or to shift exposure to foreign currency fluctuations from one country to another. Suitable currency hedging transactions may not be available in all circumstances and an Adviser may decide not to use hedging transactions that are available.

In those situations where foreign currency options or futures contracts, or options on futures contracts may not be readily purchased (or where they may be deemed illiquid or unattractive) in the primary currency in which the hedge is desired, the hedge may be obtained by purchasing or selling an option, futures contract or forward contract on a secondary currency. There can be no assurances that the exchange rate or the primary and secondary currencies will move as anticipated, or that the relationship between the hedged security and the hedging instrument will continue. If they do not move as anticipated or the relationship does not continue, a loss may result to a Fund on its investments in the hedging positions.

A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. Although forwards are intended to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged

currencies, at the same time, they tend to limit any potential gain which might result should the value of such currencies increase.

The forecasting of currency market movement is extremely difficult, and whether any hedging strategy will be successful is highly uncertain. Moreover, it is impossible to forecast with precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration of a foreign currency forward contract. Accordingly, a Fund may be required to buy or sell additional currency on the spot market (and bear the expense of such transaction) if an Adviser’s predictions regarding the movement of foreign currency or securities markets prove inaccurate. In addition, the use of cross-hedging transactions may involve special risks, and may leave the Fund in a less advantageous position than if such a hedge had not been established.

The Funds’ Custodian will place the securities being hedged, cash, U.S. government securities or debt or equity securities into a segregated account of the Fund in an amount equal to the value of the Fund’s total assets committed to the consummation of forward foreign currency contracts to ensure that the Fund is not leveraged beyond applicable limits. If the value of the securities placed in the segregated account declines, additional cash or securities will be placed in the account on a daily basis so that the value of the account will equal the amount of the Fund’s commitments with respect to such contracts. At the maturity of a forward contract, the Funds may either sell the portfolio security and make delivery of the foreign currency, or they may retain the security and terminate their contractual obligation to deliver the foreign currency prior to maturity by purchasing an “offsetting” contract with the same currency trader, obligating it to purchase, on the same maturity date, the same amount of the foreign currency. There can be no assurance, however, that the Funds will be able to effect such a closing purchase transaction.

It is impossible to forecast the market value of a particular portfolio security at the expiration of the contract. Accordingly, if a decision is made to sell the security and make delivery of the foreign currency it may be necessary for a Fund to purchase additional foreign currency on the spot market (and bear the expense of such purchase) if the market value of the security is less than the amount of foreign currency that a Fund is obligated to deliver.

If a Fund retains the portfolio security and engages in an offsetting transaction, the Fund may incur a gain or a loss to the extent that there has been movement in forward contract prices. Additionally, although such contracts tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency, at the same time, they tend to limit any potential gain which might result should the value of such currency increase.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

The Funds may take advantage of opportunities in the area of options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, warrants, swaps and any other investments which are not presently contemplated for use or which are not currently available, but which may be developed, to the extent such investments are considered suitable for the Funds by each Adviser.

GLOBAL RESOURCES SECURITIES

Global resources securities include securities of global resource companies and instruments that derive their value from global resources. Global resources include precious metals (including gold), base and industrial metals, energy, natural resources and other commodities. A global resource company is a company that derives, directly or indirectly, at least 50% of its revenues from exploration, development, production, distribution or facilitation of processes relating to global resources.

Since the market action of global resources securities may move against or independently of the market trend of industrial shares, the addition of such securities to an overall portfolio may increase the return and reduce the price fluctuations of such a portfolio. There can be no assurance that an increased rate of return or a reduction in price fluctuations of a portfolio will be achieved. Global resources securities are affected by many factors, including movement in the stock market.

Inflation may cause a decline in the market, including global resource securities. The Global Resources Fund has a fundamental policy of concentrating in “global resource” industries, and more than 50% of the Global Resources Fund’s assets may be invested in any one of the above sectors. Precious metal and natural resource securities are at times volatile and there may be sharp fluctuations in prices, even during periods of rising prices.

HEDGING

Hedging is a strategy in which a derivative or other instrument or practice is used to offset the risks associated with other Fund holdings. Losses on the other investment may be substantially reduced by gains on a derivative that reacts in an opposite manner to market movements. Hedging can reduce or eliminate gains or cause losses if the market moves in a manner different from that anticipated by a Fund or if the cost of the derivative outweighs the benefit of the hedge. Hedging also involves correlation risk, i.e. the risk that changes in the value of the derivative will not match those of the holdings being hedged as expected by a Fund, in which case any losses on the holdings being hedged may not be reduced or may be increased. The inability to close options and futures positions also could have an adverse impact on a Fund’s ability to hedge effectively its portfolio. There is also a risk of loss by a Fund of margin deposits or collateral in the event of bankruptcy of a broker with whom the Fund has an open position in an option, a futures contract or a related option. There can be no assurance that a Fund’s

hedging strategies will be effective. The use of hedging may invoke the application of the mark-to-market and straddle provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). If such provisions are applicable, there could be an increase (or decrease) in the amount of taxable dividends paid by a Fund and may impact whether dividends paid by the Fund are classified as capital gains or ordinary income. The use of derivatives increases the risk that a Fund will be unable to close out certain hedged positions to avoid adverse tax consequences.

ILLIQUID INVESTMENTS

Each Fund may not acquire any illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets. For purposes of the above 15% limitation, illiquid investment means any investment that a Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment, as determined pursuant to the 1940 Act and applicable rules and regulations thereunder.

INDEXED SECURITIES AND STRUCTURED NOTES

The Funds may invest in indexed securities, i.e., structured notes securities and index options, whose value is linked to one or more currencies, interest rates, commodities, or financial or commodity indices. An indexed security enables the investor to purchase a note whose coupon and/or principal redemption is linked to the performance of an underlying asset. Indexed securities may be positively or negatively indexed (i.e., their value may increase or decrease if the underlying instrument appreciates). Indexed securities may have return characteristics similar to direct investments in the underlying instrument or to one or more options on the underlying instrument. Indexed securities may be more volatile than the underlying instrument itself, and present many of the same risks as investing in futures and options. Indexed securities are also subject to credit risks associated with the issuer of the security with respect to both principal and interest. Securities linked to one or more non-agriculture commodities or commodity indices may be considered a global resources securities.

Indexed securities may be publicly traded or may be two-party contracts (such two-party agreements are referred to hereafter collectively as structured notes). When a Fund purchases a structured note, it makes a payment of principal to the counterparty. Some structured notes have a guaranteed repayment of principal while others place a portion (or all) of the principal at risk. Notes determined to be illiquid will be aggregated with other illiquid securities and will be subject to the Funds’ limitations on illiquid investments.

Credit Linked Notes. The Funds may invest in credit linked securities or credit linked notes (“CLNs”). CLNs are typically issued by a limited purpose trust or other vehicle (the “CLN trust”) that, in turn, invests in a derivative or basket of derivatives instruments, such as credit default swaps, interest rate swaps and/or other securities, in order to provide exposure to certain high yield, sovereign debt, emerging markets, or other fixed income markets. Generally, investments in CLNs represent the right to receive periodic income payments (in the form of distributions) and payment of principal at the end of the term of the CLN. However, these payments are conditioned on the CLN trust’s receipt of payments from, and the CLN trust’s potential obligations, to the counterparties to the derivative instruments and other securities in which the CLN trust invests. For example, the CLN trust may sell one or more credit default swaps, under which the CLN trust would receive a stream of payments over the term of the swap agreements provided that no event of default has occurred with respect to the referenced debt obligation upon which the swap is based. If a default were to occur, the stream of payments may stop and the CLN trust would be obligated to pay the counterparty the par (or other agreed upon value) of the referenced debt obligation. This, in turn, would reduce the amount of income and principal that the Fund would receive as an investor in the CLN trust. A Fund may also enter in CLNs to gain access to sovereign debt and securities in emerging markets particularly in markets where the Fund is not able to purchase securities directly due to domicile restrictions or tax restrictions or tariffs. In such an instance, the issuer of the CLN may purchase the reference security directly and/or gain exposure through a credit default swap or other derivative. The Fund’s investments in CLNs is subject to the risks associated with the underlying reference obligations and derivative instruments.

INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS

The Funds may invest in initial public offerings (IPOs) of common stock or other primary or secondary syndicated offerings of equity or debt securities issued by a corporate issuer. A purchase of IPO securities often involves higher transaction costs than those associated with the purchase of securities already traded on exchanges or markets. IPO securities are subject to market risk and liquidity risk. The market value of recently issued IPO securities may fluctuate considerably due to factors such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading and speculation, a potentially small number of securities available for trading, limited information about the issuer, and other factors. A Fund may hold IPO securities for a period of time, or may sell them soon after the purchase. Investments in IPOs could have a magnified impact – either positive or negative – on the Fund’s performance while the Fund’s assets are relatively small. The impact of an IPO on the Fund’s performance may tend to diminish as the Fund’s assets grow.

INVESTMENTS IN OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Emerging Markets Bond Fund, Emerging Markets Fund, Emerging Markets Leaders Fund, Environmental Sustainability Fund, Global Resources Fund and International Investors Gold Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities issued by other investment companies (excluding money market funds), including open end and closed end funds and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), subject to the limitations under the 1940 Act. The Funds’ investments in money market funds are not subject to this limitation. CM Commodity Index Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies, including open end and closed end funds and ETFs, subject to the limitations of under the 1940 Act. The Funds may invest in investment companies which are sponsored or advised by each Adviser and/or their affiliates (each, a “VanEck Investment Company”).

A Fund’s investment in another investment company may subject such Fund indirectly to the underlying risks of the investment company. Such Fund also will bear its share of the underlying investment company’s fees and expenses, which are in addition to the Fund’s own fees and expenses. Shares of closed-end funds and ETFs may trade at prices that reflect a premium above or a discount below the investment company’s net asset value, which may be substantial in the case of closed-end funds. If investment company securities are purchased at a premium to net asset value, the premium may not exist when those securities are sold and the Fund could incur a loss.

Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act, which became effective January 19, 2022, created a regulatory framework for Funds’ investments in other funds. Rule 12d1-4 allows a fund to acquire the securities of another investment company in excess of the limitations imposed by Section 12 without obtaining an exemptive order from the SEC, subject to certain limitations and conditions. Among those conditions is the requirement that, prior to a fund relying on Rule 12d1-4 to acquire securities of another fund in excess of the limits of Section 12(d)(1), the acquiring fund must enter into a Fund of Funds Agreement with the acquired fund, unless the acquiring fund’s investment adviser acts as the acquired fund’s investment adviser and does not act as sub-adviser to either fund. In connection with the adoption of Rule 12d1-4, the SEC also rescinded certain prior exemptive relief. These regulatory changes may adversely impact a Fund’s investment strategies and operations to the extent that it invests, or might otherwise have invested, in shares issued by other investment companies.

FLOATING RATE LIBOR RISK

Certain financial instruments in which a Fund invests may pay interest based on, or otherwise have payments tied to, the London Inter-bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), Euro Interbank Offered Rate and other similar types of reference rates (each, a “Reference Rate”). Due to the uncertainty regarding the future utilization of LIBOR and the nature of any replacement rate, the potential effect of a transition away from LIBOR on a fund or the financial instruments in which a Fund may invest cannot yet be determined.

On July 27, 2017, the Chief Executive of the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, announced that the FCA will no longer persuade nor require banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR and certain other Reference Rates after 2021. In March 2021, the FCA and LIBOR’s administrator, ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (“IBA”) announced that all Sterling, Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc and Euro and certain U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will no longer be published after the end of 2021 and the remaining (being the majority of the) U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will no longer be published after June 30, 2023. It is possible that the FCA, using new statutory powers to be granted to it, will compel the IBA to publish a subset of LIBOR settings after these dates on a “synthetic” basis. These announcements and any additional regulatory or market changes may have an adverse impact on a Fund or its investments.

In advance of 2022, public and private sector industry initiatives, regulators and market participants are currently engaged in identifying successor Reference Rates (“Alternative Reference Rates”), (e.g., the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, which is likely to replace U.S. dollar LIBOR and measures the cost of overnight borrowings through repurchase agreement transactions collateralized with U.S. Treasury securities). The Federal Reserve Bank of New York began publishing SOFR in 2018, and it has been used increasingly on a voluntary basis in new instruments and transactions. At times, SOFR has proven to be more volatile than the 3-month USD LIBOR. Working groups and regulators in other countries have suggested other alternatives for their markets, including the Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate (“SONIA”) in England. In many cases, in the event that an instrument falls back to a so-called risk free Alternative Reference Rate, including the SOFR, the risk free Alternative Reference Rate will not perform the same as LIBOR because the risk free Alternative Reference Rate does not include a credit sensitive component in the calculation of the rate. SOFR, for example, generally reflects the performance of the market for overnight repurchase transactions secured by U.S. treasury securities and not the performance of inter-bank lending markets. In the event of a credit crisis, floating rate instruments using certain risk free Alternative Reference Rates could therefore perform differently than those instruments using a rate indexed to the inter-bank lending market. There is no assurance that the composition or characteristics of any such Alternative Reference Rate will be similar to or produce the same value or economic equivalence as LIBOR or that it will have the same volume or liquidity as did LIBOR prior to its

discontinuance or unavailability, which may affect the value or liquidity or return on certain of a Fund’s investments and result in costs incurred in connection with closing out positions and entering into new trades.

Additionally, it is expected that market participants will focus on the transition mechanisms by which the Reference Rates in existing contracts or instruments may be amended, whether through marketwide protocols, fallback contractual provisions, bespoke negotiations or amendments or otherwise. Nonetheless, the termination of certain Reference Rates presents risks to a Fund. At this time, it is not possible to completely identify or predict the effect of any such changes, any establishment of Alternative Reference Rates or any other reforms to Reference Rates that may be enacted in the UK or elsewhere. The elimination of a Reference Rate or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of Reference Rates could have an adverse impact on the market for or value of any securities or payments linked to those Reference Rates and other financial obligations held by a Fund or on its overall financial condition or results of operations.

The transition process might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that currently rely on Reference Rates to determine interest rates. It could also lead to a reduction in the value of some Reference Rate-based investments held by a Fund and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against existing Reference Rate-based instruments. While market participants are endeavoring to minimize the economic impact of the transition from Reference Rates to Alternative Reference Rates, the transition away from LIBOR and certain other Reference Rates could, among other negative consequences:

•Adversely impact the pricing, liquidity, value of, return on and trading for a broad array of financial products, including any Reference Rate-linked securities, loans and derivatives in which a Fund may invest;

• Require extensive negotiations of and/or amendments to agreements and other documentation governing Reference Rate-linked investments products;

• Lead to disputes, litigation or other actions with counterparties or portfolio companies regarding the interpretation and enforceability of “fallback” provisions that provide for an Alternative Reference Rate in the event of Reference Rate unavailability; or

• Cause a Fund to incur additional costs in relation to any of the above factors.

The risks associated with the above factors, including decreased liquidity, are heightened with respect to investments in Reference Rate-based products that do not include a fallback provision that addresses how interest rates will be determined if LIBOR and certain other Reference Rates stop being published. Even with some Reference Rate-based instruments that may contemplate a scenario where Reference Rates are no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology and/or increased costs for certain Reference Rate-related instruments or financing transactions, there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies, resulting in prolonged adverse market conditions for a Fund. There also remains uncertainty and risk regarding the willingness and ability of issuers to include enhanced provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. In addition, when a Reference Rate is discontinued, the Alternative Reference Rate may be lower than market expectations, which could have an adverse impact on the value of preferred and debt securities with floating or fixed-to-floating rate coupons. In addition, any substitute Reference Rate and any pricing adjustments imposed by a regulator or counterparties or otherwise may adversely affect a Fund’s performance or NAV.

Laws in some states, such as in New York, and pending legislation, including in the U.S. Congress, may affect the transition of LIBOR-based instruments as well by permitting trustees and calculation agents to transition instruments with no LIBOR transition language to a risk free Alternative Reference Rate selected by relevant regulators or committees designated by those regulators. The New York law and the proposed federal legislation both include safe harbors shielding such trustees and calculation agents from liability, including in the event that a Fund suffers losses as a result of the transition of an instrument from LIBOR to the applicable designated risk free Alternative Reference Rate. It is uncertain whether any of the pending legislation will be signed into law. Furthermore, no assurances can be given as to which investments of a Fund would be subject to any existing, pending or future law related to the LIBOR transition.

MARKET

A Fund could lose money over short periods due to short-term market movements and over longer periods during more prolonged market downturns. The prices of the securities in a Fund are subject to the risks associated with investing in the securities market, including general economic conditions, sudden and unpredictable drops in value, exchange trading suspensions and closures and public health risks. Market risk arises mainly from uncertainty about future values of financial instruments and may be influenced by price, currency and interest rate movements. These risks may be magnified if certain social, political, economic and other conditions and events (such as natural disasters, epidemics and pandemics, terrorism, conflicts and social unrest) adversely interrupt the global economy; in these and other circumstances, such events or

developments might affect companies world-wide. As global systems, economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, events that occur in one country, region or financial market will, more frequently, adversely impact issuers in other countries, regions or markets. During a general market downturn, multiple asset classes may be negatively affected. Changes in market conditions and interest rates generally do not have the same impact on all types of securities and instruments.

MASTER LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS

Other equity securities in which Global Resources Fund may invest include master limited partnerships (“MLPs”). MLPs are limited partnerships in which the ownership units are publicly traded. MLP units are registered with the SEC and are freely traded on a securities exchange or in the OTC market. MLPs often own several properties or businesses (or own interests) that are related to oil and gas industries, but they also may finance research and development and other projects. Generally, an MLP is operated under the supervision of one or more managing general partners. Limited partners are not involved in the day-to-day management of the partnership. The risks of investing in an MLP are generally those involved in investing in a partnership as opposed to a corporation. Investments in securities of MLPs involve risks that differ from an investment in common stock. Holders of the units of MLPs have more limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the partnership. There are also certain tax risks associated with an investment in units of MLPs. In addition, conflicts of interest may exist between common unit holders, subordinated unit holders and the general partner of an MLP, including a conflict arising as a result of incentive distribution payments.

OPTIONS, FUTURES, WARRANTS AND SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

Options Transactions. Each Fund may purchase and sell (write) exchange-traded and OTC call and put options on domestic and foreign securities, foreign currencies, stock and bond indices and financial futures contracts. Global Resources Fund may also buy and sell options linked to the price of global resources.

Purchasing Call and Put Options. Each of Emerging Markets Fund, Emerging Markets Leaders Fund, Global Resources, International Investors Gold Fund and Emerging Markets Bond Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets in premiums on call and put options. The purchase of a call option would enable a Fund, in return for the premium paid, to lock in a purchase price for a security or currency during the term of the option. The purchase of a put option would enable a Fund, in return for a premium paid, to lock in a price at which it may sell a security or currency during the term of the option. OTC options are typically purchased from or sold (written) to dealers or financial institutions which have entered into direct agreements with a Fund. With OTC options, such variables as expiration date, exercise price and premium are typically agreed upon between the Fund and the transacting dealer.

The principal factors affecting the market value of a put or a call option include supply and demand, interest rates, the current market price of the underlying security or index in relation to the exercise price of the option, the volatility of the underlying security or index, and the time remaining until the expiration date. Accordingly, the successful use of options depends on the ability of an Adviser to forecast correctly interest rates, currency exchange rates and/or market movements.

When a Fund sells put or call options it has previously purchased, the Fund may realize a net gain or loss, depending on whether the amount realized on the sale is more or less than the premium and other transaction costs paid on the put or call option which is sold. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for options, particularly in the case of OTC options. In the event of the bankruptcy of a broker through which a Fund engages in transactions in options, such Fund could experience delays and/or losses in liquidating open positions purchased or sold through the broker and/or incur a loss of all or part of its margin deposits with the broker. In the case of OTC options, if the transacting dealer fails to make or take delivery of the securities underlying an option it has written, in accordance with the terms of that option, due to insolvency or otherwise, a Fund would lose the premium paid for the option as well as any anticipated benefit of the transaction. If trading were suspended in an option purchased by a Fund, the Fund would not be able to close out the option. If restrictions on exercise were imposed, the Fund might be unable to exercise an option it has purchased.

A call option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to purchase the currency at the exercise price until the option expires. A put option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell a foreign currency at the exercise price until the option expires. The markets in foreign currency options are relatively new and the Fund’s ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market. Currency options traded on U.S. or other exchanges may be subject to position limits, which may limit the ability of a Fund to reduce foreign currency risk using such options.

Writing Covered Call and Put Options. VanEck Emerging Markets Leaders Fund and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund may write covered call options on portfolio securities. Emerging Markets Fund, Environmental Sustainability Fund, Global Resources Fund, International Investors Gold Fund and Emerging Markets Bond Fund may write covered call options on portfolio securities to the extent that the value of all securities with respect to which covered calls are written does not exceed 10% of the Fund’s net asset value. When a Fund writes a covered call option, the Fund incurs an obligation to sell the

security underlying the option to the purchaser of the call, at the option’s exercise price at any time during the option period, at the purchaser’s election. When a Fund writes a put option, the Fund incurs an obligation to buy the security underlying the option from the purchaser of the put, at the option’s exercise price at any time during the option period, at the purchaser’s election.

Such Fund may be required, at any time during the option period, to deliver the underlying security (or currency) against payment of the exercise price on any calls it has written, or to make payment of the exercise price against delivery of the underlying security (or currency) on any puts it has written. This obligation is terminated upon the expiration of the option period or at such earlier time as the writer effects a closing purchase transaction. A closing purchase transaction is accomplished by purchasing an option of the same series as the option previously written. However, once the Fund has been assigned an exercise notice, the Fund will typically be unable to effect a closing purchase transaction.

A call option is “covered” if the Fund owns the underlying security subject to the option or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that security without additional cash consideration (or for additional consideration (in cash, Treasury bills or other liquid portfolio securities) held in a segregated account on the Fund’s books) upon conversion or exchange of other securities held in its portfolio. A call option is also covered if the Fund holds a call on the same security as the call written where the exercise price of the call held is (i) equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written or (ii) greater than the exercise price of the call written if the difference is maintained by the Fund in cash, Treasury bills or other liquid portfolio securities in a segregated account on the Fund’s books. A put option is “covered” if the Fund maintains cash, Treasury bills or other liquid portfolio securities with a value equal to the exercise price in a segregated account on the Fund’s books, or holds a put on the same security as the put written where the exercise price of the put held is equal to or greater than the exercise price of the put written.

During the option period, the Fund gives up, in return for the premium on the option, the opportunity for capital appreciation above the exercise price should the market price of the underlying security (or the value of its denominated currency) increase, but retains the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security (or the value of its denominated currency) decline.

Futures Contracts. The Funds may buy and sell financial futures contracts which may include security and interest-rate futures, stock and bond index futures contracts and foreign currency futures contracts. Global Resources Fund may also buy and sell futures contracts and options thereon linked to the price of global resources. CM Commodity Index Fund may engage in these transactions for hedging purposes or other purposes. A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a security for a set price on a future date. An interest rate, commodity, foreign currency or index futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified quantity of a financial instrument, commodity, foreign currency or the cash value of an index at a specified price and time.

Futures contracts and options on futures contracts may be used to reduce a Fund’s exposure to fluctuations in the prices of portfolio securities and may prevent losses if the prices of such securities decline. Similarly, such investments may protect a Fund against fluctuation in the value of securities in which a Fund is about to invest.

The Funds may purchase and write (sell) call and put options on futures contracts and enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate an existing position. An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right (in return for the premium paid), and the writer the obligation, to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put) at a specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option. Upon exercise of the option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option is accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer’s futures margin account, which represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract at the time of exercise exceeds (in the case of a call) or is less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option contract.

Future contracts are traded on exchanges, so that, in most cases, either party can close out its position on the exchange for cash, without delivering the security or commodity. However, there is no assurance that a Fund will be able to enter into a closing transaction.

When a Fund enters into a futures contract, it is initially required to deposit an “initial margin” of cash, Treasury securities or other liquid portfolio securities in an amount typically calculated in relation to the volatility in market value of the contract over a fixed period. The margin deposits made are marked-to-market daily and the Fund may be required to make subsequent deposits of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid portfolio securities, called “variation margin,” which are reflective of price fluctuations in the futures contract. In addition, cash or high quality securities equal in value to the current value of the underlying securities less the margin requirement are segregated, as may be required, with a Fund’s custodian to ensure that the Fund’s position is unleveraged. This segregated account is marked-to market daily to reflect changes in the value of the underlying futures contract.

Risks of Transactions in Futures Contracts and Related Options. There are several risks associated with the use of futures contracts and futures options as hedging techniques. A purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses in excess of the amount invested in the futures contract. There can be no guarantee that there will be a correlation between price movements in the hedging vehicle and in the Fund securities being hedged. In addition, there are significant differences between the securities and futures markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between the markets, causing a given hedge not to achieve its objectives. As a result, a hedge may be unsuccessful because of market behavior or unexpected interest rate trends.

Investments in options, futures contracts and options on futures contracts may reduce the gains which would otherwise be realized from the sale of the underlying securities or assets which are being hedged. Additionally, positions in futures contracts and options can be closed out only on an exchange that provides a market for those instruments. There can be no assurances that such a market will exist for a particular futures contract or option. If a Fund cannot close out an exchange traded futures contract or option which it holds, it would have to perform its contractual obligation or exercise its option to realize any profit, and would incur transaction costs on the sale of the underlying assets.

There is a risk of loss by a Fund of the initial and variation margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of the futures commission merchant (“FCM”) with which the Fund has an open position in a futures contract.

Futures exchanges may limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in certain futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day’s settlement price at the end of the current trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a futures contract subject to the limit, no more trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses because the limit may work to prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. For example, futures prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of positions and subjecting some holders of futures contracts to substantial losses.

There can be no assurance that an active market will exist at a time when a Fund seeks to close out a futures or a futures option position, and that Fund would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. In such situations, if a Fund had insufficient cash, it might have to sell securities to meet margin requirements at a time when it would be disadvantageous to do so. Losses incurred in futures transactions and the costs of these transactions will affect the performance of a Fund. Positions in futures contracts may be closed out only on the exchange on which they were entered into (or through a linked exchange). No secondary market for such contract exists.

It is the policy of each Fund to meet the requirements of the Code, to qualify as a regulated investment company and thus to prevent double taxation of the Fund and its shareholders. One of the requirements is that at least 90% of a Fund’s gross income be derived from dividends, interest, payment with respect to securities loans and gains from the sale or other disposition of stocks or other securities. Gains from commodity futures contracts do not currently qualify as income for purposes of the 90% test. The extent to which a Fund may engage in options and futures contract transactions may be materially limited by this test.

Risks Associated With Commodity Futures Contracts. There are several additional risks associated with transactions in commodity futures which are discussed below:

Storage. Unlike the financial futures markets, in the commodity futures markets there are costs of physical storage associated with purchasing the underlying commodity. The price of the commodity futures contract reflect the storage costs of purchasing the physical commodity, including the time value of money invested in the physical commodity. To the extent that the storage costs for an underlying commodity change while the Fund is invested in futures contracts on that commodity, the value of the futures contract may change proportionately.

Reinvestment. In the commodity futures markets, producers of the underlying commodity may decide to hedge the price risk of selling the commodity by selling futures contracts today to lock in the price of the commodity at delivery tomorrow. In order to induce speculators to purchase the other side of the same futures contract, the commodity producer generally must sell the futures contract at a lower price than the expected future spot price. Conversely, if most hedgers in the futures market are purchasing futures contracts to hedge against a rise in prices, then speculators tend to only sell the other side of the futures contract at a higher futures price than the expected future spot price of the commodity. The changing nature of the hedgers and speculators in the commodity markets influence whether futures prices are above or below the expected future spot price, which can have significant implications for the Fund. If the nature of hedgers and speculators in futures markets has shifted when it is time for the Fund to reinvest the proceeds of a maturing contract in a new futures contract, the Fund might reinvest at higher or lower futures prices, or choose to pursue other investments.

Other Economic Factors. The commodities which underlie commodity futures contracts may be subject to additional economic and non-economic variables, such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs, and international economic, political and regulatory developments. These factors may have a larger impact on commodity prices and commodity-linked instruments, including futures contracts, than on traditional securities. Certain commodities are also subject to limited pricing flexibility because of supply and demand factors. Others are subject to broad price fluctuations as a result of the volatility of the prices for certain raw materials and the instability of supplies of other materials. These additional variables may create additional investment risks which subject the Fund’s investments to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities.

Combined Positions. CM Commodity Index Fund may purchase and write options in any combination. For example, the Fund may purchase a put option and write a call option on the same underlying instrument, in order to construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract. Another possible combined position would involve writing a call option at one strike price and buying a call option at a lower price, in order to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.

Warrants and Subscription Rights. The Funds may invest in warrants, which are instruments that permit, but do not obligate, the holder to subscribe for other securities. Subscription rights are similar to warrants, but normally have a short duration and are distributed directly by the issuer to its shareholders. Warrants and rights are not dividend-paying investments and do not have voting rights like common stock. They also do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. As a result, warrants and rights may be considered more speculative than direct equity investments. In addition, the value of warrants and rights do not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities and may cease to have value if they are not exercised prior to their expiration dates.

PARTLY PAID SECURITIES

Securities paid for on an installment basis. A partly paid security trades net of outstanding installment payments—the buyer “takes over payments.” The buyer’s rights are typically restricted until the security is fully paid. If the value of a partly-paid security declines before a Fund finishes paying for it, the Fund will still owe the payments, but may find it hard to sell and as a result may incur a loss.

PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC EQUITY

The Funds may acquire equity securities of an issuer that are issued through a private investment in public equity (PIPE) transaction, including on a when-issued basis. See “When, As and If Issued Securities.” A Fund will earmark an amount of cash or high quality securities equal (on a daily mark to market basis) to the amount of its commitment to purchase the when-issued securities. PIPE transactions typically involve the purchase of securities directly from a publicly traded company or its affiliates in a private placement transaction, typically at a discount to the market price of the company’s securities. See also “Direct Investments.” There is a risk that if the market price of the securities drops below a set threshold, the company may have to issue additional stock at a significantly reduced price, which may dilute the value of a Fund’s investment. Shares in PIPES generally are not registered with the SEC until after a certain time period from the date the private sale is completed. This restricted period can last many months. Until the public registration process is completed, PIPES are restricted as to resale and a Fund cannot freely trade the securities. Generally, such restrictions cause the PIPES to be illiquid during this time. PIPES may contain provisions that the issuer will pay specified financial penalties to the holder if the issuer does not publicly register the restricted equity securities within a specified period of time, but there is no assurance that the restricted equity securities will be publicly registered, or that the registration will remain in effect. See “Rule 144A and Section 4(a)(2) Securities.”

PREFERRED STOCK

The Funds may invest in preferred stock. Preferred stock represents an equity interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of other stocks such as common stocks, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from a liquidation of the company. Some preferred stocks also entitle their holders to receive additional liquidation proceeds on the same basis as holders of a company’s common stock, and thus also represent an ownership interest in that company.

Preferred stocks may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred stock is subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities. In addition, a company’s preferred stock generally pays dividends only after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt. For this reason, the value of preferred stock will

usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred stock of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred stock of larger companies.

REAL ESTATE SECURITIES

The Funds may not purchase or sell real estate, except that the Funds may invest in securities of issuers that invest in real estate or interests therein. These include equity securities of REITs and other real estate industry companies or companies with substantial real estate investments. Global Resources Fund may invest more than 50% of its assets in such securities. The Funds are therefore subject to certain risks associated with direct ownership of real estate and with the real estate industry in general. These risks include, among others: possible declines in the value of real estate; possible lack of availability of mortgage funds; extended vacancies of properties; risks related to general and local economic conditions; overbuilding; increases in competition, property taxes and operating expenses; changes in zoning laws; costs resulting from the clean-up of, and liability to third parties for damages resulting from, environmental problems; casualty or condemnation losses; uninsured damages from floods, earthquakes or other natural disasters; limitations on and variations in rents; and changes in interest rates.

REITs are pooled investment vehicles whose assets consist primarily of interests in real estate and real estate loans. REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or hybrid REITs. Equity REITs own interest in property and realize income from the rents and gain or loss from the sale of real estate interests. Mortgage REITs invest in real estate mortgage loans and realize income from interest payments on the loans. Hybrid REITs invest in both equity and debt. Equity REITs may be operating or financing companies. An operating company provides operational and management expertise to and exercises control over, many if not most operational aspects of the property. REITS are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders, provided they comply with several requirements of the Code.

Investing in REITs involves certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REITs, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. REITs are dependent upon management skills, are not diversified, and are subject to the risks of financing projects. REITs are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers, self-liquidation and the possibilities of failing to qualify for the exemption from tax for distributed income under the Code. REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are also subject to interest rate risk (i.e., as interest rates rise, the value of the REIT may decline).

Under recent tax legislation, individuals (and certain other non-corporate entities) are generally eligible for a 20% deduction with respect to taxable ordinary dividends from REITs and certain taxable income from publicly traded partnerships. Regulations issued by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) enable the Fund to pass through the special character of “qualified REIT dividends” (i.e., ordinary REIT dividends other than capital gain dividends and portions of REIT dividends designated as qualified dividend income), but not qualified publicly traded partnership income, to a shareholder, provided both the Fund and a shareholder meet certain holding period requirements with respect to their shares. A noncorporate shareholder receiving such dividends would treat them as eligible for the 20% deduction, provided the RIC shares were held by the shareholder for more than 45 days during the 91-day period beginning on the date that is 45 days before the date on which the shares become ex-dividend with respect to such dividend. The amount of a RIC’s dividends eligible for the 20% deduction for a taxable year is limited to the excess of the RIC’s qualified REIT dividends for the taxable year over allocable expenses.

REGULATORY

Changes in the laws or regulations of the United States or the Cayman Islands, including any changes to applicable tax laws and regulations, could impair the ability of the CM Commodity Index Fund and the International Investors Gold Fund to achieve their investment objective and could increase the operating expenses of each of these Funds or the wholly owned subsidiary of the International Investors Gold Fund (the “Gold Subsidiary”) or the CMCI Subsidiary. For example, in 2012, the CFTC adopted amendments to its rules that affect the ability of certain investment advisers to registered investment companies and other entities to rely on previously available exclusions or exemptions from registration under the CEA and regulations thereunder. In addition, the CFTC or the SEC could at any time alter the regulatory requirements governing the use of commodity futures, options on commodity futures, structured notes or swap transactions by investment companies, which could result in the inability of the International Investors Gold Fund or the CM Commodity Index Fund to achieve its investment objective through its current strategies.

Specifically, these amendments, which became effective on January 1, 2013, require an investment adviser of a registered investment company to register with the CFTC as a “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”) if the investment company

either markets itself as a vehicle for trading commodity interests or conducts more than a de minimis amount of speculative trading in commodity interests.

As a result of the amendments referenced above and based on the CM Commodity Index Fund’s and its CMCI Subsidiary’s current investment strategies, the CM Commodity Index Fund and the CMCI Subsidiary are each a “commodity pool” and VEARA, which is currently registered with the CFTC as a CPO and commodity trading adviser under the CEA, is considered a CPO with respect to the CM Commodity Index Fund and the CMCI Subsidiary. Accordingly, CM Commodity Index Fund and VEARA are subject to dual regulation by the CFTC and the SEC. In August 2013, the CFTC adopted regulations that seek to “harmonize” CFTC regulations with overlapping SEC rules and regulations. Pursuant to the CFTC harmonization regulations, CM Commodity Index Fund and VEARA may elect to meet the requirements of certain CFTC regulations by complying with specific SEC rules and regulations relating to disclosure and reporting requirements. The CFTC could deem CM Commodity Index Fund or VEARA in violation of an applicable CFTC regulation if CMCI Commodity Index Fund or VEARA failed to comply with a related SEC regulatory requirement under the CFTC harmonization regulations. CM Commodity Index Fund and VEARA will remain subject to certain CFTC-mandated disclosure, reporting and recordkeeping regulations even if they elect substitute compliance under the CFTC harmonization regulations. Compliance with the CFTC regulations could increase CM Commodity Index Fund’s expenses, adversely affecting the Fund’s total return. In addition, the CFTC or the SEC could at any time alter the regulatory requirements governing the use of commodity index-linked notes, commodity futures, options on commodity futures or swap transactions by investment companies, which could result in the inability of the CM Commodity Index Fund to achieve its investment objective through its current strategies.

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

Each of the Funds may enter into repurchase agreements. Repurchase agreements, which may be viewed as a type of secured lending by a Fund, typically involve the acquisition by a Fund of debt securities from a selling financial institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or broker-dealer. The agreements typically provide that a Fund will sell back to the institution, and that the institution will repurchase, the underlying security serving as collateral at a specified price and at a fixed time in the future, usually not more than seven days from the date of purchase. The collateral is marked-to-market daily to determine that the value of the collateral, as specified in the agreement, does not decrease below the purchase price plus accrued interest. If such decrease occurs, additional collateral will be requested and, when received, added to the account to maintain full collateralization. A Fund accrues interest from the institution until the time when the repurchase is to occur.

The Funds may also enter into reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements involve sales by the Funds of portfolio assets concurrently with an agreement by the Fund to repurchase the same assets at a later date at a fixed price. Such transactions are advantageous only if the interest cost to the Funds of the reverse repurchase transaction is less than the cost of obtaining the cash otherwise. Opportunities to achieve this advantage may not always be available, and the Funds seek to use the reverse repurchase technique only when it will be advantageous to the Funds. In addition, reverse repurchase agreements may be viewed as a form of borrowing, and borrowed assets used for investment creates leverage risk. Leverage can create interest expense that may lower the Funds’ overall returns. Leverage may exaggerate the Funds’ volatility and risk of loss.

RULE 144A AND SECTION 4(a)(2) SECURITIES

The Funds may invest in securities which are subject to restrictions on resale because they have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), or which are otherwise not readily marketable.

Rule 144A under the 1933 Act allows a broader institutional trading market for securities otherwise subject to restriction on resale to the general public. Rule 144A establishes a “safe harbor” from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act of resale of certain securities to qualified institutional buyers.

Each Adviser monitors the liquidity determinations of restricted securities in the Funds’ holdings pursuant to Rule 22e-4. The determination of whether a Rule 144A security is liquid or illiquid generally takes into account relevant market, trading, and investment-specific considerations consistent with applicable SEC guidance. Additional factors that may be considered include: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (2) the number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (3) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and (4) the nature of the security and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanisms of the transfer).

In addition, commercial paper may be issued in reliance on the “private placement” exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act. Such commercial paper is restricted as to disposition under the federal securities laws and, therefore, any resale of such securities must be effected in a transaction exempt from registration under the 1933 Act.

Securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act and commercial paper issued in reliance on the Section 4(a)(2) exemption under the 1940 Act may be determined to be liquid in accordance with Rule 22e-4 for purposes of complying with investment restrictions applicable to investments by the Funds in illiquid investments. To the extent such securities are determined to be illiquid, they will be aggregated with other illiquid investments for purposes of the limitation on illiquid investments.

RISKS RELATED TO RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

In late February 2022, Russian military forces invaded Ukraine, significantly amplifying already existing geopolitical tensions among Russia, Ukraine, Europe, NATO, and the West. Russia’s invasion, the responses of countries and political bodies to Russia’s actions, and the potential for wider conflict may increase financial market volatility and could have severe adverse effects on regional and global economic markets, including the markets for certain securities and commodities such as oil and natural gas. Following Russia’s actions, various countries, including the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, as well as the European Union, issued broad-ranging economic sanctions against Russia. The sanctions consist of the prohibition of trading in certain Russian securities and engaging in certain private transactions, the prohibition of doing business with certain Russian corporate entities, large financial institutions, officials and oligarchs, and the freezing of Russian assets. The sanctions include a commitment by certain countries and the European Union to remove selected Russian banks from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications, commonly called “SWIFT,” the electronic network that connects banks globally, and imposed restrictive measures to prevent the Russian Central Bank from undermining the impact of the sanctions. A number of large corporations and U.S. states have also announced plans to divest interests or otherwise curtail business dealings with certain Russian businesses.

The imposition of these current sanctions (and potential further sanctions in response to continued Russian military activity) and other actions undertaken by countries and businesses may adversely impact various sectors of the Russian economy, including but not limited to, the financials, energy, metals and mining, engineering, and defense and defense-related materials sectors. Such actions also may result in a weakening of the ruble, a downgrade of Russia’s credit rating, and the decline of the value and liquidity of Russian securities, and could impair the ability of a Fund to buy, sell, receive, or deliver those securities. Moreover, the measures could adversely affect global financial and energy markets and thereby negatively affect the value of a Fund's investments beyond any direct exposure to Russian issuers or those of adjoining geographic regions. In response to sanctions, the Russian Central Bank raised its interest rates and banned sales of local securities by foreigners, which may include a Fund. Russia may take additional counter measures or retaliatory actions, which may further impair the value and liquidity of Russian securities and Fund investments. Such actions could, for example, include restricting gas exports to other countries, seizure of U.S. and European residents' assets, conducting cyberattacks on other governments, corporations or individuals, or undertaking or provoking other military conflict elsewhere in Europe, any of which could exacerbate negative consequences on global financial markets and the economy. The actions discussed above could have a negative effect on the performance of Funds that have exposure to Russia. While diplomatic efforts have been ongoing, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is currently unpredictable and has the potential to result in broadened military actions. The duration of ongoing hostilities and corresponding sanctions and related events cannot be predicted and may result in a negative impact on performance and the value of Fund investments, particularly as it relates to Russia exposure.

Due to difficulties transacting in impacted securities, a Fund may experience challenges liquidating the applicable positions to continue to seek a Fund’s investment objective. Additionally, due to current and potential future sanctions or potential market closure impacting the ability to trade Russian securities, a Fund may experience higher transaction costs. Furthermore, any exposure that a Fund may have to Russian counterparties or counterparties that are otherwise impacted by sanctions also could negatively impact the Fund’s portfolio.

SECURITIES LENDING

The Funds may lend securities to approved borrowers, including affiliates of the Funds’ securities lending agent, State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”). Securities lending allows a Fund to retain ownership of the securities loaned and, at the same time, earn additional income. The borrower provides cash or non-cash collateral equal to at least 102% (105% for foreign securities) of the value of the securities loaned. Collateral is maintained by State Street on behalf of the Funds. Cash received as collateral through loan transactions is generally invested in shares of a money market fund. Investing this cash subjects that investment, as well as the securities loaned, to market appreciation or depreciation. Non-cash collateral consists of securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or one of its agencies and cannot be re-hypothecated by the Funds. The Funds maintain the ability to vote or consent on proxy proposals involving material events affecting securities loaned. If the borrower defaults on its obligation to return the securities loaned because of insolvency or other reasons, a Fund could experience delays and costs in recovering the securities loaned or in gaining access to the collateral. These delays and costs could be greater for foreign securities. If a Fund is not able to recover the securities loaned, the collateral may be sold and a replacement investment may be purchased in the market. The value of the collateral could decrease below the value of the replacement investment by the time the replacement investment is purchased.

SHORT SALES

The Funds may short sell equity securities. The Funds will establish a segregated account with respect to their short sales and maintain in the account cash not available for investment or U.S. government securities or other liquid, high-quality securities having a value equal to the difference between (i) the market value of the securities sold short at the time they were sold short and (ii) any cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid, high-quality securities required to be deposited as collateral with the broker in connection with the short sale (not including the proceeds from the short sale). The segregated account will be marked to market daily, so that (i) the amount in the segregated account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral equals the current market value of the securities sold short and (ii) in no event will the amount in the segregated account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral fall below the original value of the securities at the time they were sold short.

SPECIAL PURPOSE ACQUISITION COMPANIES

The Funds may invest in stock, warrants, and other securities of special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) or similar special purpose entities. A SPAC is typically a publicly traded company that raises investment capital via an IPO for the purpose of acquiring the equity securities of one or more existing companies (or interests therein) via merger, combination, acquisition or other similar transactions. A Fund may acquire an interest in a SPAC in an IPO or a secondary market transaction. See also “Equity Securities” and “Options, Futures, Warrants and Subscription Rights.”

Unless and until an acquisition is completed, a SPAC generally invests its assets (less a portion retained to cover expenses) in U.S. government securities, money market securities and cash. To the extent the SPAC is invested in cash or similar securities, this may negatively affect a Fund’s performance. Because SPACs and similar entities are in essence blank check companies without operating history or ongoing business other than seeking acquisitions, the value of their securities is particularly dependent on the ability of the entity’s management to identify and complete a profitable acquisition. There is no guarantee that the SPACs in which a Fund invests will complete an acquisition or that any acquisitions that are completed will be profitable. Some SPACs may pursue acquisitions only within certain industries or regions, which may increase the volatility of their prices. In addition, these securities, which are typically traded in the over-the-counter market, may be considered illiquid and/or be subject to restrictions on resale.

Other risks of investing in SPACs include that a significant portion of the monies raised by the SPAC may be expended during the search for a target transaction; an attractive transaction may not be identified at all (or any requisite approvals may not be obtained) and the SPAC may dissolve and be required to return any remaining monies to shareholders, causing a Fund to incur the opportunity cost of missed investment opportunities the Fund otherwise could have benefited from; a transaction once identified or effected may prove unsuccessful and an investment in the SPAC may lose value; the warrants or other rights with respect to the SPAC held by a Fund may expire worthless or may be repurchased or retired by the SPAC at an unfavorable price; and an investment in a SPAC may be diluted by additional later offerings of interests in the SPAC or by other investors exercising existing rights to purchase shares of the SPAC. In addition, a SPAC target company may have limited operating experience, a smaller size, limited product lines, markets, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources. Investing in the securities of smaller companies involves greater risk, and portfolio price volatility.

SUBSIDIARY

International Investors Gold Fund’s investments in the Gold Subsidiary and CM Commodity Index Fund’s investments in the CMCI Subsidiary are expected to provide such Funds with exposure to the commodity markets within the limitations of Subchapter M of the Code and the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) revenue rulings, as discussed below under “Taxation.”

Each of the Gold Subsidiary and the CMCI Subsidiary is a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands and is overseen by its own board of directors. International Investors Gold Fund is the sole shareholder of the Gold Subsidiary, and it is not currently expected that shares of the Gold Subsidiary will be sold or offered to other investors. CM Commodity Index Fund is the sole shareholder of the CMCI Subsidiary, and it is not currently expected that shares of the CMCI Subsidiary will be sold or offered to other investors. It is expected that the Gold Subsidiary will primarily invest in gold bullion, gold futures and other instruments that provide direct or indirect exposure to gold, including ETFs, and also may invest in silver, platinum and palladium bullion and futures. It is expected that the CMCI Subsidiary will primarily invest in commodity-linked derivative instruments, including swap agreements, futures and options on futures. To the extent that International Investors Gold Fund invests in the Gold Subsidiary, such Fund may be subject to the risks associated with those instruments and other securities. To the extent that the CM Commodity Index Fund invests in the CMCI Subsidiary, such Fund may be subject to the risks associated with those derivative instruments and other securities.

While each of the Gold Subsidiary and the CMCI Subsidiary may be considered similar to investment companies, they are not registered under the 1940 Act and, unless otherwise noted in the applicable Prospectus and this SAI, is not subject to all of the investor protections of the 1940 Act and other U.S. regulations. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of International Investors Gold Fund and/or the Gold Subsidiary and/or CM Commodity Index Fund and/or the CMCI Subsidiary to operate as described in the applicable Prospectus and this SAI and could eliminate or severely limit such Fund’s ability to invest in the Gold Subsidiary or the CMCI Subsidiary (as applicable) which may adversely affect such Funds and their shareholders.

SWAPS

The Funds may enter into swap agreements. A swap is a derivative in the form of an agreement to exchange the return generated by one instrument for the return generated by another instrument. The payment streams are calculated by reference to a specified index and agreed upon notional amount. The term “specified index” includes currencies, fixed interest rates, prices, total return on interest rate indices, fixed income indices, stock indices and commodity indices (as well as amounts derived from arithmetic operations on these indices). For example, a Fund may agree to swap the return generated by a fixed income index for the return generated by a second fixed income index. The currency swaps in which a Fund may enter will generally involve an agreement to pay interest streams in one currency based on a specified index in exchange for receiving interest streams denominated in another currency. Such swaps may involve initial and final exchanges that correspond to the agreed upon notional amount. The swaps in which the CM Commodity Index Fund may engage also include rate caps, floors and collars under which one party pays a single or periodic fixed amount(s) (or premium), and the other party pays periodic amounts based on the movement of a specified index.

A Fund may also enter into credit default swaps, index swaps and interest rate swaps. Credit default swaps may have as reference obligations one or more securities or a basket of securities that are or are not currently held by the Fund. The protection “buyer” in a credit default contract is generally obligated to pay the protection “seller” an upfront or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no credit event, such as a default, on a reference obligation has occurred. If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the “par value” (full notional value) of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity described in the swap, or the seller may be required to deliver the related net cash amount, if the swap is cash settled. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by a Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, e.g., an exchange of fixed rate payments for floating rate payments. Index swaps, also called total return swaps, involves a Fund entering into a contract with a counterparty in which the counterparty makes payments to the Fund based on the positive returns of an index, such as a corporate bond index, in return for the Fund paying to the counterparty a fixed or variable interest rate, as well as paying to the counterparty any negative returns on the index. In a sense, a Fund is purchasing exposure to an index in the amount of the notional principal in return for making interest rate payments on the notional principal. As with interest-rate swaps, the notional principal does not actually change hands at any point in the transaction. Cross-currency swaps are interest rate swaps in which the notional amount upon which the fixed interest rate is accrued is denominated in another currency and the notional amount upon which the floating rate is accrued is denominated in another currency. The notional amounts are typically determined based on the spot exchange rate at the inception of the trade. The swaps in which a Fund may engage also include rate caps, floors and collars under which one party pays a single or periodic fixed amount(s) (or premium), and the other party pays periodic amounts based on the movement of a specified index. Global Resources Fund may also enter into other asset swaps. Asset swaps are similar to swaps in that the performance of one global resource (e.g., gold) may be “swapped” for another (e.g., energy).

Swaps do not typically involve the delivery of securities, other underlying assets, or principal. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to swaps is limited to the net amount of payments that a Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to a swap defaults, a Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that a Fund is contractually entitled to receive. Currency swaps usually involve the delivery of the entire principal value of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency. Therefore, the entire principal value of a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party

to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations. If there is a default by the counterparty, a Fund may have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. In addition, as of the date of this SAI, UBS Financial Services, Inc. was the only available counterparty with which the CM Commodity Index Fund may enter into swaps contracts on the CMCI. Accordingly, this increases the CM Commodity Index Fund’s exposure to these counterparty risks. The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary fund securities transactions. If an Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of market values, interest rates, and currency exchange rates, the investment performance of a Fund would be less favorable than it would have been if this investment technique were not used. Also, if a counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the value of the swap would likely decline.

Certain standardized swaps are subject to mandatory central clearing and exchange-trading. Central clearing is intended to reduce counterparty credit risk and increase liquidity, but central clearing does not eliminate these risks and may involve additional costs and risks not involved with uncleared swaps. Credit risk of cleared swap participants is concentrated in a few clearinghouses, and the consequences of insolvency of a clearinghouse are not clear. There is also a risk of loss by a Fund of the initial and variation margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of the FCM with which the Fund has an open position, or the central counterparty in a swap contract.

TRACKING ERROR

The returns of VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund and CM Commodity Index Fund’s return may not match the return of the indexes that each of these funds seeks to track due to, among other factors, the Fund incurring operating expenses, and not being fully invested at all times as a result of cash inflows and cash reserves to meet redemptions.

U.S. GOVERNMENT AND RELATED OBLIGATIONS

U.S. government obligations include U.S. Treasury obligations and securities issued or guaranteed by various agencies of the U.S. government or by various instrumentalities which have been established or sponsored by the U.S. government. U.S. Treasury obligations and securities issued or guaranteed by various agencies of the U.S. government differ in their interest rates, maturities and time of issuance, as well as with respect to whether they are guaranteed by the U.S. government. U.S. government and related obligations may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations.

While U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. government, securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies and U.S. government-sponsored instrumentalities may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. These securities may be supported by the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or only by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality and, as a result, may be subject to greater credit risk than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury. Obligations of U.S. government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities and sponsored enterprises historically have involved limited risk of loss of principal if held to maturity. However, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to any of these entities if it is not obligated to do so by law. Additionally, from time to time uncertainty regarding the status of negotiations in the U.S. government to increase the statutory debt limit, commonly called the “debt ceiling,” could increase the risk that the U.S. government may default on payments on certain U.S. government securities, cause the credit rating of the U.S. government to be downgraded, increase volatility in the stock and bond markets, result in higher interest rates, reduce prices of U.S. Treasury securities, and/or increase the costs of various kinds of debt. If a U.S. government-sponsored entity is negatively impacted by legislative or regulatory action, is unable to meet its obligations, or its creditworthiness declines, the performance of a Fund that holds securities of that entity will be adversely impacted.

WHEN, AS AND IF ISSUED SECURITIES

Each Fund may purchase securities on a “when, as and if issued” basis, under which the issuance of the security depends upon the occurrence of a subsequent event, such as approval of a merger, corporate reorganization or debt restructuring. At that time, the Fund will record the transaction and, in determining its net asset value, will reflect the value of the security daily. At that time, the Fund will also earmark or establish a segregated account on the Fund’s books in which it will maintain cash, cash equivalents or other liquid portfolio securities equal in value to recognized commitments for such securities. An increase in the percentage of the Fund assets committed to the purchase of securities on a “when, as and if issued” basis may increase the volatility of its net asset value. A Fund may also sell securities on a “when, as and if issued” basis provided that the issuance of the security will result automatically from the exchange or conversion of a security owned by the Fund at the time of sale.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CMCI

The following is a more complete description of the UBS Bloomberg Constant Maturity Commodity Total Return Index (the “CMCI”), including, without limitation, information about the composition, weighting, method of calculation and procedures for changes in components and weights.

Overview of the CMCI

The CMCI represents a basket of commodity futures contracts with 29 components (as of August 1, 2021). Exposure to each component is allocated across a range of maturity pillars ranging from three months up to a maximum of three years. Not all commodities have the full range of maturity exposures. In contrast, traditional commodity indices typically invest in front-month and next-month futures contracts which have shorter tenors (time to maturity) than the average CMCI tenor.

The CMCI also employs a “constant maturity” approach by relying on a continuous roll methodology in which the Index invests in and out of future contracts on a daily basis in order to maintain the average maturity of each pillar. This methodology differs from traditional commodity indices, which usually are pre-defined to roll during a fixed window of days on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. The CMCI represents commodities in five primary sectors: Energy, Agriculture, Industrial Metals, Precious Metals and Livestock. The underlying commodities trade on various exchanges.

The return of the CMCI is generated by two components: (i) uncollateralized returns from holding and rolling of futures contracts comprising the Index and (ii) a fixed-income return, which reflects the interest earned on a hypothetical 13-week U.S. Treasury bill portfolio theoretically deposited as full collateral for the notional exposure of hypothetical positions in the futures contracts comprising the Index.

As of August 1, 2021, the CMCI consisted of the following commodity sectors with the following relative Target Weights: Agriculture (31.0%), Energy (30.5%), Industrial Metals (25.7%), Precious Metals (8.3%) and Livestock (4.6%).

Component Selection and Target Weights

The weighting process for the Index is designed to reflect the economic significance and market liquidity of each commodity. The Index sponsors use a two-step approach to determine Target Weights: first, economic indicators (regional Consumer Price Indexes (CPI), Producer Price Indexes (PPI) and Gross Domestic Projects (GDP)), along with liquidity analysis, are used to determine the sector weights (Energy, Agriculture, Industrial Metals, Precious Metals and Livestock); secondly, global consumption data in conjunction with further liquidity analysis is used to calculate the individual component weights. In order to ensure a high level of diversification and avoid unnecessary dilution, the weight of any individual index component is limited to 20% and any commodity with a weight that is lower than 0.60% is excluded from the CMCI.

Changes in the Target Weights and/or Index Composition

The CMCI Governance Committee (in consultation with the CMCI Advisory Committee) reviews the selection and weightings of the futures contracts in the annual meeting in the first half of the year or at any special meeting called by the CMCI Advisory Committee. New Target Weights are therefore established on an annual basis during the CMCI Governance Committee meetings, subject to ratification by the Index Sponsor. The Index is rebalanced to the new Target Weights during the maintenance period, which is the final three CMCI business days at the end of July.

Tenors of Contracts

The CMCI represents a weighted average of all available CMCI constant maturities (ranging from three months to over three years). The distribution of weights to available tenors (time to maturity) is a function of relative liquidity of the underlying futures contracts. As of August 2021, the average tenor of the futures contracts comprising the Index is approximately 6.6 months. Since the relative liquidity of commodity futures contracts for a given commodity tends to decline as time to maturity increases, the weights of the longer-dated tenors are typically lower than those for the short-dated tenors for a given commodity.

Rebalancing of the Index Components

Due to price movements, the weight of each component in the Index will fluctuate from its Target Weight over time. The weight of each Index component is therefore rebalanced over the final three CMCI Business Days of each month in order to bring each underlying commodity risk position back to its Target Weight for each tenor. The process is automatic and is implemented via a pre-defined methodology. The Index provider may delay or change a scheduled rebalancing or reconstitution of the CMCI or the implementation of certain rules at its sole discretion.

Calculation of the Index

The CMCI is calculated and disseminated by UBS approximately every fifteen seconds (assuming the Index level has changed within such fifteen-second interval) from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., New York City time, and a daily closing Index level is published between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., New York City time, on each Trading Day. Information relating to the CMCI is available via Bloomberg on pages CUBS, CMCN or CMCX and from Reuters on page UBSCMCI. Index information is also available on the Bloomberg website: http://www.bloomberg.com (Select “COMMODITIES” from the drop-down menu entitled “Market Data”). For further information on CMCI methodology and CMCI index values, investors can go to http://www.ubs.com/cmci.

Total Return

CMCI is a “total return” index. In addition to uncollateralized returns generated from the futures contracts comprising the Index, a daily fixed-income return is added, which reflects the interest earned on a hypothetical 13-week Treasury bill portfolio which theoretically collateralizes 100% of the notional value of the hypothetical positions in the futures contracts comprising the CMCI. The rate used to calculate the daily fixed-income return is the 13-week U.S. Treasury bill Auction High Rate, as published by the “Treasury Security Auction Results” report, published by the Bureau of the Public Debt currently available on the website: http://www.treasurydirect.gov/instit/annceresult/press/preanre/preanre.htm. The rate is generally published once per week on Monday and generally made effective with respect to the Index on the following Trading Day.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT MORNINGSTAR WIDE MOAT FOCUS INDEX

The Wide Moat Focus Index is a rules-based index intended to offer exposure to companies that the Index Provider determines have sustainable competitive advantages based on a proprietary methodology that considers quantitative and qualitative factors (“wide moat companies”). Wide moat companies are selected from the universe of companies represented in the Morningstar® US Market IndexSM, a broad market index representing 97% of U.S. market capitalization. The Wide Moat Focus Index targets a select group of wide moat companies: those that according to Morningstar’s equity research team are attractively priced as of each Wide Moat Focus Index review. Out of the companies in the Morningstar US Market Index that the Index Provider determines are wide moat companies, the Index Provider selects companies to be included in the Wide Moat Focus Index as determined by the ratio of the Index Provider’s estimate of fair value of the issuer’s common stock to the price. The Index Provider’s equity research team’s fair value estimates are calculated using a standardized, proprietary valuation model.

A selection committee, comprising members of Morningstar’s equity research team, makes the final determination of whether a company is a wide moat company. Only those companies with one or more of the identifiable competitive advantages, as determined by the Index Provider’s equity research team and agreed to by the selection committee, are wide moat companies. The quantitative factors used to identify competitive advantages include historical and projected returns on invested capital relative to cost of capital. The qualitative factors used to identify competitive advantages include customer switching cost (i.e., the costs of customers switching to competitors), internal cost advantages, intangible assets (e.g., intellectual property and brands), network effects (i.e., whether products or services become more valuable as the number of customers grows) and efficient scale (i.e., whether the company effectively serves a limited market that potential rivals have little incentive to enter into). The Index Provider’s equity research team uses a standardized, proprietary valuation model to assign fair values to potential Wide Moat Focus Index constituents’ common stock.

The Index Provider’s equity research team estimates the issuer’s future free cash flows and then calculates an enterprise value using weighted average costs of capital as the discount rate. The Index Provider’s equity research team then assigns each issuer’s common stock a fair value by adjusting the enterprise value to account for net debt and other adjustments.

A buffer rule is applied to the current Wide Moat Focus Index constituents. Those that are ranked in the top 150% of stocks representing the lowest current market price/fair value price eligible for inclusion in the Wide Moat Focus Index will remain in the Wide Moat Focus Index at the time of reconstitution and those that fall outside of the top 150% are excluded from the Index. The maximum weight of an individual sector in the Wide Moat Focus Index is capped at 10% more than its corresponding weight in the Morningstar US Market Index at the time of reconstitution, or 40%, whichever is higher.

As of December 31, 2021, the Wide Moat Focus Index included 46 securities of companies with a market capitalization range of between approximately $1.7 billion and $2,525 billion and a weighted average market capitalization of $235.2 billion. These amounts are subject to change.

The Wide Moat Focus Index employs a staggered rebalance methodology. The Wide Moat Focus Index is divided into two equally-weighted sub-portfolios, and each is reconstituted and rebalanced semi-annually on alternating quarters. Each subportfolio will contain 40 equally-weighted securities at its semi-annual reconstitution and weights will vary with market prices until the next reconstitution date. Due to the staggered rebalance methodology, constituents and weightings may vary between sub-portfolios. Each sub-portfolio is reweighted to 50% of the total Wide Moat Focus Index every six months. Adjustments to one sub-portfolio are performed after the close of business on the third Friday of March and September and

adjustments to the other sub-portfolio are performed after the close of business on the third Friday of June and December, and all adjustments are effective on the following Monday. If the Monday is a market holiday, reconstitution and rebalancing occurs on the Tuesday immediately following. The Index provider may delay or change a scheduled rebalancing or reconstitution of the Wide Moat Focus Index or the implementation of certain rules at its sole discretion.

Rebalancing data, including constituent weights and related information, is posted on the Index Provider’s website at the end of each quarter-end month. Target weights of the constituents are not otherwise adjusted between quarters except in the event of certain types of corporate actions.

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The following investment restrictions are in addition to those described in the Prospectuses. These investment restrictions are “fundamental” and may be changed with respect to the Fund only with the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s “outstanding voting securities”, (which for this purpose and under the 1940 Act, means the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding shares are represented; or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares). As to any of the following investment restrictions, if a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from a change in value of portfolio securities or amount of net assets will not be considered a violation of the investment restriction. In the case of borrowing, however, a Fund will promptly take action to reduce the amount of the Fund’s borrowings outstanding if, because of changes in the net asset value of the Fund due to market action, the amount of such borrowings exceeds one-third of the value of the Fund’s net assets. The fundamental investment restrictions are as follows:

Each Fund may not:

1.Borrow money, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as amended and as interpreted or modified by regulation from time to time.

2.Engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by others, except to the extent that the Fund may be considered an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in the disposition of restricted securities or in connection with its investments in other investment companies.

3.Make loans, except that the Fund may (i) lend portfolio securities, (ii) enter into repurchase agreements, (iii) purchase all or a portion of an issue of debt securities, bank loan participation interests, bank certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, debentures or other securities, whether or not the purchase is made upon the original issuance of the securities, and (iv) participate in an interfund lending program with other registered investment companies.

4.Issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as amended and as interpreted or modified by regulation from time to time.

5.Purchase or sell real estate, except that the Fund may (i) invest in securities of issuers that invest in real estate or interests therein, (ii) invest in mortgage-related securities and other securities that are secured by real estate or interests therein, and (iii) hold and sell real estate acquired by the Fund as a result of the ownership of securities.

Each of the Emerging Markets Fund, Emerging Markets Leaders Fund, Environmental Sustainability Fund, Global Resources Fund and International Investors Gold Fund may not:

6.Purchase or sell commodities, unless acquired as a result of owning securities or other instruments, but it may purchase, sell or enter into financial options and futures, forward and spot currency contracts, swap transactions and other financial contracts or derivative instruments and may invest in securities or other instruments backed by commodities, except that International Investors Gold Fund may invest in gold and silver coins which are legal tender in the country of issue and gold and silver bullion, and palladium and platinum group metals bullion.

7.Purchase any security if, as a result of that purchase, 25% or more of its total assets would be invested in securities of issuers having their principal business activities in the same industry, except that (i) Global Resources Fund will invest 25% or more of its total assets in “global resource” industries as defined in its Prospectus; (ii) Environmental Sustainability Fund will invest 25% or more of its total assets in industries relating to environmental sustainability as defined in its Prospectus; and (iii) International Investors Gold Fund may invest 25% or more of its total assets in the gold-mining industry. This limit does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities.

Emerging Markets Bond Fund may not:

other financial contracts or derivative instruments and may invest in securities or other instruments backed by commodities.

7. Purchase any security if, as a result of that purchase, 25% or more of its total assets would be invested in securities of issuers having their principal business activities in the same industry. This limit does not apply to (i) securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, or (ii) securities of other investment companies.

CM Commodity Index Fund may not:

7. Purchase any security if, as a result of that purchase, 25% or more of its total assets would be invested in securities of issuers having their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that this restriction does not limit the Fund’s investments in (i) securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, (ii) securities of other investment companies, and provided further that (iii) to the extent the benchmark index for the Fund is concentrated in a particular industry, the Fund will necessarily be concentrated in that industry.

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund may not:

7. Purchase any security if, as a result of that purchase, 25% or more of its total assets would be invested in securities of issuers having their principal business activities in the same industry, except that the Fund may invest 25% or more of the value of its total assets in securities of issuers in any one industry or group of industries if the index that the Fund replicates concentrates in an industry or group of industries. This limit does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.

In addition, each of CM Commodity Index Fund, Emerging Markets Fund, Global Resources Fund and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund may not invest in a manner inconsistent with each of their classifications as a “diversified company” as provided by (i) the 1940 Act, as amended from time to time, (ii) the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC under the 1940 Act, as amended from time to time, or (iii) an exemption or other relief applicable to the Fund from the provisions of the 1940 Act, as amended from time to time.

For purposes of Restriction 1, the 1940 Act generally permits a Fund to borrow money in amounts of up to one-third of the Fund’s total assets from banks, and to borrow up to 5% of the Fund’s total assets from banks or other lenders for temporary purposes. To limit the risks attendant to borrowing, the 1940 Act generally requires a Fund to maintain at all times an “asset coverage” of at least 300% of the amount of its borrowings. Asset coverage generally means the ratio that the value of a Fund’s total assets, minus liabilities other than borrowings, bears to the aggregate amount of all borrowings.

For purposes of Restriction 4, “senior securities” are generally Fund obligations that have a priority over the Fund’s shares with respect to the payment of dividends or the distribution of Fund assets. The 1940 Act generally prohibits a Fund from issuing senior securities, except that the Fund may borrow money in amounts of up to one-third of the Fund’s total assets from banks. A Fund also may borrow an amount equal to up to 5% of the Fund’s total assets from banks or other lenders for temporary purposes, and these borrowings are not considered senior securities.

For the purposes of Restriction 7, companies in different geographical locations will not be deemed to be in the same industry if the investment risks associated with the securities of such companies are substantially different. For example, although generally considered to be “interest rate-sensitive,” investing in banking institutions in different countries is generally dependent upon substantially different risk factors, such as the condition and prospects of the economy in a particular country and in particular industries, and political conditions. Similarly, each foreign government issuing securities (together with its agencies and instrumentalities) will be treated as a separate industry. Also, for the purposes of Restriction 7, investment companies are not considered to be part of an industry. To the extent a Fund invests its assets in underlying investment companies, 25% or more of such Fund’s total assets may be indirectly exposed to a particular industry or group of related industries through its investment in one or more underlying investment companies. In accordance with each of VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund’s principal investment strategies as set forth in its Prospectus, each Fund invests its assets in underlying investment companies.

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund may invest its remaining assets in securities not included in the Moat Index, money market instruments or funds which reinvest exclusively in money market instruments, exchange traded products, in stocks that are in the relevant market but not the Fund’s Index, and/or in combinations of certain stock index futures contracts, options on such futures contracts, stock options, stock index options, options on the shares, and stock index swaps and swaptions, each with a view towards providing the Fund with exposure to the securities in its respective Index. These investments may be made to invest uncommitted cash balances or, in limited circumstances, to assist in meeting shareholder redemptions. The Fund will not invest in money market instruments as part of a temporary defensive strategy to protect against potential stock market declines.

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE

The Funds have adopted policies and procedures governing the disclosure of information regarding the Funds’ portfolio holdings. They are reasonably designed to prevent selective disclosure of the Funds’ portfolio holdings to third parties, other than disclosures that are consistent with the best interests of the Funds’ shareholders. The Board is responsible for overseeing the implementation of these policies and procedures, and will review them annually to ensure their adequacy.

These policies and procedures apply to employees of the Advisers, administrator, principal underwriter, and all other service providers to the Funds that, in the ordinary course of their activities, come into possession of information about the Funds’ portfolio holdings. These policies and procedures are made available to each service provider.

The following outlines the policies and procedures adopted by the Funds regarding the disclosure of portfolio-related information:

Generally, it is the policy of the Funds that no current or potential investor (or their representative), including any Fund shareholder (collectively, “Investors”), shall be provided information about a Fund’s portfolio on a preferential basis in advance of the provision of that same information to other investors.

Disclosure to Investors. Portfolio holdings information for the Funds is available to all investors on the VanEck website at vaneck.com. Information regarding the Funds’ top holdings and country and sector weightings, updated as of each month-end, is located on this website. Generally, this information is posted to the website within 10 business days of the end of the applicable month. The Funds may also publish a detailed list of the securities held by such Fund as of each month-end, which is generally posted to the website within 10 business days after the end of the applicable month. This information generally remains available on the website until new information is posted. Each Fund reserves the right to exclude any portion of these portfolio holdings from publication when deemed in the best interest of the Fund, and to discontinue the posting of portfolio holdings information at any time, without prior notice.

Best Interest of the Funds: Information regarding the Funds’ specific security holdings, sector weightings, geographic distribution, issuer allocations and related information (“Portfolio-Related Information”), shall be disclosed to the public only (i) as required by applicable laws, rules or regulations, (ii) pursuant to the Funds’ Portfolio-Related Information disclosure policies and procedures, or (iii) otherwise when the disclosure of such information is determined by the Trust’s officers to be in the best interest of Fund shareholders.

Conflicts of Interest: Should a conflict of interest arise between a Fund and any of the Fund’s service providers regarding the possible disclosure of Portfolio-Related Information, the Trust’s officers shall resolve any conflict of interest in favor of the Fund’s interest. In the event that an officer of the Fund is unable to resolve such a conflict of interest, the matter shall be referred to the Trust’s Audit Committee for resolution.

Equality of Dissemination: Shareholders of the same Fund shall be treated alike in terms of access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings. With the exception of certain selective disclosures, noted in the paragraph below, Portfolio-Related Information with respect to a Fund shall not be disclosed to any Investor prior to the time the same information is disclosed publicly (e.g., posted on the Fund’s website). Accordingly, all Investors will have equal access to such information.

Selective Disclosure of Portfolio-Related Information in Certain Circumstances: In some instances, it may be appropriate for a Fund to selectively disclose a Fund’s Portfolio-Related Information (e.g., for due diligence purposes, disclosure to a newly hired adviser or sub-adviser, or disclosure to a rating agency) prior to public dissemination of such information.

Conditional Use of Selectively-Disclosed Portfolio-Related Information: To the extent practicable, each of the Trust’s officers shall condition the receipt of Portfolio-Related Information upon the receiving party’s written agreement to both keep such information confidential and not to trade Fund shares based on this information.

Compensation: No person, including officers of the Funds or employees of other service providers or their affiliates, shall receive any compensation in connection with the disclosure of Portfolio-Related Information. Notwithstanding the

foregoing, the Funds reserve the right to charge a nominal processing fee, payable to the Funds, to non-shareholders requesting Portfolio-Related Information. This fee is designed to offset the Fund’s costs in disseminating such information.

Source of Portfolio-Related Information: All Portfolio-Related Information shall be based on information provided by the Fund’s administrator(s)/accounting agent.

The Funds may provide non-public portfolio holdings information to third parties in the normal course of their performance of services to the Funds, including to the Funds’ auditors; custodian; financial printers; counsel to the Funds or counsel to the Funds’ independent trustees; regulatory authorities; and securities exchanges and other listing organizations. In addition, the Funds may provide non-public portfolio holdings information to data providers, fund ranking/rating services, and fair valuation services. The entities to which the Funds voluntarily disclose portfolio holdings information are required, either by explicit agreement or by virtue of their respective duties to the Funds, to maintain the confidentiality of the information disclosed.

There can be no assurance that the Funds’ policies and procedures regarding selective disclosure of the Funds’ portfolio holdings will protect the Funds from potential misuse of that information by individuals or entities to which it is disclosed.

The Board shall be responsible for overseeing the implementation of these policies and procedures. These policies and procedures shall be reviewed by the Board on an annual basis for their continuing appropriateness.

Additionally, the Funds shall maintain and preserve permanently in an easily accessible place a written copy of these policies and procedures. The Fund shall also maintain and preserve, for a period not less than six years (the first two years in an easily accessible place), all Portfolio-Related Information disclosed to the public.

INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectuses entitled “Shareholder Information – Management of the Funds.”

Van Eck Associates Corporation acts as investment manager to all the Funds (except CM Commodity Index Fund) and, subject to the supervision of the Board, is responsible for the day-to-day investment management of the Funds. VEAC is a private company with headquarters in New York and acts as adviser or sub-adviser to other mutual funds, ETFs, other pooled investment vehicles and separate accounts. Van Eck Absolute Return Advisers Corporation acts as investment manager to CM Commodity Index Fund and, subject to the supervision of the Board, is responsible for the day-to-day investment management of CM Commodity Index Fund. VEARA is a private company with headquarters in New York and acts as adviser to other pooled investment vehicles. VEARA is a wholly owned subsidiary of VEAC and is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and with the CFTC as a CPO and a CTA under the CEA.

VEAC and VEARA each serve as investment manager to the applicable Funds pursuant to an investment advisory agreement between the Trust and such Adviser (each, an “Advisory Agreement”). The advisory fee paid pursuant to each Advisory Agreement is computed daily and paid monthly by each Fund to its Adviser at the following annual rates: CM Commodity Index Fund pays VEARA a fee at the annual rate of 0.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, which includes the fee paid to VEARA for accounting and administrative services; Emerging Markets Fund pays VEAC a fee at the annual rate of 0.75% of average daily net assets of the Fund; Emerging Markets Leaders Fund pays VEAC a fee at the annual rate of 0.75% of the Fund's average daily net assets, which includes the fee paid to VEAC for accounting and administrative services; Environmental Sustainability Fund pays VEAC a fee at the annual rate of 0.75% of the Fund's average daily net assets, which includes the fee paid to VEAC for accounting and administrative services; Global Resources Fund pays VEAC a fee at the annual rate of 1.00% of the first $2.5 billion of average daily net assets of the Fund and 0.90% of average daily net assets in excess of $2.5 billion, which includes the fee paid to VEAC for accounting and administrative services; International Investors Gold Fund pays VEAC a fee at the annual rate of 0.75% of the first $500 million of average daily net assets of the Fund, 0.65% of the next $250 million of average daily net assets and 0.50% of average daily net assets in excess of $750 million; Emerging Markets Bond Fund pays VEAC a fee at the annual rate of 0.80% of the first $1.5 billion of average daily net assets of the Fund and 0.75% of average daily net assets in excess of $1.5 billion, which includes the fee paid to VEAC for accounting and administrative services; and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund pays VEAC a fee at the annual rate of 0.45% of average daily net assets, which includes the fee paid to VEAC for accounting and administrative services. Each class of a Fund’s shares pays its proportionate share of the Fund’s fee. For purposes of calculating these fees for the International Investors Gold Fund and CM Commodity Index Fund, the net assets of each Fund include the value of each Fund’s interest in the Gold Subsidiary and the CMCI Subsidiary, respectively. Each of the Gold Subsidiary and the CMCI Subsidiary does not pay VEAC or VEARA, respectively, a fee for managing the Gold Subsidiary’s or the CMCI Subsidiary’s portfolio.

Under its respective Advisory Agreement, each Adviser, subject to the supervision of the Board and in conformity with the stated investment policies of each Fund to which it serves as an adviser, manages the investment of such Fund’s assets.

Each Adviser is responsible for placing purchase and sale orders and providing continuous supervision of the investment portfolio of the Funds it manages.

Each Adviser has agreed to waive fees and/or pay Fund expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of each Fund (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, trading expenses, dividends and interest payments on securities sold short, taxes and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding the following:


Fund	Expense Cap	Fee Arrangement Duration Date
CM Commodity Index Fund
Class A	0.95%	May 1, 2023
Class I	0.65%	May 1, 2023
Class Y	0.70%	May 1, 2023

Emerging Markets Fund
Class A	1.60%	May 1, 2023
Class C	2.50%	May 1, 2023
Class I	1.00%	May 1, 2023
Class Y	1.10%	May 1, 2023
Class Z	0.90%	May 1, 2023

Emerging Markets Leaders Fund
Class A	1.45%	May 1, 2023
Class I	0.85%	May 1, 2023
Class Y	0.95%	May 1, 2023
Class Z	0.75%	May 1, 2023

Environmental Sustainability Fund
Class A	1.25%	May 1, 2023
Class I	0.95%	May 1, 2023
Class Y	1.05%	May 1, 2023

Global Resources Fund
Class A	1.38%	May 1, 2023
Class C	2.20%	May 1, 2023
Class I	0.95%	May 1, 2023
Class Y	1.13%	May 1, 2023

International Investors Gold Fund
Class A	1.45%	May 1, 2023
Class C	2.20%	May 1, 2023
Class I	1.00%	May 1, 2023
Class Y	1.10%	May 1, 2023

Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Class A	1.25%	May 1, 2023
Class I	0.95%	May 1, 2023
Class Y	1.00%	May 1, 2023

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund
Class I	0.59%	May 1, 2023
Class Z	0.49%	May 1, 2023

During such time, the expense limitation is expected to continue until the Board of Trustees acts to discontinue all or a portion of such expense limitation.

In addition to providing investment advisory services, VEAC also performs accounting and administrative services for Emerging Markets Fund and International Investors Gold Fund pursuant to a written agreement. For these accounting and administrative services, a fee is calculated daily and paid monthly at the following annual rates: Emerging Markets Fund pays VEAC a fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets and International Investors Gold Fund pays the VEAC a fee equal to 0.25% on the first $750 million of average daily net assets, and 0.20% of average daily net assets in excess of $750 million.

Pursuant to each Advisory Agreement, the Trust has agreed to indemnify each Adviser for certain liabilities, including certain liabilities arising under the federal securities laws, unless such loss or liability results from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations and duties.

Investments in the securities of underlying funds involve duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses. By investing in an underlying fund, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund becomes a shareholder of that underlying fund. As a result, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund’s shareholders will indirectly bear the Fund’s proportionate share of the fees and expenses paid by shareholders of the underlying fund, in addition to the fees and expenses the Fund’s shareholders directly bear in connection with the Fund’s own operations. To minimize the duplication of fees, VEAC has agreed to waive the management fee it charges to VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund by any amount it collects as a management fee from an underlying fund managed by VEAC, as a result of an investment of the Fund’s assets in such underlying fund.

The management fees earned and the expenses waived or assumed by each Adviser for the past three fiscal years are as follows:


		MANAGEMENT FEES		EXPENSES WAIVED/ASSUMED BY THE ADVISERS
CM Commodity Index Fund	2021	$	4,548,328	$	1,647,713
	2020	$	2,864,439	$	1,215,797
	2019	$	3,649,521	$	1,645,687
Emerging Markets Fund	2021	$	21,335,483	$	2,172,992
	2020	$	16,458,393	$	1,500,126
	2019	$	15,173,944	$	1,981,311
Global Resources Fund	2021	$	7,263,373	$	878,369
	2020	$	5,098,274	$	994,614
	2019	$	10,887,700	$	1,609,168
International Investors Gold Fund	2021	$	6,356,810	$	59,592
	2020	$	6,284,731	$	38,726
	2019	$	4,679,595	$	434,045
Emerging Markets Bond Fund	2021	$	216,678	$	256,091
	2020	$	199,421	$	245,466
	2019	$	158,547	$	291,064
Emerging Markets Leaders Fund1	2021	N/A		N/A
	2020	N/A		N/A
	2019	N/A		N/A
Environmental Sustainability Fund2	2021	$	17,772	$	109,925
	2020	N/A		N/A
	2019	N/A		N/A
VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund	2021	$	73,458	$	199,586
	2020	$	42,069	$	210,224
	2019	$	32,052	$	205,811

1 Emerging Markets Leaders Fund commenced operations on March 1, 2022.

2 Environmental Sustainability Fund commenced operations on July 14, 2021.

Each Advisory Agreement provides that it shall continue in effect from year to year as long as it is approved at least annually by (1) the Board or (2) a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of each Fund, provided that in either event such continuance also is approved by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. Each Advisory Agreement is terminable without penalty, on 60 days’ notice, by the Board or by a vote of the holders of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of a Fund’s outstanding voting securities. Each Advisory Agreement is also terminable upon 60 days’ notice by the applicable Adviser and will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).

THE DISTRIBUTOR

Shares of the Funds are offered on a continuous basis and are distributed through Van Eck Securities Corporation, the Distributor, 666 Third Avenue, New York, New York, 10017, a wholly owned subsidiary of VEAC and an affiliate of VEARA. The Board has approved a Distribution Agreement appointing the Distributor as distributor of shares of the Funds.

The Trust has authorized one or more intermediaries (who are authorized to designate other intermediaries) to accept purchase and redemption orders on the Trust’s behalf. The Trust will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when the authorized broker or its designee accepts the order. Orders will be priced at the net asset value next computed after they are accepted by the authorized broker or its designee.

The Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor will pay all fees and expenses in connection with printing and distributing prospectuses and reports for use in offering and selling shares of the Funds and preparing, printing and distributing advertising or promotional materials. The Funds will pay all fees and expenses in connection with registering and qualifying their shares under federal and state securities laws. The Distribution Agreement is reviewed and approved annually by the Board.

The Distributor retained underwriting commissions on sales of shares of the Funds during the past three fiscal years, after reallowance to dealers, as follows:


		VAN ECK SECURITIES CORPORATION		REALLOWANCE TO DEALERS
CM Commodity Index Fund	2021	$	7,037	$	44,256
	2020	$	840	$	5,260
	2019	$	1,597	$	12,434
Emerging Markets Fund	2021	$	13,225	$	99,383
	2020	$	6,461	$	218,370
	2019	$	20,208	$	213,079
Global Resources Fund	2021	$	32,827	$	497,518
	2020	$	7,602	$	84,345
	2019	$	10,935	$	71,655
International Investors Gold Fund	2021	$	61,679	$	489,186
	2020	$	97,286	$	769,893
	2019	$	54,928	$	491,289
Emerging Markets Bond Fund	2021	$	1,066	$	7,181
	2020	$	1,739	$	11,589
	2019	$	446	$	3,240
Emerging Markets Leaders Fund1	2021	N/A		N/A
	2020	N/A		N/A
	2019	N/A		N/A
Environmental Sustainability Fund2	2021	$—		$—
	2020	N/A		N/A
	2019	N/A		N/A
VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund	2021	N/A		N/A
	2020	N/A		N/A
	2019	N/A		N/A

1 Emerging Markets Leaders Fund commenced operations on March 1, 2022.

2 Environmental Sustainability Fund commenced operations on July 14, 2021.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (12B-1 PLAN)

Each Fund has adopted a plan of distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (collectively, the “Plan”) on behalf of its Class A and Class C shares (where applicable) which provides for the compensation of brokers and dealers who sell shares of the Funds and/or provide servicing. The Plan is a compensation-type plan. Pursuant to the Plan, the Distributor provides the Funds at least quarterly with a written report of the amounts expended under the Plan and the purpose for which such expenditures were made. The Board reviews such reports on a quarterly basis.

The Plan is reapproved annually for each Fund’s Class A and Class C shares (where applicable) by the Board, including a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan.

The Plan shall continue in effect as to each Fund’s Class A and Class C shares, provided such continuance is approved annually by a vote of the Board in accordance with the 1940 Act. The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent for the services described therein without approval of the Class A or Class C shareholders of the Funds (as applicable), and all material amendments to the Plan must also be approved by the Board in the manner described above. The Plan may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of a Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan, or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund’s Class A or Class C shares (as applicable) on written notice to any other party to the Plan. The Plan will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act). So long as the Plan is in effect, the election and nomination of Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust shall be committed to the discretion of the Trustees who are not “interested persons.” The Board has determined that, in its judgment, there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit the Funds and their shareholders. The Funds will preserve copies of the Plan and any agreement or report made pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, for a period of not less than six years from the date of the Plan or such agreement or report, the first two years in an easily accessible place. For additional information regarding the Plan, see the Prospectuses.

Because the Emerging Markets Leaders Fund commenced operations on March 1, 2022, it is not reflected in the table below.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, it is estimated that the Distributor spent the amounts received under the Plan in the following ways:


			CM COMMODITY INDEX FUND
			Class A

Total 12b-1 Fees			$74,222

Compensation to Dealers			(74,618)

Net 12b-1 Fees			(396)

Expenditures:
Printing and Mailing			(47)
Telephone and Internal Sales			(256)
Marketing Department			(14,000)
External Wholesalers			(71,345)
Total Expenditures			(85,648)

Expenditures in Excess of Net 12b-1 Fees			(86,044)(1)

(1) Represents 0.01% of the Fund’s net assets as of December 31, 2021.


	EMERGING MARKETS FUND		GLOBAL RESOURCES FUND
	Class A	Class C	Class A	Class C
Total 12b-1 Fees	$391,757	$276,974	$352,376	$73,959
Compensation to Dealers	(369,977)	(276,790)	(326,582)	(73,866)
Net 12b-1 Fees	21,780	184	25,794	93
Expenditures:
Printing and Mailing	(47)	(47)	(47)	(47)
Telephone and Internal Sales	(982)	(80)	(2,801)	(126)
Marketing Department	(70,689)	(14,559)	(66,470)	(5,212)
External Wholesalers	(359,992)	(76,977)	(287,302)	(25,978)
Total Expenditures	(431,710)	(91,663)	(356,620)	(31,363)
Expenditures in Excess of Net 12b-1 Fees	(409,930)(2)	(91,479)(3)	(330,826)(4)	(31,270)(3)

(2)Represents 0.02% of the Fund’s net assets as of December 31, 2021.

(3)Represents 0.00% of the Fund’s net assets as of December 31, 2021.

(4)Represents 0.04% of the Fund’s net assets as of December 31, 2021.


	INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS GOLD FUND		EMERGING MARKETS BOND FUND	ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY FUND
	Class A	Class C	Class A	Class A
Total 12b-1 Fees	$841,695	$395,398	$17,331	$978
Compensation to Dealers	(704,411)	(394,164)	(14,209)	210
Net 12b-1 Fees	137,284	1,234	3,122	1,188
Expenditures:
Printing and Mailing	(47)	(47)	(47)	(47)
Telephone and Internal Sales	(6,748)	(338)	(45)	(4)
Marketing Department	(151,143)	(24,499)	(3,140)	(457)
External Wholesalers	(620,461)	(116,771)	(12,095)	(1,408)
Total Expenditures	(778,399)	(141,655)	(15,327)	(1,916)
Expenditures in Excess of Net 12b-1 Fees	(641,115)(5)	(140,421)(6)	(12,205)(7)	(728)(1)

(5)Represents 0.07% of the Fund’s net assets as of December 31, 2021.

(6)Represents 0.02% of the Fund's net assets as of December 31, 2021.

(7)Represents 0.08% of the Fund's net assets as of December 31, 2021.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROCESSING SUPPORT PAYMENTS

The Funds may make payments (either directly or as reimbursement to the Distributor or an affiliate of the Distributor for payments made by the Distributor) to financial intermediaries (such as brokers or third party administrators) for providing the types of services that would typically be provided by the Funds’ transfer agent, including sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency or similar recordkeeping services, shareholder reporting, shareholder transaction processing, and/or the provision of call center support. These payments will be in lieu of, and may differ from, amounts paid to the Funds’ transfer agent for providing similar services to other accounts. These payments may be in addition to any amounts the intermediary may receive as compensation for distribution or shareholder servicing pursuant to the Plan or as part of any revenue sharing or similar arrangement with the Distributor or its affiliates, as described elsewhere in the Prospectuses.

PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMPENSATION

The Advisers’ portfolio managers are paid a fixed base salary and a bonus. The bonus is based upon the quality of investment analysis and management of the funds for which they serve as portfolio manager. Portfolio managers who oversee accounts with significantly different fee structures are generally compensated by discretionary bonus rather than a set formula to help reduce potential conflicts of interest. At times, the Adviser and affiliates may manage accounts with incentive fees.

The Advisers’ portfolio managers may serve as portfolio managers to other clients. Such “Other Clients” may have investment objectives or may implement investment strategies similar to those of the Funds. When the portfolio managers implement investment strategies for Other Clients that are similar or directly contrary to the positions taken by a Fund, the prices of the Fund’s securities may be negatively affected. The compensation that a Fund’s portfolio manager receives for managing other client accounts may be higher than the compensation the portfolio manager receives for managing the Fund. The portfolio managers do not believe that their activities materially disadvantage the Fund. The Advisers have implemented procedures to monitor trading across funds and its Other Clients.

PORTFOLIO MANAGER SHARE OWNERSHIP

As of December 31, 2021, the dollar range of equity securities in a Fund beneficially owned by such Fund’s portfolio manager(s) and deputy portfolio manager (if any) is shown below. Because the Emerging Markets Leaders Fund commenced operations on March 1, 2022, it is not reflected in the table below.

Fund

None

$1 to
$10,000

$10,001 to
$50,000

$50,001 to
$100,000

$100,001 to
$500,000

$500,001 to
$1,000,000

Over $1,000,000

David Austerweil

Emerging Markets Bond Fund (Deputy Portfolio Manager)

Charles Cameron

Global Resources Fund (Deputy Portfolio Manager)

Imaru Casanova

International Investors Gold Fund (Deputy Portfolio Manager)

Eric Fine

Emerging Markets Bond Fund (Portfolio Manager)

Joseph Foster

International Investors Gold Fund (Portfolio Manager)

Gregory F. Krenzer, CFA

CM Commodity Index Fund (Deputy Portfolio Manager)

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund (Portfolio Manager)

Peter H. Liao

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund (Portfolio Manager)

Roland Morris, Jr.

CM Commodity Index Fund (Portfolio Manager)

Fund

None

$1 to
$10,000

$10,001 to
$50,000

$50,001 to
$100,000

$100,001 to
$500,000

$500,001 to
$1,000,000

Over $1,000,000

Shawn Reynolds

Global Resources Fund (Portfolio Manager)

Environmental Sustainability Fund (Portfolio Manager)

David Semple

Emerging Markets Fund (Portfolio Manager)

Angus Shillington

Emerging Markets Fund (Deputy Portfolio Manager)

Veronica Zhang

Environmental Sustainability Fund (Deputy Portfolio Manager)

OTHER ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The following table provides the number of other accounts managed (excluding the Fund) and the total assets managed of such accounts by each Fund’s portfolio manager(s) and deputy portfolio manager (if any) within each category of accounts, as of December 31, 2021. Because the Emerging Markets Leaders Fund commenced operations on March 1, 2022, it is not reflected in the table below.


Fund	Name of Portfolio Manager/Deputy Portfolio Manager	Category of Account	Other Accounts Managed (As of December 31, 2021)		Accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account
			Number of Accounts	Total Assets in Accounts	Number of Accounts	Total Assets in Accounts
CM Commodity Index Fund	Roland Morris, Jr. (Portfolio Manager)	Registered investment companies	0	$0	0	$0
		Other pooled investment vehicles	0	$0	0	$0
		Other accounts	0	$0	0	$0
CM Commodity Index Fund and	Gregory F. Krenzer, CFA (Deputy Portfolio Manager)	Registered investment companies	2	$34.12 Million	0	$0
		Other pooled investment vehicles	0	$0	0	$0
		Other accounts	0	$0	0	$0
VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund	Gregory F. Krenzer, CFA (Deputy Portfolio Manager)	Registered investment companies	2	$675.76 Million	0	$0
		Other pooled investment vehicles	0	$0	0	$0
		Other accounts	0	$0	0	$0
Emerging Markets Fund	David Semple (Portfolio Manager)	Registered investment companies	3	$432.88 Million	0	$0
		Other pooled investment vehicles	2	$190.01 Million	0	$0
		Other accounts	1	$47.49 Million	0	$0
Emerging Markets Fund	Angus Shillington (Deputy Portfolio Manager)	Registered investment companies	3	$432.88 Million	0	$0
		Other pooled investment vehicles	2	$190.01 Million	0	$0
		Other accounts	1	$47.49 Million	0	$0
Environmental Sustainability Fund	Shawn Reynolds (Portfolio Manager)	Registered investment companies	4	$2,259.84 Million	0	$0


Fund	Name of Portfolio Manager/Deputy Portfolio Manager	Category of Account	Other Accounts Managed (As of December 31, 2021)		Accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account
			Number of Accounts	Total Assets in Accounts	Number of Accounts	Total Assets in Accounts
		Other pooled investment vehicles	1	$32.15 Million	0	$0
		Other accounts	0	$0	0	$0
Global Resources Fund	Charles Cameron (Deputy Portfolio Manager)	Registered investment companies	2	$1,472.95 Million	0	$0
		Other pooled investment vehicles	1	$32.15 Million	0	$0
		Other accounts	0	$0	0	$0
Global Resources Fund	Shawn Reynolds (Portfolio Manager)	Registered investment companies	4	$1,480.50 Million	0	$0
		Other pooled investment vehicles	1	$32.15 Million	0	$0
		Other accounts	0	$0	0	$0
International Investors Gold Fund	Joseph Foster (Portfolio Manager)	Registered investment companies	1	$51.21	0	$0
		Other pooled investment vehicles	2	$58.81 Million	0	$0
		Other accounts	0	$0	0	$0
International Investors Gold Fund	Imaru Casanova (Deputy Portfolio Manager)	Registered investment companies	1	$51.21 Million	0	$0
		Other pooled investment vehicles	2	$58.81 Million	0	$0
		Other accounts	0	$0	0	$0
Emerging Markets Bond Fund	David Austerweil (Deputy Portfolio Manager)	Registered investment companies	1	$18.40	0	$0
		Other pooled investment vehicles	3	$273.62 Million	0	$0
		Other accounts	0	$0	0	$0
Emerging Markets Bond Fund	Eric Fine (Portfolio Manager)	Registered investment companies	1	$18.40	0	$0
		Other pooled investment vehicles	3	$273.62 Million	0	$0
		Other accounts	0	$0	0	$0
Environmental Sustainability Fund	Veronica Zhang (Portfolio Manager)	Registered investment companies	0	$0	0	$0
		Other pooled investment vehicles	0	$0	0	$0
		Other accounts	0	$0	0	$0
VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund	Peter H. Liao (Portfolio Manager)	Registered investment companies	42	$44,142.47 Million	0	$0
		Other pooled investment vehicles	0	$0	0	$0
		Other accounts	0	$0	0	$0

SECURITIES LENDING ARRANGEMENTS

Pursuant to a securities lending agreement (the “Securities Lending Agreement”) between the Funds and State Street (in such capacity, the “Securities Lending Agent”), the Funds may lend their securities through the Securities Lending Agent to certain qualified borrowers. The Securities Lending Agent administers the Funds’ securities lending program. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 201, these services include arranging the securities loans with approved borrowers and collecting fees and rebates due to the Funds from each borrower. The Securities Lending Agent maintains records of loans made and income derived therefrom and makes available such records that the Funds deem necessary to monitor the securities lending program.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Emerging Markets Leaders Fund did not participate in securities lending.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, each of the Funds listed below earned income and incurred the following costs and expenses, during its respective fiscal year, as a result of its securities lending activities:


Fund	Gross Income(1)		Revenue Split(2)		Cash Collateral Management Fees(3)		Administrative Fees(4)		Indemnification Fees(5)		Rebates to Borrowers		Other Fees		Total Costs of the Securities Lending Activities		Net Income from the Securities Lending Activities
CM Commodity Index Fund	$	36,692	$	3,669	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	3,669	$	33,023
Emerging Markets Bond Fund	1,464		144		—		—		—		—		—		144		1,320
Emerging Markets Fund	591,439		58,564		—		—		—		193		—		58,757		532,682
Environmental Sustainability Fund	1,301		130		—		—		—		—		—		130		1,171
Global Resources Fund	1,287,994		128,747		—		—		—		46		—		128,793		1,159,201
International Investors Gold Fund	79,172		7,907		—		—		—		—		—		7,907		71,265
Morningstar Wide Moat	11		1		—		—		—		—		—		1		10

1Gross income includes income from the reinvestment of cash collateral and rebates paid by the borrower.

2Revenue split represents the share of revenue generated by the securities lending program and paid to the Securities Lending Agent.

3Cash collateral management fees include fees deducted from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle that are not included in the revenue split.

4These administrative fees are not included in the revenue split.

5These indemnification fees are not included in the revenue split.

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

When selecting brokers and dealers to handle the purchase and sale of portfolio securities, each Adviser looks for prompt execution of the order at a favorable price. Generally, an Adviser works with recognized dealers in these securities, except when a better price and execution of the order can be obtained elsewhere. The Funds will not deal with affiliates in principal transactions unless permitted by exemptive order or applicable rule or regulation. Each Adviser owes a duty to its clients to provide best execution on trades effected.

Each Adviser assumes general supervision over placing orders on behalf of the Trust for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities. If purchases or sales of portfolio securities of the Trust and one or more other investment companies or clients supervised by an Adviser are considered at or about the same time, transactions in such securities are allocated among the several investment companies and clients in a manner deemed equitable to all by the Adviser. In some cases, this procedure could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security so far as the Trust is concerned.

The portfolio managers may deem it appropriate for one fund or account they manage to sell a security while another fund or account they manage is purchasing the same security. Under such circumstances, the portfolio managers may arrange to have the purchase and sale transactions effected directly between the funds and/or accounts (“cross transactions”). Cross transactions will be effected in accordance with procedures adopted pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act.

Portfolio turnover may vary from year to year, as well as within a year. High turnover rates are likely to result in comparatively greater brokerage expenses. The overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions is evaluated by each Adviser based upon its knowledge of available information as to the general level of commissions paid by other institutional investors for comparable services.

The Advisers may cause the Funds to pay a broker-dealer who furnishes brokerage and/or research services, a commission that is in excess of the commission another broker-dealer would have received for executing the transaction, if it is determined that such commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research services as defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which have been provided. Such research services may include, among other things, analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends and portfolio strategy. Any such research and other information provided by brokers to an Adviser is considered to be in addition to and not in lieu of services required to be performed by the Adviser under its Advisory Agreement with the Trust. The research services provided by broker-dealers can be useful to an Adviser in serving its other clients or clients of the Adviser’s affiliates. The Board periodically reviews an Adviser’s performance of its responsibilities in connection with the placement of portfolio transactions on behalf of the Funds. The Board also reviews the commissions paid by the Funds over representative periods of time to determine if they are reasonable in relation to the benefits to the Funds.

Because the Emerging Markets Leaders Fund commenced operations on March 1, 2022, it is not reflected in the table below.

The aggregate amount of brokerage transactions directed to a broker during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 for, among other things, research services, and the commissions and concessions related to such transactions were as follows:


	Transaction Amount	Commissions and Concessions
CM Commodity Index Fund	$0	$0
Emerging Markets Fund	$1,242,478,313	$1,887,220
Global Resources Fund	$213,161,620	$157,708
International Investors Gold Fund	$222,503,718	$291,881
Emerging Markets Bond Fund	$0	$0
Environmental Sustainability Fund1	$11,310	$20
VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund	$0	$0

1 Environmental Sustainability Fund commenced operations on July 14, 2021.

The table below shows the aggregate amount of brokerage commissions paid on purchases and sales of portfolio securities by each Fund during the Fund’s three most recent fiscal years ended December 31. None of such amounts were paid to brokers or dealers which furnished daily quotations to the Fund for the purpose of calculating daily per share net asset value or to brokers and dealers which sold shares of the Fund.


			2021 COMMISSIONS

CM Commodity Index Fund			$0

Emerging Markets Fund			$2,755,550

Global Resources Fund			$218,486

International Investors Gold Fund			$429,221

Emerging Markets Bond Fund			$0

Environmental Sustainability Fund			$1,618

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund			$3,955

			2020 COMMISSIONS

CM Commodity Index Fund			$0

Emerging Markets Fund			$2,181,053

Global Resources Fund			$459,587

International Investors Gold Fund			$599,347

Emerging Markets Bond Fund			$0

Environmental Sustainability Fund			N/A

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund			$3,040

			2019 COMMISSIONS

CM Commodity Index Fund			$0

Emerging Markets Fund			$1,534,266

Global Resources Fund			$1,098,690

International Investors Gold Fund			$409,224

Emerging Markets Bond Fund			$0

Environmental Sustainability Fund			N/A

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund			$2,896

Each Adviser does not consider sales of shares of the Funds as a factor in the selection of broker-dealers to execute portfolio transactions for the Funds. Each Adviser has implemented policies and procedures pursuant to Rule 12b-1(h) that are reasonably designed to prevent the consideration of the sales of fund shares when selecting broker-dealers to execute trades.

Due to the potentially high rate of turnover, the Funds may pay a greater amount in brokerage commissions than a similar size fund with a lower turnover rate. The portfolio turnover rates of all Funds may vary greatly from year to year. See “Taxes” in the Prospectus and the SAI.

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE AND THE BOARD

The Board has general oversight responsibility with respect to the operation of the Trust and the Funds. The Board has engaged VEAC to serve as the investment adviser for the Emerging Markets Fund, Emerging Markets Leaders Fund, Environmental Sustainabilty Fund, Global Resources Fund, International Investors Gold Fund, Emerging Markets Bond Fund and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund, and has engaged VEARA to serve as the investment adviser for the CM Commodity Index Fund. The Board is responsible for overseeing the provision of services to the Trust and the Funds by each Adviser and the other service providers in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and other applicable laws. The Board is currently composed of five (5) Trustees, four of whom are Independent Trustees. In addition to five (5) regularly scheduled meetings per year, the Independent Trustees meet regularly in executive sessions among themselves and with their counsel to consider a variety of matters affecting the Trust. These sessions generally occur prior to, or during, scheduled Board meetings and at such other times as the Trustees may deem necessary. Each Independent Trustee attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board in the year ending December 31, 2021. As discussed in further detail below, the Board has established three (3) standing committees to assist the Board in performing its oversight responsibilities.

The Board believes that the Board’s leadership structure is appropriate in light of the characteristics and circumstances of the Trust and each of the Funds, including factors such as the number of Funds that comprise the Trust, the variety of asset classes in which those Funds invest, the net assets of the Funds, the committee structure of the Trust, and the management, distribution and other service arrangements of the Funds. In connection with its determination, the Board considered that the Board is comprised primarily of Independent Trustees, and that the Chairperson of the Board and the Chairperson of each of the Audit Committee and the Governance Committee is an Independent Trustee. The Board believes having an interested trustee on the Board and as Chairperson of the Investment Oversight Committee provides it with additional access to the perspectives and resources of the Advisers and their affiliates. In addition, to further align the Trustees’ interests with those of Fund shareholders, the Board has, among other things, adopted a policy requiring each Trustee to maintain a minimum direct or indirect investment in the Funds.

The Chairperson presides at all meetings of the Board and participates in the preparation of the agenda for such meetings. She also serves as a liaison with management, service providers, officers, attorneys, and the other Trustees generally between meetings. The Chairperson may also perform other such functions as may be delegated by the Board from time to time. The Trustees believe that the Chairperson’s independence facilitates meaningful dialogue between each Adviser and the Independent Trustees. Except for any duties specified herein or pursuant to the Trust’s Master Trust Agreement, the designation of Chairperson does not impose on such Independent Trustee any duties, obligations or liability that is greater than the duties, obligations or liability imposed on such person as a member of the Board, generally.

The Independent Trustees regularly meet outside the presence of management and are advised by independent legal counsel. The Board believes that its Committees help ensure that the Trust has effective and independent governance and oversight. The Board also believes that its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the Trustees from management of the Trust, and from the Advisers.

RISK OVERSIGHT

The Funds and the Trust are subject to a number of risks, including investment, compliance, operational, and valuation risks. Day-to-day risk management functions are within the responsibilities of the Advisers, the Distributor and the other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk) that carry out the Funds’ investment management, distribution and business affairs. Each of the Advisers, the Distributor and the other service providers have their own, independent interests and responsibilities in risk management, and their policies and methods of carrying out risk management functions will depend, in part, on their individual priorities, resources and controls.

Risk oversight forms part of the Board’s general oversight of the Funds and the Trust and is addressed through various activities of the Board and its Committees. As part of its regular oversight of the Funds and Trust, the Board, directly or through a Committee, meets with representatives of various service providers and reviews reports from, among others, the Advisers, the Distributor, the Chief Compliance Officer of the Funds, and the independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds regarding risks faced by the Funds and relevant risk management functions. The Board or Investment Oversight Committee, with the assistance of management, reviews investment policies and related risks in connection with its review of the Funds’ performance and its evaluation of the nature and quality of the services provided by each Adviser. The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer for the Funds who oversees the implementation and testing of the Funds’ compliance program and reports to the Board regarding compliance matters for the Funds and their principal service providers. The Chief Compliance Officer’s designation, removal and compensation must be approved by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees. Material changes to the compliance program are reviewed by and approved by the Board. In addition, as part of the Board’s periodic review of the Funds’ advisory, distribution and other service provider agreements, the Board may consider risk management aspects of their operations and the functions for which they are responsible, including the manner in which

such service providers implement and administer their codes of ethics and related policies and procedures. For certain of its service providers, such as the Advisers and Distributor, the Board also receives reports periodically regarding business continuity and disaster recovery plans, as well as actions being taken to address cybersecurity and other information technology risks. With respect to valuation, the Board approves and periodically reviews valuation policies and procedures applicable to valuing the Funds’ shares. Each Adviser is responsible for the implementation and day-to-day administration of these valuation policies and procedures and provides reports periodically to the Board regarding these and related matters. In addition, the Board or the Audit Committee of the Board receives reports at least annually from the independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds regarding tests performed by such firm on the valuation of all securities. Reports received from the Advisers and the independent registered public accounting firm assist the Board in performing its oversight function of valuation activities and related risks.

The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the Funds and the Trust can be identified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks to achieve the Funds’ or Trust’s goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Board that may relate to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the function of the Board with respect to risk management is one of oversight and not active involvement in, or coordination of, day-to-day risk management activities for the Funds or Trust. The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts its risk oversight role.

TRUSTEE INFORMATION

The Trustees of the Trust, their address, position with the Trust, age and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below:

TRUSTEE’S NAME,

ADDRESS(1) AND

YEAR OF BIRTH

POSITION(S) HELD WITH TRUST,

TERM OF OFFICE(2) AND

LENGTH OF TIME SERVED

PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S)
DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

NUMBER OF

PORTFOLIOS

IN FUND

COMPLEX(3)

OVERSEEN BY

TRUSTEE

OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS

HELD OUTSIDE THE

FUND COMPLEX(3)

DURING THE PAST FIVE

YEARS

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES:

Jon Lukomnik
1956 (A)(G)(I)

Trustee (since 2006); Chairperson of the Audit Committee (since 2021)

Managing Partner, Sinclair Capital LLC (consulting firm). Formerly, Executive Director, Investor Responsibility Research Center Institute; Pembroke Visiting Professor of International Finance, Judge Business School, Cambridge.

Member of the Deloitte Audit Quality Advisory Committee; Director, The Shareholder Commons; Director of VanEck ICAV (an Irish UCITS); VanEck Vectors UCITS ETF plc (an Irish UCITS). Formerly, Director of VanEck (a Luxembourg UCITS); Member of the Standing Advisory Group to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; Chairman of the Advisory Committee of Legion Partners.

Jane DiRenzo Pigott
1957(A)(G) (I)

Trustee (since 2007); Chairperson of the Board (since 2020)

Managing Director, R3 Group LLC (consulting firm).

Trustee of Northwestern University, Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Formerly, Director and Chair of Audit Committee of 3E Company (services relating to hazardous material safety); Director of MetLife Investment Funds, Inc.

R. Alastair Short
1953 (A)(G)(I)

Trustee (since 2004)

President, Apex Capital Corporation (personal investment vehicle).

Chairman and Independent Director, EULAV Asset Management; Lead
Independent Director, Total
Fund Solution; Independent
Director, Contingency
Capital, LLC;Trustee, Kenyon Review; Trustee, Children's Village. Formerly,
Independent Director, Tremont offshore funds.

Richard D. Stamberger
1959 (A)(G)(I)

Trustee (since 1995);
Chairperson of the
Governance Committee
(since 2022)

Senior Vice President, B2B, Future Plc (global media company). Formerly, President, CEO and co-founder, SmartBrief, Inc.

Director, Food and Friends, Inc.

TRUSTEE’S NAME,

ADDRESS(1) AND

YEAR OF BIRTH

POSITION(S) HELD WITH TRUST,

TERM OF OFFICE(2) AND

LENGTH OF TIME SERVED

PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S)
DURING PAST FIVE YEARS

NUMBER OF

PORTFOLIOS

IN FUND

COMPLEX(3)

OVERSEEN BY

TRUSTEE

OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS

HELD OUTSIDE THE

FUND COMPLEX(3)

DURING THE PAST FIVE

YEARS

INTERESTED TRUSTEE:

Jan F. van Eck(4) 1963 (I)

Trustee (Since 2019); Chairperson of the Investment Oversight Committee (since 2020); Chief Executive Officer and President (Since 2010)

Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of VEAC, VEARA and VESC; Officer and/or Director of other companies affiliated with VEAC and/or the Trust.

Director, National Committee on US-China Relations.

(1)The address for each Trustee and officer is 666 Third Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10017.

(2)Trustee serves until resignation, death, retirement or removal.

(3) The Fund Complex consists of VanEck Funds, VanEck VIP Trust and VanEck ETF Trust.

(4) “Interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Mr. van Eck is an officer of VEAC, VEARA and VESC. In addition, Mr. van Eck and members of his family own 100% of the voting stock of VEAC, which in turns owns 100% of the voting stock of each of VEARA and VESC.

(A) Member of the Audit Committee.

(G) Member of the Governance Committee.

(I) Member of the Investment Oversight Committee.

Set forth below is additional information relating to the professional experience, attributes and skills of each Trustee relevant to such individual’s qualifications to serve as a Trustee:

Jon Lukomnik has extensive business and financial experience, particularly in the investment management industry. He currently serves as: Managing Partner of Sinclair Capital LLC, a consulting firm to the investment management industry; and is a member of Deloitte LLP’s Audit Quality Advisory Council. He previously served as chairman of the Advisory Committee of Legion Partners Asset Management, a registered investment advisor that provides investment management and consulting services to various institutional clients; and was a member of the Standing Advisory Group to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

Jane DiRenzo Pigott has extensive business and financial experience and serves as Managing Director of R3 Group LLC, a firm specializing in talent retention, development and matriculation consulting services. Ms. Pigott has prior experience as an independent trustee of other mutual funds and previously served as chair of the global Environmental Law practice group at Winston & Strawn LLP.

R. Alastair Short has extensive business and financial experience, particularly in the investment management industry. He has served as a president, board member or executive officer of various businesses, including asset management and private equity investment firms.

Richard D. Stamberger has extensive business and financial experience and serves as the Senior Vice President of B2B, Future Plc, a global media company. Mr. Stamberger has experience as a member of the board of directors of numerous not-for-profit organizations and has more than 20 years of experience as a member of the Board of the Trust.

Jan F. van Eck has extensive business and financial experience, particularly in the investment management industry. He currently serves as president, executive officer and/or board member of various businesses, including VEAC, VESC, and VEARA.

The forgoing information regarding the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of each Trustee is provided pursuant to requirements of the SEC, and does not constitute holding out of the Board or any Trustee as having any special expertise or experience, and shall not impose any greater responsibility or liability on any such person or on the Board by reason thereof.

COMMITTEE STRUCTURE

The Board has established a standing Audit Committee, a standing Governance Committee, and a standing Investment Oversight Committee to assist the Board in the oversight and direction of the business and affairs of the Trust.

Audit Committee. The duties of this Committee include meeting with representatives of the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm to review fees, services, procedures, conclusions and recommendations of independent registered public accounting firm and to discuss the Trust’s system of internal controls. Thereafter, the Committee reports to the Board the Committee’s findings and recommendations concerning internal accounting matters as well as its recommendation for retention or dismissal of the auditing firm. Except for any duties specified herein or pursuant to the Trust’s charter document, the designation of Chairperson of the Audit Committee does not impose on such Independent Trustee any duties, obligations or liability that is greater than the duties, obligations or liability imposed on such person as a member of the Board, generally. The Audit Committee met three times during the last fiscal year, and currently consists of the following Trustees: Mr. Lukomnik (Chairperson), Mr. Short, Mr. Stamberger and Ms. Pigott.

Governance Committee. The duties of this Committee include the consideration of recommendations to the Trustees for the Board nominations for Trustees, review of the composition of the Board, compensation and similar matters. In addition, the Governance Committee periodically reviews the performance of the Board and its Committees, including the effectiveness and composition of the overall Board, Board’s Committees, and the Chairperson of the Board and other related matters. When considering potential nominees for election to the Board and to fill vacancies occurring on the Board, where shareholder approval is not required, and as part of the annual self-evaluation, the Governance Committee reviews the mix of skills and other relevant experiences of the Trustees. The Governance Committee met four times during the last fiscal year, and currently consists of the following Trustees: Mr. Stamberger (Chairperson), Mr. Lukomnik, Mr. Short and Ms. Pigott.

The Independent Trustees shall, when identifying candidates for the position of Independent Trustee, consider candidates recommended by a shareholder of a Fund if such recommendation provides sufficient background information concerning the candidate and evidence that the candidate is willing to serve as an Independent Trustee if selected, and is received in a sufficiently timely manner. Shareholders should address recommendations in writing to the attention of the Governance Committee, c/o the Secretary of the Trust, at 666 Third Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10017. The Secretary shall retain copies of any shareholder recommendations which meet the foregoing requirements for a period of not more than 12 months following receipt. The Secretary shall have no obligation to acknowledge receipt of any shareholder recommendations.

Investment Oversight Committee. The duties of this Committee include the review of investment performance of the Funds, meeting with relevant Adviser personnel and outside experts, and overseeing the provision of investment-related services for the Funds. In addition, the Committee will review on a periodic basis and consider a variety of matters, such as proposed material changes to, each Fund’s investment strategy (if applicable), investment processes, investment personnel, non-personnel resources, and relevant investment markets. The Investment Oversight Committee was established by vote of the Board, effective January 1, 2020. This Committee currently consists of all the Trustees, and Mr. van Eck serves as Chairperson.

OFFICER INFORMATION

The executive officers of the Trust, their age and address, the positions they hold with the Trust, their term of office and length of time served and their principal business occupations during the past five years are shown below:


OFFICER’S NAME, ADDRESS(1) AND YEAR OF BIRTH	POSITION(S) HELD WITH TRUST	TERM OF OFFICE AND LENGTH OF TIME SERVED(2)	PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS
Matthew A. Babinsky, 1983	Assistant Vice President and Assistant Secretary	Since 2016	Assistant Vice President, Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of VEAC, VEARA and Van Eck Securities Corporation (VESC); Officer of other investment companies advised by VEAC and VEARA. Formerly, Associate, Clifford Chance US LLP.
Russell G. Brennan, 1964	Assistant Vice President and Assistant Treasurer	Since 2008	Assistant Vice President of VEAC; Officer of other investment companies advised by VEAC and VEARA.
Charles T. Cameron, 1960	Vice President	Since 1996	Portfolio Manager for VEAC; Officer and/or Portfolio Manager of other investment companies advised by VEAC and VEARA. Formerly, Director of Trading of VEAC.
John J. Crimmins, 1957	Vice President, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer	Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer (since 2012); Treasurer (since 2009)	Vice President of VEAC and VEARA; Officer of other investment companies advised by VEAC and VEARA. Formerly, Vice President of VESC.
F. Michael Gozzillo, 1965	Chief Compliance Officer	Since 2018	Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of VEAC and VEARA; Chief Compliance Officer of VESC; Officer of other investment companies advised by VEAC and VEARA. Formerly, Chief Compliance Officer of City National Rochdale, LLC and City National Rochdale Funds.
Laura Hamilton, 1977	Vice President	Since 2019	Assistant Vice President of VEAC and VESC; Officer of other investment companies advised by VEAC and VEARA. Formerly, Operations Manager of Royce & Associates.
Laura I. Martínez, 1980	Vice President and Assistant Secretary	Vice President (since 2016); Assistant Secretary (since 2008)	Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of VEAC, VEARA and VESC; Officer of other investment companies advised by VEAC and VEARA. Formerly, Assistant Vice President VEAC, VEARA and VESC.
James Parker, 1969	Assistant Treasurer	Since 2014	Assistant Vice President of VEAC and VEARA; Manager, Portfolio Administration of VEAC and VEARA; Officer of other investment companies advised by VEAC and VEARA.
Jonathan R. Simon, 1974	Senior Vice President; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer	Senior Vice President (since 2016); Secretary and Chief Legal Officer (since 2014)	Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of VEAC, VEARA and VESC; Officer and/or Director of other companies affiliated with VEAC and/or the Trust. Formerly, Vice President of VEAC, VEARA and VESC.
Andrew Tilzer, 1972	Assistant Vice President	Since 2021	Vice President of VEAC and VEARA; Vice President of Portfolio Administration of VEAC. Formerly, Assistant Vice President, Portfolio Operations of VEAC.

(1)The address for each Executive Officer is 666 Third Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10017.

(2)Officers are elected yearly by the Board.

TRUSTEE SHARE OWNERSHIP

For each Trustee, the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Trustee in the Funds and in all registered investment companies advised by the Advisers or their affiliates (“Family of Investment Companies”) that are overseen by the Trustee is shown below:

Name of Trustee

Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in CM
Commodity Index Fund
(As of December 31,
2021)

Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in
Emerging Markets
Bond Fund
(As of December 31,
2021)

Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in Emerging
Markets Fund
(As of December 31,
2021)

Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in Emerging Markets Leaders Fund
(As of December 31,
2021)

Jon Lukomnik

None

Over $100,000*

None

Jane DiRenzo Pigott

None

Over $100,000*

Over $100,000

None

R. Alastair Short

None

$10,001 - $50,000

None

Richard D. Stamberger

$50,001 - $100,000*

None

Over $100,000*

None

Jan F. van Eck

$50,001 - $100,000

Over $100,000

None

Name of Trustee

Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in Environmental Sustainability Fund
(As of December 31,
2021)

Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in Global
Resources Fund
(As of December 31,
2021)

Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in
International
Investors Gold Fund
(As of December 31,
2021)

Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in
VanEck Morningstar
Wide Moat Fund
(As of December 31,
2021)

Jon Lukomnik

Over $100,000*

None

Over $100,000*

Jane DiRenzo Pigott

None

$50,001 - $100,000

Over $100,000

Over $100,000*

R. Alastair Short

None

$10,001 - $50,000

$1 - $10,000

$50,001 - $100,000

Richard D. Stamberger

None

$1 - $10,000

Over $100,000*

Jan F. van Eck

None

Over $100,000

Name of Trustee

Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in all Registered Investment
Companies Overseen By Trustee In
Family of Investment Companies
(As of December 31, 2021)

Jon Lukomnik

Over $100,000*

Jane DiRenzo Pigott

Over $100,000*

R. Alastair Short

Over $100,000

Richard D. Stamberger

Over $100,000*

Jan F. van Eck

Over $100,000

* Includes ownership through the Trust's deferred compensation plan as of December 31, 2021.

As of March 31, 2022, the Trustees and officers, as a group, (i) owned less than 1% of each Fund, except for Emerging Markets Bond Fund (5.24%), Environmental Sustainability Fund (9.63%) and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund (8.97%) and (ii) owned less than 1% of each class of each Fund, except for Class A and Class I shares of Emerging Markets Bond Fund (3.99% and 9.52%, respectively), Class A shares of Emerging Markets Fund (6.71%), Class I shares of Environmental Sustainability Fund (22.83%) and Class I and Class Z shares of VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund (34.01% and 2.67%, respectively).

As to each Independent Trustee and his/her immediate family members, no person owned beneficially or of record securities in an investment manager or principal underwriter of the Funds, or a person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment manager or principal underwriter of the Funds.

2021 COMPENSATION TABLE

The Trustees are paid for services rendered to the Trust and VanEck VIP Trust (the “VanEck Trusts”), each a registered investment company managed by the Advisers or their affiliates, which are allocated to each series of the VanEck Trusts based on their average daily net assets. Each Independent Trustee is paid an annual retainer of $80,000, a per meeting fee of $10,000 for regularly scheduled meetings of the Board and a per meeting fee of $5,000 for special Board and/or Committee meetings. The VanEck Trusts pay the Chairperson of the Board an annual retainer of $30,000, the Chairperson of the Audit Committee an annual retainer of $15,000 and the Chairperson of the Governance Committee an annual retainer of $15,000. The VanEck Trusts also reimburse each Trustee for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending such meetings. No pension or retirement benefits are accrued as part of Trustee compensation.

The table below shows the compensation paid to the Independent Trustees for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Annual Independent Trustee fees may be reviewed periodically and changed by the Board.