PROSPECTUS | November 28, 2022

Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF
(Ticker: UTES)

a series of
ETFIS SERIES TRUST I

The Virtus Reaves Utilities Fund (the “Fund”) is an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”).
Shares of the Fund are listed on NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “Exchange”) and trade at market prices.
The market price for the Fund’s shares may be different from its net asset value per share.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY INFORMATION

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF (Ticker: UTES) (the “Fund”) seeks to provide total return through a combination of capital appreciation and income.

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund (“Shares”). You may incur customary brokerage commissions, and may pay other fees to financial intermediaries, when buying or selling Shares of the Fund, which are not reflected in the table or example set forth below.

  

(1)

The management fee is structured as a “unified fee”, out of which W. H. Reaves & Co., Inc. d/b/a Reaves Asset Management, the Fund’s investment sub-adviser, pays all expenses of the Fund (including the management fee paid to the Fund’s investment adviser), except for the following expenses, each of which is paid by the Fund: the management fee paid to the Fund’s sub-adviser; payments under the Fund’s 12b-1 plan (if any); brokerage expenses; acquired fund fees and expenses; taxes; interest; litigation and arbitration expenses; fees for professional services stemming from litigation or arbitration; and other extraordinary expenses of the Fund.

Example.

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then sell all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities or other instruments (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2022, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 43% of the average value of its portfolio.

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY

Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests not less than 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of companies in the Utility Sector (“Utility Sector Companies”). The Fund considers a company to be a “Utility Sector Company” if at least 50% of the company’s assets or customers are committed to, or at least 50% of the company’s revenues, gross income or profits derive from, the provision of products, services or equipment for the generation or distribution of electricity, gas or water. The Fund is an actively managed ETF and, thus, does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index of securities. Instead, it uses an active investment strategy that seeks to meet its investment objective.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risks; therefore, you may lose money by investing in the Fund. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be successful in meeting its investment objective. Generally, the Fund will be subject to the following principal risks:

Utility Sector Concentration Risk. The Fund’s investments are concentrated in the securities of issuers engaged primarily in utilities-related industries (i.e., Utility Sector Companies). This may make the Fund particularly susceptible to adverse economic, political or regulatory occurrences and changes affecting utilities and Utility Sector Companies.

The focus of the Fund’s portfolio on Utility Sector Companies may present more risks than if the Fund’s portfolio were broadly spread over numerous sectors or industries of the economy. Specific risks associated with investments in Utility Sector Companies include, without limitation, environmental and conservation considerations, policies and regulations; competition; interest rates; inflation; financing difficulties; technological innovations that may render existing plants, equipment or products obsolete; natural or man-made disasters; costs and availability of services or fuel; changes in taxation; and lengthy delays and greatly increased costs and other problems associated with the design, construction, approval, licensing, regulation and operation of facilities for electric generation, gas production and water treatment and processing.

A downturn in utilities related industries would have a larger impact on the Fund than on an investment company that does not concentrate solely in utilities related industries. At times, the performance of Utility Sector Companies may lag the performance of companies in other sectors or industries, or the broader market as a whole. As concentration in the securities of Utility Sector Companies increases, so does the potential for fluctuation in the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund’s Shares.

 

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

The bar chart and table shown below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the performance of the Fund from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for one year, five years and since inception compare with a broad measure of market performance. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information for the Fund may be obtained by calling the Fund at (888) 383-0553.

•During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar quarter was 14.73% (quarter ended 12/31/2021).

•During the periods shown in the bar chart, the lowest return for a calendar quarter was (14.17)% (quarter ended 3/31/2020).

 

  

1

The Fund commenced operations on September 23, 2015.

2

After-tax returns are calculated using the highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown and are not relevant if you hold your shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. In some cases, the return after taxes may exceed the return before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit from any losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end of the measurement period.

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser

Virtus ETF Advisers LLC (the “Adviser”) is the Fund’s investment adviser. ETFis Series Trust I (the “Trust”) and the Adviser have engaged Reaves Asset Management as the Fund’s sub-adviser to manage the Fund’s investments, subject to the oversight and supervision of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”).

Portfolio Managers

The following employees of the Sub-Adviser are the Fund’s portfolio managers, each of whom is jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio and has served in such position since the inception of the Fund’s operations in September 2015: John P. Bartlett, CFA, and Joseph (Jay) Rhame, III, CFA.

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES

Unlike conventional investment companies, the Fund generally issues and redeems Shares on a continuous basis, at NAV, in blocks of 50,000 Shares or whole multiples thereof (“Creation Units”). The Fund’s Creation Units may be issued and redeemed only by certain large institutions, referred to as “Authorized Participants”, that enter into agreements with the Fund’s principal underwriter. Retail investors may acquire and sell Shares only on the Exchange through a broker-dealer. Shares of the Fund will trade on the Exchange at market price rather than NAV. As such, Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount). Investors may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Shares (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Shares (ask) when buying or selling Shares in the secondary market (the “bid-ask spread”). Information regarding the Fund’s NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available on the Fund’s website at www.virtusetfs.com.

TAX INFORMATION

The Fund’s distributions generally are taxed as ordinary income, capital gains or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an IRA, in which case your distributions may be taxed as ordinary income when withdrawn from such arrangement.

PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE FUND’S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, STRATEGIES AND RISKS

Additional Information Regarding the Fund’s Objective. The investment objective of the Fund may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ notice to the shareholders. There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its objective.

Additional Information Regarding the Fund’s Investments. The Fund’s 80% investment limitation is non-fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ notice to shareholders. Certain fundamental and non-fundamental policies of the Fund are set forth in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) under “Investment Restrictions.” To the extent that the Fund is not invested in the instruments described in the Fund’s principal investment strategies, which are discussed in the “Risk/Return Summary Information” section above, the Fund may invest in other securities that the Fund believes will help it achieve its investment objective or strategies, including cash and cash equivalents, such as money market instruments. The Fund may also write call and put options on securities, ETFs or security indexes to seek income or may purchase or write put or call options for hedging purposes. The Fund typically writes call options that are “covered” by the Fund holding a position in the underlying securities or by other means which would permit immediate satisfaction of the Fund’s obligation as writer of the option.

Additional Information Regarding the Fund’s Investment Risks. In addition to the principal risks discussed in the “Risk/Return Summary Information” section above, an investment in the Fund is also subject to the following risks:

Options Risk. The purchase and writing of options involves certain risks. During the option period, a covered call writer has, in return for the premium on the option, given up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying securities above the exercise price, but, as long as its obligation as a writer continues, has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline. The writer of an option has no control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its obligation as a writer of the option. Once an option writer has received an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing purchase transaction in order to terminate its obligation under the option and must deliver the underlying securities at the exercise price. If a put or call option purchased by the Fund is not sold when it has remaining value, and if the market price of the underlying security, in the case of a put, remains equal to or greater than the exercise price or, in the case of a call, remains less than or equal to the exercise price, the Fund will lose its entire investment in the option. Also, where a put or call option on a particular security is purchased to hedge against price movements in a related security, the price of the put or call option may move more or less than the price of the related security. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position. Furthermore, if trading restrictions or suspensions are imposed on the options market, the Fund may be unable to close out a position. If a hedge is applied in the Fund’s portfolio at an inappropriate time (e.g., due to unexpected market movements, unanticipated events or misjudgments of market conditions), then the Fund may lose money on the option position.

Fund Shares Liquidity Risk. Trading in Shares of the Fund may be halted because of market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in Shares inadvisable. In addition, trading in Shares is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to “circuit breaker” rules. There can be no assurance that the requirements necessary to maintain the listing of the Shares will continue to be met or will remain unchanged. During stressed market conditions, the liquidity of Shares may be less than the liquidity of the securities in the Fund’s portfolio, which may be significantly less than the liquidity of other ETFs.

Redeeming Risk. Shares in the Fund generally may be redeemed only in Creation Units and only by Authorized Participants. All other persons or entities transacting in Shares must generally do so in the secondary market.

Early Closing Risk. An unanticipated early closing of the Exchange may result in a shareholder’s inability to buy or sell Shares of the Fund on that day.

Temporary Defensive Positions. In certain adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may temporarily depart from its normal investment policies and strategies. At such times, the Fund may invest in cash or cash equivalents, such as money market instruments, and to the extent permitted by applicable law and the Fund’s investment restrictions, shares of other investment companies, including money market funds. Under such circumstances, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in these investments and may do so for extended periods of time. To the extent that the Fund invests in money market instruments or other investment companies, shareholders of the Fund would indirectly pay both the Fund’s expenses and the expenses relating to those other investment companies with respect to the Fund’s assets invested in such investment companies. When the Fund takes a temporary defensive position, the Fund may not be able to achieve its investment objective.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings. The Fund’s portfolio holdings are disclosed on the Fund’s website (www.virtusetfs.com) daily after the close of trading on the Exchange and prior to the opening of trading on the Exchange the following day.

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

INVESTMENT ADVISER

The Adviser is Virtus ETF Advisers LLC, located at 31 West 52nd Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10019. The Adviser was organized as a Delaware limited liability company in August 2013 and is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (Ticker: VRTS) (together with its affiliates, “Virtus”). Virtus is a public company that operates a multi-manager asset management business and has substantial experience in the investment management and investment company industries. As of September 30, 2022, on a collective basis, Virtus-affiliated registered investment advisers managed approximately $145 billion in assets. The Adviser also serves as investment adviser to each other series of the Trust and Virtus ETF Trust II, an open-end management investment company registered with the SEC.

The Adviser has served as the Fund’s investment adviser since inception of the Fund’s operations pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Trust on behalf of the Fund. The Adviser is responsible for the oversight and management of all service providers to the Trust. The Adviser has engaged the Sub-Adviser to manage the Fund’s investments in accordance with the stated investment objective and policies of the Fund, subject to the oversight and supervision of the Adviser and the Board, and will oversee the Sub-Adviser’s compliance with the terms and conditions of the SEC rule on which the Fund relies to operate as an ETF, as well as the Trust’s related policies and procedures. The Adviser also assists with: (a) non-advisory operations of the Fund, (b) the preparation and submission of reports to existing shareholders, (c) the periodic updating of the Fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information, (d) the preparation of reports to be filed with the SEC and other regulatory authorities, and (e) maintaining certain of the Fund’s records.

Adviser Compensation. The Adviser receives a monthly advisory fee at the annual rate of the greater of 0.075% of the Fund’s average daily net assets or $25,000 per year. The Sub-Adviser pays the Adviser’s fee out of the Sub-Adviser’s fee, pursuant to the Sub-Adviser’s unified fee arrangement with the Fund.

INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISER

The Fund’s sub-adviser is W.H. Reaves & Co., Inc., d/b/a Reaves Asset Management, 10 Exchange Place, 18^th Floor, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302. The Sub-Adviser has served in that capacity since the commencement of the Fund’s operations pursuant to a sub-advisory contract (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) with the Adviser and the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, as approved by the Board. The Sub-Adviser makes day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund and selects broker-dealers for executing portfolio transactions, subject to the brokerage policies established by the Board. The Adviser, however, will continue to have overall responsibility for the management and investment of the assets and responsibility for all advisory services furnished by the Sub-Adviser, and will supervise the Sub-Adviser in the performance of its duties for the Fund pursuant to written policies and procedures designed to prevent violations of applicable laws and regulations, Board procedures, and the provisions of the Fund’s prospectus and SAI, as supplemented from time to time.

The Sub-Adviser is an employee-owned firm organized as a Delaware corporation in 1961. As of September 30, 2022, the Sub-Adviser had approximately $2.87 billion in assets under management.

Sub-Adviser Compensation. As full compensation for its services to the Fund, the Sub-Adviser receives monthly compensation from the Fund at the annual rate of 0.49% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Sub-Adviser’s fee is structured as a “unified fee.” Therefore, in consideration of the fees paid with respect to the Fund, the Sub-Adviser has agreed to pay all of the Fund’s expenses (including the management fee paid to the Adviser, as noted above), except for the following expenses, each of which is paid by the Fund: the management fee paid to the Sub-Adviser; payments under the Fund’s 12b-1 plan (if any); brokerage expenses; acquired fund fees and expenses; taxes; interest; litigation and arbitration expenses; fees for professional services stemming from litigation or arbitration; and other extraordinary expenses of the Fund. For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2022, the Fund paid the Sub-Adviser fees under its “unified fee” structure equal to 0.49% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Disclosure Regarding Advisory Agreement Approval. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s most recent approval of the investment advisory agreement and investment sub-advisory agreement for the Fund is available in the Fund’s semi-annual report for the fiscal period ended January 31, 2021. You may obtain a copy of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports, without charge, upon request to the Fund.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The following employees of the Sub-Adviser are the Fund’s portfolio managers, each of whom is jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio and has served in such positions since the inception of the Fund’s operations in September 2015:

•John P. Bartlett, CFA — President, Portfolio Manager and Electric Utility Research Analyst at Reaves Asset Management.

Mr. Bartlett joined the Sub-Adviser in 1995. Mr. Bartlett is a twenty-year industry veteran who specializes in the analysis of electric utilities and industrial companies. He is also one of the Sub-Adviser’s portfolio managers. Mr. Bartlett received a B.A. from Connecticut College. He is a CFA Charterholder.

•Joseph (Jay) Rhame, III, CFA — CEO, Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst at Reaves Asset Management.

Mr. Rhame joined the Sub-Adviser in 2005. He serves as a telecommunications, energy, and utility analyst, and he is a member of the portfolio management team. He also serves on the Sub-Adviser’s risk management committee. Prior to his current role, Mr. Rhame was employed as one of the Sub-Adviser’s traders. Mr. Rhame received a B.A. from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and is a CFA Charterholder.

Additional Information. Additional information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of Shares of the Fund is available in the Fund’s SAI.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The Fund is a non-diversified series of the Trust, an open-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust on September 20, 2012. The Board supervises the operations of the Trust and the Fund according to applicable state and federal law, and is responsible for the overall management of the Fund’s business affairs.

OPERATIONAL ADMINISTRATOR

Virtus ETF Solutions LLC (the “Administrator”), located at 31 West 52nd Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10019, serves as the Fund’s operational administrator. The Administrator supervises the overall administration of the Trust and the Fund including, among other responsibilities, the coordination and day-to-day oversight of the Fund’s operations, the service providers’ communications with the Fund and each other and assistance with Trust, Board and contractual matters related to the Fund and other series of the Trust. The Administrator also provides persons satisfactory to the Board to serve as officers of the Trust.

ACCOUNTING SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR, CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon”), located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286, directly and through its subsidiary companies, provides necessary administrative, accounting, tax and financial reporting for the maintenance and operations of the Trust as the Fund’s accounting services administrator. BNY Mellon also serves as the custodian for the Fund’s assets, and serves as transfer agent and dividend paying agent for the Fund.

DISTRIBUTOR

VP Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”), located at One Financial Plaza, Hartford, Connecticut 06103, serves as the distributor of Creation Units for the Fund on an agency basis. The Distributor does not maintain a secondary market in Shares.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, located at Two Commerce Square, Suite 1800, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, serves as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Trust and the Fund.

LEGAL COUNSEL

Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP, located at 2005 Market Street, Suite 2600, Philadelphia, PA 19103, serves as counsel to the Trust and the Independent Trustees.

EXPENSES OF THE FUND

The Fund pays all expenses not assumed by the Sub-Adviser. General Trust expenses that are allocated among and charged to the assets of the Fund and other series of the Trust are done so on a basis that the Board deems fair and equitable, which may be on a basis of relative net assets of the Fund and other series of the Trust or the nature of the services performed and relative applicability to the Fund and other series of the Trust.

INVESTING IN THE FUND

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

The Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and their respective affiliates may, out of their own resources, pay amounts to third parties for distribution or marketing services on behalf of the Fund. The making of these payments could create a conflict of interest for a financial intermediary receiving such payments.

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

The NAV of the Shares for the Fund is equal to the Fund’s total assets minus the Fund’s total liabilities divided by the total number of Shares outstanding. Interest and investment income on the Trust’s assets accrue daily and are included in the Fund’s total assets. Expenses and fees (including investment advisory, management, administration and distribution fees, if any) accrue daily and are included in the Fund’s total liabilities. The NAV that is published is rounded to the nearest cent; however, for purposes of determining the price of Creation Units, the NAV is calculated to five decimal places.

The pricing and valuation of portfolio securities is determined in good faith in accordance with procedures approved by, and under the direction of, the Board. In determining the value of the Fund’s assets, portfolio securities are generally valued at market using quotations from the primary market in which they are traded. Debt securities (other than short-term investments) are valued on the basis of broker quotes or valuations provided by a pricing service, which in determining value utilizes information regarding recent sales, market transactions in comparable securities, quotations from dealers, and various relationships between securities. Short-term investments having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Other assets, such as accrued interest, accrued dividends and cash are also included in determining the NAV. The Fund normally uses third party pricing services to obtain market quotations.

The Board has designated the Adviser to serve as its valuation designee, pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”), to perform the fair value determinations relating to any or all Fund investments. Accordingly, securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available or which cannot be accurately valued using the Fund’s normal pricing procedures are valued by the Adviser at fair value as determined in good faith under policies approved by the Board. Fair value pricing may be used, for example, in situations where (i) portfolio securities, such as securities with small capitalizations, are so thinly traded that there have been no transactions for that security over an extended period of time; (ii) an event occurs after the close of the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded that is likely to change the value of the portfolio security prior to the Fund’s NAV calculation; (iii) the exchange on which the portfolio security is principally traded closes early; or (iv) trading of the particular portfolio security is halted during the day and does not resume prior to the Fund’s NAV calculation. Pursuant to policies adopted by the Board, the Adviser consults with BNY Mellon and the Sub-Adviser on a regular basis regarding the need for fair value pricing. Fair value pricing is intended to result in a calculation of the Fund’s NAV that fairly reflects portfolio security values as of the time of pricing. A portfolio security’s “fair value” price may differ from the price next available for that portfolio security using the Fund’s normal pricing procedures, and the fair value price may differ substantially from the price at which the security may ultimately be traded or sold. If the fair value price differs from the price that would have been determined using the Fund’s normal pricing procedures, you may receive more or less proceeds or Shares from redemptions or purchases of Shares, respectively, than you would have otherwise received if the portfolio security were priced using the Fund’s normal pricing procedures, which could result in the market prices for Shares deviating from NAV. The performance of the Fund may also be affected if a portfolio security’s fair value price were to differ from the security’s price using the Fund’s normal pricing procedures. The Board oversees the Adviser in its role as valuation designee in accordance with the requirements of Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act.

Foreign securities not denominated in U.S. dollars are translated from the local currency into U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates supplied by a quotation service. If securities in which the Fund invests are listed primarily on foreign exchanges that trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not price its Shares, the NAV of the Shares may change on days when you will not be able to purchase or redeem Shares. Foreign currencies, securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates generally determined as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern time.

To the extent the assets of the Fund are invested in other open-end investment companies that are registered under the 1940 Act, the Fund’s NAV is calculated based upon the NAVs reported by such registered open-end investment companies, and the prospectuses for these companies explain the circumstances under which they will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing. With respect to securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges, the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities may change on days when you will not be able to purchase or sell your Shares.

The NAV is determined as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange, normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, on each day that the Exchange is open for business. Currently, the Exchange is closed on weekends and in recognition of the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

PREMIUM/DISCOUNT INFORMATION

Information regarding the extent and frequency with which market prices of Shares have tracked the Fund’s NAV for the most recently completed calendar year and the most recently completed calendar quarters since that year is available without charge on the Fund’s website.

FREQUENT TRADING

The Board has not adopted policies and procedures with respect to frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund Shares by Fund shareholders (“market timing”). In determining not to adopt market timing policies and procedures, the Board noted that, unlike traditional mutual funds, the Fund’s Shares can only be purchased and redeemed directly from the Fund in Creation Units by Authorized Participants, and that the vast majority of trading in the Fund’s Shares

occurs on the secondary market. Because secondary market trades do not involve the Fund directly, it is unlikely those trades would cause many of the harmful effects of market timing, including dilution, disruption of portfolio management, increases in the Fund’s trading costs and the realization of capital gains. With respect to trades directly with the Fund, to the extent effected in-kind (namely, for securities), those trades do not cause any of the harmful effects that may result from frequent cash trades. To the extent trades are effected in whole or in part in cash, the Board noted that those trades could result in dilution to the Fund and increased transaction costs (and the Fund may impose higher transaction fees to offset these increased costs), which could negatively impact the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective. However, the Board noted that direct trading on a short-term basis by Authorized Participants is critical to ensuring that the Fund’s Shares trade at or close to NAV. The Fund also imposes transaction fees on purchases and redemptions of Creation Units that are designed to offset the Fund’s transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance and redemption of Creation Units. Given this structure, the Board determined that it is not necessary to adopt market timing policies and procedures. The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order at any time and reserves the right to impose restrictions on disruptive or excessive trading in Creation Units.

The Board has instructed the officers of the Trust to review reports of purchases and redemptions of Creation Units on a regular basis to determine if there is any unusual trading in the Fund’s Shares. The officers of the Trust will report to the Board any such unusual trading in Creation Units that is disruptive to the Fund. In such event, the Board may reconsider its decision not to adopt market timing policies and procedures.

DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As a regulated investment company, the Fund generally pays no federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to shareholders. The Fund expects to distribute substantially all of its net investment income quarterly and its net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. The Fund may distribute such income dividends and capital gains more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Fund. The amount of any distribution will vary, and there is no guarantee the Fund will pay either an income dividend or a capital gains distribution. Distributions may be reinvested automatically in additional whole Shares only if the broker through whom you purchased Shares makes such option available.

Each year, you will receive an annual statement (Form 1099) of your account activity to assist you in completing your federal, state and local tax returns. Distributions declared in October, November or December to shareholders of record in such month, but paid in January, are taxable as if they were paid in December. The Fund makes every effort to search for reclassified income to reduce the number of corrected forms mailed to you. However, when necessary, you will receive a corrected Form 1099 to reflect reclassified information.

At the time you purchase your Fund Shares, the price of Shares may reflect undistributed income, undistributed capital gains, or net unrealized appreciation in value of portfolio securities held by the Fund. For taxable investors, a subsequent distribution to you of such amounts, although constituting a return of your investment, would be taxable. Buying Shares in the Fund just before it declares an income dividend or capital gains distribution is sometimes known as “buying a dividend.”

FEDERAL INCOME TAXES

FUND DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund expects, based on its investment objective and strategies, that its distributions, if any, will be taxable as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Fund Shares or receive them in cash. For federal income tax purposes, Fund distributions of short-term capital gains are taxable to you as ordinary income. Fund distributions of long-term capital gains are taxable to you as long-term capital gains no matter how long you have owned your Shares. A portion of income dividends reported by the Fund may be qualified dividend income eligible for taxation by individual shareholders at long-term capital gain rates provided certain holding period requirements are met.

SALE OF FUND SHARES

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

TAX TREATMENT OF FUND SHAREHOLDERS

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

Fund distributions and gains from the sale of your Fund Shares generally are subject to state and local taxes.

Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% or lower treaty rate and U.S. estate tax and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements to avoid backup withholding and claim any treaty benefits. Exemptions from U.S. withholding tax are provided for certain capital gain dividends paid by the Fund from net long term capital gains, interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, if such amounts are reported by the Fund. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any such dividends and distributions of income and capital gains will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 24% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person.

Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”), a 30% withholding tax is imposed on income dividends paid by the Fund to certain foreign entities, referred to as foreign financial institutions or nonfinancial foreign entities, that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive reporting and withholding requirements designed to inform the U.S. department of the Treasury of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts. After December 31, 2018, FATCA withholding also would have applied to certain capital gain distributions, return of capital distributions and the proceeds arising from the sale of Fund Shares, however, based on proposed regulations issued by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), which can be relied upon currently, such withholding is no longer required unless final regulations provide otherwise (which is not expected). Information about a shareholder in the Fund may be disclosed to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA. Withholding also may be required if a foreign entity that is a shareholder of the Fund fails to provide the appropriate certifications or other documentation concerning its status under FATCA.

WITHHOLDING

By law, if you do not provide your proper taxpayer identification number and certain required certifications, you may be subject to backup withholding on any distributions of income, capital gains or proceeds from the sale of your Shares. Withholding is also imposed if the IRS requires it. When withholding is required, the amount will be 24% of any distributions or proceeds paid.

CREATION UNITS

An Authorized Participant who exchanges equity securities for Creation Units generally will recognize a gain or a loss. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the market value of the Creation Units at the time of purchase (plus any cash received by the Authorized Participant as part of the issue) and the Authorized Participant’s aggregate basis in the securities surrendered (plus any cash paid by the Authorized Participant as part of the issue). An Authorized Participant who exchanges Creation Units for equity securities generally will recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the Authorized Participant’s basis in the Creation Units (plus any cash paid by the Authorized Participant as part of the redemption) and the aggregate market value of the securities received (plus any cash received by the Authorized Participant as part of the redemption). The IRS, however, may assert that a loss realized upon an exchange of securities for Creation Units cannot be deducted currently under the rules governing “wash sales,” or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position. Persons exchanging securities should consult their own tax advisor with respect to whether the wash sale rules apply and when a loss might be deductible.

Under current federal tax laws, any capital gain or loss realized upon redemption of Creation Units is generally treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the Shares have been held for more than one year and as a short-term capital gain or loss if the Shares have been held for one year or less, assuming such Creation Units are held as a capital asset.

If the Fund redeems Creation Units in cash, it may recognize more capital gains than it will if it redeems Creation Units in-kind.

This discussion of “Federal Income Taxes” is not intended or written to be used as tax advice. Because everyone’s tax situation is unique, you should consult your tax professional about federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences before making an investment in the Fund. For additional information, see the “Taxation” section of the Statement of Additional Information.

FUND WEBSITE AND DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Trust maintains a website for the Fund at www.virtusetfs.com. The website for the Fund contains the following information, on a per-Share basis, for the Fund: (i) the prior Business Day’s NAV and market price; (ii) the 30-day median bid-ask spread; (iii) the reported midpoint of the bid-ask spread at the time of NAV calculation (the “Bid-Ask Price”); (iv) a calculation of the premium or discount of the Bid-Ask Price against such NAV; and (v) data in chart format displaying the frequency distribution of discounts and premiums of the Bid-Ask Price against the NAV, within appropriate ranges, for each of the four previous calendar quarters (or for the life of the Fund if, shorter). In addition, on each Business Day, before the commencement of trading in Shares on the Exchange, the Trust discloses on the Fund’s website the identities and quantities of the portfolio securities and other assets held by the Fund that will form the basis for the calculation of NAV at the end of the Business Day.

A description of the Trust’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the SAI.

OTHER INFORMATION

The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by the Exchange. The Exchange makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of Shares or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly or the ability of the Fund to achieve its objective. The Exchange has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.

For purposes of the 1940 Act, the Fund is a registered investment company, and the acquisition of Shares by other registered investment companies and companies relying on exemption from registration as investment companies under Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act is subject to the restrictions of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act, except as permitted by SEC rule or an exemptive order that permits registered investment companies to invest in the Fund beyond those limitations.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial highlights table below is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the period of the Fund’s operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information for each of the fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, are included in the Fund’s Annual Report, which is available upon request, at no charge, by calling the Fund at (888) 383-0553.

  

(1) Based on average shares outstanding .

(2) The per share amount of realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments does not accord with the amounts reported in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets due to the timing of creation of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values.

(3) Net Asset Value Total Return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value on the first day of the year, reinvestment of dividends and distributions at net asset value during the year, and redemptions at net asset value on the last day of the year .

(4) The ratios of expenses to average net assets includes tax expense fees of less than 0 .01% .

(5) Portfolio turnover excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of in-kind creations or redemptions of the Fund’s capital shares .

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

If you would like more information about the Trust, the Fund or the Shares, the following documents are available free upon request:

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports

Additional information about the Fund’s investments is available in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. You will find in the Fund’s annual report a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during the prior fiscal year.

Statement of Additional Information

Additional information about the Fund and its policies is also available in the Fund’s SAI. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus (and is legally considered part of this Prospectus).

To receive a free copy of the Fund’s SAI, annual and semi-annual reports or other information about the Fund, or to make inquiries about the Fund, please call the Fund toll-free at (888) 383-0553. You can also access and download the SAI and the most recent annual and semi-annual reports without charge at the Fund’s website: www.virtusetfs.com or by written request to the Fund at the address below.

To obtain other information and for shareholder inquiries:

Only one copy of a Prospectus or an annual or semi-annual report will be sent to each household address. This process, known as “householding”, is used for most required shareholder mailings. (It does not apply to confirmations of transactions and account statements, however.) You may, of course, request an additional copy of a Prospectus or an annual or semi-annual report at any time by calling or writing the Fund. You may also request that householding be eliminated from all your required mailings.

Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov and copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: [email protected].

No person is authorized to give any information or to make any representations about the Fund or its Shares not contained in this Prospectus, and you should not rely on any other information. Read and keep this Prospectus for future reference.

Dealers effecting transactions in the Fund’s Shares, whether or not participating in this distribution, may be generally required to deliver a Prospectus. This is in addition to any obligation dealers have to deliver a Prospectus when acting as underwriters.

ETFis Series Trust I: Investment Company Act file number 811-22819