ck0001137360-20230430


						PROSPECTUS
						September 1, 2023

BDC Income ETF BIZD

Dynamic High Income ETF INC

Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF HYEM

Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF ANGL

Green Bond ETF GRNB

IG Floating Rate ETF FLTR

International High Yield Bond ETF IHY

J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF EMLC

Moody's Analytics BBB Corporate Bond ETF MBBB

Moody's Analytics IG Corporate Bond ETF MIG

Mortgage REIT Income ETF MORT

Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF PFXF


Principal U.S. Listing Exchange for BIZD, INC, HYEM, GRNB, FLTR, IHY, EMLC, MORT, PFXF: NYSE Arca, Inc.
Principal U.S. Listing Exchange for ANGL: The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC.
Principal U.S. Listing Exchange for MBBB, MIG: Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

800.826.2333 vaneck.com


TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summary Information
VanEck BDC Income ETF			1
VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF			7
VanEck Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF			13
VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF			25
VanEck Green Bond ETF			32
VanEck IG Floating Rate ETF			4 3
VanEck International High Yield Bond ETF			49
VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF			60
VanEck Moody's Analytics BBB Corporate Bond ETF			7 1
VanEck Moody's Analytics IG Corporate Bond ETF			78
VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF			85
VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF			91
Summary Information About Purchases and Sales of Fund Shares, Taxes and Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries			98
Additional Information About the Funds’ Investment Strategies and Risks			99
Tax Advantaged Product Structure			129
Portfolio Holdings			129
Management of the Funds			129
Portfolio Managers			130
Shareholder Information			131
Index Providers			135
MVIS® US Business Development Companies Index			136
ICE BofA Diversified High Yield US Emerging Markets Corporate Plus Index			137
ICE US Fallen Angel High Yield 10% Constrained Index			138
S&P Green Bond U.S. Dollar Select Index			139
MVIS® US Investment Grade Floating Rate Index			140
ICE BofA Global Ex-US Issuers High Yield Constrained Index			141
J.P. Morgan GBI-EM Global Core Index			142
MVIS® Moody’s Analytics® US BBB Corporate Bond Index			14 3
MVIS® Moody’s Analytics® US Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index			14 4
MVIS® US Mortgage REITs Index			145
ICE Exchange-Listed Fixed & Adjustable Rate Non-Financial Preferred Securities Index			146
License Agreements and Disclaimers			147
Financial Highlights			150
Premium/Discount Information			160
General Information			160


VANECK® BDC INCOME ETF

SUMMARY INFORMATION

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

VanEck® BDC Income ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the MVIS® US Business Development Companies Index (the “BDC Index” or the “Index”).

FUND FEES AND EXPENSES

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


Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)			None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

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



Management Fee	0.40	%

Other Expenses(a)	0.02	%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses(b)	10.75	%


Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses(a)	11.17	%

(a) Van Eck Associates Corporation (the “Adviser”) will pay all expenses of the Fund, except for the fee payment under the investment management agreement, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, offering costs, trading expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser has agreed to pay the offering costs until at least September 1, 2024.

(b) “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” include fees and expenses incurred indirectly by the Fund as a result of investments in other investment companies, including business development companies (“BDCs”). Because acquired fund fees and expenses are not borne directly by the Fund, they will not be reflected in the expense information in the Fund’s financial statements and the information presented in the table will differ from that presented in the Fund’s financial highlights included in the Fund’s reports to shareholders.

EXPENSE EXAMPLE

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. This example does not take into account brokerage commissions that you pay when purchasing or selling Shares of the Fund.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then sell or hold all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% annual return and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:



			YEAR			EXPENSES
			1			$1,083
			3			$3,051
			5			$4,785
			10			$8,265

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

The Fund will pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it purchases and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover will cause the Fund to incur additional 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, may affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 28% of the average value of its portfolio.

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Fund’s benchmark index. The BDC Index is comprised of BDCs. To be eligible for the BDC Index and qualify as a BDC, a company must be organized under the laws of, and have its principal place of business in, the United States, be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and have elected to be regulated as a BDC under the Investment Company Act of 1940. BDCs are vehicles whose


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principal business is to invest in, lend capital to or provide services to privately-held U.S. companies or thinly traded U.S. public companies. Small- and medium-capitalization BDCs are eligible for inclusion in the BDC Index. As of June 30, 2023, the BDC Index included 25 securities of companies with a market capitalization range of between approximately $416 million to $10.2 billion and a weighted average market capitalization of $4.3 billion. This 80% investment policy is non-fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

The Investment Company Act of 1940 places limits on the percentage of the total outstanding stock of a BDC that may be owned by the Fund; however, an Securities and Exchange Commission rule applicable to the Fund permits it to invest in BDCs in excess of this limitation if certain conditions are met.

The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, attempts to approximate the investment performance of the BDC Index by investing in a portfolio of securities that generally replicates the BDC Index. Unlike many investment companies that try to “beat” the performance of a benchmark index, the Fund does not try to “beat” the BDC Index and does not take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its investment objective of seeking to replicate the BDC Index.

The Fund will concentrate its investments in a particular industry or group of industries to the extent that the BDC Index concentrates in an industry or group of industries. As of April 30, 2023, the financials sector represented a significant portion of the Fund.

PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND

Investors in the Fund should be willing to accept a high degree of volatility in the price of the Fund’s Shares and the possibility of significant losses. An investment in the Fund involves a substantial degree of risk. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit with a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Therefore, you should consider carefully the following risks before investing in the Fund, each of which could significantly and adversely affect the value of an investment in the Fund.

Risk of Investing in BDCs. BDCs generally invest in less mature U.S. private companies or thinly traded U.S. public companies which involve greater risk than well-established publicly-traded companies. While the BDCs that comprise the Index are expected to generate income in the form of dividends, certain BDCs during certain periods of time may not generate such income. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other operating expenses incurred by the BDCs and of any performance-based or incentive fees payable by the BDCs in which it invests, in addition to the expenses paid by the Fund. A BDC’s incentive fee may be very high, vary from year to year and be payable even if the value of the BDC’s portfolio declines in a given time period. Incentive fees may create an incentive for a BDC’s manager to make investments that are risky or more speculative than would be the case in the absence of such compensation arrangements, and may also encourage the BDC’s manager to use leverage to increase the return on the BDC’s investments. The use of leverage by BDCs magnifies gains and losses on amounts invested and increases the risks associated with investing in BDCs. A BDC may make investments with a larger amount of risk of volatility and loss of principal than other investment options and may also be highly speculative and aggressive.

Investment Restrictions Risk. The Fund is subject to the conditions set forth in certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Securities and Exchange Commission regulations thereunder that limit the amount that the Fund and its affiliates, in the aggregate, can invest in the outstanding voting securities of an unaffiliated investment company or business development company. The Fund and its affiliates may not actively acquire “control” of an investment company or business development company, which is presumed once ownership of an investment company’s outstanding voting securities exceeds 25%. Also, to comply with provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and regulations thereunder, the Adviser may be required to vote shares of an investment company or business development company in the same general proportion as shares held by other shareholders of the investment company or business development company.

Financials Sector Risk. Companies in the financials sector may be subject to extensive government regulation that affects the scope of their activities, the prices they can charge and the amount of capital they must maintain. The profitability of companies in the financials sector may be adversely affected by increases in interest rates, by loan losses, which usually increase in economic downturns, and by credit rating downgrades. In addition, the financials sector is undergoing numerous changes, including continuing consolidations, development of new products and structures and changes to its regulatory framework. Furthermore, some companies in the financials sector perceived as benefiting from government intervention in the past may be subject to future government-imposed restrictions on their businesses or face increased government involvement in their operations. Increased government involvement in the financials sector, including measures such as taking ownership positions in financial institutions, could result in a dilution of the Fund’s investments in financial institutions.


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management depth and experience, smaller shares of their product or service markets, fewer financial resources and less competitive strength than large-capitalization companies. Returns on investments in securities of small- and medium-capitalization companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of larger companies.

Floating Rate Risk. The Fund invests in floating-rate securities, which are instruments in which the interest rate payable on an obligation fluctuates on a periodic basis based upon changes in an interest rate benchmark. As a result, the yield on such a security will generally decline in a falling interest rate environment, causing the Fund to experience a reduction in the income it receives from the security.

Floating Rate LIBOR Risk. Certain floating-rate securities pay interest based on the London Inter-bank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"). 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 the Fund invests cannot yet be determined.

Market Risk. The prices of securities 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. 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. Overall securities values could decline generally or underperform other investments. An investment may lose money.

Operational Risk. The Fund is exposed to operational risk arising from a number of factors, including human error, processing and communication errors, errors of the Fund’s service providers, counterparties or other third-parties, failed or inadequate processes and technology or system failures.

Index Tracking Risk. The Fund’s return may not match the return of the Index for a number of reasons. For example, the Fund incurs operating expenses, including taxes, not applicable to the Index and incurs costs associated with buying and selling securities and entering into derivatives transactions (if applicable), especially when rebalancing the Fund’s securities holdings to reflect changes in the composition of the Index or (if applicable) raising cash to meet redemptions or deploying cash in connection with inflows into the Fund. Transaction costs, including brokerage costs, may decrease the Fund’s net asset value.

Market disruptions and regulatory restrictions could have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to adjust its exposure to the required levels in order to track the Index. Errors in the Index data, the Index computations and/or the construction of the Index in accordance with its methodology may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index provider, which may have an adverse impact on the Fund and its shareholders. Shareholders should understand that any gains from the Index provider’s or others’ errors will be kept by the Fund and its shareholders and any losses or costs resulting from the Index provider’s or others’ errors will be borne by the Fund and its shareholders. Additionally, when the Index is rebalanced and the Fund in turn rebalances its portfolio to attempt to increase the correlation between the Fund’s portfolio and the Index, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio rebalancing will be borne directly by the Fund and its shareholders. Apart from scheduled rebalances, the Index provider or its agents may carry out additional ad hoc rebalances to the Index. Therefore, errors and additional ad hoc rebalances carried out by the Index provider or its agents to the Index may increase the costs to and the tracking error risk of the Fund.

The Fund may not be fully invested at times either as a result of cash flows into the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to pay expenses or to meet redemptions. In addition, the Fund may not invest in certain securities included in the Index, or invest in them in the exact proportions in which they are represented in the Index. The Fund’s performance may also deviate from the return of the Index for various reasons, including legal restrictions or limitations imposed by the governments of certain countries, certain exchange listing standards (where applicable), a lack of liquidity in markets in which such securities trade, potential adverse tax consequences or other regulatory reasons (such as diversification requirements). To the extent the Fund utilizes depositary receipts, the purchase of depositary receipts may negatively affect the Fund’s ability to track the performance of the Index and increase tracking error, which may be exacerbated if the issuer of the depositary receipt discontinues issuing new depositary receipts or withdraws existing depositary receipts.


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may also deviate from the performance of the Index due to the impact of withholding taxes, late announcements relating to changes to the Index and high turnover of the Index. When markets are volatile, the ability to sell securities at fair value prices may be adversely impacted and may result in additional trading costs and/or increase the index tracking risk. The Fund may also need to rely on borrowings to meet redemptions, which may lead to increased expenses. For tax efficiency purposes, the Fund may sell certain securities, and such sale may cause the Fund to realize a loss and deviate from the performance of the Index. In light of the factors discussed above, the Fund’s return may deviate significantly from the return of the Index. Changes to the composition of the Index in connection with a rebalancing or reconstitution of the Index may cause the Fund to experience increased volatility, during which time the Fund’s index tracking risk may be heightened.

Authorized Participant Concentration Risk. The Fund may have a limited number of Authorized Participants, none of which are obligated to engage in creation and/or redemption transactions. To the extent that those Authorized Participants exit the business, or do not process creation and/or redemption orders, there may be a significantly diminished trading market for Shares or Shares may trade like closed-end funds at a discount (or premium) to net asset value and possibly face trading halts and/or de-listing. This can be reflected as a spread between the bid-ask prices for the Fund. The Authorized Participant concentration risk may be heightened in cases where Authorized Participants have limited or diminished access to the capital required to post collateral.

No Guarantee of Active Trading Market Risk. There can be no assurance that an active trading market for the Shares will develop or be maintained, as applicable. Further, secondary markets may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods in times of market stress because market makers and Authorized Participants may step away from making a market in the Shares and in executing creation and redemption orders, which could cause a material deviation in the Fund’s market price from its net asset value.

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

Passive Management Risk. Unlike many investment companies, the Fund is not “actively” managed. Therefore, unless a specific security is removed from its Index, the Fund generally would not sell a security because the security’s issuer is in financial trouble. If a specific security is removed from the Fund’s Index, the Fund may be forced to sell such security at an inopportune time or for prices other than at current market values. An investment in the Fund involves risks similar to those of investing in any fund that invests in bonds or equity securities, such as market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic and political developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in security prices. The Fund’s Index may not contain the appropriate or a diversified mix of securities for any particular economic cycle. The timing of changes in the securities of the Fund’s portfolio in seeking to replicate its Index could have a negative effect on the Fund. Unlike with an actively managed fund, the Adviser does not use techniques or defensive strategies designed to lessen the effects of market volatility or to reduce the impact of periods of market decline. Additionally, unusual market conditions may cause the Fund’s Index provider to postpone a scheduled rebalance or reconstitution, which could cause the Fund’s Index to vary from its normal or expected composition. This means that, based on market and economic conditions, the Fund’s performance could be lower than funds that may actively shift their portfolio assets to take advantage of market opportunities or to lessen the impact of a market decline or a decline in the value of one or more issuers.

Fund Shares Trading, Premium/Discount Risk and Liquidity of Fund Shares. The market price of the Shares may fluctuate in response to the Fund’s net asset value, the intraday value of the Fund’s holdings and supply and demand for Shares. Shares may trade above, below, or at their most recent net asset value. Factors including disruptions to creations and redemptions, the existence of market volatility or potential lack of an active trading market for Shares (including through a trading halt), may result in Shares trading at a significant premium or discount to net asset value or to the intraday value of the Fund’s holdings. If a shareholder purchases Shares at a time when the market price is at a premium to the net asset value or sells Shares at a time when the market price is at a discount to the net asset value, the shareholder may pay significantly more or receive significantly less than the underlying value of the Shares. The securities held by the Fund may be traded in markets that close at a different time than the exchange on which the Shares are traded. Liquidity in those securities may be reduced after the applicable closing times. Accordingly, during the time when the exchange is open but after the applicable market closing, fixing or settlement times, bid/ask spreads on the exchange and the resulting premium or discount to the Shares’ net asset value may widen. Additionally, in stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s Shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings and a shareholder may be unable to sell his or her Shares.

Issuer-Specific Changes Risk. The value of individual securities in the Fund’s portfolio can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole, which may have a greater impact if the Fund’s portfolio is concentrated in a country, region, market, industry, sector or asset class. A change in the financial condition, market perception or the credit rating of an issuer of securities included in the Fund’s Index may cause the value of its securities to decline.


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Index-Related Concentration Risk. The Fund’s assets may be concentrated in a particular sector or sectors or industry or group of industries to reflect the Index’s allocation to such sector or sectors or industry or group of industries. The securities of many or all of the companies in the same sector or industry may decline in value due to developments adversely affecting such sector or industry. By concentrating its assets in a particular sector or sectors or industry or group of industries, the Fund is subject to the risk that economic, political or other conditions that have a negative effect on those sectors and/or industries may negatively impact the Fund to a greater extent than if the Fund’s assets were invested in a wider variety of securities.

PERFORMANCE

Annual Total Returns (%)—Calendar Years

The year-to-date total annual return as of June 30, 2023 was 11.73%.


Best Quarter:	34.34%	2Q 2020
Worst Quarter:	-42.78%	1Q 2020

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2022

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


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	Past One Year	Past Five Years	Since Inception (2/11/2013)
VanEck BDC Income ETF (return before taxes)	-8.78%	7.64%	5.71%
VanEck BDC Income ETF (return after taxes on distributions)	-12.55%	3.19%	1.85%
VanEck BDC Income ETF (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund Shares)	-5.14%	3.87%	2.55%
MVIS US Business Development Companies Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-8.57%	7.08%	5.76%
S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-18.11%	9.42%	11.99%

See “License Agreements and Disclaimers” for important information.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

Investment Adviser. Van Eck Associates Corporation.

Portfolio Managers. The following individuals are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio:

Name

Title with Adviser

Date Began Managing the Fund

Peter H. Liao

Portfolio Manager

February 2013

Griffin Driscoll

Deputy Portfolio Manager

August 2023

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund Shares, tax information, and payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries, please turn to the “Summary Information About Purchases and Sales of Fund Shares, Taxes and Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries” section of this Prospectus.


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VANECK® DYNAMIC HIGH INCOME ETF

SUMMARY INFORMATION

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The VanEck® Dynamic High Income ETF (the "Fund") seeks to provide high current income with consideration for capital appreciation.

FUND FEES AND EXPENSES


Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)			None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

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



Management Fee	0.10	%

Other Expenses(a)	0.00	%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses(b)(c)	0.33	%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses(a)	0.43	%

(b) “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” include fees and expenses incurred indirectly by the Fund as a result of investments in other investment companies, including VanEck exchange-traded funds and funds which invest exclusively in money market instruments. Because Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are not borne directly by the Fund, they will not be reflected in the expense information in the Fund’s financial statements and the information presented in the table will differ from that presented in the Fund’s financial highlights included in the Fund’s reports to shareholders.

EXPENSE EXAMPLE



			YEAR			EXPENSES
			1			$44
			3			$138

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

The Fund will pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it purchases and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover will cause the Fund to incur additional 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, may affect the Fund’s performance. During the period from November 1, 2022 (the Fund's commencement of operations) through April 30, 2023, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 8% of the average value of its portfolio.

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, in exchange-traded products (“ETPs”) that are registered under the applicable federal securities laws and that invest in securities that generate income. The Fund may also invest in U.S. Treasury securities under normal circumstances. While the Adviser currently anticipates that the ETPs that the Fund may invest in will primarily be ETFs managed by the Adviser, Van Eck Absolute Return Advisers Corporation or their affiliates ("VanEck ETFs"), the Fund may also invest in affiliated and


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unaffiliated ETPs, which could include ETFs and closed-end funds that invest in income generating asset classes. The Fund does not have any limits on its investments in below-investment grade securities (“junk” bonds), and the Fund will have indirect exposure to below investment grade securities through its investments in ETPs.

The Adviser considers various inputs to guide asset allocation decisions and select investments that the Adviser believes will offer income and enhanced risk-adjusted returns. The term “risk-adjusted returns” does not imply that the Adviser employs low-risk strategies or that an investment in the Fund should be considered a low-risk or no risk investment. The Adviser seeks to maximize risk-adjusted returns through an optimization process that incorporates both the yield and observed risks of each ETP. Additionally, the Adviser may utilize relative momentum and other discretionary factors of each underlying ETP to allocate the Fund’s portfolio to ETPs with the highest expected risk-adjusted returns. The term “relative momentum” means the speed at which the total returns of an ETP are changing compared to other ETPs. Based on these inputs, the Adviser selects the income generating asset classes that the Fund will invest in and determines the relative weights each class will represent in the Fund. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of portfolio securities.

The Fund is classified as a non-diversified fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and, therefore, may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer.

PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND

Fund of Funds Risk. The performance of the Fund is dependent on the performance of the underlying funds. The Fund will be subject to the risks of the underlying funds’ investments. The Fund will pay indirectly a proportional share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests, including their investment advisory and administration fees, while continuing to pay its own management fee. As a result, the Fund’s shareholders will indirectly bear the expenses of the underlying funds, absorbing duplicative levels of fees.

Risk of Investing in ETPs. The Fund may be subject to the following risks as a result of its investments in ETPs:

Dividend Paying Securities Risk. There can be no assurance that securities that pay dividends will continue to have a high dividend yield, strong financial health or attractive valuation for any period of time. Securities that pay dividends, as a group, may be out of favor with the market and may underperform the overall equity market or stocks of companies that do not pay dividends. In addition, changes in the dividend policies of the companies held by an ETP or the capital resources available for such companies' dividend payments may adversely affect the ETP.

Risk of Investing in Foreign Securities. Investments in the securities of foreign issuers involve risks beyond those associated with investments in U.S. securities. These additional risks include greater market volatility, the availability of less reliable financial information, higher transactional and custody costs, taxation by foreign governments, decreased market liquidity and political instability. Because certain foreign securities markets may be limited in size, the activity of large traders may have an undue influence on the prices of securities that trade in such markets. An ETP invests in securities of issuers located in countries whose economies are heavily dependent upon trading with key partners. Any reduction in this trading may have an adverse impact on the ETP’s investments.

Risk of Investing in Emerging Market Issuers. Investments in securities of emerging market issuers are exposed to a number of risks that may make these investments volatile in price or difficult to trade. Emerging markets are more likely than developed markets to experience problems with the clearing and settling of trades, as well as the holding of securities by local banks, agents and depositories. Political risks may include unstable governments, nationalization, restrictions on foreign ownership, laws that prevent investors from getting their money out of a country and legal systems that do not protect property rights as well as the laws of the United States. Market risks may also include economies that concentrate in only a few industries, securities issues that are held by only a few investors, liquidity issues and limited trading capacity in local exchanges and the possibility that markets or issues may be manipulated by foreign nationals who have inside information. The frequency, availability and quality of financial information about investments in emerging markets varies. The Fund has limited rights and few practical remedies in emerging markets and the ability of U.S. authorities to bring enforcement actions in emerging markets may be limited. All of these factors can make emerging market securities more volatile and potentially less liquid than securities issued in more developed markets.

Foreign Currency Risk. Because all or a portion of the income received by an ETP from its investments and/or the revenues received by the underlying issuer will generally be denominated in foreign currencies, the ETP's exposure to foreign currencies and changes in the value of foreign currencies versus the U.S. dollar may result in reduced returns for the ETP, and the value of certain foreign currencies may be subject to a high degree of fluctuation. Moreover, an ETP may incur costs in connection with conversions between U.S. dollars and foreign currencies.


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Risk of Investing in Mortgage REITs. Mortgage real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) are exposed to the risks specific to the real estate market as well as the risks that relate specifically to the way in which mortgage REITs are organized and operated. Mortgage REITs receive principal and interest payments from the owners of the mortgaged properties. Accordingly, mortgage REITs are subject to the credit risk of the borrowers. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the borrower will be unable and/or unwilling to make timely interest payments and/or repay the principal on the loan to a mortgage REIT when due. To the extent that a mortgage REIT invests in mortgage-backed securities offered by private issuers, such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers, the mortgage REIT may be subject to additional risks. Timely payment of interest and principal of non-governmental issuers may be supported by various forms of private insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance purchased by the issuer. However, there can be no assurance that the private insurers can or will meet their obligations under such policies. Unexpected high rates of default on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may adversely affect the value of a mortgage-backed security and could result in losses to a mortgage REIT. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include subprime mortgages. To the extent that a mortgage REIT’s portfolio is exposed to lower-rated, unsecured or subordinated instruments, the risk of loss may increase, which may have a negative impact on an ETP. Mortgage REITs also are subject to the risk that the value of mortgaged properties may be less than the amounts owed on the properties. If a mortgage REIT is required to foreclose on a borrower, the amount recovered in connection with the foreclosure may be less than the amount owed to the mortgage REIT. Mortgage REITs typically use leverage and many are highly leveraged, which exposes them to leverage risk and the risks generally associated with debt financing. Leverage risk refers to the risk that leverage created from borrowing may impair a mortgage REIT’s liquidity, cause it to liquidate positions at an unfavorable time and increase the volatility of the values of securities issued by the mortgage REIT.

Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred securities are essentially contractual obligations that entail rights to distributions declared by the issuer’s board of directors but may permit the issuer to defer or suspend distributions for a certain period of time. If an ETP owns a preferred security whose issuer has deferred or suspended distributions, the ETP may be required to account for the distribution that has been deferred or suspended for tax purposes, even though it may not have received this income in cash. Further, preferred securities may lose substantial value if distributions are deferred, suspended or not declared. Preferred securities may also permit the issuer to convert preferred securities into the issuer’s common stock. Preferred securities that are convertible to common stock may decline in value if the common stock into which preferred securities may be converted declines in value. Preferred securities are subject to greater credit risk than traditional fixed income securities because the rights of holders of preferred securities are subordinated to the rights of the bond and debt holders of an issuer.

CLO Risk. The risks of investing in CLO securities include both the economic risks of the underlying loans combined with the risks associated with the CLO structure governing the priority of payments. The degree of such risk will generally correspond to the specific tranche in which the Fund is invested. The Fund intends to invest primarily in investment grade-rated tranches of CLOs rated between and inclusive of AAA/Aaa and BBB-/Baa3; however, this rating does not constitute a guarantee of credit quality and may be downgraded, and in stressed market environments it is possible that even senior CLO debt tranches could experience losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to defaults due to collateral default and the disappearance of the subordinated/equity tranches, market anticipation of defaults, as well as negative market sentiment with respect to CLO securities as an asset class. The Fund’s portfolio managers may not be able to accurately predict how specific CLO securities or the portfolio of underlying loans for such CLO securities will react to changes or stresses in the market, including changes in interest rates. The most common risks associated with investing in CLO securities are liquidity risk, interest rate risk, credit risk, call risk, and the risk of default of the underlying asset.

Credit Risk. Debt securities are subject to credit risk. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer or guarantor of a security will be unable and/or unwilling to make timely interest payments and/or repay the principal on its debt or to otherwise honor its obligations and/or default completely on securities. Debt securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk, depending on the issuer’s financial condition and on the terms of the securities, which may be reflected in credit ratings. There is a possibility that the credit rating of a debt security may be downgraded after purchase or the perception of an issuer’s credit worthiness may decline, which may adversely affect the value of the security.


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by corporate issuers, which, in either instance, may have an adverse effect on the market prices of and an ETP’s ability to arrive at a fair value for certain securities. The illiquidity of the market also could make it difficult for an ETP to sell certain securities in connection with a rebalancing of its index, if applicable. In addition, periods of economic uncertainty and change may result in an increased volatility of market prices of high yield securities and a corresponding volatility in an ETP’s net asset value. In addition, adverse publicity and investor perceptions may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield securities.

Interest Rate Risk. Debt securities, such as bonds, are also subject to interest rate risk. Interest rate risk refers to fluctuations in the value of a security resulting from changes in the general level of interest rates. When the general level of interest rates goes up, the prices of most debt securities go down. When the general level of interest rates goes down, the prices of most debt securities go up. Many factors can cause interest rates to rise, including central bank monetary policy, rising inflation rates and general economic conditions. A low interest rate environment increases the risk associated with rising interest rates, including the potential for periods of volatility and increased redemptions.

Measures taken by the Federal Reserve Board may affect the money supply and as a result of these measures, an ETF may face a heightened interest rate risk.

In addition, debt securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to interest rate changes, usually making them more volatile than debt securities with shorter durations. To the extent an ETP invests a substantial portion of its assets in debt securities with longer-term maturities, rising interest rates may cause the value of an ETP’s investments to decline significantly.

In addition, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as with other serious economic disruptions, governmental authorities and regulators are enacting significant fiscal and monetary policy changes, including providing direct capital infusions into companies, creating new monetary programs and lowering interest rates considerably. These actions present heightened risks to debt instruments, and such risks could be even further heightened if these actions are unexpectedly or suddenly reversed or are ineffective in achieving their desired outcomes.

Call Risk. An ETP may invest in callable debt securities. If interest rates fall, it is possible that issuers of callable securities will “call” (or prepay) their debt securities before their maturity date. If a call were exercised by the issuer during or following a period of declining interest rates, the ETP is likely to have to replace such called security with a lower yielding security or securities with greater risks or other less favorable features. If that were to happen, it would decrease the ETP’s net investment income. An ETP also may fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss.

Concentration Risk. Certain of the ETPs may be concentrated in a particular sector or sectors or industry or group of industries. To the extent that an ETP is concentrated in a particular sector or sectors or industry or group of industries, the ETP will be subject to the risk that economic, political or other conditions that have a negative effect on those sectors and/or industry or groups of industries may negatively impact the ETP to a greater extent than if the ETP’s assets were invested in a wider variety of sectors or industries.

U.S. Treasury Securities Risk. Direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury have historically involved little risk of loss of principal if held to maturity. However, due to fluctuations in interest rates, the market value of such securities may vary.

Interest Rate Risk. Debt securities and preferred securities are subject to interest rate risk. Interest rate risk refers to fluctuations in the value of a security resulting from changes in the general level of interest rates. When the general level of interest rates goes up, the prices of most debt securities and certain preferred securities go down. When the general level of interest rates goes down, the prices of most debt securities go up. Many factors can cause interest rates to rise, including central bank monetary policy, rising inflation rates and general economic conditions. Debt securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to interest rate changes, usually making them more volatile than debt securities, such as bonds, with shorter durations. A substantial investment by the Fund in debt securities with longer-term maturities during periods of rising interest rates may cause the value of the Fund’s investments to decline significantly. Changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on markets, may result in heightened market volatility and may detract from Fund performance to the extent the Fund is exposed to such interest rates and/or volatility. It is difficult to predict the magnitude, timing or direction of interest rate changes and the impact these changes will have on the markets in which the Fund invests.

Income Risk. The Fund’s income may fluctuate and may decline during periods of falling interest rates.

High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of its portfolio securities, which will result in increased transaction costs to the Fund, including brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs on the sale of the securities and on reinvestment in other securities. High portfolio turnover may also result in higher taxes when Fund Shares are held in a taxable account. The effects of high portfolio turnover may adversely affect Fund performance.

Active Management Risk. In managing the Fund’s portfolio, the Adviser will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these will produce the desired results. Investment decisions made by the Adviser in seeking to achieve the Fund’s investment objective may cause a decline in the value of the


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investments held by the Fund and, in turn, cause the Fund’s shares to lose value or underperform other funds with similar investment objectives.

Market Risk. The prices of the securities the Fund or an ETP may invest in 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. 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. Overall securities values could decline generally or underperform other investments. An investment in the Fund or an ETP may lose money.

Affiliated Fund Risk. In managing the Fund, the Adviser has the ability to select underlying funds which it believes will achieve the Fund’s investment objective. The Adviser may be subject to potential conflicts of interest in selecting underlying funds because the Adviser may, due to its own financial interest or other business considerations, have an incentive to invest in funds managed by the Adviser or its affiliates rather than investing in funds managed or sponsored by others.

Non-Diversified Risk. The Fund is classified as a “non-diversified” fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund is subject to the risk that it will be more volatile than a diversified fund because the Fund may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a smaller number of issuers or may invest a larger proportion of its assets in a single issuer. Moreover, the gains and losses on a single investment may have a greater impact on the Fund’s net asset value and may make the Fund more volatile than more diversified funds. The Fund may be particularly vulnerable to this risk if it is comprised of a limited number of investments.

PERFORMANCE

The Fund commenced operations on November 1, 2022 and therefore does not have a performance history for the full calendar year ended December 31, 2022. Once available, the Fund’s performance information will be accessible on the Fund’s website at www.vaneck.com.


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PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

Investment Adviser. Van Eck Associates Corporation.

Portfolio Managers. The following individuals are primarily and jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio:

Name

Title with Adviser

Date Began Managing the Fund

David Schassler

Portfolio Manager

November 2022

John Lau

Deputy Portfolio Manager

November 2022

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund Shares, tax information and payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries, please turn to the “Summary Information About Purchases and Sales of Fund Shares, Taxes and Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries” section of this Prospectus.


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VANECK® EMERGING MARKETS HIGH YIELD BOND ETF

SUMMARY INFORMATION

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

VanEck® Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of ICE BofA Diversified High Yield US Emerging Markets Corporate Plus Index (the “Emerging Markets High Yield Index” or the “Index”).

FUND FEES AND EXPENSES


Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)			None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

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



Management Fee	0.40	%

Other Expenses(a)	0.00	%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses(a)	0.40	%

(a)Van Eck Associates Corporation (the “Adviser”) will pay all expenses of the Fund, except for the fee payment under the investment management agreement, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, offering costs, trading expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser has agreed to pay the offering costs until at least September 1, 2024.

EXPENSE EXAMPLE



			YEAR			EXPENSES
			1			$41
			3			$128
			5			$224
			10			$505

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Fund’s benchmark index. The Emerging Markets High Yield Index is comprised of U.S. dollar denominated bonds issued by non-sovereign emerging market issuers that have a below investment grade rating and that are issued in the major domestic and Eurobond markets.

In order to qualify for inclusion in the Emerging Markets High Yield Index, an issuer must have risk exposure to countries other than members of the FX Group of Ten, all Western European countries and territories of the United States and Western European countries.


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The FX Group of Ten includes all Euro members, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom (“UK”) and the United States. As of June 30, 2023, the Emerging Markets High Yield Index included 560 below investment grade bonds of 337 issuers and the weighted average maturity of the Emerging Markets High Yield Index was 5.15 years. As of the same date, approximately 67% of the Emerging Markets High Yield Index was comprised of Rule 144A securities. Such bonds may include quasi-sovereign bonds. The Fund’s 80% investment policy is non-fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, attempts to approximate the investment performance of the Emerging Markets High Yield Index. Unlike many investment companies that try to “beat” the performance of a benchmark index, the Fund does not try to “beat” the Emerging Markets High Yield Index and does not take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its investment objective of seeking to replicate the Emerging Markets High Yield Index. Because of the practical difficulties and expense of purchasing all of the securities in the Emerging Markets High Yield Index, the Fund does not purchase all of the securities in the Emerging Markets High Yield Index. Instead, the Adviser utilizes a “sampling” methodology in seeking to achieve the Fund’s objective. As such, the Fund may purchase a subset of the bonds in the Emerging Markets High Yield Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of bonds with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Emerging Markets High Yield Index.

The Fund may concentrate its investments in a particular industry or group of industries to the extent that the Emerging Markets High Yield Index concentrates in an industry or group of industries. As of April 30, 2023, each of the financials and energy sectors represented a significant portion of the Fund.

PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND

High Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade are commonly referred to as high yield securities or “junk bonds.” High yield securities are often issued by issuers that are restructuring, are smaller or less creditworthy than other issuers, or are more highly indebted than other issuers. High yield securities are subject to greater risk of loss of income and principal than higher rated securities and are considered speculative. The prices of high yield securities are likely to be more sensitive to adverse economic changes or individual issuer developments than higher rated securities, resulting in increased volatility of their market prices and a corresponding volatility in the Fund’s net asset value. During an economic downturn or substantial period of rising interest rates, high yield security issuers may experience financial stress that would adversely affect their ability to service their principal and interest payment obligations, to meet their projected business goals or to obtain additional financing. In the event of a default, the Fund may incur additional expenses to seek recovery. The secondary market for high yield securities may be less liquid than the markets for higher quality securities, and high yield securities issued by non-corporate issuers may be less liquid than high yield securities issued by corporate issuers. Illiquidity may have an adverse effect on the market prices of and the Fund’s ability to arrive at a fair value for certain securities when it seeks to do so. In addition, periods of economic uncertainty and change may result in an increased volatility of market prices of high yield securities and a corresponding volatility in the Fund's net asset value.

Special Risk Considerations of Investing in European Issuers. Investments in securities of European issuers involve risks and special considerations not typically associated with investments in the U.S. securities markets. The Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union requires member countries to comply with restrictions on inflation rates, deficits, interest rates, debt levels and fiscal and monetary controls, each of which may significantly affect every country in Europe. Decreasing imports or exports, changes in governmental or European Union regulations on trade, changes in the exchange rate of the euro, the default or threat of default by a European Union member country on its sovereign debt, and/or an economic recession in a European Union member country may have a significant adverse effect on the economies of other European Union countries and on major trading partners outside Europe. If any member country exits the Economic and Monetary Union, the departing country would face the risks of currency devaluation and its trading partners and banks and others around the world that hold the departing country’s debt would face the risk of significant losses. The European financial markets have previously experienced, and may continue to experience, volatility and have been adversely affected, and may in the future be affected, by concerns about economic downturns, credit rating downgrades, rising government debt levels and possible default on or restructuring of government debt in several European countries. These events have adversely affected, and may in the future affect, the value and exchange rate of the euro and may continue to significantly affect the economies of every country in Europe, including European Union member countries that do not use the euro and non-European Union member countries. The United Kingdom withdrew from the European Union on January 31, 2020, which has resulted in ongoing market volatility and caused additional market disruption on a global basis. On December 30, 2020, the United Kingdom and the European Union signed the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which is an agreement on the terms governing certain aspects of the European Union's and the United Kingdom's relationship post Brexit. Notwithstanding the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, following the transition period, there is likely to be considerable uncertainty as to the United Kingdom’s post-transition framework.


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Special Risk Considerations of Investing in Asian Issuers. Investments in securities of Asian issuers involve risks and special considerations not typically associated with investments in the U.S. securities markets. Many Asian economies have experienced rapid growth and industrialization in recent years, but there is no assurance that this growth rate will be maintained. Certain Asian economies have experienced over-extension of credit, currency devaluations and restrictions, high unemployment, high inflation, decreased exports and economic recessions. Geopolitical hostility, political instability, as well as economic or environmental events in any one Asian country can have a significant effect on the entire Asian region as well as on major trading partners outside Asia, and any adverse effect on some or all of the Asian countries and regions in which the Fund invests. The securities markets in some Asian economies are relatively underdeveloped and may subject the Fund to higher action costs or greater uncertainty than investments in more developed securities markets. Such risks may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments. Certain Asian countries have also developed increasingly strained relationships with the U.S., and if these relations were to worsen, they could adversely affect Asian issuers that rely on the U.S. for trade.

Special Risk Considerations of Investing in Latin American Issuers. Investments in securities of Latin American issuers involve special considerations not typically associated with investments in securities of issuers located in the United States. The economies of certain Latin American countries have, at times, experienced high interest rates, economic volatility, inflation, currency devaluations and high unemployment rates. In addition, commodities (such as oil, gas and minerals) represent a significant percentage of the region’s exports and many economies in this region are particularly sensitive to fluctuations in commodity prices. Adverse economic events in one country may have a significant adverse effect on other countries of this region.

Most Latin American countries have experienced severe and persistent levels of inflation, including, in some cases, hyperinflation. This has, in turn, led to high interest rates, extreme measures by governments to keep inflation in check, and a generally debilitating effect on economic growth. Although inflation in many Latin American countries has lessened, there is no guarantee it will remain at lower levels.

The political history of certain Latin American countries has been characterized by political uncertainty, intervention by the military in civilian and economic spheres, and political corruption. Such events could reverse favorable trends toward market and economic reform, privatization, and removal of trade barriers, and could result in significant disruption in securities markets in the region.

The economies of Latin American countries are generally considered emerging markets and can be significantly affected by currency devaluations. Certain Latin American countries may also have managed currencies which are maintained at artificial levels relative to the U.S. dollar rather than at levels determined by the market. This type of system can lead to sudden and large adjustments in the currency which, in turn, can have a disruptive and negative effect on foreign investors. Certain Latin American countries also restrict the free conversion of their currency into foreign currencies, including the U.S. dollar. There is no significant foreign exchange market for many Latin American currencies and it would, as a result, be difficult for the Fund to engage in foreign currency transactions designed to protect the value of the Fund’s interests in securities denominated in such currencies.

Finally, a number of Latin American countries are among the largest debtors of developing countries. There have been moratoria on, and a rescheduling of, repayment with respect to these debts. Such events can restrict the flexibility of these debtor nations in the international markets and result in the imposition of onerous conditions on their economies.

Special Risk Considerations of Investing in Brazilian Issuers. Investments in securities of Brazilian issuers, including issuers located outside of Brazil that generate significant revenues from Brazil, involve risks and special considerations not typically associated with investments in the U.S. securities markets. The Brazilian economy has been characterized by frequent, and occasionally drastic, interventions by the Brazilian government, including the imposition of wage and price controls, exchange controls, limiting imports, blocking access to bank accounts and other measures. The Brazilian government has often changed monetary, taxation, credit, trade and other policies to influence the core of Brazil’s economy. Actions taken by the Brazilian government concerning the economy may have significant effects on Brazilian companies and on market conditions and prices of Brazilian securities. Brazil’s economy may be subject to sluggish economic growth due to, among other things, weak consumer spending, political turmoil, high rates of inflation and low commodity prices. Brazil suffers from chronic structural public sector deficits. The Brazilian government has privatized certain entities, which have suffered losses due to, among other things, the inability to adjust to a competitive environment.

The market for Brazilian securities is directly influenced by the flow of international capital, and economic and market conditions of certain countries, especially emerging market countries. As a result, adverse economic conditions or developments in other emerging market countries have at times significantly affected the availability of credit in the Brazilian economy and resulted in considerable outflows of funds and declines in the amount of foreign currency invested in Brazil.


15

dependent upon commodity prices and international trade. Unanticipated political or social developments may result in sudden and significant investment losses. An increase in prices for commodities, such as petroleum, the depreciation of the Brazilian real and future governmental measures seeking to maintain the value of the Brazilian real in relation to the U.S. dollar, may trigger increases in inflation in Brazil and may slow the rate of growth of the Brazilian economy. Conversely, appreciation of the Brazilian real relative to the U.S dollar may lead to the deterioration of Brazil’s current account of balance of payments as well as limit the growth of exports.

Special Risk Considerations of Investing in Middle Eastern Issuers. Investments in securities of Middle Eastern issuers, including issuers located outside of the Middle East that generate significant revenues from the Middle East, involve risks and special considerations not typically associated with investments in the U.S. securities markets. Many Middle Eastern countries have little or no democratic tradition, and the political and legal systems in such countries may have an adverse impact on the Fund. Many economies in the Middle East are highly reliant on income from the sale of oil and natural gas or trade with countries involved in the sale of oil and natural gas, and their economies are therefore vulnerable to changes in the market for oil and natural gas and foreign currency values. As global demand for oil and natural gas fluctuates, many Middle Eastern economies may be significantly impacted.

In addition, many Middle Eastern governments have exercised and continue to exercise substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector. In certain cases, a Middle Eastern country’s government may own or control many companies,including some of the largest companies in the country. Accordingly, governmental actions in the future could have a significant effect on economic conditions in Middle Eastern countries. This could affect private sector companies and the Fund,as well as the value of securities in the Fund’s portfolio.

Certain Middle Eastern markets are in the earliest stages of development. As a result, there may be 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. Brokers in Middle Eastern countries typically are fewer in number and less capitalized than brokers in the U.S.

The legal systems in certain Middle Eastern countries also may have an adverse impact on the Fund. For example, the potential liability of a shareholder in a U.S. corporation with respect to acts of the corporation generally is limited to the amount of the shareholder’s investment. However, the notion of limited liability is less clear in certain Middle Eastern countries. The Fund therefore may be liable in certain Middle Eastern countries for the acts of a corporation in which it invests for an amount greater than its actual investment in that corporation. Similarly, the rights of investors in Middle Eastern issuers may be more limited than those of shareholders of a U.S. corporation. It may be difficult or impossible to obtain or enforce a legal judgment in a Middle Eastern country. Some Middle Eastern countries prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on investments in their capital markets, particularly their equity markets, by foreign entities such as the Fund. For example, certain countries may require governmental approval prior to investment by foreign persons or limit the amount of investment by foreign persons in a particular issuer. Certain Middle Eastern countries may also limit investment by foreign persons to only a specific class of securities of an issuer that may have less advantageous terms (including price) than securities of the issuer available for purchase by nationals of the relevant Middle Eastern country.

The manner in which foreign investors may invest in companies in certain Middle Eastern countries, as well as limitations on those investments, may have an adverse impact on the operations of the Fund. For example, in certain of these countries, the Fund may be required to invest initially through a local broker or other entity and then have the shares that were purchased re-registered in the name of the Fund. Re-registration in some instances may not be possible on a timely basis. This may result in a delay during which the Fund may be denied certain of its rights as an investor, including rights as to dividends or to be made aware of certain corporate actions. There also may be instances where the Fund places a purchase order but is subsequently informed, at the time of re-registration, that the permissible allocation of the investment to foreign investors has already been filled and, consequently, the Fund may not be able to invest in the relevant company.

Substantial limitations may exist in certain Middle Eastern countries with respect to the Fund’s ability to repatriate investment income or capital gains. The Fund could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, any required governmental approval for repatriation of capital, as well as by the application to the Fund of any restrictions on investment.

Certain Middle Eastern countries may be heavily dependent upon international trade and, consequently, have been and may continue to be negatively affected by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. These countries also have been and may continue to be adversely impacted by economic conditions in the countries with which they trade. In addition,certain issuers located in Middle Eastern countries in which the Fund invests may operate in, or have dealings with, countries subject to sanctions and/or embargoes imposed by the U.S. government and the United Nations, and/or countries identified by the U.S. government as state sponsors of terrorism. As a result, an issuer may sustain damage to its reputation if it is identified as an issuer which operates in, or has dealings with, such countries. The Fund, as an investor in such issuers, will be indirectly subject to those risks.


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Eastern countries. Certain Middle Eastern countries experience significant unemployment, as well as widespread underemployment. There has also been a recent increase in recruitment efforts and an aggressive push for territorial control by terrorist groups in the region, which has led to an outbreak of warfare and hostilities. Warfare in Syria has spread to surrounding areas, including many portions of Iraq and Turkey. Such hostilities may continue into the future or may escalate at any time due to ethnic, racial, political, religious or ideological tensions between groups in the region or foreign intervention or lack of intervention, among other factors.

Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in the securities of foreign issuers involve risks beyond those associated with investments in U.S. securities. These additional risks include greater market volatility, the availability of less reliable financial information, higher transactional and custody costs, taxation by foreign governments, decreased market liquidity and political instability. Because certain foreign securities markets may be limited in size, the activity of large traders may have an undue influence on the prices of securities that trade in such markets. The Fund invests in securities of issuers located in countries whose economies are heavily dependent upon trading with key partners. Any reduction in this trading may have an adverse impact on the Fund’s investments. Foreign market trading hours, clearance and settlement procedures, and holiday schedules may limit the Fund's ability to buy and sell securities.

Emerging Market Issuers Risk. Investments in securities of emerging market issuers involve risks not typically associated with investments in securities of issuers in more developed countries that may negatively affect the value of your investment in the Fund. Such heightened risks may include, among others, expropriation and/or nationalization of assets, restrictions on and government intervention in international trade, confiscatory taxation, political instability, including authoritarian and/or military involvement in governmental decision making, armed conflict, the impact on the economy as a result of civil war, crime (including drug violence) and social instability as a result of religious, ethnic and/or socioeconomic unrest. Issuers in certain emerging market countries are subject to less stringent requirements regarding accounting, auditing, financial reporting and record keeping than are issuers in more developed markets, and therefore, all material information may not be available or reliable. Emerging markets are also more likely than developed markets to experience problems with the clearing and settling of trades, as well as the holding of securities by local banks, agents and depositories. Low trading volumes and volatile prices in less developed markets may make trades harder to complete and settle, and governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that may not be subject to independent evaluation. Local agents are held only to the standards of care of their local markets. In general, the less developed a country’s securities markets are, the greater the likelihood of custody problems. Additionally, each of the factors described below could have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance and increase the volatility of the Fund.

Securities Market Risk. Securities markets in emerging market countries are underdeveloped and are often considered to be less correlated to global economic cycles than those markets located in more developed countries. Securities markets in emerging market countries are subject to greater risks associated with market volatility, lower market capitalization, lower trading volume, illiquidity, inflation, greater price fluctuations, uncertainty regarding the existence of trading markets, governmental control and heavy regulation of labor and industry. These factors, coupled with restrictions on foreign investment and other factors, limit the supply of securities available for investment by the Fund. This will affect the rate at which the Fund is able to invest in emerging market countries, the purchase and sale prices for such securities and the timing of purchases and sales. Emerging markets can experience high rates of inflation, deflation and currency devaluation. The prices of certain securities listed on securities markets in emerging market countries have been subject to sharp fluctuations and sudden declines, and no assurance can be given as to the future performance of listed securities in general. Volatility of prices may be greater than in more developed securities markets. Moreover, securities markets in emerging market countries may be closed for extended periods of time or trading on securities markets may be suspended altogether due to political or civil unrest. Market volatility may also be heightened by the actions of a small number of investors. Brokerage firms in emerging market countries may be fewer in number and less established than brokerage firms in more developed markets. Since the Fund may need to effect securities transactions through these brokerage firms, the Fund is subject to the risk that these brokerage firms will not be able to fulfill their obligations to the Fund. This risk is magnified to the extent the Fund effects securities transactions through a single brokerage firm or a small number of brokerage firms. In addition, the infrastructure for the safe custody of securities and for purchasing and selling securities, settling trades, collecting dividends, initiating corporate actions, and following corporate activity is not as well developed in emerging market countries as is the case in certain more developed markets.

Political and Economic Risk. Certain emerging market countries have historically been subject to political instability and their prospects are tied to the continuation of economic and political liberalization in the region. Instability may result from factors such as government or military intervention in decision making, terrorism, civil unrest, extremism or hostilities between neighboring countries. Any of these factors, including an outbreak of hostilities could negatively impact the Fund’s returns. Limited political and democratic freedoms in emerging market countries might cause significant social unrest. These factors may have a significant adverse effect on an emerging market country’s economy.


17

protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which it trades. They also have been, and may continue to be, adversely affected by economic conditions in the countries with which they trade.

In addition, commodities (such as oil, gas and minerals) represent a significant percentage of certain emerging market countries’ exports and these economies are particularly sensitive to fluctuations in commodity prices. Adverse economic events in one country may have a significant adverse effect on other countries of this region. In addition, most emerging market countries have experienced, at one time or another, severe and persistent levels of inflation, including, in some cases, hyperinflation. This has, in turn, led to high interest rates, extreme measures by governments to keep inflation in check, and a generally debilitating effect on economic growth.

Although inflation in many countries has lessened, there is no guarantee it will remain at lower levels. The political history of certain emerging market countries has been characterized by political uncertainty, intervention by the military in civilian and economic spheres, and political corruption. Such events could reverse favorable trends toward market and economic reform, privatization, and removal of trade barriers, and result in significant disruption in securities markets in the region.

Also, from time to time, certain issuers located in emerging market countries in which the Fund invests may operate in, or have dealings with, countries subject to sanctions and/or embargoes imposed by the U.S. Government and the United Nations and/or countries identified by the U.S. Government as state sponsors of terrorism. As a result, an issuer may sustain damage to its reputation if it is identified as an issuer which operates in, or has dealings with, such countries. The Fund, as an investor in such issuers, will be indirectly subject to those risks.

The economies of one or more countries in which the Fund may invest may be in various states of transition from a planned economy to a more market oriented economy. The economies of such countries differ from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including levels of government involvement, states of development, growth rates, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. Economic growth in these economies may be uneven both geographically and among various sectors of their economies and may also be accompanied by periods of high inflation. Political changes, social instability and adverse diplomatic developments in these countries could result in the imposition of additional government restrictions, including expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxes or nationalization of some or all of the property held by the underlying issuers of securities of emerging market issuers. There is no guarantee that the governments of these countries will not revert back to some form of planned or non-market oriented economy, and such governments continue to be active participants in many economic sectors through ownership positions and regulation. The allocation of resources in such countries is subject to a high level of government control. Such countries’ governments may strictly regulate the payment of foreign currency denominated obligations and set monetary policy. Through their policies, these governments may provide preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. The policies set by the government of one of these countries could have a substantial effect on that country’s economy.

Investment and Repatriation Restrictions Risk. 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 and may inhibit the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective. In addition, the 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, the 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 the 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 net asset value of the Fund.

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, the 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 the Fund to adopt special procedures, seek local government approvals or take other actions, each of which may involve additional costs to the Fund.


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market countries and such issuers are not subject to the uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards applicable to issuers located or operating in more developed countries.

Operational and Settlement Risk. In addition to having less developed securities markets, emerging market countries have less developed custody and settlement practices than certain developed countries. Rules adopted under the Investment Company Act of 1940 permit the Fund to maintain its foreign securities and cash in the custody of certain eligible non-U.S. banks and securities depositories. Banks in emerging market countries that are eligible foreign sub-custodians may be recently organized or otherwise lack extensive operating experience. In addition, in certain emerging market countries there may be legal restrictions or limitations on the ability of the Fund to recover assets held in custody by a foreign sub-custodian in the event of the bankruptcy of the sub-custodian. Because settlement systems in emerging market countries may be less organized than in other developed markets, there may be a risk that settlement may be delayed and that cash or securities of the Fund may be in jeopardy because of failures of or defects in the systems. Under the laws in many emerging market countries, the Fund may be required to release local shares before receiving cash payment or may be required to make cash payment prior to receiving local shares, creating a risk that the Fund may surrender cash or securities without ever receiving securities or cash from the other party. Settlement systems in emerging market countries also have a higher risk of failed trades and back to back settlements may not be possible.

The Fund may not be able to convert a foreign currency to U.S. dollars in time for the settlement of redemption requests. In the event that the Fund is not able to convert the foreign currency to U.S. dollars in time for settlement, which may occur as a result of the delays described above, the Fund may be required to liquidate certain investments and/or borrow money in order to fund such redemption. The liquidation of investments, if required, could be at disadvantageous prices or otherwise have an adverse impact on the Fund’s performance (e.g., by causing the Fund to overweight foreign currency denominated holdings and underweight other holdings which were sold to fund redemptions). In addition, the Fund will incur interest expense on any borrowings and the borrowings will cause the Fund to be leveraged, which may magnify gains and losses on its investments.

In certain emerging market countries, the marketability of investments may be limited due to the restricted opening hours of trading exchanges, and a relatively high proportion of market value may be concentrated in the hands of a relatively small number of investors. In addition, because certain emerging market countries’ trading exchanges on which the Fund’s portfolio securities may trade are open when the relevant exchanges are closed, the Fund may be subject to heightened risk associated with market movements. Trading volume may be lower on certain emerging market countries’ trading exchanges than on more developed securities markets and securities may be generally less liquid. The infrastructure for clearing, settlement and registration on the primary and secondary markets of certain emerging market countries are less developed than in certain other markets and under certain circumstances this may result in the Fund experiencing delays in settling and/or registering transactions in the markets in which it invests, particularly if the growth of foreign and domestic investment in certain emerging market countries places an undue burden on such investment infrastructure. Such delays could affect the speed with which the Fund can transmit redemption proceeds and may inhibit the initiation and realization of investment opportunities at optimum times.

Certain issuers in emerging market countries may utilize share blocking schemes. Share blocking refers to a practice, in certain foreign markets, where voting rights related to an issuer’s securities are predicated on these securities being blocked from trading at the custodian or sub-custodian level for a period of time around a shareholder meeting. These restrictions have the effect of barring the purchase and sale of certain voting securities within a specified number of days before and, in certain instances, after a shareholder meeting where a vote of shareholders will be taken. Share blocking may prevent the Fund from buying or selling securities for a period of time. During the time that shares are blocked, trades in such securities will not settle. The blocking period can last up to several weeks. The process for having a blocking restriction lifted can be quite onerous with the particular requirements varying widely by country. In addition, in certain countries, the block cannot be removed. As a result of the ramifications of voting ballots in markets that allow share blocking, the Adviser, on behalf of the Fund, reserves the right to abstain from voting proxies in those markets.

Corporate and Securities Laws Risk. Securities laws in emerging market countries are relatively new and unsettled and, consequently, there is a risk of rapid and unpredictable change in laws regarding foreign investment, securities regulation, title to securities and securityholders rights. Accordingly, foreign investors may be adversely affected by new or amended laws and regulations. In addition, the systems of corporate governance to which emerging market issuers are subject may be less advanced than those systems to which issuers located in more developed countries are subject, and therefore, securityholders of issuers located in emerging market countries may not receive many of the protections available to securityholders of issuers located in more developed countries. In circumstances where adequate laws and securityholders rights exist, it may not be possible to obtain swift and equitable enforcement of the law. In addition, the enforcement of systems of taxation at federal, regional and local levels in emerging market countries may be inconsistent and subject to sudden change. The Fund has limited rights and few practical remedies in emerging markets and the ability of U.S. authorities to bring enforcement actions in emerging markets may be limited.


19

Foreign Currency Risk. Because all or a portion of the income received by the Fund from its investments and/or the revenues received by the underlying issuer will generally be denominated in foreign currencies, the Fund’s exposure to foreign currencies and changes in the value of foreign currencies versus the U.S. dollar may result in reduced returns for the Fund, and the value of certain foreign currencies may be subject to a high degree of fluctuation. The Fund may also (directly or indirectly) incur costs in connection with conversions between U.S. dollars and foreign currencies.

Credit Risk. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer or guarantor of a security will be unable and/or unwilling to honor its payment obligations and/or default completely on securities. The Fund’s securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk, depending on the issuer’s financial condition and on the terms of the securities, which may be reflected in credit ratings. There is a possibility that the credit rating of a security may be downgraded after purchase or the perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness may decline, which may adversely affect the value of the security. Lower credit quality may also affect liquidity and make it difficult for the Fund to sell the security.

Restricted Securities Risk. Regulation S securities and Rule 144A securities are restricted securities that are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933. They may be less liquid and more difficult to value than other investments because such securities may not be readily marketable. The Fund may not be able to purchase or sell a restricted security promptly or at a reasonable time or price. Although there may be a substantial institutional market for these securities, it is not possible to predict exactly how the market for such securities will develop or whether it will continue to exist. A restricted security that was liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid and its value may decline as a result. Restricted securities that are deemed illiquid will count towards the Fund’s limitation on illiquid securities. In addition, transaction costs may be higher for restricted securities than for more liquid securities. The Fund may have to bear the expense of registering restricted securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration.

Energy Sector Risk. The Fund may be sensitive to, and its performance may depend to a greater extent on, the overall condition of the energy sector. Companies operating in the energy sector are subject to risks including, but not limited to, economic growth, worldwide demand, political instability in the regions that the companies operate, government regulation stipulating rates charged by utilities, interest rate sensitivity, oil price volatility, energy conservation, environmental policies, depletion of resources, and the cost of providing the specific utility services and other factors that they cannot control.

The energy sector is cyclical and is highly dependent on commodity prices; prices and supplies of energy may fluctuate significantly over short and long periods of time due to, among other things, national and international political changes, OPEC policies, changes in relationships among OPEC members and between OPEC and oil-importing nations, the regulatory environment, taxation policies, and the economy of the key energy-consuming countries. Commodity prices have recently been subject to increased volatility and declines, which may negatively affect companies in which the Fund invests.

Companies in the energy sector may be adversely affected by terrorism, natural disasters or other catastrophes. Companies in the energy sector are at risk of civil liability from accidents resulting in injury, loss of life or property, pollution or other environmental damage claims and risk of loss from terrorism and natural disasters. Disruptions in the oil industry or shifts in fuel consumption may significantly impact companies in this sector. Significant oil and gas deposits are located in emerging markets countries where corruption and security may raise significant risks, in addition to the other risks of investing in emerging markets.


20

Companies in the energy sector may also be adversely affected by changes in exchange rates, tax treatment, government regulation and intervention, negative perception, efforts at energy conservation and world events in the regions in which the companies operate (e.g., expropriation, nationalization, confiscation of assets and property or the imposition of restrictions on foreign investments and repatriation of capital, military coups, social unrest, violence or labor unrest). Because a significant portion of revenues of companies in this sector is derived from a relatively small number of customers that are largely comprised of governmental entities and utilities, governmental budget constraints may have a significant impact on the stock prices of companies in this sector. Entities operating in the energy sector are subject to significant regulation of nearly every aspect of their operations by federal, state and local governmental agencies. Such regulation can change rapidly or over time in both scope and intensity. Stricter laws, regulations or enforcement policies could be enacted in the future which would likely increase compliance costs and may materially adversely affect the financial performance of companies in the energy sector.

A downturn in the energy sector, adverse political, legislative or regulatory developments or other events could have a larger impact on the Fund than on an investment company that does not invest a substantial portion of its assets in the energy sector. At times, the performance of securities of companies in the energy sector may lag the performance of other sectors or the broader market as a whole. The price of oil, natural gas and other fossil fuels may decline and/or experience significant volatility, which could adversely impact companies operating in the energy sector.

Call Risk. The Fund may invest in callable debt securities. If interest rates fall, issuers may “call” (or prepay) their debt securities before their maturity date. If the issuer exercises a call during or following a period of declining interest rates, the Fund is likely to have to replace the called security with a lower yielding security or riskier security, decreasing the Fund’s net investment income. The Fund also may fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher interest rates, resulting in an unexpected capital loss.

Sampling Risk. The Fund’s use of a representative sampling approach will result in its holding a smaller number of securities than are in its Index. As a result, an adverse development respecting an issuer of securities held by the Fund could result in a greater decline in net asset value than would be the case if the Fund held all of the securities in its Index. Conversely, a positive development relating to an issuer of securities in the Index that is not held by the Fund could cause the Fund to underperform the Index. To the extent the assets in the Fund are smaller, these risks will be greater.


21

receipts, the purchase of depositary receipts may negatively affect the Fund’s ability to track the performance of the Index and increase tracking error, which may be exacerbated if the issuer of the depositary receipt discontinues issuing new depositary receipts or withdraws existing depositary receipts.

The Fund may value certain of its investments, underlying currencies and/or other assets based on fair value prices. To the extent the Fund calculates its net asset value based on fair value prices and the value of the Index is based on securities’ closing prices on local foreign markets (i.e., the value of the Index is not based on fair value prices), the Fund’s ability to track the Index may be adversely affected. In addition, any issues the Fund encounters with regard to currency convertibility (including the cost of borrowing funds, if any), repatriation or economic sanctions may also increase the index tracking risk. The Fund’s performance may also deviate from the performance of the Index due to the impact of withholding taxes, late announcements relating to changes to the Index and high turnover of the Index. When markets are volatile, the ability to sell securities at fair value prices may be adversely impacted and may result in additional trading costs and/or increase the index tracking risk. The Fund may also need to rely on borrowings to meet redemptions, which may lead to increased expenses. For tax efficiency purposes, the Fund may sell certain securities, and such sale may cause the Fund to realize a loss and deviate from the performance of the Index. In light of the factors discussed above, the Fund’s return may deviate significantly from the return of the Index. Changes to the composition of the Index in connection with a rebalancing or reconstitution of the Index may cause the Fund to experience increased volatility, during which time the Fund’s index tracking risk may be heightened.


22

bid/ask spreads on the exchange and the resulting premium or discount to the Shares’ net asset value may widen. Additionally, in stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s Shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings and a shareholder may be unable to sell his or her Shares.

PERFORMANCE

The bar chart that follows shows how the Fund performed for the calendar years shown. The table below the bar chart shows the Fund’s average annual returns (before and after taxes). The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by comparing the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the one year, five year, ten year and/or since inception periods, as applicable, compared with the Fund’s benchmark index and a broad measure of market performance. Prior to May 13, 2015, the Fund sought to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of an index called the BofA Merrill Lynch Diversified High Yield US Emerging Markets Corporate Plus Index (the “Prior Index”). Therefore, performance information prior to May 13, 2015 reflects the performance of the Fund while seeking to track the Prior Index. All returns assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily indicative of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at www.vaneck.com.

Annual Total Returns (%)—Calendar Years

The year-to-date total annual return as of June 30, 2023 was 2.41%.


Best Quarter:	15.00%	2Q 2020
Worst Quarter:	-15.16%	1Q 2020

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2022


23



	Past One Year	Past Five Years*	Past Ten Years
VanEck Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF (return before taxes)	-12.68%	0.01%	2.31%
VanEck Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF (return after taxes on distributions)	-14.91%	-2.38%	-0.29%
VanEck Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund Shares)	-7.53%	-0.92%	0.64%
ICE BofA Diversified High Yield US Emerging Markets Corporate Plus Index* (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-13.71%	-0.09%	2.57%
ICE BofA US Broad Market Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-13.16%	0.03%	1.07%

*Prior to May 13, 2015, the Fund sought to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the Prior Index. Therefore, performance information prior to May 13, 2015 reflects the performance of the Fund while seeking to track the Prior Index. Prior to May 13, 2015, index data reflects that of the Prior Index. From May 13, 2015, the index data reflects that of the Emerging Markets High Yield Index.

See “License Agreements and Disclaimers” for important information.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

Investment Adviser. Van Eck Associates Corporation.

Portfolio Manager. The following individual is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio:

Name

Title with Adviser

Date Began Managing the Fund

Francis G. Rodilosso

Portfolio Manager

September 2012

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund Shares, tax information, and payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries, please turn to the “Summary Information about Purchases and Sales of Fund Shares, Taxes and Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries” section of this Prospectus.


24


VANECK® FALLEN ANGEL HIGH YIELD BOND ETF

SUMMARY INFORMATION

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

VanEck® Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of ICE US Fallen Angel High Yield 10% Constrained Index (the “Fallen Angel Index” or the “Index”).

FUND FEES AND EXPENSES


Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)			None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

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



Management Fee	0.35	%

Other Expenses(a)	0.00	%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses(a)	0.35	%

(a)Van Eck Associates Corporation (the “Adviser”) will pay all expenses of the Fund, except for the fee payment under the investment management agreement, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, offering costs, trading expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser has agreed to pay the offering costs until at least September 1, 2024.

EXPENSE EXAMPLE



			YEAR			EXPENSES
			1			$36
			3			$113
			5			$197
			10			$443

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Fund’s benchmark index. The Fallen Angel Index is comprised of below investment grade corporate bonds denominated in U.S. dollars that were rated investment grade at the time of issuance. Qualifying securities must be issued in the U.S. domestic market and have a below investment grade rating. Defaulted securities are removed from the Fallen Angel Index at the end of the month in which they default. The Fallen Angel Index is comprised of bonds issued by both U.S. and non-U.S. issuers.

The country of risk of qualifying issuers must be a member of the FX Group of Ten, a Western European nation, or a territory of the United States or a Western European nation. The FX Group of Ten includes all Euro members, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. As of June 30, 2023, the Fallen Angel Index included 163 below investment grade bonds of 72 issuers and approximately 16% of the Fallen Angel Index was comprised of


25

Rule 144A securities. The Fund’s 80% investment policy is non-fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, attempts to approximate the investment performance of the Fallen Angel Index by investing in a portfolio of securities that generally replicates the Fallen Angel Index. Unlike many investment companies that try to “beat” the performance of a benchmark index, the Fund does not try to “beat” the Fallen Angel Index and does not take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its investment objective of seeking to replicate the Fallen Angel Index.

The Fund may become "non-diversified" as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, solely as a result of a change in relative market capitalization or index weighting of one or more constituents of the Fallen Angel Index. This means that the Fund may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers than would be the case if the Fund were always managed as a diversified management investment company. The Fund intends to be diversified in approximately the same proportion as the Fallen Angel Index. Shareholder approval will not be sought when the Fund crosses from diversified to non-diversified status due solely to a change in the relative market capitalization or index weighting of one or more constituents of the Fallen Angel Index.

The Fund may concentrate its investments in a particular industry or group of industries to the extent that the Fallen Angel Index concentrates in an industry or group of industries. As of April 30, 2023, each of the energy, consumer discretionary, information technology and financials sectors represented a significant portion of the Fund.

PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND


26

interest rate changes, usually making them more volatile than debt securities, such as bonds, with shorter durations. A substantial investment by the Fund in debt securities with longer-term maturities during periods of rising interest rates may cause the value of the Fund’s investments to decline significantly. Changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on markets, may result in heightened market volatility and may detract from Fund performance to the extent the Fund is exposed to such interest rates and/or volatility. It is difficult to predict the magnitude, timing or direction of interest rate changes and the impact these changes will have on the markets in which the Fund invests.


27

times, the performance of securities of companies in the energy sector may lag the performance of other sectors or the broader market as a whole. The price of oil, natural gas and other fossil fuels may decline and/or experience significant volatility, which could adversely impact companies operating in the energy sector.

Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk. The Fund will be sensitive to, and its performance will depend to a greater extent on, the overall condition of the consumer discretionary sector. The consumer discretionary sector comprises companies whose businesses are sensitive to economic cycles, such as manufacturers of high-end apparel and automobile and leisure companies. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector are subject to fluctuations in supply and demand. These companies may also be adversely affected by changes in consumer spending as a result of world events, political and economic conditions, commodity price volatility, changes in exchange rates, imposition of import controls, increased competition, depletion of resources and labor relations.

Information Technology Sector Risk. Information technology companies face intense competition, both domestically and internationally, which may have an adverse effect on profit margins. Information technology companies may have limited product lines, markets, financial resources or personnel. The products of information technology companies may face product obsolescence due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction, unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel. Companies in the information technology sector are heavily dependent on patent protection and the expiration of patents may adversely affect the profitability of these companies.


28

be adversely impacted and may result in additional trading costs and/or increase the index tracking risk. The Fund may also need to rely on borrowings to meet redemptions, which may lead to increased expenses. For tax efficiency purposes, the Fund may sell certain securities, and such sale may cause the Fund to realize a loss and deviate from the performance of the Index. In light of the factors discussed above, the Fund’s return may deviate significantly from the return of the Index. Changes to the composition of the Index in connection with a rebalancing or reconstitution of the Index may cause the Fund to experience increased volatility, during which time the Fund’s index tracking risk may be heightened.

Non-Diversification Risk. The Fund may become classified as “non-diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940 solely as a result of a change in relative market capitalization or index weighting of one or more constituents of the its Index. If the Fund becomes non-diversified, it may invest a greater portion of its assets in securities of a smaller number of individual issuers than a diversified fund. As a result, changes in the market value of a single investment could cause greater fluctuations in share price than would occur in a more diversified fund.


29

PERFORMANCE

The bar chart that follows shows how the Fund performed for the calendar years shown. The table below the bar chart shows the Fund’s average annual returns (before and after taxes). The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by comparing the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the one year, five year, ten year and/or since inception periods, as applicable, compared with the Fund’s former benchmark index and a broad measure of market performance. Prior to February 28, 2020, the Fund sought to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the ICE BofA US Fallen Angel High Yield Index (the "Prior Index"). Therefore, performance information prior to February 28, 2020 reflects the performance of the Fund while seeking to track the Prior Index. As a result, the Fund’s future performance may differ substantially from the performance information shown below. All returns assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily indicative of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at www.vaneck.com.

Annual Total Returns (%)—Calendar Years

The year-to-date total return as of June 30, 2023 was 4.68%.


Best Quarter:	14.02%	2Q 2020
Worst Quarter:	-13.14%	1Q 2020

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2022


30



	Past One Year	Past Five Years	Past Ten Years
VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF (return before taxes)	-14.24%	3.05%	5.72%
VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF (return after taxes on distributions)	-15.81%	0.96%	3.34%
VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund Shares)	-8.41%	1.46%	3.36%
ICE US Fallen Angel High Yield 10% Constrained Index* (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-14.00%	3.38%	6.40%
ICE BofA US Broad Market Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-13.16%	0.03%	1.07%

* Prior to February 28, 2020, the Fund sought to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the Prior Index. Therefore, the performance information included in this table reflects the performance of the Fund while seeking to track the Prior Index. Additionally, the index data included in this table reflects that of the Prior Index. From February 28, 2020, the index data will reflect that of the Fallen Angel Index.

See “License Agreements and Disclaimers” for important information.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

Investment Adviser. Van Eck Associates Corporation.

Portfolio Manager. The following individual is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio:

Name

Title with Adviser

Date Began Managing the Fund

Francis G. Rodilosso

Portfolio Manager

April 2012

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES


31


VANECK® GREEN BOND ETF

SUMMARY INFORMATION

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

VanEck® Green Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the S&P Green Bond U.S. Dollar Select Index (the “Green Bond Index” or the “Index”).

FUND FEES AND EXPENSES


Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)			None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

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



Management Fee	0.20	%

Other Expenses(a)	0.00	%



Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses(a)	0.20	%

(a)Van Eck Associates Corporation (the “Adviser”) will pay all expenses of the Fund, except for the fee payment under the investment management agreement, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, offering costs, trading expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser has agreed to pay the offering costs until at least September 1, 2024.

EXPENSE EXAMPLE



			YEAR			EXPENSES
			1			$20
			3			$64
			5			$113
			10			$255

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Fund’s benchmark index. The Green Bond Index is comprised of bonds issued for qualified “green” purposes and seeks to measure the performance of U.S. dollar denominated “green”-labeled bonds issued globally. The Green Bond Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, which is not affiliated with or sponsored by the Fund or the Adviser. “Green” bonds are bonds whose proceeds are used principally for climate change mitigation, climate adaptation or other environmentally beneficial projects, such as, but not limited to, the development of clean, sustainable or renewable energy sources, commercial and industrial energy efficiency, or conservation of natural resources. For a bond to be eligible for inclusion in the Green Bond Index, the issuer of the bond must indicate the bond’s “green” label and the rationale behind it, such as the intended use of proceeds. As an additional filter, the bond must be flagged as “green” by Climate Bonds Initiative (“CBI”), an international not-for-profit working to mobilize the bond market for climate


32

change solutions, to be eligible for inclusion in the Green Bond Index. The Green Bond Index is market value-weighted and includes supranational, corporate, government-related, sovereign and securitized “green” bonds issued throughout the world (including emerging market countries), and may include both investment grade and below investment grade securities (commonly referred to as high yield securities or “junk bonds”). “Securitized green bonds” are securities typically collateralized by a specified pool of assets, such as mortgages, automobile loans or other consumer receivables. All bonds must be rated by at least one credit rating agency, except that up to 10% of the Green Bond Index can be invested in unrated bonds that are issued or guaranteed by a government-sponsored enterprise. The maximum weight of below investment grade bonds (excluding any unrated bonds that are issued or guaranteed by a government-sponsored enterprise) in the Green Bond Index is capped at 20%. No more than 10% of the Green Bond Index can be invested in a single issuer. Qualifying securities must have a maturity of at least 12 months at the time of issuance and at least one month remaining until maturity at each rebalancing date.

As of June 30, 2023, the Green Bond Index consisted of 456 bonds issued by 266 issuers and the weighted average maturity of the Green Bond Index was approximately 7.89 years. As of the same date, approximately 19.35% of the Green Bond Index was comprised of Regulation S securities and 28.65% of the Green Bond Index was comprised of Rule 144A securities. The S&P Green Bond Index is rebalanced monthly. The Fund’s 80% investment policy is non-fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, attempts to approximate the investment performance of the Green Bond Index. Unlike many investment companies that try to “beat” the performance of a benchmark index, the Fund does not try to “beat” the Green Bond Index and does not take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its investment objective of seeking to replicate the Green Bond Index. Because of the practical difficulties and expense of purchasing all of the securities in the Green Bond Index, the Fund does not purchase all of the securities in the Green Bond Index. Instead, the Adviser utilizes a “sampling” methodology in seeking to achieve the Fund’s objective. As such, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Green Bond Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of bonds with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Green Bond Index.

The Fund may concentrate its investments in a particular industry or group of industries to the extent that the Green Bond Index concentrates in an industry or group of industries. As of April 30, 2023, each of the financials and utilities sectors represented a significant portion of the Fund.

PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND

“Green” Bonds Risk. Investments in “green” bonds include bonds whose proceeds are used principally for climate mitigation, climate adaptation or other environmentally beneficial projects, such as, but not limited to, the development of clean, sustainable or renewable energy sources, commercial and industrial energy efficiency, or conservation of natural resources. Investing in “green” bonds carries the risk that, under certain market conditions, the Fund may underperform as compared to funds that invest in a broader range of investments. In addition, some “green” investments may be dependent on government tax incentives and subsidies and on political support for certain environmental technologies and companies. Investing primarily in “green” investments may affect the Fund’s exposure to certain sectors or types of investments and will impact the Fund’s relative investment performance depending on whether such sectors or investments are in or out of favor in the market. The “green” sector may also have challenges such as a limited number of issuers and limited liquidity in the market. Additionally, there may also be a limited supply of bonds that merit “green” status, which may adversely affect the Fund.


33

currency revaluations and other currency exchange rate fluctuations or blockage, (iii) the nature and extent of intervention by the Chinese government in the Chinese securities markets, whether such intervention will continue and the impact of such intervention or its discontinuation, (iv) the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets, (v) the risk that the Chinese government may decide not to continue to support economic reform programs, (vi) limitations on the use of brokers, (vii) higher rates of inflation, (viii) greater political, economic and social uncertainty, (ix) market volatility caused by any potential regional or territorial conflicts or natural or other disasters, and (x) the risk of increased trade tariffs, embargoes, sanctions, investment restrictions and other trade limitations. Certain securities are, or may in the future become restricted, and the Fund may be forced to sell such securities and incur a loss as a result. In addition, the economy of China differs, often unfavorably, from the U.S. economy in such respects as structure, general development, government involvement, wealth distribution, rate of inflation, growth rate, interest rates, allocation of resources and capital reinvestment, among others. The Chinese central government has historically exercised substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through administrative regulation and/or state ownership and actions of the Chinese central and local government authorities continue to have a substantial effect on economic conditions in China. In addition, the Chinese government has from time to time taken actions that influence the prices at which certain goods may be sold, encourage companies to invest or concentrate in particular industries, induce mergers between companies in certain industries and induce private companies to publicly offer their securities to increase or continue the rate of economic growth, control the rate of inflation or otherwise regulate economic expansion. The Chinese government may do so in the future as well, potentially having a significant adverse effect on economic conditions in China.


34

Additionally, each of the factors described below could have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance and increase the volatility of the Fund.

Many emerging market countries may be heavily dependent upon international trade and, consequently, may continue to be negatively affected by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which it trades. They also have been, and may continue to be, adversely affected by economic conditions in the countries with which they trade.


35

resources in such countries is subject to a high level of government control. Such countries’ governments may strictly regulate the payment of foreign currency denominated obligations and set monetary policy. Through their policies, these governments may provide preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. The policies set by the government of one of these countries could have a substantial effect on that country’s economy.

Risk of Available Disclosure About Emerging Market Issuers. Issuers located or operating in emerging market countries are not subject to the same rules and regulations as issuers located or operating in more developed countries. Therefore, there may be less financial and other information publicly available with regard to issuers located or operating in emerging market countries and such issuers are not subject to the uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards applicable to issuers located or operating in more developed countries.


36

than on more developed securities markets and securities may be generally less liquid. The infrastructure for clearing, settlement and registration on the primary and secondary markets of certain emerging market countries are less developed than in certain other markets and under certain circumstances this may result in the Fund experiencing delays in settling and/or registering transactions in the markets in which it invests, particularly if the growth of foreign and domestic investment in certain emerging market countries places an undue burden on such investment infrastructure. Such delays could affect the speed with which the Fund can transmit redemption proceeds and may inhibit the initiation and realization of investment opportunities at optimum times.


37

principal than higher rated securities and are considered speculative. The prices of high yield securities are likely to be more sensitive to adverse economic changes or individual issuer developments than higher rated securities, resulting in increased volatility of their market prices and a corresponding volatility in the Fund’s net asset value. During an economic downturn or substantial period of rising interest rates, high yield security issuers may experience financial stress that would adversely affect their ability to service their principal and interest payment obligations, to meet their projected business goals or to obtain additional financing. In the event of a default, the Fund may incur additional expenses to seek recovery. The secondary market for high yield securities may be less liquid than the markets for higher quality securities, and high yield securities issued by non-corporate issuers may be less liquid than high yield securities issued by corporate issuers. Illiquidity may have an adverse effect on the market prices of and the Fund’s ability to arrive at a fair value for certain securities when it seeks to do so. In addition, periods of economic uncertainty and change may result in an increased volatility of market prices of high yield securities and a corresponding volatility in the Fund's net asset value.

Supranational Bond Risk. To the extent that the Fund invests in supranational bonds, the Fund will be sensitive to changes in, and its performance may depend to a greater extent on, the overall condition of the supranational entities that issue such bonds. Certain securities in which the Fund may invest are obligations issued or backed by supranational entities, such as the European Investment Bank. Obligations of supranational organizations are subject to the risk that the governments on whose support the entity depends for its financial backing or repayment may be unable or unwilling to provide that support. If an issuer of supranational bonds defaults on payments of principal and/or interest, the Fund may have limited recourse against the issuer. A supranational entity’s willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by its cash flow situation, the extent of its reserves, the relative size of the debt service burden to the entity as a whole and the political constraints to which a supranational entity may be subject. During periods of economic uncertainty, the market prices of supranational bonds, and the Fund’s net asset value, may be more volatile than prices of corporate bonds, which may result in losses. Obligations of a supranational organization that are denominated in foreign currencies will also be subject to the risks associated with investment in foreign currencies.

Government-Related Bond Risk. The governmental authority or government-related entity that controls the repayment of the bond may be unable or unwilling to honor its payment obligations. If an issuer of government-related bonds defaults on payments of principal and/or interest, the Fund may have limited recourse against the issuer. A government-related debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow, the extent of its foreign currency reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange when a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the government-related debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which the debtor may be subject. During periods of economic uncertainty, the market prices of government-related bonds, and the Fund’s net asset value, may be more volatile than prices of corporate bonds, which may result in losses.

Securitized/Asset-Backed Securities Risk. Investments in asset-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations, are subject to the risk of significant credit downgrades, dramatic changes in liquidity, and defaults to a greater extent than many other types of fixed-income investments. During periods of falling interest rates, asset-backed securities may be called or prepaid, which may result in the Fund having to reinvest proceeds in other investments at a lower interest rate. During periods of rising interest rates, the average life of asset-backed securities may extend, which may lock in a below-market interest rate, increase the security’s duration and interest rate sensitivity, and reduce the value of the security. The Fund may invest in asset-backed securities issued or backed by federal agencies or government sponsored enterprises or that are part of a government-sponsored program, which may subject the Fund to the risks noted above. The values of assets or collateral underlying asset-backed securities may decline and, therefore, may not be adequate to cover underlying obligations. Enforcing rights against the underlying assets or collateral may be difficult, and the underlying assets or collateral may be insufficient if the issuer defaults.


38

operations. Increased government involvement in the financials sector, including measures such as taking ownership positions in financial institutions, could result in a dilution of the Fund’s investments in financial institutions.

Utilities Sector Risk. The Fund will be sensitive to, and its performance will depend to a greater extent on, the overall condition of the utilities sector. Companies in the utilities sector may be adversely affected by changes in exchange rates, domestic and international competition, difficulty in raising adequate amounts of capital and governmental limitation on rates charged to customers.


39

changes to the Index and high turnover of the Index. When markets are volatile, the ability to sell securities at fair value prices may be adversely impacted and may result in additional trading costs and/or increase the index tracking risk. The Fund may also need to rely on borrowings to meet redemptions, which may lead to increased expenses. For tax efficiency purposes, the Fund may sell certain securities, and such sale may cause the Fund to realize a loss and deviate from the performance of the Index. In light of the factors discussed above, the Fund’s return may deviate significantly from the return of the Index. Changes to the composition of the Index in connection with a rebalancing or reconstitution of the Index may cause the Fund to experience increased volatility, during which time the Fund’s index tracking risk may be heightened.


40

PERFORMANCE

The bar chart that follows shows how the Fund performed for the calendar year shown. The table below the bar chart shows the Fund’s average annual returns (before and after taxes). The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by comparing the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the one year, five year, ten year and/or since inception periods, as applicable, compared with the Fund’s benchmark index and a broad measure of market performance. Prior to September 1, 2019, the Fund sought to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the S&P Green Bond Select Index (the “Prior Index”). Therefore, performance information prior to September 1, 2019 reflects the performance of the Fund while seeking to track the Prior Index. All returns assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily indicative of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at www.vaneck.com.

Annual Total Returns (%)—Calendar Years

The year-to-date total return as of June 30, 2023 was 2.53%.


Best Quarter:	5.28%	2Q 2020
Worst Quarter:	-6.01%	1Q 2022

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2022



	Past One Year	Past Five Years	Since Inception (3/2/2017)
VanEck Green Bond ETF (return before taxes)	-11.85%	-1.19%	0.58%
VanEck Green Bond ETF (return after taxes on distributions)	-12.75%	-1.93%	-0.15%
VanEck Green Bond ETF (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund Shares)	-7.00%	-1.18%	0.16%
S&P Green Bond U.S. Dollar Select Index* (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-12.14%	-0.86%	1.00%
ICE BofA US Broad Market Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-13.16%	0.03%	0.59%


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* Prior to September 1, 2019, the Fund sought to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the Prior Index. Therefore, performance information prior to September 1, 2019 reflects the performance of the Fund while seeking to track the Prior Index. Prior to September 1, 2019, index data reflects that of the Prior Index. From September 1, 2019, the index data reflects that of the Green Bond Index.

See “License Agreements and Disclaimers” for important information.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

Investment Adviser. Van Eck Associates Corporation.

Portfolio Manager. The following individual is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio:

Name

Title with Adviser

Date Began Managing the Fund

Francis G. Rodilosso

Portfolio Manager

March 2017

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund Shares, tax information, and payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries, please turn to the “Summary Information about Purchases and Sales of Fund Shares, Taxes and Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries” section of this Prospectus.


42


VANECK® IG FLOATING RATE ETF

SUMMARY INFORMATION

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

VanEck® IG Floating Rate ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the MVIS® US Investment Grade Floating Rate Index (the “Floating Rate Index” or the “Index”).

FUND FEES AND EXPENSES


Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)			None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

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



Management Fee	0.14	%

Other Expenses(a)	0.00	%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses(a)	0.14	%

(a)Van Eck Associates Corporation (the “Adviser”) will pay all expenses of the Fund, except for the fee payment under the investment management agreement, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, offering costs, trading expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser has agreed to pay the offering costs until at least September 1, 2024.

EXPENSE EXAMPLE



			YEAR			EXPENSES
			1			$14
			3			$45
			5			$79
			10			$179

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Fund’s benchmark index. The Floating Rate Index is comprised of U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate notes issued by corporate entities or similar commercial entities that are public reporting companies in the United States and rated investment grade. The Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in Rule 144A securities. As of June 30, 2023, the Floating Rate Index included 124 notes of 65 issuers and approximately 27% of the Floating Rate Index was comprised of Rule 144A securities. The Fund’s 80% investment policy is non-fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, attempts to approximate the investment performance of the Floating Rate Index. Unlike many investment companies that try to “beat” the performance of a benchmark index, the Fund does not try to “beat” the Floating Rate Index and does not take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its investment objective of seeking to replicate the Floating Rate Index. Because of the practical difficulties and expense of purchasing all of the securities


43

in the Floating Rate Index, the Fund does not purchase all of the securities in the Floating Rate Index. Instead, the Adviser utilizes a “sampling” methodology in seeking to achieve the Fund’s objective. As such, the Fund may purchase a subset of the bonds in the Floating Rate Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of bonds with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Floating Rate Index.

The Fund is classified as a non-diversified fund and, therefore, may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. The Fund may concentrate its investments in a particular industry or group of industries to the extent that the Floating Rate Index concentrates in an industry or group of industries. As of April 30, 2023, the financials sector represented a significant portion of the Fund.

PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND


44

securities than for more liquid securities. The Fund may have to bear the expense of registering restricted securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration.


45


46

PERFORMANCE

Annual Total Returns (%)—Calendar Years

The year-to-date total return as of June 30, 2023 was 3.88%.


Best Quarter:	5.58%	2Q 2020
Worst Quarter:	-5.13%	1Q 2020

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2022


47



	Past One Year	Past Five Years	Past Ten Years
VanEck IG Floating Rate ETF (return before taxes)	0.68%	1.77%	1.58%
VanEck IG Floating Rate ETF (return after taxes on distributions)	-0.25%	0.93%	0.94%
VanEck IG Floating Rate ETF (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund Shares)	0.40%	1.00%	0.93%
MVIS US Investment Grade Floating Rate Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	0.48%	1.87%	1.83%
ICE BofA US Broad Market Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-13.16%	0.03%	1.07%

See “License Agreements and Disclaimers” for important information.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

Investment Adviser. Van Eck Associates Corporation.

Portfolio Manager. The following individual is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio:

Name

Title with Adviser

Date Began Managing the Fund

Francis G. Rodilosso

Portfolio Manager

September 2012

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund Shares, tax information, and payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries, please turn to the “Summary Information about Purchases and Sales of Fund Shares, Taxes and Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries” section of this Prospectus.


48


VANECK® INTERNATIONAL HIGH YIELD BOND ETF

SUMMARY INFORMATION

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

VanEck® International High Yield Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of ICE BofA Global ex-US Issuers High Yield Constrained Index (the “International High Yield Index” or the “Index”).

FUND FEES AND EXPENSES


Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)			None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

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



Management Fee	0.40	%

Other Expenses(a)	0.00	%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses(a)	0.40	%

(a)Van Eck Associates Corporation (the “Adviser”) will pay all expenses of the Fund, except for the fee payment under the investment management agreement, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, offering costs, trading expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser has agreed to pay the offering costs until at least September 1, 2024.

EXPENSE EXAMPLE



			YEAR			EXPENSES
			1			$41
			3			$128
			5			$224
			10			$505

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Fund’s benchmark index. The International High Yield Index is comprised of below investment grade bonds issued by corporations located throughout the world (which may include emerging market countries) excluding the United States, denominated in euros, U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars or pound sterling and issued in the major domestic or eurobond markets. Qualifying securities must have a below investment grade rating. As of June 30, 2023, the International High Yield Index included 1,597 below investment grade securities of 773 issuers and approximately 37% of the International High Yield Index was comprised of Rule 144A securities. The Fund’s 80% investment policy is non-fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.


49

The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, attempts to approximate the investment performance of the International High Yield Index. Unlike many investment companies that try to “beat” the performance of a benchmark index, the Fund does not try to “beat” the International High Yield Index and does not take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its investment objective of seeking to replicate the International High Yield Index. Because of the practical difficulties and expense of purchasing all of the securities in the International High Yield Index, the Fund does not purchase all of the securities in the International High Yield Index. Instead, the Adviser utilizes a “sampling” methodology in seeking to achieve the Fund’s objective. As such, the Fund may purchase a subset of the bonds in the International High Yield Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of bonds with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the International High Yield Index.

The Fund may concentrate its investments in a particular industry or group of industries to the extent that the International High Yield Index concentrates in an industry or group of industries. As of April 30, 2023, each of the financials, industrials, information technology and energy sectors represented a significant portion of the Fund.

PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND


50

trading volume, illiquidity, inflation, greater price fluctuations, uncertainty regarding the existence of trading markets, governmental control and heavy regulation of labor and industry. These factors, coupled with restrictions on foreign investment and other factors, limit the supply of securities available for investment by the Fund. This will affect the rate at which the Fund is able to invest in emerging market countries, the purchase and sale prices for such securities and the timing of purchases and sales. Emerging markets can experience high rates of inflation, deflation and currency devaluation. The prices of certain securities listed on securities markets in emerging market countries have been subject to sharp fluctuations and sudden declines, and no assurance can be given as to the future performance of listed securities in general. Volatility of prices may be greater than in more developed securities markets. Moreover, securities markets in emerging market countries may be closed for extended periods of time or trading on securities markets may be suspended altogether due to political or civil unrest. Market volatility may also be heightened by the actions of a small number of investors. Brokerage firms in emerging market countries may be fewer in number and less established than brokerage firms in more developed markets. Since the Fund may need to effect securities transactions through these brokerage firms, the Fund is subject to the risk that these brokerage firms will not be able to fulfill their obligations to the Fund. This risk is magnified to the extent the Fund effects securities transactions through a single brokerage firm or a small number of brokerage firms. In addition, the infrastructure for the safe custody of securities and for purchasing and selling securities, settling trades, collecting dividends, initiating corporate actions, and following corporate activity is not as well developed in emerging market countries as is the case in certain more developed markets.


51


52

speed with which the Fund can transmit redemption proceeds and may inhibit the initiation and realization of investment opportunities at optimum times.


53

Agreement, an agreement on the terms governing certain aspects of the European Union’s and the United Kingdom’s relationship following the end of the transition period. Notwithstanding the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, following the transition period, there is likely to be considerable uncertainty as to the United Kingdom’s post-transition framework.


54

Industrials Sector Risk. The industrials sector comprises companies who produce capital goods used in construction and manufacturing, such as companies that make and sell machinery, equipment and supplies that are used to produce other goods. Companies in the industrials sector may be adversely affected by changes in government regulation, world events and economic conditions. In addition, companies in the industrials sector may be adversely affected by environmental damages, product liability claims and exchange rates.


55


56


57

PERFORMANCE

Annual Total Returns (%)—Calendar Years

The year-to-date total return as of June 30, 2023 was 4.31%.


Best Quarter:	13.19%	2Q 2020
Worst Quarter:	-14.44%	1Q 2020

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2022



	Past One Year	Past Five Years	Past Ten Years
VanEck International High Yield Bond ETF (return before taxes)	-14.52%	-0.60%	1.92%
VanEck International High Yield Bond ETF (return after taxes on distributions)	-16.20%	-2.41%	0.00%
VanEck International High Yield Bond ETF (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund Shares)	-8.59%	-1.14%	0.66%
ICE BofA Global ex-US Issuers High Yield Constrained Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-15.34%	-0.52%	2.37%
ICE BofA US Broad Market Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-13.16%	0.03%	1.07%

See “License Agreements and Disclaimers” for important information.


58

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

Investment Adviser. Van Eck Associates Corporation.

Portfolio Manager. The following individual is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio:

Name

Title with Adviser

Date Began Managing the Fund

Francis G. Rodilosso

Portfolio Manager

April 2012

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund Shares, tax information, and payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries, please turn to the “Summary Information about Purchases and Sales of Fund Shares, Taxes and Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries” section of this Prospectus.


59


VANECK® J.P. MORGAN EM LOCAL CURRENCY BOND ETF

SUMMARY INFORMATION

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

VanEck® J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the J.P. Morgan GBI-EM Global Core Index (the “Emerging Markets Global Core Index” or the “Index”).

FUND FEES AND EXPENSES


Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)			None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

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



Management Fee	0.27	%

Other Expenses	0.04	%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses(a)	0.31	%
Fee Waivers and Expense Reimbursement(a)	-0.01	%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and Expense Reimbursement(a)	0.30	%

(a)Van Eck Associates Corporation (the “Adviser”) has agreed to waive fees and/or pay Fund expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, trading expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.30% of the Fund’s average daily net assets per year until at least September 1, 2024. During such time, the expense limitation is expected to continue until the Fund’s Board of Trustees acts to discontinue all or a portion of such expense limitation.

EXPENSE EXAMPLE

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then sell or hold all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% annual return and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same (except that the example incorporates the fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement arrangement for only the first year). Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:



			YEAR			EXPENSES
			1			$31
			3			$99
			5			$173
			10			$392

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Fund’s benchmark index. The Emerging Markets Global Core Index is comprised of bonds issued by emerging market governments and denominated in the local currency of the issuer. As of June 30, 2023, the Emerging Markets Global Core Index included 344 bonds of 20 sovereign issuers. This


60

80% investment policy is non-fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, attempts to approximate the investment performance of the Emerging Markets Global Core Index. Unlike many investment companies that try to “beat” the performance of a benchmark index, the Fund does not try to “beat” the Emerging Markets Global Core Index and does not take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its investment objective of seeking to replicate the Emerging Markets Global Core Index. Because of the practical difficulties and expense of purchasing all of the securities in the Emerging Markets Global Core Index, the Fund does not purchase all of the securities in the Emerging Markets Global Core Index. Instead, the Adviser utilizes a “sampling” methodology in seeking to achieve the Fund’s objective. As such, the Fund may purchase a subset of the bonds in the Emerging Markets Global Core Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of bonds with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Emerging Markets Global Core Index.

The Fund is classified as a non-diversified fund and, therefore, may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. The Fund may concentrate its investments in a particular industry or group of industries to the extent that the Emerging Markets Global Core Index concentrates in an industry or group of industries. As of April 30, 2023, the government sector represented a significant portion of the Fund.

PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND


61

emerging market countries may be fewer in number and less established than brokerage firms in more developed markets. Since the Fund may need to effect securities transactions through these brokerage firms, the Fund is subject to the risk that these brokerage firms will not be able to fulfill their obligations to the Fund. This risk is magnified to the extent the Fund effects securities transactions through a single brokerage firm or a small number of brokerage firms. In addition, the infrastructure for the safe custody of securities and for purchasing and selling securities, settling trades, collecting dividends, initiating corporate actions, and following corporate activity is not as well developed in emerging market countries as is the case in certain more developed markets.


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countries may also withdraw or decline to renew a license that enables the 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 net asset value of the Fund.

Foreign Currency Risk Considerations. The Fund’s assets that are invested in securities of issuers in emerging market countries will generally be denominated in foreign currencies, and the proceeds received by the Fund from these investments will be principally in foreign currencies. The value of an emerging market country’s currency may be subject to a high degree of fluctuation. This fluctuation may be due to changes in interest rates, the effects of monetary policies issued by the United States, foreign governments, central banks or supranational entities, the imposition of currency controls or other national or global political or economic developments. The economies of certain emerging market countries can be significantly affected by currency devaluations. Certain emerging market countries may also have managed currencies which are maintained at artificial levels relative to the U.S. dollar rather than at levels determined by the market. This type of system can lead to sudden and large adjustments in the currency which, in turn, can have a disruptive and negative effect on foreign investors.

The Fund’s exposure to an emerging market country’s currency and changes in value of such foreign currencies versus the U.S. dollar may reduce the Fund’s investment performance and the value of your investment in the Fund. Meanwhile, the Fund will compute and expects to distribute its income in U.S. dollars, and the computation of income will be made on the date that the income is earned by the Fund at the foreign exchange rate in effect on that date. Therefore, if the value of the respective emerging market country’s currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar between the earning of the income and the time at which the Fund converts the relevant emerging market country’s currency to U.S. dollars, the Fund may be required to liquidate certain positions in order to make distributions if the Fund has insufficient cash in U.S. dollars to meet distribution requirements under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The liquidation of investments, if required, could be at disadvantageous prices or otherwise have an adverse impact on the Fund’s performance.

Certain emerging market countries also restrict the free conversion of their currency into foreign currencies, including the U.S. dollar. There is no significant foreign exchange market for many such currencies and it would, as a result, be difficult for the Fund to engage in foreign currency transactions designed to protect the value of the Fund’s interests in securities denominated in such currencies. Furthermore, if permitted, the Fund may incur costs in connection with conversions between U.S. dollars and an emerging market country’s currency. Foreign exchange dealers realize a profit based on the difference between the prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer normally will offer to sell a foreign currency to the Fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should the Fund desire immediately to resell that currency to the dealer. The Fund will conduct its 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 entering into forward, futures or options contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies.


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securities or cash from the other party. Settlement systems in emerging market countries also have a higher risk of failed trades and back to back settlements may not be possible.


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experienced, and may continue to experience, volatility and have been adversely affected, and may in the future be affected, by concerns about economic downturns, credit rating downgrades, rising government debt levels and possible default on or restructuring of government debt in several European countries. These events have adversely affected, and may in the future affect, the value and exchange rate of the euro and may continue to significantly affect the economies of every country in Europe, including European Union member countries that do not use the euro and non-European Union member countries. The United Kingdom withdrew from the European Union on January 31, 2020, which has resulted in ongoing market volatility and caused additional market disruption on a global basis. On December 30, 2020, the United Kingdom and the European Union signed the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which is an agreement on the terms governing certain aspects of the European Union's and the United Kingdom's relationship post Brexit. Notwithstanding the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, following the transition period, there is likely to be considerable uncertainty as to the United Kingdom’s post-transition framework.


65

incur a loss as a result. In addition, the economy of China differs, often unfavorably, from the U.S. economy in such respects as structure, general development, government involvement, wealth distribution, rate of inflation, growth rate, interest rates, allocation of resources and capital reinvestment, among others. The Chinese central government has historically exercised substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through administrative regulation and/or state ownership and actions of the Chinese central and local government authorities continue to have a substantial effect on economic conditions in China. In addition, the Chinese government has from time to time taken actions that influence the prices at which certain goods may be sold, encourage companies to invest or concentrate in particular industries, induce mergers between companies in certain industries and induce private companies to publicly offer their securities to increase or continue the rate of economic growth, control the rate of inflation or otherwise regulate economic expansion. The Chinese government may do so in the future as well, potentially having a significant adverse effect on economic conditions in China.

Sovereign Bond Risk. Investment in sovereign bonds involves special risks not present in corporate bonds. The governmental authority that controls the repayment of the bond may be unable or unwilling to make interest payments and/or repay the principal on its debt or to otherwise honor its obligations. If an issuer of sovereign bonds defaults on payments of principal and/or interest, the Fund may have limited recourse against the issuer. During periods of economic uncertainty, the market prices of sovereign bonds, and the Fund’s net asset value, may be more volatile than prices of corporate bonds, which may result in losses. In the past, certain governments of emerging market countries have declared themselves unable to meet their financial obligations on a timely basis, which has resulted in losses for holders of sovereign bonds.

Cash Transactions Risk. Unlike other ETFs, the Fund expects to effect its creations and redemptions at least partially for cash, rather than wholly for in-kind securities. Therefore, it may be required to sell portfolio securities and subsequently incur brokerage costs and/or recognize gains or losses on such sales that the Fund might not have recognized if it were to distribute portfolio securities in kind. As such, investments in Shares may be less tax-efficient than an investment in a conventional ETF. Transaction costs, including brokerage costs, will decrease the Fund’s net asset value to the extent not offset by the transaction fee payable by an Authorized Participant.


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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. Overall securities values could decline generally or underperform other investments. An investment may lose money.


67

PERFORMANCE


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the one year, five year, ten year and/or since inception periods, as applicable, compared with the Fund’s benchmark index and a broad measure of market performance. All returns assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily indicative of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at www.vaneck.com.

Annual Total Returns (%)—Calendar Years

The year-to-date total return as of June 30, 2023 was 7.45%.


Best Quarter:	10.73	%	1Q 2016
Worst Quarter:	-14.44	%	1Q 2020

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2022



	Past One Year	Past Five Years	Past Ten Years
VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF (return before taxes)	-10.15%	-3.17%	-2.52%
VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF (return after taxes on distributions)	-10.11%	-3.86%	-3.42%
VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund Shares)	-5.97%	-2.58%	-2.16%
J.P. Morgan GBI-EM Global Core Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-10.18%	-2.86%	-2.05%
ICE BofA US Broad Market Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-13.16%	0.03%	1.07%

See “License Agreements and Disclaimers” for important information.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

Investment Adviser. Van Eck Associates Corporation

Portfolio Manager. The following individual is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio:


69

Name

Title with Adviser

Date Began Managing the Fund

Francis G. Rodilosso

Portfolio Manager

September 2012

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund Shares, tax information, and payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries, please turn to the “Summary Information about Purchases and Sales of Fund Shares, Taxes and Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries” section of this Prospectus.


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VANECK® MOODY'S ANALYTICS® BBB CORPORATE BOND ETF

SUMMARY INFORMATION

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

VanEck® Moody’s Analytics® BBB Corporate Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to track, as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the MVIS® Moody’s Analytics® US BBB Corporate Bond Index (the “BBB Index” or the “Index”).

FUND FEES AND EXPENSES


Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)			None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

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



			Management Fee			0.25%
			Other Expenses(a)			0.00%

			Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses(a)			0.25%

(a)Van Eck Associates Corporation (the "Adviser") will pay all expenses of the Fund, except for the fee payment under the investment management agreement, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, offering costs, trading expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser has agreed to pay the offering costs until at least September 1, 2024.

EXPENSE EXAMPLE



			YEAR			EXPENSES
			1			$26
			3			$80
			5			$141
			10			$318

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Fund’s benchmark index. The BBB Index is comprised of U.S. dollar-denominated corporate bonds issued in the U.S. domestic market that have a BBB rating based on the bond’s composite rating, which is an average of ratings from various rating agencies. Bonds no longer rated BBB, including non-investment grade bonds, are removed from the BBB Index at the end of the month in which they are upgraded or downgraded in connection with the BBB Index’s next scheduled rebalance. The BBB Index is comprised of bonds issued by both U.S. and non-U.S. issuers that the BBB Index provider determines to have an attractive valuation based on proprietary credit risk metrics developed by Moody’s Analytics, Inc. (“Moody’s Analytics”). Further, bonds that the BBB Index provider determines to


71

have the highest probability of being downgraded to non-investment grade, based on proprietary credit risk metrics developed by Moody’s Analytics, are excluded from the BBB Index.

As of June 30, 2023, the BBB Index included 375 notes of 109 issuers and approximately 22% of the BBB Index was comprised of Rule 144A securities. These amounts are subject to change. The Fund’s 80% investment policy is non-fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, attempts to approximate the investment performance of the BBB Index. Unlike many investment companies that try to “beat” the performance of a benchmark index, the Fund does not try to “beat” the BBB Index and does not take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its investment objective of seeking to track the BBB Index. Because of the practical difficulties and expense of purchasing all of the securities in the BBB Index, the Fund does not purchase all of the securities in the BBB Index. Instead, the Adviser utilizes a “sampling” methodology in seeking to achieve the Fund’s objective. As such, the Fund may purchase a subset of the bonds in the BBB Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of bonds with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the BBB Index.

The Fund is classified as a non-diversified fund and, therefore, may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. The Fund may concentrate its investments in a particular industry or group of industries to the extent that the BBB Index concentrates in an industry or group of industries. As of April 30, 2023, each of the financials, information technology, consumer staples, consumer discretionary and utilities sectors represented a significant portion of the Fund.

PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND

BBB-Rated Bond Risk. BBB-rated bonds are typically subject to greater risk of downgrade than other investment grade bonds. The risk of downgrade to below-investment grade will be heightened during an economic downturn or substantial period of rising interest rates. Downgrading a bond from investment grade to high yield (or “junk bond”) could negatively affect its value.


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may decline, which may adversely affect the value of the security. Lower credit quality may also affect liquidity and make it difficult for the Fund to sell the security.

Consumer Staples Sector Risk. The Fund will be sensitive to, and its performance will depend to a greater extent on, the overall condition of the consumer staples sector. The consumer staples sector comprises companies whose businesses are less sensitive to economic cycles, such as manufacturers and distributors of food and beverages and producers of non-durable household goods and personal products. Companies in the consumer staples sector may be adversely affected by changes in the worldwide economy, consumer spending, competition, demographics and consumer preferences, exploration and production spending. Companies in this sector are also affected by changes in government regulation, world events and economic conditions.


73

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. Overall securities values could decline generally or underperform other investments. An investment may lose money.


74

business, or do not process creation and/or redemption orders, there may be a significantly diminished trading market for Shares or Shares may trade like closed-end funds at a discount (or premium) to net asset value and possibly face trading halts and/or de-listing. This can be reflected as a spread between the bid-ask prices for the Fund. The Authorized Participant concentration risk may be heightened in cases where Authorized Participants have limited or diminished access to the capital required to post collateral.

Data Risk. Given the complexity of the investments and strategies of the Fund, the Adviser relies heavily on quantitative models and information and data. This data is used to construct sets of transactions and investments, and to provide risk management insights. If the quantitative models and information and data proves to be incorrect or incomplete, any decisions made in reliance thereon expose the Fund to potential risks.


75

PERFORMANCE

Annual Total Returns (%)—Calendar Years

The year-to-date total return as of June 30, 2023 was 3.65%.


Best Quarter:	4.41%	4Q 2022
Worst Quarter:	-8.24%	1Q 2022

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2022



	Past One Year	Since Inception (12/01/2020)
VanEck Moody’s Analytics BBB Corporate Bond ETF (return before taxes)	-15.02%	-6.75%
VanEck Moody’s Analytics BBB Corporate Bond ETF (return after taxes on distributions)	-16.09%	-7.77%
VanEck Moody’s Analytics BBB Corporate Bond ETF (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund Shares)	-8.88%	-5.48%
MVIS Moody’s Analytics US BBB Corporate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-15.71%	-7.00%
ICE BofA US Broad Market Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-13.16%	-7.02%

See “License Agreements and Disclaimers” for important information.


76

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

Investment Adviser. Van Eck Associates Corporation.

Portfolio Manager. The following individual is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio:

Name

Title with Adviser

Date Began Managing the Fund

Francis G. Rodilosso

Portfolio Manager

December 2020

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES


77


VANECK® MOODY'S ANALYTICS® IG CORPORATE BOND ETF

SUMMARY INFORMATION

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

VanEck® Moody’s Analytics® IG Corporate Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to track, as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the MVIS® Moody’s Analytics® US Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index (the “US IG Index” or the “Index”).

FUND FEES AND EXPENSES


Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)			None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

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



			Management Fee			0.20%
			Other Expenses(a)			0.00%

			Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses(a)			0.20%

(a)Van Eck Associates Corporation (the “Adviser”) will pay all expenses of the Fund, except for the fee payment under the investment management agreement, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, offering costs, trading expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser has agreed to pay the offering costs until at least September 1, 2024.

EXPENSE EXAMPLE



			YEAR			EXPENSES
			1			$20
			3			$64
			5			$113
			10			$255

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Fund's benchmark index. The US IG Index is comprised of U.S. dollar-denominated corporate bonds issued in the U.S. domestic market that have an investment grade rating based on the bond’s composite rating, which is an average of ratings from various rating agencies. Bonds that fall below investment grade are removed from the US IG Index at the end of the month in which they are downgraded in connection with the US IG Index's next scheduled rebalance.

The US IG Index is comprised of bonds issued by both U.S. and non-U.S. issuers that the US IG Index provider determines to have an attractive valuation based on proprietary credit risk metrics developed by Moody's Analytics, Inc. (“Moody's Analytics”).


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Further, bonds that the US IG Index provider determines to have the highest probability of being downgraded to non-investment grade, based on proprietary credit risk metrics developed by Moody's Analytics, are excluded from the US IG Index.

As of June 30, 2023 the US IG Index included 492 notes of 123 issuers and approximately 28% of the US IG Index was comprised of Rule 144A securities. These amounts are subject to change.

The Fund’s 80% investment policy is non-fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, attempts to approximate the investment performance of the US IG Index. Unlike many investment companies that try to “beat” the performance of a benchmark index, the Fund does not try to “beat” the US IG Index and does not take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its investment objective of seeking to track the US IG Index. Because of the practical difficulties and expense of purchasing all of the securities in the US IG Index, the Fund does not purchase all of the securities in the US IG Index. Instead, the Adviser utilizes a “sampling” methodology in seeking to achieve the Fund’s objective. As such, the Fund may purchase a subset of the bonds in the US IG Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of bonds with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the US IG Index.

The Fund is classified as a non-diversified fund and, therefore, may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. The Fund may concentrate its investments in a particular industry or group of industries to the extent that the US IG Index concentrates in an industry or group of industries. As of April 30, 2023, each of the financials, information technology and consumer staples sectors represented a significant portion of the Fund.

PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND


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81

PERFORMANCE


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a broad measure of market performance. All returns assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily indicative of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at www.vaneck.com.

Annual Total Returns (%)—Calendar Years

The year-to-date total return as of June 30, 2023 was 3.11%.


Best Quarter:	4.10%	4Q 2022
Worst Quarter:	-7.62%	1Q 2022

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2022



	Past One Year	Since Inception (12/01/2020)
VanEck Moody’s Analytics IG Corporate Bond ETF (return before taxes)	-14.47%	-6.73%
VanEck Moody’s Analytics IG Corporate Bond ETF (return after taxes on distributions)	-15.50%	-7.69%
VanEck Moody’s Analytics IG Corporate Bond ETF (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund Shares)	-8.56%	-5.44%
MVIS Moody’s Analytics US Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-14.98%	-6.93%
ICE BofA US Broad Market Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-13.16%	-7.02%

See “License Agreements and Disclaimers” for important information.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

Investment Adviser. Van Eck Associates Corporation.

Portfolio Manager. The following individual is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio:


83

Name

Title with Adviser

Date Began Managing the Fund

Francis G. Rodilosso

Portfolio Manager

December 2020

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES


84


VANECK® MORTGAGE REIT INCOME ETF

SUMMARY INFORMATION

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

VanEck® Mortgage REIT Income ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the MVIS® US Mortgage REITs Index (the “Mortgage REITs Index” or the “Index”).

FUND FEES AND EXPENSES


Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)			None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

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



Management Fee	0.40	%

Other Expenses(a)	0.03	%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses(a)	0.43	%

(a)Van Eck Associates Corporation (the “Adviser”) will pay all expenses of the Fund, except for the fee payment under the investment management agreement, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, offering costs, trading expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser has agreed to pay the offering costs until at least September 1, 2024.

EXPENSE EXAMPLE



			YEAR			EXPENSES
			1			$44
			3			$138
			5			$241
			10			$542

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Fund’s benchmark index. The Mortgage REIT Index is comprised of publicly traded U.S. real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) that derive at least 50% of their revenues from (or, where applicable, have at least 50% of their assets related to) mortgage-related activity.

A mortgage REIT makes loans to developers and owners of properties and invests primarily in mortgages and similar real estate interests, and includes companies or trusts that are primarily engaged in the purchasing or servicing of commercial or residential mortgage loans or mortgage-related securities. The Mortgage REITs Index may include small-, medium- and large-capitalization companies. As of June 30, 2023, the Mortgage REITs Index included 25 securities of companies with a market capitalization range of between approximately $405 million and $9.8 billion and a weighted average market capitalization of $3.5 billion.The


85

Fund’s 80% investment policy is non-fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, attempts to approximate the investment performance of the Mortgage REITs Index by investing in a portfolio of securities that generally replicates the Mortgage REITs Index. Unlike many investment companies that try to “beat” the performance of a benchmark index, the Fund does not try to “beat” the Mortgage REITs Index and does not take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its investment objective of seeking to replicate the Mortgage REITs Index.

The Fund is classified as a non-diversified fund and, therefore, may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. The Fund may concentrate its investments in a particular industry or group of industries to the extent that the Mortgage REITs Index concentrates in an industry or group of industries. As of April 30, 2023, the financials sector represented a significant portion of the Fund.

PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND

Mortgage REITs Risk. Mortgage REITs are exposed to the risks specific to the real estate market as well as the risks that relate specifically to the way in which mortgage REITs are organized and operated. Mortgage REITs receive principal and interest payments from the owners of the mortgaged properties. Accordingly, mortgage REITs are subject to the credit risk of the borrowers. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the borrower will be unable and/or unwilling to make timely interest payments and/or repay the principal on the loan to a mortgage REIT when due. To the extent that a mortgage REIT invests in mortgage-backed securities offered by private issuers, such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers, the mortgage REIT may be subject to additional risks. Timely payment of interest and principal of non-governmental issuers may be supported by various forms of private insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance purchased by the issuer. However, there can be no assurance that the private insurers can or will meet their obligations under such policies. Unexpected high rates of default on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may adversely affect the value of a mortgage-backed security and could result in losses to a mortgage REIT. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include subprime mortgages. To the extent that a mortgage REIT’s portfolio is exposed to lower-rated, unsecured or subordinated instruments, the risk of loss may increase, which may have a negative impact on the Fund. Mortgage REITs also are subject to the risk that the value of mortgaged properties may be less than the amounts owed on the properties. If a mortgage REIT is required to foreclose on a borrower, the amount recovered in connection with the foreclosure may be less than the amount owed to the mortgage REIT.

Mortgage REITs are subject to significant interest rate risk. Interest rate risk refers to fluctuations in the value of a mortgage REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations resulting from changes in the general level of interest rates. When the general level of interest rates goes up, the value of a mortgage REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations goes down.

Mortgage REITs typically use leverage and many are highly leveraged, which exposes them to leverage risk and the risks generally associated with debt financing. Leverage risk refers to the risk that leverage created from borrowing may impair a mortgage REIT’s liquidity, cause it to liquidate positions at an unfavorable time and increase the volatility of the values of securities issued by the mortgage REIT. The use of leverage may not be advantageous to a mortgage REIT. The success of using leverage is dependent on whether the return earned on the investments made using the proceeds of leverage exceed the cost of using leverage. To the extent that a mortgage REIT incurs significant leverage, it may incur substantial losses if its borrowing costs increase. Borrowing costs may increase for any of the following reasons: short-term interest rates increase; the market value of a mortgage REIT’s assets decrease; interest rate volatility increases; or the availability of financing in the market decreases. During periods of adverse market conditions, downturns in the economy or deterioration in the conditions of the REIT’s mortgage-related assets, the use of leverage may cause a mortgage REIT to lose more money that would have been the case if leverage was not used.

Mortgage REITs are subject to prepayment risk, which is the risk that borrowers may prepay their mortgage loans at faster than expected rates. Prepayment rates generally increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise. These faster than expected payments may adversely affect a mortgage REIT’s profitability because the mortgage REIT may be forced to replace investments that have been redeemed or repaid early with other investments having a lower yield. Additionally, rising interest rates rise may cause the duration of a mortgage REIT’s investments to be longer than anticipated and increase such investments’ interest rate sensitivity. REITs are subject to special U.S. federal tax requirements. A REIT’s failure to comply with these requirements may negatively affect its performance.


86

transactions between mortgage REITs and their affiliates may be subject to conflicts of interest which may adversely affect a mortgage REIT’s shareholders.

Small- and Medium-Capitalization Companies Risk. The Fund may invest in small- and medium-capitalization companies and, therefore will be subject to certain risks associated with small- and medium- capitalization companies. These companies are often subject to less analyst coverage and may be in early and less predictable periods of their corporate existences, with little or no record of profitability. In addition, these companies often have greater price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity than larger more established companies. These companies tend to have smaller revenues, narrower product lines, less management depth and experience, smaller shares of their product or service markets, fewer financial resources and less competitive strength than large-capitalization companies. Returns on investments in securities of small- and medium-capitalization companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of larger companies.


87

tax consequences or other regulatory reasons (such as diversification requirements). To the extent the Fund utilizes depositary receipts, the purchase of depositary receipts may negatively affect the Fund’s ability to track the performance of the Index and increase tracking error, which may be exacerbated if the issuer of the depositary receipt discontinues issuing new depositary receipts or withdraws existing depositary receipts.


88

times. Accordingly, during the time when the exchange is open but after the applicable market closing, fixing or settlement times, bid/ask spreads on the exchange and the resulting premium or discount to the Shares’ net asset value may widen. Additionally, in stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s Shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings and a shareholder may be unable to sell his or her Shares.

PERFORMANCE

Annual Total Returns (%)—Calendar Years

The year-to-date total return as of June 30, 2023 was 7.42%.


Best Quarter:	40.06%	2Q 2020
Worst Quarter:	-57.25%	1Q 2020

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2022


89



	Past One Year	Past Five Years	Past Ten Years
VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF (return before taxes)	-26.77%	-4.68%	2.09%
VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF (return after taxes on distributions)	-28.88%	-7.05%	-1.16%
VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund Shares)	-15.48%	-3.98%	0.46%
MVIS US Mortgage REITs Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-26.68%	-4.93%	2.11%
S&P 500 Index Total Return (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-18.11%	9.42%	12.56%

See “License Agreements and Disclaimers” for important information.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

Investment Adviser. Van Eck Associates Corporation.

Portfolio Managers. The following individuals are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio:

Name

Title with Adviser

Date Began Managing the Fund

Peter H. Liao

Portfolio Manager

August 2011

Griffin Driscoll

Deputy Portfolio Manager

August 2023

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund Shares, tax information, and payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries, please turn to the “Summary Information about Purchases and Sales of Fund Shares, Taxes and Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries” section of this Prospectus.


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VANECK® PREFERRED SECURITIES EX FINANCIALS ETF

SUMMARY INFORMATION

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

VanEck® Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the ICE Exchange-Listed Fixed & Adjustable Rate Non-Financial Preferred Securities Index (the “Preferred Securities Index” or the “Index”).

FUND FEES AND EXPENSES


Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)			None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

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



Management Fee	0.40	%

Other Expenses(a)	0.01	%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses(a)	0.41	%

(a)Van Eck Associates Corporation (the “Adviser”) will pay all expenses of the Fund, except for the fee payment under the investment management agreement, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, offering costs, trading expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser has agreed to pay the offering costs until at least September 1, 2024.

EXPENSE EXAMPLE



			YEAR			EXPENSES
			1			$42
			3			$132
			5			$230
			10			$518

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Fund’s benchmark index. The Preferred Securities Index is comprised of U.S. exchange-listed hybrid debt, preferred stock and convertible preferred stock issued by non-financial corporations (collectively, "Preferred Securities"). Hybrid debt securities are securities that have characteristics of both equity securities and debt securities. Hybrid securities usually pay interest or dividends and, in the event of an issuer's bankruptcy or default, holders of hybrid securities typically have claims that are senior to holders of the issuer's equity securities but subordinate to holders of the issuer's debt securities.

Preferred Securities generally pay fixed or variable rate distributions to preferred shareholders and such shareholders have preference over common shareholders in the payment of distributions and in the event of a liquidation of the issuer’s assets, but


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are junior to most other forms of debt, including senior and subordinated debt. Preferred Securities may be subject to redemption or call provisions and may include those issued by small- and medium-capitalization companies. As of June 30, 2023, the Preferred Securities Index included 111 U.S.-listed securities of 56 issuers. The Fund’s 80% investment policy is non-fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. The Preferred Securities Index is reconstituted and rebalanced monthly.

The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, attempts to approximate the investment performance of the Preferred Securities Index by investing in a portfolio of securities that generally replicates the Preferred Securities Index. Unlike many investment companies that try to “beat” the performance of a benchmark index, the Fund does not try to “beat” the Preferred Securities Index and does not seek temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its investment objective of seeking to replicate the Preferred Securities Index.

The Fund is classified as a non-diversified fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940 Act and, therefore, may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. The Fund may concentrate its investments in a particular industry or group of industries to the extent that the Preferred Securities Index concentrates in an industry or group of industries. As of April 30, 2023, each of the utilities, real estate and information technology sectors represented a significant portion of the Fund.

PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND

Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred Securities are essentially contractual obligations that entail rights to distributions declared by the issuer’s board of directors but may permit the issuer to defer or suspend distributions for a certain period of time. If the Fund owns a Preferred Security whose issuer has deferred or suspended distributions, the Fund may be required to account for the distribution that has been deferred or suspended for tax purposes, even though it may not have received this income in cash. Further, Preferred Securities may lose substantial value if distributions are deferred, suspended or not declared. Preferred Securities may also permit the issuer to convert Preferred Securities into the issuer’s common stock. Preferred Securities that are convertible into common stock may decline in value if the common stock to which Preferred Securities may be converted declines in value. Preferred Securities are subject to greater credit risk than traditional fixed income securities because the rights of holders of Preferred Securities are subordinated to the rights of the bond and debtholders of an issuer.

Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are subject to risks associated with both fixed income securities and common stocks. Depending on its conversion value, the price of a convertible security will be influenced by interest rates (i.e., its price generally will increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise) or will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the equity security into which the security can be converted.

Hybrid Securities Risk. Hybrid securities are typically subordinated to an issuer’s senior debt instruments; therefore, they are subject to greater credit risk than those senior debt instruments. Many hybrid securities are subject to provisions permitting their issuers to skip or defer distributions under specified circumstances. Hybrid securities may have limited or no voting rights and may have substantially lower overall liquidity than many other securities.


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Subordinated Obligations Risk. Payments under some bonds may be structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities and obligations of each of the respective subsidiaries and associated companies of an issuer of the bond. Claims of creditors of such subsidiaries and associated companies will have priority as to the assets of such subsidiaries and associated companies over the issuer and its creditors, including the Fund, who seek to enforce the terms of the bond. Certain bonds do not contain any restrictions on the ability of the subsidiaries of the issuers to incur additional unsecured indebtedness.

REITs Risk. Investing in REITs exposes investors to the risks of owning real estate directly, as well as to risks that relate specifically to the way in which REITs are organized and operated. REITs generally invest directly in real estate, in mortgages or in some combination of the two. Operating REITs requires specialized management skills and the Fund indirectly bears management expenses along with the direct expenses of the Fund. Individual REITs may own a limited number of properties and may concentrate in a particular region or property type. REITs may also be subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers or tenants and self-liquidation. REITs also must satisfy specific requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in order to qualify for tax-free pass-through income. The failure of a company to qualify as a REIT could have adverse consequences for the Fund, including significantly reducing the return to the Fund on its investment in such company. In addition, REITs, like mutual funds, have expenses, including management and administration fees, that are paid by their shareholders. As a result, shareholders will absorb their proportionate share of duplicate levels of fees when the Fund invests in REITs.

Real Estate Sector Risk. Companies in the real estate sector include companies that invest in real estate, such as REITs and real estate management and development companies. The Fund will be sensitive to changes in, and its performance will depend to a greater extent on, the overall condition of the real estate sector. Companies that invest in real estate are subject to the risks of owning real estate directly as well as to risks that relate specifically to the way that such companies operate, including management risk (such companies are dependent upon the management skills of a few key individuals and may have limited financial resources). Adverse economic, business or political developments affecting real estate could have a major effect on the values of the Fund’s investments. Investing in real estate is subject to such risks as decreases in real estate values, overbuilding, increased competition and other risks related to local or general economic conditions, increases in operating costs and property taxes, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, possible environmental liabilities, regulatory limitations on rent, possible lack of availability of mortgage financing, market saturation, fluctuations in rental income and the value of underlying properties and extended vacancies of properties. Certain real estate securities have a relatively small market capitalization, which may tend to increase the volatility of the market price of these securities. Real estate securities have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. Real estate securities are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency and defaults by borrowers or tenants.


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the Index in connection with a rebalancing or reconstitution of the Index may cause the Fund to experience increased volatility, during which time the Fund’s index tracking risk may be heightened.


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subject to the risk that economic, political or other conditions that have a negative effect on those sectors and/or industries may negatively impact the Fund to a greater extent than if the Fund’s assets were invested in a wider variety of securities.

PERFORMANCE

The bar chart that follows shows how the Fund performed for the calendar years shown. The table below the bar chart shows the Fund’s average annual returns (before and after taxes). The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by comparing the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the one year, five year, ten year and/or since inception periods, as applicable, compared with the Fund’s benchmark index and a broad measure of market performance. Prior to June 1, 2021, the Fund sought to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the Wells Fargo® Hybrid and Preferred Securities ex Financials Index (the “Prior Index”). Therefore, performance information prior to June 1, 2021 reflects the performance of the Fund tracking the Prior Index. All returns assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions. All returns assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily indicative of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at www.vaneck.com.

Annual Total Returns (%)—Calendar Years

The year-to-date total return as of June 30, 2023 was 9.23%.


Best Quarter:	12.66%	2Q 2020
Worst Quarter:	-17.88%	1Q 2020

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2022



	Past One Year	Past Five Years	Past Ten Years
VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF (return before taxes)	-19.11%	2.43%	3.82%
VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF (return after taxes on distributions)	-20.81%	0.32%	1.55%
VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund Shares)	-10.96%	1.17%	2.06%
ICE Exchange-Listed Fixed & Adjustable Rate Non-Financial Preferred Securities Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)*	-18.41%	2.74%	3.90%
S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-18.11%	9.42%	12.56%


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*Prior to June 1, 2021, the Fund sought to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the Prior Index. Therefore, performance information prior to June 1, 2021 reflects the performance of the Fund seeking to replicate the Prior Index. Prior to June 1, 2021, index data reflects that of the Prior Index. From June 1, 2021, the index data will reflect that of the ICE Exchange-Listed Fixed & Adjustable Rate Non-Financial Preferred Securities Index.

See “License Agreements and Disclaimers” for important information.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

Investment Adviser. Van Eck Associates Corporation.

Portfolio Managers. The following individuals are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio:

Name

Title with Adviser

Date Began Managing the Fund

Peter H. Liao

Portfolio Manager

July 2012

Griffin Driscoll

Deputy Portfolio Manager

August 2023

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund Shares, tax information, and payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries, please turn to the “Summary Information about Purchases and Sales of Fund Shares, Taxes and Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries” section of this Prospectus.


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SUMMARY INFORMATION ABOUT PURCHASES AND SALES OF FUND SHARES, TAXES AND PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES

Individual Shares of a Fund may only be purchased and sold in secondary market transactions through a broker or dealer at a market price. Shares of the Funds are listed on the Exchange, and because Shares trade at market prices rather than net asset value, Shares of the Funds may trade at a price greater than net asset value (i.e., a "premium") or less than net asset value (i.e., a "discount").

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

Recent information, including information about each Fund’s net asset value, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid/ask spreads, is included on the Fund’s website at www.vaneck.com.

TAX INFORMATION

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

PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

The Adviser and its related companies may pay broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries (such as a bank) for the sale of the Fund Shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing your broker-dealer or other intermediary or its employees or associated persons to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your financial adviser or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.


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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

Each Fund, except for VanEck BDC Income ETF, VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF, VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF, VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF and VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF, uses a sampling approach in seeking to achieve its investment objective. Sampling means that the Adviser uses quantitative analysis to select a representative sample of securities that the Adviser believes collectively have an investment profile similar to each Fund’s Index. The Adviser seeks to select securities that will have, in the aggregate, investment characteristics (based on factors such as market capitalization and industry weightings), fundamental characteristics (such as return variability, duration, maturity or credit ratings and yield) and liquidity measures similar to those of a Fund’s Index. The quantity of holdings in a Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of such Fund. The Adviser generally expects a Fund to hold less than the total number of securities in its Index, but reserves the right to hold as many securities as it believes necessary to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. In addition, from time to time, securities are added to or removed from the applicable Index. Each Fund may sell securities that are represented in its Index, or purchase securities that are not yet represented in its Index, in anticipation of their removal from or addition to such Index. Further, the Adviser may choose to underweight or overweight securities, purchase or sell securities not in an Index, or utilize various combinations of other available investment techniques, in seeking to track a Fund’s Index.

The Adviser anticipates that, generally, VanEck BDC Income ETF, VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF, VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF and VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF will hold or gain exposure to all of the securities that comprise each Fund’s respective Index in proportion to their weightings in such Index. However, under various circumstances, it may not be possible or practicable to purchase all of those securities in those weightings. In these circumstances, VanEck BDC Income ETF, VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF, VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF and VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF may purchase a sample of securities in its Index. There also may be instances in which the Adviser may choose to underweight or overweight a security in a Fund’s Index, purchase securities not in the Fund’s Index that the Adviser believes are appropriate to substitute for certain securities in such Index or utilize various combinations of other available investment techniques in seeking to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the Fund’s Index. VanEck BDC Income ETF, VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF, VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF and VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF may sell securities that are represented in their Index in anticipation of their removal from the respective Index or purchase securities not represented in their Index in anticipation of their addition to the respective Index. VanEck BDC Income ETF, VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF, VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF and VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF may also, in order to comply with the tax diversification requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, temporarily invest in securities not included in its Index that are expected to be highly correlated with the securities included in its Index.

(VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF only)

VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF is an actively managed ETF that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, in ETPs that are registered under the applicable federal securities laws and that invest in securities that generate income. VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF may also invest in U.S. Treasury securities under normal circumstances. While the Adviser currently anticipates that the ETPs that the VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF may invest in will primarily be VanEck ETFs, VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF may also invest in affiliated and unaffiliated ETPs, which could include ETFs and closed-end funds that invest in income generating asset classes. VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF does not have any limits on its investments in below-investment grade securities ("junk" bonds), and VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF will have indirect exposure to below-investment grade securities through its investments in ETPs.

The Adviser considers various inputs to guide asset allocation decisions and select investments that the Adviser believes will offer income and enhanced risk-adjusted returns. The term “risk-adjusted returns” does not imply that the Adviser employs low-risk strategies or that an investment in VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF should be considered a low-risk or no risk investment. The Adviser seeks to maximize risk-adjusted returns through an optimization process that incorporates both the yield and observed risks of each ETP. Additionally, the Adviser may utilize relative momentum and other discretionary factors of each underlying ETP to allocate VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF’s portfolio to ETPs with the highest expected risk-adjusted returns. The term “relative momentum” means the speed at which the total returns of an ETP are changing compared to other ETPs. Based on these inputs, the Adviser selects the income generating asset classes that VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF will invest in and determines the relative weights each class will represent in VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF. VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF may engage in active and frequent trading of portfolio securities.

FUNDAMENTAL AND NON-FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES

Each Fund’s investment objective and each of its other investment policies are non-fundamental policies that may be changed by the Board of Trustees (the “Board of Trustees”) of VanEck ETF Trust (the “Trust”) without shareholder approval, except as noted in this Prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) under the section entitled “Investment Policies and Restrictions—Investment Restrictions.”

RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUNDS

The following section provides additional information regarding the principal risks identified under “Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund” in each Fund’s “Summary Information” section and additional non-principal risks, if applicable. The risks checked in the


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chart below apply to each Fund as indicated. For a description of the risks listed in the chart, please see "Glossary – Investment Risks" below the chart. See also the Funds' Statement of Additional Information for information on certain other investments in which each Fund may invest and other investment techniques in which each Fund may engage from time to time and related risks.

Investors in a Fund should be willing to accept a high degree of volatility in the price of the Fund’s Shares and the possibility of significant losses. An investment in a Fund involves a substantial degree of risk. An investment in a Fund is not a deposit with a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.Therefore, you should consider carefully the following risks before investing in a Fund, each of which could significantly and adversely affect the value of an investment in a Fund.

Risk

BDC Income ETF
(BIZD)

Dynamic High Income ETF
(INC)

Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF
(HYEM)

Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF
(ANGL)

Green Bond ETF
(GRNB)

Int’l High Yield Bond ETF
(IHY)

IG Floating Rate ETF
(FLTR)

J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF
(EMLC)

Moody’s Analytics BBB Corporate Bond ETF
(MBBB)

Moody’s Analytics IG Corporate Bond ETF (MIG)

Mortgage REIT Income ETF (MORT)

Preferred Securities EX Financials ETF (PFXF)

√ Principal Risk | X Additional Non-Principal Risk

Active Management Risk

√

Affiliated Fund Risk

√

Authorized Participant Concentration Risk

√

BBB-Rated Bond Risk

√

Call Risk

√

Cash Transactions Risk

√

Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk

√

Consumer Staples Sector Risk

√

Convertible Securities Risk

√

Credit Risk

√

Data Risk

√

Derivatives Risk

Emerging Market Issuers Risk

√

Energy Sector Risk

√

Equity Securities Risk

√

Financials Sector Risk

√

Floating Rate LIBOR Risk

√

Floating Rate Risk

√

Foreign Currency Risk

√

Foreign Securities Risk

√

Fund of Funds Risk

√

Fund Shares Trading, Premium/Discount Risk and Liquidity of Fund Shares

√

Government-Related Bond Risk

√

“Green” Bonds Risk

√


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Risk

BDC Income ETF
(BIZD)

Dynamic High Income ETF
(INC)

Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF
(HYEM)

Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF
(ANGL)

Green Bond ETF
(GRNB)

Int’l High Yield Bond ETF
(IHY)

IG Floating Rate ETF
(FLTR)

J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF
(EMLC)

Moody’s Analytics BBB Corporate Bond ETF
(MBBB)

Moody’s Analytics IG Corporate Bond ETF (MIG)

Mortgage REIT Income ETF (MORT)

Preferred Securities EX Financials ETF (PFXF)

√ Principal Risk | X Additional Non-Principal Risk

High Portfolio Turnover Risk

√

High Yield Securities Risk

√

Hybrid Securities Risk

√

Income Risk

√

Index-Related Concentration Risk

√

Index Tracking Risk

√

Industrials Sector Risk

√

Information Technology Sector Risk

√

Interest Rate Risk

√

Investment Restrictions Risk

√

Issuer-Specific Changes Risk

√

Leverage Risk

Liquidity Risk

Market Risk

√

Mortgage REITs Risk

√

No Guarantee of Active Trading Market Risk

√

Non-Diversified Risk

√

Non-Diversification Risk

√

Operational Risk

√

Passive Management Risk

√

Preferred Securities Risk

√

Real Estate Sector Risk

√

REITs Risk

√

Restricted Securities Risk

√

Risk of Investing in BDCs

√

Risk of Investing in Chinese Bonds

Risk of Investing in ETPs

√

Sampling Risk

√

Securitized/Asset Backed Securities Risk

√

Shareholder Risk


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Risk

BDC Income ETF
(BIZD)

Dynamic High Income ETF
(INC)

Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF
(HYEM)

Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF
(ANGL)

Green Bond ETF
(GRNB)

Int’l High Yield Bond ETF
(IHY)

IG Floating Rate ETF
(FLTR)

J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF
(EMLC)

Moody’s Analytics BBB Corporate Bond ETF
(MBBB)

Moody’s Analytics IG Corporate Bond ETF (MIG)

Mortgage REIT Income ETF (MORT)

Preferred Securities EX Financials ETF (PFXF)

√ Principal Risk | X Additional Non-Principal Risk

Small- and Medium-Capitalization Companies Risk

√

Sovereign Bond Risk

√

Special Risk Considerations of Investing in Asian Issuers

√

Special Risk Considerations of Investing in Brazilian Issuers

√

Special Risk Considerations of Investing in Chinese Issuers

√

Special Risk Considerations of Investing in European Issuers

√

Special Risk Considerations of Investing in Latin American Issuers

√

Special Risk Considerations of Investing in Middle Eastern Issuers

√

Special Risk Considerations of Investing in United Kingdom Issuers

√

Subordinated Obligations Risk

√

Supranational Bond Risk

√

Trading Issues Risk

√

U.S. Treasury Securities Risk

√

Utilities Sector Risk

√

Zero Coupon and Payment-in-Kind Securities Risk

GLOSSARY – INVESTMENT RISKS


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Cash Transactions Risk. Unlike other ETFs, the Fund effects its creations and redemptions at least partially for cash, rather than wholly for in-kind securities. Because the Fund currently intends to effect all or a portion of redemptions for cash, rather than in-kind distributions, it may be required to sell portfolio securities in order to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds, which involves transaction costs that the Fund may not have incurred had it effected redemptions entirely in-kind. These costs may include brokerage costs and/or taxable gains or losses, which may be imposed on the Fund and decrease the Fund’s net asset value to the extent such costs are not offset by a transaction fee payable by an Authorized Participant. If the Fund recognizes a gain on these sales, this generally will cause the Fund to recognize a gain it might not otherwise have recognized if it were to distribute portfolio securities in-kind, or to recognize such gain sooner than would otherwise be required. As a result, an investment in the Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in a more conventional ETF. Other ETFs generally are able to make in-kind redemptions and avoid realizing gains in connection with transactions designed to raise cash to meet redemption requests. The Fund generally intends to distribute these gains to shareholders to avoid being taxed on this gain at the Fund level and otherwise comply with the special tax rules that apply to it. This strategy may cause shareholders to be subject to tax on gains they would not otherwise be subject to, or at an earlier date than, if they had made an investment in a different ETF. Additionally, transactions may have to be carried out over several days if the securities market is relatively illiquid and may involve considerable transaction fees and taxes.

Convertible securities are usually subordinated to comparable nonconvertible securities. Moreover, many convertible securities have credit ratings that are below investment grade and are subject to the same risks as lower-rated debt securities. Convertible securities generally do not participate directly in any dividend increases or decreases of the underlying securities, although the market prices of convertible securities may be affected by any dividend changes or other changes in the underlying securities.


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Derivatives Risk. Derivatives and other similar instruments (referred to collectively as “derivatives”) are financial instruments whose values are based on the value of one or more reference assets or indicators, such as a security, currency, interest rate, or index. The Fund’s use of derivatives involves risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other more traditional investments. Moreover, although the value of a derivative is based on an underlying asset or indicator, a derivative typically does not carry the same rights as would be the case if the Fund invested directly in the underlying securities, currencies or other assets.

Derivatives are subject to a number of risks, such as potential changes in value in response to market developments or, in the case of “over-the-counter” derivatives, as a result of a counterparty’s credit quality and the risk that a derivative transaction may not have the effect the Adviser anticipated. Derivatives also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not achieve the desired correlation with the underlying asset or indicator. Derivative transactions can create investment leverage and may be highly volatile, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests. The use of derivatives may increase the amount and affect the timing and character of taxes payable by shareholders of the Fund.

Many derivative transactions are entered into “over-the-counter” without a central clearinghouse; as a result, the value of such a derivative transaction will depend on, among other factors, the ability and the willingness of the Fund’s counterparty to perform its obligations under the transaction. If a counterparty were to default on its obligations, the Fund’s contractual remedies against such counterparty may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws, which could affect the Fund’s rights as a creditor (e.g., the Fund may not receive the net amount of payments that it is contractually entitled to receive). Counterparty risk also refers to the related risks of having concentrated exposure to such a counterparty. A liquid secondary market may not always exist for the Fund’s derivative positions at any time, and the Fund may not be able to initiate or liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses. The Fund may also face the risk that it may not be able to meet margin and payment requirements and maintain a derivatives position.

Derivatives are also subject to operational and legal risks. Operational risk generally refers to risk related to potential operational issues, including documentation issues, settlement issues, system failures, inadequate controls, and human errors. Legal risk generally refers to insufficient documentation, insufficient capacity or authority of counterparty, or legality or enforceability of a contract.

Under Rule 18f-4 (the “derivatives rule”), funds need to trade derivatives and other transactions that create future fund payment or delivery obligations subject to a value-at-risk (“VaR”) leverage limit, and certain derivatives risk management program and reporting requirements. Generally, these requirements apply unless a fund qualifies as a “limited derivatives user,” as defined in the derivatives rule. Under the derivatives rule, when a fund trades reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions, including certain tender option bonds, it needs to aggregate the amount of indebtedness associated with the reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions with the aggregate amount of any other senior securities representing indebtedness when calculating the fund’s asset coverage ratio or treat all such transactions as derivatives transactions. Reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions aggregated with other indebtedness do not need to be included in the calculation of whether a fund is a limited derivatives user, but for funds subject to the VaR testing, reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions must be included for purposes of such testing whether treated as derivatives transactions or not. The Securities and Exchange Commission also provided guidance in connection with the derivatives rule regarding use of securities lending collateral that may limit a fund's securities lending activities. In addition, under the derivatives rule, the Fund is permitted to invest in a security on a when-issued or forward-settling basis, or with a non-standard settlement cycle, and the transaction will be deemed not to involve a senior security under the Investment Company Act of 1940, provided that (i) the Fund intends to physically settle the transaction and (ii) the transaction will settle within 35 days of its trade date (the “Delayed-Settlement Securities Provision”). The Fund may otherwise engage in such transactions that do not meet the conditions of the Delayed-Settlement Securities Provision so long as the Fund treats any such transaction as a “derivatives transaction” for purposes of compliance with the derivatives rule. Furthermore, under the derivatives rule, the Fund will be permitted to enter into an unfunded commitment agreement, and such unfunded commitment agreement will not be subject to the asset coverage requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, if the Fund reasonably believes, at the time it enters into such agreement, that it will have sufficient cash and cash equivalents to meet its obligations with respect to all such agreements as they come due.


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issuers in more developed markets, and therefore, all material information may not be available or reliable. Emerging markets are also more likely than developed markets to experience problems with the clearing and settling of trades, as well as the holding of securities by local banks, agents and depositories. Low trading volumes and volatile prices in less developed markets may make trades harder to complete and settle, and governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that may not be subject to independent evaluation. Local agents are held only to the standards of care of their local markets. In general, the less developed a country’s securities markets are, the greater the likelihood of custody problems. Additionally, each of the factors described below could have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance and increase the volatility of the Fund.


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geographically and among various sectors of their economies and may also be accompanied by periods of high inflation. Political changes, social instability and adverse diplomatic developments in these countries could result in the imposition of additional government restrictions, including expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxes or nationalization of some or all of the property held by the underlying issuers of securities of emerging market issuers. There is no guarantee that the governments of these countries will not revert back to some form of planned or non-market oriented economy, and such governments continue to be active participants in many economic sectors through ownership positions and regulation. The allocation of resources in such countries is subject to a high level of government control. Such countries’ governments may strictly regulate the payment of foreign currency denominated obligations and set monetary policy. Through their policies, these governments may provide preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. The policies set by the government of one of these countries could have a substantial effect on that country’s economy.


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securityholders of issuers located in more developed countries. In circumstances where adequate laws and securityholders rights exist, it may not be possible to obtain swift and equitable enforcement of the law. In addition, the enforcement of systems of taxation at federal, regional and local levels in emerging market countries may be inconsistent and subject to sudden change. The Fund has limited rights and few practical remedies in emerging markets and the ability of U.S. authorities to bring enforcement actions in emerging markets may be limited.

Equity Securities Risk. The value of the equity securities held by the Fund may fall due to general market and economic conditions, perceptions regarding the markets in which the issuers of securities held by the Fund participate, or factors relating to specific issuers in which the Fund invests. For example, an adverse event, such as an unfavorable earnings report, may result in a decline in the value of equity securities of an issuer held by the Fund; the price of the equity securities of an issuer may be particularly sensitive to general movements in the securities markets; or a drop in the securities markets may depress the price of most or all of the equities securities held by the Fund. In addition, the equity securities of an issuer in the Fund’s portfolio may decline in price if the issuer fails to make anticipated dividend payments. Equity securities are subordinated to preferred securities and debt in a company’s capital structure with respect to priority to a share of corporate income, and therefore will be subject to greater dividend risk than preferred securities or debt instruments. In addition, while broad market measures of equity securities have historically generated higher average returns than fixed income securities, equity securities have generally also experienced significantly more volatility in those returns.


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Several factors may affect the price of euros and the British pound sterling, including the debt level and trade deficit of the Economic and Monetary Union and the United Kingdom, inflation and interest rates of the Economic and Monetary Union and the United Kingdom and investors’ expectations concerning inflation and interest rates and global or regional political, economic or financial events and situations. The European financial markets have experienced, and may continue to experience, volatility and have been adversely affected by concerns about economic downturns, credit rating downgrades, rising government debt levels and possible default on or restructuring of government debt in several European countries. These events have adversely affected, and may in the future affect, the value and exchange rate of the euro and may continue to significantly affect the economies of every country in Europe, including European Union member countries that do not use the euro and non-European Union member countries. Notwithstanding the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, following the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union and the subsequent transition period, there is likely to be considerable uncertainty as to the United Kingdom’s post-transition framework. Significant uncertainty exists regarding the effects such withdrawal will have on the euro, European economies and the global markets. In addition, one or more countries may abandon the euro and the impact of these actions, especially if conducted in a disorderly manner, may have significant and far-reaching consequences on the euro.

The value of certain emerging market countries’ currencies may be subject to a high degree of fluctuation. This fluctuation may be due to changes in interest rates, investors’ expectations concerning inflation and interest rates, the emerging market country’s debt levels and trade deficit, the effects of monetary policies issued by the United States, foreign governments, central banks or supranational entities, the imposition of currency controls or other national or global political or economic developments. For example, certain emerging market countries have experienced economic challenges and liquidity issues with respect to their currency. The economies of certain emerging market countries can be significantly affected by currency devaluations. Certain emerging market countries may also have managed currencies which are maintained at artificial levels relative to the U.S. dollar rather than at levels determined by the market. This type of system could lead to sudden and large adjustments in the currency, which in turn, may have a negative effect on the Fund and its investments.

Certain foreign markets that have historically been considered relatively stable may become volatile in response to changed conditions or new developments. Increased interconnectivity of world economies and financial markets increases the possibility that adverse developments and conditions in one country or region will affect the stability of economies and financial markets in other countries or regions. Because the Fund may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies and some of the income received by the Fund may be in foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates may negatively impact the Fund’s return.

Foreign issuers are often subject to less stringent requirements regarding accounting, auditing, financial reporting and record keeping than are U.S. issuers, and therefore, not all material information may be available or reliable. Securities exchanges or foreign governments may adopt rules or regulations that may negatively impact the Fund’s ability to invest in foreign securities or may prevent the Fund from repatriating its investments. The Fund may also invest in depositary receipts which involve similar risks to those associated with investments in foreign securities. In addition, the Fund may not receive shareholder communications or be permitted to vote the securities that it holds, as the issuers may be under no legal obligation to distribute shareholder communications.

Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or


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individuals, changes in international trade patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. The United States and other nations or international organizations may impose economic sanctions or take other actions that may adversely affect issuers of specific countries. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate the Fund’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time, and may make the Fund’s investments in such securities harder to value. These sanctions, any future sanctions or other actions, or even the threat of further sanctions or other actions, may negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund.

Also, certain issuers located in foreign countries in which the Fund invests may operate in, or have dealings with, countries subject to sanctions and/or embargoes imposed by the U.S. Government and the United Nations and/or countries identified by the U.S. Government as state sponsors of terrorism. As a result, an issuer may sustain damage to its reputation if it is identified as an issuer which operates in, or has dealings with, such countries. The Fund, as an investor in such issuers, will be indirectly subject to those risks.

Fund Shares Trading, Premium/Discount Risk and Liquidity of Fund Shares. Disruptions to creations and redemptions, the existence of market volatility or potential lack of an active trading market for Shares (including through a trading halt), as well as other factors, may result in Shares trading at a significant premium or discount to net asset value or to the intraday value of the Fund’s holdings. The net asset value of the Shares will fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s securities holdings. The market price of Shares may fluctuate, in some cases materially, in accordance with changes in net asset value and the intraday value of the Fund’s holdings, as well as supply and demand on the Exchange. Shares may trade below, at or above their net asset value. While the creation/redemption feature is designed to make it likely that Shares normally will trade close to the value of the Fund’s holdings, market prices are not expected to correlate exactly to the Fund’s net asset value due to timing reasons, supply and demand imbalances and other factors. The price differences may be due, in large part, to the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for Shares may be closely related to, but not necessarily identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of the securities of the Fund’s portfolio of investments trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time. If a shareholder purchases Shares at a time when the market price is at a premium to the net asset value or sells Shares at a time when the market price is at a discount to the net asset value, the shareholder may pay significantly more or receive significantly less than the underlying value of the Shares that were bought or sold or the shareholder may be unable to sell his or her Shares. Any of these factors, discussed above and further below, may lead to the Shares trading at a premium or discount to the Fund’s net asset value. In addition, because certain of the Fund’s underlying securities may trade on exchanges that are closed when the exchange that Shares of the Fund trade on is open, there are likely to be deviations between the expected value of an underlying security and the closing security’s price (i.e., the last quote from its closed foreign market) resulting in premiums or discounts to net asset value that may be greater than those experienced by other ETFs. In addition, the securities held by the Fund may be traded in markets that close at a different time than the Exchange. Liquidity in those securities may be reduced after the applicable closing times. Accordingly, during the time when the Exchange is open but after the applicable market closing, fixing or settlement times, bid/ask spreads and the resulting premium or discount to the Shares’ net asset value may widen. Additionally, in stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s Shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings.

When you buy or sell Shares of the Fund through a broker, you will likely incur a brokerage commission or other charges imposed by brokers. In addition, the market price of Shares, like the price of any exchange-traded security, includes a bid/ask spread charged by the market makers or other participants that trade the particular security. The spread of the Fund’s Shares varies over time based on the Fund’s trading volume and market liquidity and may increase if the Fund’s trading volume, the spread of the Fund’s underlying securities, or market liquidity decrease. In times of severe market disruption, including when trading of the Fund’s holdings may be halted, the bid/ask spread may increase significantly. This means that Shares may trade at a discount to the Fund’s net asset value, and the discount is likely to be greatest during significant market volatility.


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or renewable energy sources, commercial and industrial energy efficiency, or conservation of natural resources. Investing in “green” bonds carries the risk that, under certain market conditions, the Fund may underperform as compared to funds that invest in a broader range of investments. In addition, some “green” investments may be dependent on government tax incentives and subsidies and on political support for certain environmental technologies and companies. Investing primarily in “green” investments may affect the Fund’s exposure to certain sectors or types of investments and will impact the Fund’s relative investment performance depending on whether such sectors or investments are in or out of favor in the market. The “green” sector may also have challenges such as a limited number of issuers and limited liquidity in the market. Additionally, there may also be a limited supply of bonds that merit “green” status, which may adversely affect the Fund.

In addition, the performance of a “green” bond issuer may cause its securities to no longer merit “green” status, and such securities would no longer be eligible for inclusion in the Index. This could cause the Fund to temporarily hold securities that are not in the Index, which may adversely affect the Fund and its investments and may increase the risk of Index tracking error. Additionally, there may also be a limited supply of bonds that merit “green” status, which may increase the risk of index tracking error.

Income Risk. The Fund’s income may fluctuate and may decline during periods of falling interest rates.

Index Tracking Risk. The Fund’s return may not match the return of the Index for a number of reasons. For example, the Fund incurs operating expenses, including taxes, not applicable to the Index and incurs costs associated with buying and selling securities and entering into derivatives transactions (if applicable), especially when rebalancing the Fund’s securities holdings to reflect changes in the composition of the Index, or (if applicable) raising cash to meet redemptions or deploying cash in connection with inflows into the Fund. Transaction costs, including brokerage costs, may decrease the Fund’s net asset value.

Market disruptions and regulatory restrictions could have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to adjust its exposure to the required levels in order to track the Index. Unusual market conditions may cause the Index provider to postpone a scheduled rebalance, which could cause the Index to vary from its normal or expected composition. There is no assurance that the Index provider or any agents that may act on its behalf will compile the Index accurately, or that the Index will be determined, composed or calculated accurately. Errors in respect of the quality, accuracy and completeness of the data used to compile the Index may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index provider, particularly where the indices are less commonly used as benchmarks by funds or managers. Therefore, gains, losses or costs associated with errors of the Index provider or its agents will generally be borne by the Fund and its shareholders. For example, during a period where the Index contains incorrect constituents, the Fund would have market exposure to such constituents and would be underexposed to the Index’s other constituents. Such errors may negatively or positively impact the Fund and its shareholders.


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When the Index is rebalanced and the Fund in turn rebalances its portfolio to attempt to increase the correlation between the Fund’s portfolio and the Index, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio rebalancing will be borne directly by the Fund and its shareholders. The Fund may not be fully invested at times either as a result of cash flows into the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to pay expenses or to meet redemptions. In addition, the Fund may not invest in certain securities and/or other assets included in the Index, or invest in them in the exact proportions in which they are represented in the Index. The Fund’s performance may also deviate from the return of the Index for a variety of reasons, including legal restrictions or limitations imposed by the governments of certain countries, certain exchange listing standards (where applicable), a lack of liquidity in markets in which such securities trade, potential adverse tax consequences or other regulatory reasons (such as diversification requirements). A lack of liquidity may be due to various events, including market events, economic conditions or investor perceptions. Illiquid securities may be difficult to value and their value may be lower than the market price of comparable liquid securities, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Moreover, the Fund may be delayed in purchasing or selling securities included in the Index. When markets are volatile, the ability to sell securities at fair value prices may be adversely impacted and may result in additional trading costs and/or increase the index tracking risk. To the extent the Fund encounters any issues with regard to currency convertibility (including the cost of borrowing funds, if any), repatriation or economic sanctions, such issues may also increase index tracking risk. The Fund may also need to rely on borrowings to meet redemptions, which may lead to increased expenses. For tax efficiency purposes, the Fund may sell certain securities, and such sale may cause the Fund to realize a loss and deviate from the performance of the Index. The Fund’s performance may also deviate from the performance of the Index due to the impact of withholding taxes, late announcements relating to changes to the Index and high turnover of the Index.

The Fund may fair value certain of its investments, underlying currencies and/or other assets. To the extent the Fund calculates its net asset value based on fair value prices and the value of the Index is based on securities’ closing prices on local foreign markets (i.e., the value of the Index is not based on fair value prices) or if the Fund otherwise calculates its net asset value based on prices that differ from those used in calculating the Index, the Fund’s ability to track the Index may be adversely affected. The need to comply with the tax diversification and other requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 may also impact the Fund’s ability to track the performance of the Index. In addition, if the Fund utilizes depositary receipts or other derivative instruments, its return may not correlate as well with the return of the Index as would be the case if the Fund purchased all the securities in the Index directly. To the extent the Fund utilizes depositary receipts, the purchase of depositary receipts may negatively affect the Fund’s ability to track the performance of the Index and increase tracking error, which may be exacerbated if the issuer of the depositary receipt discontinues issuing new depositary receipts or withdraws existing depositary receipts. Actions taken in response to proposed corporate actions could also result in increased tracking error. In light of the factors discussed above, the Fund’s return may deviate significantly from the return of the Index.

Apart from scheduled rebalances, the Index provider or its agents may carry out additional ad hoc rebalances to the Index in order, for example, to correct an error in the selection of index constituents. When the Index is rebalanced and the Fund in turn rebalances its portfolio to attempt to increase the correlation between the Fund’s portfolio and the Index, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio rebalancing will be borne directly by the Fund and its shareholders. Therefore, errors and additional ad hoc rebalances carried out by the Index provider to the Index may increase the costs to and the tracking error risk of the Fund.

Index tracking risk may be heightened during times of increased market volatility or other unusual market conditions. Changes to the composition of the Index in connection with a rebalancing or reconstitution of the Index may cause the Fund to experience increased volatility, during which time the Fund’s index tracking risk may be heightened.

The stock prices of companies in the industrials sector are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products in general. The products of manufacturing companies may face product obsolescence due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction. In addition, the industrials sector may also be adversely affected by changes or trends in commodity prices, which may be influenced or characterized by unpredictable factors.


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up, the prices of most debt securities and certain preferred securities go down. When the general level of interest rates goes down, the prices of most debt securities go up. Many factors can cause interest rates to rise, including central bank monetary policy, rising inflation rates and general economic conditions. Debt securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to interest rate changes, usually making them more volatile than debt securities, such as bonds, with shorter durations. A substantial investment by the Fund in debt securities with longer-term maturities during periods of rising interest rates may cause the value of the Fund’s investments to decline significantly. Changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on markets, may result in heightened market volatility and may detract from Fund performance to the extent the Fund is exposed to such interest rates and/or volatility. It is difficult to predict the magnitude, timing or direction of interest rate changes and the impact these changes will have on the markets in which the Fund invests.

Leverage Risk. To the extent that the Fund borrows money or utilizes certain derivatives, it may be leveraged. Leveraging generally exaggerates the effect on net asset value of any increase or decrease in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio securities. The Fund is required to comply with the derivatives rule when it engages in transactions that create future Fund payment or delivery obligations. The Fund is required to comply with the asset coverage requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940 when it engages in borrowings and/or transactions treated as borrowings.

Liquidity Risk. Reduced liquidity in the bond markets can result from a number of events, such as limited trading activity, reductions in bond inventory, market volatility, and rapid or unexpected changes in interest rates. Less liquid markets could lead to greater price volatility and limit the Fund’s ability to sell a holding at a suitable price.

Mortgage REITs may be dependent upon the management skills and may have limited financial resources. Mortgage REITs are generally not diversified and may be subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers and self-liquidation. In addition, transactions between mortgage REITs and their affiliates may be subject to conflicts of interest which may adversely affect a mortgage REIT’s shareholders default of a mortgage loan, the mortgage REIT bears the risk of loss of principal to the extent of any deficiency between the value of the collateral and the principal and accrued interest of the loan.

A mortgage REIT may invest in mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or the Federal Home Loan Banks, which are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Because these securities are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, there is a risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to these agencies if it is not obligated to do so. The maximum potential liability of such entities may greatly exceed their current resources, and it is possible that they will not be able to meet their obligations in the future. Concerns about Freddie Mac’s and Fannie Mae’s solvency during the volatility and disruption that impacted the capital and credit markets during late 2008 and into 2009 led to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae being placed under the conservatorship of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and receiving a capital infusion from the U.S. Treasury. The value of the mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae held by a mortgage REIT may be affected by future actions taken by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the U.S. Treasury or the U.S. Government with respect to these entities and market perceptions. In addition, the financials sector is undergoing numerous changes, including continuing consolidations, development of new products and structures and changes to


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its regulatory framework. Furthermore, increased government involvement in the financials sector, including measures such as mortgage loan modification and refinance programs, could affect the value of a mortgage REIT’s investments. The Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act imposes significant regulatory restrictions on the origination of residential mortgage loans and will impact the formation of new issuances of mortgage-backed securities. While the full impact of the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the role of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cannot be assessed until all implementing regulations are released, the regulations’ extensive requirements may have a significant effect on the financial markets, and may affect the availability or terms of financing or terms of mortgage-backed securities, both of which may have an adverse effect on the value of a mortgage REIT’s investments. Recent developments in the credit markets may cause companies operating in the financials sector to incur large losses, experience declines in the value of their assets and even cease operations.

To the extent that a mortgage REIT invests in mortgage-backed securities offered by private issuers, such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers, the mortgage REIT may be subject to additional risks. Timely payment of interest and principal of non-governmental issuers may be supported by various forms of private insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance purchased by the issuer. However, there can be no assurance that the private insurers can or will meet their obligations under such policies. Unexpected high rates of default on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may adversely affect the value of a mortgage-backed security and could result in losses to a mortgage REIT. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include subprime mortgages. To the extent that a mortgage REIT’s portfolio is exposed to lower-rated, unsecured or subordinated instruments, the risk of loss may increase, which may have a negative impact on the Fund. Mortgage REITs also are subject to the risk that the value of mortgaged properties may be less than the amounts owed on the properties. If a mortgage REIT is required to foreclose on a borrower, the amount recovered in connection with the foreclosure may be less than the amount owed to the mortgage REIT.

In addition, rising interest rates generally reduce the demand for consumer credit, including mortgage loans, due to the higher cost of borrowing. This could cause the value of a mortgage REIT’s investments to decline. A mortgage REIT’s investment in adjustable rate obligations may react differently to interest rate changes than an investment in fixed rate obligations. As interest rates on adjustable rate mortgage loans are reset periodically, yields on a REIT’s investment in such loans will gradually align themselves to reflect changes in market interest rates, causing the value of such investments to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than would investments in fixed rate obligations. Mortgage REITs typically use leverage and many are highly leveraged, which exposes them to leverage risk and the risks generally associated with debt financing. Leverage risk refers to the risk that leverage created from borrowing may impair a mortgage REIT’s liquidity, cause it to liquidate positions at an unfavorable time, reduce dividends paid by the mortgage REIT and increase the volatility of the values of securities issued by the mortgage REIT. The use of leverage may not be advantageous to a mortgage REIT. The success of using leverage is dependent on whether the return earned on the investments made using the proceeds of leverage exceed the cost of using leverage. To the extent that a mortgage REIT incurs significant leverage, it may incur substantial losses if its borrowing costs increase. Borrowing costs may increase for any of the following reasons: short-term interest rates increase; the market value of a mortgage REIT’s assets decreases; interest rate volatility increases; or the availability of financing in the market decreases. During periods of adverse market conditions, downturns in the economy or deterioration in the conditions of the REIT’s mortgage-related assets the use of leverage may cause a mortgage REIT to lose more money than would have been the case if leverage was not used.

To the extent that a mortgage REIT uses significant leverage, it may incur substantial losses if its borrowing costs increase. Mortgage REITs are subject to prepayment risk, which is the risk that borrowers may prepay their mortgage loans at faster than expected rates. Prepayment rates generally increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise. These faster than expected payments may adversely affect a mortgage REIT’s profitability. Prepayments can also occur when borrowers default on their mortgages and the mortgages are prepaid from the proceeds of a foreclosure sale of the property, or when borrowers sell the property and use the sale proceeds to prepay the mortgage as part of a physical relocation. Prepayment rates may be affected by conditions in the housing and financial markets, increasing defaults on residential mortgage loans, general economic conditions and the relative interest rates on loans. REITs are subject to special U.S. federal tax requirements. Unlike corporations, REITs do not have to pay income taxes if they meet certain requirements set forth in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. To qualify, a REIT must distribute at least 90% of its taxable income to its shareholders and receive at least 75% of that income from rents, mortgages and sales of property. A REIT’s failure to comply with applicable U.S. federal tax requirements may subject it to U.S. federal income taxation. This may adversely affect the REIT’s performance as well as the Fund’s performance.

Mortgage REITs may be dependent upon the management skills of a few individuals and may have limited financial resources. The managers of mortgage REITs may employ hedging strategies designed to mitigate certain risks, including interest rate risk. Poorly designed strategies or improperly executed transactions could significantly increase the mortgage REIT’s risk and lead to material losses.


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Van Eck Securities Corporation, the distributor of the Shares, does not maintain a secondary market in the Shares. Investors purchasing and selling Shares in the secondary market may not experience investment results consistent with those experienced by those Authorized Participants creating and redeeming directly with the Fund.

Decisions by market makers or Authorized Participants to reduce their role or “step away” from these activities in times of market stress could inhibit the effectiveness of the arbitrage process in maintaining the relationship between the underlying value of the Fund’s portfolio securities and the Fund’s market price. This reduced effectiveness could result in Fund Shares trading at a price which differs materially from net asset value and also in greater than normal intraday bid/ask spreads for Fund Shares.

Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred Securities are essentially contractual obligations that entail rights to distributions declared by the issuer’s board of directors but may permit the issuer to defer or suspend distributions for a certain period of time. Preferred Securities, which generally pay fixed or adjustable rate dividends or interest to investors, have preference over common stock in the payment of dividends or interest and the liquidation of a company’s assets, which means that a company typically must pay dividends or interest on its Preferred Securities before paying any dividends on its common stock. On the other hand, preferred securities are junior to the company’s debt, including both senior and subordinated debt. Because of their subordinated position in the capital structure of an issuer, the ability to defer dividend or interest payments for extended periods of time without triggering an event of default for the issuer, and certain other features, Preferred Securities are often treated as equity-like instruments by both issuers and investors, as their quality and value are heavily dependent on the profitability and cash flows of the issuer rather than on any legal claims to specific assets.

If the Fund owns a Preferred Security whose issuer has deferred or suspended distributions, the Fund may be required to account for the distribution that has been deferred or suspended for tax purposes, even though it may not have received this income in cash. Further, Preferred Securities may lose substantial value if distributions are deferred, suspended or not declared. Preferred Securities may also permit the issuer to convert Preferred Securities into the issuer’s common stock. Preferred Securities that are convertible into common stock may decline in value if the common stock to which Preferred Securities may be converted declines in value. Preferred Securities are subject to greater credit risk than traditional fixed income securities because the rights of holders of Preferred Securities are subordinated to the rights of the bond and debtholders of an issuer. Preferred Securities may be less liquid than such securities as common stocks and do not convey the same rights as common stock to the holder of Preferred


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Securities, such as voting rights (except in certain situations relating to distributions of preferred dividends). If an issuer of Preferred Securities encounters financial difficulties, the issuer’s board of directors may not declare a distribution and the value of Preferred Securities may decline as a result. The board of directors of an issuer of Preferred Securities may not declare distributions even if such payments have come due.

REITs Risk. Investing in REITs exposes investors to the risks of owning real estate directly, as well as to risks that relate specifically to the way in which REITs are organized and operated. REITs generally invest directly in real estate, in mortgages or in some combination of the two. Operating REITs requires specialized management skills and the Fund indirectly bears management expenses along with the direct expenses of the Fund. Individual REITs may own a limited number of properties and may concentrate in a particular region or property type. REITs may also be subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers or tenants and self-liquidation. REITs typically use leverage to acquire assets, which increases the risk of investing in REITs and can cause the values of the Fund’s investments in REITs to be more volatile and to decline if interest rates increase. REITs also must satisfy specific requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in order to qualify for tax-free pass-through income. The failure of a company to qualify as a REIT could have adverse consequences for the Fund, including significantly reducing the return to the Fund on its investment in such company. In addition, REITs, like mutual funds, have expenses, including management and administration fees, that are paid by their shareholders. As a result, shareholders will absorb their proportionate share of duplicate levels of fees when the Fund invests in REITs.

Individuals (and certain other non-corporate entities) are generally eligible for a deduction of up to 20% on taxable ordinary dividends from REITs and certain other types of business income through 2025. Internal Revenue Service regulations permit a regulated investment company to pass through to its shareholders qualified REIT dividends eligible for the 20% deduction. Some portion of the distributions by the Fund may be taxable ordinary dividends from REITs.

Risk of Investing in BDCs. BDCs generally invest in less mature U.S. private companies or thinly traded U.S. public companies which involve greater risk than well-established publicly-traded companies. While the BDCs that comprise the Index are expected to generate income in the form of dividends, certain BDCs during certain periods of time may not generate such income. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other operating expenses incurred by the BDCs and of any performance-based or incentive fees payable by the BDCs in which it invests, in addition to the expenses paid by the Fund. A BDC’s incentive fee may be very high, vary from year to year and be payable even if the value of the BDC’s portfolio declines in a given time period. Incentive fees may create an incentive for a BDC’s manager to make investments that are risky or more speculative than would be the case in the absence of such compensation arrangements, and may also encourage the BDC’s manager to use leverage to increase the return on the BDC’s investments. Any incentive fee payable by a BDC that relates to its net investment income may be computed and paid on income that may include interest that has been accrued but not yet received. If a portfolio company defaults on a loan that is structured to provide accrued interest income, it is possible that accrued interest income previously included in the calculation of the incentive fee will become uncollectible. A BDC’s manager may not be obligated to reimburse the BDC’s shareholder for any part of the incentive fee it received that was based on accrued interest income that was never received as a result of a subsequent default, and such circumstances would result in the BDC’s shareholders (including the Fund) paying an incentive fee on income that was never received by the BDC. Such incentive fees may


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also create an incentive for a BDC’s manager to make investments in securities with deferred interest features. The use of leverage by BDCs magnifies gains and losses on amounts invested and increases the risks associated with investing in BDCs. A BDC may make investments with a larger amount of risk of volatility and loss of principal than other investment options and may also be highly speculative and aggressive.

The Investment Company Act of 1940 imposes certain constraints upon the operations of a BDC. For example, BDCs are required to invest at least 70% of their total assets primarily in securities of U.S. private companies or thinly traded U.S. public companies, cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and high quality debt investments that mature in one year or less. Generally, little public information exists for private and thinly traded companies in which a BDC may invest and there is a risk that investors may not be able to make a fully informed evaluation of a BDC and its portfolio of investments. With respect to investments in debt instruments, there is a risk that the issuers of such instruments may default on their payments or declare bankruptcy. Many debt investments in which a BDC may invest will not be rated by a credit rating agency and will be below investment grade quality. These investments are commonly referred to as “junk bonds” and have predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to an issuer’s capacity to make payments of interest and principal. Although lower grade securities are potentially higher yielding, they are also characterized by high risk. In addition, the secondary market for lower grade securities may be less liquid than that of higher rated securities.

Certain BDCs may also be difficult to value since many of the assets of BDCs do not have readily ascertainable market values. Therefore, such assets are most often recorded at fair value, in good faith, in accordance with valuation procedures adopted by such companies, which may potentially result in material differences between a BDC’s net asset value per share and its market value.

Additionally, a BDC may only incur indebtedness in amounts such that the BDC’s asset coverage ratio of total assets to total senior securities equals at least 150% after such incurrence. These limitations on asset mix and leverage may affect the way that the BDC raises capital. BDCs compete with other entities for the types of investments they make, and such entities are not necessarily subject to the same investment constraints as BDCs.

To comply with provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Securities and Exchange Commission regulations thereunder, the Adviser may be required to vote BDC shares in the same general proportion as shares held by other shareholders of the BDC.

To qualify and remain eligible for the special tax treatment accorded to regulated investment companies and their shareholders under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the BDCs in which the Fund invests must meet certain source-of-income, asset diversification and annual distribution requirements. If a BDC in which the Fund invests fails to qualify as a regulated investment company, such BDC would be liable for federal, and possibly state, corporate taxes on its taxable income and gains. Such failure by a BDC could substantially reduce the BDC’s net assets and the amount of income available for distribution to the Fund, which would in turn decrease the total return of the Fund.

Risk of Investing in Chinese Bonds. The Fund may invest in Renminbi ("RMB")-denominated bonds issued in the People's Republic of China by Chinese credit, government and quasi-governmental issuers ("RMB Bonds"). RMB Bonds are available on the China interbank bond market 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 Fund's investments in bonds through either program will be subject to a number of additional risks and restrictions that may affect the Fund's investments and returns.

The Bond Connect program and the CIBM Direct Access Program are relatively new. Laws, rules, regulations, policies, notices, circulars or guidelines relating to the programs as published or applied by the relevant authorities of the People's Republic of China are untested and are subject to change from time to time. There can be no assurance that the Bond Connect program and/or the CIBM Direct Access Program will not be restricted, suspended or abolished.

Under the prevailing People's Republic of China regulations, eligible foreign investors who wish to participate in the Bond Connect program 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.

Under the prevailing People's Republic of China regulations, eligible foreign institutional investors who wish to invest directly in the China interbank bond market 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.

Trading through the Bond Connect program 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 addition, where the Fund invests in the China interbank bond market through the Bond Connect program, it may be subject to risks of delays inherent in the order placing and/or settlement.


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Investing in RMB Bonds involves additional risks, including, but not limited to, the fact that the economy of China differs, often unfavorably, from the U.S. economy, including, among other things, in terms of currency revaluation, structure, general development, government involvement, wealth distribution, rate of inflation, growth rate, allocation of resources and capital reinvestment.

The RMB is currently not a freely convertible currency. The Chinese government places strict regulation on the RMB and sets the value of the RMB to levels dependent on the value of the U.S. dollar. The Chinese government's imposition of restrictions on the repatriation of RMB out of mainland China may limit the depth of the offshore RMB market and reduce the liquidity of the Fund's investments.

Risk of Investing in ETPs. The Fund may be subject to the following risks as a result of its investments in ETPs:


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liquidity, cause it to liquidate positions at an unfavorable time and increase the volatility of the values of securities issued by the mortgage REIT.

High Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade are commonly referred to as high yield securities or “junk bonds.” High yield securities are often issued by issuers that are restructuring, are smaller or less creditworthy than other issuers, or are more highly indebted than other issuers. High yield securities are subject to greater risk of loss of income and principal than higher rated securities and are considered speculative. The prices of high yield securities are likely to be more sensitive to adverse economic changes or individual issuer developments than higher rated securities. During an economic downturn or substantial period of rising interest rates, high yield security issuers may experience financial stress that would adversely affect their ability to service their principal and interest payment obligations, to meet their projected business goals or to obtain additional financing. In the event of a default, an ETP may incur additional expenses to seek recovery. The secondary market for securities that are high yield securities may be less liquid than the markets for higher quality securities and high yield securities issued by non-corporate issuers may be less liquid than high yield securities issued by corporate issuers, which, in either instance, may have an adverse effect on the market prices of and an ETP’s ability to arrive at a fair value for certain securities. The illiquidity of the market also could make it difficult for an ETP to sell certain securities in connection with a rebalancing of its index, if applicable. In addition, periods of economic uncertainty and change may result in an increased volatility of market prices of high yield securities and a corresponding volatility in an ETP’s net asset value. In addition, adverse publicity and investor perceptions may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield securities.

Measures taken by the Federal Reserve Board may affect the money supply and as a result of these measures, an ETF may face a heightened interest rate risk.


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


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decreased exports and economic recessions. Geopolitical hostility, political instability, as well as economic or environmental events in any one Asian country can have a significant effect on the entire Asian region as well as on major trading partners outside Asia, and any adverse effect on some or all of the Asian countries and regions in which the Fund invests. The securities markets in some Asian economies are relatively underdeveloped and may subject the Fund to higher action costs or greater uncertainty than investments in more developed securities markets. Such risks may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments. Certain Asian countries have also developed increasingly strained relationships with the U.S., and if these relations were to worsen, they could adversely affect Asian issuers that rely on the U.S. for trade.

Governments of many Asian countries have implemented significant economic reforms in order to liberalize trade policy, promote foreign investment in their economies, reduce government control of the economy and develop market mechanisms. There can be no assurance these reforms will continue or that they will be effective. Despite recent reform and privatizations, significant regulation of investment and industry is still pervasive in many Asian countries and may restrict foreign ownership of domestic corporations and repatriation of assets, which may adversely affect the Fund’s investments. Governments in some Asian countries are authoritarian in nature, have been installed or removed as a result of military coups or have periodically used force to suppress civil dissent. Disparities of wealth, the pace and success of democratization, and ethnic, religious and racial disaffection have led to social turmoil, violence and labor unrest in some countries. Unanticipated or sudden political or social developments may result in sudden and significant investment losses. Investing in certain Asian countries involves risk of loss due to expropriation, nationalization, or confiscation of assets and property or the imposition of restrictions on foreign investments and on repatriation of capital invested. In addition, several countries in Asia may be impacted by the occurrence of global events such as war, terrorism, environmental disasters, natural disasters or events, country instability, and infectious disease epidemics and pandemics.

Special Risk Considerations of Investing in Brazilian Issuers. Investments in securities of Brazilian issuers, including issuers located outside of Brazil that generate significant revenues from Brazil, involve risks and special considerations not typically associated with investments in the U.S. securities markets. Such risks include, among others, a high level of price volatility in the Brazilian markets, chronic structural public sector deficits, a rising unemployment rate and disparities of wealth. The Brazilian economy has been characterized by frequent, and occasionally drastic, interventions by the Brazilian government, including the imposition of wage and price controls, exchange controls, limiting imports, blocking access to bank accounts and other measures. The Brazilian government has often changed monetary, taxation, credit, trade and other policies to influence the core of Brazil’s economy. Additionally, Brazilian accounting, auditing and financial standards and requirements differ from those in the United States, and this may affect the tax consequences with respect to and valuation of investments in the Fund.

Actions taken by the Brazilian government concerning the economy may have significant effects on Brazilian companies and on market conditions and prices of Brazilian securities. Brazil’s economy may be subject to sluggish economic growth due to, among other things, weak consumer spending, political turmoil, high rates of inflation and low commodity prices. Brazil suffers from chronic structural public sector deficits. Additionally, the process of privatizing certain entities by the Brazilian government may cause privatized entities to suffer losses due to, among other things, the inability to adjust to a competitive environment.

Investments in Brazilian securities may be subject to certain restrictions on foreign investment. Brazilian law provides that whenever a serious imbalance in Brazil’s balance of payments exists or is anticipated, the Brazilian government may impose temporary restrictions on the remittance to foreign investors of the proceeds of their investment in Brazil and on the conversion of the Brazilian real into foreign currency. The likelihood of such restrictions may be affected by the extent of Brazil’s foreign currency revenues, the size of Brazil’s debt service burden relative to the economy as a whole, and political constraints to which Brazil may be subject. Brazilian investment and repatriation controls could also affect the Fund’s ability to operate and to qualify for the favorable tax treatment afforded to regulated investment companies for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Brazil has historically experienced high rates of inflation, a high level of debt, and high crime rates, each of which may constrain economic growth. Brazil suffers from high levels of corruption, crime and income disparity. The Brazilian economy and Brazilian companies may also be adversely affected by significant public health concerns and associated declines in tourism.

The Brazilian economy is heavily dependent upon commodity prices and international trade. The Brazilian securities markets are smaller, less liquid and more volatile than U.S. securities markets and the market for Brazilian securities is influenced by economic and market conditions of certain countries, especially emerging market countries in Central and South America. Unanticipated political or social developments may result in sudden and significant investment losses. An increase in prices for commodities, such as petroleum, the depreciation of the Brazilian real and future governmental measures seeking to maintain the value of the Brazilian real in relation to the U.S. dollar, may trigger increases in inflation in Brazil and may slow the rate of growth of the Brazilian economy. Conversely, appreciation of the Brazilian real relative to the U.S. dollar may lead to the deterioration of Brazil’s current account and balance of payments as well as limit the growth of exports.


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Because the Fund’s assets will be invested primarily in securities of Brazilian issuers, the income received by the Fund will be principally in Brazilian real. The Fund’s exposure to the Brazilian real and changes in value of the Brazilian real versus the U.S. dollar may result in reduced returns for the Fund. Moreover, the Fund may incur costs in connection with conversions between U.S. dollars and Brazilian real.

Special Risk Considerations of Investing in Chinese Issuers. Investments in securities of Chinese issuers, including issuers outside of China that generate significant revenues from China, involve certain risks and considerations not typically associated with investments in U.S securities. These risks include among others (i) more frequent (and potentially widespread) trading suspensions and government interventions with respect to Chinese issuers resulting in a lack of liquidity and in price volatility, (ii) currency revaluations and other currency exchange rate fluctuations or blockage, (iii) the nature and extent of intervention by the Chinese government in the Chinese securities markets, whether such intervention will continue and the impact of such intervention or its discontinuation, (iv) the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets, (v) the risk that the Chinese government may decide not to continue to support economic reform programs, (vi) limitations on the use of brokers, (vii) higher rates of inflation, (viii) greater political, economic and social uncertainty, (ix) market volatility caused by any potential regional or territorial conflicts or natural or other disasters, and (x) the risk of increased trade tariffs, embargoes, sanctions, investment restrictions and other trade limitations. Certain securities are, or may in the future become restricted, and the Fund may be forced to sell such securities and incur a loss as a result. In addition, the economy of China differs, often unfavorably, from the U.S. economy in such respects as structure, general development, government involvement, wealth distribution, rate of inflation, growth rate, interest rates, allocation of resources and capital reinvestment, among others. The Chinese central government has historically exercised substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through administrative regulation and/or state ownership and actions of the Chinese central and local government authorities continue to have a substantial effect on economic conditions in China. In addition, the Chinese government has from time to time taken actions that influence the prices at which certain goods may be sold, encourage companies to invest or concentrate in particular industries, induce mergers between companies in certain industries and induce private companies to publicly offer their securities to increase or continue the rate of economic growth, control the rate of inflation or otherwise regulate economic expansion. The Chinese government may do so in the future as well, potentially having a significant adverse effect on economic conditions in China.

Responses to the financial problems by European governments, central banks and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not work, may result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences. The governments of European Union countries may be subject to change and such countries may experience social and political unrest. Unanticipated or sudden political or social developments may result in sudden and significant investment losses. The occurrence of terrorist incidents, outbreaks of war or ongoing regional armed conflict throughout Europe also could impact financial markets. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and other entities of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world. In addition, one or more countries may abandon the euro and/or withdraw from the European Union. The impact of these actions, especially if they occur in a disorderly fashion, is not clear but could be significant and far-reaching.


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significant percentage of the region’s exports and many economies in this region are particularly sensitive to fluctuations in commodity prices. Adverse economic events in one country may have a significant adverse effect on other countries of this region.


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of re-registration, that the permissible allocation of the investment to foreign investors has already been filled and, consequently, the Fund may not be able to invest in the relevant company.

Certain Middle Eastern countries have strained relations with other Middle Eastern countries due to territorial disputes,historical animosities, international alliances, defense concerns or other reasons, which may adversely affect the economies of these Middle Eastern countries. Certain Middle Eastern countries experience significant unemployment, as well as widespread underemployment. There has also been a recent increase in recruitment efforts and an aggressive push for territorial control by terrorist groups in the region, which has led to an outbreak of warfare and hostilities. Warfare in Syria has spread to surrounding areas, including many portions of Iraq and Turkey. Such hostilities may continue into the future or may escalate at any time due to ethnic, racial, political, religious or ideological tensions between groups in the region or foreign intervention or lack of intervention, among other factors.

Special Risk Considerations of Investing in United Kingdom Issuers. Investments in securities of United Kingdom issuers, including issuers located outside of the United Kingdom that generate significant revenues from the United Kingdom, involve risks and special considerations not typically associated with investments in the U.S. securities markets. Investments in United Kingdom issuers may subject the Fund to regulatory, political, currency, security and economic risks specific to the United Kingdom. The British economy relies heavily on the export of financials to the United States and other European countries. A prolonged slowdown in the financials sector may have a negative impact on the British economy. In the past, the United Kingdom has been a target of terrorism. Acts of terrorism in the United Kingdom or against British interests abroad may cause uncertainty in the British financial markets and adversely affect the performance of the issuers to which the Fund has exposure. The British economy, along with the United States and certain other European Union economies, experienced a significant economic slowdown during the recent financial crisis. In a referendum held on June 23, 2016, voters in the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, creating economic and political uncertainty in its wake. On January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom officially withdrew from the European Union. On December 30, 2020, the European Union and United Kingdom signed the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, an agreement on the terms governing certain aspects of the European Union’s and the United Kingdom’s relationship following the end of the transition period. Notwithstanding the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, following the transition period, there is likely to be considerable uncertainty as to the United Kingdom’s post-transition framework.


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be no assurance that requirements of the exchange necessary to maintain the listing of the Fund will continue to be met or will remain unchanged.

Utilities Sector Risk. The Fund will be sensitive to, and its performance will depend to a greater extent on, the overall condition of the utilities sector. Issuers in the utilities sector are subject to a variety of factors that may adversely affect their business or operations, including high interest costs in connection with capital construction and improvement programs, difficulty in raising capital in adequate amounts on reasonable terms in periods of high inflation and unsettled capital markets, and the effects of economic slowdowns and surplus capacity. Companies in the utilities sector are subject to extensive regulation, including governmental regulation of rates charged to customers, and may face difficulty in obtaining regulatory approval of new technologies. The effects of a U.S. national energy policy and lengthy delays and greatly increased costs and other problems associated with the design, construction, licensing, regulation and operation of nuclear facilities for electric generation, including, among other considerations, the problems associated with the use of radioactive materials and the disposal of radioactive wastes, may adversely affect companies in the utilities sector. Certain companies in the utilities sector may be inexperienced and may suffer potential losses resulting from a developing deregulatory environment. Technological innovations may render existing plants, equipment or products obsolete. Companies in the utilities sector may face increased competition from other providers of utility services. The potential impact of terrorist activities on companies in the utilities sector and its customers and the impact of natural or man-made disasters may adversely affect the utilities sector. Issuers in the utilities sector also may be subject to regulation by various governmental authorities and may be affected by the imposition of special tariffs and changes in tax laws, regulatory policies and accounting standards.

Zero Coupon and Payment-in Kind Securities Risk. Zero-coupon securities are securities that are sold at a discount to par value and on which interest payments are not made during the life of the security. Upon maturity, the holder is entitled to receive the par value of the security. Payment-in-kind securities are securities that have interest payable by delivery of additional securities. Upon maturity, the holder is entitled to receive the aggregate par value of the securities. The market prices of zero coupon and payment-in-kind securities are generally more volatile than the market prices of interest bearing securities and are likely to respond to a greater degree to changes in interest rates than interest bearing securities having similar maturities and credit quality. The Fund accrues income with respect to zero-coupon and payment-in-kind securities prior to the receipt of cash payments. Even though periodic interest payments in cash are not made on such securities, tax rules require the Fund to distribute accrued income, which may require the Fund to liquidate securities at unfavorable prices or borrow money in order to make these distributions. Additionally, if the issuer of such securities defaults, the Fund may obtain no return at all on its investment.

INFORMATION ABOUT UNDERLYING FUNDS AND ETPs

(VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF only)

Under normal circumstances, the VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF intends to invest primarily in VanEck ETPs that are registered under the federal securities laws and that invest in publicly traded securities that generate income The following table sets forth (i) the names of the underlying funds that the VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF anticipates investing in, and (ii) brief descriptions of the underlying funds’ investment objectives and principal investment strategies. The list of underlying funds is subject to change at the discretion of the Adviser without notice to shareholders. In addition, the investment objective(s) and principal investment strategies of each underlying fund are subject to change without notice to shareholders.

Prospectuses for the VanEck ETPs can be obtained at www.vaneck.com.

VanEck Fund Name

Investment Objective(s) and Principal Investment Strategies

VanEck BDC Income ETF

VanEck® BDC Income ETF seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the MVIS® US Business Development Companies Index (the “BDC Index”). The BDC Index is comprised of business development companies (“BDCs”). To be eligible for the BDC Index and qualify as a BDC, a company must be organized under the laws of, and have its principal place of business in, the United States, be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and have elected to be regulated as a BDC under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

VanEck CLO ETF

VanEck® CLO ETF seeks capital preservation and current income. VanEck CLO ETF is an actively managed ETF that normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in investment grade-rated debt tranches of collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) of any maturity.


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VanEck Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF

VanEck® Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of ICE BofA Diversified High Yield US Emerging Markets Corporate Plus Index (the “Emerging Markets High Yield Index”). VanEck Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the VanEck Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF’s benchmark index. The Emerging Markets High Yield Index is comprised of U.S. dollar denominated bonds issued by non-sovereign emerging market issuers that have a below investment grade rating and that are issued in the major domestic and Eurobond markets.

VanEck Energy Income ETF

VanEck® Energy Income ETF seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the MVIS® North America Energy Infrastructure Index. VanEck Energy Income ETF normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the MVIS® North America Energy Infrastructure Index. MVIS® North America Energy Infrastructure Index is a rules-based index designed to give investors a means to track the overall performance of North American companies involved in the midstream energy segment, which includes master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) and corporations involved in oil and gas storage and transportation.

VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF

VanEck® Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of ICE US Fallen Angel High Yield 10% Constrained Index (the “Fallen Angel Index”). VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF’s benchmark index. The Fallen Angel Index is comprised of below investment grade corporate bonds denominated in U.S. dollars that were rated investment grade at the time of issuance.

VanEck Inflation Allocation ETF

VanEck® Inflation Allocation ETF is an actively managed ETF that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, primarily in (i) exchange traded products that provide exposure to real assets through investment in domestic and foreign equity and debt securities, MLPs, and commodities, including ETFs and non-Investment Company Act of 1940 commodity pools or commodity trusts and exchange traded notes; and (ii) cash or cash equivalents.

VanEck International High Yield Bond ETF

VanEck® International High Yield Bond ETF seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of ICE BofA Global ex-US Issuers High Yield Constrained Index (the “International High Yield Index”). VanEck International High Yield Bond ETF normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the VanEck International High Yield Bond ETF’s benchmark index. The International High Yield Index is comprised of below investment grade bonds issued by corporations located throughout the world (which may include emerging market countries) excluding the United States, denominated in euros, U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars or pound sterling and issued in the major domestic or eurobond markets.

VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF

VanEck® J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the J.P. Morgan GBI-EM Global Core Index (the “Emerging Markets Global Core Index”). VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Emerging Markets Global Core Index, which is comprised of bonds issued by emerging market governments and denominated in the local currency of the issuer.

VanEck Long/Flat Trend ETF

VanEck® Long/Flat Trend ETF seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the Ned Davis Research CMG US Large Cap Long/Flat Index (the “NDR CMG Index”). VanEck Long/Flat Trend ETF normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that track and/or comprise the VanEck Long/Flat Trend ETF’s benchmark index.


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VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF

VanEck® Mortgage REIT Income ETF seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the MVIS® US Mortgage REITs Index (the “Mortgage REITs Index”). VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF’s benchmark index. The Mortgage REITs Index is comprised of publicly traded U.S. REITs that derive at least 50% of their revenues from (or, where applicable, have at least 50% of their assets related to) mortgage-related activity.

VanEck Morningstar Durable Dividend ETF

VanEck® Morningstar Durable Dividend ETF seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the Morningstar® US Dividend Valuation IndexSM (the “US Dividend Valuation Index”). VanEck Morningstar Durable Dividend ETF normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the VanEck Morningstar Durable Dividend ETF’s benchmark index. The US Dividend Valuation Index is comprised of securities of companies with a high dividend yield, strong financial health and an attractive uncertainty-adjusted valuation.

VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF

VanEck® Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the ICE Exchange-Listed Fixed & Adjustable Rate Non-Financial Preferred Securities Index (the “Preferred Securities Index”). VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF’s benchmark index. The Preferred Securities Index is comprised of U.S. exchange-listed hybrid debt, preferred stock and convertible preferred stock issued by non-financial corporations.

ADDITIONAL NON-PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

(VanEck BDC Income ETF, VanEck Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF, VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF, VanEck Green Bond ETF, VanEck IG Floating Rate ETF, VanEck International High Yield Bond ETF, VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF , VanEck Moody's Analytics BBB Corporate Bond ETF, VanEck Moody's Analytics IG Corporate Bond ETF, VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF and VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF only)

Each Fund may invest in securities not included in its respective Index, money market instruments, including repurchase agreements or other funds which invest exclusively in money market instruments, convertible securities, structured notes (notes on which the amount of principal repayment and interest payments are based on the movement of one or more specified factors, such as the movement of a particular stock or stock index and/or certain derivatives, which the Adviser believes will help a Fund track its Index. VanEck Green Bond ETF will not use derivatives for purposes of meeting the requirement that the Fund invest at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Fund’s benchmark index. Convertible securities and depositary receipts not included in a Fund’s Index may be used by certain Funds in seeking performance that corresponds to its respective Index, and in managing cash flows, and may count towards compliance with a Fund’s 80% policy. Certain Funds may also utilize participation notes to seek performance that corresponds to their Index. Each Fund may also invest, to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Securities and Exchange Commission regulations thereunder in other affiliated and unaffiliated funds, such as open-end or closed-end management investment companies, including other ETFs.

(VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF only)

The Fund may also invest in securities issued by other investment companies, equity securities, fixed income securities and money market instruments, including repurchase agreements or other funds which invest exclusively in money market instruments. For temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest without limit in money market instruments, including repurchase agreements or other funds which invest exclusively in money market instruments. The Fund may also pursue 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 the Fund may receive from a market increase.

BORROWING MONEY

Each Fund may borrow money from a bank up to a limit of one-third of the market value of its assets. Each Fund has entered into a credit facility to borrow money for temporary, emergency or other purposes, including the funding of shareholder redemption requests, trade settlements and as necessary to distribute to shareholders any income required to maintain the Fund’s status as a regulated investment company. To the extent that a Fund borrows money, it may be leveraged; at such times, the Fund will


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appreciate or depreciate in value more rapidly than its Index. Leverage generally has the effect of increasing the amount of loss or gain a Fund might realize, and may increase volatility in the value of a Fund’s investments.

LENDING PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

Each Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions desiring to borrow securities to complete transactions and for other purposes. In connection with such loans, a Fund receives cash, U.S. government securities and stand-by letters of credit not issued by the Fund’s bank lending agent equal to at least 102% of the value of the portfolio securities being loaned. This collateral is marked-to-market on a daily basis. Although a Fund will receive collateral in connection with all loans of its securities holdings, the Fund would be exposed to a risk of loss should a borrower fail to return the borrowed securities (e.g., the Fund would have to buy replacement securities and the loaned securities may have appreciated beyond the value of the collateral held by the Fund) or become insolvent. A Fund may pay fees to the party arranging the loan of securities. In addition, a Fund will bear the risk that it may lose money because the borrower of the loaned securities fails to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. Each Fund could also lose money in the event of a decline in the value of any cash collateral or in the value of investments made with the cash collateral. These events could trigger adverse tax consequences for the Funds. Substitute payments for dividends received by a Fund for securities loaned out by a Fund will not be considered qualified dividend income.


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TAX ADVANTAGED PRODUCT STRUCTURE

Unlike many conventional mutual funds which are only bought and sold at closing net asset values, the Shares of each Fund have been designed to be tradable in a secondary market on an intra-day basis and to be created and redeemed principally in-kind, except for VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF whose Shares are redeemed at least partially for cash, in Creation Units at each day’s market close. These in-kind arrangements are designed to mitigate the adverse effects on a Fund’s portfolio that could arise from frequent cash purchase and redemption transactions that affect the net asset value of the Fund. Moreover, in contrast to conventional mutual funds, where frequent redemptions can have an adverse tax impact on taxable shareholders because of the need to sell portfolio securities which, in turn, may generate taxable gain, the in-kind redemption mechanism of each Fund, to the extent used, generally is not expected to lead to a tax event for shareholders whose Shares are not being redeemed.


PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

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


MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees of the Trust has responsibility for the general oversight of the management of the Funds, including general supervision of the Adviser and other service providers, but is not involved in the day-to-day management of the Trust. A list of the Trustees and the Trust officers, and their present positions and principal occupations, is provided in the Funds’ SAI.

Investment Adviser. Under the terms of an investment management agreement between the Trust and Van Eck Associates Corporation with respect to the Funds (the “Investment Management Agreement”), Van Eck Associates Corporation serves as the adviser to each Fund and, subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, is responsible for the day-to-day investment management of each Fund. As of June 30, 2023, the Adviser managed approximately $77.75 billion in assets. The Adviser has been an investment adviser since 1955 and also acts as adviser or sub-adviser to mutual funds, other ETFs, other pooled investment vehicles and separate accounts. The Adviser’s principal business address is 666 Third Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10017. A discussion regarding the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Investment Management Agreement with respect to each Fund will be available in the Trust’s semi-annual report for the period ended October 31, 2023.

For the services provided to VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF under the Investment Management Agreement, VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF pays the Adviser monthly fees based on a percentage of its average daily net assets at the annual rate of 0.27%. From time to time, the Adviser may waive all or a portion of its fee. Until at least September 1, 2024, the Adviser has agreed to waive fees and/or pay Fund expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, trading expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.30% of its average daily net assets per year.

VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF is responsible for all of its expenses, including the investment advisory fees, costs of transfer agency, custody, legal, audit and other services, interest, taxes, any distribution fees or expenses, offering fees or expenses and extraordinary expenses.

Pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement, the Adviser is responsible for all expenses of the Funds, except VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF, including the costs of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services, except for the fee payment under the Investment Management Agreement, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, offering costs, trading expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses. For its services to each Fund, each Fund has agreed to pay the Adviser an annual unitary management fee equal to 0.40% (with respect to VanEck BDC Income ETF, VanEck Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF, VanEck International High Yield Bond ETF, VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF and VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF), 0.35% (with respect to VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF), 0.25% (with respect to VanEck Moody's Analytics BBB Corporate Bond ETF), 0.20% (with respect to VanEck Green Bond ETF and VanEck Moody's Analytics IG Corporate Bond ETF), 0.14% (with respect to VanEck IG Floating Rate ETF) and 0.10% (with respect to VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF) of its average daily assets. Offering costs excluded from the annual unitary management fee are: (a) legal fees pertaining to a Fund’s Shares offered for sale; (b) Securities and Exchange Commission and state registration fees; and (c) initial fees paid for Shares of a Fund to be listed on an exchange. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser has agreed to pay all such offering costs until at least September 1, 2024 with respect to each Fund.


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Manager of Managers Structure. With respect to VanEck BDC Income ETF, VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF, VanEck Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF, VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF, VanEck Green Bond ETF, VanEck International High Yield Bond ETF, VanEck Moody's Analytics BBB Corporate Bond ETF and VanEck Moody's Analytics IG Corporate Bond ETF, the Adviser and the Trust may rely on an exemptive order (the “Order”) from the Securities and Exchange Commission that permits the Adviser to enter into investment sub-advisory agreements with unaffiliated sub-advisers without obtaining shareholder approval. The Adviser, subject to the review and approval of the Board of Trustees, may select one or more sub-advisers for the Fund and supervise, monitor and evaluate the performance of each sub-adviser.

The Order also permits the Adviser, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, to replace sub-advisers and amend investment sub-advisory agreements, including applicable fee arrangements, without shareholder approval whenever the Adviser and the Board of Trustees believe such action will benefit the Funds and their shareholders. The Adviser thus would have the responsibility (subject to the oversight of the Board of Trustees) to recommend the hiring and replacement of sub-advisers as well as the discretion to terminate any sub-adviser and reallocate a Fund’s assets for management among any other sub-adviser(s) and itself. This means that the Adviser would be able to reduce the sub-advisory fees and retain a larger portion of the management fee, or increase the sub-advisory fees and retain a smaller portion of the management fee. The Adviser would compensate each sub-adviser out of its management fee.

Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent. Van Eck Associates Corporation is the administrator for the Funds (the “Administrator”), and State Street Bank and Trust Company is the custodian of the Funds’ assets and provides transfer agency and fund accounting services to the Funds. The Administrator is responsible for certain clerical, recordkeeping and/or bookkeeping services which are required to be provided pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement.

Distributor. Van Eck Securities Corporation is the distributor of the Shares (the "Distributor"). The Distributor will not distribute Shares in less than a specified number of Shares, each called a "Creation Unit," and does not maintain a secondary market in the Shares. The Shares are traded in the secondary market.


PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The portfolio manager who is currently responsible for the day-to-day management of each of the VanEck Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF’s, VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF’s, VanEck Green Bond ETF’s, VanEck International High Yield Bond ETF’s, VanEck IG Floating Rate ETF’s, VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF’s, VanEck Moody's Analytics BBB Corporate Bond ETF's and VanEck Moody's Analytics IG Corporate Bond ETF's portfolios is Francis G. Rodilosso. The portfolio managers who currently share joint responsibility for the day-to-day management of each of the VanEck BDC Income ETF’s, VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF’s and VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF’s portfolios are Peter H. Liao and Griffin Driscoll. The portfolio managers who currently share joint responsibility for the day-to-day management of the VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF are David Schassler and John Lau.

Mr. Rodilosso has been employed by the Adviser as a portfolio manager since March 2012. Mr. Rodilosso graduated from Princeton University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts and from the Wharton School of Business in 1993 with a Masters of Business Administration.

Mr. Liao has been employed by the Adviser as an analyst since the summer of 2004 and has been a portfolio manager since 2006. Mr. Liao graduated from New York University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Mathematics.

Mr. Schassler has been employed by the Adviser as a portfolio manager since May 2016, a deputy portfolio manager from 2015 to 2016 and a director of manager research from 2012 to 2015. Mr. Schassler graduated from the State University of New York College at Cortland in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts and from the NYU Stern School of Business in 2012 with a Masters of Business Administration.

Mr. Lau is deputy portfolio manager of the Fund. He has been employed with the Adviser since 2007 and has over 10 years’ experience in the financial markets. Mr. Lau received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Financial Analysis from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Mr. Driscoll is deputy portfolio manager of the Fund. He has been employed with the Adviser since 2018 and has over 6 years' experience in the financial markets. Mr. Driscoll received his Bachelor of Science in Finance from Providence College.

Each of Messrs. Driscoll, Lau, Liao, Rodilosso and Schassler serve as a portfolio manager of other funds of the Trust. Messrs. Driscoll, Lau, Liao, Rodilosso and Schassler also serve as portfolio managers for certain other investment companies and pooled investment vehicles advised by the Adviser. See the Funds’ SAI for additional information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and their respective ownership of Shares of each Fund.


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SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

DETERMINATION OF NAV

The net asset value (“NAV”) per Share for each Fund is computed by dividing the value of the net assets of the Fund (i.e., the value of its total assets less total liabilities) by the total number of Shares outstanding. Expenses and fees, including the management fee, are accrued daily and taken into account for purposes of determining NAV. The NAV of each Fund is determined each business day as of the close of trading (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on the New York Stock Exchange.

The values of each Fund’s portfolio securities are based on the securities’ closing prices on the markets on which the securities trade, when available. Due to the time differences between the United States and certain countries in which certain Funds invest, securities on these exchanges may not trade at times when Shares of the Fund will trade. In the absence of a last reported sales price, or if no sales were reported, and for other assets for which market quotes are not readily available, values may be based on quotes obtained from a quotation reporting system, established market makers or by an outside independent pricing service. Debt instruments with remaining maturities of more than 60 days are valued at the evaluated mean price provided by an outside independent pricing service. If an outside independent pricing service is unable to provide a valuation, the instrument is valued at the mean of the highest bid and the lowest asked quotes obtained from one or more brokers or dealers selected by the Adviser. Prices obtained by an outside independent pricing service may use information provided by market makers or estimates of market values obtained from yield data related to investments or securities with similar characteristics and may use a computerized grid matrix of securities and its evaluations in determining what it believes is the fair value of the portfolio securities. Short-term debt instruments having a maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost. Any assets or liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are converted into U.S. dollars at the current market rates on the date of valuation as quoted by one or more sources. If a market quotation for a security or other asset is not readily available or the Adviser believes it does not otherwise accurately reflect the market value of the security or asset at the time a Fund calculates its NAV, the security or asset will be fair valued by the Adviser in accordance with the Trust’s valuation policies and procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. Each Fund may also use fair value pricing in a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to, situations when the value of a security in the Fund’s portfolio has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the market on which the security is principally traded (such as a corporate action or other news that may materially affect the price of a security) or trading in a security has been suspended or halted. In addition, each Fund that holds foreign equity securities currently expects that it will fair value certain of the foreign equity securities held by the Fund, if any, each day the Fund calculates its NAV, except those securities principally traded on exchanges that close at the same time the Fund calculates its NAV.

Accordingly, a Fund’s NAV may reflect certain portfolio securities’ fair values rather than their market prices at the time the exchanges on which they principally trade close. Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that a fair value determination for a security or other asset is materially different than the value that could be realized upon the sale of such security or asset. In addition, fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate a Fund’s NAV and the prices used by such Fund’s respective Index. This may adversely affect a Fund’s ability to track its Index. With respect to securities that are principally traded on foreign exchanges, the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities may change on days when you will not be able to purchase or sell your Shares.

INTRADAY VALUE

The trading prices of the Funds’ Shares in the secondary market generally differ from the Funds’ daily NAV and are affected by market forces such as the supply of and demand for Fund Shares and underlying securities held by each Fund, economic conditions and other factors. Information regarding the intraday value of the Funds’ Shares (“IIV”) may be disseminated throughout each trading day by an Exchange or by market data vendors or other information providers. The IIV is based on the current market value of the securities and/or cash required to be deposited in exchange for a Creation Unit. The IIV does not necessarily reflect the precise composition of the current portfolio of securities held by each Fund at a particular point in time or the best possible valuation of the current portfolio. Therefore, the IIV should not be viewed as a “real-time” update of the Funds’ NAV, which is computed only once a day. The IIV is generally determined by using current market quotations and/or price quotations obtained from broker-dealers and other market intermediaries that may trade in the portfolio securities held by each Fund and valuations based on current market rates. The quotations and/or valuations of certain Fund holdings may not be updated during U.S. trading hours if such holdings do not trade in the United States. Each Fund is not involved in, or responsible for, the calculation or dissemination of the IIV and makes no warranty as to its accuracy.

RULE 144A AND OTHER UNREGISTERED SECURITIES

An AP (i.e., a person eligible to place orders with the Distributor to create or redeem Creation Units of a Fund) that is not a “qualified institutional buyer,” as such term is defined under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), will not be able to receive, as part of a redemption, restricted securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A or other unregistered securities.

BUYING AND SELLING EXCHANGE-TRADED SHARES

The Shares of the Funds are listed on an Exchange. If you buy or sell Shares in the secondary market, you will incur customary brokerage commissions and charges and may pay some or all of the “spread,” which is any difference between the bid price and the ask price. The spread varies over time for a Fund’s Shares based on the Fund’s trading volume and market liquidity, and is generally lower if the Funds have high trading volume and market liquidity, and generally higher if the Funds have little trading volume and market liquidity (which is often the case for funds that are newly launched or small in size). In times of severe market


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disruption or low trading volume in a Fund’s Shares, this spread can increase significantly. It is anticipated that the Shares will trade in the secondary market at prices that may differ to varying degrees from the NAV of the Shares. During periods of disruptions to creations and redemptions or the existence of extreme market volatility, the market prices of Shares are more likely to differ significantly from the Shares’ NAV.

The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) serves as securities depository for the Shares. (The Shares may be held only in book-entry form; stock certificates will not be issued.) DTC, or its nominee, is the record or registered owner of all outstanding Shares. Beneficial ownership of Shares will be shown on the records of DTC or its participants (described below). Beneficial owners of Shares are not entitled to have Shares registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificates in definitive form and are not considered the registered holder thereof. Accordingly, to exercise any rights of a holder of Shares, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of: (i) DTC; (ii) “DTC Participants,” i.e., securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC; and (iii) “Indirect Participants,” i.e., brokers, dealers, banks and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly, through which such beneficial owner holds its interests. The Trust understands that under existing industry practice, in the event the Trust requests any action of holders of Shares, or a beneficial owner desires to take any action that DTC, as the record owner of all outstanding Shares, is entitled to take, DTC would authorize the DTC Participants to take such action and that the DTC Participants would authorize the Indirect Participants and beneficial owners acting through such DTC Participants to take such action and would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them. As described above, the Trust recognizes DTC or its nominee as the owner of all Shares for all purposes. For more information, see the section entitled “Book Entry Only System” in the Funds’ SAI.

Each Exchange is open for trading Monday through Friday and is closed on weekends and 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. Because non-U.S. exchanges may be open on days when a Fund does not price its Shares, the value of the securities in the Fund’s portfolio may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or sell a Fund’s Shares.

The right of redemption by an AP may be suspended or the date of payment postponed (1) for any period during which an Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); (2) for any period during which trading on an Exchange is suspended or restricted; (3) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of the Shares of a Fund or determination of its NAV is not reasonably practicable; or (4) in such other circumstance as is permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Market Timing and Related Matters. The Funds impose no restrictions on the frequency of purchases and redemptions. Frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund Shares may attempt to take advantage of a potential arbitrage opportunity presented by a lag between a change in the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities after the close of the primary markets for a Fund’s portfolio securities and the reflection of that change in a Fund’s NAV (“market timing”). The Board of Trustees considered the nature of each Fund (i.e., a fund whose Shares are expected to trade intraday), that the Adviser monitors the trading activity of APs for patterns of abusive trading, that the Funds reserve the right to reject orders that may be disruptive to the management of or otherwise not in the Funds’ best interests, and that each Fund may fair value certain of its securities. Given this structure, the Board of Trustees determined that it is not necessary to impose restrictions on the frequency of purchases and redemptions for the Funds at the present time.

DISTRIBUTIONS

Net Investment Income and Capital Gains. As a shareholder of a Fund, you are entitled to your share of such Fund’s distributions of net investment income and net realized capital gains on its investments. Each Fund pays out substantially all of its net earnings to its shareholders as “distributions.”

Each Fund typically earns income dividends from stocks and/or interest from debt securities. These amounts, net of expenses, are typically passed along to Fund shareholders as dividends from net investment income. Each Fund generally realizes capital gains or losses whenever it sells securities. Net capital gains are distributed to shareholders as “capital gain distributions.” Distributions from a Fund’s net investment income, including any net short-term capital gains, if any, are taxable to you as ordinary income. Any long-term capital gains distributions you receive from a Fund are taxable as long-term capital gains.

Net investment income, if any, is typically distributed to shareholders at least monthly by each Fund (quarterly with respect to VanEck BDC Income ETF and VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF) while net realized capital gains, if any, are typically distributed to shareholders at least annually. Dividends may be declared and paid more frequently to improve index tracking or to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. In addition, in situations where a Fund acquires investment securities after the beginning of a dividend period, the Funds may elect to distribute at least annually amounts representing the full dividend yield net of expenses on the underlying investment securities, as if the Funds owned the underlying investment securities for the entire dividend period. If a Fund so elects, some portion of each distribution may result in a return of capital, which, for tax purposes, is treated as a return on your investment in Shares. You will be notified regarding the portion of the distribution which represents a return of capital.


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Distributions in cash may be reinvested automatically in additional Shares of your Fund only if the broker through which you purchased Shares makes such option available.

TAX INFORMATION

As with any investment, you should consider how your Fund investment will be taxed. The tax information in this Prospectus is provided as general information. You should consult your own tax professional about the tax consequences of an investment in the Funds, including the possible application of foreign, state and local taxes. Unless your investment in a Fund is through a tax-exempt entity or tax-deferred retirement account, such as a 401(k) plan, you need to be aware of the possible tax consequences when: (i) a Fund makes distributions; (ii) you sell Shares in the secondary market or (iii) you create or redeem Creation Units.

Taxes on Distributions. As noted above, each Fund expects to distribute net investment income, if any, monthly (quarterly with respect to VanEck BDC Income ETF and VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF), and any net realized long-term or short-term capital gains, if any, annually. Each Fund may also pay a special distribution at any time to comply with U.S. federal tax requirements.

In general, your distributions are subject to U.S. federal income tax when they are paid, whether you take them in cash or reinvest them in a Fund. Distributions from a Fund’s net investment income, including any net short-term gains, if any, are taxable to you as ordinary income. Whether distributions of capital gains represent long-term or short-term capital gains is determined by how long a Fund owned the investments that generated them, rather than how long you have owned your Shares. Distributions of net short-term capital gain in excess of net long-term capital losses, if any, are generally taxable as ordinary income. Distributions of net long-term capital gains in excess of net short-term capital losses, if any, that are properly reported as capital gain dividends are generally taxable as long-term capital gains. Long-term capital gains of a non-corporate shareholder are generally taxable at a maximum rate of 15% or 20%, depending on whether the shareholder’s income exceeds certain threshold amounts (but the 25% capital gain tax rate will remain applicable to 25% rate gain distributions received by VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF).

The Funds, except for VanEck BDC Income ETF, VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF, VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF and VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF, do not expect that any of their distributions will be qualified dividends eligible for lower tax rates or for the corporate dividends received deduction. In the event that VanEck BDC Income ETF, VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF, VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF and VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF receive such a dividend and report the distribution of such dividend as a qualified dividend, the dividend may be taxed at maximum capital gains rates of 15% or 20%, provided holding period and other requirements are met at both the shareholder and the Fund level. There can be no assurance that any significant portion of the VanEck BDC Income ETF’s, VanEck Dynamic High Income ETF’s, VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF’s or VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF’s distributions will be eligible for qualified dividend treatment.

Distributions in excess of a Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits are treated as a tax-free return of your investment to the extent of your basis in the Shares, and generally as capital gain thereafter. A return of capital, which for tax purposes is treated as a return of your investment, reduces your basis in Shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition of Shares. A distribution will reduce a Fund’s NAV per Share and may be taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gain even though, from an economic standpoint, the distribution may constitute a return of capital.

Dividends, interest and gains from non-U.S. investments of the Funds may give rise to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may, in some cases, reduce or eliminate such taxes.

If more than 50% of the Fund's total assets at the end of its taxable year consist of foreign securities or if at least 50% of the value of the Fund's total assets at the close of each quarter end is represented by interests in RICs, the Fund may elect to "pass through" to its investors certain foreign income taxes paid by the Fund, with the result that each investor will (i) include in gross income, as an additional dividend, even though not actually received, the investor's pro rata share of the Fund's foreign income taxes, and (ii) either deduct (in calculating U.S. taxable income) or credit (in calculating U.S. federal income), subject to certain holding period and other limitations, the investor's pro rata share of the Fund's foreign income taxes. It is expected that more than 50% of each Fund's assets will consist of foreign securities or interests in RICs, except for, VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF, VanEck IG Floating Rate ETF, VanEck Moody's Analytics BBB Corporate Bond ETF, VanEck Moody's Analytics IG Corporate Bond ETF, VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF and VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF.

Backup Withholding. A Fund may be required to withhold a percentage of your distributions and proceeds if you have not provided a taxpayer identification number or social security number or otherwise established a basis for exemption from backup withholding. The backup withholding rate for individuals is currently 24%. This is not an additional tax and may be refunded, or credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability, provided certain required information is furnished to the IRS.

Taxes on the Sale or Cash Redemption of Exchange Listed Shares. Currently, any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Shares is generally treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the Shares have been held for more than one year and as a short-term capital gain or loss if held for one year or less. However, any capital loss on a sale of Shares held for six months or less is treated as long-term capital loss to the extent that capital gain dividends were paid with respect to such Shares. The ability to


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deduct capital losses may be limited. To the extent that a Fund’s shareholder’s Shares are redeemed for cash, this is normally treated as a sale for tax purposes.

Taxes on Creations and Redemptions of Creation Units. A person who exchanges securities for Creation Units generally will recognize a gain or loss. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the market value of the Creation Units at the time of exchange and the sum of the exchanger’s aggregate basis in the securities surrendered and the amount of any cash paid for such Creation Units. A person who exchanges Creation Units for securities will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the exchanger’s basis in the Creation Units and the sum of the aggregate market value of the securities received. The IRS, however, may assert that a loss realized upon an exchange of primarily 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 for Creation Units or redeeming Creation Units should consult their own tax adviser with respect to whether wash sale rules apply and when a loss might be deductible and the tax treatment of any creation or redemption transaction.

Under current U.S. federal income tax laws, any capital gain or loss realized upon a redemption (or creation) of Creation Units held as capital assets is generally treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the Shares (or securities surrendered) have been held for more than one year and as a short-term capital gain or loss if the Shares (or securities surrendered) have been held for one year or less.

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

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

Non-U.S. Shareholders. Dividends paid by a Fund to non-U.S. shareholders are generally subject to withholding tax at a 30% rate or a reduced rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty to the extent derived from investment income and short-term capital gains. Dividends paid by a Fund from long-term capital gains are generally not subject to such withholding tax. Properly-reported dividends are generally exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax where they (i) are paid in respect of a Fund’s “qualified net interest income” (generally, a Fund’s U.S. source interest income, other than certain contingent interest and interest from obligations of a corporation or partnership in which a Fund is at least a 10% shareholder, reduced by expenses that are allocable to such income); or (ii) are paid in respect of a Fund’s “qualified short-term capital gains” (generally, the excess of a Fund’s net short-term capital gain over a Fund’s long-term capital loss for such taxable year). However, depending on its circumstances, a Fund may report all, some or none of its potentially eligible dividends as such qualified net interest income or as qualified short-term capital gains and/or treat such dividends, in whole or in part, as ineligible for this exemption from withholding.

Any capital gain realized by a non-U.S. shareholder upon a sale of Shares of a Fund will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax unless (i) the gain is effectively connected with the shareholder’s trade or business in the United States, or in the case of a shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual, the shareholder is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and certain other conditions are met or (ii) the Fund is or has been a U.S. real property holding corporation, as defined below, at any time within the five-year period preceding the date of disposition of the Fund’s Shares or, if shorter, within the period during which the non-U.S. shareholder has held the Shares. Generally, a corporation is a U.S. real property holding corporation if the fair market value of its U.S. real property interests, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and applicable regulations, equals or exceeds 50% of the aggregate fair market value of its worldwide real property interests and its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business. A Fund may be, or may prior to a non-U.S. shareholder’s disposition of Shares become, a U.S. real property holding corporation. If a Fund is or becomes a U.S. real property holding corporation, so long as the Fund’s Shares are regularly traded on an established securities market, only a non-U.S. shareholder who holds or held (at any time during the shorter of the five-year period preceding the date of disposition or the holder’s holding period) more than 5% (directly or indirectly as determined under applicable attribution rules of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) of the Fund’s Shares will be subject to United States federal income tax on the disposition of Shares.

As part of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”), a Fund may be required to withhold 30% tax on certain types of U.S. sourced income (e.g., dividends, interest, and other types of passive income) paid to (i) foreign financial institutions (“FFIs”), including non-U.S. investment funds, unless they agree to collect and disclose to the IRS information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. account holders and (ii) certain nonfinancial foreign entities (“NFFEs”), unless they certify certain information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. owners. To avoid possible withholding, FFIs will need to enter into agreements with the IRS which state that they will provide the IRS information, including the names, account numbers and balances, addresses and taxpayer identification numbers of U.S. account holders and comply with due diligence procedures with respect to the identification of U.S. accounts as well as agree to withhold tax on certain types of withholdable payments made to non-compliant foreign financial institutions or to applicable foreign account holders who fail to provide the required information to the IRS, or similar account information and required documentation to a local revenue authority, should an applicable intergovernmental agreement be


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implemented. NFFEs will need to provide certain information regarding each substantial U.S. owner or certifications of no substantial U.S. ownership, unless certain exceptions apply, or agree to provide certain information to the IRS.

A Fund may be subject to the FATCA withholding obligation, and also will be required to perform due diligence reviews to classify foreign entity investors for FATCA purposes. Investors are required to agree to provide information necessary to allow a Fund to comply with the FATCA rules. If a Fund is required to withhold amounts from payments pursuant to FATCA, investors will receive distributions that are reduced by such withholding amounts.

Non-U.S. shareholders are advised to consult their tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Funds, including the possible applicability of the U.S. estate tax.

The foregoing discussion summarizes some of the consequences under current U.S. federal income tax law of an investment in a Fund. It is not a substitute for personal tax advice. Consult your own tax advisor about the potential tax consequences of an investment in a Fund under all applicable tax laws. Changes in applicable tax authority could materially affect the conclusions discussed above and could adversely affect the Funds, and such changes often occur.


INDEX PROVIDERS

The Emerging Markets Global Core Index is published by JPMorgan Securities Inc. (“J.P. Morgan”). The BBB Index, BDC Index, Floating Rate Index, Mortgage REITs Index and US IG Index are published by MarketVector Indexes GmbH (“MarketVector Indexes”), which is an indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser. The Emerging Markets High Yield Index, Fallen Angel Index, International High Yield Index and Preferred Securities Index are published by ICE Data Indices, LLC (“ICE Data”) and its affiliates. The Green Bond Index is published by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC ("S&P Dow Jones"). J.P. Morgan, MarketVector Indexes, ICE Data and S&P Dow Jones are referred to herein as the “Index Providers.” The Index Providers do not sponsor, endorse, or promote the Funds and bear no liability with respect to the Funds or any security.


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MVIS® US BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMPANIES INDEX

The BDC Index is a rules based, modified capitalization weighted, float adjusted index intended to give investors a means of tracking the overall performance of BDCs. To be eligible for the BDC Index and qualify as a BDC, a company must be organized under the laws of, and have its principal place of business in, the United States, be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and have elected to be regulated as a BDC under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

To be eligible for addition to the BDC Index, stocks must have a market capitalization of greater than $150 million as of the end of the month prior to the month in which a rebalancing date occurs. Stocks must have a three-month average daily trading volume value of at least $1 million at a review and also at the previous two reviews to be eligible for the BDC Index and issuers of such stocks must have traded at least 250,000 shares each month over the last six months at a review and also at the previous two reviews.

The BDC Index is calculated and maintained by Solactive AG on behalf of MarketVector Indexes.

The BDC Index is reconstituted and rebalanced quarterly. MarketVector Indexes may delay or change a scheduled rebalancing or reconstitution of the BDC Index or the implementation of certain rules at its sole discretion.


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ICE BOFA DIVERSIFIED HIGH YIELD US EMERGING MARKETS CORPORATE PLUS INDEX

The Emerging Markets High Yield Index is comprised of U.S. dollar denominated bonds issued by non-sovereign emerging market issuers that have a below investment grade rating (in accordance with ICE Data’s methodology) and that are issued in the major domestic and Eurobond markets. In order to qualify for inclusion in the Emerging Markets High Yield Index, an issuer must have risk exposure to countries other than members of the FX Group of Ten, all Western European countries and territories of the United States and Western European countries. The FX Group of Ten includes all Euro members, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The Emerging Markets High Yield Index includes corporate and quasi-government bonds of qualifying countries, but excludes sovereign and supranational bonds.

The Emerging Markets High Yield Index constituents are capitalization-weighted based on their current amount outstanding times the market price plus accrued interest, subject to a 10% country of risk cap and a 3% issuer cap.

The Emerging Markets High Yield Index is rebalanced on the last calendar day of each month. ICE Data may delay or change a scheduled rebalancing or reconstitution of the Emerging Markets High Yield Index or the implementation of certain rules at its sole discretion.


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ICE US FALLEN ANGEL HIGH YIELD 10% CONSTRAINED INDEX

The Fallen Angel Index is comprised of below investment grade corporate bonds denominated in U.S. dollars that were rated investment grade at the time of issuance. Qualifying securities must be issued in the U.S. domestic market and have a below investment grade rating (in accordance with the ICE Data’s methodology). The Fallen Angel Index includes bonds issued by both U.S. and non-U.S. issuers. The country of risk of qualifying issuers must be a member of the FX Group of Ten, a western European nation, or a territory of the U.S. or a Western European nation. The FX Group of Ten includes all Euro members, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

A single issuer may not comprise more than 10% of the Fallen Angel Index. The Fallen Angel Index constituents are capitalization weighted, subject to the issuer cap, based on their current amount outstanding.

The Fallen Angel Index is rebalanced on the last calendar day of the month. ICE Data may delay or change a scheduled rebalancing or reconstitution of the Fallen Angel Index or the implementation of certain rules at its sole discretion.


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S&P GREEN BOND U.S. DOLLAR SELECT INDEX

The Green Bond Index is designed to provide a broad measure of the performance of the investable, U.S. dollar-denominated “green” bond market. The Green Bond Index is comprised of bonds issued for qualified “green” purposes and seeks to measure the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated “green”- labeled bonds issued globally. For a bond to be eligible for inclusion in the Green Bond Index, the issuer of the bond must indicate the bond’s “green” label and the rationale behind it, such as the intended use of proceeds. As an additional filter, the bond must be flagged as “green” by Climate Bonds Initiative (“CBI”) to be eligible for inclusion in the Green Bond Index. The Green Bond Index includes supranational, corporate, government related, sovereign and securitized “green” bonds issued throughout the world (including emerging market countries), and may include both investment grade and below investment grade securities (commonly referred to as high yield securities or “junk bonds”). The maximum weight of below investment grade bonds (excluding any unrated bonds that are issued or guaranteed by a government-sponsored enterprise) in the Green Bond Index is capped at 20%. No more than 10% of the Green Bond Index can be invested in a single issuer.

Qualifying securities must have (1) a maturity of at least 12 months at the time of issuance to be included, (2) at least one month remaining until maturity at each rebalancing date, and (3) a minimum par amount outstanding of $200 million, to be included in the Green Bond Index. All bonds must be rated by at least one credit rating agency, except that up to 10% of the Green Bond Index can be invested in unrated bonds that are issued or guaranteed by a government-sponsored enterprise.

The Green Bond Index is a market-value weighted index (subject to issuer and credit rating caps). The Green Bond Index includes bonds across sectors, countries and maturities.

The composition of the Green Bond Index is rebalanced monthly. Bonds that have defaulted are removed from the Green Bond Index at the next rebalancing. S&P Dow Jones may delay or change a scheduled rebalancing or reconstitution of the Green Bond Index or the implementation of certain rules at its sole discretion.


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MVIS® US INVESTMENT GRADE FLOATING RATE INDEX

The Floating Rate Index is designed to track the performance of U.S. investment grade floating rate notes with outstanding issue sizes of greater than or equal to $500 million. The Floating Rate Index is comprised of U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate notes issued by corporate entities or similar commercial entities that are public reporting companies in the United States. Floating Rate Index securities must have an investment grade rating (in accordance with the MarketVector Indexes’ methodology).

To be eligible for inclusion in the Floating Rate Index, investment grade floating rate notes must be issued by issuers that are formed as corporations, limited liability companies and similar types of entities that are engaged in a financial or commercial enterprise. Notes issued by governments, sovereigns, quasi-sovereigns, not-for-profit entities and government backed entities are not eligible.

Securities included in the Floating Rate Index must have a minimum of 0.5 years remaining to maturity.

The Floating Rate Index is calculated and maintained by Solactive AG on behalf of MarketVector Indexes.

The weight of any single constituent is capped at 2.00%. The Floating Rate Index is reconstituted and rebalanced monthly. MarketVector Indexes may delay or change a scheduled rebalancing or reconstitution of the Floating Rate Index or the implementation of certain rules at its sole discretion.


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ICE BOFA GLOBAL EX-US ISSUERS HIGH YIELD CONSTRAINED INDEX

The International High Yield Index tracks the performance of below investment grade debt issued by corporations located throughout the world (which may include emerging market countries) excluding the United States, denominated in euros, U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars or pound sterling and issued in the major domestic or eurobond markets. Qualifying securities must have a below investment grade rating (in accordance with the ICE Data’s methodology).

International High Yield Index constituents are capitalization-weighted, based on their current amount outstanding multiplied by the market price plus accrued interest, provided the total allocation to an individual issuer does not exceed 3%.

The International High Yield Index is rebalanced on the last calendar day of the month. ICE Data may delay or change a scheduled rebalancing or reconstitution of the International High Yield Index or the implementation of certain rules at its sole discretion.


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J.P. MORGAN GBI–EM GLOBAL CORE INDEX

The Emerging Markets Global Core Index is designed to track the performance of bonds issued by emerging market governments and denominated in the local currency of the issuer. The Emerging Markets Global Core Index is designed to be investible and includes only those countries that are accessible by most of the international investor base. J.P. Morgan selects bonds from emerging market countries that are fixed-rate, domestic currency government bonds with greater than six (6) months to maturity.

Countries eligible for inclusion in the Emerging Markets Global Core Index are countries that either meet the GNI per capita-based Index Income Ceiling ("IIC") criterion or the PPP-based Index PPP Ratio ("IPR") criterion. J.P. Morgan defines the IIC as the GNI per capital level that is adjusted every year by the growth rate of the World GNI per capita, Atlas method (current US$), provided by the World Bank annually. An existing country may be considered for removal from the index if its GNI per capita is above the Index Income Ceiling (IIC) for three consecutive years and the country’s long term foreign currency sovereign credit rating (the available ratings from all three major rating agencies: is A- /A3/A- (inclusive) or above for three consecutive years). The IPR is calculated from the one-year lagged GDP data available in IMF’s World Economic Outlook publication. The EM IPR threshold is an indexed number which tracks the changes to the World IPR. IPR = GDP (current prices, USD) / GDP (current prices, PPP dollars) * 100. IPR criterion states that a country’s IPR should be below the EM threshold for three consecutive years, to be eligible. Changes in country eligibility may warrant the re-categorization of countries into and out of the Emerging Markets Global Core Index.

The Emerging Markets Global Core Index excludes countries with explicit capital controls, but does not factor in regulatory/tax hurdles in assessing eligibility, unless such regulatory or tax hurdles significantly hinder an investor’s ability to replicate the Emerging Markets Global Core Index.

Countries in the Emerging Markets Global Core Index are subject to a maximum weight of 10% and a minimum weight of 1% to 3% depending on the amount of the country’s eligible debt outstanding. The Emerging Markets Global Core Index is rebalanced monthly. J.P. Morgan may delay or change a scheduled rebalancing or reconstitution of the Emerging Markets Global Core Index or the implementation of certain rules at its sole discretion.


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MVIS MOODY'S ANALYTICS US BBB CORPORATE BOND INDEX

The BBB Index is designed to track the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated BBB-rated corporate bonds issued in the U.S. domestic market by U.S. and non-U.S. issuers that MarketVector Indexes determines offer an excess spread over fair value, while excluding bonds exhibiting the highest probability of being downgraded to non-investment grade, based on proprietary credit risk metrics developed and licensed by Moody’s Analytics, Inc. (“Moody’s Analytics”). The BBB Index uses ICE BofA US Corporate Index as its index universe. MarketVector Indexes constructs the BBB Index using a rules-based methodology that involves the following steps:

Step 1: Bonds with a BBB rating, based on the bond’s composite rating, are grouped into categories based on sector and duration.

Step 2: Within each category, MarketVector Indexes ranks each bond by a factor that measures the bond's excess spread over fair value. If a bond is not already included in the BBB Index, it must rank within the highest 10% within its respective category to qualify. If a bond is already included in the BBB Index, it must rank within the highest 40% within its respective category to qualify.

Step 3: Each bond selected in Step 2 is ranked by the probability of its issuer being downgraded to non-investment grade using a downgrade probability factor developed by Moody's Analytics. If the probability of being downgraded is 20% or greater and the bond does not rank within the highest 10% by excess spread over fair value within its category, the bond is excluded from the BBB Index.

Bonds no longer rated BBB, including non-investment grade bonds, are removed from the BBB Index at the end of the month in which they are upgraded or downgraded in connection with the BBB Index’s next scheduled rebalance.

The BBB Index uses a modified market cap weighting. Single issuer exposure is capped at 5% and sector exposure is capped at 25%. The BBB Index is calculated by ICE Data Indices, LLC or its affiliates (“ICE Data”). The calculation of the BBB Index makes use of certain methodologies and calculation formulas as described in the Bond Index Methodologies publication accessible at https://indices.theice.com under the Publication - General Methodology.

The BBB Index is reconstituted and rebalanced monthly. MarketVector Indexes may delay or change a scheduled rebalancing or reconstitution of the BBB Index or the implementation of certain rules at its sole discretion.


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MVIS MOODY'S ANALYTICS US INVESTMENT GRADE CORPORATE BOND INDEX

The US IG Index is designed to track the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated investment grade corporate bonds issued in the U.S. domestic market by U.S. and non-U.S. issuers that MarketVector Indexes determines offer an excess spread over fair value, while excluding bonds exhibiting the highest probability of being downgraded to non-investment grade, based on proprietary credit risk metrics developed and licensed by Moody's Analytics, Inc. (“Moody's Analytics”). The US IG Index uses ICE BofA US Corporate Index as its index universe. MarketVector Indexes constructs the US IG Index using a rules-based methodology that involves the following steps:

Step 1: Bonds are grouped into categories based on sector and duration.

Step 2: Within each category, MarketVector Indexes ranks each bond by a factor that measures the bond's excess spread over fair value. If a bond is not already included in the US IG Index, it must rank within the highest 5% within its respective category to qualify. If a bond is already included in the US IG Index, it must rank within the highest 40% within its respective category to qualify.

Step 3: Each bond selected in Step 2 is ranked by the probability of its issuer being downgraded to non-investment grade using a downgrade probability factor developed by Moody's Analytics. If the probability of being downgraded is 20% or greater and the bond does not rank within the highest 5% by excess spread over fair value within its category, the bond is excluded from the US IG Index.

Bonds that fall below investment grade are removed from the US IG Index at the end of the month in which they are downgraded in connection with the US IG Index's next scheduled rebalance.

The US IG Index uses a modified market cap weighting. Single issuer exposure is capped at 3% and sector exposure is capped at 25%.

The US IG Index is calculated by ICE Data Indices, LLC or its affiliates (“ICE Data”). The calculation of the US IG Index makes use of certain methodologies and calculation formulas as described in the Bond Index Methodologies publication accessible at https://indices.theice.com under the Publication - General Methodology.

The US IG Index is reconstituted and rebalanced monthly. MarketVector Indexes may delay or change a scheduled rebalancing or reconstitution of the US IG Index or the implementation of certain rules at its sole discretion.


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MVIS® US MORTGAGE REITS INDEX

The Mortgage REITs Index is a rules based, modified capitalization weighted, float adjusted index intended to give investors a means of tracking the overall performance of publicly traded U.S. REITs that derive at least 50% of their revenues from mortgage-related activity. Mortgage-related activity includes companies or trusts that are primarily engaged in the purchase or service of commercial or residential mortgage loans or mortgage related securities.

To be initially eligible for addition to the Mortgage REITs Index, (i) companies must generate at least 50% of their revenues from (or, in certain circumstances, have at least 50% of their assets related to) mortgage-related activity (as defined above) and (ii) stocks must have a market capitalization of greater than $150 million as of the end of the month prior to the month in which a rebalancing date occurs. Stocks must have a three month average daily trading volume value of at least $1 million at a review and also at the previous two reviews to be eligible for the Mortgage REITs Index and issuers of such stocks must have traded at least 250,000 shares each month over the last six months at a review and also at the previous two reviews. The Mortgage REITs Index includes stocks of publicly traded U.S. REITs that meet the eligibility requirements described above. Only REITs that are listed and

incorporated in the United States will be eligible for inclusion in the Mortgage REITs Index.

The Mortgage REITs Index is calculated and maintained by Solactive AG on behalf of MarketVector Indexes.

The Mortgage REITs Index is reconstituted and rebalanced quarterly. MarketVector Indexes may delay or change a scheduled rebalancing or reconstitution of the Mortgage REITs Index or the implementation of certain rules at its sole discretion.


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ICE EXCHANGE-LISTED FIXED & ADJUSTABLE RATE NON-FINANCIAL PREFERRED SECURITIES INDEX

The Preferred Securities Index tracks the performance of exchange-listed US dollar denominated hybrid debt, preferred stock and convertible preferred stock publicly issued by non-financial corporations in the US domestic market. It includes both rated and unrated securities, and securities with either a fixed or floating rate coupon or dividend. Qualifying securities must be exchange listed and have either the NASDAQ or NYSE® as their primary exchange in order to be included in the index. In addition, qualifying securities must have at least $250 million face amount outstanding and at least one day remaining to maturity and at least 250,000 average monthly trading volume over the previous six-month period.

The Preferred Securities Index constituents are capitalization-weighted and the index is rebalanced on the last calendar day of the month. ICE Data, as the Preferred Securities Index Administrator, may at any time delay or change a scheduled rebalancing or reconstitution of the Preferred Securities Index or the implementation of certain rules at its sole discretion.


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LICENSE AGREEMENTS AND DISCLAIMERS

The Adviser has entered into a licensing agreement with each Index Provider to use each Fund’s respective Index. Each Fund is entitled to use its respective Index pursuant to a sublicensing arrangement with the Adviser.

J.P. Morgan is the marketing name for JPMorgan Chase & Co., and its subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide. J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. is a member of NYSE and SIPC. JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association is a member of FDIC. J.P. Morgan Futures Inc. is a member of the NFA. J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd. and J.P. Morgan plc are authorized by the FSA and members of the LSE. J.P. Morgan Europe Limited is authorized by the FSA. J.P. Morgan Equities Limited is a member of the Johannesburg Securities Exchange and is regulated by the FSB. J.P. Morgan Securities (Asia Pacific) Limited is registered as an investment adviser with the Securities & Futures Commission in Hong Kong and its CE number is AAJ321. J.P. Morgan Securities Singapore Private Limited is a member of Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited and is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore ("MAS"). J.P. Morgan Securities Asia Private Limited is regulated by the MAS and the Financial Services Agency in Japan. J.P. Morgan Australia Limited (ABN 52 002 888 011) is a licensed securities dealer.

The Shares of VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by J.P. Morgan. J.P. Morgan makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Shares of VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally, or in the Shares of VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF particularly or the Emerging Markets Global Core Index to track general bond market performance. J.P. Morgan's only relationship to the Adviser is the licensing of the Emerging Markets Global Core Index which is determined, composed and calculated by J.P. Morgan without regard to the Adviser or the Shares of VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF. J.P. Morgan has no obligation to take the needs of the Adviser or the owners of the Shares of VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Emerging Markets Global Core Index. J.P. Morgan is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Shares of VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Shares of VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF are to be converted into cash. J.P. Morgan has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Shares of VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF.

THE EMERGING MARKETS GLOBAL CORE INDEX AND/OR SHARES OF THE VANECK J.P. MORGAN EM LOCAL CURRENCY BOND ETF, IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITH ANY AND ALL FAULTS. J.P. MORGAN DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE AVAILABILITY, SEQUENCE, TIMELINESS, QUALITY, ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE EMERGING MARKETS GLOBAL CORE INDEX AND/OR SHARES OF THE VANECK J.P. MORGAN EM LOCAL CURRENCY BOND ETF AND/OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN, OR OTHERWISE OBTAINED BY THE ADVISER, OWNERS OF THE VANECK J.P. MORGAN EM LOCAL CURRENCY BOND ETF OR BY ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY, FROM ANY USE OF THE EMERGING MARKETS GLOBAL CORE INDEX AND/OR THE SHARES OF THE VANECK J.P. MORGAN EM LOCAL CURRENCY BOND ETF. J.P. MORGAN MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE EMERGING MARKETS GLOBAL CORE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN, OR OTHERWISE OBTAINED BY THE ADVISER, OWNERS OF SHARES OF THE VANECK J.P. MORGAN EM LOCAL CURRENCY BOND ETF OR BY ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY, FROM ANY USE OF THE EMERGING MARKETS GLOBAL CORE INDEX AND/OR SHARES OF THE VANECK J.P. MORGAN EM LOCAL CURRENCY BOND ETF. THERE ARE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WHICH EXTEND BEYOND THE DESCRIPTION ON THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT, IF ANY. ALL WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS OF ANY KIND WITH REGARD TO THE EMERGING MARKETS GLOBAL CORE INDEX AND/OR SHARES OF THE VANECK J.P. MORGAN LOCAL CURRENCY BOND ETF, ARE DISCLAIMED INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, QUALITY, ACCURACY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND/OR AGAINST INFRINGEMENT AND/OR WARRANTIES AS TO ANY RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY AND/OR FROM THE USE OF THE EMERGING MARKETS GLOBAL CORE INDEX.

The indexes may not be copied, used, or distributed without J.P. Morgan's prior written approval. J.P. Morgan and the J.P. Morgan index names are service mark(s) of J.P. Morgan or its affiliates and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by VanEck. No purchaser, seller or holder of this security, product or fund, or any other person or entity, should use or refer to any J.P. Morgan trade name, trademark or service mark to sponsor, endorse, market or promote this Financial Product or any other financial product without first contacting J.P. Morgan to determine whether J.P. Morgan's permission is required. Under no circumstances may any person or entity claim any affiliation with J.P. Morgan without the prior written permission of J.P. Morgan. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable but J.P. Morgan does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. Copyright 2023, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. All rights reserved.

The Adviser has entered into a licensing agreement with MarketVector Indexes to use each of the BBB Index, BDC Index, Floating Rate Index, Mortgage REITs Index and US IG Index (each an "MarketVector Index," and together, the "MarketVector Indexes"). Each of VanEck BDC Income ETF, VanEck IG Floating Rate ETF, VanEck Moody's Analytics BBB Corporate Bond ETF, VanEck Moody's Analytics IG Corporate Bond ETF and VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF (each an "MarketVector Index ETF," and together, the "MarketVector Index ETFs") is entitled to use its Index pursuant to a sub-licensing arrangement with the Adviser.


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Shares of the MarketVector Index ETFs are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by MarketVector Indexes. MarketVector Indexes makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of Shares of the MarketVector Index ETFs or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Shares of the MarketVector Index ETFs particularly or the ability of the MarketVector Indexes to track the performance of its respective securities market. MarketVector Indexes’ only relationship to the Adviser is the licensing of certain service marks and trade names and of the MarketVector Indexes that are determined, composed and calculated by MarketVector Indexes without regard to the Adviser or the Shares of the MarketVector Index ETFs. MarketVector Indexes has no obligation to take the needs of the Adviser or the owners of Shares of the MarketVector Index ETFs into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the MarketVector Indexes. MarketVector Indexes is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Shares of the MarketVector Indexes ETFs to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Shares of the MarketVector Indexes ETFs are to be converted into cash. MarketVector Indexes has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Shares of the MarketVector Indexes ETFs.

MARKETVECTOR INDEXES DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE MARKETVECTOR INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND MARKETVECTOR INDEXES SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. MARKETVECTOR INDEXES MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE ADVISER, OWNERS OF SHARES OF THE MARKETVECTOR INDEXES ETFS, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE MARKETVECTOR INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. MARKETVECTOR INDEXES MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE MARKETVECTOR INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL MARKETVECTOR INDEXES HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Shares of the MarketVector Indexes ETFs are not sponsored, promoted, sold or supported in any other manner by Solactive AG nor does Solactive AG offer any express or implicit guarantee or assurance either with regard to the results of using the MarketVector Indexes and/or its trade mark or its price at any time or in any other respect. The MarketVector Indexes are calculated and maintained by Solactive AG. Solactive AG uses its best efforts to ensure that the MarketVector Indexes are calculated correctly. Irrespective of its obligations towards MarketVector Indexes, Solactive AG has no obligation to point out errors in the MarketVector Indexes to third parties including but not limited to investors and/or financial intermediaries of the MarketVector Indexes ETFs. Neither publication of the MarketVector Indexes by Solactive AG nor the licensing of the MarketVector Indexes or its trade mark for the purpose of use in connection with the MarketVector Indexes ETFs constitutes a recommendation by Solactive AG to invest capital in the MarketVector Indexes ETFs nor does it in any way represent an assurance or opinion of Solactive AG with regard to any investment in the MarketVector Indexes ETFs. Solactive AG is not responsible for fulfilling the legal requirements concerning the accuracy and completeness of the prospectus of the MarketVector Indexes ETFs.

Source ICE Data Indices, LLC (“ICE Data”), is used with permission. “ICE” is a registered trademark of ICE Data or its affiliates. “BofA”® is a registered trademark of Bank of America Corporation licensed by Bank of America Corporation and its affiliates ("BofA") and may not be used without BofA's prior written approval. These trademarks have been licensed, along with the ICE BofA Diversified High Yield US Emerging Markets Corporate Plus Index, ICE US Fallen Angel High Yield 10% Constrained Index, ICE BofA Global Ex-US Issuers High Yield Constrained Index, ICE Exchange-Listed Fixed & Adjustable Rate Non-Financial Preferred Securities Index (collectively, the “Indices”) for use by Van Eck Associates Corporation (the “Licensee“) in connection with the VanEck Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF, VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF, VanEck International High Yield Bond ETF and the VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF (collectively, the “Products“). Neither the Licensee nor the Products, as applicable, are sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by ICE Data, its affiliates or their third party suppliers (“ICE Data and its Suppliers”). ICE Data and its Suppliers make no representations or warranties regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally, in the Products particularly, the Licensee or the ability of the Indices to track general stock market performance. Past performance of an Index is not an indicator of or a guarantee of future results.

ICE Data’s only relationship to the Licensee is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names and the Indices or components thereof. The Indices are determined, composed and calculated by ICE Data without regard to the Licensee or the Products or its holders. ICE Data has no obligation to take the needs of the Licensee or the holders of the Products into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Indices. ICE Data is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices of, or quantities of the Products to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Products are to be priced, sold, purchased, or redeemed. Except for certain custom index calculation services, all information provided by ICE Data is general in nature and not tailored to the needs of the Licensee or any other person, entity or group of persons. ICE Data has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing, or trading of the Products. ICE Data is not an investment advisor. Inclusion of a security within an index is not a recommendation by ICE Data to buy, sell, or hold such security, nor is it considered to be investment advice.

ICE DATA AND ITS SUPPLIERS DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS, EXPRESS AND/OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE, INCLUDING THE INDICES, INDEX DATA AND ANY INFORMATION INCLUDED IN, RELATED TO, OR DERIVED THEREFROM (“INDEX DATA”). ICE DATA AND ITS SUPPLIERS SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY WITH RESPECT


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TO THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INDICES AND THE INDEX DATA, WHICH ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” BASIS AND YOUR USE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK.

The S&P Green Bond U.S. Dollar Select Index (the “Green Bond Index”) is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates (“SPDJI”) and has been licensed for use by the Adviser. S&P®, S&P 500®, US 500, The 500, iBoxx®, iTraxx® and CDX® are trademarks of S&P Global, Inc. or its affiliates (“S&P”); Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”); These trademarks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by the Adviser. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. The VanEck Green Bond ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, any of their respective affiliates (collectively, “S&P Dow Jones Indices”). S&P Dow Jones Indices does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the VanEck Green Bond ETF or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the VanEck Green Bond ETF particularly or the ability of the Green Bond Index to track general market performance. Past performance of an index is not an indication or guarantee of future results. S&P Dow Jones Indices’ only relationship to the Adviser with respect to the Green Bond Index is the licensing of the Index and certain trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of S&P Dow Jones Indices and/or its licensors. The Green Bond Index is determined, composed and calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices without regard to the Adviser or the VanEck Green Bond ETF. S&P Dow Jones Indices has no obligation to take the needs of the Adviser or the owners of the VanEck Green Bond ETF into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Green Bond Index. S&P Dow Jones Indices has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the VanEck Green Bond ETF. There is no assurance that investment products based on the Green Bond Index will accurately track index performance or provide positive investment returns. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC is not an investment adviser, commodity trading advisory, commodity pool operator, broker dealer, fiduciary, promoter” (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940), “expert” as enumerated within 15 U.S.C. § 77k(a) or tax advisor. Inclusion of a security, commodity, crypto currency or other asset within an index is not a recommendation by S&P Dow Jones Indices to buy, sell, or hold such security, commodity, crypto currency or other asset, nor is it considered to be investment advice or commodity trading advice.

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149


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial highlights tables which follow are intended to help you understand the Funds’ financial performance for the past five years or as indicated. 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 a Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2023 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Funds' financial statements, is included in the Funds' Annual Report, which is available upon request. The information for periods prior to the fiscal year ended April 30, 2023 was audited by another independent registered public accounting firm.


150

For a share outstanding throughout each year:


	BDC Income ETF
	Year Ended April 30,
	2023			2022			2021			2020			2019
Net asset value, beginning of year	$	16.76		$	16.76		$	10.75		$	16.55		$	16.10
Net investment income (a)	1.63			1.44			1.43			1.54			1.59
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments	(2.18)			(0.06)			6.02			(5.86)			0.41
Total from investment operations	(0.55)			1.38			7.45			(4.32)			2.00
Distributions from:
Net investment income	(1.63)			(1.38)			(1.44)			(1.48)			(1.55)
Return of capital	(0.04)			—			—		(b)	—			—
Total distributions	(1.67)			(1.38)			(1.44)			(1.48)			(1.55)
Net asset value, end of year	$	14.54		$	16.76		$	16.76		$	10.75		$	16.55
Total return (c)	(2.60)		%	8.23		%	73.81		%	(27.77)		%	13.27		%
Ratios to average net assets
Gross expenses (d)	0.42		%	0.41		%	0.46		%	0.48		%	0.47		%
Net expenses (d)	0.42		%	0.41		%	0.41		%	0.41		%	0.41		%
Net expenses excluding interest and taxes (d)	0.40		%	0.40		%	0.40		%	0.40		%	0.40		%
Net investment income	10.75		%	8.34		%	10.57		%	9.95		%	9.73		%
Supplemental data
Net assets, end of year (in millions)	$	577		$	625		$	412		$	170		$	207
Portfolio turnover rate (e)	28		%	29		%	26		%	22		%	13		%

(a)Calculated based upon average shares outstanding.

(b)Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.

(c)Returns include adjustments in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Net asset values and returns for financial reporting purposes may differ from those for shareholder transactions.

(d)Periods after April 30, 2021 reflect a unitary management fee structure.

(e)Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.


151

For a share outstanding throughout each period:


	Dynamic High Income ETF
	Period Ended April 30, 2023(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period	$	25.13
Net investment income (b)	0.59
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments	1.03
Total from investment operations	1.62
Distributions from:
Net investment income	(0.59)
Return of capital	(0.07)
Total distributions	(0.66)
Net asset value, end of period	$	26.09
Total return (c)	6.47		%(d)
Ratios to average net assets
Expenses	0.10		%(e)
Net investment income	4.55		%(e)
Supplemental data
Net assets, end of period (in millions)	$	1
Portfolio turnover rate (f)	8		%(d)

(a)For the period November 2, 2022 (commencement of operations) through April 30, 2023.

(b)Calculated based upon average shares outstanding.

(d)Not Annualized

(e)Annualized

(f)Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.


152

For a share outstanding throughout each year:


	Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF
	Year Ended April 30,
	2023			2022			2021			2020			2019
Net asset value, beginning of year	$	19.52		$	23.63		$	20.54		$	23.34		$	23.83
Net investment income (a)	1.10			1.20			1.29			1.42			1.33
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments	(1.25)			(4.11)			3.06			(2.77)			(0.46)
Total from investment operations	(0.15)			(2.91)			4.35			(1.35)			0.87
Distributions from:
Net investment income	(1.18)			(1.20)			(1.26)			(1.45)			(1.36)
Net asset value, end of year	$	18.19		$	19.52		$	23.63		$	20.54		$	23.34
Total return (b)	(0.56)		%	(12.84)		%	21.53		%	(6.27)		%	3.93		%
Ratios to average net assets
Gross expenses (c)	0.40		%	0.40		%	0.45		%	0.47		%	0.46		%
Net expenses (c)	0.40		%	0.40		%	0.40		%	0.40		%	0.40		%
Net investment income	6.08		%	5.39		%	5.58		%	6.19		%	5.81		%
Supplemental data
Net assets, end of year (in millions)	$	431		$	1,152		$	784		$	308		$	261
Portfolio turnover rate (d)	21		%	34		%	31		%	28		%	27		%

(a)Calculated based upon average shares outstanding.

(b)Returns include adjustments in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Net asset values and returns for financial reporting purposes may differ from those for shareholder transactions.

(c)Periods after April 30, 2021 reflect a unitary management fee structure.

(d)Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.


153

For a share outstanding throughout each year:


	Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF
	Year Ended April 30,
	2023			2022			2021			2020			2019
Net asset value, beginning of year	$	28.94		$	32.20		$	26.84		$	29.00		$	29.19
Net investment income (a)	1.29			1.19			1.49			1.54			1.64
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments	(1.15)			(3.22)			5.35			(2.16)			(0.24)
Total from investment operations	0.14			(2.03)			6.84			(0.62)			1.40
Distributions from:
Net investment income	(1.34)			(1.23)			(1.48)			(1.54)			(1.59)


Net asset value, end of year	$	27.74		$	28.94		$	32.20		$	26.84		$	29.00
Total return (b)	0.60		%	(6.63)		%	25.95		%	(2.38)		%	5.04		%
Ratios to average net assets
Gross expenses (c)	0.35		%	0.35		%	0.43		%	0.43		%	0.45		%
Net expenses (c)	0.35		%	0.35		%	0.35		%	0.35		%	0.35		%
Net investment income	4.68		%	3.70		%	4.83		%	5.35		%	5.76		%
Supplemental data
Net assets, end of year (in millions)	$	2,783		$	3,826		$	4,915		$	1,683		$	976
Portfolio turnover rate (d)	31		%	44		%	27		%	68		%	29		%

(a)Calculated based upon average shares outstanding.

(c)Periods after April 30, 2021 reflect a unitary management fee structure.

(d)Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.


154

For a share outstanding throughout each year:


	Green Bond ETF
	Year Ended April 30,
	2023			2022			2021			2020			2019
Net asset value, beginning of year	$	24.13		$	27.16		$	26.85		$	25.87		$	26.54
Net investment income (a)	0.63			0.55			0.55			0.58			0.34
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments	(0.54)			(3.03)			0.28		(b)	1.00			(0.68)
Total from investment operations	0.09			(2.48)			0.83			1.58			(0.34)
Distributions from:
Net investment income	(0.64)			(0.55)			(0.52)			(0.50)			(0.29)

Return of capital	—			—			—			(0.10)			(0.04)
Total distributions	(0.64)			(0.55)			(0.52)			(0.60)			(0.33)
Net asset value, end of year	$	23.58		$	24.13		$	27.16		$	26.85		$	25.87
Total return (c)	0.41		%	(9.30)		%	3.07		%	6.17		%	(1.25)		%
Ratios to average net assets
Gross expenses (d)	0.20		%	0.20		%	0.65		%	0.83		%	1.02		%
Net expenses (d)	0.20		%	0.20		%	0.20		%	0.23		%	0.33		%
Net investment income	2.71		%	2.07		%	2.01		%	2.17		%	1.32		%
Supplemental data
Net assets, end of year (in millions)	$	75		$	95		$	84		$	32		$	26
Portfolio turnover rate (e)	20		%	19		%	25		%	83		%	28		%

(a)Calculated based upon average shares outstanding.

(b)The amount shown does not correspond with the aggregate net gain (loss) on investments for the period due to the timing of sales and repurchase of shares in relation to fluctuating market values of the investments of the Fund.

(d)Periods after April 30, 2021 reflect a unitary management fee structure.

(e)Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.


155

For a share outstanding throughout each year:


	IG Floating Rate ETF
	Year Ended April 30,
	2023			2022			2021			2020			2019
Net asset value, beginning of year	$	25.07		$	25.33		$	24.61		$	25.25		$	25.32
Net investment income (a)	0.98			0.14			0.23			0.68			0.77
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments	(0.09)			(0.25)			0.76			(0.61)			(0.10)
Total from investment operations	0.89			(0.11)			0.99			0.07			0.67
Distributions from:
Net investment income	(0.88)			(0.15)			(0.27)			(0.71)			(0.74)
Net asset value, end of year	$	25.08		$	25.07		$	25.33		$	24.61		$	25.25
Total return (b)	3.61		%	(0.45)		%	4.07		%	0.26		%	2.71		%
Ratios to average net assets
Gross expenses (c)	0.14		%	0.14		%	0.39		%	0.40		%	0.40		%
Net expenses (c)	0.14		%	0.14		%	0.14		%	0.14		%	0.14		%
Net investment income	3.95		%	0.56		%	0.93		%	2.70		%	3.05		%
Supplemental data
Net assets, end of year (in millions)	$	1,146		$	1,135		$	560		$	461		$	542
Portfolio turnover rate (d)	55		%	78		%	72		%	40		%	30		%


	International High Yield Bond ETF
	Year Ended April 30,
	2023			2022			2021			2020			2019
Net asset value, beginning of year	$	20.90		$	25.71		$	22.21		$	24.54		$	25.20
Net investment income (a)	0.96			1.02			1.13			1.26			1.13
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments	(0.85)			(4.78)			3.54			(2.33)			(0.65)
Total from investment operations	0.11			(3.76)			4.67			(1.07)			0.48
Distributions from:
Net investment income	(0.89)			(1.05)			(1.10)			(1.17)			(1.08)
Return of capital	(0.10)			—			(0.07)			(0.09)			(0.06)
Total distributions	(0.99)			(1.05)			(1.17)			(1.26)			(1.14)
Net asset value, end of year	$	20.02		$	20.90		$	25.71		$	22.21		$	24.54
Total return (b)	0.78		%	(15.07)		%	21.30		%	(4.67)		%	2.08		%
Ratios to average net assets
Gross expenses (c)	0.40		%	0.40		%	0.56		%	0.62		%	0.54		%
Net expenses (c)	0.40		%	0.40		%	0.40		%	0.40		%	0.40		%
Net investment income	4.89		%	4.21		%	4.54		%	5.17		%	4.66		%
Supplemental data
Net assets, end of year (in millions)	$	66		$	79		$	100		$	89		$	113
Portfolio turnover rate (d)	22		%	25		%	33		%	37		%	32		%

(a)Calculated based upon average shares outstanding.

(c)Periods after April 30, 2021 reflect a unitary management fee structure.

(d)Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.


156

For a share outstanding throughout each period:


	J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF
	Year Ended April 30,
	2023			2022			2021			2020			2019
Net asset value, beginning of year	$	25.33		$	31.14		$	29.36		$	33.11		$	37.56
Net investment income (a)	1.43			1.47			1.55			2.00			2.14
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments	(0.21)			(5.84)			1.78			(3.75)			(4.45)
Total from investment operations	1.22			(4.37)			3.33			(1.75)			(2.31)
Distributions from:
Net investment income	(0.18)			(0.77)			(0.01)			(0.48)			(1.36)
Return of capital	(1.24)			(0.67)			(1.54)			(1.52)			(0.78)
Total distributions	(1.42)			(1.44)			(1.55)			(2.00)			(2.14)
Net asset value, end of year	$	25.13		$	25.33		$	31.14		$	29.36		$	33.11
Total return (b)	5.16		%	(14.56)		%	11.40		%	(5.79)		%	(6.05)		%
Ratios to average net assets
Gross expenses	0.31		%	0.32		%	0.31		%	0.36		%	0.41		%
Net expenses	0.30		%	0.30		%	0.30		%	0.30		%	0.31		%
Net investment income	5.87		%	5.00		%	4.92		%	6.05		%	6.35		%
Supplemental data
Net assets, end of year (in millions)	$	3,224		$	3,073		$	3,380		$	3,339		$	5,332
Portfolio turnover rate (c)	29		%	33		%	40		%	39		%	36		%

(a)Calculated based upon average shares outstanding.

(c)Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.


	Moody’s Analytics BBB Corporate Bond ETF
	Year Ended April 30,						Period Ended April 30, 2021(a)
	2023			2022
Net asset value, beginning of period	$	21.52		$	24.73		$	25.00
Net investment income (b)	0.78			0.55			0.22
Net realized and unrealized loss on investments	(0.44)			(3.19)			(0.30)
Total from investment operations	0.34			(2.64)			(0.08)
Distributions from:
Net investment income	(0.75)			(0.57)			(0.19)
Net asset value, end of period	$	21.11		$	21.52		$	24.73
Total return (c)	1.70		%	(10.96)		%	(0.32)		%(d)
Ratios to average net assets
Expenses	0.25		%	0.25		%	0.25		%(e)
Net investment income	3.75		%	2.26		%	2.14		%(e)
Supplemental data
Net assets, end of period (in millions)	$	8		$	9		$	10
Portfolio turnover rate (f)	91		%	48		%	35		%(d)

(a)For the period December 2, 2020 (commencement of operations) through April 30, 2021.

(b)Calculated based upon average shares outstanding.

(d)Not Annualized

(e)Annualized

(f)Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.


157

For a share outstanding throughout each period:


	Moody’s Analytics IG Corporate Bond ETF
	Year Ended April 30,						Period Ended April 30, 2021(a)
	2023			2022
Net asset value, beginning of period	$	21.61		$	24.58		$	25.00
Net investment income (b)	0.74			0.52			0.21
Net realized and unrealized loss on investments	(0.49)			(2.96)			(0.45)
Total from investment operations	0.25			(2.44)			(0.24)
Distributions from:
Net investment income	(0.72)			(0.53)			(0.18)
Net asset value, end of period	$	21.14		$	21.61		$	24.58
Total return (c)	1.22		%	(10.15)		%	(0.97)		%(d)
Ratios to average net assets
Expenses	0.20		%	0.20		%	0.20		%(e)
Net investment income	3.53		%	2.13		%	2.10		%(e)
Supplemental data
Net assets, end of period (in millions)	$	13		$	13		$	15
Portfolio turnover rate (f)	84		%	53		%	28		%(d)

(a)For the period December 2, 2020 (commencement of operations) through April 30, 2021.

(b)Calculated based upon average shares outstanding.

(d)Not Annualized

(e)Annualized

(f)Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.


	Mortgage REIT Income ETF
	Year Ended April 30,
	2023			2022			2021			2020			2019
Net asset value, beginning of year	$	15.23		$	19.45		$	11.42		$	23.63		$	22.71
Net investment income (a)	1.21			0.76			0.86			1.45			1.68
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments	(3.82)			(3.44)			8.49			(11.90)			0.94
Total from investment operations	(2.61)			(2.68)			9.35			(10.45)			2.62
Distributions from:
Net investment income	(1.21)			(0.79)			(0.83)			(1.45)			(1.67)
Return of capital	(0.40)			(0.75)			(0.49)			(0.31)			(0.03)
Total distributions	(1.61)			(1.54)			(1.32)			(1.76)			(1.70)
Net asset value, end of year	$	11.01		$	15.23		$	19.45		$	11.42		$	23.63
Total return (b)	(16.95)		%	(14.74)		%	85.71		%	(46.63)		%	12.00		%
Ratios to average net assets
Gross expenses (c)	0.43		%	0.41		%	0.49		%	0.50		%	0.49		%
Net expenses (c)	0.43		%	0.41		%	0.41		%	0.41		%	0.42		%
Net expenses excluding interest and taxes (c)	0.40		%	0.40		%	0.40		%	0.40		%	0.40		%
Net investment income	9.30		%	4.15		%	5.55		%	6.70		%	7.19		%
Supplemental data
Net assets, end of year (in millions)	$	189		$	211		$	310		$	119		$	175
Portfolio turnover rate (d)	19		%	12		%	31		%	16		%	35		%

(a)Calculated based upon average shares outstanding.

(c)Periods after April 30, 2021 reflect a unitary management fee structure.

(d)Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.


158

For a share outstanding throughout each year:


	Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF
	Year Ended April 30,
	2023			2022			2021			2020			2019
Net asset value, beginning of year	$	19.15		$	20.97		$	18.23		$	19.37		$	19.09
Net investment income (a)	1.12			1.01			0.98			1.06			1.13
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments	(1.62)			(1.68)			2.72			(1.12)			0.32
Total from investment operations	(0.50)			(0.67)			3.70			(0.06)			1.45
Distributions from:
Net investment income	(1.14)			(1.13)			(0.96)			(1.08)			(1.17)
Return of capital	—			(0.02)			—			—			—
Total distributions	(1.14)			(1.15)			(0.96)			(1.08)			(1.17)
Net asset value, end of year	$	17.51		$	19.15		$	20.97		$	18.23		$	19.37
Total return (b)	(2.50)		%	(3.61)		%	20.78		%	(0.54)		%	7.90		%
Ratios to average net assets
Gross expenses (c)	0.41		%	0.40		%	0.43		%	0.44		%	0.46		%
Net expenses (c)	0.41		%	0.40		%	0.40		%	0.41		%	0.41		%
Net expenses excluding interest and taxes (c)	0.40		%	0.40		%	0.40		%	0.40		%	0.40		%
Net investment income	6.28		%	4.79		%	4.97		%	5.41		%	5.92		%
Supplemental data
Net assets, end of year (in millions)	$	1,060		$	1,002		$	948		$	689		$	584
Portfolio turnover rate (d)	27		%	37		%	36		%	45		%	31		%

(a)Calculated based upon average shares outstanding.

(c)Periods after April 30, 2021 reflect a unitary management fee structure.

(d)Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.


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PREMIUM/DISCOUNT INFORMATION

Information regarding how often the closing trading price of the Shares of each Fund was above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a discount) the NAV of the Fund for the most recently completed calendar year and the most recently completed calendar quarter(s) since that year (or the life of the Fund, if shorter) can be found at www.vaneck.com.


GENERAL INFORMATION

CONTINUOUS OFFERING

The method by which Creation Units are created and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. Because new Creation Units are issued and sold by the Trust on an ongoing basis, a “distribution,” as such term is used in the Securities Act, may occur at any point. Broker dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities on their part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner which could render them statutory underwriters and subject them to the prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the Securities Act.

For example, a broker dealer firm or its client may be deemed a statutory underwriter if it takes Creation Units after placing an order with the Distributor, breaks them down into constituent Shares, and sells such Shares directly to customers, or if it chooses to couple the creation of a supply of new Shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for Shares. A determination of whether one is an underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act must take into account all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker dealer or its client in the particular case, and the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to a categorization as an underwriter.

Broker dealers who are not “underwriters” but are participating in a distribution (as contrasted to ordinary secondary trading transactions), and thus dealing with Shares that are part of an “unsold allotment” within the meaning of Section 4(a)(3)(C) of the Securities Act, would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act. This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act is not available in respect of such transactions as a result of Section 24(d) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. As a result, broker dealer firms should note that dealers who are not underwriters but are participating in a distribution (as contrasted with ordinary secondary market transactions) and thus dealing with the Shares that are part of an overallotment within the meaning of Section 4(a)(3)(A) of the Securities Act would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act. Firms that incur a prospectus delivery obligation with respect to Shares are reminded that, under Rule 153 of the Securities Act, a prospectus delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the Securities Act owed to an exchange member in connection with a sale on the Exchange is satisfied by the fact that the prospectus is available at the Exchange upon request. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in Rule 153 is only available with respect to transactions on an exchange.

In addition, certain affiliates of the Funds and the Adviser may purchase and resell Fund shares pursuant to this Prospectus.

OTHER INFORMATION

The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on March 15, 2001. Its Declaration of Trust currently permits the Trust to issue an unlimited number of Shares of beneficial interest. If shareholders are required to vote on any matters, each Share outstanding would be entitled to one vote. Annual meetings of shareholders will not be held except as required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 and other applicable law. See the Funds’ SAI for more information concerning the Trust’s form of organization. Section 12(d)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 restricts investments by investment companies in the securities of other investment companies, including Shares of a Fund.

Registered investment companies are permitted to invest in the Funds (except VanEck BDC Income ETF) beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1) subject to certain terms and conditions set forth in Securities and Exchange Commission regulations, including that such investment companies enter into an agreement with such Fund.

The Prospectus, SAI and any other Fund communication do not create any contractual obligations between the Fund’s shareholders and the Trust, the Fund, the Adviser and/or the Trustees. Further, shareholders are not intended third-party beneficiaries of any contracts entered into by (or on behalf of) any Fund, including contracts with the Adviser or other parties who provide services to the Fund.

Dechert LLP serves as counsel to the Trust, including the Funds. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP serves as the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm and will audit the Fund’s financial statements annually.


160

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This Prospectus does not contain all the information included in the Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the Funds’ Shares. The Funds’ Registration Statement, including this Prospectus, the Funds’ SAI and the exhibits are available on the EDGAR database at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website (http://www.sec.gov), and copies may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following email address: [email protected].

The SAI for the Funds, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, provides more information about the Funds. The SAI for the Funds is incorporated herein by reference and is legally part of this Prospectus. Additional information about the Funds’ investments is available in each Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In each Fund’s annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The SAI and the Funds’ annual and semi-annual reports may be obtained without charge by writing to the Funds at Van Eck Securities Corporation, the Funds’ Distributor, at 666 Third Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10017 or by calling the Distributor at the following number: Investor Information: 800.826.2333.

Shareholder inquiries may be directed to the Funds in writing to 666 Third Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10017 or by calling 800.826.2333.

The Funds’ SAI is available at www.vaneck.com.

(Investment Company Act file no. 811-10325)


161

For more detailed information about the Funds, see the SAI dated September 1, 2023, as may be supplemented from time to time. Additional information about the Funds’ investments is or will be available in each Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In each Fund’s annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.

Call VanEck at 800.826.2333 to request, free of charge, the annual or semi-annual reports, the SAI, or other information about the Funds or to make shareholder inquiries. You may also obtain the SAI or a Fund’s annual or semi-annual reports by visiting the VanEck website at www.vaneck.com.

Reports and other information about the Funds are available on the EDGAR Database on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s internet site at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following email address: [email protected].



Transfer Agent: State Street Bank and Trust Company SEC Registration Number: 333-123257 Investment Company Act of 1940 Registration Number: 811-10325			800.826.2333 vaneck.com
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