Guinness Atkinson Funds TSR

 

 

SmartETFs Smart Transportation & Technology ETF

 

Listed on NYSE ARCA: MOTO

 

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

 

June 30, 2025

 

This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about the SmartETFs Smart Transportation & Technology ETF ("Fund") for the period of January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025. You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.smartetfs.com/our-etfs/moto/. You can also request this information by contacting us at (866) 307-5990.

 

What were the Fund costs for the last six months?
(based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Fund (Class) Costs of a $10,000 Investment Costs Paid as a Percentage of a $10,000 Investment
SmartETFs Smart Transportation & Technology ETF $36 0.68%
How did the Fund perform during the reporting period?

In the first half of 2025, the SmartETFs Smart Transportation & Technology ETF produced a total return of 10.61% vs the MSCI World Index (net return) of 9.47%.

What affected the Fund's performance?

Fund performance can be attributed to the following:

  • EV manufacturers (23.00% exposure) was the strongest category over the period, delivering an average +15.60% total return over the period. Equipment (64.80% exposure) was the second strongest category, returning +9.50%). The weakest category was Services (10.60% exposure), where the average company delivered 8.50%.

  • Within EV manufacturers, BYD was a notable performer, delivering a positive return of +37.90%, after beating earnings estimates and reiterating its ambitious guidance of 30.00% volume growth for 2025, despite overall weakness in the automotive sector. BYD also unveiled new fast-charging technology, allowing its newest EV models to gain 249 miles of range in just 5 minutes. The company also hosted a successful "vehicle intelligence strategy" conference where it announced 21 new smart driving vehicle model launches equipped with its "God's Eye" smart driving system, making advanced ADAS features standard in its mass market models.

  • Within Equipment, we hold a 35.10% weighting to Components and a 29.70% weighting to Semiconductors. The average Components name returned +14.00% and the average Semiconductor name returned +2.20% in the period. Within Components, the Batteries subsegment (+5.50%) was boosted by strong performance from Johnson Matthey after the company announced the surprise sale of its Catalyst Technologies division to Honeywell for £1.8bn at an implied valuation well above market levels. The company expects to return £1.4bn (~60.00% of its current market cap) to investors in a welcome development after a period of challenging performance.

  • The Fund's three top performers were Dana (+50.30%), Amphenol (+42.80%) and Johnson Matthey (+46.60%). Dana performed strongly over the period after the company announced strong full year guidance that comfortably beat consensus. The improved guidance was driven by better-than-expected cost savings of $300m versus the $200m that was initially planned and positive progress on the sale of the company's highway business.

  • The Fund's three weakest performers were Gentherm (-29.10%), Samsung SDI (-22.40%) and Tesla (-21.30%). Shares in Gentherm declined with the broader automotive space as the threat of tariffs and the resulting uncertainty continues to be a headwind for the sector. Share saw further weakness after the company missed expectations on sales (driven by non-core automotive products) and margins (due to higher plant ramp-up costs and higher freight) with softer-than-expected guidance driven by more conservative industry production assumptions, mix, and slower growth in non-core portions of the portfolio.

Fund Performance

The following graph compares the initial and subsequent account values at the end of each of the most recently completed 10 fiscal years of the Fund, or for the life of the Fund, if shorter. It assumes a $10,000 initial investment at the beginning of the first fiscal year in an appropriate, broad-based securities market index for the same period.

Ad2 Performance Graph
Average Annual Total Return
6 Months (Actual) 1 Year 5 Year Since Inception
(11/14/2019)
Smart Transportation & Technology ETF 10.61% 6.93% 13.77% 13.74%
MSCI World Index (Net Return) 9.47% 16.26% 14.55% 12.32%

The fund's past performance is not a good predictor of how the fund will perform in the future. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or redemption of fund shares.

For the most recent performance information, visit https://www.smartetfs.com/our-etfs/moto/.

What are some key Fund statistics?
(as of June 30, 2025)
Net Assets ($) $7,035,606
Number of Portfolio Holdings 35
Portfolio Turnover Rate (%) 0%

 

 

 

 

What did the Fund invest in?
(as of June 30, 2025)

The tables below show the investment makeup of the Fund, representing percentage of the total net assets of the Fund. The Top Ten Holdings and Geographical Allocation exclude short-term holdings, if any.

Top Ten Holdings (% of net assets)
Top 10 % of Net Assets
Amphenol Corp 5.80%
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd 5.10%
Quanta Services Inc 5.00%
NVIDIA Corp 5.00%
Eaton Corp PLC 4.30%
BYD Co Ltd 4.00%
Tesla Inc 4.00%
Alphabet Inc 3.90%
Volvo AB 3.70%
Siemens AG 3.70%
Geographic Breakdown (% of net assets)
Af Image

Where can I find additional information about the Fund?

You can find additional information about the Fund such as the prospectus, financial information, fund holdings and proxy voting information at https://www.smartetfs.com/our-etfs/moto/. You can also request this information by contacting us at (866) 307-5990.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SmartETFs Sustainable Energy II ETF

 

Listed on NYSE ARCA: SOLR

 

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

 

June 30, 2025

 

This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about the SmartETFs Sustainable Energy II ETF ("Fund") for the period of January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025. You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.smartetfs.com/our-etfs/solr/. You can also request this information by contacting us at (866) 307-5990.

 

What were the Fund costs for the last six months?
(based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Fund (Class) Costs of a $10,000 Investment Costs Paid as a Percentage of a $10,000 Investment
SmartETFs Sustainable Energy II ETF $42 0.79%
How did the Fund perform during the reporting period?

In the first half of 2025, the SmartETFs Sustainable Energy II ETF produced a total return of 11.87% vs the MSCI World Index (net return) of 9.47%.

What affected the Fund's performance?

Fund performance can be attributed to the following.

Within our portfolio, the top contributing segments were our electrical installation and electrification sectors, while underperforming segments included our solar/wind equipment and auto-exposed electrification names. We are encouraged at the diversity and breadth of contribution within the portfolio, with our top ten contributors equally split across US and Europe and representing all five of our master themes. Key discussion points were as follows:

  • Our electrical equipment companies all performed well, driven by an acceleration in global electrification activity, grid spending and, in select cases (such as Legrand), exposure to the data centre sub-sector. One of the fund's top contributors was SPIE which delivered upgraded guidance at its Capital Markets Day and benefitted from higher German infrastructure spending.

  • Amphenol shares performed strongly, having materially beaten revenue and operating margins expectations in 1Q results. Amphenol's IT interconnect solutions "IT Datacom" segment delivered +134.00% YoY growth (reflecting data centre and AI exposure) while four of its seven non-AI end markets posted mid-teens or better growth.

  • Deal activity remained strong within the space, with Johnson Matthey contributing well having accepted a bid for its Catalyst Technologies division for £1.8bn from Honeywell, at an implied attractive valuation of 15x TTM EBITDA. Management plan to return ~£1.4bn (60.00% of current market cap) to shareholders once the deal is closed.

  • Sectors and companies in the portfolio that were relatively weaker over the period included: Enphase was directly affected by the cuts in subsidy to residential solar tax credits. Gentherm suffered from auto cycle weakness and uncertainties around Trump's tariffs. Owens Corning suffered after highlighting weakness in the North America Residential market. Ameresco was weak after management noted some uncertainty around federal government projects in its $2.5 billion backlog of contracted projects.

Fund Performance

The following graph compares the initial and subsequent account values at the end of each of the most recently completed 10 fiscal years of the Fund, or for the life of the Fund, if shorter. It assumes a $10,000 initial investment at the beginning of the first fiscal year in an appropriate, broad-based securities market index for the same period.

Ad2 Performance Graph
Average Annual Total Return
6 Months (Actual) 1 Year Since Inception
(11/11/2020)
Sustainable Energy II ETF 11.87% 2.69% 2.96%
MSCI World Index (Net Return) 9.47% 16.26% 12.26%

The fund's past performance is not a good predictor of how the fund will perform in the future. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or redemption of fund shares.

For the most recent performance information, visit https://www.smartetfs.com/our-etfs/solr/.

What are some key Fund statistics?
(as of June 30, 2025)
Net Assets ($) $3,879,019
Number of Portfolio Holdings 31
Portfolio Turnover Rate (%) 15%

 

 

 

 

What did the Fund invest in?
(as of June 30, 2025)

The tables below show the investment makeup of the Fund, representing percentage of the total net assets of the Fund. The Top Ten Holdings and Geographic Allocation exclude short-term holdings, if any.

Top Ten Holdings (% of net assets)
Top 10 % of Net Assets
Legrand SA 4.90%
Iberdrola SA 4.80%
Eaton Corp PLC 4.80%
Trane Technologies PLC 4.70%
Schneider Electric SE 4.70%
Siemens AG 4.60%
Hubbell Inc 4.40%
Amphenol Corp 4.20%
Spie SA 4.10%
Nextera Energy Inc 4.10%
Geographic Breakdown (% of net assets)
Af Image

Where can I find additional information about the Fund?

You can find additional information about the Fund such as the prospectus, financial information, fund holdings and proxy voting information at https://www.smartetfs.com/our-etfs/solr/. You can also request this information by contacting us at (866) 307-5990.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SmartETFs Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF

 

Listed on NYSE ARCA: ADIV

 

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

 

June 30, 2025

 

This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about the SmartETFs Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF ("Fund") for the period of January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025. You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.smartetfs.com/our-etfs/adiv/. You can also request this information by contacting us at (866) 307-5990.

 

What were the Fund costs for the last six months?
(based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Fund (Class) Costs of a $10,000 Investment Costs Paid as a Percentage of a $10,000 Investment
SmartETFs Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF $42 0.78%
How did the Fund perform during the reporting period?

In the first half of 2025, the SmartETFs Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF produced a total return of 15.87% vs the MSCI AC Pacific ex Japan Index (net return) of 15.91%.

What affected the Fund's performance?

Fund performance can be attributed to the following:

  • Asian markets performed well over the period despite uncertainties over trade tariffs. AI-associated capital expenditure plans benefited Asian technology stocks while the combination of a stabilizing domestic economy and low valuations boosted China. Leading performers by country were China, Hong Kong, Korea and Singapore. India, Indonesia, Taiwan and Thailand were the laggards.

  • Portfolio performance was led by NetEase in Communication Services, Metcash in Consumer Staples, China Medical System in Health Care, Elite Material in Technology and by Link REIT in Real Estate.

  • Drags on performance came from Tech Mahindra in Indian IT services, Shenzhou International a Chinese textile manufacturer and China Resources Gas in Utilities. Stocks that we do not hold that performed well also constituted a drag on relative performance. Samsung Electronics in Korea for example, does not make it into our investment universe because of big swings in historic profitability while Tencent and Alibaba in China pay out little or nothing in dividends.

Fund Performance

The following graph compares the initial and subsequent account values at the end of each of the most recently completed 10 fiscal years of the Fund, or for the life of the Fund, if shorter. It assumes a $10,000 initial investment at the beginning of the first fiscal year in an appropriate, broad-based securities market index for the same period.

Ad2 Performance Graph
Average Annual Total Return
6 Months (Actual) 1 Year 5 Year 10 Year
Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF 15.87% 24.80% 11.25% 7.22%
MSCI AC Pacific ex Japan Index (Net Return) 15.91% 19.50% 5.89% 5.26%

The fund's past performance is not a good predictor of how the fund will perform in the future. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or redemption of fund shares.

For the most recent performance information, visit https://www.smartetfs.com/our-etfs/adiv/.

What are some key Fund statistics?
(as of June 30, 2025)
Net Assets ($) $12,338,740
Number of Portfolio Holdings 36
Portfolio Turnover Rate (%) 6%

 

 

 

 

What did the Fund invest in?
(as of June 30, 2025)

The tables below show the investment makeup of the Fund, representing percentage of the total net assets of the Fund. The Top Ten Holdings and Sector Allocation exclude short-term holdings, if any.

Top Ten Holdings (% of net assets)
Top 10 % of Net Assets
China Merchants Bank Co Ltd - H Shares 4.00%
Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd - H Shares 3.30%
China Construction Bank Corp - H Shares 3.30%
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd 3.30%
China Medical System Holdings Ltd 3.10%
BOC Hong Kong Holdings Ltd 3.10%
Broadcom Inc 3.00%
Metcash Ltd 3.00%
Ping An Insurance Group Co of China Ltd - H Shares 3.00%
Novatek Microelectronics Corp 3.00%
Sectors (% of net assets)
Sector % of Net Assets
Consumer, Cyclical 15.30%
Consumer, Non-cyclical 11.40%
Financial 42.40%
Industrial 11.20%
Technology 17.50%
Utilities 2.20%

Where can I find additional information about the Fund?

You can find additional information about the Fund such as the prospectus, financial information, fund holdings and proxy voting information at https://www.smartetfs.com/our-etfs/adiv/. You can also request this information by contacting us at (866) 307-5990.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SmartETFs Dividend Builder ETF

 

Listed on NYSE ARCA: DIVS

 

Semi-Annual Shareholder Report

 

June 30, 2025

 

This semi-annual shareholder report contains important information about the SmartETFs Dividend Builder ETF ("Fund") for the period of January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025. You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.smartetfs.com/our-etfs/divs/. You can also request this information by contacting us at (866) 307-5990.

 

What were the Fund costs for the last six months?
(based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
Fund (Class) Costs of a $10,000 Investment Costs Paid as a Percentage of a $10,000 Investment
SmartETFs Dividend Builder ETF $34 0.65%
How did the Fund perform during the reporting period?

In the first half of 2025, the SmartETFs Dividend Builder ETF produced a total return of 8.82% vs the MSCI World Index (net return) of 9.47%.

Fund performance can be attributed to:

  • The large overweight allocation to Industrials (23.90% vs 11.1% for the index) and the smaller overweight allocation to Financials (17.00% vs 16.80% for the index). Both acted as a tailwind as these were the two best performing sectors year to date returning +17.90% and +17.00% (in USD).

  • Additionally, the zero weight allocation to Consumer Discretionary, Energy, and Real Estate was a tailwind as these were the three worst performing sectors year to date.

  • However, the Fund has an underweight allocation to Communication Services (2.50% vs 8.20% for the index) and a zero weight allocation to Materials & Utilities. This was a drag to performance as all three sectors outperformed the benchmark posting gains of +13.90%, +10.60% and +16.40% (in USD) respectively.

  • From a stock selection perspective, weaker performance from the Fund's Industrials (Illinois Tool Works, Paychex, Assa Abloy) and Consumer Staples (Diageo, PepsiCo) was a drag to performance. However, this was offset by strong performance from IT (Broadcom, Cisco), Healthcare (Roche), and Financials (Deutsche Boerse, CME Group).

Fund Performance

The following graph compares the initial and subsequent account values at the end of each of the most recently completed 10 fiscal years of the Fund, or for the life of the Fund, if shorter. It assumes a $10,000 initial investment at the beginning of the first fiscal year in an appropriate, broad-based securities market index for the same period.

Ad2 Performance Graph
Average Annual Total Return
6 Months (Actual) 1 Year 5 Year 10 Year
Dividend Builder ETF 8.82% 13.79% 13.88% 10.57%
MSCI World Index (Net Return) 9.47% 16.26% 14.55% 10.66%

The fund's past performance is not a good predictor of how the fund will perform in the future. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or redemption of fund shares.

For the most recent performance information, visit https://www.smartetfs.com/our-etfs/divs/.

What are some key Fund statistics?
(as of June 30, 2025)
Net Assets ($) $41,592,157
Number of Portfolio Holdings 35
Portfolio Turnover Rate (%) 6%

 

 

 

 

What did the Fund invest in?
(as of June 30, 2025)

The tables below show the investment makeup of the Fund, representing percentage of the total net assets of the Fund. The Top Ten Holdings and Sector Allocation exclude short-term holdings, if any.

Top Ten Holdings (% of net assets)
Top 10 % of Net Assets
Deutsche Boerse AG 3.50%
Microsoft Corp 3.20%
Danone SA 3.20%
Broadcom Inc 3.20%
Nestle SA 3.10%
Mondelez International Inc. 3.10%
Texas Instruments Inc 3.10%
CME Group Inc 3.10%
Eaton Corp PLC 3.00%
Cisco Systems Inc 3.00%
Sectors (% of net assets)
Sector % of Net Assets
Consumer, Non-cyclical 40.80%
Industrial 22.20%
Technology 15.10%
Financial 14.90%
Communications 5.70%

Where can I find additional information about the Fund?

You can find additional information about the Fund such as the prospectus, financial information, fund holdings and proxy voting information at https://www.smartetfs.com/our-etfs/divs/. You can also request this information by contacting us at (866) 307-5990.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Guinness Atkinson Funds TSR

 

 

 
 

Smart Transportation & Technology ETF
Sustainable Energy II ETF 

Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF
Dividend Builder ETF 

The SmartETFs are each a series of Guinness AtkinsonFunds 

 

Table of Contents

 

Item 7. Financial Statements and Financial Highlights  
Schedule of Investments  
Smart Transportation & Technology ETF 3
Sustainable Energy II ETF 5
Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF 6
Dividend Builder ETF 8
Statements of Assets and Liabilities 10
Statements of Operations 12
Statements of Changes in Net Assets 14
Financial Highlights 17
Notes to Financial Statements 21

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are provided for the general information of the shareholders of the SmartETF Funds. This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Funds unless preceded or accompanied by an effective shareholder report and prospectus.

 

www.smartetfs.com 

 
 

SmartETFs Smart Transportation & Technology ETF
Schedule of Investments
at June 30, 2025 (Unaudited)

 

Shares     Common Stocks: 95.8%   Value  
      Other: 6.6%      
2,976     Darling Ingredients Inc.*   $ 112,909  
932     Quanta Services Inc.     352,370  
            465,279  
      Smart Transportation: 32.7%        
1,974     Aptiv PLC*     134,666  
18,000     BYD Co. Ltd.     280,894  
1,464     Continental AG     127,776  
1,093     Daimler Truck Holding AG     51,714  
12,000     Denso Corp.     162,547  
108,000     Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd.     219,578  
6,978     Johnson Matthey PLC     166,268  
3,024     Kia Corp.     216,549  
2,664     Mercedes-Benz Group AG*     155,917  
5,220     Mobileye Global Inc - A*     93,856  
4,908     Sensata Technologies Holding     147,780  
878     Tesla Inc.*     278,905  
9,396     Volvo AB Class B     263,550  
            2,300,000  
               
      Technology: 5.1%        
1,596     Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. - ADR     361,478  
               
      Transportation Technology: 51.3%        
1,536     Alphabet Inc. Class C     272,471  
4,152     Amphenol Corp. Class A     410,010  
1,026     Analog Devices Inc.     244,208  
9,864     Dana Inc.     169,168  
856     Eaton Corp. PLC     305,583  
3,396     Gentherm Inc.*     96,073  
17,544     Hexagon AB Class B     176,442  
5,586     Infineon Technologies AG - ADR     237,618  
372     LG Chem Ltd.     58,144  
2,212     NVIDIA Corp.     349,474  
936     NXP Semiconductors NV     204,507  
2,520     ON Semiconductor Corp.*     132,073  
2,574     Power Integrations Inc.     143,887  
10,900     Renesas Electronics Corp.*     135,422  
500     Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.     63,851  
1,014     Siemens AG     259,948  
1,626     Skyworks Solutions Inc.     121,170  
1,368     TE Connectivity Ltd.     230,741  
            3,610,790  
               
      Total Common Stocks (Cost $6,568,281)     6,737,547  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

3

 

SmartETFs Smart Transportation & Technology ETF
Schedule of Investments
at June 30, 2025 (Unaudited)

 

Shares     Preferred Stocks: 2.0%   Value  
      Preferred Stocks        
      Smart Transportation: 2.0%        
1,356     Volkswagen AG   $ 143,138  
      Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $277,433)     143,138  
               
      Total Investments (Cost $6,845,714): 97.8%     6,880,685  
      Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities: 2.2%     154,921  
      Total Net Assets - 100.0%   $ 7,035,606  

 

* Non-income producing security.

ADR - American Depository Receipt

PLC - Public Limited Company 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

4

 

SmartETFs Sustainable Energy II ETF
Schedule of Investments
at June 30, 2025 (Unaudited)

 

Shares     Common Stocks: 96.7%   Value  
      Electrification: 23.8%        
1,698     Aptiv PLC*   $ 115,838  
1,650     Amphenol Corp     162,938  
3,408     Infineon Technologies AG     144,970  
5,048     Johnson Matthey PLC     120,281  
406     LG Chem Ltd.     63,458  
548     NXP Semiconductors NV     119,733  
1,854     ON Semiconductor Corporation*     97,168  
3,272     Sensata Technologies Holding     98,520  
            922,906  
      Energy Efficiency: 20.0%        
2,722     Ameresco Inc.*     41,347  
6,524     Atlas Copco AB     105,390  
266     Carlisle Cos Inc     99,324  
418     Hubbell Inc.     170,715  
516     Installed Building Products Inc     93,045  
608     Owens Corning     83,612  
420     Trane Technologies PLC     183,712  
            777,145  
               
      Renewable Energy Generation: 18.4%        
105,994     China Longyuan Power Group Corp Ltd.     95,463  
9,710     Iberdrola SA     186,307  
2,268     Nextera Energy Inc.     157,445  
1,652     Ormat Technologies Inc.     138,372  
1,930     Prysmian SpA     136,486  
            714,073  
               
      Renewable Equipment Manufacturing: 34.5%        
4,432     Canadian Solar Inc.*     48,929  
518     Eaton Corp. PLC     184,921  
846     Enphase Energy Inc.*     33,544  
634     First Solar Inc.*     104,952  
1,115     Itron Inc.*     146,767  
1,410     Legrand SA     188,497  
686     Schneider Electric SE     182,448  
702     Siemens AG     179,964  
2,842     Spie SA     159,673  
3,794     Vestas Wind Systems A/S     56,914  
158,000     Xinyi Solar Holdings Ltd.     50,118  
            1,336,727  
               
      Total Common Stocks (Cost $3,880,671)     3,750,851  
               
      Total Investments (Cost $3,880,671): 96.7%     3,750,851  
      Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities: 3.3%     128,168  
      Total Net Assets - 100.0%   $ 3,879,019  

 

* Non-income producing security.

PLC - Public Limited Company 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

5

 

SmartETFs Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF
Schedule of Investments
at June 30, 2025 (Unaudited)

 

Shares     Common Stocks: 100.0%   Value  
      Australia: 10.8%      
33,327     Corporate Travel Management Ltd.   $ 303,742  
4,556     JB Hi-Fi Ltd.     330,838  
144,915     Metcash Ltd.     372,863  
18,671     Sonic Healthcare Ltd.     329,154  
            1,336,597  
      China: 33.9%        
402,000     China Construction Bank Corp. - H Shares     405,587  
252,000     China Medical System Holdings     385,225  
70,000     China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd. - H Shares     489,111  
174,500     China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd.     302,765  
108,600     China Resources Gas Group Ltd.     277,381  
512,000     Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd. - H Shares     405,689  
81,700     Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co., Ltd. - A Shares     318,206  
2,551     NetEase Inc. - ADR     343,314  
58,500     Ping An Insurance Group Company of China Ltd. - H Shares     371,496  
42,200     Shenzhou International     299,971  
150,900     Suofeiya Home Collection - A Shares     295,339  
40,094     Zhejiang Supor Cookware - A Shares     293,441  
            4,187,525  
      Hong Kong: 5.8%        
87,500     BOC Hong Kong Holdings Ltd.     380,098  
62,477     Link REIT/The     333,478  
            713,576  
      India: 2.6%        
16,612     Tech Mahindra Ltd.     326,696  
               
      Indonesia: 2.3%        
1,209,200     Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero     278,559  
               
      Malaysia: 2.5%        
302,400     Public Bank Bhd     309,436  
               
      Singapore: 8.2%        
165,254     Capland Ascendas - REIT     348,286  
197,800     CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust - REIT     337,548  
9,305     DBS Group Holdings Ltd.     328,631  
            1,014,465  
      South Korea: 2.8%        
44,954     Korean Reinsurance Co     340,188  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

6

 

SmartETFs Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF
Schedule of Investments
at June 30, 2025 (Unaudited)

 

Shares     Common Stocks: 100.0%   Value  
      Taiwan: 20.4%        
47,000     Catcher Technology Co., Ltd.   $ 340,999  
11,260     Elite Material Co., Ltd.     339,881  
64,317     Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.     354,382  
4,265     Largan Precision Co., Ltd.     347,389  
26,000     Nien Made Enterprise Co., Ltd.     362,594  
19,800     Novatek Microelectronics Corp.     369,302  
1,785     Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.     404,285  
            2,518,832  
               
      Thailand: 2.4%        
99,000     Tisco Financial Group PCL/Foreign     295,124  
               
      United States: 8.3%        
2,889     Aflac Inc.     304,674  
1,364     Broadcom Inc.     375,987  
2,130     QUALCOMM Inc.     339,224  
            1,019,885  
               
      Total Common Stocks (Cost $10,361,486)     12,340,883  
               
      Total Investments (Cost $10,361,486): 100.0%     12,340,883  
      Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets: 0.0%     (2,143 )
      Total Net Assets - 100.0%   $ 12,338,740  

 

ADR - American Depository Receipt

PCL - Public Company Limited

REIT - Real Estate Investment Trust 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

7

 

SmartETFs Dividend Builder ETF
Schedule of Investments
at June 30, 2025 (Unaudited)

 

Shares     Common Stocks: 98.7%   Value  
      Denmark: 2.2%        
13,376     Novo Nordisk A/S     928,308  
               
      France: 8.8%        
16,233     Danone SA     1,326,166  
10,221     Publicis Groupe     1,151,873  
4,409     Schneider Electric SE     1,172,611  
            3,650,650  
      Germany: 3.5%        
4,456     Deutsche Boerse AG     1,453,310  
               
      Ireland: 2.6%        
12,273     Medtronic PLC     1,069,837  
               
      Sweden: 5.3%        
36,832     Assa Abloy AB-B     1,149,108  
66,055     Atlas Copco     1,067,064  
            2,216,172  
      Switzerland: 8.7%        
20,192     ABB Ltd.     1,203,886  
13,049     Nestle SA     1,296,349  
3,521     Roche Holding AG     1,146,599  
            3,646,834  
      Taiwan: 2.9%        
5,373     Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.     1,216,931  
               
      United Kingdom: 10.7%        
41,435     Diageo PLC     1,039,613  
212,049     Haleon PLC     1,089,683  
17,067     Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC     1,160,724  
19,053     Unilever PLC     1,157,190  
            4,447,210  
      United States: 54.0%        
5,900     AbbVie Inc.     1,095,158  
10,890     Aflac Inc.     1,148,459  
3,463     Arthur J Gallagher & Co.     1,108,576  
1,139     BlackRock Inc.     1,195,096  
4,804     Broadcom Inc.     1,324,223  
17,836     Cisco Systems Inc.     1,237,462  
4,642     CME Group Inc.     1,279,428  
3,538     Eaton Corp. PLC     1,263,031  
8,833     Emerson Electric Co.     1,177,704  
4,345     Illinois Tool Works Inc.     1,074,301  
7,210     Johnson & Johnson     1,101,328  
2,717     Microsoft Corp.     1,351,463  
19,028     Mondelez International Inc.     1,283,248  
11,587     Otis Worldwide Corp.     1,147,345  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

8

 

SmartETFs Dividend Builder ETF
Schedule of Investments
at June 30, 2025 (Unaudited)

 

Shares     Common Stocks: 98.7%   Value  
      Common Stocks (Continued)        
      United States (Continued)        
7,606     Paychex Inc.   $ 1,106,369  
7,744     PepsiCo Inc.     1,022,518  
6,676     Procter & Gamble Co./The     1,063,620  
6,170     Texas Instruments Inc.     1,281,015  
16,675     The Coca-Cola Co. - ADR     1,179,756  
            22,440,100  
               
      Total Common Stocks (Cost $29,653,592)     41,069,352  
               
      Total Investments in Securities (Cost $29,653,592): 98.7%     41,069,352  
      Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities: 1.3%     522,805  
      Total Net Assets - 100.0%   $ 41,592,157  

 

ADR - American Depository Receipt

PLC - Public Limited Company 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

9

 

SmartETFs

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES 

at June 30, 2025 (Unaudited)

 

   

Smart Transportation

& Technology ETF

   

Sustainable

Energy II ETF

 
Assets:                
Investments in securities, at cost   $ 6,845,714     $ 3,880,671  
Investments in securities, at value   $ 6,880,685     $ 3,750,851  
Cash     111,787       136,773  
Foreign currency, at value                
(Cost $0 and $60, respectively)     -       60  
Receivables:                
Investment securities sold     -       -  
Fund shares sold     -          
Dividends receivable     17,503       7,581  
Tax reclaim     36,726       3,793  
Due from Adviser, net     -       7,355  
Prepaid expense     -       5,417  
Total Assets   $ 7,046,701     $ 3,911,830  
                 
Liabilities:                
Due to Adviser, net   1,713       -  
Accrued administration fees     -       739  
Audit fees     6,982       6,982  
CCO fees     1,274       1,116  
Custody fees     -       7,411  
Fund Accounting fees     -       3,940  
Legal fees     590       908  
Miscellaneous fees     -       569  
Printing fees     -       6,751  
Transfer Agent fees     -       3,671  
Trustee fees     536       724  
Total Liabilities     11,095       32,811  
                 
Net Assets   $ 7,035,606     $ 3,879,019  
                 
Composition of Net Assets:                
Paid-in capital   $ 6,970,867     $ 4,858,180  
Total distributable loss     64,739       (979,161 )
Net Assets   $ 7,035,606     $ 3,879,019  
                 
Number of shares issued and outstanding                
(unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)     150,002       140,000  
                 
Net Asset Value, Offering and Redemption Price Per Share   $ 46.90     $ 27.71  

  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

10

 

SmartETFs

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

at June 30, 2025 (Unaudited)

 

    Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF     Dividend Builder ETF  
Assets:            
Investments in securities, at cost   $ 10,361,486     $ 29,653,592  
Investments in securities, at value   $ 12,340,883     $ 41,069,352  
Cash     65,395       568,985  
Foreign currency, at value (Cost $15,703 and $0, respectively)     15,703       -  
Receivables:                
Dividends receivable     41,869       35,871  
Tax reclaim     -       121,176  
Other receivable     534       -  
Due from Adviser, net     5,466          
Prepaid expenses     3,705       6,989  
Total Assets   $ 12,473,555     $ 41,802,373  
                 
Liabilities:                
Payable for securities purchased     -       -  
Dividend payable     91,950       175,488  
Due to Adviser, net     -       3,760  
Accrued administration fees     103       629  
Audit fees     7,446       7,446  
CCO fees     1,144       2,546  
Custody fees     10,720       6,850  
Deferred foreign tax liability     9,693       -  
Fund Accounting fees     4,250       5,631  
Legal fees     329       657  
Miscellaneous fees     687       194  
Printing fees     3,105       3,276  
Transfer Agent fees     5,208       3,368  
Trustee fees     180       371  
Total Liabilities     134,815       210,216  
                 
Net Assets   $ 12,338,740     $ 41,592,157  
                 
Composition of Net Assets:                
Paid-in capital   $ 10,297,191     $ 29,559,111  
Total distributable earnings     2,041,549       12,033,046  
Net Assets   $ 12,338,740     $ 41,592,157  
                 
Number of shares issued and outstanding                
(unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)     707,305       1,349,899  
                 
Net Asset Value, Offering and Redemption Price Per Share   $ 17.44     $ 30.81  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

11

 

SmartETFs

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

For the Six Months ended June 30, 2025 (Unaudited) 

 

    Smart Transportation & Technology ETF     Sustainable Energy II ETF  
Investment Income:            
Dividends*   $ 110,949     $ 37,933  
Total income     110,949       37,933  
                 
Expenses:                
Advisory fees     25,994       14,987  
Transfer agent fees and expenses     -       6,336  
Fund accounting fee and expenses     -       7,703  
Administration fees     -       911  
Custody fees and expenses     -       11,458  
Audit fees     6,982       6,982  
Legal fees     2,660       2,657  
Listing fees     -       4,959  
Printing     -       8,778  
Trustees' fees and expenses     4,770       4,638  
Insurance     -       205  
CCO fees and expenses     4,980       3,409  
Miscellaneous     -       1,969  
Total expenses     45,386       74,992  
Less: fees waived and expenses absorbed     (19,392 )     (60,005 )
Net expenses     25,994       14,987  
Net Investment Income     84,955       22,946  
                 
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments and Foreign Currency                
Net realized gain (loss) on:                
Investments     (99,194 )     (626,560 )
Investments in-kind     242,490       60,739  
Foreign Currency     (403 )     (252 )
      142,893       (566,073 )
 Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:                
Investments     556,905       945,936  
Foreign Currency     4,087       467  
      560,992       946,403  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency     703,885       380,330  
                 
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations   $ 788,840     $ 403,276  

 

*  Net of foreign taxes withheld of $15,304 and $3,580, respectively.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

12

 

SmartETFs 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2025 (Unaudited)

 

      Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF       Dividend Builder ETF  
Investment Income:                
Dividends*   $ 203,346     $ 557,644  
Total income     203,346       557,644  
                 
Expenses:                
Advisory fees     27,972       88,912  
Transfer agent fees and expenses     3,440       5,074  
Fund accounting fee and expenses     8,522       10,469  
Administration fees     1,790       9,633  
Custody fees and expenses     26,172       13,507  
Audit fees     7,446       7,446  
Legal fees     3,287       21,027  
Listing fees     5,846       4,959  
Printing     5,736       7,054  
Trustees' fees and expenses     4,871       7,559  
Insurance     163       914  
CCO fees and expenses     3,833       7,175  
Miscellaneous     2,438       3,040  
Interest expense     137       -  
Total expenses     101,653       186,769  
Less: fees waived and expenses absorbed     (72,425 )     (58,340 )
Net expenses     29,228       128,429  
Net investment income     174,118       429,215  
                 
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments and Foreign Currency                
Net realized gain (loss) on:            
Investments     55,709       242,666  
Investments in-kind     -       246,793  
Foreign Currency     (263 )     4,507  
    55,446       493,966  
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:                
Investments     1,189,075       2,454,321  
Deferred foreign taxes     (2,882 )     -  
Foreign Currency     49       13,444  
      1,186,242       2,467,765  
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments and foreign currency     1,241,688       2,961,731  
                 
Net Increase in Net Assets from Operations   $ 1,415,806     $ 3,390,946  

 

*  Net of foreign taxes withheld of $18,364 and $28,115, respectively.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

13

 

SmartETFs 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

    Smart Transportation & Technology ETF  
   

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2025 

   

Year Ended

December 31, 2024

 
INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM:                
Operations:                
Net Investment income   $ 84,955     $ 110,579  
Net realized gain (loss) on:                
Investments     (99,194 )     6,641  
Investments in-kind     242,490       790,614  
Foreign Currency     (403 )     (2,006 )
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:                
Investments     556,905       (670,868 )
Foreign Currency     4,087       (1,828 )
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations     788,840       233,132  
                 

Distributions to shareholders:

               
Dividends and distributions     -       (90,301 )
Total distribution to shareholders     -       (90,301 )
                 
Capital Transactions:                
Proceeds from shares sold     -       1,076,073  
Transaction fees     484       425  
Cost of shares redeemed     (2,235,223 )     (4,248,870 )
Net change in Net Assets from Capital Transactions     (2,234,739 )     (3,172,372 )
                 

Total Decrease in Net Assets

    (1,445,899 )     (3,029,541 )
                 
Net Assets:                
Beginning of period     8,481,505       11,511,046  
End of period   $ 7,035,606     $ 8,481,505  
                 
Capital Share Activity:                
Shares sold     -       25,000  
Shares redeemed     (50,000 )     (100,000 )
Net Decrease in Share Transactions     (50,000 )     (75,000 )

  

  Unaudited

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

14

 

SmartETFs 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

    Sustainable Energy II ETF  
    Six Months Ended June 30, 2025     Year Ended December 31, 2024  
INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM:                
Operations:                
Net Investment income   $ 22,946     $ 30,076  
Net realized gain (loss) on:                
Investments     (626,560 )     (198,738 )
Investments in-kind     60,739       95,539  
Foreign Currency     (252 )     (690 )
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:                
Investments     945,936       (460,885 )
Foreign Currency     467       (218 )
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations     403,276       (534,916 )
                 

Distributions to shareholders: 

               
Dividends and distributions     -       (36,400 )
Total distributions to shareholders     -       (36,400 )
                 
Capital Transactions:                
Cost of shares redeemed     (485,689 )     (536,130 )
Net change in Net Assets from Capital Transactions     (485,689 )     (536,130 )
                 

Total Decrease in Net Assets

    (82,413 )     (1,107,446 )
                 
Net Assets:                
Beginning of period     3,961,432       5,068,878  
End of period   $ 3,879,019     $ 3,961,432  
                 
Capital Share Activity:                
Shares redeemed     (20,000 )     (20,000 )
Net Decrease in Share Transactions     (20,000 )     (20,000 )

 

  Unaudited

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

15

 

SmartETFs

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

   

Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF

    Dividend Builder ETF  
    Six Months Ended
June 30, 2025†
    Year Ended
December 31, 2024
    Six Months Ended
June 30, 2025†
    Year Ended
December 31, 2024
 
INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM:                                
Operations:                                
Net Investment income     174,118     $ 123,407     $ 429,215     $ 587,554  
Net realized gain (loss) on:                                
Investments     55,709       98,596       242,666       1,320,045  
Investments in-kind     -       -       246,793       706,510  
Deferred foreign taxes     -       (764 )     -       -  
Foreign Currency     (263 )     (69 )     4,507       1,919  
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:                                
Investments     1,189,075       275,195       2,454,321       1,271,173  
Deferred foreign taxes     (2,882 )     (4,257 )     -       -  
Foreign Currency   49       (187 )     13,444       (6,388 )
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations     1,415,806       491,921       3,390,946       3,880,813  
                                 
Distributions to shareholders:                                
Dividends and distributions     (142,680 )     (210,717 )     (323,976 )     (963,951 )
Total distribution to shareholders     (142,680 )     (210,717 )     (323,976 )     (963,951 )
                                 
Capital Transactions:                                
Proceeds from shares sold     6,366,543       1,146,984       -       7,614,328  
Transaction fees     5,372       391       -       -  
Cost of shares redeemed     -       -       (569,846 )     (1,670,101 )
Net change in Net Assets from capital transactions     6,371,915       1,147,375       (569,846 )     5,944,227  
                                 
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets     7,645,041       1,428,579       2,497,124       8,861,089  
                                 
Net Assets:                                
Beginning of period     4,693,699       3,265,120       39,095,033       30,233,944  
End of period     12,338,740     $ 4,693,699     $ 41,592,157     $ 39,095,033  
                                 
Capital Share Activity:                                
Shares sold     400,000       75,000       -       260,000  
Shares redeemed     -       -       (20,000 )     (60,000 )
Net Increase (Decrease) in Share Transactions     400,000       75,000       (20,000 )     200,000  

  

  Unaudited

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

16

 

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

For a capital share outstanding throughout each period.

 

    For the Six
Months Ended
    Year Ended December 31,  
Smart Transportation & Technology ETF   June 30, 2025†     2024     2023     2022     2021     2020  
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 42.41     $ 41.86     $ 34.00     $ 47.45     $ 40.74     $ 26.36  
                                                 
Income from investment operations:                                                
Net investment income     0.60       0.59       0.42       0.56       0.44       0.06  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency     3.89       0.41       8.58       (13.19 )     6.53       15.42  
Total from investment operations     4.49       1.00       9.00       (12.63 )     6.97       15.48  
                                                 
Less distributions:                                                
From Net investment income     -       (0.45 )     (0.42 )     (0.77 )     (0.22 )     (0.08 )
From Realized gain     -       -       (0.72 )     (0.02 )     (0.04 )     (1.02 )
From Return of Capital     -       -       -       (0.03 )     -       -  
Total distributions     -       (0.45 )     (1.14 )     (0.82 )     (0.26 )     (1.10 )
                                                 
Net asset value, end of period   $ 46.90     $ 42.41     $ 41.86     $ 34.00     $ 47.45     $ 40.74  
                                                 
Total return     10.61 %(1)      2.36 %     26.69 %     (26.77 %)     17.12 %     59.08 %
                                                 
Ratios/Supplemental Data:                                                
Net assets, end of period (millions)   $ 7.0     $ 8.5     $ 11.5     $ 10.2     $ 16.6     $ 7.1  
                                                 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:                                                
Before fee waived     1.19 %(2)      1.02 %     0.96 %     0.92 %     0.88 %     1.51 %
After fees waived (3)      0.68 %(2)      0.68 %     0.68 %     0.68 %     0.68 %     0.68 %
                                                 
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets:                                                
Before fees waived     1.71 %(2)      0.75 %     0.54 %     1.06 %     0.87 %     (0.45 %)
After fees waived     2.22 %(2)      1.09 %     0.82 %     1.30 %     1.07 %     0.38 %
                                                 
Portfolio turnover rate (4)      0.10 %(1)      7.68 %     24.25 %     4.84 %     12.20 %     16.10 %

 

  Unaudited
(1)  Not annualized.
(2)  Annualized.
(3)  The Adviser has contractually agreed to limit the operating expenses of the ETF to 0.68%, excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes, dividends on short positions and extraordinary expenses. See Note 7.

(4)  Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

17

 

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

For a capital share outstanding throughout the period.

 

    For the Six           For the Period  
    Months Ended     Year Ended December 31,     November 11,  
Sustainable Energy II ETF   June 30, 2025†     2024     2023     2022     2021     2020*  
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 24.76     $ 28.16     $ 28.56     $ 32.93     $ 30.16     $ 25.48  
                                                 
Income from investment operations:                                                
Net investment income (loss)     0.16       0.19       0.12       0.10       0.08       (0.01 )
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency     2.79       (3.36 )     (0.40 )     (4.10 )     3.56       4.69  
Total from investment operations     2.95       (3.17 )     (0.28 )     (4.00 )     3.64       4.68  
                                                 
Less distributions:                                                
From Net investment income     -       (0.19 )     (0.11 )     (0.08 )     (0.09 )     -  
From Realized gain     -       (0.04 )     -       (0.29 )     (0.78 )     -  
From Returning Capital     -       -       (0.01 )     -       -       -  
Total distributions     -       (0.23 )     (0.12 )     (0.37 )     (0.87 )     -  
                                                 
Net asset value, end of period   $ 27.71     $ 24.76     $ 28.16     $ 28.56     $ 32.93     $ 30.16  
                                                 
Total return     11.87 %(1)      (11.31 %)     (0.95 %)     (12.23 %)     12.11 %     18.37 %(1) 
                                                 
Ratios/Supplemental Data:                                                
Net assets, end of period (in millions)   $ 3.9     $ 4.0     $ 5.1     $ 5.1     $ 5.9     $ 0.9  
                                                 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:                                                
Before fee waived     3.95 %(2)      3.12 %     3.18 %     3.29 %     2.84 %     30.82 %(2) 
After fees waived (3)      0.79 %(2)      0.79 %     0.79 %     0.79 %     0.79 %     0.78 %(2) 
                                                 
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets:                                                
Before fees waived     (1.95 %)(2)      (1.71 %)     (2.05 %)     (2.17 %)     (1.76 %)     (30.22 %)(2) 
After fees waived     1.21 %(2)      0.62 %     0.34 %     0.33 %     0.29 %     (0.18 %)(2) 
                                                 
Portfolio turnover rate (4)      15.22 %(1)      21.40 %     11.73 %     19.02 %     24.21 %     4.55 %(1) 

 

   Unaudited
*  Commencement of operations.

(1)  Not annualized.
(2)  Annualized.

(3)  The Adviser has contractually agreed to limit the operating expenses of the ETF to 0.79%, excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes, dividends on short positions and extraordinary expenses. See Note 7.

(4)  Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

18

 

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

For a capital share outstanding throughout each period.

 

                                     
    For the Six
Months Ended
    Year Ended December 31,
Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF   June 30, 2025†     2024     2023     2022     2021     2020  
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 15.27     $ 14.06     $ 13.22     $ 16.39     $ 16.92     $ 16.58  
                                                 
Investment operations:                                                
Net investment income     0.30       0.48       0.49       0.51       0.96       0.37  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency     2.10       1.47       0.99       (3.29 )     0.84       1.84  
Total from investment operations     2.40       1.95       1.48       (2.78 )     1.80       2.21  
                                                 
Less distributions to Shareholders:                                                
From Net investment income     (0.23 )     (0.44 )     (0.60 )     (0.39 )     (0.89 )     (0.38 )
From Realized gain     -       (0.30 )     (0.04 )     -       (1.44 )     (1.49 )
Total distributions     (0.23 )     (0.74 )     (0.64 )     (0.39 )     (2.33 )     (1.87 )
                                                 
Redemption fee proceeds     -       -               -       -       - (1) 
                                                 
Net asset value, end of period   $ 17.44     $ 15.27     $ 14.06     $ 13.22     $ 16.39     $ 16.92  
                                                 
Total return     15.87 %(2)      13.93 %     11.51 %     (16.92 %)     0.11       13.90 %
                                                 
Ratios/Supplemental Data:                                                
Net assets, end of period (millions)   $ 12.3     $ 4.7     $ 3.3     $ 3.4     $ 4.2     $ 4.2  
                                                 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:                                                
Before fee waived     2.71 %(3)      4.11 %     5.08 %     4.94 %     3.55 %     3.00 %
After fees waived (4)      0.78 %(3)      0.78 %     0.78 %     0.78 %     0.86 %     1.11 %(5) 
                                                 
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets:                                                
Before fees waived     2.71 %(3)      (0.03 %)     (0.80 %)     (0.51 %)     (0.04 %)     0.01  
After fees waived     4.64 %(3)      3.30 %     3.50 %     3.64 %     2.65 %     2.87 %
                                                 
Portfolio turnover rate (6)      6.17 %(2)      18.84 %     11.56 %     7.27 %     27.21 %     217.65 %

 

  Unaudited

(1)  Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.
(2)  Not annualized.

(3)  Annualized.

(4)  The Adviser has contractually agreed to limit the operating expenses of the Fund to 0.78%, excluding interest expenses, expenses related to dividends on short positions, brokerage commissions, taxes and other extraordinary expenses. Includes financial information of the predecessor mutual fund for the period prior to March 27, 2021. The predecessor mutual fund's expense cap was 1.10%. See Note 7.
(5)  If interest expense had been excluded, expenses would have been lowered by 0.01%, for the year ended December 31, 2020.

(6)  Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

19

 

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

For a capital share outstanding throughout each period.

                                     
    For the Six
Months Ended
    Year Ended December 31,
Dividend Builder ETF   June 30, 2025†     2024     2023     2022     2021     2020  
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 28.44     $ 25.84     $ 23.02     $ 26.89     $ 22.77     $ 20.74  
                                                 
Investment operations:                                                
Net investment income     0.32       0.48       0.42       0.49       0.50       0.45  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency     2.29       2.98       3.21       (2.99 )     4.78       2.00  
Total from investment operations     2.61       3.46       3.63       (2.50 )     5.28       2.45  
                                                 
Less distributions to Shareholders:                                                
From Net investment income     (0.24 )     (0.56 )     (0.46 )     (0.44 )     (0.48 )     (0.42 )
From Realized gain     -       (0.30 )     (0.35 )     (0.93 )     (0.68 )     - (1) 
Total distributions     (0.24 )     (0.86 )     (0.81 )     (1.37 )     (1.16 )     (0.42 )
                                                 
Net asset value, end of period   $ 30.81     $ 28.44     $ 25.84     $ 23.02     $ 26.89     $ 22.77  
                                                 
Total return     8.82 %(2)      13.35 %     15.99 %     (9.39 %)     23.60 %     12.26 %
                                                 
Ratios/Supplemental Data:                                                
Net assets, end of period (millions)   $ 41.6     $ 39.1     $ 30.2     $ 20.9     $ 24.5     $ 22.1  
                                                 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:                                                
Before fee waived     0.95 %(3)      1.01 %(6)      1.09 %     1.22 %     1.04 %     1.56 %
After fees waived (4)      0.65 %(3)      0.66 %(6)      0.65 %     0.65 %     0.66 %     0.68 %
                                                 
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets:                                                
Before fees waived     1.87 %(3)      1.44 %     1.35 %     1.43 %     1.56 %     1.43 %
After fees waived     2.17 %(3)      1.79 %     1.79 %     2.00 %     1.94 %     2.31 %
                                                 
Portfolio turnover rate (5)      5.75 %(2)      10.07 %     9.40 %     20.66 %     18.47 %     11.48 %

 

  Unaudited
(1)  Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.
(2)  Not annualized.
(3)  Annualized.
(4)  The Adviser has contractually agreed to limit the operating expenses of the Fund to 0.65%, excluding interest expenses, expenses related to dividends on short positions, brokerage commissions, taxes and other extraordinary expenses. Includes financial information of the predecessor mutual fund for the period prior to March 27, 2021. The predecessor mutual fund's expense cap was 0.68%. See Note 7.
(5)   Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
(6)  If tax agent expense had been excluded, the expense ratios would have been lowered by 0.01% for the year ended December 31, 2024.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

20

 

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 1 - Organization 

Guinness Atkinson™ Funds (the “Trust”), was organized on April 28, 1997 as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust comprises of nine separate series portfolios, each of which has unique investment objectives and strategies. This report covers four series, which are operated as exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”): SmartETFs Smart Transportation & Technology ETF (“Smart Transportation & Technology ETF”), SmartETFs Sustainable Energy II ETF (“Sustainable Energy II ETF”), SmartETFs Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF (“Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF”) and SmartETFs Dividend Builder ETF (“Dividend Builder ETF”) (individually each a “Fund” or collectively the “Funds”). Each Fund is a diversified fund. The investment objective of the Smart Transportation & Technology ETF is long term capital appreciation from investments involved in the manufacture, development, distribution, and servicing of autonomous or electric vehicles. The investment objective of the Sustainable Energy ETF is long term capital appreciation by investing in equity securities of companies that provide or support alternative or renewable sources of energy. The investment objective of the Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF is to provide investors with dividend income and long-term capital growth. The investment objective of the Dividend Builder ETF is to seek a moderate level of current income and consistent dividend growth at rate that exceeds inflation. Smart Transportation & Technology ETF commenced operations on November 14, 2019. Sustainable Energy II ETF commenced operations on November 11, 2020. The Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF and the Dividend Builder ETF commenced operations on March 27, 2021.

 

The Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF and the Dividend Builder ETF became a series of the Trust as of March 27, 2021 following the tax-free reorganization of the Guinness Atkinson Asia Pacific Dividend Fund and the Guinness Atkinson Dividend Builder Fund (each a “Predecessor Mutual Fund” and collectively the “Predecessor Mutual Funds”). The Agreement and Plan of Reorganization was approved by the Board of the Trust on May 14, 2020. As a result of the reorganization, the Funds assumed the performance and accounting history of the Predecessor Mutual Funds. Financial information included for the dates prior to the reorganization is that of the Predecessor Mutual Funds.

 

Each Fund is deemed to be an individual reporting segment and is not part of a consolidated reporting entity. The objective and strategy of each Fund is used by the Adviser to make investment decisions, and the results of the operations, as shown on the Statements of Operations and the financial highlights for each Fund is the information utilized for the day-to-day management of the Funds. Each Fund is party to the expense agreements as disclosed in the Notes to the Financial Statements and there are no resources allocated to a Fund based on performance measurements. The management of the Funds’ Adviser is deemed to be the Chief Operating Decision Maker with respect to the Funds' investment decisions.

 

Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies 

The Funds are an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standard Codification Topic 946 “Financial Services—Investment Companies”.

 

Securities Valuations. Securities of the Funds that are traded on a principal exchange (U.S. or foreign) or NASDAQ are valued at the official closing price on each day that the exchanges are open for trading. Securities traded on an exchange for which there have been no sales, and other over-the-counter securities are valued at the mean between the bid and asked prices. Securities for which quotations are not readily available are valued at their respective fair values as determined in good faith by the Funds’ Valuation Committee in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees. Short term investments are stated at cost, combined with accrued interest, which approximates market value. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions are calculated using the identified cost method.

 

Foreign Currency Transactions. The accounting records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars. Financial instruments and other assets and liabilities of the Funds denominated in a foreign currency, if any, are translated into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates. Purchases and sales of financial instruments, income receipts and expense payments are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate on the date of the transaction. The Funds does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates from those resulting from changes in values to financial instruments. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gains or losses from investments. Realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from transactions in financial instruments and foreign currencies, currency exchange fluctuations between the trade and settlement date of such transactions, and the difference between the amount of assets and liabilities recorded and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, including financial instruments, resulting from changes in currency exchange rates. The Funds may be subject to foreign taxes related to foreign income received, capital gains on the sale of securities and certain foreign currency transactions (a portion of which may be reclaimable). All foreign taxes are recorded in accordance with the applicable regulations and rates that exist in the foreign jurisdictions in which the Funds invests. 

21

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

Illiquid Securities. Pursuant to Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act, the Funds have adopted a Liquidity Risk Management Program (“LRMP”) that requires, among other things, that each Fund limits its illiquid investments that are investments to no more than 15% of net assets. An illiquid investment is any security which may not reasonably be expected to be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. If the Adviser, at any time determines that the value of illiquid securities held by a Fund exceeds 15% of its net asset value, the Adviser will take such steps as it considers appropriate to reduce them as soon as reasonably practicable in accordance with the Funds’ written LRMP.

 

Security Transactions, Dividend Income and Distributions. Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions are calculated using the identified cost method.

 

Dividend income is recorded net of applicable withholding taxes on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends, if applicable, are paid (a portion of which may be reclaimable) or provided for in accordance with the applicable country’s tax rules and rates and are disclosed in the Statement of Operations. Withholding tax reclaims are filed in certain countries to recover a portion of the amounts previously withheld. The Funds record a reclaim receivable based on a number of factors, including a jurisdiction’s legal obligation to pay reclaims as well as payment history and market convention. The Funds may be subject to foreign taxation related to capital gains on the sale of securities in the foreign jurisdictions in which they invest. When a capital gain tax is determined to apply, the Funds record an estimated deferred tax liability in an amount that may be payable if securities were disposed of on the valuation date.

 

Allocation of Expenses. Each Fund is charged for those expenses directly attributable to it. Expenses that are not directly attributable to a Fund are allocated among the Funds in the Trust in proportion to their respective assets or another appropriate method.

 

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Federal Income Taxes. The Funds intend to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all its net investment income and any net realized gains to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax or excise provision is required. Due to the timing of dividend distributions and the differences in accounting for income and realized gains and losses for financial statement and federal income tax purposes, the fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the year in which the income and realized gains and losses are recorded by the Funds.

 

Management of the Funds have evaluated tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Funds’ tax returns to determine whether these positions meet a “more-likely-than-not” standard that, based on the technical merits, have a more than fifty percent likelihood of being sustained by a taxing authority upon examination. A tax position that meets the “more -likely-than-not” recognition threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. The Funds recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in the Statements of Operations. The Income Tax Statement requires management of the Funds to analyze tax positions taken in the prior three open tax years, if any, and tax positions expected to be taken in the Fund’s current tax year, as defined by the IRS statute of limitations for all major jurisdictions, including federal tax authorities and certain state tax authorities. As of and during the open tax period/year ended December 31, 2021-2024, the Funds did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits. The Funds have no examination in progress and are not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months. 

22

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

Indemnifications. Under the Trust's organizational documents, its current and former officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Funds. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Funds enter into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties that provide general indemnifications. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Funds that have not yet occurred or that would be covered by other parties.

 

Note 3 – Valuation of Investments 

The Funds utilizes various methods to measure the fair value of most of its investments on a recurring basis. GAAP establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The three levels of inputs are as follows:

 

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that a Fund has the ability to access.

 

Level 2 – Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.

 

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.

 

The availability of observable inputs can vary from security to security and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including for example, the type of security, whether the security is new and not yet established in the marketplace, the liquidity of markets, and other characteristics particular to the security. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3.

 

The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety, is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

 

The following table summarizes the market value of the Funds’ investments as of June 30, 2025, based on the inputs used to value them:

 

Smart Transportation & Technology ETF* 

Investments   Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  
Common Stocks   $ 6,737,547     $ -     $ -  
Preferred Stocks     143,138       -       -  
Total   $ 6,880,685     $ -     $ -  

 

Sustainable Energy II ETF*                  
Investments   Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  
Common Stocks   $ 3,750,851     $ -     $ -  
Total   $ 3,750,851     $ -     $ -  

23

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF* 

Investments   Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  
Common Stocks   $ 12,340,883     $ -     $ -  
Total   $ 12,340,883     $ -     $ -  

 

Dividend Builder ETF*                  
Investments   Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  
Common Stocks   $ 41,069,352     $ -     $ -  
Total   $ 41,069,352     $ -     $ -  

 

* Please refer to the Schedule of Investments for Industry break out.

 

Note 4 – Capital Share Transactions

Shares are created and redeemed by the ETFs only in Creation Unit size aggregations of 25,000 Shares for the Smart Transportation & Technology ETF and the Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF, 20,000 Shares for Dividend Builder ETF and 10,000 Shares for the Sustainable Energy II ETF. Only broker-dealers or large institutional investors with creation and redemption agreements called Authorized Participants (“AP”) are permitted to purchase or redeem Creation Units from the ETFs. Such transactions are generally permitted on an in-kind basis, with a balancing cash component to equate the transactions to the NAV per unit of the ETFs on the transaction date. Both purchases and redemptions of Creation Units are subject to a Transaction Fee.

 

Note 5 - Investment Transactions

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding in-kind transactions and short-term investments, for the period ended June 30, 2025, were as follows:

 

    Purchases     Sales  
Smart Transportation & Technology ETF   $ 7,347     $ 111,651  
Sustainable Energy II ETF     565,684       624,778  
Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF     2,247,031       478,460  
Dividend Builder ETF     3,457,068       3,698,581  

 

Purchases, sales, and realized gain/(loss) of in-kind transactions for the period ended June 30, 2025, were as follows:

 

    In-kind Purchases     In-kind Sales     Gain/(Loss)  
Smart Transportation & Technology ETF   $ -     $ 2,070,453     $ 242,490  
Sustainable Energy II ETF     -       442,492       60,739  
Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF     4,650,576       -       -  
Dividend Builder ETF     -       565,209       -  

 

Note 6 – Principal Risks 

The ETFs are subject to the risks common to all ETFs that invest in equity securities and foreign securities. Investing in the ETFs may be more risky than investing in an ETF that invests only in U.S. securities due to the increased volatility of foreign markets.

 

Autonomous/Electric Vehicle Risk. Autonomous and/or electric vehicles are a relatively new development in transportation markets. They could fail to “catch on” with consumers in a meaningful way and could suffer technical problems, supply or demand shortfalls, or be supplanted by other technologies.

 

Technology Risk. The technologies used by autonomous and electric vehicles and their support systems, such as software, grids, networks, fuel and batteries, may be unproven, susceptible to obsolescence or subject to future regulation in countries or locations of deployment.

 

Cybersecurity Risk. Technologies created or deployed for Smart Transportation, including for vehicles or drive systems as well as for networks and intelligent roadways, may be subject to greater cybersecurity risk than other companies.

24

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

Product Risk. Companies creating products and technologies for autonomous or electric transportation, for passenger, commercial or freight usage, face considerable competition.

 

Product Regulation Risk. Autonomous vehicles and their networks may be subject to multiple levels of regulation including local regulations and operating restrictions.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. Foreign securities experience more volatility than their domestic counterparts, in part because of higher political and economic risks, lack of reliable information, fluctuations in currency exchange rates and the risks that a foreign government may take over assets, restrict the ability to exchange currency or restrict the delivery of securities.

 

Industry Risk. Prices of energy, whether traditional or sustainable, may fluctuate or decline due to many factors, including international political or economic developments, real or perceived, demand for energy and sustainable energy, production and distribution policies of OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) and other oil -producing countries, energy conservation projects, changes in governmental regulations affecting companies in the energy business or related lines of business, including Sustainable Energy companies, changes in technology affecting Sustainable Energy, and changes in tax regulations relating to energy. A decline in energy prices would likely have a negative effect on securities held by the Fund. The Fund’s focus on sustainable energy businesses exposes the Fund to greater market risk and potential monetary losses than if the Fund’s assets were diversified among various industries or sectors.

 

China Currency Risk. The Fund’s investments in Chinese issuers are subject to risks associated with China’s currency, which is subject to economic objectives of China’s government including devaluation. China has only comparatively recently moved from a pegged currency to a managed float. China’s currency, the Renminbi Yuan, is not completely freely tradable and may not at all times reflect economic fundamentals of China’s economy. The value of the Renminbi Yuan is subject to changes based on the economic objectives of the Chinese government, including devaluation in order to improve the competitiveness of Chinese goods in an effort to improve the Chinese balance of trade.

 

Other Currency Risk. Currencies of some countries in the Asia Pacific region are subject to greater volatility as compared to the US dollar. Currency volatility is relative and can be periodic. For some countries, their currency may not reflect entirely the fundamental components of a country’s economy. For other countries, such as Australia (Australia Dollar), currency volatility is relatively low over longer terms. Some currencies, such as South Korea (Won), Taiwan (New Taiwan Dollar), Singapore (Singapore Dollar) and India (Rupee), trade only in local markets and may be more volatile than other currencies. The Fund could pay more if it had to acquire a foreign currency when the amplitude of its volatility is high as measured against the US Dollar.

 

Pandemic Risk. In 2020, markets globally were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which is ongoing. The pandemic adversely affected industries, including supply chains, as well as general financial conditions, and has resulted in shutdowns and economic stimulus packages. Total economic effects of Covid-19 cannot be predicted. Covid-19 may continue in the foreseeable future and could adversely affect companies in the Funds’ portfolio, including by affecting their willingness or ability to pay dividends, which could negatively impact stock prices as well as yield.

 

Capital Controls and Sanctions Risk. In 2022, a number of countries imposed capital controls and economic and other sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The range of sanctions and their impact continues to evolve but has included asset seizures, restrictions on the transfer or exchange of currency, restrictions on asset transfers, exclusions from international banking systems, export limitations and limitations on listing shares of companies that are economically tied to Russia and Belarus, including depositary receipts on shares of affected companies. Sanctions programs have been imposed by individual countries, but also on a coordinated basis. The duration of sanctions programs and capital controls in response to the invasion of Ukraine cannot be predicted with any certainty. Capital controls and/or sanctions could adversely impact a Fund’s ability to buy, sell or otherwise transfer securities or currency, negatively impact the value and/or liquidity of such instruments, adversely affect the trading market and price for Fund shares, and otherwise cause the Fund to decline in value. 

25

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

Note 7 - Investment Advisory and Other Agreements 

The Trust, on behalf of the Funds, entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with Guinness Atkinson Asset Management, Inc. (the “Adviser”), under which the Adviser provides the Funds with investment management services. The Adviser furnishes all necessary office facilities, equipment and personnel for servicing the investments of the Funds.

 

Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement between Smart Transportation & Technology ETF and the Adviser, the Fund pays the Adviser an annual advisory fee rate of 0.68% of its average daily net assets and the Adviser has agreed to pay all expenses of the Fund, except for: (i) brokerage expenses and other expenses (such as stamp taxes) connected with the execution of portfolio transactions or in connection with creation and redemption transactions; (ii) legal fees or expenses in connection with any arbitration, litigation or pending or threatened arbitration or litigation, including any settlements in connection therewith; (iii) compensation and expenses of the Independent Trustee; (iv) compensation and expenses of counsel to the Independent Trustees; (v) compensation and expenses of the Trust’s CCO; (vi) extraordinary expenses; (vii) distribution fees and expenses paid by the Trust under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act; and (viii) the advisory fee payable to the Adviser. The Smart Transportation & Technology ETF is responsible for other expenses not assumed by the Adviser, including brokerage expenses in connection with portfolio transactions or creation/redemption transactions, legal fees, compensation and expenses of the Board of Trustees, compensation and expenses of the Trust’s CCO, extraordinary expenses, distribution fees and expenses, interest, taxes, in addition to the advisory fee.

 

The Sustainable Energy II ETF pays the Adviser 0.79%, the Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF pays the Adviser 0.75%, and the Dividend Builder ETF pays the Adviser 0.45% an annual advisory fee rate based on each Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to limit each Fund’s total operating expenses by reducing all or a portion of its fees and reimburse the Funds for expenses (excluding interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses (as defined in Form N-1A), fees and expenses related to services for reclamation or collection of foreign taxes withheld, dividends on short positions, brokerage expenses, and extraordinary expenses) so that its ratio of expenses to average daily net assets will not exceed the following levels:

 

 

Annual Expense

Limitation

Expiration Date
Smart Transportation & Technology ETF 0.68% June 30, 2028
Sustainable Energy II ETF 0.79% June 30, 2028
Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF 0.78% June 30, 2028
Dividend Builder ETF 0.65% June 30, 2028

  

Penserra Capital Management, LLC (“Penserra”) serves as sub-adviser to the Smart Transportation & Technology ETF and Sustainable Energy II ETF. Penserra is compensated by the Adviser and does not receive payments from the Funds.

 

Foreside Fund Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, (the “Distributor”) serves as the Funds’ principal underwriter and distributor of Creation Units pursuant to a distribution agreement. The Distributor does not maintain any secondary market in ETF Shares.

 

Mutual Fund Administration, LLC (the “Administrator”) serves as the Funds’ administrator under an administration agreement.

 

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (the “Custodian”, “Transfer Agent” and “Fund Accounting agent”) serves as the Funds’ custodian, transfer agent and fund accounting agent.

 

Foreside Fund Officer Services, LLC provides Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) services to the Funds’. The fees paid for CCO services for the period ended June 30, 2025, are reported on the Statements of Operations.

 

The fees paid to non-interested Trustees for the period ended June 30, 2025 are reported on the Statements of Operations. 

26

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

Certain officers of the Trust are also officers and/or Directors of the Adviser and the Administrator. None of these officers are compensated directly by the Funds.

 

Note 8 – Distribution Plan 

The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act which permits the Funds to pay Rule 12b-1 fees not to exceed 0.10% per year of each Fund’s average daily net assets. The Board of Trustees has not authorized the Funds to make payments under the Distribution Plan. Currently, no payment is being made by the Funds.

 

Note 9 – Tax Matters 

   

Smart

Transportation & Technology ETF

   

Sustainable

Energy II ETF

   

Asia Pacific

Dividend Builder

ETF

   

Dividend Builder

ETF

 
Tax cost of investments   $ 6,845,714     $ 3,880,671     $ 10,361,486     $ 29,653,592  
Gross tax unrealized appreciation   $ 1,609,101     $ 910,691     $ 2,215,712     $ 12,158,770  
Gross tax unrealized depreciation     (1,574,130 )     (1,040,511 )     (236,315 )     (743,010 )
Net tax unrealized appreciation (depreciation)*     34,971       (129,820 )     1,979,397       11,415,760  

 

* The differences between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) is attributable primary to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales and passive foreign investment company (PFIC) mark to market adjustments.

 

** Under the current tax law, capital and currency losses realized after October 31 and prior to a Fund's fiscal year end may be deferred as occurring on the first day of the following year.

 

As of December 31, 2024, the Funds have the following capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized capital gains:

 

Capital losses expiring in:  

Smart

Transportation & Technology ETF

   

Sustainable Energy

II ETF

   

Asia Pacific

Dividend

Builder ETF

   

Dividend

Builder ETF

 
No Expiration Long-term   $ 176,060     -     -     -  
No Expiration Short-term     9,042     -     -     -  
Total   $ 185,102     -     -     -  

 

For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Sustainable Energy II ETF, utilized capital losses carryforwards of $52,175. 

27

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

The character of distributions (other than return of capital distributions) paid by the Funds during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 were as follows:

 

    2024     2023  
     

Ordinary

Income

     

Capital

Gains

     

Ordinary

Income

     

Capital

Gains

 
Smart Transportation & Technology ETF   $ 81,132       9,169     $ 222,256     $ 91,438  
Sustainable Energy II ETF*     30,782       5,618       19,690       43  
Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF     130,726       79,991       138,323       9,818  
Dividend Builder ETF     589,550       374,401       580,116       337,117  

 

* The Sustainable Energy II ETF had $1,795 return of capital distribution in 2023.

 

Note 10 – New Accounting Pronouncements and Regulatory Updates

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”),” which enhances disclosure requirements about significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (the “CODM”). ASU 2023- 07, among other things, (i) requires a single segment public entity to provide all of the disclosures as required by Topic 280, (ii) requires a public entity to disclose the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources and (iii) provides the ability for a public entity to elect more than one performance measure. ASU 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Management has evaluated the impact of applying ASU 2023-07, and the Funds have adopted the ASU during the reporting period. The adoption of the ASU does not have a material impact on the financial statements. Required disclosure is included in Note 1.

 

Note 11 - Events Subsequent to the Reporting Period End

The Funds have adopted financial reporting rules regarding a subsequent event which requires an entity to recognize in the financial statements the effects of all subsequent events that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed at the date of the balance sheet. Management has evaluated the Funds’ related events and transactions and has determined that there were no events or transactions that occurred through the date of issuance of the Funds’ financial statements. 

28

 

 

 

This report is intended for the ETF’s shareholders. It may not be distributed to prospective investors unless it is preceded or accompanied by the ETF’s prospectus and summary prospectus, which includes more complete information. Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. An investor should consider the investment objective, risks, charges and expenses of the ETF carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus, which contains this and other information, e-mail request to [email protected], by calling 866-307-5990 (toll free in the United States), visiting the ETF’s website, www.SmartETFs.com, or by calling or writing a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please read the prospectus and summary prospectus carefully before investing.

 

Additional information about the Trust’s Board of Trustees/Officers and a description of the policies and procedures the Trust uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities are provided in the Statement of Additional Information. The Statement of Additional Information and information regarding how the Trust voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve month period ending June 30 is available, without charge, by calling 866-307-5990, or by visiting www.SmartETFs.com, or on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

The ETF files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. The ETF’s Form N-PORT are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, the ETF’s full portfolio holdings are updated daily and available on the ETF’s website at www.SmartETFs.com.

 

Foreside Fund Services, LLC, distributor.

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