Form 485APOS Harbor ETF Trust
As filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on May 19, 2026
File No. 333-255884
File No. 811-23661
File No. 811-23661
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
☒
Post-Effective Amendment No. 90
☒
and
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
☒
Amendment No. 92
☒
HARBOR ETF TRUST
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
111 South Wacker Drive, 34th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60606
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(312) 443-4400
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)
| CHARLES F. MCCAIN, ESQ. Harbor ETF Trust 111 South Wacker Drive – 34th Floor Chicago, Illinois 60606 |
STEPHANIE A. CAPISTRON, ESQ. Dechert LLP
One International Place – 40th Floor 100 Oliver Street Boston, Massachusetts 02110 |
(Name and address of Agents for Service)
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after the effective date of the registration statement
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate
box)
☐
immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
☐
on pursuant to paragraph (b)
☐
60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
☐
on pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
☒
75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
☐
on pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485
If appropriate, check the following box:
☐
this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously
filed post-effective amendment.
The information in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities
and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Prospectus
Harbor Short Term Treasury ETF
[ ], 2026
| Fund |
Exchange |
Ticker |
| | ||
| Harbor Short Term Treasury ETF |
NYSE Arca, Inc. |
HBIL |
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved the Fund’s shares as an investment or determined whether this Prospectus is accurate or complete. Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.
Table of Contents
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Harbor Short Term Treasury
ETF
Fund Summary
Investment
Objective
The Fund seeks to provide exposure,
before fees and expenses, generally consistent with the price and yield performance of the 3-month U.S. Treasury bill market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold
and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other
fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
| Management Fees |
[ ]% |
| Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
None |
| Other Expenses1,2 |
[ ]% |
| Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses |
[ ]% |
1
Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Advisor pays all of the operating expenses of the Fund, except for (i) the fee payment
under the Investment Advisory Agreement; (ii) payments under the Fund’s 12b-1 plan (if any); (iii) the costs of borrowing, including interest and dividend expenses; (iv) taxes and governmental fees; (v) acquired fund
fees and expenses; (vi) brokers’ commissions and any other transaction-related expenses and fees arising out of transactions effected on behalf of
the Fund; (vii) costs of holding shareholder meetings; and (viii) litigation and indemnification expenses and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business.
2 “Other Expenses” are estimated
for the current fiscal year.
Expense Example
This Expense Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing
in the Fund with the cost of investing in other exchange-traded funds. The Expense Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The Expense
Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, under these assumptions, your
costs would be:
| One
Year |
Three
Years |
| $[ ] |
$[ ] |
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in
higher taxes when shares of the Fund are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example, do affect the Fund’s
performance. The Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus and no portfolio turnover rate existed at the time of this publication.
Principal Investment Strategy
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of
its net assets, plus borrowings for investment purposes, in
U.S. Treasury bills. Under normal circumstances, the Fund expects
to maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of
approximately 90
days or less although the Fund’s dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity may modestly exceed 90 days from time to time due to U.S. Treasury auction schedules, settlement timing,
weekends, holidays, market conventions, fund flows, or other portfolio management considerations.
U.S. Treasury bills are securities with maturities of one year
or less issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and backed
by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. U.S. Treasury bills are sold at a discount to their face value, do not pay periodic interest, and mature
at face value.
The Fund may invest up to
20% of its total assets in other instruments intended to help the Fund pursue its investment objective, manage liquidity, facilitate creations and redemptions, reduce
transaction costs, manage collateral, or seek additional income. Such instruments may include cash, cash equivalents, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, money market funds,
U.S. Treasury floating rate notes, other short-term U.S. Treasury or U.S. government securities, and shares of affiliated or unaffiliated investment companies, including exchange-traded funds
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that invest primarily in Fund-eligible investments.
The Fund may lend portfolio securities to seek additional
income. These loans will be secured by collateral, which may include cash, U.S. government securities, irrevocable letters of credit, or other
collateral permitted by applicable law, maintained in an amount
at least equal to 100% of the market value, determined daily, of
the loaned securities. Cash collateral received in connection with securities lending may be invested in short-term investments, including
money market funds, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, or other high-quality short-term instruments. Any reverse repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund will not exceed
one-third of the Fund’s total assets, including the amount borrowed.
The Fund is not a money market fund and does not seek to maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00 per share.
Principal Risks
There is no guarantee that the investment objective of the Fund will be
achieved. Fixed income securities fluctuate in price in response to various factors, including changes in interest rates, changes in market conditions and issuer-specific events, and the value of
your investment in the Fund may go down. This means that you could lose money
on your investment in the Fund or the Fund may not perform as well as other possible investments. Principal risks impacting the Fund (in alphabetical order after
the first six risks) include:
U.S. Treasury Obligations Risk: U.S. Treasury obligations, such as U.S. Treasury bills, are subject to fluctuations in interest rates, which
may cause their market value to vary, and may provide lower returns than other securities. In addition, changes in economic conditions, market perceptions, or the financial condition or credit rating
of the U.S. government may cause the value of such obligations to decline in value. Although backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, these securities remain subject to market and credit
risk.
Credit Risk: The issuer or guarantor of a security owned by the Fund could default on its obligation to
pay principal or interest or its credit rating could be downgraded.
Inflation Risk: As inflation rises, the value of assets of or income, from the Fund’s investments
may be worth less, as inflation decreases
1
Fund Summary Harbor Short Term Treasury ETF
the
value of payments at future dates. As a result, the real value of the Fund’s portfolio could decline.
Interest Rate Risk: As interest rates rise, the values of fixed income securities held by the Fund are likely
to decrease and reduce the value of the Fund’s portfolio. Rising interest rates may lead to increased redemptions, increased volatility and decreased liquidity in the
fixed income markets, making it more difficult for the Fund to sell its fixed income securities when the Advisor may wish to sell or must sell to meet redemptions. During periods when interest rates
are low or there are negative interest rates, the Fund’s yield (and total return) also may be low or the Fund may be unable to maintain positive returns or minimize the volatility of the Fund’s
net asset value per share. Changing interest rates may have
unpredictable effects on the markets, may result in heightened
market volatility and may detract from Fund performance. In
addition, changes in monetary policy may exacerbate the risks associated with
changing interest rates.
Market Risk: Securities markets are
volatile and can decline significantly in response to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other developments, which may lower the value of securities
held by the Fund, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Events such as war, military conflict, geopolitical disputes, acts of terrorism, social or political unrest, natural disasters, recessions,
inflation, rapid interest rate changes, supply chain disruptions,
tariffs and other restrictions on trade, sanctions, the spread of
infectious illness or other public health threats, or the threat or potential of one or more such events and developments, could also significantly impact the
Fund and its investments.
Risks Associated with Exchange-Traded Funds: As an ETF, the Fund is subject to the following risks:
Authorized Participant Concentration/Trading Risk: Only authorized participants (“APs”) may engage in creation or
redemption transactions directly with the Fund. The Fund has a
limited number of institutions that may act as APs and such APs
have no obligation to submit creation or redemption orders.
Consequently, there is no assurance that APs will establish or
maintain an active trading market for the shares. This risk may
be heightened to the extent that securities held by the Fund are
traded outside a collateralized settlement system. In that case,
APs may be required to post collateral on certain trades on an
agency basis (i.e., on behalf of other market participants), which only a limited number of APs may be able to do. In addition, to the extent
that APs exit the business or are unable to proceed with creation and/or redemption orders with respect to the Fund and no other AP is able to step forward to create or redeem Creation Units
(as defined below), this may result in a significantly diminished trading market for shares, and shares may be more likely to trade at a premium or discount to the Fund’s net asset value and to face
trading halts and/or delisting. This risk may be heightened during periods of volatility or market disruptions.
Cash Transactions Risk: The Fund may effect some or all of its creations and redemptions for cash rather than
in-kind. As a result, an investment in the Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in an ETF that effects all of its creations and redemptions
in-kind. Because the Fund may effect redemptions for cash, it may
be required to sell portfolio securities in order to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds. A sale of portfolio securities may
result in capital gains or losses and may also result in higher brokerage costs. To the extent costs are not offset by transaction fees charged by the Fund to APs, the costs of cash transactions will be borne
by the Fund.
Large Shareholder
Risk: Certain large shareholders, including APs, may from time to time
own a substantial amount of the Fund’s
shares. There is no requirement that these shareholders maintain their
investment in the Fund. There is a risk that such large shareholders or that the Fund’s shareholders generally may redeem all or a substantial portion of their investments in the Fund in a short
period of time, which could have a significant negative impact on the Fund’s NAV, liquidity, and brokerage costs. Large redemptions could also result in tax consequences to shareholders and impact
the Fund’s ability to implement its investment strategy. In addition, transactions by large shareholders may account for a large percentage of the trading volume on the listing exchange and may,
therefore, have a material upward or downward effect on the market price of the shares.
Premium/Discount Risk: The market price of the Fund’s shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with
changes in the Fund’s net asset value as well as the relative supply of and demand for shares on the Exchange. The Advisor cannot predict whether shares will trade
below, at or above their net asset value because the shares trade on the Exchange at market prices and not at net asset value. 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 will be closely related, but not identical, to the same forces influencing the prices of the holdings of the Fund trading
individually or in the aggregate at any point in time. This may
result in the Fund’s shares trading significantly above (premium) or below (discount) the Fund’s net asset value, which will be reflected
in the intraday bid/ask spreads and/or the closing price of shares as compared to net asset value. During stressed market conditions, the
market for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the market for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings, which could in turn lead to differences between the market price of the
Fund’s shares and their net asset value.
Investment in Other Investment Companies Risk: Investments in other investment companies (including money market funds and ETFs) are subject to market and selection risk. In addition, if the Fund
acquires shares of investment companies, shareholders bear both their proportionate share of expenses in the Fund and, indirectly, the expenses of the investment companies. The Fund’s
investment in shares of ETFs subjects it to the risks of owning
the securities underlying the ETF, as well as the same structural
risks faced by an investor purchasing shares of the Fund, including
premium/discount risk and trading issues risk.
Issuer Risk: An adverse event affecting a particular issuer in which
the Fund is invested, such as an unfavorable earnings report, may
depress the value of that issuer’s securities, sometimes rapidly or
unpredictably.
New Fund Risk: There can be no assurance that the Fund will grow to or maintain an economically viable size, in which case the Board of
Trustees may determine to liquidate the Fund. The Board of Trustees may liquidate the Fund at any time in accordance with the Declaration of Trust and governing law. As a result, the timing of the
Fund’s liquidation may not be favorable.
Securities Lending Risk: The Fund may engage in securities lending.
Securities lending involves the risk that the Fund may lose money
because the borrower of the loaned securities fails to return the
securities in a timely manner or at all. The Fund could also lose
money in the event of a decline in the value of collateral provided for loaned securities or a decline in the value of any investments made with
cash collateral. These events could also trigger adverse tax consequences for the Fund.
Selection Risk: The Advisor potentially will be prevented from executing investment decisions at an advantageous time or price as a result
of domestic or global market disruptions, particularly disruptions causing heightened market volatility and reduced market
2
Fund Summary Harbor Short Term Treasury ETF
liquidity, as well as increased or changing regulations. Thus, investments that the Advisor believes represent an attractive opportunity or
in which the Fund seeks to obtain exposure may be unavailable entirely or in the specific quantities or prices sought by the Advisor and the Fund may need to forgo the investment at the time.
U.S. Government Securities Risk: Securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or government-sponsored
entities may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. As a result, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide
financial support to these securities or issuers (such as securities issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association, or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation). Although certain government
securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government (such as securities issued by the Government National Mortgage Association), circumstances could arise that would delay
or prevent the payment of interest or principal. It is possible that issuers of U.S. government securities will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future and, in these circumstances, the
Fund’s returns may be adversely affected.
Performance
Because the Fund is newly organized, the Fund has no reportable performance
history. Once the Fund has operated for at least one calendar year, a bar
chart and performance table will be included in the prospectus to show the performance of the Fund. When such information is included, this section will provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the
Fund’s performance history from year to year and showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance and an additional index. Please
note that the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. To obtain performance information, please visit the Fund’s website at harborcapital.com or call
800-422-1050.
Portfolio Management
Investment Advisor
Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc.
Portfolio Managers
The portfolio managers are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day investment decision making for the Fund.
Spenser P. Lerner, CFA, Head of Multi-Asset Solutions, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of Harbor Capital
Advisors, Inc., has managed the Fund since 2026.
Everett Lyons, Research Associate and Portfolio Manager of Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc., has managed the Fund since 2026.
Buying and Selling Fund Shares
Individual Fund shares may only be bought and sold in the secondary market
through a broker or dealer at a market price. Shares of the Fund are listed and traded on an exchange at market price throughout the day rather than at NAV and may trade at a price greater
than the Fund’s NAV (premium) or less than the Fund’s NAV (discount). An investor may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to
purchase shares (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for shares (ask) when buying or selling Fund shares in the secondary market (the “bid-ask spread”). Recent information,
including information regarding the Fund’s NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spread, is available at
harborcapital.com.
Tax Information
Distributions you receive from the Fund are subject to federal
income tax and may also be subject to state and local taxes. These distributions will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains,
unless you are investing through a tax-deferred retirement account, such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account. Investments in tax-deferred accounts may be subject to tax when they are
withdrawn.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and
Other Financial Intermediaries
The Advisor and/or its related companies have in the past and could in the
future pay intermediaries, which may include banks, broker-dealers, or financial professionals, for marketing activities and presentations, educational training programs, conferences, the
development of technology platforms and reporting systems and data or other services related to the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments create a conflict of interest by
influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your sales representative to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your sales
representative or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
3
Additional Information about the Fund’s Investments
Investment Objective
The Fund seeks to provide exposure, before fees and expenses, generally consistent with the price and
yield performance of the 3-month U.S. Treasury bill market. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be successful in achieving its investment objective. The Board of Trustees of Harbor ETF Trust (the
“Board of Trustees”) may change the Fund’s investment objective without shareholder approval.
Principal
Investment Strategies and Risks
The Fund’s principal investment strategies and the principal associated risks are described in the Fund Summary section at the front of this Prospectus. More detailed descriptions of certain of the principal
investments and risks are described below. The order of the below investments and risk factors does not indicate the significance of any particular investment or risk factor.
In addition to the investment strategies described in this Prospectus, the Fund may also make other types of investments, and, therefore, may be subject to other risks. For additional information about the Fund, its investments and related risks, please see the Fund’s Statement of Additional
Information.
80% INVESTMENT POLICY
The 80% investment
policy of the Fund may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ advance notice to shareholders.
ACTIVE MANAGEMENT
The Fund is actively managed by the Advisor. Actively managed portfolios are subject to management risk. In managing the Fund’s portfolio, the Advisor applies investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment and asset allocation decisions, but there can be no guarantee that they will produce the desired results.
Temporary Defensive Positions
The Fund may take temporary
defensive positions that are inconsistent with its normal investment policies and strategies—for instance, by allocating substantial assets to cash
equivalent instruments or other less volatile instruments—in response to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions. In doing so, the Fund may succeed in avoiding losses but may otherwise fail to achieve its investment objective.
EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND
STRUCTURE
Shares can
be purchased and redeemed directly from the Fund at NAV only by authorized participants in large increments (Creation Units). The Fund’s shares are
listed on an exchange and can be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. The market price of the Fund’s shares, like other
exchange-traded securities, may include a “bid-ask spread” (the difference between the price at which investors are willing to buy shares and the price at which investors are willing to sell shares). The Fund’s market price per share will generally fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio holdings and as a result of the supply and demand for shares of the Fund on the listing exchange.
There is no
guarantee that the Fund will be able to attract market makers and authorized participants. Market makers and authorized participants are not obligated to
make a market in the Fund’s shares or to engage in purchase or redemption transactions. Decisions by market makers or authorized participants
to reduce their role with respect to market making or creation and redemption activities during times of market stress, or a decline in the number of authorized participants due to decisions to exit the business, bankruptcy, or other factors, could inhibit the effectiveness of the arbitrage process in maintaining the relationship between the underlying value of the Fund’s portfolio holdings and the market price of Fund shares. To the extent no other authorized participants are able to step forward to create or redeem, shares may trade at a discount to NAV and possibly face delisting. The authorized participant concentration risk may be heightened during market disruptions or periods of market volatility and in scenarios where authorized participants have limited or diminished access to the capital required to post collateral.
Investors may sustain losses if they pay
more than the Fund’s NAV per share when purchasing shares or receive less than the Fund’s NAV per share when selling shares in the secondary
market. In addition, trading of shares of the Fund in the secondary market may be halted, for example, due to activation of marketwide “circuit breakers.” If trading halts or an unanticipated early closing of the listing exchange occurs, an investor may be unable to purchase or sell shares of the Fund. Shares of the Fund, similar to shares of other issuers listed on a stock exchange, may be sold short and are therefore also subject to the risk of increased volatility and price decreases associated with being sold short. There are various methods by which investors can purchase and sell shares and various orders that may be placed. Investors should consult their financial intermediary before purchasing or selling shares of the Fund.
Certain accounts or Advisor affiliates,
including other funds advised by the Advisor or third parties, may from time to time own (beneficially or of record) or control a substantial amount of
the Fund’s shares, including through seed capital arrangements. Such shareholders such as those investing through one or more model portfolios, may at times be considered to control the Fund. Dispositions of a large number of shares of the Fund by these shareholders, including as a result of an asset allocation decision made by the Advisor, an affiliate of the Advisor or a third-party intermediary, may adversely affect the Fund’s liquidity and net assets to the extent such transactions are executed directly with the Fund in the form
4
Additional Information about the Fund’s Investments
of redemptions through an authorized participant, rather than executed in the secondary market. These redemptions may also force the Fund to sell securities, which may increase the Fund’s brokerage costs. To the extent these large shareholders transact in shares of the Fund on the secondary market, such transactions may account for a large percentage of the trading volume on the listing exchange and may, therefore, have a material effect (upward or downward), on the market price of the Fund’s shares.
FIXED INCOME
SECURITIES
Fixed
income securities represent a creditor relationship, or the right to receive specified payments of principal and interest from an issuer. Fixed income
securities may have all types of interest rate payment and reset terms, including fixed rate, adjustable rate, inflation indexed, zero coupon,
contingent, deferred, payment in-kind and auction rate features. The Fund principally invests in fixed income securities of the type and in the manner detailed in the Fund Summary.
Government Securities: “Government securities,” as
defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and interpreted, include securities issued or guaranteed by the United States or certain U.S. government
agencies or instrumentalities. There are different types of government securities with different levels of credit risk, including the risk of default, depending on the nature of the particular government support for that security. For example, a U.S. government-sponsored entity, such as Federal National Mortgage Association or Federal Home Fixed income securities, as used, although chartered or sponsored by an Act of Congress, may issue securities that are neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury and are therefore riskier than those that are insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.
Risks Associated with Fixed Income
Securities
Changing
interest rates may have unpredictable effects on the markets, may result in heightened market volatility and may detract from Fund performance. In
addition, changes in monetary policy may exacerbate the risks associated with changing interest rates. A sudden or unpredictable increase in interest
rates may cause volatility in the market and may decrease liquidity in the fixed-income securities markets, making it harder for the Fund to sell its fixed-income investments at an advantageous time. Decreased market liquidity also may make it more difficult to value some or all of the Fund’s fixed-income securities holdings. Certain countries have experienced negative interest rates on certain fixed-income securities. A low or negative interest rate environment may pose additional risks to the Fund because low or negative yields on the Fund’s portfolio holdings may have an adverse impact on the Fund’s ability to provide a positive yield to its shareholders, pay expenses out of Fund assets, or minimize the volatility of the Fund’s net asset value per share. It is difficult to predict the magnitude, timing or direction of interest rate changes and the impact these changes will have on the Fund’s investments and the markets where it trades. Securities issued by U.S. government agencies or government-sponsored enterprises may not be guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.
NEW OR SMALLER FUND RISK
A new fund or a fund with fewer assets under management may be more significantly affected by purchases and redemptions of its Creation Units than a fund with relatively greater assets under management would be affected by purchases and redemptions of its shares. As compared to a larger fund, a new or smaller fund is more likely to sell a comparatively large portion of its portfolio to meet significant Creation Unit redemptions, or invest a comparatively large amount of cash to facilitate Creation Unit purchases, in each case when the fund otherwise would not seek to do so. Such transactions may cause funds to make investment decisions at inopportune times or prices or miss attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also accelerate the realization of taxable income if sales of securities result in gains and the fund redeems Creation Units for cash, or otherwise cause a fund to perform differently than intended. While such risks may apply to funds of any size, such risks are heightened in funds with fewer assets under management. In addition, new funds may not be able to fully implement their investment strategy immediately upon commencing investment operations, which could reduce investment performance.
NOT FDIC
INSURED
An investment
in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Fund
shares will go up and down in price, meaning that you could lose money by investing in the Fund. Many factors influence the Fund’s performance and
the Fund’s investment strategy may not produce the intended
results.
OPERATIONAL RISKS
An investment in the Fund, like any fund, can involve operational risks arising from factors such as processing errors, inadequate or failed processes, failure in systems and technology, cybersecurity breaches, changes in personnel and errors caused by third-party service providers. These errors or failures as well as other technological issues may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to calculate its net asset value in a timely manner, including over a potentially extended period, or may otherwise adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. While the Fund seeks to minimize such events through controls and oversight, there may still be failures that could cause losses to the Fund. In addition, similar incidents affecting issuers of securities held by the Fund may negatively impact Fund performance.
5
Additional Information about the Fund’s Investments
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
The Fund expects to engage in frequent trading to achieve its principal investment strategy. Active and frequent trading in the Fund’s portfolio may lead to the realization and distribution to shareholders of higher capital gains, which would increase the shareholders’ tax liability. Frequent trading also increases transaction costs, which could detract from the Fund’s performance. A portfolio turnover rate greater than 100% would indicate that the Fund sold and replaced the entire value of its securities holdings during the previous one-year period. In accordance with industry practice, derivative instruments and instruments with a maturity of one year or less at the time of acquisition are excluded from the calculation of the portfolio turnover rate.
Portfolio
Holdings Disclosure Policy
A full list of Fund holdings will be provided on harborcapital.com on each business day prior to the opening of regular trading on the listing exchange.
Additional information about Harbor ETF Trust’s portfolio holdings disclosure policy is available in the Statement of Additional Information.
6
The Advisor
Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc.
Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc. (“Harbor Capital” or the “Advisor”) is the investment adviser to Harbor ETF Trust. The Advisor, located at 111 South Wacker Drive, 34th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60606-4302, is a
wholly owned subsidiary of ORIX Corporation (“ORIX”), a global financial services company based in Tokyo, Japan. ORIX provides a range of financial services to
corporate and retail customers around the world, including financing, leasing, real estate and investment banking services. The stock of ORIX trades publicly on both the New York (through American Depositary Receipts) and Tokyo Stock Exchanges.
The combined assets of Harbor ETF Trust
and the other products managed by the Advisor were approximately $[ ] as of [ ], 2026.
The Advisor may manage funds directly or
employ a “manager-of-managers” approach in selecting and overseeing investment subadvisers (each, a “Subadvisor”). The Advisor
makes day-to-day investment decisions with respect to each fund that it directly manages, such as the Fund. For funds that employ one or more discretionary Subadvisors, the Subadvisors are responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund assets allocated to them by the Advisor. For Harbor funds that employ one or more non-discretionary Subadvisors, the Advisor will make day-to-day investment decisions with respect to each such fund to implement model portfolios provided by non-discretionary Subadvisors.
Subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, the Advisor establishes, and may modify whenever deemed appropriate, the investment strategy of the Fund. The Advisor also is responsible for overseeing each Subadvisor and recommending the selection, termination and replacement of Subadvisors.
The Advisor also:
■
Seeks to ensure quality control in the Subadvisor’s investment process with the
objective of adding value compared with returns of an appropriate risk and return benchmark or tracking an index, as applicable.
■
Monitors and measures risk and return results against appropriate benchmarks and
recommends whether the Subadvisor should be retained or changed.
■
Focuses on cost control.
In order to more effectively manage the Fund, Harbor Funds and the Advisor have been granted an order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which extends to Harbor ETF Trust, permitting the Advisor, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, to select Subadvisors not affiliated with the Advisor to serve as portfolio managers for the Harbor funds, and to enter into new subadvisory agreements and to materially modify existing subadvisory agreements with such unaffiliated subadvisors, all without obtaining shareholder approval.
In addition to its investment management services, the Advisor administers the business affairs of Harbor ETF Trust. Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Advisor with respect to the Fund, and subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees, the Advisor provides or causes to be furnished, all supervisory and other services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Fund and also bears the costs of various third-party services required by the Fund, including administration, certain custody, audit, legal, transfer agency, and printing costs. The Advisor pays all other expenses of the Fund except for (i) the fee payment under the Investment Advisory Agreement; (ii) payments under the Fund’s 12b-1 plan (if any); (iii) the costs of borrowing, including interest and dividend expenses; (iv) taxes and governmental fees; (v) acquired fund fees and expenses; (vi) brokers’ commissions and any other transaction-related expenses and fees arising out of transactions effected on behalf of the Fund; (vii) costs of holding shareholder meetings; (viii) any gains or losses attributable to investments under a deferred compensation plan for Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust; and (ix) litigation and indemnification expenses and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business.
Annual Advisory Fee
Rates
(annual rate based on the Fund’s
average net assets)
| |
Actual Advisory Fee Paid |
Contractual Advisory Fee |
| Harbor Short Term Treasury ETF |
N/A 1 |
[ ] % |
1
Has not commenced operations as of the date of this
prospectus.
A discussion of the factors considered by the Board of Trustees when approving the investment advisory of the Fund will be available in the Fund’s first Form N-CSR filing following the Fund’s commencement of operations.
From time to time, the Advisor or its
affiliates may invest “seed” capital in a fund, typically to enable a fund to commence investment operations and/or achieve sufficient scale.
The Advisor and its affiliates may hedge such seed capital exposure by investing in derivatives or other instruments expected to produce offsetting exposure. Such hedging transactions, if any, would occur outside of a fund.
7
The Advisor
Portfolio Management
Harbor Short Term Treasury ETF
Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc., located at 111 S. Wacker Drive, 34th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606, serves as investment adviser to Harbor Short Term Treasury ETF. The portfolio managers are jointly responsible for the day-to-day investment decision making for the Fund.
| PORTFOLIO MANAGER |
SINCE |
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE |
| Spenser P. Lerner, CFA |
2026 |
Mr. Lerner joined Harbor Capital in 2020 and is the Head of Multi-Asset Solutions, a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager. Prior to joining Harbor Capital, Mr. Lerner was a Vice President of Equity and Quantitative Investment Research and Equity Manager Research for JP Morgan Asset Management. Before that, he worked as a Research, Portfolio Management and Quantitative Investment Strategy Associate for JP Morgan Asset Management. Mr. Lerner began his investment career in 2009. |
| Everett Lyons |
2026 |
Mr. Lyons joined Harbor Capital in 2025 and currently serves as a Research Associate and Portfolio Manager. Prior to joining Harbor, Mr. Lyons was a member of PNC Bank’s Capital Markets Group on the FX Sales and Trading desk. Mr. Lyons holds a Master of Science in Finance from the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business. Mr. Lyons began his investment career in 2023. |
The Statement of Additional
Information provides additional information about each portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by each portfolio manager and each portfolio manager’s ownership of shares in the Fund.
8
Shareholder Information
Valuing Fund Shares
The Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) per share, is generally calculated each day the NYSE is open for trading as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE, generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. The NAV per
share is computed by dividing the net assets of the Fund by the number of Fund shares outstanding. The prices at which creations and redemptions occur are based on the next calculation of NAV after a creation
or redemption order is received in an acceptable form. The time at which shares and transactions are priced and until which orders are accepted may vary to the extent permitted by the Securities and Exchange
Commission and applicable regulations.
Shares of the Fund may be purchased through a broker in the secondary market by individual investors at market prices which may vary throughout the day and may differ from NAV.
On holidays or other
days when the NYSE is closed, the NAV is not calculated and the Fund does not transact purchase or redemption requests. Trading of securities that are
primarily listed on foreign exchanges may take place on weekends and U.S. business holidays on which the Fund’s NAV is not calculated. Consequently, the Fund’s portfolio securities may trade and the NAV of the Fund’s shares may be significantly affected on days when a shareholder will not be able to purchase or sell shares of the Fund.
Investments are valued pursuant to valuation procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. The valuation procedures permit the Advisor to use a variety of valuation methodologies, consider a number of subjective factors, analyze applicable facts and circumstances and, in general, exercise judgment, when valuing Fund investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the circumstances and relevant considerations, including available market data. As a general matter, accurately fair valuing investments is difficult and can be based on inputs and assumptions that may not always be correct.
The Fund generally values portfolio
securities and other assets for which market quotes are readily available at market value for purposes of calculating the Fund’s NAV. In the case
of equity securities, market value is generally determined on the basis of last sale prices, or if no sales are reported, on quotes obtained from a quotation reporting system, established market makers, or independent pricing vendors. In the case of fixed income securities and non-exchange traded derivative instruments, fair value is generally determined using prices provided by independent pricing vendors. The prices provided by independent pricing vendors reflect the pricing vendor’s assessment using various market inputs of what it believes are the fair values of the securities at the time of pricing. Those market inputs include recent transaction prices and dealer quotations for the securities, transaction prices for what the independent pricing vendor believes are similar securities and various relationships between factors such as interest rate changes and security prices that are believed to affect the prices of individual securities. Because many fixed income securities trade infrequently, the independent pricing vendor often does not have as a market input, current transaction price information when determining a price for a particular security on any given day. When current transaction price information is available, it is one input into the independent pricing vendor’s evaluation process, which means that the price supplied by the pricing vendor may differ from that transaction price. Short-term fixed income investments having a maturity of 60 days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value. Exchange-traded options, futures and options on futures are generally valued at the settlement price determined by the relevant exchange.
When reliable market quotations or prices
supplied by an independent pricing vendor are not readily available or are not believed to accurately reflect fair value, securities are generally priced
at their fair value, determined according to fair value pricing procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The Fund may also use fair value pricing if the value of some or all of the Fund’s securities have been materially affected by events occurring before the Fund’s pricing time but after the close of the primary markets or exchanges on which the security is traded. This most commonly occurs with foreign securities, but may occur with other securities as well. When fair value pricing is employed, the prices of securities used by the Fund to calculate its NAV may differ from market quotations, official closing prices or prices supplied by an independent pricing vendor for the same securities. This means the Fund may value those securities higher or lower than another given fund that uses market quotations, official closing prices or prices supplied by an independent pricing vendor. The fair value prices used by the Fund may also differ from the prices that the Fund could obtain for those securities if the Fund were to sell those securities at the time the Fund determines its NAV.
Buying and
Selling Shares
The Fund issues and redeems shares only in Creation Units at the NAV per share next determined after
receipt of an order from an authorized participant. Authorized participants must be a member or participant of a clearing agency registered with the SEC and must execute a Participant Agreement that has been agreed
to by the Distributor, and that has been accepted by the Transfer Agent, with respect to purchases and redemptions of Creation Units. Only authorized participants may
acquire shares directly from the Fund, and only authorized participants may tender their shares for redemption directly to the Fund, at NAV. Once created, shares trade in the secondary market in quantities less than a Creation Unit.
These transactions are made at market
prices that may vary throughout the day and may be greater than the Fund’s NAV (premium) or less than the Fund’s NAV (discount). As a result,
you may pay more than NAV when you purchase shares, and receive less than NAV when you sell shares, in the secondary market.
9
Shareholder Information
If you buy or sell shares in the secondary market, you will generally incur customary brokerage commissions and charges and you may also incur the cost of the spread between the price at which a dealer will buy shares of the Fund and the somewhat higher price at which a dealer will sell shares. Due to such commissions and charges and spread costs, frequent trading may detract significantly from investment returns.
The Fund may impose a creation
transaction fee and a redemption transaction fee to offset transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance and redemption of Creation
Units of shares. Information about the procedures regarding creation and redemption of Creation Units and the applicable transaction fees is included in the Statement of Additional Information.
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees
Harbor ETF Trust has adopted a distribution plan for the Fund in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act. Under its plan, the Fund is authorized to pay distribution and service fees to the Distributor for the sale, distribution and servicing of shares. No Rule 12b-1 fees are currently paid by the Fund, and there are no current plans to impose these fees. However, in the event Rule 12b-1 fees are charged in the future, because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, these fees will increase the cost of your investment in the Fund and may cost you more than certain other types of sales charges.
Investing Through a Financial Intermediary
The Advisor and/or its related companies have in the past and could in the future pay intermediaries, which may include banks, broker-dealers, or financial professionals, for marketing activities and presentations, educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems and data or other services related to the sale of Fund shares and related services, including making shares of the Fund and certain other Harbor funds available to their customers generally and in certain investment programs. Such payments, which may be significant to the intermediary or its representatives, are not made by the Fund. Rather, such payments are made by the Advisor or its affiliates from their own resources, which come directly or indirectly in part from fees paid by the Harbor fund complex. Payments of this type are sometimes referred to as revenue-sharing payments.
A financial intermediary may make
decisions about which investment options it recommends or makes available, or the level of services provided, to its customers based on the payments or
financial incentives it is eligible to receive. Therefore, such payments or other financial incentives offered or made to an intermediary create conflicts of interest between the intermediary (or its representatives) and its customers and may cause the intermediary to recommend the Fund or other Harbor funds over another investment. See the Statement of Additional Information for more information. Ask your sales representative or visit your financial intermediary’s website
for more information.
Book Entry
Shares of the Fund are held in book-entry form, which means that no stock certificates are issued. The Depository Trust Company (DTC), or its nominee, is the registered owner of all outstanding shares of the Fund. Your ownership of shares will be shown on the records of DTC and the DTC participant broker-dealer through which you hold the shares. Your broker-dealer will provide you with account statements, confirmations of your purchases and sales, and tax information. Your broker-dealer will also be responsible for distributing income and capital gain distributions and for sending you shareholder reports and other information as may be required.
Frequent Purchases and Redemptions of Shares
The Fund accommodates frequent purchases
and redemptions of Creation Units by authorized participants and does not place a limit on purchases or redemptions of Creation Units by these investors.
The Fund reserves the right, but does not have the obligation, to reject any purchase or redemption transaction (subject to legal and regulatory limits regarding redemption transactions) at any
time.
Shareholder Actions
With the exception of any claims under the federal securities laws, any suit, action or proceeding brought by or in the right of any shareholder or any person claiming any interest in any Fund shares seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of, or in connection with, Harbor ETF Trust’s By-Laws or Harbor ETF Trust or any Fund, including any claim of any nature against Harbor ETF Trust, a Fund, the Trustees or officers or employees of Harbor ETF Trust, shall be brought exclusively in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware to the extent there is subject matter jurisdiction in such court for the claims asserted or, if not, then in the Superior Court of the State of Delaware. Any suits, actions or proceedings arising under the federal securities laws shall be exclusively brought in the federal district courts of the United States of America. As a result of these provisions, shareholders may have to bring suit in an inconvenient and less favorable forum. There is a question regarding the enforceability of these
10
Shareholder Information
provisions since the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”) and the 1940 Act permit shareholders to bring claims arising from these Acts in both state and federal courts.
Investments by Registered Investment Companies
Section 12(d)(1) of the Investment Company Act restricts investments by registered investment companies in the securities of other investment companies, including shares of the Fund. Registered investment companies are permitted to invest in the Fund beyond the limits of Section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions, including the requirement to enter into an agreement with the Fund.
Note to Authorized Participants Regarding Continuous Offering
Certain legal risks may exist that are
unique to authorized participants purchasing Creation Units directly from the Fund. Because new Creation Units may be issued on an ongoing basis, at any
point a “distribution," as such term is used in the 1933 Act, could be occurring. As a broker-dealer, certain activities that you perform may, depending on the circumstances, result in your being deemed a participant in a distribution, in a manner which could render you a statutory underwriter and subject you to the prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the 1933 Act.
For example, you may be deemed a statutory underwriter if you purchase Creation Units from the Fund, break them down into individual Fund shares, and sell such shares directly to customers, or if you choose to couple the creation of a supply of new Fund shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for Fund shares. A determination of whether a person is an underwriter for purposes of the 1933 Act depends upon all of the facts and circumstances pertaining to that person’s activities, and the examples mentioned here should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to a categorization as an underwriter.
Dealers who are not “underwriters” but are participating in a distribution (as opposed to engaging in ordinary secondary market transactions), and thus dealing with shares as part of an “unsold allotment” within the meaning of Section 4(a)(3)(C) of the 1933 Act, will be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(a)(3) of the 1933 Act.
This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(a)(3) of the 1933 Act is not available in respect of such transactions as a result of Section 24(d) of the 1940 Act. As a result, you should note that dealers who are not underwriters but are participating in a distribution (as opposed to engaging in 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 1933 Act would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(a)(3) of the 1933 Act. Firms that incur a prospectus-delivery obligation with respect to shares of the Fund are reminded that, under Rule 153 under the 1933 Act, a prospectus delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the 1933 Act owed to an exchange member in connection with a sale on an 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. Certain Fund affiliates may purchase and resell Fund shares pursuant to this prospectus.
11
Shareholder and Account Policies
This Prospectus provides general
tax information only. You should consult your
tax adviser about particular federal, state,
local or foreign taxes that may apply to you.
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes
The Fund expects to distribute all or substantially all of its net investment income and realized capital gains, if any, each year. The Fund declares and pays any dividends from net income and capital gains monthly. The Fund may also pay dividends and capital gain distributions at other times if necessary, to avoid federal income or excise tax. The Fund expects distributions, if any, to be from net investment income and/or capital gains. If you purchased your shares in the secondary market, your broker is responsible for distributing the income and capital gains distributions to you.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions of net long-term capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains which may be taxable at different rates depending on their source and other factors. Distributions of net short-term capital gains are taxable as ordinary income. Dividends from net investment income are taxable either as ordinary income or, if so reported by the Fund and certain other conditions (including holding period requirements) are met by the Fund and the shareholder, as “qualified dividend income” (“QDI”). QDI is taxable to individual shareholders at a maximum rate of 15% or 20% for U.S. federal income tax purposes (depending on whether the individual’s income exceeds certain threshold amounts). More information about QDI is included in the Fund’s Statement
of Additional Information. Dividends and capital gains distributions are
taxable whether you receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional Fund shares.
Generally, you should avoid investing in the Fund before an anticipated dividend or capital gain distribution. If you purchase shares of the Fund just before the distribution, you will pay the full price for the shares and receive a portion of the purchase price back as a taxable distribution. Dividends paid to you may be included in your gross income for tax purposes, even though you may not have participated in the increase in the NAV of the Fund. This is referred to as “buying a
dividend.”
When you sell Fund shares, you generally will realize a capital gain or capital loss in an amount equal to the difference between the net amount of the sale proceeds you receive and your tax basis for the shares that you sell or exchange. Character and tax status of distributions will be available to shareholders after the close of each calendar year.
An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is
imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gains distributions received from the Fund and net gains from
redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) earned by U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds a threshold amount.
If you do not provide your correct social security number or other taxpayer identification number, along with certifications required by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), you may be subject to a backup withholding tax, currently at a rate of 24%, on any dividends and capital gain distributions, and any other payments to you. Investors other than U.S. persons may be subject to different U.S. federal income tax treatment, including withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) on amounts treated as ordinary dividends or otherwise “withholdable payments” from the Fund, as discussed in more detail in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
Taxes on Creations and Redemptions of Creation Units
An authorized participant 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. An authorized participant 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. Authorized participants exchanging securities for Creation Units or redeeming Creation Units should consult their own tax advisers 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.
12
Shareholder and Account Policies
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.
Cost Basis
The cost basis of Shares acquired by purchase will generally be based on the amount paid for the Shares subject to adjustments as required by the Internal Revenue Code. The difference between the selling price and the cost basis of Shares generally determines the amount of the capital gain or loss realized on the sale or exchange of Shares. The cost basis information for sale transactions is generally required to be reported to the IRS and the shareholders. You may elect to have one of several cost basis methods applied to your account and should consult with your tax adviser regarding your specific situation. You should contact your financial intermediary through whom you purchased your Shares to obtain information with respect to the available cost basis reporting methods and elections for your account.
13
Fund Details
| CUSIP NUMBER |
TICKER SYMBOL |
|
| Harbor Short Term Treasury ETF | ||
| [ ] |
HBIL |
|
Updates
Available
For updates on the Fund following the end of each calendar quarter, please visit our website at harborcapital.com.
14
![]() |
For more information |
| For investors who would like more information about the Fund, the following documents
are available upon request: |
Annual/Semi-Annual Shareholder Reports and Form N-CSRs
Additional information about the Fund’s investments is available in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders and in Form N-CSR. The Fund’s annual shareholder report contains a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. In Form N-CSR, you will find the Fund’s annual and semi-annual financial statements.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI)
The SAI provides more detailed information about the Fund and is incorporated into this prospectus by reference and therefore is legally part of this prospectus.
This prospectus is not an offer to sell securities in places other than the United States, its territories, and those countries where shares of a Fund are registered for sale.
Investment Adviser
Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc.
111 South Wacker Drive, 34th Floor
Chicago, IL 60606-4302
312-443-4400
111 South Wacker Drive, 34th Floor
Chicago, IL 60606-4302
312-443-4400
Distributor
Foreside Fund Services, LLC
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100
Portland, ME 04101
484-320-6239
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100
Portland, ME 04101
484-320-6239
Shareholder Inquiries
P.O. Box 804660
Chicago, IL 60680-4108
800-422-1050
Chicago, IL 60680-4108
800-422-1050
Obtain
Documents
Free copies of the annual and semi-annual shareholder reports, the SAI, and other information, such as the Fund’s financial statements, are available:
| |
harborcapital.com |
| |
800-422-1050 |
| |
Harbor ETF Trust
P.O. Box 804660 Chicago, IL 60680-4108 |
Investors may get text-only copies:
| |
sec.gov |
| |
[email protected] (for a fee) |
Trustees & Officers
| Charles F. McCain Chairman, President & Trustee Anne F. Ackerley Trustee Scott M. Amero Trustee Donna J. Dean Trustee Robert Kasdin Trustee Kathryn L. Quirk Trustee Douglas J. Skinner Trustee Ann M. Spruill Trustee Landis Zimmerman Trustee Diana R. Podgorny Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer |
Howard M. Reich Treasurer Ryan L. Elve Vice President and
AML Compliance Officer
Walt O. Breuninger
Vice President
Kristof M. Gleich
Vice President
Diane J. Johnson
Vice President
Lora A. Kmieciak
Vice President
Dana D. Steiner
Vice President
Meredyth A. Whitford-Schultz
Secretary
Meredith S. Dykstra Assistant Secretary Lana M. Lewandowski Assistant Secretary |
Investment Company
Act File No. 811-23661
ETF.SP.[ ].[ ]
The information in this Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This SAI is not an offer to sell these securities and is not
soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
111 South Wacker
Drive, 34th Floor
Chicago, IL 60606-4302
harborcapital.com
Chicago, IL 60606-4302
harborcapital.com
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – [ ], 2026
Harbor ETF Trust (the “Trust”) is an open-end management investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), and includes the following series (the
“Fund”):
| Fund |
Principal U.S.
Listing Exchange |
Ticker |
| Harbor Short Term Treasury ETF |
NYSE Arca, Inc. |
HBIL |
Additional funds may be created by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board of Trustees” or the “Trustees”) from time to time. The assets of the Fund are managed by Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc., the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Advisor”).
This Statement of Additional Information is not a
prospectus, but provides additional information that should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus of the Fund dated [ ], 2026, as amended
or supplemented from time to time. Additional information about the Fund’s investments is available at harborcapital.com or in the Fund’s Annual and Semi-Annual reports to shareholders and in Form N-CSR (when available). Investors can obtain free copies of the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports (when available) and other documents containing the Fund’s audited financial statements (when available), request other information and discuss their questions about the Fund by calling 800-422-1050, by writing to Harbor ETF Trust at 111 South Wacker Drive, 34th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4302 or by visiting our website at harborcapital.com. No audited financial statements exist for the Fund, which had not commenced operations as of the date
of this Statement of Additional Information.
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ADDITIONAL POLICIES AND INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES
The
Harbor Short Term Treasury ETF (the “Fund”) is an exchange-traded fund that issues and redeems shares on a continuous basis at net asset value
per share (“NAV”) in aggregations of a specified number of shares called “Creation Units.” Creation Units are issued in exchange for
portfolio securities and/or cash. Shares are listed and traded on an exchange. Shares trade in the secondary market at market prices that may differ from
the shares’ NAV. Shares are not individually redeemable, but are redeemable only in Creation Unit aggregations, and in exchange for portfolio
securities and/or cash. Shareholders who are not Authorized Participants (as defined herein), therefore, will not be able to purchase or redeem shares
directly with or from the Fund. Instead, most shareholders who are not Authorized Participants will buy and sell shares in the secondary market through a
broker.
The Fund is an open-end, diversified
management investment company with an investment objective that it pursues through the investment policies and techniques described in the Prospectus and
below. The following discussion elaborates on the presentation of certain of the investment policies contained in the Prospectus.
1
Investment Policies
The Fund may make the
types of investments, and is subject to the types of risks, described in each of the following investment policies.
ASSET CLASSES
Cash
Equivalents
Cash equivalents include short-term obligations issued
or guaranteed as to interest and principal by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (including repurchase agreements collateralized by such securities). The Fund may also invest in obligations of domestic and/or foreign
banks, which include certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and fixed time deposits. The Fund may also invest in obligations of other banks or savings and loan associations if such obligations are
insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against funds deposited in a commercial bank for a definite period of time and earning
a specified return. Bankers’ acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of exchange, normally drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific merchandise, which
are “accepted” by a bank, meaning, in effect, that the bank unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity. Fixed time deposits are bank obligations payable at a stated maturity date and bearing interest
at a fixed rate. Fixed time deposits may be withdrawn on demand by the investor, but may be subject to early withdrawal penalties which vary depending upon market conditions and the remaining maturity of
the obligation. There are no contractual restrictions on the right to transfer a beneficial interest in a fixed time deposit to a third party, although there is no market
for such deposits.
Obligations of foreign banks involve somewhat different investment risks than those affecting obligations of U.S. banks, including the possibilities that their liquidity could be impaired because of further political and economic developments, that their obligations may be less marketable than comparable obligations of U.S. banks, that a foreign jurisdiction might impose withholding taxes on interest income payable on those obligations, that foreign deposits may be seized or nationalized, that foreign governmental restrictions such as exchange controls may be adopted which might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on those obligations and that the selection of those obligations may be more difficult because there may be less publicly available information concerning foreign banks or the accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements applicable to foreign banks may differ from those applicable to U.S. banks. Foreign banks are not generally subject to examination by any U.S. government agency or instrumentality.
The Fund may also invest in commercial paper that at the date of investment is rated at least A-1 by S&P, P-1 by Moody’s or F-1 by Fitch Ratings or, if not rated, is issued or guaranteed as to payment of principal and interest by companies that at the date of investment have an outstanding debt issue rated AA or better by S&P or equivalently rated by Moody’s or Fitch Ratings; short-term corporate obligations that at the date of investment are rated AA or better by S&P or equivalently rated by Moody’s or Fitch Ratings, and other debt instruments, including unrated instruments, determined to be of comparable high quality and liquidity.
The Fund may hold cash and invest in cash equivalents pending investment of proceeds from new sales or to meet ordinary daily cash needs.
Fixed Income Securities
Debt securities are subject to the risk of the issuer’s inability to meet
principal and interest payments on the obligations (credit risk) and may also be subject to price volatility due to such factors as interest rate sensitivity, market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity
(market risk). Except to the extent that values are independently affected by currency exchange rate fluctuations, when interest rates decline, the value of fixed income securities can generally be expected
to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of fixed income securities can be expected to decline. The Fund’s Advisor will consider both credit risk and market risk in making investment
decisions for the Fund.
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES
U.S. government securities include
debt instruments issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to raise capital for government operations. Key types include:
■
Treasury Bills (T-Bills): Short-term securities with maturities of one year or less, sold at a discount and redeemed at face
value.
■
Treasury Notes (T-Notes): Medium-term securities with maturities of 2 to 10 years, paying semi-annual interest.
■
Treasury Bonds (T-Bonds): Long-term securities with maturities greater than 10 years,
also paying semi-annual interest.
■
Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS): Bonds that adjust with inflation, providing protection against rising prices.
2
Investment Policies
Fixed Income
Securities — Continued
Securities — Continued
On August 5, 2011, S&P lowered its long-term sovereign credit rating on the U.S. In explaining the downgrade, the S&P cited, among other reasons, controversy over raising the statutory debt ceiling and growth in public spending. The market prices and yields of securities supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government may be adversely affected by any actual or potential downgrade in the rating of U.S. long-term sovereign debt and such a downgrade may lead to increased interest rates and volatility. Although high debt levels do not necessarily indicate or cause economic problems, they may create certain systemic risks if sound debt management practices are not implemented. A high national debt level may increase market pressures to meet government funding needs, which may drive debt cost higher and cause the U.S. Treasury to sell additional debt with shorter maturity periods, thereby increasing refinancing risk. A high national debt also raises concerns that the U.S. government will be unable to pay investors at maturity. Unsustainable debt levels could cause declines in currency valuations and prevent the U.S. government from implementing effective fiscal policy.
Securities, such as notes and bonds, are
also issued by various agencies of the U.S. government and instrumentalities that have been established or sponsored by the U.S. government. Such
securities, even those that are guaranteed by federal agencies or instrumentalities may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. In the case of securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, the investor must look principally to the agency issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment and may not be able to assert a claim against the United States itself in the event that the agency or instrumentality does not meet its commitment.
The Government
National Mortgage Association (“GNMA” or “Ginnie Mae”), a wholly owned U.S. government corporation, is authorized to guarantee,
with the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, the timely payment of principal and interest on securities issued by institutions approved by
Ginnie Mae and backed by pools of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Government-related guarantors (i.e., not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government) include the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA” or “Fannie Mae”) and the Federal Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC” or “Freddie Mac”). On September 7, 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) placed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in conservatorship, while the Treasury agreed to purchase preferred stock as needed to ensure that both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac maintain a positive net worth (guaranteeing up to $100 billion for each entity). As a consequence, certain fixed-income securities of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have more explicit U.S. government support. No assurance can be given as to whether the U.S. government will continue to support Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In addition, the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is uncertain because Congress has been considering proposals as to whether Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should be nationalized, privatized, restructured or eliminated altogether. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are also the subject of continuing legal actions and investigations which may have an adverse effect on these entities.
In addition to securities issued by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHFA, U.S. government securities include obligations of federal home loan banks and federal land banks, Federal Farm Credit Banks Consolidated Systemwide Bonds and Notes, securities issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by Tennessee Valley Authority and other similar securities as may be interpreted from time to time.
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS WITH FIXED INCOME SECURITIES
CREDIT QUALITY
Credit quality in fixed-income
investments refers to the issuer’s ability to meet its financial obligations, including paying interest and repaying principal. It is typically
assessed through credit ratings assigned by ratings agencies, with higher ratings indicating lower risk of default and lower ratings signaling higher risk.
DURATION
Duration is a measure of average maturity that was developed to incorporate a bond’s yield, coupons, final maturity and call features into one measure. Duration can be one of the characteristics used in security selection for a fixed income fund. Please refer to the Prospectus for information about whether the Fund focuses on securities with a particular duration.
Most debt obligations provide
interest (“coupon”) payments in addition to a final (“par”) payment at maturity. Some obligations also feature call provisions.
Depending on the relative magnitude of these payments, debt obligations may respond differently to changes in the level and structure of interest rates. Traditionally, a debt security’s “term-to-maturity” has been used as a proxy for the sensitivity of the security’s price to changes in interest rates (which is the “interest rate risk” or “volatility” of the security). However, “term-to-maturity” measures only the time until a debt security provides its final payment and doesn’t take into account the pattern of the security’s payments prior to maturity. Duration is a measure of the average life of a fixed income security on a present value basis. Duration is computed by calculating the length of the time intervals between the present time and the time
3
Investment Policies
Fixed Income
Securities — Continued
Securities — Continued
that the interest and principal payments are scheduled (or in the case of a callable bond, expected to be received), and weighing them by the present values of the cash to be received at each future point in time. For any fixed income security with interest payments occurring prior to the payment of principal, duration is always less than maturity. In general, the lower the stated or coupon rate of interest of a fixed income security, the longer the duration of the security. Conversely, the higher the stated or coupon rate of interest of a fixed income security, the shorter the duration of the security.
Generally speaking, if interest rates
move up by 100 basis points, the value of a fixed income security with a five-year duration will decline by five points. If the fixed income
security’s duration was three years, it would decline by three points; two years—two points; and so on. To the extent the Fund is invested in fixed income securities, the value of the Fund’s portfolio will decrease in a similar manner given the conditions illustrated above.
Futures, options and options on futures have durations that, in general, are closely related to the duration of the securities that underlie them. Holding long futures or call option positions will lengthen the portfolio duration by approximately the same amount that holding an equivalent amount of the underlying securities would. Short futures or put option positions have durations roughly equal to the negative duration of the securities that underlie those positions, and have the effect of reducing portfolio duration by approximately the same amount that selling an equivalent amount of the underlying securities would.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
Repurchase agreements may be entered into with domestic or foreign banks or with any member firm of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), or any affiliate of a member firm that is a primary dealer in U.S. government securities. Each repurchase agreement counterparty must meet the minimum credit quality requirements applicable to the Fund generally and meet any other appropriate counterparty criteria as determined by the Fund’s Advisor. The minimum credit quality requirements are those applicable to the Fund’s purchase of securities generally such that if the Fund is permitted to only purchase securities which are rated investment-grade (or the equivalent if unrated), the Fund could only enter into repurchase agreements with counterparties that have debt outstanding that is rated investment-grade (or the equivalent if unrated). In a repurchase agreement, the Fund buys a security at one price and simultaneously agrees to sell it back at a higher price. Such agreements must be adequately collateralized to cover the counterparty’s obligation to the Fund to close out the repurchase agreement. The securities will be regularly monitored to ensure that the collateral is adequate. In the event of the bankruptcy of the seller or the failure of the seller to repurchase the securities as agreed, the Fund could suffer losses, including loss of interest on or principal of the securities and costs associated with delay and enforcement of the repurchase agreement.
The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with banks and broker-dealers to the extent permitted by the Fund’s restrictions on borrowing. A reverse repurchase agreement involves the sale of a portfolio security by the Fund, coupled with an agreement to repurchase the security at a specified time and price. During the reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund continues to receive principal and interest payments on the underlying securities. The use of repurchasing agreements involves leverage. Leveraging may exaggerate the effect on the Fund’s net asset value of any increase or decrease in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio. Money borrowed for leveraging will be subject to interest costs, which may or may not be recovered by appreciation of the securities purchased; and in certain cases, interest costs may exceed the return received on the securities purchased. An increase in interest rates could reduce or eliminate the benefits of leverage and could reduce the net asset value of the Fund’s shares.
ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES
80 Percent Investment Policy
The Fund is subject to an 80% investment policy, as set forth in its Prospectus.
The Fund need not sell non-qualifying securities that appreciated in value in order to bring its investments in compliance with the 80% requirement. However, any future investments must be made in a manner to bring the
Fund’s investments in compliance with the 80% requirement. This policy may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ notice to its shareholders.
The market value of derivatives that have economic characteristics similar to the investments included in the Fund’s 80% policy will be counted for purposes of the policy.
Borrowing
Borrowing is permitted for investment purposes and this borrowing may be
unsecured. Borrowing may exaggerate the effect on any increase or decrease in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio. Money borrowed will be subject to interest costs, which may or may not be recovered by appreciation of the
securities purchased. The Fund also may be required to maintain minimum average balances in connection with such borrowing or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain
a line of credit; either of these requirements would increase the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate.
4
Investment Policies
Forward
Commitments and When-Issued Securities
Securities may be purchased on a when-issued basis and purchased or sold on a forward commitment basis
including “TBA” (to be announced) purchase and sale commitments. Purchasing securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis involves a risk of loss if
the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date. This risk is in addition to the risk of decline in value of the Fund’s other assets. Although the Fund would generally purchase securities on a when-issued
or forward commitment basis with the intention of acquiring securities for its portfolio, the Fund may dispose of a when-issued security or forward commitment prior to settlement if the Fund’s Advisor
deems it appropriate to do so. The Fund may enter into a forward-commitment sale to hedge its
portfolio positions or to sell securities it owned under a delayed delivery arrangement. Proceeds of such a sale are not received until the contractual settlement date. The Fund may realize short-term gains
or losses upon such purchases and sales. These transactions involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase or sell securities at a future date (ordinarily one or two months
later). The price of the underlying securities (usually expressed in terms of yield) and the date when the securities will be delivered and paid for (the settlement date) are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated. When-issued purchases and forward commitment transactions are negotiated directly with the other party, and such
commitments are not traded on exchanges.
When-issued purchases and forward commitment transactions enable the Fund to lock in what is believed to be an attractive price or yield on a particular security for a period of time, regardless of future changes in interest rates. For instance, in periods of rising interest rates and falling prices, the Fund might sell securities it owns on a forward commitment basis to limit its exposure to falling prices. In periods of falling interest rates and rising prices, the Fund might sell securities it owns and purchase the same or a similar security on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, thereby obtaining the benefit of currently higher yields.
The value of securities purchased on a when-issued or forward commitment basis and any subsequent fluctuations in their value are reflected in the computation of the Fund’s net asset value starting on the date of the agreement to purchase the securities. The Fund does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until they are paid for and delivered on the settlement date. When the Fund makes a forward commitment to sell securities it owns, the proceeds to be received upon settlement are included in the Fund’s assets. Fluctuations in the market value of the underlying securities are not reflected in the Fund’s net asset value as long as the commitment to sell remains in effect. Settlement of when-issued purchases and forward commitment transactions generally takes place within two months after the date of the transaction, but the Fund may agree to a longer settlement period.
The Fund will purchase securities on a
when-issued basis or purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis only with the intention of completing the transaction and actually
purchasing or selling the securities. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, the Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it is entered into. The Fund also may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. The Fund may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with these transactions.
Recently finalized FINRA rules include
mandatory margin requirements that will require the Fund to post collateral in connection with its TBA transactions, which could increase the cost of TBA
transactions to the Fund and impose added operational complexity.
Illiquid Securities
The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid
investments, as defined in Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act. Fund investments will be considered illiquid if the Fund reasonably expects that such investments cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions within seven
calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market values of the investments. The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has established a
liquidity risk management program in accordance with Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act, which provides for the assessment, management and periodic review of the Fund’s liquidity risk, the classification and monthly review of the Fund’s portfolio investments, the determination and periodic review of, and procedures
to address a shortfall in, the Fund’s highly liquid investment minimum, if applicable, and limiting the Fund’s illiquid investments to 15% of the Fund’s net assets.
The Board of Trustees has adopted
procedures for determining the liquidity of Fund investments that apply to the Fund. The Board of Trustees has delegated to the Advisor the daily
function of determining and monitoring the liquidity of Fund investments in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees retains oversight of the liquidity determination process.
Investments in
Other Investment Companies
The Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies, including shares of closed-end
investment companies, unit investment trusts, and open-end investment companies, such as shares
of money market funds and short-term debt funds, which represent interests in professionally managed portfolios that invest primarily in instruments consistent with the Fund’s investment strategies.
5
Investment Policies
Investments in Other
Investment Companies —
Continued
Investment Companies —
Continued
Investing in other investment companies involves substantially the same risks as investing directly in the underlying securities but may involve additional expenses at the investment company level, such as portfolio management fees and operating expenses. In addition, these types of investments involve the risk that they will not perform in exactly the same fashion, or in response to the same factors, as the index or underlying instruments. Certain types of investment companies, such as closed-end investment companies, issue a fixed number of shares that trade on a stock exchange or over-the-counter at a premium or a discount to their net asset value. Others are continuously offered at net asset value but may also be traded in the secondary market.
The Fund may invest in two or more investment companies that do not make consistent investment decisions. One may buy the same security that another is selling. An investor in the Fund would indirectly bear the costs of both trades without achieving any investment purpose.
Investments by the Fund in shares of
other investment companies are subject to the limitations of the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. However, pursuant to
Rule 12d1-4, the Fund is permitted to invest in shares of certain investment companies beyond the limits contained in the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations thereunder if the Fund complies with the adopted framework for fund of funds arrangements under the rule.
If shares of the Fund are
purchased by another fund in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(G) of the Investment Company Act, for so long as shares of the Fund are held by such fund, the
Fund will not purchase securities of registered open-end investment companies or registered unit investment trusts in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F) or Section 12(d)(1)(G) of the Investment Company Act.
Securities Lending
The Fund may seek to increase its income by lending portfolio securities. Under
present regulatory policies, loans may be made only to financial institutions, such as broker-dealers, and are required to be secured continuously by collateral in cash or liquid assets. Such collateral will be maintained on a
current basis at an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The Fund would have the right to call a loan and obtain the securities loaned at
any time on five days’ notice. For the duration of a loan, the Fund would continue to receive the equivalent of the interest or dividends paid by the issuer on the securities loaned and would also receive compensation from the investment of the
collateral. The Fund would not, however, have the right to vote any securities having voting rights during the existence of the loan. In the event of an important vote to
be taken among holders of the securities or of the giving or withholding of their consent on a material matter affecting the investment, the Fund would call the loan. As with other extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in
recovery or loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, the loans would be made only to firms deemed by the Advisor
to be of good standing, and when, in the judgment of the Advisor, the consideration that can be earned currently from securities loans of this type justifies the attendant risk. If the Advisor decides to make securities loans, it is
intended that the value of the securities loaned would not exceed 33⅓% of the value of the total assets of the Fund.
Temporary Defensive Positions
The Fund may temporarily depart from its normal investment policies and strategies when it is believed by
the Advisor that doing so is in the Fund’s best interest, so long as the strategy or policy employed is consistent with the Fund’s investment objective. For
instance, the Fund may invest in derivatives or exchange traded funds that are consistent with the Fund’s investment objective when those instruments are more favorably priced or provide needed liquidity, as might be the case if the Fund is transitioning
assets from one Subadvisor to another or receives large cash flows that it cannot prudently invest immediately.
In addition, the Fund may take
temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its normal investment policies and strategies—for instance, by allocating substantial
assets to cash equivalent investments or other less volatile instruments—in response to adverse or unusual market, economic, political or other conditions. In doing so, the Fund may succeed in avoiding losses but may otherwise fail to achieve its investment objective. In addition, the Fund may take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its normal investment policies and strategies—for instance, by allocating substantial assets to cash equivalent investments or other less volatile instruments— in response to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions. In doing so, the Fund may succeed in avoiding losses but may otherwise fail to achieve its investment objective.
ADDITIONAL OPERATIONAL AND REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS
Commodity Pool Operator Status
The Advisor is registered as a “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act, as
amended (“CEA”) and is a member of the National Futures Association. However, the Advisor with respect to the Fund has filed a notice of eligibility with the National Futures Association to claim an
exclusion from the definition of the term CPO under the CEA, and, therefore, the Advisor is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO under the CEA and the rules
thereunder with respect to the Fund. Because the Advisor intends to operate the Fund in a manner that would permit it to
6
Investment Policies
Commodity Pool Operator
Status — Continued
Status — Continued
continue to remain eligible for the exclusion, the Fund will be limited in its ability to use certain financial instruments regulated under the CEA, including futures contracts and options on futures contracts, which may adversely impact the Fund’s return. In the event the Advisor becomes unable to rely on the exclusion and operates the Fund subject to CFTC regulation, the Fund may incur additional expenses.
Cybersecurity Risks
As the use of technology increases, the Fund may be more susceptible to operational risks through breaches
in cybersecurity. A breach in cybersecurity refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data
corruption, or lose operational capacity. Cyber attacks include, among other things, stealing or corrupting confidential information and other data that is maintained online or digitally for financial gain, denial-of-service attacks on
websites causing operational disruption, and the unauthorized release of confidential information and other data.
Cybersecurity breaches affecting the Fund, the Trust, the Advisor, custodian, transfer agent, other third-party service providers, intermediaries and others may adversely impact the Fund and its shareholders. A cybersecurity breach may cause disruptions and impact the Fund’s business operations, which could potentially result in financial losses, inability to determine the Fund’s net asset value, impediments to trading, reputational damage, the inability of shareholders to transact business, violation of applicable law, regulatory penalties and/or fines, and compliance and other costs. Indirect cybersecurity breaches at third-party service providers, intermediaries, trading counterparties, governmental and other regulatory authorities, and exchange and other financial market operators may subject the Fund’s shareholders to the same risks associated with direct cybersecurity breaches. Further, indirect cybersecurity breaches at an issuer of securities in which the Fund invests may similarly negatively impact the Fund’s shareholders because of a decrease in the value of these securities.
The Trust has established policies and
procedures designed to reduce the risks associated with cybersecurity breaches and other operational disruptions. However, there is no guarantee that
such efforts will succeed, especially since the Trust does not directly control the cybersecurity systems of issuers or third-party service providers. There is a risk that cybersecurity breaches will not be detected. In addition, there are inherent limitations to these policies and procedures and certain risks may not yet be identified and new risks may emerge in the future. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result of any cybersecurity breaches or operational disruptions.
Exchange Listing and Trading
The Fund issues and sells new Creation Units of shares on an ongoing basis. At any point a “distribution” may occur, as such term is defined in the 1933 Act. Depending on the circumstances, some activities of
broker-dealers and other persons may result in their being considered 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 1933 Act.
A determination of whether one is an
underwriter for purposes of the 1933 Act must take into account all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its
client in the particular circumstance. For example, a broker-dealer firm or its client may be deemed a statutory underwriter if after placing an order with the Fund’s distributor, it takes Creation Units and breaks them down into constituent shares and sells such shares directly to customers. Or, a broker-dealer firm or its client may be deemed a statutory underwriter if it combines the creation of a supply of new shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for shares. Such examples do not reflect all the activities that could lead to categorization as an underwriter.
Broker dealers who are not underwriters
but are participating in a distribution (not ordinary secondary trading transactions), and thus dealing with shares of the Fund that are part of an
“unsold allotment” as such term is defined in the 1933 Act, would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption under Section 4(a)(3) of the 1933 Act. The prospectus delivery exemption is not available in respect of such transactions due to Section 24(d) of the Investment Company Act. Accordingly, broker-dealers should note that dealers who are not underwriters but are participating in a distribution (not ordinary secondary market transactions) and thus dealing with the shares of the Fund that are part of an overallotment within the meaning of Section 4(a)(3)(A) of the 1933 Act would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(a)(3) of the 1933 Act. Firms that incur a prospectus delivery obligation with respect to shares of the Fund are reminded that, under Rule 153 under the 1933 Act, a prospectus delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the 1933 Act is owed to an exchange member in connection with a sale on an exchange and is satisfied by the fact that the prospectus is available from the exchange upon request. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in Rule 153 is only available with respect to transactions on an exchange.
Shares of the Fund have been approved for
listing and trading on an exchange. The Fund’s shares trade on an exchange at prices that may differ to some degree from its NAV. The listing
exchange may remove the Fund’s shares from listing if, among other things (i) following the initial 12-month period beginning upon the commencement of trading of the Fund, there are fewer than 50 beneficial
7
Investment Policies
Exchange Listing and
Trading — Continued
Trading — Continued
owners of the Fund’s shares; (ii) the listing exchange becomes aware that the Fund is no longer eligible to operate in reliance on Rule 6c-11 under the Investment Company Act; (iii) the Fund no longer complies with certain listing exchange rules; or (iv) such other event shall occur or condition exists that, in the opinion of the listing exchange, makes further dealings on such exchange inadvisable. The listing exchange will remove the Fund’s shares from listing and trading upon termination of the Trust. There can be no assurance that the Fund will continue to meet requirements of the listing exchange necessary to maintain the listing of the Fund’s shares.
As in the case of other publicly-traded securities, shares that are bought and sold through a broker will incur a brokerage commission determined by that broker.
Liquidation of Funds
The Board of Trustees may determine to close and/or liquidate the Fund at any
time, which may have adverse tax consequences to shareholders. In the event of the liquidation of the Fund, shareholders will receive a liquidating distribution in cash or in-kind equal to their proportionate interest in the
Fund. A liquidating distribution would generally be a taxable event to shareholders, resulting in a gain or loss for tax purposes, depending upon a shareholder’s basis in his or her shares of the Fund.
A shareholder of a liquidating Fund will not be entitled to any refund or reimbursement of expenses borne, directly or indirectly, by the shareholder (such as Fund operating expenses), and a shareholder may
receive an amount in liquidation less than the shareholder’s original investment.
It is the intention of any Fund expecting
to close or liquidate to retain its qualification as a regulated investment company under the Code during the liquidation period and, therefore, not to
be taxed on any of its net capital gains realized from the sale of its assets or ordinary income earned that it timely distributes to shareholders. In the unlikely event that the Fund should lose its status as a regulated investment company during the liquidation process, the Fund would be subject to taxes which would reduce any or all of the types of liquidating distributions.
Regulatory Risk and Other Market Events
Financial entities are generally subject to extensive government regulation and intervention. Government
regulation and/or intervention may change the way the Fund is regulated, affect the expenses incurred directly by the Fund and the value of its investments, and limit and/or preclude the Fund’s ability
to achieve its investment objective. Government regulation may change frequently and may have
significant adverse consequences. Moreover, government regulation may have unpredictable and
unintended effects. Legislative or administrative changes or court decisions relating to the Code may adversely affect the Fund and/or the issuers of securities held by the Fund.
Events such as natural disasters,
pandemics, epidemics, and social unrest in one country, region, or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or
financial market. Furthermore, the occurrence of, among other events, natural or man-made disasters, severe weather or geological events, fires, floods, earthquakes, outbreaks of disease (such as COVID-19, avian influenza or H1N1/09), epidemics, pandemics, malicious acts, cyber-attacks, terrorist acts or the occurrence of climate change, may also adversely impact the performance of the Fund. Such events may result in, among other things, closing borders, exchange closures, health screenings, healthcare service delays, quarantines, cancellations, supply chain disruptions, lower consumer demand, market volatility and general uncertainty. In addition, international trade tensions may give rise to concerns about economic and geopolitical stability and have had and likely will continue to have an adverse impact on global economic conditions. Trade disputes between the United States and other countries may be an ongoing source of instability, potentially resulting in significant currency fluctuations, or have other adverse effects on international markets, international trade agreements, or other existing cross-border cooperation arrangements. Tariffs, trade restrictions, economic sanctions, export controls, or retaliatory measures, or the threat or potential of one or more such events and developments, may result in material adverse effects on the global economy and the Fund. Such events could adversely impact issuers, markets and economies over the short- and long-term, including in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen. The Fund could be negatively impacted if the value of a portfolio holding were harmed by such political or economic conditions or events. Moreover, such negative political and economic conditions and events could disrupt the processes necessary for the Fund’s operations. In addition, governmental and quasi-governmental organizations have taken a number of unprecedented actions designed to support the markets. Such conditions, events and actions may result in greater market risk.
U.S. and global markets recently have
experienced increased volatility, including as a result of the recent failures of certain U.S. and non-U.S. banks, which could be harmful to the Fund and
issuers in which it invests. For example, if a bank in which the Fund or issuer has an account fails, any cash or other assets in bank accounts may be temporarily inaccessible or permanently lost by the Fund or issuer. If a bank that provides a subscription line credit facility, asset-based facility, other credit facility and/or other services to an issuer fails, the issuer could be unable to draw funds under its credit facilities or obtain replacement credit facilities or other services from other lending institutions with similar terms. Even if banks used by issuers in which the Fund invests remain solvent, continued volatility in the banking sector could cause or intensify an economic recession, increase the costs
8
Investment Policies
Regulatory Risk and Other
Market Events —
Continued
Market Events —
Continued
of banking services or result in the issuers being unable to obtain or
refinance indebtedness at all or on as favorable terms as could otherwise have been obtained. Conditions in the banking sector are evolving, and the scope of any potential impacts to the Fund and issuers, both from market conditions and also potential legislative or regulatory responses, are uncertain. Continued market volatility and uncertainty and/or a downturn in market and economic and financial conditions, as a result of developments in the banking industry or otherwise (including as a result of delayed access to cash or credit facilities), could have an adverse impact on the Fund and issuers in which it invests.
9
Investment Restrictions
Fundamental Investment Restrictions
The following restrictions may not be changed with respect to the Fund without
the approval of the majority of outstanding voting securities of the Fund (which, under the Investment Company Act and the rules thereunder and as used in the Prospectuses and this Statement of Additional Information,
means the lesser of (1) 67% of the shares of that Fund present at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of that Fund are present in person or by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of
the outstanding shares of that Fund). Investment restrictions that involve a maximum percentage of securities or assets shall not be considered to be violated unless an
excess over the percentage occurs immediately after, and is caused by, an acquisition or encumbrance of securities or assets of, or borrowings by or on behalf of, the Fund with the exception of borrowings permitted by Investment
Restriction (2) listed below.
The Fund may not:
(1)
with respect to 75% of the total assets of the Fund, purchase the securities of
any issuer if such purchase would cause more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets (taken at market value) to be invested in the securities of such issuer, or purchase securities of any issuer if such purchase would cause more than 10% of the total voting securities of such issuer to be held by the Fund, except
obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities;
(2)
borrow money, except to the extent permitted by, or to the extent not prohibited
by, applicable law and any applicable exemptive relief;
(3)
act as underwriter of the securities issued by others, except to the extent that
the purchase of securities in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies directly from the issuer thereof and the later disposition thereof may be deemed to be underwriting;
(4)
invest 25% or more of its total assets in the securities of one or more issuers
conducting their principal business activities in the same industry or group of industries (excluding the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities);
(5)
issue senior securities, except as permitted under the Investment Company
Act;
(6)
purchase, hold or deal in real estate, although the Fund may purchase and sell
securities that are secured by real estate or interests therein, securities of real estate investment trusts and mortgage-related securities and may hold and sell real estate acquired by the Fund as a result of the
ownership of securities;
(7)
invest in commodities or commodity contracts, except to the extent permitted by,
or to the extent not prohibited by, applicable law and any applicable exemptive relief; or
(8)
make loans to other persons, except to the extent permitted by, or to the extent
not prohibited by, applicable law and any applicable exemptive relief.
Notwithstanding the investment policies
and restrictions of the Fund, the Fund may invest its assets in an open-end management investment company with substantially the same investment
objective, policies and restrictions as the Fund.
For purposes of fundamental investment
restrictions no. 2 and 5, under the Investment Company Act as currently in effect, the Fund is not permitted to issue senior securities, except that the
Fund may borrow from any bank if immediately after such borrowing the value of the Fund’s total assets is at least 300% of the principal amount of all of the Fund’s borrowings (i.e., the principal amount of the borrowings may not exceed 33⅓% of the Fund’s total assets). In the event that such asset coverage shall at any time fall below 300%, the Fund shall, within three days (not including Sundays and holidays) thereafter or such longer period as the SEC may prescribe by rules and regulations, reduce the amount of its borrowings to such an extent that the asset coverage of such borrowing shall be at least 300%. In addition, the Fund is permitted to invest in derivatives and other transactions that create future payment or delivery obligations so long as the Fund complies with applicable law. With respect to fundamental investment restriction no. 5, Rule 18f-4 provides an exemption from the Investment Company Act’s prohibitions on the issuance of senior securities for derivatives transactions and certain other transactions involving future payment obligations, subject to certain conditions. See the discussion of Rule 18f-4 under “Derivative Instruments” in this Statement of Additional Information.
For purposes of fundamental investment
restriction no. 4, the Fund will consider concentration to be the investment of more than 25% of the value of its total assets in any one
industry or group of industries. In addition, telephone companies are considered to be in a separate industry from water, gas or electric utilities; personal credit finance companies and business credit finance companies are deemed to be in separate industries; banks and insurance companies are deemed to be in separate industries; wholly owned finance companies are considered to be in the industry of their parents if their activities are primarily related to financing the activities of their parents; and privately issued mortgage-backed securities collateralized by mortgages insured or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities do not represent interests in any industry.
10
Investment Restrictions
Fundamental Investment
Restrictions — Continued
Restrictions — Continued
For purposes of fundamental investment restriction no. 7, the Fund interprets its policy with respect to the investment in commodities or commodity contracts to permit the Fund, subject to the Fund’s investment objectives and general investment policies (as stated in the Fund’s Prospectus and elsewhere in this Statement of Additional Information), to invest in commodity futures contracts and options thereon, commodity-related swap agreements, hybrid instruments, and other commodity-related derivative instruments.
Non-Fundamental Investment Restrictions
In addition to the investment restrictions and policies mentioned above, the
Trustees of Harbor ETF Trust have voluntarily adopted the following policies and restrictions, which are observed in the conduct of the affairs of the Fund. These represent intentions of the Trustees based upon current
circumstances. They differ from fundamental investment policies because they may be changed or
amended by action of the Trustees without prior notice to or approval of shareholders. Accordingly, the Fund may not:
(a)
purchase securities on margin, except for use of short-term credit necessary for
clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities, but it may make margin deposits in connection with covered transactions in options, futures, options on futures and short positions. For purposes of
this restriction, the posting of margin deposits or other forms of collateral in connection with swap agreements is not considered purchasing securities on
margin;
(b)
make short sales of securities, except as permitted under the Investment Company
Act;
(c)
invest more than 15% of the Fund’s net assets in illiquid investments;
or
(d)
invest in other companies for the purpose of exercising control or
management.
11
Trustees and Officers
The
business and affairs of the Trust shall be managed by or under the direction of the Trustees, and they shall have all powers necessary or desirable to carry
out that responsibility. The Trustees shall have full power and authority to take or refrain from taking any action and to execute any contracts and
instruments that they may consider necessary or desirable in the management of the Trust. Any determination made by the Trustees in good faith as to what is
in the interests of the Trust shall be conclusive. The Trustees serve on the Board of Trustees of Harbor Funds, Harbor Funds II and Harbor ETF Trust.
Information pertaining to the Trustees and Officers of Harbor ETF Trust is set forth below. The address of each Trustee and Officer is: [Name of Trustee or Officer] c/o Harbor ETF Trust, 111 South Wacker Drive, 34th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4302.
| Name (Year of Birth)
Position(s) with Fund |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served1
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Number of Portfolios In Fund Complex Overseen By Trustee |
Other Directorships
Of Public Companies
and Other Registered
Investment Companies
Held by Trustee During
Past Five Years |
|
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES | ||||
| Anne F. Ackerley (1962)
Trustee |
Since 2025 |
Member, Board of Directors, Micruity Inc. (2025–Present); Member, Board
of Trustees, The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
(2023-Present); Senior Advisor to the Retirement Business
(2024-2025), Head of the US Retirement Group (2015-2024),
Chief Marketing Officer and Global Marketing and
Communications Chief Operating Officer (2011-2014), Chief Operating Officer of the Global Client Group (2009-2011), Chief Operating Officer of
the Private Client Group (2006-2009), Head of the Mutual Fund Group
(2000-2006), BlackRock, Inc. (publicly traded investment
management firm). |
[ ] |
None |
| Scott M. Amero (1963)
Trustee |
Since 2021 |
Chairman (2015-2020) and Trustee (2011-Present), Rare (conservation
nonprofit); Co-Chair (2024-Present) and Trustee (2022-Present), Root
Capital; Vice Chairman and Global Chief Investment
Officer, Fixed Income (2010), Vice Chairman and Global
Chief Investment Officer, Fixed Income, and Co-Head,
Fixed Income Portfolio Management (2007-2010), BlackRock, Inc. (publicly traded investment management firm); Trustee, The Nature
Conservancy, Massachusetts Chapter (2018-2024); Trustee, Adventure
Scientists (conservation nonprofit) (2020-2024).
|
[ ] |
None |
| Donna J. Dean (1951)
Trustee |
Since 2021 |
Chief Investment Officer of the Rockefeller Foundation (a private foundation)
(2001-2019). |
[ ] |
None |
| Robert Kasdin (1958)
Trustee |
Since 2021 |
Senior Executive Vice President, Columbia University (2025–Present); Senior
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (2015-2022) and Chief
Financial Officer (2018-2022), Johns Hopkins Medicine;
Trustee and Co-Chair of the Finance Committee, National
September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade
Center (2005-2019); Director, Apollo Asset Backed Credit Corporation (2025-Present); Director, Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.
(2014-Present); Trustee, Barnard College (2023-Present); and Director,
The Y in Central Maryland (2018-2022). |
[ ] |
Director of Apollo Asset
Backed Credit Company
LLC (2025 – Present);
Director of Apollo
Commercial Real Estate
Finance, Inc. (2014-
Present). |
| Kathryn L. Quirk (1952)
Trustee |
Since 2021 |
Member, Independent Directors Council, Governing Council (2023-present);
Vice President, Senior Compliance Officer and Head, U.S. Regulatory
Compliance, Goldman Sachs Asset Management (2013-2017);
Deputy Chief Legal Officer, Asset Management, and Vice
President and Corporate Counsel, Prudential Insurance
Company of America (2010-2012); Co-Chief Legal Officer,
Prudential Investment Management, Inc., and Chief Legal Officer,
Prudential Investments and Prudential Mutual Funds
(2008-2012); Vice President and Corporate Counsel and
Chief Legal Officer, Mutual Funds, Prudential Insurance
Company of America, and Chief Legal Officer, Prudential
Investments (2005-2008); Vice President and Corporate Counsel and Chief
Legal Officer, Mutual Funds, Prudential Insurance Company
of America (2004-2005); Member, Management Committee
(2000-2002), General Counsel and Chief Compliance
Officer, Zurich Scudder Investments, Inc. (1997-2002);
and Member, Board of Directors and Co-Chair, Governance Committee, Just
World International Inc. (nonprofit) (2020 –
2023). |
[ ] |
None |
| Douglas J. Skinner (1961)
Trustee |
Since 2021 |
Professor of Accounting (2005-Present), Deputy Dean for Faculty (2015-2016,
2017-2024), Interim Dean (2016-2017), University of Chicago Booth
School of Business. |
[ ] |
None |
| Ann M. Spruill (1954)
Trustee |
Since 2021 |
Partner (1993-2008), member of Executive Committee (1996-2008), Member
Board of Directors (2002-2008), Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co,
LLC (private investment management firm) (with the firm
since 1990); Member Investment Committee (2000-2020) and
Chair of Global Public Equities (2014-2020), Museum of
Fine Arts, Boston; and Trustee, Financial Accounting Foundation
(2014-2020). |
[ ] |
None |
12
Trustees and Officers
| Name (Year of Birth) Position(s) with Fund |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served1 |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Number of Portfolios In Fund Complex Overseen By Trustee |
Other Directorships
Of Public Companies
and Other Registered
Investment Companies
Held by Trustee During
Past Five Years |
|
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES —
Continued | ||||
| Landis Zimmerman (1959)
Trustee |
Since 2022 |
Member, Frederick Gunn School Investment Committee (2023-Present);
Member, Curci Foundation Investment Advisory Committee (2025-Present);
Independent, non-fiduciary advisor, Gore Creek Asset
Management (2006- 2025); Member, Japan Science and
Technology Agency Investment Advisory Committee
(2021-2023); Chief Investment Officer of the Howard Hughes
Medical Institute (2004-2021). |
[ ] |
None |
|
INTERESTED TRUSTEE | ||||
| Charles F. McCain (1969)*
Chairman, Trustee
and President |
Since 2021 |
President (2017-Present), Harbor Funds; President (2021-Present), Harbor
ETF Trust; President (2022-Present), Harbor Funds II; Director
(2007-Present), Chief Executive Officer (2017-Present),
President and Chief Operating Officer (2017), Executive
Vice President and General Counsel (2004-2017), and Chief
Compliance Officer (2004-2014), Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc.; Director
and Chairperson (2019-Present), Harbor Trust Company,
Inc.; Director (2007- Present) and Chief Compliance
Officer (2004-2017), Harbor Services Group, Inc.;
Director (2007-Present), Chief Executive Officer (2017-Present), Chief Compliance Officer (2007-2017; 2023-Present), and Executive Vice President
(2007-2017), Harbor Funds Distributors, Inc.; Chief Compliance Officer,
Harbor Funds (2004-2017); and Chairman, President and
Trustee, Harbor ETF Trust (2021-Present). |
[ ] |
None |
| Name (Year of Birth) Position(s) with Fund |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served1
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
|
FUND OFFICERS NOT LISTED ABOVE** | ||
| Diana R. Podgorny (1979)
Chief Legal Officer, Chief
Compliance Officer |
Since 2023 |
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary (2023-Present) and Chief Compliance Officer (2024), Senior
Vice President and Deputy General Counsel (2022-2023), Senior Vice President and
Assistant General Counsel (2020-2022), and Vice President and Assistant
General Counsel (2017-2020), Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc.; Director, Vice President, and Secretary (2023-Present) and Chief Compliance Officer (2024), Harbor Services Group, Inc.; Director and Vice
President (2020-Present) and Chief Compliance Officer (2024), Harbor Trust Company,
Inc.; Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer (2023-Present),
Secretary (2017-2024), Harbor Funds; Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer (2023-Present), Secretary (2021-2024), Harbor ETF Trust; and Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer
(2023-Present) and Secretary (2023-2024), Harbor Funds II. |
| Howard M. Reich (1983)
Treasurer |
Since 2025 |
Senior Vice President – Head of Fund Administration and Analysis (2025-Present), Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc.; Treasurer
(2025-Present), Harbor Funds; Treasurer (2025-Present), Harbor ETF Trust; Treasurer
(2025-Present), Harbor Funds II; and Vice President and Assistant Controller,
Harris Associates L.P. (2015-2025). |
| Ryan Elve (1983)
Vice President and AML
Compliance Officer |
Since 2025 |
Senior Vice President (2025-Present), Harbor Funds Distributors, Inc.; Senior Vice President (2025-Present), Harbor
Services Group, Inc.; Vice President and AML Compliance Officer (2025-Present), Harbor
Funds; AML Compliance Officer (2025-Present), Harbor Trust Company, Inc.;
Vice President and AML Compliance Officer (2025-Present), Harbor ETF
Trust; Vice President and AML Compliance Officer (2025-Present), Harbor Funds II; and Vice President (2012-2025), Harbor Services Group, Inc. |
| Walt O. Breuninger (1978)
Vice President |
Since 2024 |
Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer (2024-Present), Compliance Director (2023-2024), Harbor Capital
Advisors, Inc.; Chief Compliance Officer (2024-Present), Harbor Services Group, Inc.;
Chief Compliance Officer (2024-Present), Harbor Trust Company, Inc.; Vice
President (2024-Present), Harbor Funds; Vice President (2024-Present),
Harbor Funds II; Vice President (2024-Present), Harbor ETF Trust; and Compliance
Director, Head of US Discretionary Advice Compliance (2019-2023), The Vanguard
Group, Inc. |
| Kristof M. Gleich (1979)
Vice President |
Since 2021 |
President (2018-Present) and Chief Investment Officer (2020-Present), Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc.; Director, Vice
Chairperson, President (2019-Present) and Chief Investment Officer (2020-Present),
Harbor Trust Company, Inc.; Vice President (2019-Present), Harbor Funds;
Vice President (2021-Present), Harbor ETF Trust; Vice President (2023-Present),
Harbor Funds II; and Managing Director, Global Head of Manager Selection (2010-2018), JP Morgan
Chase & Co. |
| Diane J. Johnson (1965)
Vice President |
Since 2022 |
Vice President (2022-Present) and Tax Director (2009-Present), Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc.; Vice President (2022-Present),
Harbor Funds; Vice President (2022-Present), Harbor ETF Trust; and Vice President
(2023-Present), Harbor Funds II. |
| Lora A. Kmieciak (1964)
Vice President |
Since 2022 |
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (2022-Present), Senior Vice President – Fund Administration and
Analysis (2017-2022) and Senior Vice President - Business Analysis (2015-2017), Harbor
Capital Advisors, Inc.; Vice President (2020-Present) and Director
(2022-Present), Harbor Trust Company, Inc.; Assistant Treasurer (2017-2022)
and Vice President (2022-Present), Harbor Funds; Assistant Treasurer (2021-2022) and
Vice President (2022-Present), Harbor ETF Trust; and Vice President
(2023-Present), Harbor Funds II. |
| Dana Steiner (1983)
Vice President |
Since 2025 |
Senior Vice President (2025-Present), Harbor Funds Distributors, Inc.; Senior Vice President (2025-Present), Harbor
Services Group, Inc.; Vice President (2025-Present), Harbor Funds; Vice President
(2025-Present), Harbor ETF Trust; Vice President (2025-Present), Harbor Funds II;
and Vice President (2019-2025), Harbor Services Group, Inc. |
13
Trustees and Officers
| Name (Year of Birth) Position(s) with Fund |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served1 |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
|
FUND OFFICERS NOT LISTED ABOVE** —
Continued | ||
| Meredyth A. Whitford-Schultz
(1981) Secretary |
Since 2024 |
Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel (2025-Present) and Vice President and Associate General Counsel
(2023-2025), Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc.; Secretary (2023-Present), Harbor Trust
Company, Inc.; Secretary (2024-Present), Harbor Funds; Secretary
(2024-Present), Harbor ETF Trust; and Secretary (2023-Present), Harbor Funds II; Senior Counsel (2015-2023), Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc. |
| Meredith S. Dykstra (1984)
Assistant Secretary |
Since 2023 |
Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2025-Present), Vice President and Senior Counsel (2022-2025) and Vice
President and Legal Counsel (2015-2022), Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc.; Assistant
Secretary (2023-Present), Harbor Trust Company, Inc.; Assistant Secretary
(2023-Present), Harbor Funds; Assistant Secretary (2023-Present), Harbor ETF
Trust; and Assistant Secretary (2023-Present), Harbor Funds II. |
| Lana M. Lewandowski (1979)
Assistant Secretary |
Since 2021 |
Vice President and Compliance Director (2022-Present), Legal & Compliance Manager (2016-2022) and Legal Specialist
(2012-2015), Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc.; AML Compliance Officer (2017-2022) and
Assistant Secretary (2017-Present), Harbor Funds; AML Compliance Officer
(2021-2022) and Assistant Secretary (2021-Present), Harbor ETF Trust; and
Assistant Secretary (2023-Present), Harbor Funds II. |
| 1 |
Each Trustee serves for an indefinite term, until his or her successor is elected. Each Officer is elected annually. |
| * |
Mr. McCain is deemed an “Interested Trustee” due to his affiliation with the Advisor. |
| ** |
Officers of the Fund are “interested persons” as defined in the Investment Company Act. |
Additional
Information About the Trustees
The following sets forth information about each Trustee’s specific experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills that serve as the basis for the person’s continued service in that capacity. These encompass a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, their financial and investment experience, academic
background, willingness to devote the time and attention needed to serve, and past experience as Trustees of the Trust, other investment companies, operating companies or other types of entities. No one
factor is controlling, either with respect to the group or any individual. As discussed further below, the evaluation of the qualities and ultimate selection of persons to
serve as Independent Trustees is the responsibility of the Trust’s Nominating Committee, consisting solely of Independent Trustees. The inclusion of a particular factor below does not constitute an assertion by the Board of Trustees or
any individual Trustee that a Trustee has any special expertise that would impose any greater responsibility or liability on such Trustee than would exist
otherwise.
Anne F. Ackerley. Ms. Ackerley retired in May 2025
after a 25-year career at BlackRock, Inc., where she was most recently a Senior Advisor to the Retirement Business. She served in numerous senior management roles throughout her time at BlackRock, Inc., including Head of the US Retirement Group and Chief Marketing Officer and Global Communications Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining BlackRock, Inc. in 2000, Ms. Ackerley held various roles at Merrill Lynch & Co. She is currently an Independent Trustee on the Board of Trustees of Northwestern Mutual and a Director on the Board of Directors of Micruity Inc. Ms. Ackerley has extensive investment management industry experience and has served as a Trustee of Harbor Funds, Harbor Funds II and Harbor ETF Trust since 2025.
Scott M. Amero. Mr. Amero retired in 2010 after a
20-year career at BlackRock, Inc., where he was then Vice Chairman and Global Chief Investment Officer, Fixed Income, and Co-Head of Fixed Income Portfolio Management. He currently is on the Board of Trustees for Rare, a conservation nonprofit, a Co-Chair of Root Capital, and a member of the Advisory Board of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School. Mr. Amero has extensive investment experience and has served as a Trustee of Harbor Funds since 2014, of Harbor Funds II since 2023 and of Harbor ETF Trust since 2021.
Donna J. Dean. Ms. Dean served as the Chief
Investment Officer of the Rockefeller Foundation from 2001 through 2019. The Rockefeller Foundation is a philanthropic organization established by the
Rockefeller family in 1913 to promote the well-being of humanity. As Chief Investment Officer, Ms. Dean was responsible for leading a team of investment professionals in managing the Rockefeller Foundation’s endowment. Ms. Dean was responsible for establishing strategy for the endowment’s investment program, including diversifying the endowment’s portfolio of investments across a range of asset classes including public and private equities, fixed income, emerging markets, real assets (such as resources and real estate), hedge funds and distressed debt. Prior to joining the Rockefeller Foundation in 1995, Ms. Dean spent seven years at Yale University, where she served as Director of Investments, with responsibility for real estate as well as oversight of the New Haven Initiative community investment program. Ms. Dean has significant investment experience and has served as a Trustee of Harbor Funds since 2010, of Harbor Funds II since 2023 and of Harbor ETF Trust since 2021. Ms. Dean is expected to retire as a Trustee on or about December 31, 2026.
14
Trustees and Officers
Additional Information
About the Trustees —
Continued
About the Trustees —
Continued
Robert Kasdin. Mr. Kasdin currently serves as Senior Executive Vice President of Columbia University.
He served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Johns Hopkins Medicine from 2015 to 2022 and also as Chief Financial Officer of Johns Hopkins Medicine from 2018 to 2022. Prior to joining Johns Hopkins Medicine, he served as Senior Executive Vice President of Columbia University from 2002 to 2015. Prior to joining Columbia University, he served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the University of Michigan, Treasurer and Chief Investment Officer for The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and Vice President and General Counsel for Princeton University Investment Company. He started his career as a corporate attorney at Davis Polk & Wardwell. Mr. Kasdin previously served on the board of The Y in Central Maryland and on the Board of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center Foundation, Inc. He serves on the Board of Directors of Apollo Asset Backed Credit Corporation, Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc., as a Trustee of Barnard College and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Mr. Kasdin has significant business experience and has served as a Trustee of Harbor Funds since 2014, of Harbor Funds II since 2023 and of Harbor ETF Trust since 2021.
Kathryn L. Quirk. Ms. Quirk retired in March 2017
after nearly thirty-five years of serving in various legal, compliance and senior management roles in the asset management industry as well as serving
as an officer of several investment companies. Prior to her retirement, she served at Goldman Sachs Asset Management as Head of U.S. Regulatory Compliance from 2013-2017. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, she was Vice President and Corporate Counsel at Prudential Insurance Company of America, a subsidiary of Prudential Financial Inc., an insurance and financial services company. During that time, she also served as Deputy Chief Legal Officer, Asset Management at Prudential Insurance Company of America; Co-Chief Legal Officer at Prudential Investment Management, Inc.; Chief Legal Officer at Prudential Investments LLC; and Chief Legal Officer of the Prudential Mutual Funds. Prior to joining Prudential, Ms. Quirk worked at Zurich Scudder Investments, Inc., an asset management company, where she held several senior management positions, including General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Risk Officer, Corporate Secretary, Managing Director, and served on the board of directors and management committee. She started her career as an attorney at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. She currently serves on the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council, and previously served on the Board of Directors and as Co-Chair of the Governance Committee of Just World International, Inc., a not-for-profit organization funding education and nutrition programs. Ms. Quirk has extensive investment management industry and legal experience and has served as a Trustee of Harbor Funds since 2017, of Harbor Funds II since 2023 and of Harbor ETF Trust since 2021.
Douglas J. Skinner. Mr. Skinner is the Sidney
Davidson Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where his prior positions include Eric J.
Gleacher Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting, John P. and Lillian A. Gould Professor of Accounting, Neubauer Family Faculty Fellow, Deputy Dean for Faculty, Interim Dean, and Executive Director of the Accounting Research Center. Mr. Skinner joined the University of Chicago Business School’s faculty in 2005 from the University of Michigan Business School, where he served as the KPMG Professor of Accounting. Mr. Skinner’s teaching and research has a particular emphasis on corporate disclosure practices, corporate financial reporting, and corporate finance. Mr. Skinner is a Senior Fellow at the Asian Bureau of Finance and Economic Research. Mr. Skinner is the author or co-author of numerous publications in leading accounting and finance academic journals. Mr. Skinner has served as a Trustee of Harbor Funds since 2020, of Harbor Funds II since 2023 and of Harbor ETF Trust since 2021.
Ann M. Spruill. Ms. Spruill retired in 2008 after an
18-year career at GMO & Co. LLC, where she was a partner, portfolio manager and the Head of International Active Equities Division. She also served as a member of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors of that firm. GMO & Co. LLC is a privately-owned global investment management firm. Ms. Spruill served as a Trustee for the Financial Accounting Foundation. She served as a member of the Investment Committee and Chair of Global Public Equities for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, as a Trustee of the University of Rhode Island and as a Trustee of the University of Rhode Island Foundation. Ms. Spruill has significant investment experience and has served as a Trustee of Harbor Funds since 2014, of Harbor Funds II since 2023 and of Harbor ETF Trust since 2021.
Landis Zimmerman.
Mr. Zimmerman retired in 2021 after serving 17 years as Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Prior to
joining Howard Hughes Medical Institute, he served as Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director for investments at the University of Pennsylvania from 1998-2004, Associate Director of Investments of the Rockefeller Foundation from 1996-1998, Associate Director at Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. from 1994-1996, and Vice President at J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. from 1985-1994. He began his career as Assistant Treasurer
15
Trustees and Officers
Additional Information
About the Trustees —
Continued
About the Trustees —
Continued
at Chemical Bank in 1981. He is currently an independent, non-fiduciary
advisor for Gore Creek Asset Management, a family investment office, and is a member of the Frederick Gunn School Investment Committee and the Curci Foundation Investment Advisory Committee. Mr. Zimmerman has served as a Trustee of Harbor Funds since 2022, of Harbor Funds II since 2023 and Harbor ETF Trust since 2022.
Charles F. McCain. Mr. McCain has served as Chief
Executive Officer of Harbor Capital Advisors since 2017 and as a Director since 2007. Mr. McCain previously served as President and Chief Operating
Officer of Harbor Capital Advisors during 2017, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Harbor Capital Advisors from 2004-2017 and as Chief Compliance Officer of Harbor Capital Advisors from 2004-2014. He served as Harbor Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer from 2004-2017. He has served as a Director and Chairperson of Harbor Trust Company, Inc. since 2019. He also has served as a Director of Harbor Services Group, Inc. since 2007, and as the Chief Compliance Officer of Harbor Services Group, Inc. from 2004-2017. He has also served as a Director of Harbor Funds Distributors, Inc. since 2007, and as the Chief Compliance Officer and Executive Vice President of Harbor Funds Distributors, Inc. from 2007-2017. Prior to joining Harbor Capital Advisors in 2004, Mr. McCain was a Junior Partner at the law firm of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP. Mr. McCain has extensive business, investment, legal and compliance experience and has served as a Trustee and Chairman of the Board of Harbor Funds since 2017, as a Trustee and Chairman of the Board of Harbor Funds II since 2022 and as a Trustee and Chairman of the Board of Harbor ETF Trust since 2021.
Board Leadership Structure
As indicated above, the business and affairs of the Trust shall be managed by or
under the direction of the Trustees. The Trustees have delegated day-to-day management of the affairs of the Trust to the Advisor, subject to the Trustees’ oversight. The Board of Trustees is currently comprised of nine Trustees, eight of whom are Independent Trustees. All Independent Trustees serve on the Audit Committee and
Nominating Committee, as discussed below. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees is an Interested Trustee.
The Independent Trustees
determined that it was appropriate to appoint a Lead Independent Trustee to facilitate communication among the Independent Trustees and with management.
Accordingly, the Independent Trustees have appointed Ms. Quirk to serve as Lead Independent Trustee. Among other responsibilities, the Lead Independent Trustee coordinates with management and the other Independent Trustees regarding review of agendas for board meetings; serves as chair of meetings of the Independent Trustees; and, in consultation with the other Independent Trustees and as requested or appropriate, communicates with management, counsel, third party service providers and others on behalf of the Independent Trustees.
The Trustees believe that this leadership structure is appropriate given, among other things, the size and number of funds offered by the Trust; the size and committee structure of the Board of Trustees; management’s accessibility to the Independent Trustees, both individually and collectively through the Lead Independent Trustee; and the active and engaged role played by each Trustee with respect to oversight responsibilities.
Board Committees
All Independent Trustees serve on the Audit Committee and the Nominating Committee. The functions of the
Audit Committee include recommending an independent registered public accounting firm to the Trustees, monitoring the independent registered public accounting firm’s
performance, reviewing the results of audits and responding to certain other matters deemed appropriate by the Trustees. The Nominating Committee is responsible for the selection and nomination of candidates to serve as
Independent Trustees. The Nominating Committee will also consider nominees recommended by shareholders to serve as Trustees provided that shareholders submit such
recommendations in writing to Harbor ETF Trust Nominating Committee, c/o Harbor ETF Trust, 111 South Wacker Drive, 34th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4302 within a reasonable time before any meeting.
During Harbor ETF Trust’s fiscal year ended October 31, 2025, the Board of Trustees held 12 meetings, the Audit Committee held 3 meetings and the Nominating Committee held 2 meetings. The Board of Trustees does not have a compensation committee.
Risk Oversight
The Board of Trustees considers its role with respect to risk management to be
one of oversight rather than active management. The Trust faces a number of types of risks, including investment risk, legal and compliance risk, operational risk (including business continuity risk), reputational and
business risk. The Board of Trustees recognizes that not all risks potentially affecting the Trust can be identified in advance, and that it may not be possible or
practicable to eliminate certain identifiable risks. As part of the Trustees’ oversight responsibilities, the Trustees generally oversee the Fund’s risk
management policies and processes, as these are formulated and implemented by the Trust’s management. These policies and processes seek to identify relevant risks and, where practicable, lessen the possibility
of their occurrence and/or mitigate the impact of such risks if they were to occur. Various parties,
16
Trustees and Officers
Risk
Oversight —
Continued
Continued
including management of the Trust, the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm and other service providers provide regular reports to the Board of Trustees on various operations of the Trust and related risks and their management. In particular, the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer regularly reports to the Trustees with respect to legal and compliance risk management, the Chief Financial Officer reports on financial operations, and a variety of other management personnel report on other risk management areas, including the operations of certain affiliated and unaffiliated service providers to the Trust. The Audit Committee maintains an open and active communication channel with both the Trust’s personnel and its independent auditor, largely, but not exclusively, through its chair.
Trustee Compensation
For the fiscal year ended
October 31, 2025
October 31, 2025
| Name of Person, Position |
Aggregate Compensation From Harbor ETF Trust |
Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued As Part of Fund Expenses |
Total Compensation From Fund Complex* |
| Charles F. McCain, Chairman, President and Trustee |
-0- |
-0- |
-0- |
| Anne F. Ackerley, Trustee1 |
$37,235
|
-0- |
$182,693
|
| Scott M. Amero, Trustee |
$74,277
|
-0- |
$375,000
|
| Donna J. Dean, Trustee |
$74,277
|
-0- |
$375,000
|
| Robert Kasdin, Trustee |
$74,277
|
-0- |
$375,000
|
| Kathryn L. Quirk, Trustee2 |
$88,142
|
-0- |
$445,000
|
| Douglas J. Skinner, Trustee3
|
$81,210
|
-0- |
$410,000
|
| Ann M. Spruill, Trustee |
$74,277
|
-0- |
$375,000
|
| Landis Zimmerman, Trustee |
$74,277
|
-0- |
$375,000 |
*
Includes amounts paid by Harbor Funds, Harbor Funds II, and Harbor ETF Trust.
1
Began tenure as Trustee on May 6, 2025.
2
In consideration of her service as Lead Trustee, Ms. Quirk received $41,313 from Harbor Funds, $14,822 from Harbor Funds II, and $13,865 from Harbor ETF Trust in addition to the compensation payable to each other Independent Trustee for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2025.
3
In consideration of his service as Audit Committee Chair, Mr. Skinner received $20,657 from Harbor Funds, $7,411 from Harbor Funds II, and $6,932 from Harbor ETF Trust in addition to the compensation payable to each other Independent Trustee for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2025.
Trustee Ownership of Fund Shares
As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, the Trustees and Officers of Harbor ETF Trust
do not own any shares of the Fund as the Fund is newly launched.
The Fund shares beneficially owned by the Trustees as of December 31, 2025 are as follows:
| Name of Trustee |
Dollar Range of Ownership in The Fund1
|
Aggregate Dollar Range of Ownership in all Funds Overseen within Fund Family |
| Independent Trustees | ||
| Anne F. Ackerley |
None1 |
None |
| Scott M. Amero |
None1 |
Over $100,000 |
| Donna J. Dean |
None1 |
Over $100,000 |
| Robert Kasdin |
None1 |
Over $100,000 |
| Kathryn L. Quirk |
None1 |
Over $100,000 |
| Douglas J. Skinner |
None1 |
Over $100,000 |
| Ann M. Spruill |
None1 |
Over $100,000 |
| Landis Zimmerman |
None1 |
Over $100,000 |
| Interested Trustee | ||
| Charles F. McCain |
None1 |
Over
$100,000 |
1
The Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this Statement of Additional Information.
Material Relationships of the Independent Trustees
For purposes of the discussion below, the italicized terms have the following meanings:
■
the immediate family members of any person are their spouse, children in the person’s
household (including step and adoptive children) and any dependent of the person.
■
an entity in a control relationship means any person who controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the named person. For example, ORIX Corporation (“ORIX”) is an entity that
is in a control relationship with the Advisor.
■
a related fund is a registered investment company or an entity exempt from the definition
of an investment company pursuant to Sections 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act, in each case having the Advisor as investment adviser, Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Distributor”)
17
Trustees and Officers
Material Relationships of
the Independent
Trustees — Continued
the Independent
Trustees — Continued
as principal underwriter, or an investment
adviser or principal underwriter that is in a control relationship with the Advisor or Distributor. For example, the related funds of Harbor ETF Trust
include all of the Funds in the Harbor family and any other U.S. and non-U.S. funds managed by the Advisor’s affiliates or distributed by the Distributor or its affiliates.
As of December 31, 2025, none of the
Independent Trustees, nor any member of their immediate families, beneficially owned any securities issued by the Advisor, ORIX, or any other entity in a
control relationship to the Advisor or the Distributor. During the calendar years 2024 and 2025, none of the Independent Trustees, nor any member of their immediate families, had any direct or indirect interest (the value of which exceeds $120,000), whether by contract, arrangement or otherwise, in the Advisor, the Distributor, ORIX, or any other entity in a control relationship to the Advisor or the Distributor. During the calendar years 2024 and 2025, none of the Independent Trustees, nor any member of their immediate families, has had an interest in a transaction or a series of transactions in which the aggregate amount involved exceeded $120,000 and to which any of the following were a party (each a “fund-related party”):
■
a Harbor fund;
■
an officer of Harbor ETF Trust;
■
a related fund;
■
an officer of any related fund;
■
the Advisor;
■
the Distributor;
■
an officer of the Advisor or the Distributor;
■
any affiliate of the Advisor or the Distributor; or
■
an officer of any such affiliate.
During the calendar years 2024 and 2025, none of the Independent Trustees, nor any member of their immediate families, had any relationship exceeding $120,000 in value with any Fund-related party, including, but not limited to, relationships arising out of (i) payments for property and services, (ii) the provision of legal services, (iii) the provision of investment banking services (other than as a member of the underwriting syndicate) or (iv) the provision of consulting services.
During the calendar years 2024 and 2025,
none of the Independent Trustees, nor any member of their immediate families, served as an officer for an entity on which an officer of any of the
following entities also served as a director:
■
the Advisor;
■
the Distributor; or
■
ORIX or any other entity in a control relationship with the Advisor or the
Distributor.
During the calendar years 2024 and 2025, no immediate family member of any of the Independent Trustees, had any position, including as an officer, employee or director, with any Harbor funds. During the calendar years 2024 and 2025, none of the Independent Trustees, nor any member of their immediate families, had any position, including as an officer, employee, director or partner, with any of:
■
any related fund;
■
the Advisor;
■
the Distributor;
■
any affiliated person of Harbor ETF Trust; or
■
ORIX or any other entity in a control relationship to the Advisor or the
Distributor.
18
The AdvisOr
The
Advisor
Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
serves as the investment advisor (the “Advisor”) for the Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with Harbor ETF Trust on behalf of the Fund (each, an “Investment Advisory Agreement”). Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement,
the Advisor is responsible for providing a range of management, oversight, legal, compliance, financial and administrative services for the Fund as set forth in more detail below:
Management
Services. Subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, the Advisor is responsible for establishing the investment policies, strategies and guidelines for the Fund, and for recommending modifications to those policies, strategies and guidelines whenever the Advisor deems modifications to be necessary or appropriate. The Advisor is also responsible for providing, either through itself or through a Subadvisor selected, paid and supervised by the Advisor, investment research, and advice, and for furnishing continuously an investment program for the Fund consistent with the investment objectives and policies of the Fund. For Harbor funds that employ one or more non-discretionary Subadvisors, the Advisor will also make day-to-day investment decisions with respect to each such fund to implement model portfolios provided by the non-discretionary Subadvisors.
Selection and Oversight of Subadvisors. The Advisor is responsible for the Subadvisors it selects to manage the assets of
or provide non-discretionary investment advisory services for the Fund and for recommending to the Board of Trustees the hiring, termination and
replacement of Subadvisors. The Advisor is responsible for overseeing the Subadvisors and for reporting to the Board of Trustees periodically on the Fund’s and Subadvisor’s performance. The Advisor normally utilizes both qualitative and quantitative analysis to evaluate existing and prospective Subadvisors, including thorough reviews and assessments of (i) the Subadvisor’s investment process, personnel and investment staff; (ii) the Subadvisor’s investment research capabilities; (iii) the Subadvisor’s ownership and organization structures; (iv) the Subadvisor’s legal, compliance and operational infrastructure; (v) the Subadvisor’s brokerage practices; (vi) any material changes in the Subadvisor’s business, operations or staffing; (vii) the performance of the Fund and the Subadvisor relative to benchmark and peers; (viii) the Fund’s portfolio characteristics, and (ix) the composition of the Fund’s portfolio.
Legal,
Compliance, Financial and Administrative Services. The Advisor is responsible for regularly providing various other services on behalf of the Fund, including, but not limited to: (i) providing the Fund with office space, facilities, equipment and personnel as the Advisor deems necessary to provide for the effective administration of the affairs of the Fund, including providing from among the Advisor’s directors, officers and employees, persons to serve as interested Trustee(s), officers and employees of Harbor ETF Trust and paying the salaries of such persons; (ii) coordinating and overseeing the services provided by the Fund’s transfer agent, custodian, legal counsel and independent auditors; (iii) coordinating and overseeing the preparation and production of meeting materials for the Board of Trustees, as well as such other materials that the Board of Trustees may from time to time reasonably request; (iv) coordinating and overseeing the preparation and filing with the SEC of registration statements, notices, shareholder reports, proxy statements and other material for the Fund required to be filed under applicable laws; (v) developing and implementing procedures for monitoring compliance with the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and guidelines and with applicable regulatory requirements; (vi) providing legal and regulatory support for the Fund in connection with the administration of the affairs of the Fund, including the assigning of matters to the Fund’s legal counsel on behalf of the Fund and supervising the work of such outside counsel; (vii) overseeing the determination and publication of the Fund’s NAV in accordance with the Fund’s valuation policies; (viii) preparing and monitoring expense budgets for the Fund, and reviewing the appropriateness and arranging for the payment of Fund expenses; and (ix) furnishing to the Fund such other administrative services as the Advisor deems necessary, or the Board of Trustees reasonably requests, for the efficient operation of the Fund.
The Advisor is a wholly owned subsidiary of ORIX Corporation (“ORIX”), a global financial services company based in Tokyo, Japan. ORIX provides a range of financial services to corporate and retail customers around the world, including financing, leasing, real estate and investment banking services. The stock of ORIX trades publicly on both the New York (through ADRs) and Tokyo Stock Exchanges.
Advisory
Fees
For its services, the Fund pays the Advisor the contractual
advisory fee set forth below, which is an annual rate based on the Fund’s average net assets.
| |
Contractual Advisory Fee |
| Harbor Short Term Treasury ETF |
[ ] % |
19
The Portfolio Managers
Other
Accounts Managed
The portfolio managers primarily responsible for
the day-to-day management of the Fund also manage other registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles and/or other accounts, (collectively, the “Portfolios”) as indicated below. The following table identifies, as of [ ], 2026 (unless otherwise noted): (i) the number of other registered investment companies, pooled investment vehicles and
other accounts managed by the portfolio manager(s); (ii) the total assets of such companies, vehicles and accounts, and (iii) the number and total assets of such
companies, vehicles and accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on performance.
| |
Other Registered Investment Companies |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
Other Accounts | |||
| # of Accounts |
Total Assets (in millions) |
# of Accounts |
Total Assets (in millions) |
# of Accounts |
Total Assets (in millions) | |
| HARBOR Short Term Treasury ETF | ||||||
| Spenser P. Lener, CFA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| All
Accounts |
[ ] |
$[ ]
|
[ ] |
$[ ]
|
[ ] |
$[ ]
|
| Accounts where advisory fee is based on account
performance (subset of above) |
[ ] |
[ ] |
[ ] |
[ ] |
[ ] |
[ ] |
| Everett Lyons |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| All
Accounts |
[ ] |
[ ] |
[ ] |
[ ] |
[ ] |
[ ] |
| Accounts where advisory fee is based on account
performance (subset of above) |
[ ] |
[ ] |
[ ] |
[ ] |
[ ] |
[ ] |
Harbor
Capital
Advisors, Inc.
Advisors, Inc.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
The Advisor may have various interests arising out of its side-by side management of accounts that create incentive to favor one account over another. These include: affiliated accounts in which the Advisor manages accounts on behalf of Harbor as well as on behalf of its clients; single subadvisor and multi-manager products where the individual or group responsible for managing multi-manager products may have access, directly or indirectly, to material non-public information regarding one or more underlying managers as a result of such manager also serving as a subadvisor to a single-subadvisor product, including with respect to management of ETF creation baskets; large accounts and clients which may generate more revenue than smaller accounts or certain strategies which may have higher fees than others, resulting in a potential incentive to favor such high revenue or fee generating accounts; recommendations to different clients to buy or sell securities of the same kind or class at prices that may be different or to execute trades of securities of the same kind or class in opposite directions for different accounts; non-discretionary accounts or models in which a client may be disadvantaged if the Advisor delivers the model investment portfolio after initiating trading for the discretionary accounts or a discretionary client disadvantaged if the non-discretionary clients receive the model investment portfolio and start trading prior to when the Advisor begins trading for the discretionary clients; client accounts which only permit holding securities long versus those that permit short selling and where different client accounts are selling short and holding long potentially impacting the value of the security; the investment of assets of different clients at different levels of an issuer’s capital structure; and financial interests of investment professionals who may invest or have other direct or indirect interests in investment vehicles the Advisor manages, including mutual funds, creating incentive to favor such accounts over others.
Conflicts that are not eliminated are addressed through disclosure and/or adoption of policies and procedures to manage or mitigate such conflicts. The Advisor seeks to disclose material conflicts of interest to our clients and prospective clients and seeks to manage and mitigate conflicts through governance, oversight and the adoption of additional policies and procedures.
COMPENSATION
The Advisor’s compensation methodology for the portfolio
managers consists of the following components:
Base Salary. Base salary is a fixed amount determined
each year. Each portfolio manager’s base salary is based upon the responsibilities of his or her position with the Advisor, years of service and
contribution to the long-term performance of the Advisor.
Annual Cash Bonus.
Portfolio managers generally participate in at least one and possibly more bonus programs of the Advisor.
■
Employee Bonus Plan (“EBP”). Most full-time employees of the Advisor participate in the EBP. The EBP provides for a possible
incentive payment based upon the Advisor’s EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) margin percentage compared to its budgeted EBIT margin percentage. Good control over costs is an important factor in achieving the EBP objectives.
■
Senior Management Incentive Program (“SMIP”). Most senior professionals of the Advisor participate in the SMIP or a similar incentive plan. The
objectives of the SMIP can vary from
20
The Portfolio Managers
Harbor Capital
Advisors, Inc. —
Continued
Continued
year to year, although for front-line portfolio managers, objectives
will include performance of the portfolios compared to benchmarks, performance against budgeted earnings and other objectives as may be determined from year to year.
Target percentages for both the EBP and SMIP are established as a percentage of each portfolio manager’s base salary. The percentages used in the calculation of both the EBP and SMIP are determined annually through a performance evaluation process based on qualitative and quantitative factors.
Harbor
Cash Appreciation Rights (“H-CARs”). H-CARs represents a long-term incentive plan for senior personnel and certain other staff who have made, and are expected to make, significant contributions to the long-term value of the Advisor. H-CARs may be awarded each year and have an initial value expressed in dollars and equivalent H-CAR units. The value of the awards change over time based upon a formula linked to the Advisor’s pre-tax profitability, with the awards normally vesting in equal amounts over three and five years. Individual awards are typically determined based upon an assessment of the participant’s past and expected future contributions to the performance of the Advisor.
SECURITIES
OWNERSHIP
As of the
date of this Statement of Additional Information, Messrs. Lener and Lyons did not beneficially own any shares of Harbor Short Term Treasury ETF.
21
The Distributor
Foreside
Fund
Services, LLC
Services, LLC
Foreside Fund Services, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Foreside Financial
Group, LLC (dba ACA Group), (the “Distributor”) acts as the principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund’s shares. Its principal address is 190 Middle Street, Suite 301, Portland, ME 04101. The Distributor has entered
into an agreement with the Trust which will continue from its effective date unless terminated by either party upon 60 days’ prior written notice to the other party. Shares will be continuously offered for sale by the Trust through the Distributor only in Creation Units. Shares in less than Creation Units
are not distributed by the Distributor. The Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
(“FINRA”). The Distributor has no role in determining the investment policies of the Trust or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Trust.
Distribution Plans
The Trust has adopted a distribution plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the
Investment Company Act with respect to the Fund (the “Plan”). Under the Plan, the Fund is authorized to pay distribution fees in connection with the sale and distribution of its shares and pay service fees in connection with
the provision of investor services.
No Rule 12b-1 fees are currently paid by
the Fund, and there are no current plans to impose these fees. In addition, no such fee may be paid in the future without further approval by the Board.
However, in the event that Rule 12b-1 fees are charged in the future, because these fees are paid out of Fund assets on an ongoing basis, these fees will increase the cost of your investment in the Fund.
22
Shareholder Services
Payments
to Financial Intermediaries
Unaffiliated financial intermediaries, including broker-dealers, banks, trust companies, employee benefit
plan and retirement plan administrators, could be compensated for providing distribution, recordkeeping and/or similar services to shareholders who hold their Fund shares through accounts that are maintained by
the intermediary. Financial intermediary fees may be in the form of asset-based, transaction-based, or flat fees. The Advisor or its affiliates have in the past and could
in the future compensate, out of their own assets, certain unaffiliated financial intermediaries for distribution of shares of the Fund and for providing shareholder recordkeeping and other similar services to shareholders who hold their
shares of the Fund through accounts that are maintained by the financial intermediaries.
In addition, the Advisor and its affiliates have in the past and could in the future pay certain financial intermediaries for certain activities related to the Fund, other Harbor funds or exchange-traded products in general. This may include activities that are designed to make registered representatives, other professionals and individual investors more knowledgeable about exchange-traded products, including the Fund and other Harbor funds, or for other activities, such as marketing and/or fund promotion activities and presentations, educational training programs, conferences, data analytics and support, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems.
The Advisor has in the past and could in
the future also make payments to financial intermediaries for certain printing, publishing and mailing costs or materials relating to the Fund, other
Harbor funds or exchange-traded products or for promoting or making shares of the Fund, other Harbor funds or exchange-traded products available to their clients, which may include intermediaries that allow customers to buy and sell fund shares without paying a commission or other transaction charge. The Advisor or its affiliates make these payments from their own assets and not from the assets of the Fund. These payments do not increase the expenses paid by investors for the purchase of Fund shares, or the cost of owning the Fund. Payments of the type described above are sometimes referred to as revenue-sharing payments.
Payments to a financial intermediary may be significant to the intermediary, and amounts that intermediaries pay to your salesperson or other investment professional may also be significant for your salesperson or other investment professional. Because a financial intermediary may make decisions about which investment options it will recommend or make available to its clients or what services to provide for various products based on payments it receives or is eligible to receive, these payments could create conflicts of interest between the intermediary and its clients and these financial incentives may cause the intermediary to recommend the Fund, other Harbor funds, or exchange-traded products over other investments. The same conflicts of interest and financial incentives exist with respect to your salesperson or investment professional if he or she receives similar payments from his or her firm.
23
Code of Ethics
Code of
Ethics
Harbor ETF Trust, the Advisor and the Dsitributor have each
adopted a code of ethics that complies in all material respects with Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act. These codes of ethics are designed to prevent trustees/directors, officers and designated employees who have access to
information concerning portfolio securities transactions of Harbor ETF Trust (“Access Persons”) from using that information for their personal benefit or to the disadvantage of Harbor ETF Trust. These codes
of ethics are also designed to prevent both Access Persons and all employees of the Advisor from profiting from short-term trading in shares of any Harbor ETF Trust. The
codes of ethics do permit Access Persons to engage in personal securities transactions for their own account, including securities that may be purchased or held by Harbor ETF Trust, but impose significant restrictions on such
transactions and require Access Persons to report all of their personal securities transactions (except for transactions in certain securities where the potential for a
conflict of interest is very low, such as unaffiliated open-end mutual fund shares and money market instruments). Each of the codes of ethics is on public file with, and is available from, the SEC.
24
Portfolio Holdings
Portfolio
Holdings Disclosure Policy
The Board of Trustees has adopted policies and procedures that govern the disclosure of the Fund’s
portfolio holdings and the disclosure of statistical information about the Fund’s portfolio.
These policies and procedures are
designed to strike an appropriate balance between providing enough information to help investors understand the Fund’s recent historical
performance and at the same time ensuring that investors do not receive information which would enable them to trade based on that information to the detriment of the Fund or its other shareholders. As an overarching principle, these policies and procedures prohibit the Fund and any service provider to the Fund, including the Advisor, from entering into any arrangement to receive any compensation or consideration, either directly or indirectly, in return for the disclosure of the Fund’s non-public portfolio holdings.
On each business day, before the opening
of regular trading on the listing exchange, the Fund will provide a full list of holdings daily on harborcapital.com. In addition, a basket composition file, which includes the security names and share quantities or amounts to deliver in exchange for Fund shares and may overlap with actual or expected Fund holdings, is publicly disseminated via the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”).
For purposes of these policies and procedures, “portfolio holdings” means the individual securities or other instruments held by the Fund. This includes equity and fixed income securities, such as stocks and bonds, and derivative contracts, such as futures, options and swaps held by the Fund. “Portfolio holdings” does not include information that is derived from (but does not include) individual portfolio holdings, such as statistical information about the Fund or the Fund’s aggregate cash position. Statistical information includes information such as how the Fund’s portfolio is divided (in percentage terms) among various industries, sectors, countries, value and growth stocks, small, mid and large cap stocks, credit quality ratings, and maturities. Statistical information also includes financial characteristics about the Fund’s portfolio such as alpha, beta, R-squared, information ratio, Sharpe ratio, various earnings and price based ratios (such as price-to-earnings, price-to-book, and earnings growth), duration, maturity, market capitalization, and portfolio turnover.
While statistical information is not
considered “portfolio holdings,” the policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees limit the disclosure of statistical information
derived from portfolio holdings which have not yet been publicly disclosed to further ensure that such information could not be used in a manner that is adverse to the Fund. Specifically, statistical information derived from non-public portfolio holdings data may only be based on the Fund’s month end portfolio holdings data and then may only be released beginning 5 days after that month end date. In addition, only the Officers of the Trust and certain employees of the Advisor are authorized to release such statistical information and they may not do so if they reasonably believe that the recipient of that statistical information, could use that information as a basis on which to trade in the Fund shares to the detriment of the Fund or its other shareholders. Statistical information may be provided to existing or potential shareholders in the Fund and to their representatives for the sole purpose of helping to explain the Fund’s recent historical performance.
Current and prospective investors from time to time may request different or more extensive historical portfolio holdings information for the Fund than has previously been publicly disclosed to assist them in their assessment of the consistency of the investment process of the Advisor through different past market environments. To the extent the requested portfolio holdings information is for periods that precede the date of the most recent publicly disclosed portfolio holdings information, it is considered stale and may be released to investors or prospective investors and others upon request without needing to be separately publicly disclosed. Because historical portfolio holdings information must have been superseded by the public disclosure of more recent portfolio holdings information before it can be released, the information should normally not enable any recipient to trade for its own benefit to the detriment of the Fund.
The policies and procedures adopted by
the Board of Trustees also prohibit the disclosure of non-public portfolio holdings to third parties except in certain limited circumstances where the
Fund or a service provider has a legitimate business purpose for disclosing that information and the recipients are subject to a duty of confidentiality, including a duty not to trade on the non-public information. The Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund must authorize any such disclosure in those limited circumstances.
Harbor ETF Trust seeks to avoid potential
conflicts between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders and those of the Fund’s service providers and ensure that non-public portfolio
holdings information is disclosed only when such disclosure is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. Harbor ETF Trust seeks to accomplish this by permitting such disclosure solely for the purpose of assisting the service provider in carrying out its designated responsibilities for the Fund and by requiring any such disclosure to be authorized in the manner described above. The Board of Trustees receives a report at least annually concerning the effectiveness and operation of the Fund’s policies and procedures, including those governing the disclosure of portfolio information.
25
Portfolio Holdings
Portfolio Holdings
Disclosure Policy —
Continued
Disclosure Policy —
Continued
The Advisor and its affiliates may provide investment advice to clients
(including funds) other than the Fund that have investment objectives that may be substantially similar to those of the Fund. These clients may have portfolios consisting of holdings substantially similar to those of the Fund and may be subject to different holdings disclosure policies. These clients are not subject to the portfolio holdings disclosure policies and procedures described herein and do not owe the Advisor or Fund a duty of confidentiality with respect to disclosure of their portfolio holdings. The Advisor, Custodian, Distributor and other service providers to the Fund, may receive non-public portfolio holdings information in the course of performing services to the Fund, the Subadvisor and/or Advisor, but are subject to legal obligations to not disseminate or trade on non-public information concerning the Trust.
26
Proxy Voting
Proxy
Voting Policy
REPORTING
A Vote Summary will be prepared for each client that requests Harbor Capital to furnish proxy voting records. The report specifies the portfolio companies, meeting dates, proxy proposals, and votes which have been cast for the client during the period and the position taken with respect to each issue. Reports normally cover quarterly or annual periods. All client requests for proxy information will be recorded and fulfilled by Harbor Capital.
DELEGATED PROXY VOTING RESPONSIBILITY
Oversight
For Funds with a discretionary
Subadvisor, Harbor Capital delegates proxy voting to the Subadvisor. In each instance where proxy voting responsibility has been delegated to one or more
Subadvisors, Harbor Capital’s Legal and Compliance Team is responsible for the oversight with respect to such delegated responsibilities, including reviewing the proxy voting policies, procedures, and/or proxy voting guidelines of each such Subadvisor (the “Subadvisor Proxy Voting Guidelines”). The Legal and Compliance Team must determine that the Subadvisor Proxy Voting Guidelines are reasonably designed to ensure that the Subadvisor would be able to administer the proxy voting process generally and vote proxies specifically in a manner which would be in the best interests of the respective client before Harbor Capital will delegate proxy voting responsibility to a Subadvisor. The Legal and Compliance Team will review any amendments to the Subadvisor Proxy Voting Guidelines to ensure that the guidelines continue to meet that standard. Harbor Capital will not delegate voting authority to any third party that does not also serve in a fiduciary capacity. In addition, each Subadvisor must accept the delegation of this responsibility.
Harbor Capital does not review individual voting decisions by the Subadvisors but considers their proxy voting policies, procedures, and/or guidelines as part of its overall assessment of the Subadvisor’s compliance program. If Harbor Capital is not satisfied with the Subadvisor’s overall performance, including as a result of proxy voting decisions which are not in Harbor Capital’s client’s best interests, Harbor Capital may replace the Subadvisor or recommend the replacement of the Subadvisor to the Board of Trustees.
Harbor Capital will normally not be privy to a Subadvisor’s proxy voting decision until after the vote is cast and the shareholder meeting has occurred. While Harbor Capital does retain the right to override any proxy voting decision by a Subadvisor (when Harbor Capital believes that a voting decision would not be in the best interests of its client), Harbor Capital does not expect to be able to exercise that authority as a matter of course. Such an override could only occur in the unusual circumstance where the Subadvisor consults with Harbor Capital prior to casting a
vote.
The Subadvisors operate independently of each other and it is feasible that the Subadvisors will come to different voting decisions on the same or similar proposals. As long as the Subadvisors are acting in what they believe to be the best interests of the client when making their proxy voting decisions, Harbor Capital believes that the client will, as a whole, benefit from each Subadvisor applying its own analysis to the proxy voting decision. Differences in such analyses may occur, for example, depending on whether a Subadvisor considers a proxy advisory firm’s recommendations or additional information provided by an issuer during the proxy voting process.
Conflicts of Interest
Delegation of proxy voting responsibility
to Subadvisors should generally adequately address any possible conflicts of interest with respect to Harbor Capital. In addition, as part of the Legal
and Compliance Team’s review of the Subadvisor Proxy Voting Guidelines, the Legal and Compliance Team seeks to ensure that the Subadvisor has implemented its own procedures to monitor and resolve conflicts of interest in the proxy voting process.
Recordkeeping
For assets with respect to which proxy
voting responsibilities have been delegated to one or more Subadvisors, each such Subadvisor is responsible for retaining the materials regarding votes
cast by them. Each Subadvisor is required to provide to Harbor Capital, upon request, the necessary information regarding its proxy voting record to enable Harbor Capital to prepare the Form N-PX for any subadvised products. Harbor Capital will retain this information, along with each Subadvisor’s Proxy Voting Guidelines and any certifications provided by the Subadvisors as to their compliance with their policies and procedures, for six years.
27
Portfolio Transactions
The Advisor is responsible for making specific decisions to buy and sell securities for the portion of Fund assets that it manages. The Advisor is also responsible for selecting brokers and dealers to effect these transactions and negotiating, if possible, brokerage commissions and dealers’ charges. The Fund may establish a brokerage relationship with brokers, or affiliates of brokers, that serve as lead market maker, authorized participant, or in another capacity with respect to the Fund. The Fund may have an incentive to establish a brokerage relationship with or pay higher commissions to such a broker as a result of other services it provides to the Fund.
Purchases and sales of securities on a securities exchange are effected by brokers, and the Fund pays a brokerage commission for this service. In transactions on stock exchanges in the United States, these commissions are negotiated, whereas on many foreign stock exchanges the commissions are fixed. In the over-the-counter market, securities (i.e., debt securities) are normally traded on a “net” basis with dealers acting as principal for their own accounts without a stated commission, although the price of the securities usually includes a profit to the dealer. In underwritten offerings, securities are purchased at a fixed price which includes an amount of compensation to the underwriter, generally referred to as the underwriter’s concession or discount. On occasion, certain money market instruments may be purchased directly from an issuer, in which case no commissions or discounts are paid.
The primary consideration in placing
portfolio security transactions with broker-dealers for execution is to obtain and maintain the availability of execution at the most favorable prices
and in the most effective manner possible. The Advisor attempts to achieve this result by selecting broker-dealers to execute portfolio transactions taking into account such factors as the broker-dealers’ professional capability, the value and quality of their brokerage services and the level of their brokerage commissions.
Under each Investment Advisory Agreement
and Subadvisory Contract and as permitted by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Advisor may cause the Fund to pay a commission to
broker-dealers who provide brokerage and research services to the Advisor for effecting a securities transaction for such Fund. Such commission may exceed the amount other broker-dealers would have charged for the transaction if the Advisor determines in good faith that the greater commission is reasonable relative to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by the executing broker-dealer viewed in terms of either a particular transaction or the overall responsibilities the Advisor has to the Fund or to its other clients. The term “brokerage and research services” includes advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or of purchasers or sellers of securities, furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy and the performance of accounts, and effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto, such as clearance and settlement.
Although commissions paid on every transaction will, in the judgment of the Advisor be reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage services provided, commissions exceeding those that another broker might charge may be paid to broker-dealers who were selected to execute transactions on behalf of the Fund and the other clients of the Advisor in part for providing advice as to the availability of securities or of purchasers or sellers of securities and services in effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto such as clearance and settlement.
Research provided by brokers is used for
the benefit of all of the clients of the Advisor and not solely or necessarily for the benefit of the Fund. Investment management personnel of the
Advisor attempt to evaluate the quality of research provided by brokers. Results of this effort are sometimes used by the Advisor as a consideration in the selection of brokers to execute portfolio transactions.
In certain instances there may be
securities that are suitable for the Fund’s portfolio as well as for that of another Fund or one or more other clients of the Advisor. Investment
decisions for the Fund and for other clients are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives. It may develop that a particular security is bought or sold for only one client even though it might be held by, or bought or sold for, other clients. Likewise, a particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one or more other clients are selling that same security. Some simultaneous transactions are inevitable when several clients receive investment advice from the same investment advisor, particularly when the same security is suitable for the investment objectives of more than one client. When two or more clients are simultaneously engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security, the securities are allocated among clients in a manner believed to be equitable to each. It is recognized that in some cases this system could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security in a particular transaction as far as the Fund is concerned. Harbor ETF Trust believes that over time its ability to participate in volume transactions will produce better executions for the Fund.
28
Portfolio Transactions
Broker
Commissions
The investment advisory fee that the Fund pays to the
Advisor will not be reduced as a consequence of a Subadvisor’s receipt of brokerage and research services. Subject to the applicable legal requirements, to the extent the Fund’s portfolio transactions are used to obtain such services, the brokerage commissions paid by the Fund will exceed those that might otherwise be paid by an amount that cannot be presently
determined. Such services would be useful and of value to such Advisor in serving both the Fund
and other clients and, conversely, such services obtained by the placement of brokerage business of other clients would be useful to such Advisor in carrying out its obligations to the Fund.
29
Net Asset Value
The NAV is the value of a single share. NAV is computed by adding the value of the Fund’s investments, cash, and other assets, subtracting its liabilities, and dividing the result by the number of shares outstanding.
The value of Fund shares bought and sold in the secondary market is driven by market price. The price of these shares, like the price of all traded securities, is subject to factors such as supply and demand, as well as the current value of the portfolio securities held by the Fund. Secondary market shares, available for purchase or sale on an intraday basis, do not have a fixed relationship either to the previous day’s NAV nor the current day’s NAV. Prices in the secondary market, therefore, may be below, at, or above the most recently calculated NAV of such shares.
The value of Fund shares bought and sold in the secondary market is driven by market price. The price of these shares, like the price of all traded securities, is subject to factors such as supply and demand, as well as the current value of the portfolio securities held by the Fund. Secondary market shares, available for purchase or sale on an intraday basis, do not have a fixed relationship either to the previous day’s NAV nor the current day’s NAV. Prices in the secondary market, therefore, may be below, at, or above the most recently calculated NAV of such shares.
Equity securities, except securities listed on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation (“NASDAQ”) system and United Kingdom London Stock Exchange securities are valued at the last sale price on a national exchange or system on which they are principally traded as of the valuation date. Securities listed on NASDAQ system or a United Kingdom exchange are valued at the official closing price of those securities.
Futures contracts and options on futures
contracts are normally valued at the price that would be required to settle the contract on the market where any such option or futures contract is
principally traded. Options on equity securities are normally valued using the last sale price on the relevant securities exchange. Swaps are valued using prices supplied by a pricing vendor based on the underlying characteristics of the swaps. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued at their respective fair values determined on the basis of the mean between the last current bid and asked prices based on quotations supplied to a pricing service by independent dealers.
Debt securities, other than
short-term securities with a remaining maturity of less than 60 days at the time they are acquired, are valued using evaluated prices furnished by a
pricing service selected by the Advisor. An evaluated price represents an assessment by the pricing service using various market inputs of what the pricing service believes is the fair market value of a security at a particular point in time. The pricing service determines evaluated prices for debt securities that would be transacted at institutional size quantities using inputs including, but not limited to, (i) recent transaction prices and dealer quotes, (ii) transaction prices for what the pricing service believes are securities with similar characteristics, (iii) the pricing vendor’s assessment of the risk inherent in the security taking into account criteria such as credit quality, payment history, liquidity and market conditions, and (iv) various correlations and relationships between security price movements and other factors, such as interest rate changes, which are recognized by institutional traders. Because many debt securities trade infrequently, the pricing vendor will often not have current transaction price information available as an input in determining an evaluated price for a particular security. When current transaction price information is available, it is one input into the pricing service’s evaluation process, which means that the evaluated price supplied by the pricing service will frequently differ from that transaction price. Short-term securities with a remaining maturity of less than 60 days at the time they are acquired are stated at amortized cost which approximates fair value.
When reliable market quotations or evaluated prices supplied by a pricing vendor are not readily available or are not believed to accurately reflect fair value, securities are generally priced at their fair value. The Board of Trustees has designated the Advisor to perform fair value determinations pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the Investment Company Act.
It is possible that the fair value
determined in good faith in accordance with the Fund’s valuation procedures may differ from valuations for the same security or other asset
determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Fund’s valuation procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Fund may reasonably expect to receive upon its current sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Fund would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available.
Portfolio securities traded on more than
one U.S. national securities exchange or foreign securities exchange are valued at the last sale price on the business day as of which such value is
being determined at the close of the exchange representing the principal market for such securities. Investments initially valued in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are converted to the U.S. dollar using exchange rates obtained from independent pricing vendors. As a result, the NAV of Fund shares may be affected by changes in the value of currencies in relation to the U.S. dollar. If such quotations are not available, the rate of exchange will be determined in good faith by or under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.
Trading in securities on European and Far Eastern securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets is normally completed well before the close of business on each business day in New York (i.e., a day on which the NYSE is scheduled to be open for trading). In addition, European or Far Eastern securities trading generally or in a particular country or countries may not take place on all business days in New York. Furthermore, trading takes place in Japanese markets on certain Saturdays and in various foreign markets on days that are not business days in New York and on which the Fund’s
30
Net Asset Value
NAVs may not be calculated. Such calculation does not take place contemporaneously with the determination of the prices of the majority of the portfolio securities used in such calculation. As a result, closing market prices for foreign securities may not fully reflect events that occur between the time their prices are determined and the close of the regular trading on the NYSE (or such other time at which the Fund calculates NAV consistent with its policies and procedures) and thus may no longer be considered reliable. The Fund will use the fair value of the foreign securities, determined in accordance with the fair value procedures approved by the Board of Trustees, in place of closing market prices to calculate their NAVs if the Advisor believes that events between the close of the foreign market and the close of regular trading on the NYSE (or such other time at which the Fund calculates NAV consistent with its policies and procedures) would materially affect the value of some or all of a particular Fund’s securities.
The proceeds received by the Fund for
each issue or sale of its shares, and all net investment income, realized and unrealized gain and proceeds thereof, subject only to the rights of
creditors, will be specifically allocated to the Fund and constitute the underlying assets of the Fund. The underlying assets of the Fund will be segregated on the books of account, and will be charged with the liabilities in respect to the Fund and with a share of the general liabilities of Harbor ETF Trust. Expenses with respect to any two or more funds are to be allocated in proportion to the NAVs of the respective Funds except where allocations of direct expenses can otherwise be reasonably determined, in which case the expenses are allocated directly to the Fund which incurred that expense.
Income, common expenses and realized and
unrealized gains/(losses) are determined at the Fund level and allocated daily.
31
Creations and Redemptions
The Fund issues and sells shares only in Creation Units on a continuous basis through the Distributor, without a sales load, at the NAV next determined after receipt of an order in proper form as described in the Participant Agreement (as defined below), on any Business Day (as defined
below).
Although Creation Units and redemption proceeds will normally be delivered as described below, Creation Units or redemption proceeds may be delayed under certain circumstances, namely: (1) for any period during which there is a non-routine closure of the Fedwire or applicable Federal Reserve Banks; (2) for any period (a) during which the NYSE is closed other than customary weekend and holiday closings or (b) during which trading on the NYSE is restricted; (3) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which (a) disposal of securities owned by the Fund is not reasonably practicable or (b) it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to fairly determine the NAV of Shares of the Fund; (4) for any period during which the SEC has, by rule or regulation, deemed that (a) trading shall be restricted or (b) an emergency exists; (5) for any period that the SEC may by order permit for shareholder protection; or (6) for any period during which the Fund, as part of a necessary liquidation of the Fund, has properly postponed and/or suspended redemption of shares and payment in accordance with federal securities laws. Any such suspension or postponement described above will be consistent with the Fund’s obligations under Section 22(e) of the Investment Company Act.
In its discretion, the Advisor reserves the right to increase or decrease the number of the Fund’s Shares that constitute a Creation Unit. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to declare a split or a consolidation in the number of shares outstanding of the Fund, and to make a corresponding change in the number of shares constituting a Creation Unit, in the event that the per share price in the secondary market rises (or declines) to an amount that falls outside the range deemed desirable by the Board of Trustees.
A “Business Day” with respect to the Fund is each day NYSE, the listing exchange, and the Trust are open, including any day that the Fund is required to be open under Section 22(e) of the Investment Company Act, which excludes 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. Orders from large institutional investors who have entered into agreements with the Fund’s Distributor to create or redeem Creation Units will only be accepted on a Business Day.
The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on the NYSE is stopped at a time other than its regularly scheduled closing time. The Fund reserves the right to reprocess creation and redemption transactions that were initially processed at a NAV other than the Fund’s official closing NAV (as the same may be subsequently adjusted). The Fund reserves the right to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to) Authorized Participants based on the official closing NAV. The Fund also reserves the right to advance the time by which creation and redemption orders must be received for same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC.
Fund Deposit
The consideration for purchase of Creation Units generally consists of a
basket of securities and instruments (“Deposit Securities”) and/or a deposit of a specified cash payment (the “Cash Component”). Together, the Deposit Securities and Cash Component constitute the “Fund Deposit,” which represents the minimum initial and subsequent investment amount for a Creation Unit of the Fund. The portfolio of
securities required may be different than the portfolio of securities the Fund will deliver upon redemption of Fund shares.
The function of the Cash Component is to compensate for any differences between the NAV per Creation Unit and the Deposit Amount (as defined below). The Cash Component would be an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the shares (per Creation Unit) and the “Deposit Amount,” which is an amount equal to the market value of the Deposit Securities. If the Cash Component is a positive number (the NAV per Creation Unit exceeds the Deposit Amount), the Authorized Participant will deliver the Cash Component. If the Cash Component is a negative number (the NAV per Creation Unit is less than the Deposit Amount), the Authorized Participant will receive the Cash Component. Computation of the Cash Component excludes any stamp duty or other similar fees and expenses payable upon transfer of beneficial ownership of the Deposit Securities, which shall be the sole responsibility of the Authorized Participant.
State Street Bank and Trust Company (the
“Transfer Agent”), through the NSCC, makes available on each Business Day, prior to the opening of business on the listing exchange
(currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern time), the identity and the required number or amount of each Deposit Security and the amount of the Cash Component (or cash deposit) to be included in the current Fund Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous Business Day). Such Fund Deposit is applicable, subject to any adjustments as described below, in order to effect purchases of Creation Units of the Fund until such time as the next-announced composition of the Fund Deposit is made available.
32
Creations and Redemptions
Fund Deposit —
Continued
The Fund reserves the right to accept a basket
of securities and/or cash that differs from a basket of Deposit Securities and/or cash published or transacted on a Business Day, or to permit or require
the substitution of an amount of cash (a “cash-in-lieu” amount) to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security.
Procedures for Creating Creation Units
To be eligible to place orders with the Distributor and to create a Creation
Unit of the Fund, an entity must be a member or participant of a clearing agency registered with the SEC, which has a written agreement with the Fund or one of its service providers that allows the authorized participant to place
orders for the purchase and redemption of Creation Units (a “Participant Agreement,” and such participants, an “Authorized Participant”). All
shares of the Fund, however created, will be entered on the records of DTC in the name of its nominee for the account of a participant of DTC (“DTC Participant”).
Except as described below, and in all
cases subject to the terms of the applicable Participant Agreement, all orders to create Creation Units of the Fund must be received by the Transfer
Agent by the closing time of the regular trading session of the listing exchange (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., Eastern time). A “Custom Order” may be placed by an Authorized Participant in the event that the Fund accepts (or delivers, in the case of a redemption) a basket of securities and/or cash that differs from a basket of Deposit Securities and/or cash published or transacted on a Business Day. Custom Orders must be received by the Transfer Agent by 3:00 p.m. Eastern time or such earlier time as otherwise specified. The time by which an order must be submitted is referred to as the “order cutoff time.” On days when the exchange closes earlier than normal (such as the day before a holiday), the Fund require standard orders to create Creation Units to be placed by the earlier closing time and Custom Orders to create Creation Units must be received no later than one hour prior to the earlier closing time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund may, but is not required to, permit Custom Orders until 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, or until the market close (in the event an exchange closes early). The date on which an order to create Creation Units (or an order to redeem Creation Units, as discussed below) is placed is referred to as the “Transmittal Date.” Orders must be transmitted by an Authorized Participant through the Transfer Agent’s electronic order system or by telephone or other transmission method acceptable to the Transfer Agent and approved by the Distributor pursuant to procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement. Economic or market disruptions or changes, or telephone or other communication failure may impede the ability to reach the Transfer Agent, Distributor or an Authorized Participant.
All investor orders to create Creation Units shall be placed with an Authorized Participant in the form required by such Authorized Participant. In addition, an Authorized Participant may request that an investor make certain representations or enter into agreements with respect to an order (to provide for payments of cash). Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not have executed a Participant Agreement and, therefore, orders to create Creation Units of the Fund will have to be placed by the investor’s broker through an Authorized Participant. In such cases, there may be additional charges to such investor. A limited number of broker-dealers are expected to execute a Participant Agreement and only a small number of such Authorized Participants are expected to have international capabilities.
Creation Units may be created in advance of the receipt by the Fund of all or a portion of the Fund Deposit. In such cases, the Authorized Participant will remain liable for the full deposit of the missing portion(s) of the Fund Deposit and will be required to post collateral with the Fund consisting of cash at least equal to a percentage of the marked-to-market value of such missing portion(s) that is specified for the Fund. The Fund may use such collateral to buy the missing portion(s) of the Fund Deposit at any time and will subject such Authorized Participant to liability for any shortfall between the cost to the Fund of purchasing such securities and the value of such collateral. The Fund will have no liability for any such shortfall. The Fund will return any unused portion of the collateral to the Authorized Participant once the entire Fund Deposit has been properly received by the Transfer Agent and deposited into the Fund.
Those persons placing orders for Creation Units should ascertain any deadlines applicable to DTC and the Federal Reserve Bank wire system by contacting the operations department of the broker or depository institution effectuating such transfer of Deposit Securities and Cash Component. Orders for creation that are effected outside the clearing process through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC (the “Clearing Process”) are likely to require transmittal by the DTC Participant earlier on the Transmittal Date than orders effected using the Clearing Process.
Orders to create Creation Units of the
Fund may be placed through the Clearing Process utilizing procedures applicable for domestic securities (see “—Placement of Creation Orders
Using Clearing Process”) or outside the Clearing Process utilizing the procedures applicable to domestic securities (“Domestic Fund”) (see “—Placement of Creation Orders Outside Clearing Process—Domestic Fund”) or procedures applicable to foreign securities (“Foreign Fund”) (see “—Placement of Creation Orders Outside Clearing Process—Foreign Fund”).
33
Creations and Redemptions
Placement of
Creation Orders Using Clearing Process
Fund Deposits created through the Clearing Process, if available, must be delivered
through an Authorized Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement.
The Participant Agreement authorizes the Transfer Agent to
transmit to NSCC on behalf of the Authorized Participant such trade instructions as are necessary to effect the Authorized Participant’s creation
order. Pursuant to such trade instructions from the Transfer Agent to NSCC, the Authorized Participant agrees to transfer the requisite Deposit Securities (or contracts to purchase such Deposit Securities that are expected to be delivered in a “regular way” manner) and the Cash Component to the Fund by the prescribed settlement date. An order to create Creation Units of the Fund through the Clearing Process is deemed received on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Transfer Agent not later than the order cutoff time on such Transmittal Date; and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed.
Placement of Creation Orders Outside Clearing Process — Domestic Fund
Fund Deposits must be delivered through a DTC Participant that has executed a
Participant Agreement. A DTC Participant who wishes to place an order creating Creation Units of the Fund need not be a broker-dealer or other participant in the Clearing Process (“Participating Party”), but such orders must state that the creation of Creation Units will be effected through a transfer of securities and/or
cash. The Fund Deposit transfer must be ordered by the DTC Participant in a timely fashion so as to ensure the delivery of the requisite number of Deposit Securities through DTC to the account of the
Fund and the delivery of the Cash Component (if applicable) directly to the Transfer Agent through the Federal Reserve wire system, in each case no later than 11:00 a.m.,
Eastern time, on the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date.
All questions as to the number of Deposit
Securities to be delivered, and the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) for the deposit of any tendered securities, will be
determined by the Fund, whose determination shall be final and binding. An order to create Creation Units of the Fund is deemed received by the Transfer Agent, and approved by the Distributor on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Transfer Agent not later than the order cutoff time on such Transmittal Date; and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. However, if the Transfer Agent does not receive both the requisite Deposit Securities and the Cash Component in a timely fashion, such order will be cancelled. Upon written notice to the Transfer Agent, such cancelled order may be resubmitted the following Business Day using the Fund Deposit as newly constituted to reflect the current NAV of the Fund. The delivery of Creation Units so created will occur by the prescribed settlement date.
Additional transaction fees may be imposed in circumstances in which any cash can be used in lieu of Deposit Securities to create Creation Units. (See “Creation Transaction Fee” section below.)
Placement of
Creation Orders Outside Clearing Process — Foreign
Fund
The Transfer Agent will inform the Distributor, the Advisor
and the Custodian upon receipt of a Creation Order. The Custodian will then provide such information to the appropriate subcustodian. The Custodian will cause the subcustodian of the Fund to maintain an account into which the Deposit
Securities (or the cash value of all or part of such securities, in the case of a permitted or required cash purchase or “cash in lieu” amount) will be delivered. Deposit Securities must be delivered to an account maintained at the applicable local custodian. The Fund must also receive, on or before the
presecribed settlement date, immediately available or same day funds estimated by the Custodian to be sufficient to pay the Cash Component next determined after receipt in
proper form of the purchase order, together with the creation transaction fee described below.
Once the Distributor has accepted
a creation order, the Transfer Agent will confirm the issuance of a Creation Unit of the Fund against receipt of payment, at such NAV as will have been
calculated after receipt in proper form of such order. The Transfer Agent will then transmit a confirmation of acceptance of such order.
Creation Units will not be issued until the transfer of good title to the Fund of the Deposit Securities and the payment of the Cash Component have been completed. When the subcustodian has confirmed to the Custodian that the required Deposit Securities (or the cash value thereof) have been delivered to the account of the relevant subcustodian, the Distributor and the Advisor will be notified of such delivery and the Transfer Agent will issue and cause the delivery of the Creation Units.
Acceptance of
Creation Orders
The Fund and the Distributor reserve the right to reject or revoke acceptance of a creation order
transmitted to it in respect to the Fund, if, including but not limited to, the following conditions are present: (i) the order is not in proper form in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement; (ii) the investor(s), upon obtaining the Shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the
currently outstanding Shares of such Fund; (iii) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (iv) in the event that circumstances outside the control of the Fund, the
Transfer Agent, the Distributor or the Advisor make it for all practical purposes impossible to process creation orders. Examples of such circumstances include acts of God; public service or utility problems
such as fires, floods, extreme weather conditions and power outages resulting in telephone, facsimile and computer failures; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving
34
Creations and Redemptions
Acceptance of Creation
Orders — Continued
Orders — Continued
computer or other information systems affecting the Fund, the Advisor, the Distributor, DTC, Federal Reserve, the Transfer Agent or any other participant in the creation process, and other extraordinary events. The Distributor shall notify the Authorized Participant acting on behalf of the creator of a Creation Unit of its rejection of the order of such person. None of the Fund, the Transfer Agent, the Distributor nor the Advisor are under any duty, however, to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the delivery of Fund Deposits nor shall any of them incur any liability for the failure to give any such notification.
All questions as to the number of shares of Deposit Securities and the validity, form, eligibility, and acceptance for deposit of any securities to be delivered and the amount and form of the Cash Component, as applicable, shall be determined by the Fund, and the Fund’s determination shall be final and binding.
Creation Transaction
Fee
A purchase transaction fee may be imposed for the transfer and
other transaction costs associated with the issuance of Creation Units of shares. An Authorized Participant submitting a creation order may be assessed a variable charge on its order up to a maximum amount as indicated in the table below. The
table below sets forth the standard and variable creation transaction fees for the Fund. However, the Custodian may increase the standard creation transaction fee for
administration and settlement of Custom Orders requiring additional administrative processing by the Custodian. Fixed and variable transaction fees payable in connection with creations and redemptions are collectively
referred to as “Transaction Fees.”
| Fund |
Standard Creation Transaction Fee* |
Maximum Variable Charge for Creations** |
| Harbor Short Term Treasury ETF |
$[ ] (in-kind transaction) / $[ ] (cash transaction) |
[ ]% |
*
Applicable to in-kind purchases only.
**
As a percentage of the net asset value per Creation Unit purchased, inclusive of the standard creation transaction fee (if imposed).
In the case of cash creations or where
the Fund permits or requires a creator to substitute cash in lieu of depositing a portion of the Deposit Securities, the creator may be assessed a
variable charge as set forth above to compensate the Fund for the costs associated with purchasing the applicable securities. (See “Fund Deposit” section above.) As a result, in order to seek to replicate the in-kind creation order process, the Fund expects to purchase, in the secondary market or otherwise gain exposure to, the portfolio securities that could have been delivered as a result of an in-kind creation order pursuant to local law or market convention, or for other reasons (“Market Purchases”). In such cases where the Fund makes Market Purchases, the Authorized Participant may be required to reimburse the Fund for, among other things, any difference between the market value at which the securities and/or financial instruments were purchased by the Fund and the cash in lieu amount (which amount, at the Advisor’s discretion, may be capped), applicable registration fees, brokerage commissions and certain taxes (“Transaction Costs”). The Advisor may adjust the Transaction Fees to the extent the composition of the creation securities changes or cash in lieu is added to the Cash Component to protect existing shareholders. Creators of Creation Units are responsible for the costs of transferring the securities constituting the Deposit Securities to the account of the Fund. From time to time, all or a portion of the Fund’s Transaction Fees may be waived at the sole discretion of the Advisor, including in connection with an Authorized Participant’s investment of seed capital in the Fund or where an Authorized Participant is engaged in certain customized creation and redemption basket activity that is designed to benefit the Fund by facilitating investment in a tax efficient manner (i.e., to minimize the realization of capital gains). To the extent the Fund does not recoup the amount of Transaction Costs incurred in connection with a creation transaction, those Transaction Costs will be borne by the Fund and may negatively affect the Fund’s performance.
Redemption of Creation Units
Shares may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their NAV next determined after receipt of a redemption
request in proper form on a Business Day. The Fund will not redeem Shares in amounts less than Creation Units (except the Fund may redeem Shares in amounts less than a
Creation Unit in the event such Fund is being liquidated). Beneficial owners must accumulate enough Shares in the secondary market to constitute a Creation Unit in order to have such Shares redeemed by the Fund.
There can be no assurance, however, that there will be sufficient liquidity in the public trading market at any time to permit assembly of a Creation Unit. Authorized
Participants should expect to incur brokerage and other costs in connection with assembling a sufficient number of Shares to constitute a redeemable Creation Unit. All redemptions are subject to the procedures contained in the applicable
Participant Agreement.
35
Creations and Redemptions
Redemption of Creation
Units — Continued
Units — Continued
With respect to the Fund, the Transfer Agent, through the NSCC, makes available prior to the opening of business on the listing exchange (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern time) on each Business Day, the identity and number or amount of the Fund’s securities (“Fund Securities”) and/or an amount of cash that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption requests received in proper form (as described below) on that day. All orders are subject to acceptance by the Distributor. Fund Securities received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities that are applicable to creations of Creation Units.
Unless cash-only redemptions are available or specified for the Fund, the redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit will generally consist of Fund Securities – as published on the Business Day of the request for a redemption order received in proper form – plus cash in an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the Shares being redeemed, as next determined after a receipt of a request in proper form, and the value of the Fund Securities, less the redemption transaction fee and variable fees described below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund reserves the right to deliver a basket of securities and/or cash that differs from a basket of Fund Securities and/or cash published or transacted on a Business Day, or to substitute an amount of cash (a “cash-in-lieu” amount) to be added to the cash component to replace any Fund Security. Where “cash-in-lieu” is used, the amount of cash paid out in such cases will be equivalent to the value of the instrument listed as a Fund Security. In the event that the Fund Securities have a value greater than the NAV of the Shares, a compensating cash payment equal to the difference is required to be made by an Authorized
Participant.
Redemptions of shares for Fund Securities will be subject to compliance with applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws, and the Fund reserves the right to redeem Creation Units for cash to the extent that the Fund could not lawfully deliver specific Fund Securities upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Fund Securities under such laws. An Authorized Participant, or a beneficial owner of shares for which it is acting, subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular security included in the redemption of a Creation Unit may be paid an equivalent amount of cash. This would specifically prohibit delivery of Fund Securities that are not registered in reliance upon Rule 144A under the 1933 Act to a redeeming beneficial owner of shares that is not a “qualified institutional buyer,” as such term is defined under Rule 144A of the 1933 Act. The Authorized Participant may request the redeeming beneficial owner of the shares to complete an order form or to enter into agreements with respect to such matters as compensating cash payment.
The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed with respect to the Fund: (i) for any period during which the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); (ii) for any period during which trading on the NYSE is suspended or restricted; (iii) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities it owns or determination of the Fund’s NAV is not reasonably practicable; or (iv) in such other circumstances as permitted by the SEC.
If the Fund determines, based on information available to the Fund when a redemption request is submitted by an Authorized Participant, that (i) the short interest of the Fund in the marketplace is greater than or equal to 100% and (ii) the orders in the aggregate from all Authorized Participants redeeming Fund Shares on a Business Day represent 25% or more of the outstanding Shares of the Fund, such Authorized Participant will be required to verify to the Fund the accuracy of its representations that are deemed to have been made by submitting a request for redemption. If, after receiving notice of the verification requirement, the Authorized Participant does not verify the accuracy of its representations that are deemed to have been made by submitting a request for redemption in accordance with this requirement, its redemption request will be considered not to have been received in proper form.
Redemption Transaction Fee
A redemption transaction fee may be imposed to offset transfer and other
transaction costs. An Authorized Participant submitting a redemption order may be assessed a variable charge on its order up to a maximum amount as indicated in the table below. The table below sets forth the standard and variable
redemption transaction fees for the Fund. However, the Custodian may increase the standard redemption transaction fee for administration and settlement of Custom Orders requiring additional administrative
processing by the Custodian.
| Fund |
Redemption Transaction Fee* |
Maximum Variable Charge For Redemptions** |
| Harbor Short Term Treasury ETF |
$[ ] (in-kind transaction) / $[ ] (cash transaction) |
[ ]% |
*
Applicable to in-kind redemptions only.
**
As a percentage of the net asset value per Creation Unit redeemed, inclusive of the standard creation transaction fee (if imposed).
36
Creations and Redemptions
Redemption Transaction
Fee — Continued
Fee — Continued
An additional variable charge for cash redemptions or partial cash redemptions (when cash redemptions are permitted or required for the Fund) may be imposed as set forth above to compensate each Fund for the costs associated with selling the applicable securities. As a result, in order to seek to replicate the in-kind redemption order process, the Fund expects to sell, in the secondary market, the portfolio securities or settle any financial instruments that may not be permitted to be re-registered in the name of the Participating Party as a result of an in-kind redemption order pursuant to local law or market convention, or for other reasons (“Market Sales”). In such cases where the Fund makes Market Sales, the Authorized Participant may be required to reimburse the Fund for Transaction Costs. The Advisor may adjust the Transaction Fees to the extent the composition of the redemption securities changes or cash-in-lieu is added to the cash component to protect ongoing shareholders. In no event will fees charged by the Fund in connection with a redemption exceed 2% of the value of each Creation Unit. Investors who use the services of a broker or other such intermediary may be charged a fee for such services. From time to time, all or a portion of the Fund’s Transaction Fees may be waived at the sole discretion of the Advisor, including in connection with an Authorized Participant’s redemption of seed capital invested in the Fund or where an Authorized Participant is engaged in certain customized creation and redemption basket activity that is designed to benefit the Fund by facilitating investment in a tax efficient manner (i.e., to minimize the realization of capital gains). To the extent the Fund does not recoup
the amount of Transaction Costs incurred in connection with a redemption from the redeeming shareholder because of the 2% cap or otherwise, those
Transaction Costs will be borne by the Fund and may negatively affect the Fund’s performance.
Placement of Redemption Orders Using Clearing Process
Orders to redeem Creation Units of the Fund through the Clearing Process, if
available, must be delivered through an Authorized Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement. An order to redeem Creation Units of the Fund using the Clearing Process is deemed received on the Transmittal Date
if (i) such order is received by the Transfer Agent not later than the order cutoff time on such Transmittal Date; and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the
Participant Agreement are properly followed. Such order will be effected based on the NAV of the Fund as next determined. An order to redeem Creation Units of the Fund using the Clearing Process made in proper form but received by the
Transfer Agent after 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, will be deemed received on the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date. The requisite Fund Securities
(or contracts to purchase such Fund Securities which are expected to be delivered in a “regular way” manner) and the applicable cash payment will be transferred by the prescribed settlement date.
Placement of
Redemption Orders Outside Clearing Process—Domestic
Fund
Orders to redeem Creation Units of the Fund must be delivered
through a DTC Participant that has executed the Participant Agreement. A DTC Participant who wishes to place an order for redemption of Creation Units of the Fund need not be a Participating Party, but such orders must state that
redemption of Creation Units of the Fund will be effected through transfer of Creation Units of the Fund directly through DTC.
An order to redeem Creation Units of the Fund is deemed received by the Transfer Agent, and accepted by the Distributor on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Transfer Agent not later than the order cutoff time on such Transmittal Date; (ii) such order is preceded or accompanied by the requisite number of Shares of Creation Units specified in such order, which delivery must be made through DTC to the Transfer Agent no later than 11:00 a.m., Eastern time on such settlement date; and (iii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed.
Placement of Redemption Orders Outside Clearing Process—Foreign Fund
Arrangements satisfactory to the Fund must be in place for the Participating
Party to transfer the Creation Units through DTC on or before the settlement date. Redemptions of Shares for Fund Securities will be subject to compliance with applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and the Fund (whether
or not it otherwise permits or requires cash redemptions) reserves the right to redeem Creation Units for cash to the extent that the Fund could not lawfully deliver
specific Fund Securities upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Fund Securities under such laws.
In connection with taking delivery of
Shares for Fund Securities upon redemption of Creation Units, a redeeming shareholder or entity acting on behalf of a redeeming shareholder must maintain
appropriate custody arrangements with a qualified broker-dealer, bank or other custody providers in each jurisdiction in which any Fund Securities are customarily traded, to which account such Fund Securities will be delivered. If neither the redeeming shareholder nor the entity acting on behalf of a redeeming shareholder has appropriate arrangements to take delivery of Fund Securities in the applicable foreign jurisdiction and it is not possible to make other such arrangements, or if it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Fund Securities in such jurisdictions, the Fund may, in its discretion, exercise its option to redeem such Shares in cash, and the redeeming shareholder will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash.
37
Creations and Redemptions
Placement of Redemption
Orders Outside Clearing
Process—Foreign Fund —
Continued
Orders Outside Clearing
Process—Foreign Fund —
Continued
Regular Foreign Holidays
The Fund may effect deliveries of Creation Units and portfolio securities on a basis other than the normal settlement period in order to accommodate local holiday schedules, to account for different treatment among foreign and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and ex-dividend dates or under certain other circumstances. The ability of the Fund to effect in-kind creations and redemptions within two Business Days of receipt of an order in good form is subject, among other things, to the condition that, within the time period from the date of the order to the date of delivery of the securities, there are no days that are holidays in the applicable foreign market. For every occurrence of one or more intervening holidays in the applicable foreign market that are not holidays observed in the U.S. equity market, the redemption settlement cycle may be extended by the number of such intervening holidays. In addition to holidays, other unforeseeable closings in a foreign market due to emergencies may also prevent the Fund from delivering securities within normal settlement periods. The securities delivery cycles currently practicable for transferring portfolio securities to redeeming Authorized Participants, coupled with foreign market holiday schedules, will require a delivery process longer than seven calendar days for the Fund, in certain circumstances. In such cases, the local market settlement procedures will not commence until the end of the local holiday periods. The timing of settlement may also be affected by the proclamation of new holidays, the treatment by market participants of certain days as “informal holidays” (e.g., days on which no or limited securities transactions occur, as a result of substantially shortened trading hours), the elimination of existing holidays or changes in local securities delivery practices. Because the portfolio securities of the Fund may trade on days that the Fund’s listing exchange is closed or on days that are not Business Days for the Fund, Authorized Participants may not be able to redeem their shares of the Fund, or to purchase and sell shares of the Fund on an exchange, on days when the NAV of the Fund could be significantly affected by events in the relevant non-U.S. markets.
Book Entry Only System
DTC acts as securities depositary for the Shares. Shares of the Fund are represented by securities
registered in the name of DTC or its nominee and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC. Certificates will not be issued for Shares.
DTC, a limited-purpose trust company, was
created to hold securities of the DTC Participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among the DTC Participants
in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the DTC Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC. More specifically, DTC is owned by a number of its DTC Participants and by the NYSE and FINRA. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (the “Indirect Participants”).
Beneficial ownership of Shares is limited
to DTC Participants, Indirect Participants and persons holding interests through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants. Ownership of beneficial
interests in Shares (owners of such beneficial interests are referred to herein as “Beneficial Owners”) is shown on, and the transfer of ownership is effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to DTC Participants) and on the records of DTC Participants (with respect to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners that are not DTC Participants). Beneficial Owners will receive from or through the DTC Participant a written confirmation relating to their purchase of Shares.
Conveyance of all notices, statements and
other communications to Beneficial Owners is effected as follows. Pursuant to the Depositary Agreement between the Trust and DTC, DTC is required to
make available to the Fund upon request and for a fee to be charged to the Fund a listing of the Shares holdings of each DTC Participant. The Fund shall inquire of each such DTC Participant as to the number of Beneficial Owners holding Shares, directly or indirectly, through such DTC Participant. The Fund shall provide each such DTC Participant with copies of such notice, statement or other communication, in such form, number and at such place as such DTC Participant may reasonably request, in order that such notice, statement or communication may be transmitted by such DTC Participant, directly or indirectly, to such Beneficial Owners. In addition, the Fund shall pay to each such DTC Participant a fair and reasonable amount as reimbursement for the expenses attendant to such transmittal, all subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
38
Creations and Redemptions
Book Entry Only
System —
Continued
Continued
Share distributions shall be made to DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., as the registered holder of all Shares. DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any such distributions, shall credit immediately DTC Participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in Shares as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. Payments by DTC Participants to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners of Shares held through such DTC Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in a “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such DTC Participants.
The Fund has no responsibility or liability for any aspects of the records relating to or notices to Beneficial Owners, or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in such Shares, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests or for any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and the DTC Participants or the relationship between such DTC Participants and the Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners owning through such DTC Participants.
DTC may determine to discontinue providing its service with respect to the Shares at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Fund and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the Fund shall take action either to find a replacement for DTC to perform its functions at a comparable cost or, if such a replacement is unavailable, to issue and deliver printed certificates representing ownership of Shares, unless the Fund makes other arrangements with respect thereto satisfactory to an exchange.
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Tax Information
The
Fund is treated as a separate taxpayer for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
The Fund has elected to be treated and intends to continue to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, which requires meeting certain requirements relating to its sources of income, diversification of its assets, and distribution of its income to shareholders. In order to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, the Fund must, among other things, (i) derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including gains from options, futures and forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership (as defined in Section 851(h) of the Code) (the “90% income test”) and (ii) diversify its holdings so that at the end of each quarter of each taxable year: (a) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is represented by (1) cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and (2) other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect to any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer and (b) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested in (1) the securities (other than U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer, (2) the securities (other than securities of other regulated investment companies) of two or more issuers that the Fund controls and that are engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or businesses, or (3) the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships. For purposes of the 90% income test, the character of income earned by certain entities in which the Fund invests that are not treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes (i.e., partnerships (other than qualified publicly traded partnerships) or trusts) will generally pass through to the Fund. Consequently, the Fund may be required to limit its equity investments in such entities that earn fee income, rental income or other non-qualifying income.
If the Fund qualifies as a regulated
investment company and distributes to its shareholders each taxable year an amount equal to or exceeding the sum of (i) 90% of its “investment
company taxable income” as that term is defined in the Code (which includes, among other things, dividends, taxable interest, and the excess of any net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, as reduced by certain deductible expenses) without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and (ii) 90% of the excess of its gross tax-exempt interest, if any, over certain disallowed deductions, the Fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any income of the Fund, including “net capital gain” (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), distributed to shareholders. However, if the Fund meets such distribution requirements, but chooses to retain a portion of its investment company taxable income or net capital gain, it generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. The Fund intends to distribute at least annually all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income, net tax-exempt interest, and net capital gain. If the Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment company, it will be treated as a U.S. corporation subject to U.S. federal income tax, thereby subjecting any income earned by the Fund to tax at the Fund level and to a further tax at the shareholder level when such income is distributed.
The Fund will be subject to a 4% nondeductible U.S. federal excise tax on certain amounts not distributed (and not treated as having been distributed) on a timely basis in accordance with annual minimum distribution requirements. The Fund intends under normal circumstances to seek to avoid liability for such tax by satisfying such distribution requirements.
Certain dividends and distributions declared by the Fund as of a record date in October, November or December and paid in January of the following year will be taxable to shareholders as if received on December 31 of the prior year. In addition, certain other distributions made after the close of a taxable year of the Fund may be “spilled back” and treated as paid by the Fund (except for the purposes of the 4% excise tax) during such taxable year. In such case, shareholders generally will be treated as having received such dividends in the taxable year in which the distributions were actually made.
In general, assuming the distributing
Fund has sufficient earnings and profits, dividends from investment company taxable income will be taxable either as ordinary income or, if so reported
by the Fund and certain other requirements are met by the Fund and the shareholder, as “qualified dividend income,” which is taxable to individual shareholders at a maximum 15% or 20% U.S. federal income tax rate.
Dividend income distributed to individual
shareholders will qualify for the maximum 15% or 20% U.S. federal income tax rate to the extent that such dividends are attributable to “qualified
dividend income,” as that term is defined in Section 1(h)(11)(B) of the Code, from the Fund’s investments in common and preferred stock of U.S. companies and stock of certain qualified foreign corporations, provided that certain holding period and other requirements are met by the Fund and the shareholders. A foreign corporation generally is treated as a qualified foreign corporation if it is incorporated in a possession of the U.S. or it is eligible for the benefits of certain income tax treaties with the U.S.
40
Tax Information
A foreign corporation that does not meet such requirements will be treated as qualifying with respect to dividends paid by it if the stock with respect to which the dividends are paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the U.S. Dividends from passive foreign investment companies do not qualify for the maximum 15% or 20% U.S. federal income tax rate.
A dividend that is attributable to qualified dividend income of the Fund that is paid by the Fund to an individual shareholder will not be taxable as qualified dividend income to such shareholder if (1) the dividend is received with respect to any share of the Fund held for fewer than 61 days during the 121 day-period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share became ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, in the case of certain preferred stocks, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning on the date which is 90 days before the date on which the stock became ex-dividend with respect to such dividend), (2) to the extent that the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, or (3) the shareholder elects to have the dividend treated as investment income for purposes of the limitation on deductibility of investment interest.
Distributions from net capital gain, if
any, that are reported as capital gain dividends are taxable as long-term capital gains for U.S. federal income tax purposes without regard to the length
of time the shareholder has held shares of the Fund. Capital gain dividends distributed by the Fund to individual shareholders generally will qualify for the maximum 15% or 20% U.S. federal income tax rate on long-term capital gains, subject to limited exceptions. A shareholder should also be aware that the benefits of the favorable tax rate applicable to long-term capital gains and qualified dividend income may be impacted by the application of the alternative minimum tax to individual shareholders. The maximum individual rate applicable to “qualified dividend income” and long-term capital gains is generally either 15% or 20%, depending on whether the individual’s income exceeds certain threshold amounts.
Distributions by the Fund in excess of
the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of (and in reduction of) the
shareholder’s tax basis in its shares and any such amount in excess of that basis will be treated as gain from the sale of shares, as discussed below. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, all dividends and distributions are taxable whether a shareholder receives them in cash or reinvests them in additional shares of the distributing Fund. Reinvested distributions are subject to applicable withholding tax. The U.S. federal income tax status of all distributions will be reported to shareholders annually.
An additional 3.8%
Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from the Fund and net
gains from sales 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 a threshold amount.
As a result of tax requirements,
the Trust on behalf of the Fund has the right to reject an order to purchase Shares if the purchaser (or group of purchasers) would, upon obtaining the
Shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding Shares of such Fund and if, pursuant to section 351 of the Code, that Fund would have a basis in the Deposit Securities different from the market value of such securities on the date of deposit. The Trust also has the right to require information necessary to determine beneficial Share ownership for purposes of the 80% determination.
Distributions from net investment income
of the Fund may qualify in part for a dividends-received deduction for shareholders that are corporations. The dividends-received deduction is reduced to
the extent that shares of the payor of the dividend or the Fund are treated as debt-financed under the Code and is eliminated if such shares are deemed to have been held for less than a minimum period, generally 46 days (or, in the case of certain preferred stocks, 91 days), extending before and after each dividend. Any corporate shareholder should consult its tax adviser regarding the possibility that its tax basis in its shares may be reduced for U.S. federal income tax purposes by reason of “extraordinary dividends” received with respect to the shares. To the extent such basis would be reduced below zero, current recognition of income may be required.
If the Fund acquires an equity
interest in a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”), it could become liable for U.S. federal income tax and additional interest charges
upon the receipt of certain distributions from, or the disposition of its investment in, the PFIC, even if all such income or gain is timely distributed to its shareholders. In general, a foreign corporation is classified as a PFIC for a taxable year if at least one-half of its assets constitute investment-type assets or 75% or more of its gross income is investment-type income. Because any credit or deduction for this tax could not be passed through to the Fund’s shareholders, the tax would in effect reduce the Fund’s economic return from its PFIC investment. Elections may generally be available to the Fund that would lessen the
41
Tax Information
effect of these adverse tax consequences. However, such elections could also require the Fund to recognize income (which would have to be distributed to Fund shareholders to avoid a tax on the Fund) without any distribution from the PFIC of cash corresponding to such income and could result in the treatment of capital gains as ordinary income.
The U.S. federal income tax rules applicable to certain investments or transactions within the Fund are unclear in certain respects, and the Fund will be required to account for these investments or transactions under tax rules in a manner that, under certain circumstances, may affect the amount, timing or character of its distributions to shareholders. The Fund will monitor these investments or transactions to seek to ensure that it continues to comply with the tax requirements necessary to maintain its status as a regulated investment company.
Due to certain adverse tax consequences, the Fund does not intend, absent a change in applicable law, to acquire residual interests in REMICs. If the Fund invests in certain REITs or in REMIC residual interests, a portion of the Fund’s income may be classified as “excess inclusion income.” A shareholder that is otherwise not subject to tax may be taxable on their share of any such excess inclusion income as “unrelated business taxable income.” In addition, tax may be imposed on the Fund on the portion of any excess inclusion income allocable to any shareholders that are classified as disqualified organizations.
The Fund’s transactions involving
options, futures contracts, forward contracts, swaps, and short sales, including such transactions that may be treated as constructive sales of
appreciated positions in the Fund’s portfolio and transactions that involve foreign exchange gain or loss, will be subject to special tax rules, the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the Fund, defer Fund losses, cause adjustments in the holding periods of securities, convert capital gain or loss into ordinary income or loss or affect the treatment as short-term or long-term of certain capital gains and losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders and result in the recognition of income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash. The Fund may, therefore, need to obtain cash from other sources in order to satisfy the applicable tax distribution requirements.
Shareholders subject to the information reporting requirements of the Code, including most non-corporate shareholders, must provide their social security or other taxpayer identification numbers and certain required certifications. Backup withholding may be required at a rate of up to 24% of reportable payments, including dividends and capital gains distributions, if correct numbers and certifications are not provided or if a shareholder is notified by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) that they are subject to backup withholding for failure to report all taxable interest or dividend payments.
Investors other than U.S. persons may be
subject to different U.S. federal income tax treatment, including withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty) on amounts treated as
ordinary dividends from the Fund (other than certain dividends derived from short-term capital gains and qualified U.S. source interest income of the Fund, provided that the Fund chooses to make a specific report relating to such dividends). However, depending on the circumstances, the Fund may report all, some or none of its potentially eligible dividends as eligible for this exemption, and a portion of the Fund’s distributions (i.e. interest and dividends from non-U.S. sources or any foreign currency gains) would be ineligible for this potential exemption from withholding. The 15% or 20% maximum rate applicable to qualified dividend income is applicable only to investors that are U.S. persons. If an effective IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, is provided, a non-U.S. person may qualify for a lower treaty rate on amounts treated as ordinary dividends from the Fund. Further, unless an effective IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or other authorized withholding certificate is on file, backup withholding is withheld on certain other payments from the Fund.
Also, non-U.S. shareholders may be
subject to U.S. estate tax with respect to their Fund shares. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers on these matters.
U.S. tax withholding (at a 30% rate) is
required on payments of dividends made to certain non-U.S. entities that fail to comply with extensive reporting and withholding requirements designed to
inform the U.S. Department of the Treasury of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts. Shareholders may be requested to provide additional information to enable a determination of whether withholding is required.
Non-corporate taxpayers generally may deduct 20% of “qualified business income” derived either directly or through partnerships or S corporations. For this purpose, “qualified business income” generally includes ordinary REIT dividends and income derived from MLP investments. Final regulations permit the Fund to pass through to non-corporate shareholders the character of ordinary REIT dividends so as to allow such shareholders to claim this deduction. There currently is no mechanism for the Fund that invests in MLPs to similarly pass through to non-corporate shareholders the character of income derived from MLP investments. The likelihood and timing of any legislation or other guidance that would enable the Fund to pass through to non-corporate shareholders the ability to claim this deduction with respect to income derived from MLP investments is uncertain.
42
Tax Information
Certain distributions reported by the Fund as Section 163(j) interest dividends may be treated as interest income by shareholders for purposes of the tax rules applicable to interest expense limitations under Code Section 163(j). Such treatment by the shareholder is generally subject to holding period requirements and other potential limitations, although the holding period requirements are generally not applicable to dividends declared by money market funds and certain other funds that declare dividends daily and pay such dividends on a monthly or more frequent basis. The amount that the Fund is eligible to report as a Section 163(j) dividend for a tax year is generally limited to the excess of the Fund’s business interest income over the sum of the Fund’s (i) business interest expense and (ii) other deductions properly allocable to the Fund’s business interest income.
In general, provided that
the Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company under the Code, such Fund will be exempt from Delaware corporation income tax.
At the time of an investor’s
purchase of the Fund’s shares, a portion of the purchase price may be attributable to realized or unrealized appreciation in the Fund’s
portfolio or undistributed taxable income of the Fund. Consequently, subsequent distributions by the Fund with respect to these shares from such appreciation or income may be taxable to such investor even if the net asset value of the investor’s shares is, as a result of the distributions, reduced below the investor’s cost for such shares and the distributions economically represent a return of a portion of the investment.
Sales are taxable events for shareholders
that are subject to tax. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers with reference to their individual circumstances to determine whether any
particular transaction in the Fund’s shares is properly treated as a sale for tax purposes, as the following discussion assumes, and the tax treatment of any gains or losses recognized in such transactions. In general, if Fund shares are sold, the shareholder will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale and the shareholder’s adjusted basis in the shares sold. Any loss realized by a shareholder upon the sale or other disposition of shares with a tax holding period of six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as distributions of long-term capital gain with respect to such shares. All or a portion of any loss realized on a sale or other disposition of shares may be disallowed under tax rules relating to wash sales to the extent of other investments in such Fund (including pursuant to the reinvestment of dividends and/or capital gain distributions) within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after a sale or other disposition of shares.
Under Treasury Regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to fund shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder, or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, in any single taxable year (or a greater amount over a combination of years), the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Shareholders who own portfolio securities directly are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement but, under current guidance, shareholders of regulated investment companies are not excepted. A shareholder who fails to make the required disclosure to the IRS may be subject to substantial penalties. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether or not the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult with their tax advisers to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding or other foreign taxes on its income from foreign securities (possibly including, in some cases, capital gains) which would, if imposed, reduce the yield on or return from those investments. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate those foreign taxes in some cases. If more than 50% of the Fund’s total assets is invested in securities of foreign issuers at the close of its fiscal year or if at least 50% of the Fund’s total assets is represented by interests in other regulated investment companies at the close of each quarter of its fiscal year, the Fund may be eligible to elect to pass certain of such taxes as related foreign tax credits or deductions through to shareholders and if eligible may or may not choose to make such election. If this election is made, a shareholder generally subject to tax will be required to include in gross income (in addition to taxable dividends actually received) its pro rata share of the foreign taxes paid by the applicable Fund, and may be entitled either to deduct (as an itemized deduction) his or her pro rata share of foreign taxes in computing his taxable income or to use it (subject to limitations) as a foreign tax credit against his or her U.S. federal income tax liability. The availability of such credits or deductions is subject to certain requirements, restrictions and limitations under the Code. Certain foreign exchange gains and losses realized by the Fund may be treated as ordinary income and losses.
In determining its net capital gain, including also in connection with determining the amount available to support a capital gain dividend, its taxable income and its earnings and profits, the Fund generally may elect to treat part or all of any post-October capital loss (defined as any net capital loss attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after October 31 or, if there is no such loss, the net long-term capital loss or net short-term capital loss attributable to any such portion of the taxable year) or
43
Tax Information
late-year ordinary loss (generally, the sum of its (i) net ordinary loss, if any, from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property, attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after October 31, and its (ii) other net ordinary loss, if any, attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after December 31) as if incurred in the succeeding taxable year.
The foregoing discussion relates solely
to U.S. federal income tax law for shareholders who are U.S. persons (i.e., U.S. citizens or residents and U.S. domestic corporations, partnerships,
trusts or estates) and who are subject to tax under such law. Except as otherwise provided, this discussion does not address special tax rules that may be applicable to certain classes of investors, such as tax-exempt or tax-deferred plans, accounts or entities, insurance companies, and financial institutions. Dividends, capital gain distributions, and ownership of or gains realized on the sale of shares of the Fund may also be subject to state, local or foreign taxes. In some states, a state and/or local tax exemption may be available to the extent distributions of the Fund are attributable to the interest it receives on (or in the case of intangible property taxes, the value of its assets is attributable to) direct obligations of the U.S. government, provided that in some states certain thresholds for holdings of such obligations and/or reporting requirements are satisfied. The Fund will not seek to satisfy any threshold or reporting requirement that may apply in particular taxing jurisdictions. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers as to the federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences of ownership of shares of the Fund in their particular circumstances.
Changes in applicable tax authority could materially affect the conclusions discussed above and could adversely affect the Fund, and such changes often occur.
44
Organization and Capitalization
General
Harbor ETF Trust is an open-end investment company established as a Delaware
statutory trust on April 13, 2021. Each share represents an equal proportionate interest in the Fund to which it relates with each other share in that Fund. Shares entitle their holders to one vote per share or one vote
per dollar of NAV, as determined by the Trustees with respect to a matter submitted to Shareholders. Shares have noncumulative voting rights, do not have preemptive or subscription rights and are
transferable. Pursuant to the Investment Company Act, shareholders of the Fund are required to
approve the adoption of any investment advisory agreement relating to the Fund and of any changes in fundamental investment restrictions or policies of the Fund. Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by
the SEC, shareholders are not required to vote to approve a new or amended subadvisory agreement for subadvisors unaffiliated with the Advisor. Shares of the Fund will be
voted with respect to that Fund only, except for the election of Trustees and the ratification of independent accountants. The Trustees are empowered, without shareholder approval, by the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of
Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) and By-Laws to create additional series of shares and to classify and reclassify any new or existing series of shares into
one or more classes. In addition, the Board of Trustees may determine to close, merge, liquidate or reorganize the Fund at any time in accordance with the Declaration of Trust and governing law.
Unless otherwise required by the
Investment Company Act or the Declaration of Trust, the Trust has no intention of holding annual meetings of shareholders. Shareholders may remove a
Trustee by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the Trust’s outstanding shares, and the Trustees shall promptly call a meeting for such purpose when requested to do so in writing by the record holders of not less than 10% of the outstanding shares of the Trust. Shareholders may, under certain circumstances, communicate with other shareholders in connection with requesting a special meeting of shareholders. However, at any time that less than a majority of the Trustees holding office were elected by the shareholders, the Trustees will call a special meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees.
The prospectus and this Statement of
Additional Information do not purport to create any contractual obligations between Harbor ETF Trust or the Fund and its shareholders. Rather,
shareholders’ rights under the prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information are based on federal and, as applicable, state securities laws. Further, shareholders are not intended third-party beneficiaries of any contracts entered into by (or on behalf of) the Fund, including contracts with the Advisor and other service providers.
Shareholder and Trustee Liability
Harbor ETF Trust is organized as a Delaware statutory trust, and, under Delaware
law, the shareholders of such a trust are not generally subject to liability for the debts or obligations of the trust. Similarly, Delaware law provides that no Fund will be liable for the debts or obligations of any other Fund. However,
no similar statutory or other authority limiting statutory trust shareholder liability exists in many other states. As a result, to the extent that a Delaware statutory
trust or a shareholder is subject to the jurisdiction of courts in such other states, the courts may not apply Delaware law and may thereby subject the Delaware statutory trust shareholders to liability. To guard against this risk,
the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Advisor. Notice of such disclaimer will normally be given in each agreement, obligation or
instrument entered into or executed by the Advisor or the Trustees. The Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification by the relevant Fund for any loss suffered by a shareholder as a result of an obligation
of the Fund. The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Advisor shall, upon request, assume the defense of any claim made against any shareholder for any act or obligation of the Advisor and satisfy any
judgment thereon. The Trustees believe that, in view of the above, the risk of personal liability of shareholders is remote.
The Declaration of Trust further provides that the Trustees will not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law, but nothing in the Declaration of Trust protects a Trustee against any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
45
Custodian AND TRANSFER AGENT
State Street Bank and Trust Company
State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) has been
retained to act as custodian of the Fund’s assets and, in that capacity, maintains certain financial and accounting records of the Fund. State Street has also been retained as the Fund’s transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent. State
Street’s mailing address is State Street Financial Center, One Congress Street, Boston, MA 02114-2016.
46
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and Financial Statements
[
]
[ ], [ ], serves as the Fund’s independent
registered public accounting firm, providing audit and tax services. No audited financial statements exist for the Fund, which had not commenced operations as of the date of this Statement of Additional Information.
47
111 South Wacker Drive, 34th
Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60606-4302
800-422-1050
harborcapital.com
Chicago, Illinois 60606-4302
800-422-1050
harborcapital.com
ETF.SAI.[ ].[ ]
HARBOR ETF
TRUST
PART C. OTHER INFORMATION
| Item 28. |
Exhibits |
|
| a. |
(1) |
|
| |
(2) |
|
| |
(3) |
Schedule A to Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated May 15, 2026 – to be filed
by amendment |
| b. |
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| c. |
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| d. |
(1) |
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(2) |
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(3) |
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(4) |
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(5) |
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(6) |
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(7) |
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(8) |
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(9) |
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(10) |
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(11) |
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(12) |
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(13) |
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(14) |
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(15) |
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(16) |
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(17) |
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(18) |
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(19) |
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(20) |
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(21) |
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(22) |
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(23) |
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(24) |
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(25) |
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(26) |
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(27) |
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(28) |
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(29) |
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(30) |
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(31) |
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(32) |
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(33) |
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(34) |
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(35) |
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(36) |
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(37) |
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(38) |
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(39) |
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(40) |
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(41) |
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(42) |
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(43) |
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(44) |
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(45) |
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(46) |
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(47) |
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(48) |
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(49) |
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(50) |
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(51) |
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(52) |
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(53) |
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(54) |
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(55) |
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(56) |
|
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(57) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc. – Harbor Short
Term Treasury ETF – to be filed by amendment |
| e. |
(1) |
|
| |
(2) |
|
| |
(3) |
Schedule with respect to Harbor Short Term Treasury ETF to be filed by amendment
|
| f. |
|
None |
| g. |
(1) |
|
| |
(2) |
– Amended Appendix with respect to Harbor Short Term Treasury ETF to be filed by
amendment |
| h. |
(1) |
|
| |
(2) |
December 8, 2025 – Amended Schedule with respect to Harbor Short
Term Treasury ETF to be filed by amendment |
| |
(3) |
|
| |
(4) |
|
| |
(5) |
|
| |
(6) |
|
| |
(7) |
|
| |
(8) |
|
| i. |
|
Legal Opinion of General Counsel – with respect to Harbor Short Term Treasury ETF to be filed by
amendment |
| j. |
|
Not Applicable |
| k. |
|
None |
| l. |
|
|
| m. |
|
|
| n. |
|
Not applicable |
| o. |
|
|
| p. |
(1) |
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(2) |
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(3) |
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(4) |
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(5) |
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(6) |
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(7) |
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(8) |
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(9) |
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(10) |
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(11) |
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(12) |
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(13) |
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(14) |
Item 29. Persons
Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant
None
Item 30. Indemnification
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a Trustee, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such Trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Item 31. Business or Other Connections of Investment
Adviser
The business of Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc. is
summarized under “The Advisor” section in the Prospectuses constituting Part A of this Registration Statement, which summaries are incorporated herein by
reference.
The business or other connections of each director
and officer of Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc. is currently listed in the investment adviser registration on Form ADV for Harbor Capital Advisors, Inc. (File No.
801-60367), and is hereby incorporated herein by reference thereto.
For information as to the business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature of each director, officer or partner of the Subadviser, reference is made to the Form ADV, as amended, filed under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, which is incorporated herein by reference. The file number for each Subadviser is listed
below.
| File Number |
Subadviser |
| 801-121056 |
Ares Systematic Credit Limited (formerly, BlueCove Limited) |
| 801-130654 |
Byron Place Capital Management, LLC |
| 028-16306 |
C WorldWide Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A/S |
| 801-77808 |
Disciplined Alpha LLC |
| 801-56189 |
EARNEST Partners LLC |
| 801-23705 |
Granahan Investment Management LLC |
| 801-29482 |
Income Research + Management |
| 801-5608 |
Jennison Associates LLC |
| 801-107781 |
Osmosis Investment Management US LLC |
| 801-35497 |
PanAgora Asset Management, Inc. |
| 801-123068 |
Quantix Commodities LP |
| 801-69413 |
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. |
Item 32. Principal Underwriter
Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Distributor”) serves as principal underwriter for the following investment companies registered
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended:
1.
AB Active ETFs, Inc.
2.
ABS Long/Short Strategies Fund
3.
ActivePassive Core Bond ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
4.
ActivePassive Intermediate Municipal Bond ETF, Series of Trust for Professional
Managers
5.
ActivePassive International Equity ETF, Series of Trust for Professional
Managers
6.
ActivePassive U.S. Equity ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
7.
AdvisorShares Trust
8.
AFA Private Credit Fund
9.
AGF
Investments Trust
10.
AIM ETF Products Trust
11.
Alexis Practical Tactical ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
12.
AlphaCentric Prime Meridian Income Fund
13.
American Century ETF Trust
14.
AMG
ETF Trust
15.
Amplify ETF Trust
16.
Applied Finance Dividend Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
17.
Applied Finance Explorer Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
18.
Applied Finance Select Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
19.
Ardian Access LLC
20.
ARK ETF Trust
21.
ARK Venture Fund
22.
Bitwise Funds Trust
23.
BondBloxx ETF Trust
24.
Bramshill Multi-Strategy Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series
Trust
25.
Bridgeway Funds, Inc.
26.
Brinker Capital Destinations Trust
27.
Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc.
28.
Build Funds Trust
29.
Calamos Convertible and High Income Fund
30.
Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund
31.
Calamos Dynamic Convertible and Income Fund
32.
Calamos Global Dynamic Income Fund
33.
Calamos Global Total Return Fund
34.
Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund
35.
Carlyle Tactical Private Credit Fund
36.
Cascade Private Capital Fund
37.
Catalyst/Perini Strategic Income Fund
38.
CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund
39.
Center Coast Brookfield MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund
40.
Clifford Capital Partners Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
41.
Cliffwater Corporate Lending Fund
42.
Cliffwater Enhanced Lending Fund
43.
Coatue Innovative Strategies Fund
44.
Cohen & Steers ETF Trust
45.
Convergence Long/Short Equity ETF, Series of Trust for Professional
Managers
46.
CornerCap Small-Cap Value Fund, Series of Managed Portfolio Series
47.
CrossingBridge Pre-Merger SPAC ETF, Series of Trust for Professional
Managers
48.
Curasset Capital Management Core Bond Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
49.
Curasset Capital Management Limited Term Income Fund, Series of World Funds
Trust
50.
CYBER HORNET S&P 500® and Bitcoin 75/25 Strategy ETF, Series of CYBER HORNET
Trust
51.
Davis Fundamental ETF Trust
52.
Defiance BMNR Option Income ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
53.
Defiance Connective Technologies ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
54.
Defiance Drone and Modern Warfare ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
55.
Defiance Quantum ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
56.
Denali Structured Return Strategy Fund
57.
Dodge & Cox Funds
58.
DoubleLine ETF Trust
59.
DoubleLine Income Solutions Fund
60.
DoubleLine Opportunistic Credit Fund
61.
DoubleLine Yield Opportunities Fund
62.
DriveWealth ETF Trust
63.
EIP Investment Trust
64.
Ellington Income Opportunities Fund
65.
ETF
Opportunities Trust
66.
Exchange Listed Funds Trust
67.
Exchange Place Advisors Trust
68.
FIS
Trust
69.
FlexShares Trust
70.
Fortuna Hedged Bitcoin Fund, Series of Listed Funds Trust
71.
Forum Funds
72.
Forum Funds II
73.
Forum Real Estate Income Fund
74.
Fundrise Growth Tech Fund, LLC
75.
GMO
ETF Trust
76.
GoldenTree Opportunistic Credit Fund
77.
Gramercy Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series
Trust
78.
Grayscale Funds Trust
79.
Guinness Atkinson Funds
80.
Harbor ETF Trust
81.
Harris Oakmark ETF Trust
82.
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust
83.
Horizon Kinetics Blockchain Development ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
84.
Horizon Kinetics Energy and Remediation ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
85.
Horizon Kinetics Inflation Beneficiaries ETF, Series of Listed Funds
Trust
86.
Horizon Kinetics Japan Owner Operator ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
87.
Horizon Kinetics Medical ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
88.
Horizon Kinetics SPAC Active ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
89.
Innovator ETFs Trust
90.
Ironwood Institutional Multi-Strategy Fund LLC
91.
Ironwood Multi-Strategy Fund LLC
92.
Jensen Quality Growth ETF, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
93.
John Hancock Exchange-Traded Fund Trust
94.
Kurv ETF Trust
95.
Lazard Active ETF Trust
96.
LDR
Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
97.
Mairs & Power Balanced Fund, Series of Trust for Professional
Managers
98.
Mairs & Power Growth Fund, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
99.
Mairs & Power Minnesota Municipal Bond ETF, Series of Trust for Professional
Managers
100.
Mairs & Power Small Cap Fund, Series of Trust for Professional
Managers
101.
Manor Investment Funds
102.
MoA Funds Corporation
103.
Moerus Worldwide Value Fund, Series of Northern Lights Fund Trust IV
104.
Morgan Stanley ETF Trust
105.
Morgan Stanley Pathway Large Cap Equity ETF, Series of Morgan Stanley Pathway
Funds
106.
Morgan Stanley Pathway Small-Mid Cap Equity ETF, Series of Morgan Stanley Pathway
Funds
107.
Morningstar Funds Trust
108.
NEOS ETF Trust
109.
Niagara Income Opportunities Fund
110.
North Square Evanston Multi-Alpha Fund
111.
NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund
112.
NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund
113.
OTG Latin American Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
114.
Overlay Shares Core Bond ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
115.
Overlay Shares Foreign Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
116.
Overlay Shares Hedged Large Cap Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
117.
Overlay Shares Large Cap Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
118.
Overlay Shares Municipal Bond ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
119.
Overlay Shares Short Term Bond ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
120.
Overlay Shares Small Cap Equity ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
121.
Palmer Square Funds Trust
122.
Palmer Square Opportunistic Income Fund
123.
Partners Group Private Income Opportunities, LLC
124.
Perkins Discovery Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
125.
Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
126.
Plan Investment Fund, Inc.
127.
Point Bridge America First ETF, Series of ETF Series Solutions
128.
Precidian ETFs Trust
129.
Rareview 2x Bull Cryptocurrency & Precious Metals ETF, Series of Collaborative
Investment Series Trust
130.
Rareview Dynamic Fixed Income ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series
Trust
131.
Rareview Systematic Equity ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series
Trust
132.
Rareview Tax Advantaged Income ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series
Trust
133.
Rareview Total Return Bond ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series
Trust
134.
Renaissance Capital Greenwich Funds
135.
REX ETF Trust
136.
Reynolds Funds, Inc.
137.
RMB Investors Trust
138.
Robinson Opportunistic Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series
Trust
139.
Robinson Tax Advantaged Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series
Trust
140.
Roundhill Ball Metaverse ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
141.
Roundhill Cannabis ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
142.
Roundhill ETF Trust
143.
Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
144.
Roundhill Sports Betting & iGaming ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
145.
Roundhill Video Games ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
146.
Rule One Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
147.
Russell Investments Exchange Traded Funds
148.
Securian AM Real Asset Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series
Trust
149.
Six Circles Trust
150.
Sound Shore Fund, Inc.
151.
SP Funds Trust
152.
Sparrow Funds
153.
Spear Alpha ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
154.
STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
155.
STF Tactical Growth ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
156.
Strategic Trust
157.
Strategy Shares
158.
Swan Hedged Equity US Large Cap ETF, Series of Listed Funds Trust
159.
Tekla World Healthcare Fund
160.
Tema ETF Trust
161.
The 2023 ETF Series Trust
162.
The Community Development Fund
163.
The Cook & Bynum Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
164.
The Private Shares Fund
165.
The SPAC and New Issue ETF, Series of Collaborative Investment Series
Trust
166.
Third Avenue Trust
167.
Third Avenue Variable Series Trust
168.
Tidal Trust I
169.
Tidal Trust II
170.
Tidal Trust III
171.
Tidal Trust IV
172.
TIFF Investment Program
173.
Timothy Plan High Dividend Stock ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
174.
Timothy Plan International ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
175.
Timothy Plan Market Neutral ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
176.
Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
177.
Timothy Plan US Small Cap Core ETF, Series of The Timothy Plan
178.
Total Fund Solution
179.
Touchstone ETF Trust
180.
Trailmark Series Trust
181.
T-Rex 2X Inverse Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, Series of World Funds Trust
182.
T-Rex 2x Inverse Ether Daily Target ETF, Series of World Funds Trust
183.
T-Rex 2X Long Bitcoin Daily Target ETF, Series of World Funds Trust
184.
T-Rex 2x Long Ether Daily Target ETF
185.
U.S. Global Investors Funds
186.
Union Street Partners Value Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
187.
Vest Bitcoin Strategy Managed Volatility Fund, Series of World Funds
Trust
188.
Vest S&P 500® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund, Series of World Funds
Trust
189.
Vest US Large Cap 10% Buffer Strategies Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
190.
Vest US Large Cap 20% Buffer Strategies Fund, Series of World Funds Trust
191.
Vest US Large Cap 20% Buffer Strategies VI Fund, Series of World Funds
Trust
192.
Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Income Fund
193.
Volatility Shares Trust
194.
WEBs ETF Trust
195.
Wedbush Series Trust
196.
Wellington Global Multi-Strategy Fund
197.
Wilshire Mutual Funds, Inc.
198.
Wilshire Variable Insurance Trust
199.
WisdomTree Trust
200.
XAI Octagon Floating Rate & Alternative Income Term Trust
(b)
The following table sets forth information concerning each director and officer of
the Registrant’s principal underwriter, Foreside Fund Services, LLC. The Distributor’s main business address is 190 Middle Street, Suite 301, Portland, ME 04101.
| Name |
Business Address |
Positions and Offices with Underwriter |
Positions and Offices with Registrant |
| Teresa Cowan |
190 Middle Street, Suite 301, Portland, ME 04101 |
President/Manager |
None |
| Chris Lanza |
190 Middle Street, Suite 301, Portland, ME 04101 |
Vice President |
None |
| Kate Macchia |
190 Middle Street, Suite 301, Portland, ME 04101 |
Vice President |
None |
| Name |
Business Address |
Positions and Offices with Underwriter |
Positions and Offices with Registrant |
| Alicia Strout |
190 Middle Street, Suite 301, Portland, ME 04101 |
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer |
None |
| Gabriel E. Edelman |
190 Middle Street, Suite 301, Portland, ME 04101 |
Secretary |
None |
| Susan L. LaFond |
190 Middle Street, Suite 301, Portland, ME 04101 |
Treasurer |
None |
| Weston Sommers |
190 Middle Street, Suite 301, Portland, ME 04101 |
Financial and Operations Principal and Chief Financial Officer |
None |
(c)
Not applicable
Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records
The books, accounts, and other documents required to be maintained by
Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder are maintained at the offices of the Registrant and Harbor Capital
Advisors, Inc., which are located at 111 South Wacker Drive, 34th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606. Records also are maintained by the Funds’ Subadvisers at their respective locations identified in this Registration Statement.
Records relating to the duties of the Registrant’s custodian and transfer agent are maintained by State Street Bank and Trust Company, 1 Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
Item 34. Management Services
None
Item 35. Undertakings
None
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, on May 19, 2026.
Harbor ETF Trust
By: /s/ Charles F. McCain
Charles F. McCain
President and Trustee
President and Trustee
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this filing has been signed
below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.
| Signatures |
Title |
Date |
| /s/ Charles F. McCain Charles F. McCain |
President and Trustee (Principal Executive Officer) |
May 19, 2026 |
| /s/ Howard M. Reich Howard M. Reich |
Treasurer |
May 19, 2026 |
| /s/ Anne F. Ackerley* Anne F. Ackerley |
Trustee |
May 19, 2026 |
| /s/ Scott M. Amero* Scott M. Amero |
Trustee |
May 19, 2026 |
| /s/ Donna J. Dean* Donna J. Dean |
Trustee |
May 19, 2026 |
| /s/ Robert Kasdin* Robert Kasdin |
Trustee |
May 19, 2026 |
| /s/ Kathryn L. Quirk* Kathryn L. Quirk |
Trustee |
May 19, 2026 |
| /s/ Douglas J. Skinner* Douglas J. Skinner |
Trustee |
May 19, 2026 |
| /s/ Ann M. Spruill* Ann M. Spruill |
Trustee |
May 19, 2026 |
| /s/ Landis Zimmerman* Landis Zimmerman |
Trustee |
May 19, 2026 |
By* /s/ Charles F. McCain
Charles F. McCain
As Attorney-in-Fact
As Attorney-in-Fact
Dated: May 19, 2026
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