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Our Short & Leveraged Single-Stock ETPs could be challenging for some investors looking for new innovative products to add to their portfolio. In this six-part educational series, we describe the idea behind our products, their construction, features and their benefits to investors as well as when compared to other similar-seeming products.
Sophisticated investors often employ leverage based on their conviction on market trends. This is usually based on views to magnify profits or hedge positions against market events. However, such sophistication comes with several risks and costs. Leverage Shares offers short and leveraged ETPs to make these strategies available via a single trade coupled with reduced risks and cost-efficiency.
How We Build Our Products
Our single-stock ETPs are based on leading U.S. stocks. Each index is tracked via a fund created using U.S. stocks. Leverage Shares invests the proceeds from the sale of the subscriptions to this fund with the margin account provider who purchases (or sells) the underlying stocks with the requisite leverage factor.
Cost of Products
For our leveraged products, (i.e. 2x/3x ETPs), the daily cost is calculated as the sum of:
For our inverse products, (i.e. -1x ETPs), the daily cost is calculated as the sum of:
Traditionally, shorting a stock, i.e. taking a position based on the expected downturn of a stock, typically involves a borrow rate. This rate is levied by the broker on the investor in order to fund the cost of “lending” the stock required to make this strategy. Broker costs vary widely across the spectrum, depending on the stock, the region in which the broker operates and sometimes the duration of the relationship the investor has with the broker. The Federal Funds rate also changes from time to time.
Assuming an annualized borrow rate of 1.5%, an effective Federal Funds rate of 0.25%, and an investment strategy involving 100 shares over a 15-day period, the schedule costs are as follows:
[ninja_tables id=”23230″]For a leveraged strategy, the costs vary widely between brokers on account of the leverage factor adding to the complexity. Also, for these types of strategies, the investor needs to have a margin account with the broker. To acquire the benefits of these strategies by purchasing our products, the investor does not need a margin account.
Our Products vs CFDs
Contracts for Differences (CFDs) have been popular for well over a decade now. CFDs are essentially agreements between two parties regarding the price of a stock. For example, if the stock falls in price, the seller receives a payment from the buyer and vice versa. Since there is potential for significant price movements, the potential for losses is large – especially when trading with higher leverage factors. In addition, CFDs require a margin account which virtually guarantees that financing costs and commissions would be applied.
The usage of leverage factors in CFDs draws a parallel in the minds of some between these agreements and our products. However, these similarities are cosmetic; our ETPs come with transparent costs at every turn.
This is not the case with CFDs. Over the years, it has been estimated that anywhere between 66%-79%1 of retail investors lose money when trading CFDs. Some of the most-quoted risks for CFDs are:
Our Products vs Swap-based ETPs
Most existing short and leveraged ETPs track the performance of the underlying index by investing in total return swaps with a counterparty. A total return swap is an agreement by one party (the “payer”) to make payments based on an agreed-upon rate while the other party (the “receiver”) makes payments based on the return of an underlying asset which, in this case, would be the index. The receiver is thus vulnerable to both market risk and credit risk. The credit risk also affects the payer since both parties are bound by this agreement.
It bears noting that while other ETPs look and sound similar to our products, the underlying total return swap agreement underpinning the other ETPs only creates a “synthetic” product since the ETP issuer does not physically hold the underlying assets on which the product is based. This is a key difference with respect to how Leverage Shares offers its products: all stocks that underlie our ETPs are physically purchased by Leverage Shares and ring-fenced to protect investors in case of bankruptcy. This significantly reduces the credit risk that an investor would otherwise be subject to.
Tax Benefits
Warning: Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may be subject to change.
For UK residents, the Individual Savings Account (ISA) system has evolved into an alternative retirement investment tool, with the Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP). As of the end of the 2018-19 tax season, HMRC reports that 11.2 million ISA accounts hold assets with a market value of over £584 billion2 while the SIPP market was valued at £2.4bn in 2017 by GlobalData3 with the market expected to grow to £500bn by 20254.Both ISA and SIPP are very efficient tax-efficient “wrappers”, which grants ISA and SIPP account holders with the potential to become an informed investor making attractive tax savings if they use approved market instruments. As per the current provisions laid out by HMRC, the account provider for these schemes would not be in favour of any instrument where the potential losses would exceed the assets held in the account.
Once again, please note: Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may be subject to change.
Leverage Shares ETPs are both ISA and SIPP-eligible investments, by virtue of the fact that the loss is limited to the initial amount invested. It bears noting that swap-based ETPs are also eligible – but CFDs are not.
The feature that limits losses only to initial investment opens another interesting avenue to ISA and SIPP account holders. As per the aforementioned provisions, an account holder may not enter into a shorting strategy on any stock and have said investment be eligible for these “wrappers”. However, the inverse ETPs are both eligible for these “wrappers” as well as largely equivalent to a shorting strategy.
In Conclusion
Leverage Shares’ suite of physically-backed ETPs provides a stable and tax-efficient* system of strategy-building around the most heavily traded U.S. stocks. These products come with a very high level of transparency with respect to costs and a minimum amount of fuss.
* Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may be subject to change.
A complete investor-specific summary of the benefits of using our products versus other styles of investing can be tabulated as thus: [ninja_tables id=”23197″] *Not for option sellerReferences:
Your capital is at risk if you invest. You could lose all your investment. Please see the full risk warning here.
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The ETP securities are intended for sophisticated investors who (i) are able to monitor their investment in the ETP securities on a frequent basis in line with the recommended holding period; (ii) understand the risk of compounded returns and the increased risk of investment in leveraged products; (iii) can afford to risk losing their investment; and (iv) and have a very short investment horizon in line with the recommended holding period. Please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved. If in any doubt, please seek independent financial advice. Investors should refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the relevant prospectus for further details of these and other risks associated with an investment in the securities offered by the Issuer. This material is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any financial instrument or product or to adopt any investment strategy. Any decision to invest should be based on the information contained in the relevant base prospectus after seeking independent investment, tax and legal advice.
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Terms and Conditions
Notice
If you are not classified as an institutional investor, you will be categorised as a private/retail investor. At this time, we cannot send communications directly to private/retail investors. You are welcome to view the contents of this website.
If you are an ‘Institutional investor’, you affirm either that you are a Per Se Professional Client, or that you wish to be treated as an Eligible Counterparty Client, both as defined under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, or an equivalent in a jurisdiction outside the European Economic Area.
Risk Warnings
The value of an investment in ETPs may go down as well as up and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Trading in ETPs may not be suitable for all types of investor as they carry a high degree of risk. You may lose all of your initial investment. Only speculate with money you can afford to lose. Changes in exchange rates may also cause your investment to go up or down in value. Tax laws may be subject to change. Please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved. If in any doubt, please seek independent financial advice. Investors should refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the relevant prospectus for further details of these and other risks associated with an investment in the securities offered by the Issuer.
This website is provided for your general information only and does not constitute investment advice or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any investment.
Nothing on this website is advice on the merits of any product or investment, nothing constitutes investment, legal, tax or any other advice nor is it to be relied on in making an investment decision. Prospective investors should obtain independent investment advice and inform themselves as to applicable legal requirements, exchange control regulations and taxes in their jurisdiction.
This website complies with the regulatory requirements of the United Kingdom. There may be laws in your country of nationality or residence or in the country from which you access this website which restrict the extent to which the website may be made available to you.
United States Visitors
The information provided on this site is not directed to any United States person or any person in the United States, any state thereof, or any of its territories or possessions.
Persons accessing this website in the European Economic Area
Access to this site is restricted to Non-U.S. Persons outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Each person accessing this site, by so doing, acknowledges that: (1) it is not a U.S. person (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act) and is located outside the U.S. (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act); and (2) any securities described herein (A) have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction and (B) may not be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred except to persons outside the U.S. in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act pursuant to the terms of such securities. None of the funds on this website are registered under the United States Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”).
Exclusion of Liability
Certain documents made available on the website have been prepared and issued by persons other than Leverage Shares Management Company. This includes any Prospectus document. Leverage Shares Management Company is not responsible in any way for the content of any such document. Except in those cases, the information on the website has been given in good faith and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. Nevertheless, Leverage Shares Management Company shall not be responsible for loss occasioned as a result of reliance placed on any part of the website and it makes no guarantee as to the accuracy of any information or content on the website. The description of any ETP Security referred to in this website is a general one. The terms and conditions applicable to investors will be set out in the Prospectus, available on the website and should be read prior to making any investment.
Leverage Investment
Leverage Shares exchange-traded products (ETPs) provide leveraged exposure and are only suitable for experienced investors with knowledge of the risks and potential benefits of leveraged investment strategies.
Cookies
Leverage Shares Management Company may collect data about your computer, including, where available, your IP address, operating system and browser type, for system administration and other similar purposes (click here for more information). These are statistical data about users’ browsing actions and patterns, and they do not identify any individual user of the website. This is achieved by the use of cookies. A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that is put on your computer if you agree to accept it. By clicking ‘I agree’ below, you are consenting to the use of cookies as described here. These cookies allow you to be distinguished from other users of the website, which helps Leverage Shares Company provide you with a better experience when you browse the website and also allows the website to be improved from time to time. Please note that you can adjust your browser settings to delete or block cookies, but you may not be able to access parts of our website without them.
This website is maintained by Leverage Shares Management Company, which is a limited liability company and is incorporated in Ireland with registered offices at 2 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2.
By clicking you agree to the Terms and Conditions displayed.
Terms and Conditions
Notice
If you are not classified as an institutional investor, you will be categorised as a private/retail investor. At this time, we cannot send communications directly to private/retail investors. You are welcome to view the contents of this website.
If you are an ‘Institutional investor’, you affirm either that you are a Per Se Professional Client, or that you wish to be treated as an Eligible Counterparty Client, both as defined under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, or an equivalent in a jurisdiction outside the European Economic Area.
Risk Warnings
The value of an investment in ETPs may go down as well as up and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Trading in ETPs may not be suitable for all types of investor as they carry a high degree of risk. You may lose all of your initial investment. Only speculate with money you can afford to lose. Changes in exchange rates may also cause your investment to go up or down in value. Tax laws may be subject to change. Please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved. If in any doubt, please seek independent financial advice. Investors should refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the relevant prospectus for further details of these and other risks associated with an investment in the securities offered by the Issuer.
This website is provided for your general information only and does not constitute investment advice or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any investment.
Nothing on this website is advice on the merits of any product or investment, nothing constitutes investment, legal, tax or any other advice nor is it to be relied on in making an investment decision. Prospective investors should obtain independent investment advice and inform themselves as to applicable legal requirements, exchange control regulations and taxes in their jurisdiction.
This website complies with the regulatory requirements of the United Kingdom. There may be laws in your country of nationality or residence or in the country from which you access this website which restrict the extent to which the website may be made available to you.
United States Visitors
The information provided on this site is not directed to any United States person or any person in the United States, any state thereof, or any of its territories or possessions.
Persons accessing this website in the European Economic Area
Access to this site is restricted to Non-U.S. Persons outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Each person accessing this site, by so doing, acknowledges that: (1) it is not a U.S. person (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act) and is located outside the U.S. (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act); and (2) any securities described herein (A) have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction and (B) may not be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred except to persons outside the U.S. in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act pursuant to the terms of such securities. None of the funds on this website are registered under the United States Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”).
Exclusion of Liability
Certain documents made available on the website have been prepared and issued by persons other than Leverage Shares Management Company. This includes any Prospectus document. Leverage Shares Management Company is not responsible in any way for the content of any such document. Except in those cases, the information on the website has been given in good faith and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. Nevertheless, Leverage Shares Management Company shall not be responsible for loss occasioned as a result of reliance placed on any part of the website and it makes no guarantee as to the accuracy of any information or content on the website. The description of any ETP Security referred to in this website is a general one. The terms and conditions applicable to investors will be set out in the Prospectus, available on the website and should be read prior to making any investment.
Leverage Investment
Leverage Shares exchange-traded products (ETPs) provide leveraged exposure and are only suitable for experienced investors with knowledge of the risks and potential benefits of leveraged investment strategies.
Cookies
Leverage Shares Management Company may collect data about your computer, including, where available, your IP address, operating system and browser type, for system administration and other similar purposes (click here for more information). These are statistical data about users’ browsing actions and patterns, and they do not identify any individual user of the website. This is achieved by the use of cookies. A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that is put on your computer if you agree to accept it. By clicking ‘I agree’ below, you are consenting to the use of cookies as described here. These cookies allow you to be distinguished from other users of the website, which helps Leverage Shares Company provide you with a better experience when you browse the website and also allows the website to be improved from time to time. Please note that you can adjust your browser settings to delete or block cookies, but you may not be able to access parts of our website without them.
This website is maintained by Leverage Shares Management Company, which is a limited liability company and is incorporated in Ireland with registered offices at 2 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2.
By clicking you agree to the Terms and Conditions displayed.
