Do all ETFs fall under the Investment Company Act of 1940? If not, how would a buyer know? Are there legal or financial terms to look for in the prospectus, or will be it spelled out explicitly?
asked Feb 9, 2012 at 19:54 627 2 2 gold badges 7 7 silver badges 11 11 bronze badgesETFs that invest in commodities and grantor trusts (HOLDRs) are not covered by the Investment Company Act of 1940. The prospectus usually states this in the risks section. For example, the GLD ETF's prospectus says:
Shareholders do not have the protections associated with ownership of shares in an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the protections afforded by the CEA.
As a buyer, you need to understand what you are buying. Some "ETFs" aren't really ETFs at all. I'd suggest reading "When is an ETF not an ETF" as a starting place.