ProShares Launches ION, The First ETF to Invest Only in Companies Mining Battery Metals

December 01, 2022 at 08:30 AM EST

ION invests in companies that may benefit from the mining of lithium, nickel or cobalt

ProShares, a premier provider of ETFs, today launched ProShares S&P Global Core Battery Metals ETF (ION), the first ETF to invest only in companies mining battery metals. These companies supply the raw metals needed to power the batteries used in the growing number of electric vehicles, laptops, smartphones and energy storage devices.

“An energy revolution is underway that is transforming the way we power our lives,” said Michael L. Sapir, ProShares founder and CEO. “With ION, there is now an ETF that offers investors an effective way to access companies meeting the soaring demand for batteries and the metals needed to make them.”

Global demand for batteries is expected to grow by 25% annually until at least 2030, according to academic research.¹ ION is designed to give investors access to global companies mining lithium, nickel or cobalt—raw metals that are seeing a surge in demand due to the increase in battery production.

ION tracks the S&P Global Core Battery Metals Index—which is currently made up of 41 companies in more than 15 countries, including Australia, Indonesia, South Africa and China. Many of these companies can be difficult for U.S. retail investors to conveniently access on their own.

ION joins the ProShares thematic ETF lineup, complementing a group of funds that feature the application of technology and innovation, such as the S&P Kensho Cleantech ETF (CTEX), the DJ Brookfield Global Infrastructure ETF (TOLZ), the ProShares Online Retail ETF (ONLN) and the ProShares Metaverse ETF (VERS). The firm also launched the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) in 2021, which is the world’s largest cryptocurrency ETF.

About ProShares

ProShares has been at the forefront of the ETF revolution since 2006. ProShares now offers one of the largest lineups of ETFs, with nearly $60 billion in assets. The company is a leader in strategies such as dividend growth, rising rates, thematics, crypto, and geared (leveraged and inverse) ETF investing. ProShares continues to innovate with products that provide strategic and tactical opportunities for investors to manage risk and enhance returns.

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¹A Review on Battery Market Trends, Second-Life Reuse, and Recycling, Research and Markets: Global Battery Market Report 2020-2027, March 2021.

Holdings are subject to change.

Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. This ProShares ETF is subject to certain risks, including the risk that the fund may not track the performance of the index and that the fund’s market price may fluctuate, which may decrease performance. Please see summary and full prospectuses for a more complete description of risks.

Companies engaged in battery metals mining are subject to various risks, including: changes in the supply of and demand for battery metals; price changes resulting from inflation and inflation expectations; supply chain and other disruptions due to changing world events, economic conditions and political risks; currency fluctuations; regulatory and legislative scrutiny of the environmental impact of battery metal mining; and risks associated with the development of mineral deposits.

The index theme may not be the primary driver of company, index or fund performance. Companies in the index may have significant unrelated business lines, which could have a significant negative impact on company, index and fund performance.

Investments in non-U.S. securities may involve risks different from U.S. securities, including risks from geographic concentration, differences in valuation and valuation times, unfavorable fluctuations in currency, differences in generally accepted accounting principles, and from economic or political instability.

Investments in emerging markets generally are less liquid, more volatile and riskier than investments in more developed markets and are considered to be speculative.

Investments in smaller companies typically exhibit higher volatility. Small- and mid-cap companies may have limited product lines or resources, may be dependent upon a particular market niche and may have greater fluctuations in price than the stocks of larger companies. Small- and mid-cap companies may lack the financial and personnel resources to handle economic or industry-wide setbacks and, as a result, such setbacks could have a greater effect on small- and mid-cap security prices.

This ProShares ETF is non-diversified and concentrates its investments in certain sectors. Non-diversified and narrowly focused investments typically exhibit higher volatility.

Shares of any ETF are generally bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.

Carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of ProShares before investing. This and other information can be found in their summary and full prospectuses. Read them carefully before investing. Obtain them from your financial professional or ProShares.com.

There is no guarantee any ProShares ETF will achieve its investment objective.

The "S&P Global Core Battery Metals Index" is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and its affiliates and has been licensed for use by ProShares. "S&P®" is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&P") and "Dow Jones®" is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC ("Dow Jones") and have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and its affiliates. ProShares have not been passed on by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and its affiliates as to their legality or suitability. ProShares based on the "S&P Global Core Battery Metals Index" are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P or their respective affiliates, and they make no representation regarding the advisability of investing in ProShares. THESE ENTITIES AND THEIR AFFILIATES MAKE NO WARRANTIES AND BEAR NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO PROSHARES.

ProShares ETFs (ProShares Trust and ProShares Trust II) are distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Co., which is not affiliated with the funds' advisor or sponsor.