EX.99 ACCT
Registrant’s Independent Public Accounting Firm
On June 8, 2020, the Audit, Compliance and Valuation Committee of the Board of Trustees (the Board) approved, and on June 9, 2020, the Board approved, Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Investments, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust (the “Schwab Funds Complex”) for fiscal periods ending after June 8, 2020.
On June 8, 2020, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (the “Prior Auditor”) resigned as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Schwab Funds Complex.
The Prior Auditor’s reports on the financial statements of the funds listed in Appendix I (the “funds”) for the last two fiscal years, the years ended February 28, 2019 and February 29, 2020 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the last two fiscal year-ends and through June 8, 2020, there were no (1) disagreements with the Prior Auditor on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the Prior Auditor’s satisfaction, would have caused it to make reference to that matter in connection with its reports on the funds’ financial statements for such periods; or (2) “reportable events,” as that term is defined in Item 304 (a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
The Board requested that the Prior Auditor address a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether or not it agrees with the above statements. A copy of such letter, dated November 2, 2020 is attached as Attachment A to this exhibit.
Appendix I
Schwab Fundamental U.S. Broad Market Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental International Large Company Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental International Small Company Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Large Company Index ETF
Schwab U.S. REIT ETF
Attachment A
November 2, 2020
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20549
Commissioners:
We have read the statements made by Schwab Strategic Trust (copy attached) related to the funds listed in Appendix I, which we understand will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, pursuant to Item 13(a)(4) of form N-CSRS of Schwab Strategic Trust dated November 2, 2020. We agree with the statements concerning our Firm contained therein.
Very truly yours,
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
San Francisco, California
November 2, 2020
Appendix I
Fund Name | Commission File Number | |||
Schwab U.S. REIT ETF | S000030518 | |||
Schwab Fundamental U.S. Broad Market Index ETF | S000040876 | |||
Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF | S000040877 | |||
Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF | S000040878 | |||
Schwab Fundamental International Large Company Index ETF | S000040879 | |||
Schwab Fundamental International Small Company Index ETF | S000040880 | |||
Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Large Company Index ETF | S000040881 | |||
Registrant’s Independent Public Accounting Firm
On June 8, 2020, the Audit, Compliance and Valuation Committee of the Board of Trustees (the Board) approved, and on June 9, 2020, the Board approved, Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Investments, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust (the “Schwab Funds Complex”) for fiscal periods ending after June 8, 2020.
On June 8, 2020, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (the “Prior Auditor”) resigned as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Schwab Funds Complex.
The Prior Auditor’s reports on the financial statements of the funds listed in Appendix I (the “funds”) for the last two fiscal years, the years ended February 28, 2019 and February 29, 2020 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the last two fiscal year-ends and through June 8, 2020, there were no (1) disagreements with the Prior Auditor on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the Prior Auditor’s satisfaction, would have caused it to make reference to that matter in connection with its reports on the funds’ financial statements for such periods; or (2) “reportable events,” as that term is defined in Item 304 (a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
The Board requested that the Prior Auditor address a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether or not it agrees with the above statements. A copy of such letter, dated November 2, 2020 is attached as Attachment A to this exhibit.
Appendix I
Schwab Fundamental U.S. Broad Market Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental International Large Company Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental International Small Company Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Large Company Index ETF
Schwab U.S. REIT ETF