As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 7, 2018
Securities Act File No. 333-152915
Investment Company Act File No. 811-22227
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 |X|
Post-Effective Amendment No. 169 |X|
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 |X|
Amendment No. 171 |X|
(Check appropriate box or boxes.)
INDEXIQ ETF TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
51 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (888) 474-7725
Matthew V. Curtin, Esq.
IndexIQ Advisors LLC
51 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010
It is proposed that this filing will become effective:
x | Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485 |
o | on [Date], pursuant to paragraph (b)(1) of Rule 485 |
o | 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485 |
o | on _______, pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485 |
o | 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485 |
o | on _______, pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485 |
IQ 500 ETF (IQUS)
Not FDIC
Insured | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee
Name
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CUSIP
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Symbol
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IQ 500 International ETF
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45409B362
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IQIN
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IQ 500 ETF
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45409B354
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IQUS
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4 | |||||
9 | |||||
13 | |||||
13 | |||||
13 | |||||
14 | |||||
14 | |||||
19 | |||||
20 | |||||
21 | |||||
22 | |||||
23 | |||||
23 | |||||
24 | |||||
25 | |||||
25 | |||||
30 | |||||
30 | |||||
30 | |||||
30 | |||||
31 | |||||
32 |
Management Fee
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0.25 | % | ||||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees
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0.00 | % | ||||
Other Expenses
(a)
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0.01 | % | ||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
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0.26 | % | ||||
Expense Waiver/Reimbursement
(b)
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0.01 | % | ||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement
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0.25 | % |
(a)
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The Fund has not yet commenced operations and Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. |
(b)
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IndexIQ Advisors LLC has contractually agreed to waive or reduce its management fee and/or reimburse expenses of the Fund in an amount that limits Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (exclusive of interest, taxes, brokerage fees and commissions, dividends paid on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) to not more than 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. The agreement will remain in effect until August 31, 2020 unless terminated by the Board of Trustees of the Fund. |
1 Year
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3 Years
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$26
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$82
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Consumer Goods Sector Risk
The Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in companies in the consumer goods sector. The consumer goods sector of the economy can be significantly affected by, among other things, economic growth, worldwide demand and consumers disposable income levels and propensity to spend. |
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Industrials Sector Risk
The Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in companies in the industrial sector. The industrial sector can be significantly affected by among other things, worldwide economy growth, supply and demand for specific products and services, rapid technological developments, and government regulation. |
Management Fee
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0.20 | % | ||||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees
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0.00 | % | ||||
Other Expenses
(a)
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0.01 | % | ||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
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0.21 | % | ||||
Expense Waiver/Reimbursement
(b)
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0.01 | % | ||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement
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0.20 | % |
(a)
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The Fund has not yet commenced operations and Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. |
(b)
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IndexIQ Advisors LLC has contractually agreed to waive or reduce its management fee and/or reimburse expenses of the Fund in an amount that limits Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (exclusive of interest, taxes, brokerage fees and commissions, dividends paid on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) to not more than 0.20% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. The agreement will remain in effect until August 31, 2020 unless terminated by the Board of Trustees of the Fund. |
1 Year
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3 Years
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|||||
$20
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$66
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Consumer Goods Sector Risk
The Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in companies in the consumer goods sector. The consumer goods sector of the economy can be significantly affected by, among other things, economic growth, worldwide demand and consumers disposable income levels and propensity to spend. |
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Industrials Sector Risk
The Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in companies in the industrial sector. The industrial sector can be significantly affected by among other things, worldwide economy growth, supply and demand for specific products and services, rapid technological developments, and government regulation. |
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the country where the company is incorporated; |
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the country where the company is headquartered; |
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the country where the company has a majority of its operations; |
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the country where the company generates the largest proportion of its sales; and |
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the country where the companys shares are traded in the most liquid manner. |
Fund
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Management Fee
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|||||
IQ 500 International ETF
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0.25%
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IQ 500 ETF
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0.20%
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expenses paid on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses, extraordinary expenses, if any, and payments, if any, under the Rule 12b-1 Plan) to not more than the percentage of average daily net assets of each Fund for the period from each Funds inception to August 31, 2020, as follows:
Fund
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Total Annual Fund Operating
Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement |
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IQ 500 International ETF
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0.25%
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|||
IQ 500 ETF
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0.20%
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Education Costs and Administrative Costs. The Advisor
has agreed to make payments to Charles Schwab based on an annual fee for its services, as well as based on the average daily assets held by Charles
Schwab customers in certain ETFs advised by the Advisor.
well as the tax consequences arising under the laws of
any state, non-U.S. country or other taxing jurisdiction. The following information supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the section in
the SAI entitled U.S. Federal Income Taxation.
exchanged securities (plus any cash paid by the
Authorized Participant as part of the issue). On a redemption of Shares as part of a Creation Unit where the redemption is conducted in-kind, an
Authorized Participant generally recognizes capital gain or loss equal to the difference between (i) the fair market value (at redemption) of the
securities received (plus any cash received by the Authorized Participant as part of the redemption) and (ii) the Authorized Participants basis
in the redeemed Shares (plus any cash paid by the Authorized Participant as part of the redemption). However, the IRS may assert, under the wash
sale rules or on the basis that there has been no significant change in the Authorized Participants economic position, that any loss on
creation or redemption of Creation Units cannot be deducted currently.
otherwise subject to backup withholding, and (ii) the
Fund shareholder is not otherwise exempt from backup withholding. Non-U.S. shareholders can qualify for exemption from backup withholding by submitting
a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amount withheld may be credited against a Fund
shareholders U.S. federal income tax liability.
Business Day, before the commencement of trading in
Shares on the NYSE Arca, each Fund will disclose on its website (nylinvestments.com/etfs) the identities and quantities of the portfolio
securities and other assets held by each Fund that will form the basis for the calculation of NAV at the end of the Business Day.
Trust
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IndexIQ ETF Trust, a registered open-end investment company
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Funds
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The investment portfolios of the Trust
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Shares
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Shares of the Fund offered to investors
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Advisor
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IndexIQ Advisors LLC
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Custodian
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The Bank of New York Mellon, the custodian of the Funds assets
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Distributor
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ALPS Distributors, Inc., the distributor to the Funds
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AP or Authorized Participant
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Certain large institutional investors such as brokers, dealers, banks or other entities that have entered into authorized participant agreements
with the Distributor
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NYSE Arca
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NYSE Arca, Inc., the primary market on which Shares are listed for trading
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IIV
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The Indicative Intra-Day Value, an appropriate per-Share value based on a Funds portfolio
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1940 Act
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Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
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NAV
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Net asset value
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SAI
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Statement of Additional Information
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SEC
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Securities and Exchange Commission
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Secondary Market
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A
national securities exchange, national securities association or over-the- counter trading system where Shares may trade from time to
time
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Securities Act
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Securities Act of 1933, as amended
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IndexIQ ETF Trust
Mailing Address
51 Madison Avenue
New York,
New York 10010
1-888-474-7725
nylinvestments.com/etfs
IndexIQ ETF Trust
PROSPECTUS | DECEMBER 7, 2018
By telephone: | 1-888-474-7725 |
By mail: | IndexIQ ETF Trust c/o IndexIQ |
51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010 | |
On the Internet: | SEC Edgar database: http://www.sec.gov; or nylinvestments.com/etfs |
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
INDEXIQ ETF TRUST
51 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK, 10010
PHONE: (888) 474-7725
DECEMBER 7, 2018
This Statement of Additional Information (this “SAI”) is not a prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with and is incorporated by reference into the prospectus dated December 7, 2018 (the “Prospectus”) for the IndexIQ ETF Trust (the “Trust”), relating to IQ 500 International ETF and IQ 500 ETF (the “Funds”), as it may be revised from time to time.
A copy of the Trust’s Prospectus relating to the Funds may be obtained without charge by writing to the Trust, c/o ALPS Distributors, Inc., 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203, by calling (888) 474-7725, or by visiting the Trust’s website at www.nylinvestments.com/etfs.com.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the same meaning as in the Prospectus, unless otherwise noted.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this SAI and the Prospectus and, if given or made, such information or representations may not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Trust.
The SAI does not constitute an offer to sell securities.
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The information contained herein regarding the indexes underlying the Funds (each, an “Underlying Index”, and, collectively, the “Underlying Indexes”) and IndexIQ LLC (“IndexIQ”) was provided by IndexIQ, while the information contained herein regarding the securities markets and The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) was obtained from publicly available sources.
SHARES OF THE TRUST ARE NOT SPONSORED, ENDORSED, SOLD OR PROMOTED BY INDEXIQ. INDEXIQ MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE OWNERS OF THE SHARES OF THE TRUST OR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE ADVISABILITY OF TRADING IN THE PRODUCT(S). INDEXIQ HAS NO OBLIGATION TO TAKE THE NEEDS OF INDEXIQ ADVISORS LLC (IN ITS CAPACITY AS LICENSEE OF THE UNDERLYING INDEXES, THE “LICENSEE”) OR THE OWNERS OF THE SHARES OF THE TRUST INTO CONSIDERATION IN DETERMINING, COMPOSING OR CALCULATING THE UNDERLYING INDEXES. INDEXIQ IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR AND HAS NOT PARTICIPATED IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE TIMING OF, PRICES AT, OR QUANTITIES OF THE SHARES OF THE TRUST TO BE LISTED OR IN THE DETERMINATION OR CALCULATION OF THE EQUATION BY WHICH THE SHARES OF THE TRUST ARE TO BE CONVERTED INTO CASH. INDEXIQ HAS NO OBLIGATION OR LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, MARKETING OR TRADING OF THE SHARES OF THE TRUST.
INDEXIQ DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE UNDERLYING INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND INDEXIQ SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. INDEXIQ MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY LICENSEE, OWNERS OF THE SHARES OF THE TRUST, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE UNDERLYING INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. INDEXIQ MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE UNDERLYING INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL INDEXIQ HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN INDEXIQ AND LICENSEE.
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GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUNDS
The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 1, 2008 and is authorized to have multiple segregated series or portfolios. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Trust currently consists of a number of separate investment portfolios, of which 19 are in operation. This SAI addresses the IQ 500 International ETF and the IQ 500 ETF.
Each Fund is deemed to be diversified for the purposes of the 1940 Act. The shares of the Funds are referred to herein as “Fund Shares” or “Shares.” The offering of Shares is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
The Funds are managed by IndexIQ Advisors LLC (the “Advisor”). The Advisor has been registered as an investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) since August 2007 and is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC.
The Funds offer and issue Shares at net asset value (the “NAV”) only in aggregations of a specified number of Shares (each, a “Creation Unit” or a “Creation Unit Aggregation”), generally in exchange for a basket of equity securities included in the relevant Underlying Indexes (the “Deposit Securities”), together with the deposit of a specified cash payment (the “Cash Component”). The Shares of each Fund are expected to trade on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the "Exchange"). Fund Shares will trade on the Exchange at market prices that may be below, at, or above NAV. Shares are redeemable only in Creation Unit Aggregations and, generally, in exchange for Deposit Securities and a Cash Creation Component. Creation Units are aggregations of 50,000 Shares of a Fund. In the event of the liquidation of a Fund, the Trust may lower the number of Shares in a Creation Unit.
If a Fund presently creates and redeems Fund Shares in kind, the Trust reserves the right to offer a “cash” option for creations and redemptions of Fund Shares. Fund Shares may be issued in advance of receipt of Deposit Securities subject to various conditions, including a requirement to maintain on deposit with the Trust cash at least equal to 115% of the market value of the missing Deposit Securities. See the “Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units” section. In each instance of such cash creations or redemptions, such fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of the SEC applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities.
EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING
There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary for each Fund to maintain the listing of its Shares will continue to be met. The Exchange will consider the suspension of trading and delisting of the Shares of a Fund from listing if (i) a Fund or an Underlying Index does not comply with the Exchange’s continuous listing requirements; or (ii) such other event shall occur or condition exist that, in the opinion of the Exchange, makes further trading on the Exchange inadvisable. The Exchange will remove the Shares of a Fund from listing and trading upon termination of such Fund.
The Funds’ continued listing on the Exchange or another stock exchange or market system is a condition of the exemptive relief the Funds obtained from the SEC to operate as exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). Any Fund’s failure to be so listed would result in the termination of the Fund.
As in the case of other stocks traded on an Exchange, brokers’ commissions on transactions will be based on commission rates negotiated by an investor or his or her broker.
The Trust reserves the right to adjust the price levels of the Shares in the future to maintain convenient trading ranges for investors. Any adjustments would be accomplished through stock splits or reverse stock splits, which would have no effect on the net assets of each Fund.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
Investment Objectives
Each Fund has a distinct investment objective and policies. There can be no assurance that a Fund’s objective will be achieved. The investment objective of each Fund is to provide investment results that
4
correspond generally to the price and yield (before the Fund’s fees and expenses) of a particular index (each, an “Underlying Index”) created by IndexIQ, an affiliate of the Advisor.
All investment objectives and investment policies not specifically designated as fundamental may be changed without shareholder approval. Additional information about each Fund, its policies, and the investment instruments it may hold, is provided below.
The Funds’ share prices will fluctuate with market and economic conditions. The Funds should not be relied upon as a complete investment program.
IndexIQ serves as the index provider to each Fund and uses a proprietary rules-based methodology (the “Index Methodology”) to construct and maintain the Underlying Index of each such Fund. The Underlying Index to each Fund and the Index Methodology for each Underlying Index, including a list of the component securities of such Underlying Index, can be found on the Trust’s website at www.nylinvestments.com/etfs.
Investment Restrictions
The investment restrictions set forth below have been adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) as fundamental policies that cannot be changed with respect to a Fund without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The investment objective of each Fund and all other investment policies or practices of the Fund are considered by the Trust not to be fundamental and accordingly may be changed without shareholder approval. For purposes of the 1940 Act, a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” means the lesser of the vote of (i) 67% or more of the Shares of the Fund present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding Shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Shares of the Fund.
For purposes of the following limitations, any limitation which involves a maximum percentage shall not be considered 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, a Fund.
As a matter of fundamental policy, each Fund may not invest 25% 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). Nonetheless, to the extent the Fund’s Underlying Index is concentrated in a particular industry or group of industries, the Fund’s investments will exceed this 25% limitation to the extent that it is necessary to gain exposure to Underlying Index Components (as defined below) to track its Underlying Index.
A Fund may, notwithstanding any other fundamental investment restriction or policy, invest some or all of its assets in a single ETF, open-end investment company or series thereof with substantially the same fundamental investment objective, restrictions and policies as the Fund.
As a matter of fundamental policy, each Fund:
A. May borrow money, to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, as such may be interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
B. May make loans to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, as such may be interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
C. May act as an underwriter of securities within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”), to the extent permitted under the 1933 Act, as such may be interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
D. May purchase or sell real estate or any interest therein to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, as such may be interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
5
E. May not purchase physical commodities or contracts relating to physical commodities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, as such may be interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
F. May issue senior securities, to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, as such may be interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
With respect to the Funds’ fundamental investment restriction A, asset coverage of at least 300% (as defined in the 1940 Act), inclusive of any amounts borrowed, must be maintained at all times.
A Fund may, notwithstanding any other fundamental investment restriction or policy, invest some or all of its assets in a single ETF, open-end investment company or series thereof with substantially the same fundamental investment objective, restrictions and policies as the Fund.
Unless otherwise indicated, all of the percentage limitations above and in the investment restrictions recited in the Prospectus apply only at the time of an acquisition or encumbrance of securities or assets of a Fund, except that any borrowing by a Fund that exceeds applicable limitations must be reduced to meet such limitations within the period required by the 1940 Act. Therefore, a change in the percentage that results from a relative change in values or from a change in a Fund’s assets will not be considered a violation of the Fund’s policies or restrictions. “Value” for the purposes of all investment restrictions shall mean the value used in determining a Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”).
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS
A discussion of the risks associated with an investment in each Fund is contained in the Funds’ Prospectus under the headings “Principal Risk Factors,” “Description of the Principal Risks of the Funds” and “Additional Risks.” The discussion below supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, such sections of the Funds’ Prospectus.
General
Investment in each Fund should be made with an understanding that the value of the portfolio of securities held by such Fund may fluctuate in accordance with changes in the financial condition of the issuers of the portfolio securities, the value of common stocks generally and other factors.
None of the Funds is actively managed by traditional methods and therefore the adverse financial condition of any one issuer will not result in the elimination of its securities from the portfolio securities held by the Fund unless the securities of such issuer are removed from its respective Underlying Index.
An investment in each Fund should also be made with an understanding that a Fund will not be able to replicate exactly the performance of its Underlying Index because the total return generated by its portfolio securities will be reduced by transaction costs incurred in adjusting the actual balance of such securities and other Fund expenses, whereas such transaction costs and expenses are not included in the calculation of its Underlying Index. It is also possible that for short periods of time, a Fund may not fully replicate the performance of its Underlying Index due to the temporary unavailability of certain Underlying Index securities in the Secondary Market or due to other extraordinary circumstances. Such events are unlikely to continue for an extended period of time because a Fund is required to correct such imbalances by means of adjusting the composition of its portfolio securities. It is also possible that the composition of a Fund may not exactly replicate the composition of its Underlying Index if the Fund has to adjust its portfolio securities in order to continue to qualify as a “regulated investment company” under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
The Underlying Index may include both long and short positions in ETFs and ETVs. As opposed to taking long positions in which an investor seeks to profit from increases in the price of a security, short selling (or "selling short") is a technique used by a Fund to try and profit from the falling price of a security. Short selling involves selling a security that has been borrowed from a third party with the intention of buying the identical security back at a later date to return to that third party. The basic principle of short selling is that one can profit by selling a security now at a high price and later buying it back at a lower price. The short seller hopes to profit from a decline in the price of the security between the sale and the repurchase, as the seller will pay less to buy the security than it received on selling the security.
6
At least 40% of the IQ 500 International ETF’s assets will be comprised of securities in two or more non-U.S. countries.
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of a Fund’s net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes will be invested in its Underlying Index Components and in depositary receipts based on the securities in its Underlying Index. In determining the Fund's net assets for the purposes of this 80% threshold, accounting practices do not include collateral held under the Fund's securities lending program, as such collateral does not represent a true asset of the relevant Fund. In addition, each Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in investments not included in its Underlying Index, but which the Advisor believes will help the Fund track its Underlying Index. For example, there may be instances in which the Advisor may choose to purchase (or sell) securities not in the Underlying Index that the Advisor believes are appropriate to substitute for one or more Underlying Index Components in seeking to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Underlying Index.
Furthermore, a Fund may invest in one or more financial instruments, including but not limited to futures contracts, swap agreements and forward contracts, reverse repurchase agreements, and options on securities, and indices (collectively, “Financial Instruments”). As an example of the use of such Financial Instruments, the Fund may use total return swaps on one or more Underlying Index Components in order to achieve exposures that are similar to those of the Underlying Index.
Common Stock
Each Fund may invest in common stock. Common stock is issued by companies principally to raise cash for business purposes and represents a residual interest in the issuing company. A Fund participates in the success or failure of any company in which it holds stock. The prices of equity securities change in response to many factors, including the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer, the value of its assets, general economic conditions, interest rates, investor perceptions and market liquidity.
Depositary Receipts
Each Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in the securities of its Underlying Index and in depositary receipts based on the securities in its Underlying Index. Types of depositary receipts in which a Fund may invest include ADRs, EDRs and GDRs. ADRs are receipts that are traded in the U.S. evidencing ownership of the underlying foreign securities and are denominated in U.S. dollars. EDRs and GDRs are receipts issued by a non-U.S. financial institution evidencing ownership of underlying foreign or U.S. securities and usually are denominated in foreign currencies. EDRs and GDRs may not be denominated in the same currency as the securities they represent. Generally, EDRs and GDRs are designed for use in the foreign securities markets.
To the extent a Fund invests in ADRs, such ADRs will be listed on a national securities exchange. To the extent a Fund invests in GDRs or EDRs, such GDRs and EDRs will be listed on a foreign exchange. A Fund will not invest in any unlisted depositary receipt or any depositary receipt for which pricing information is not readily available. Generally, all depositary receipts must be sponsored. The Fund, however, may invest in unsponsored depositary receipts under certain limited circumstances. A non-sponsored depository may not provide the same shareholder information that a sponsored depository is required to provide under its contractual arrangement with the issuer. Therefore, there may be less information available regarding such issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the depositary receipts.
Foreign Securities
This risk applies to the IQ 500 International ETF.
Foreign investments involve special risks that are not typically associated with U.S. dollar denominated or quoted securities of U.S. issuers. Foreign investments may be affected by changes in currency rates, changes in foreign or U.S. laws or restrictions applicable to such investments and changes in exchange control regulations (e.g., currency blockage). A decline in the exchange rate of the currency (i.e., weakening of the currency against the U.S. dollar) in which a portfolio security is quoted or denominated relative to the U.S. dollar would reduce the value of the portfolio security.
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Brokerage commissions, custodial services and other costs relating to investment in international securities markets generally are more expensive than in the U.S. In addition, clearance and settlement procedures may be different in foreign countries and, in certain markets, such procedures have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, thus making it difficult to conduct such transactions.
Foreign issuers are not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers. There may be less publicly available information about a foreign issuer than about a U.S. issuer. In addition, there is generally less government regulation of foreign markets, companies and securities dealers than in the U.S. and the legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the U.S.
Foreign securities markets may have substantially less volume than U.S. securities markets and securities of many foreign issuers are less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable domestic issuers. Furthermore, with respect to certain foreign countries, there is a possibility of nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, imposition of withholding or other taxes on dividend or interest payments (or, in some cases, capital gains distributions), limitations on the removal of funds or other assets from such countries, and risks of political or social instability or diplomatic developments which could adversely affect investments in those countries.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest in foreign securities as may be necessary in order to achieve exposure to the Index Components. Investments in foreign securities may offer potential benefits not available from investments solely in U.S. dollar-denominated or quoted securities of domestic issuers. Such benefits may include the opportunity to invest in foreign issuers that appear to offer the opportunity for potential long-term growth of capital and income, the opportunity to invest in foreign countries with economic policies or business cycles different from those of the U.S and the opportunity to take advantage of foreign stock markets that do not necessarily move in a manner parallel to U.S. markets.
Investing in foreign securities involves certain special risks, including those discussed in the Fund’s Prospectuses and those set forth below, which are not typically associated with investing in U.S. dollar-denominated or quoted securities of U.S. issuers. Investments in foreign securities usually involve currencies of foreign countries. Accordingly, the Fund may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency rates and in exchange control regulations and may incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies. The Fund may be subject to currency exposure independent of their securities positions. To the extent that the Fund is fully invested in foreign securities while also maintaining currency positions, it may be exposed to greater combined risk.
Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. They generally are determined by the forces of supply and demand in the foreign exchange markets and the relative merits of investments in different countries, actual or anticipated changes in interest rates and other complex factors, as seen from an international perspective. Currency exchange rates also can be affected unpredictably by intervention by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks or the failure to intervene or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad.
Since foreign issuers generally are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies, there may be less publicly available information about a foreign company than about a U.S. company. Volume and liquidity in most foreign securities markets are less than in the U.S. and securities of many foreign companies are less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies. The securities of foreign issuers may be listed on foreign securities exchanges or traded in foreign over-the-counter markets. Fixed commissions on foreign securities exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on U.S. exchanges, although the Fund endeavors to achieve the most favorable net results on its portfolio transactions. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of foreign securities exchanges, brokers, dealers and listed and unlisted companies than in the U.S., and the legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the U.S.
As described more fully below, the Fund may invest in countries with emerging economies or securities markets. Political and economic structures in many of such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries. Certain of such countries have in the past failed to recognize private property rights and have at times nationalized or expropriated the assets of private companies. As a result, the risks described above, including the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, may be heightened.
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Futures Contracts
Each Fund may enter into futures contracts. Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific instrument or index at a specified future time and at a specified price. Stock index contracts are based on indices that reflect the market value of common stock of the firms included in the indices. Assets committed to futures contracts will be segregated by the custodian to the extent required by law.
Futures contracts may be used by the Funds to replicate an Underlying Index Component’s performance. These futures contracts would reference the performance of a security that is an Underlying Index Component or would reference the performance of an index on which such an Underlying Index Component is based, would reference the performance of another index that produces similar returns to those of the Underlying Index Component’s index, or would be used in combination to produce similar returns to those of the Underlying Index Component’s index. Funds will not use futures contracts for speculative purposes. All counterparties are subject to pre-approval by the Board. The Board’s pre-approval is based on the creditworthiness of each potential futures contract counterparty. In addition, the Advisor will monitor and manage the counterparty risk posed by the counterparties and take actions as necessary to decrease counterparty risk to a Fund by, among other things, reducing futures contract exposures to certain counterparties and/or seeking alternate or additional counterparties.
The number of counterparties may vary over time. During periods of credit market turmoil or when the aggregate futures contract notional amount needed by a Fund is relatively small given the level of the Fund’s net assets, the Fund may have only one or a few counterparties. In such circumstances, a Fund will be exposed to greater counterparty risk. Moreover, a Fund may be unable to enter into any futures contract on terms that make economic sense (e.g., they may be too costly). To the extent that the Fund is unable to enter into any futures contracts, it may not be able to meet its investment objective. If the Fund is unable to enter into futures contracts, it may engage in other types of derivative transactions, although the added costs, higher asset segregation requirements and lower correlation to Underlying Index Component performance of these other derivatives may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective.
Illiquid Securities
Illiquid securities may include securities subject to contractual or other restrictions on resale and other instruments that lack readily available markets, as determined in accordance with SEC staff guidance. The liquidity of a security relates to the ability to readily dispose of the security and the price to be obtained upon disposition of the security, which may be lower than the price that would be obtained for a comparable, more liquid security. Illiquid securities may trade at a discount to comparable, more liquid securities and a Fund may not be able to dispose of illiquid securities in a timely fashion or at their expected prices. A Fund many not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities (calculated at the time of investment).
Index Risk
An Underlying Index may not be successful in replicating the performance of its target strategies. Each Underlying Index is partially based on an assessment of historical data sets. To the extent that data turns out not to be predictive of future event, the return on the Underlying Index may deviate from its objective.
Industry Sector Risk
Consumer Goods Risk
The consumer goods industry includes companies involved in the design, production or distribution of goods for consumers, including food, household, home, personal and office products, clothing and textiles. The success of the consumer goods industry is tied closely to the performance of the domestic and international economy, interest rates, exchange rates, competition, consumer confidence and consumer disposable income. The consumer goods industry may be affected by trends, marketing
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campaigns and other factors affecting consumer demand. Governmental regulation affecting the use of various food additives may affect the profitability of certain companies in the consumer goods industry. Moreover, international events may affect food and beverage companies that derive a substantial portion of their net income from foreign countries. In addition, tobacco companies may be adversely affected by new laws, regulations and litigation. Many consumer goods may be marketed globally, and consumer goods companies may be affected by the demand and market conditions in other countries and regions. Companies in the consumer goods industry may be subject to severe competition, which may also have an adverse impact on their profitability. Changes in demographics and consumer preferences may affect the success of consumer products.
Industrials Sector Risk
The value of securities issued by companies in the industrials sector may be adversely affected by supply of and demand for both their specific products or services and for industrials sector products in general. The products of manufacturing companies may face obsolescence due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction. Government regulations, world events and economic conditions affect the performance of companies in the industrials sector. The industrials sector may also be adversely affected by changes or trends in commodity prices, which may be influenced by unpredictable factors. Aerospace and defense companies, a component of the industrials sector, can be significantly affected by government spending policies because companies involved in this industry rely, to a significant extent, on government demand for their products and services. Thus, the financial condition of, and investor interest in, aerospace and defense companies are heavily influenced by governmental defense spending policies, which are typically under pressure from efforts to control government budgets. Transportation stocks, a component of the industrials sector, are cyclical and can be significantly affected by economic changes, fuel prices, labor relations and insurance costs. Transportation companies in certain countries may also be subject to significant government regulation and oversight, which may adversely affect their businesses. For example, commodity price declines and unit volume reductions resulting from an over-supply of materials used in the industrials sector can adversely affect the sector. Furthermore, companies in the industrials sector may be subject to liability for environmental damage, product liability claims, depletion of resources, and mandated expenditures for safety and pollution control.
Money Market Instruments
Each Fund may invest a portion of its assets in high-quality money market instruments on an ongoing basis rather than in Underlying Index Components, when it would be more efficient or less expensive for the Fund to do so, or as collateral for Financial Instruments, for liquidity purposes, or to earn interest. The instruments in which each Fund may invest include: (1) short term obligations issued by the U.S. government; (2) negotiable certificates of deposit (“CDs”), fixed time deposits and bankers’ acceptances of U.S. and foreign banks and similar institutions; (3) commercial paper rated at the date of purchase “Prime-1” by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or “A-1+” or “A-1” by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, Inc., a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., or, if unrated, of comparable quality as determined by the Advisor; (4) repurchase agreements; and (5) money market mutual funds. CDs are short-term negotiable obligations of commercial banks. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in banking institutions for specified periods of time at stated interest rates. Banker’s acceptances are time drafts drawn on commercial banks by borrowers, usually in connection with international transactions.
Options on Futures Contracts
The acquisition of put and call options on futures contracts will give the Fund the right (but not the obligation), for a specified price, to sell or to purchase, respectively, the underlying futures contract at any time during the option period. As the purchaser of an option on a futures contract, the Fund obtains the benefit of the futures position if prices move in a favorable direction but limits its risk of loss in the event of an unfavorable price movement to the loss of the premium and transaction costs.
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The writing of a call option on a futures contract generates a premium which may partially offset a decline in the value of the Fund’s assets. By writing a call option, the Fund becomes obligated, in exchange for the premium, to sell a futures contract if the option is exercised, which may have a value higher than the exercise price. The writing of a put option on a futures contract generates a premium, which may partially offset an increase in the price of securities that the Fund intends to purchase. However, the Fund becomes obligated (upon the exercise of the option) to purchase a futures contract if the option is exercised, which may have a value lower than the exercise price. Thus, the loss incurred by the Fund in writing options on futures is potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium received. The Fund will incur transaction costs in connection with the writing of options on futures.
Risk of Investing in Developed Countries
This risk applies to the IQ 500 International ETF.
Many countries with developed markets have recently experienced significant economic pressures. These countries generally tend to rely on the services sectors ( e.g. , the financial services sector) as the primary source of economic growth and may be susceptible to the risks of individual service sectors. For example, companies in the financial services sector are subject to governmental regulation and, recently, government intervention, which may adversely affect the scope of their activities, the prices they can charge and amount of capital they must maintain. Recent dislocations in the financial sector and perceived or actual governmental influence over certain financial companies may lead to credit rating downgrades and, as a result, impact, among other things, revenue growth for such companies. If financial companies experience a prolonged decline in revenue growth, certain developed countries that rely heavily on financial companies as an economic driver may experience a correlative slowdown. Recently, new concerns have emerged with respect to the economic health of certain developed countries. These concerns primarily stem from heavy indebtedness of many developed countries and their perceived inability to continue to service high debt loads without simultaneously implementing stringent austerity measures. Such concerns have led to tremendous downward pressure on the economies of these countries. As a result, it is possible that interest rates on debt of certain developed countries may rise to levels that make it difficult for such countries to service such debt. Spending on health care and retirement pensions in most developed countries has risen dramatically over the last few years. Medical innovation, extended life expectancy and higher public expectations are likely to continue the increase in health care and pension costs. Any increase in health care and pension costs will likely have a negative impact on the economic growth of many developed countries. Certain developed countries rely on imports of certain key items, such as crude oil, natural gas, and other commodities. As a result, an increase in demand for, or price fluctuations of, certain commodities may negatively affect developed country economies. Developed market countries generally are dependent on the economies of certain key trading partners. Changes in any one economy may cause an adverse impact on several developed countries. In addition, heavy regulation of, among others, labor and product markets may have an adverse effect on certain issuers. Such regulations may negatively affect economic growth or cause prolonged periods of recession. Such risks, among others, may adversely affect the value of a Fund’s investments.
Risk of Investing in Non-U.S. Equity Securities
This risk applies to the IQ 500 International ETF.
An investment in any of the Funds that invest, directly or indirectly, in non-U.S. equity securities involves risks similar to those of investing in portfolios of equity securities traded on non-U.S. exchanges. These risks include market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic and political developments in those foreign countries, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in stock prices. Investing in securities issued by issuers domiciled in countries other than the domicile of the investor and denominated in currencies other than an investor’s local currency entails certain considerations and risks not typically encountered by the investor in making investments in its home country and in that country’s currency. These considerations include favorable or unfavorable changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, exchange control regulations and the costs that may be incurred in connection with conversions between various currencies. Investing in any of these Funds also involves certain risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in a fund whose portfolio contains exclusively securities of U.S. issuers.
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These risks include generally less liquid and less efficient securities markets; generally greater price volatility; less publicly available information about issuers; the imposition of withholding or other taxes; the imposition of restrictions on the expatriation of funds or other assets of the Funds; higher transaction and custody costs; delays and risks attendant in settlement procedures; difficulties in enforcing contractual obligations; lower liquidity and significantly smaller market capitalization; different accounting and disclosure standards; lower levels of regulation of the securities markets; more substantial government interference with the economy and businesses; higher rates of inflation; greater social, economic, and political uncertainty; the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets; and the risk of war.
Risk of Investing in Large-Capitalization Companies
Large-capitalization companies may be less able than smaller capitalization companies to adapt to changing market conditions. Large-capitalization companies may be more mature and subject to more limited growth potential compared with smaller capitalization companies. Over certain periods, the performance of large-capitalization companies has trailed the performance of overall markets.
Risk of Investing in the United States
This risk applies to the IQ 500 ETF.
The Fund has significant exposure to U.S. issuers. A decrease in imports or exports, changes in trade regulations and/or an economic recession in the U.S. may have a material adverse effect on the U.S. economy and the securities listed on U.S. exchanges. Proposed and adopted policy and legislative changes in the U.S. are changing many aspects of financial and other regulation and may have a significant effect on the U.S. markets generally, as well as the value of certain securities. In addition, a continued rise in the U.S. public debt level or U.S. austerity measures may adversely affect U.S. economic growth and the securities to which the Fund has exposure.
Short Sales Risk
Each Fund may engage in short sales. Short sales are transactions in which the Fund sells a security it does not own to obtain an inverse exposure to that security. To complete such a transaction, the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund then is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement. The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold by the applicable Fund. Until the security is replaced, the Fund is required to pay to the lender amounts equal to any dividend which accrues during the period of the loan. To borrow the security, the Fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. There will also be other costs associated with short sales.
The Fund will incur a loss as a result of the short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security. The Fund will realize a gain if the security declines in price between those dates. This result is the opposite of what one would expect from a cash purchase of a long position in a security. The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of any premium or amounts in lieu of interest the Fund may be required to pay in connection with a short sale, and will be also decreased by any transaction or other costs.
Until the Fund replaces a borrowed security in connection with a short sale, the Fund will (a) identify cash or liquid assets at such a level that such assets plus any amount deposited with the broker as collateral will equal the current value of the security sold short or (b) otherwise cover its short position in accordance with applicable law.
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There is no guarantee that the Fund will be able to close out a short position at any particular time or at an acceptable price. During the time that the Fund is short a security, it is subject to the risk that the lender of the security will terminate the loan at a time when the Fund is unable to borrow the same security from another lender. If that occurs, the Fund may be "bought in" at the price required to purchase the security needed to close out the short position, which may be a disadvantageous price.
Total Return Swaps
Total return swaps give each Fund the right to receive the appreciation in the value of a specified security, index or other instrument in return for a fee paid to the counterparty, which will typically be an agreed upon interest rate. Total return swaps can also be used to replicate an exposure to a short position in an asset class where the Fund has the right to receive the depreciation in value of a specified security, index or other instrument (“inverse swaps”). If the underlying asset in a total return swap declines in value (or increases in value, if an inverse swap) over the term of the swap, a Fund may also be required to pay the dollar value of that decline (or increase, if an inverse swap) to the counterparty.
The Funds may use total return swaps to replicate an Underlying Index Component’s performance. These total return swaps would reference the performance of a security that is an Underlying Index Component or a ETF, ETN or ETV (each an “exchange-traded issuer”) that is an Underlying Index Component, an index on which such an exchange-traded issuer is based, or one or more of the portfolio constituents of such exchange-traded issuer.
Total return swaps are considered illiquid by the Funds. Consequently, each Fund will segregate liquid assets, which may include securities, cash or cash equivalents, to cover the Fund’s daily marked-to-market net obligations under outstanding swap agreements. This segregation of assets may limit a Fund’s investment flexibility, as well as its ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.
All counterparties are subject to pre-approval by the Board. The Board’s pre-approval is based on the creditworthiness of each potential swap counterparty. In addition, the Advisor will monitor and manage the counterparty risk posed by the counterparties and take actions as necessary to decrease counterparty risk to a Fund by, among other things, reducing swap exposures to certain counterparties and/or seeking alternate or additional counterparties.
The number of counterparties may vary over time. During periods of credit market turmoil or when the aggregate swap notional amount needed by a Fund is relatively small given the level of the Fund’s net assets, the Fund may have only one or a few counterparties. In such circumstances, a Fund will be exposed to greater counterparty risk. Moreover, a Fund may be unable to enter into any total return swap on terms that make economic sense ( e.g. , they may be too costly). To the extent that the Fund is unable to enter into any total return swaps, it may not be able to meet its investment objective. If the Fund is unable to enter into total return swaps, it may engage in other types of derivative transactions, although the added costs, higher asset segregation requirements and lower correlation to Underlying Index Component performance of these other derivatives may adversely affect a Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective.
Tracking Error Risk
A Fund’s performance may not match its respective Underlying Index during any period of time. Although each Fund attempts to track the performance of its Underlying Index, the Fund may not be able to duplicate its exact composition or return for any number of reasons, including but not limited to the risk that the strategies used by the Advisor to match the performance of the Underlying Index may fail to produce the intended results, liquidity risk and new fund risk, as well as the incurring of Fund expenses, which the Underlying Index does not incur. For example, a Fund may not be able to invest in certain securities included in its Underlying Index due to restrictions or limitations imposed, by or a lack of liquidity in, certain countries and stock exchanges in which such securities trade, or may be delayed in purchasing or selling securities included in the Underlying Index. To the extent a Fund intends to engage principally in cash transactions for the creation and redemption of Shares, such practice will affect the Fund’s ability to match the return of its Underlying Index. In addition, tracking error may be created by the use of underlying ETFs or derivative instruments to track Underlying Index Components. In addition, tracking error may occur because of differences in timing of the accrual or the valuation of dividends or interest or tax gains or losses.
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Each Fund that invests in foreign securities is expected to fair value the foreign securities it holds. To the extent a Fund calculates its NAV based on fair value prices and the value of the Underlying Index is based on the securities’ closing price on local foreign markets ( i.e. , the value of the Underlying Index is not based on fair value prices), the Fund’s ability to track the Underlying Index may be adversely affected. To the extent that the value of assets denominated in foreign currencies is converted into U.S. dollars using exchange rates selected by the Advisor that differ from the exchange rates selected by the index provider for use in calculating the Underlying Index, the Fund’s ability to track the Underlying Index may be adversely impacted. In addition, the Fund may not be able to invest in certain securities included in the Underlying Index due to restrictions or limitations imposed by or a lack of liquidity in certain countries and stock exchanges in which such securities trade or may be delayed in purchasing or selling securities included in the Underlying Index. In addition, if the Fund utilizes depositary receipts and/or derivative instruments, its return may not correlate as well with the Underlying Index as would be the case if the Fund purchased all the securities in the Underlying Index directly. Additionally, a Fund may fair value the foreign securities it holds. To the extent a Fund calculates its NAV based on fair value prices and the value of the Underlying Index is based on the securities’ closing price on local foreign markets (i.e., the value of the Underlying Index is not based on fair value prices), the Fund’s ability to track the Underling Index may be adversely affected.
Cyber Security
With the increasing use of the Internet and technology in connection with the Funds’ operations, the Funds have become potentially more susceptible to greater operational and information security risks through breaches in cyber security. Cyber security breaches include, without limitation, infection by computer viruses and unauthorized access to the Funds’ systems through “hacking” or other means for the purpose of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or causing operations to be disrupted. Cyber security breaches may also occur in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as denial-of-service attacks or situations where authorized individuals intentionally or unintentionally release confidential information stored on the Funds’ systems. A cyber security breach may cause disruptions and impact the Funds’ business operations, which could potentially result in financial losses, inability to determine a Fund’s NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of shareholders to transact business, violation of applicable law, regulatory penalties and/or fines, compliance and other costs.
The Funds and their shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result. Further, substantial costs may be incurred in order to prevent future cyber incidents. In addition, because the Fund works closely with third-party service providers (e.g., custodians and unaffiliated subadvisors), indirect cyber security breaches at such third-party service providers may subject Fund shareholders to the same risks associated with direct cyber security breaches. Further, indirect cyber security breaches at an issuer of securities in which a Fund invests may similarly negatively impact Fund shareholders because of a decrease in the value of these securities. While the Funds have established risk management systems designed to reduce the risks associated with cyber security breaches, there can be no assurances that such measures will be successful particularly since the Funds do not control the cyber security systems of issuers or third-party service providers. The Funds and their shareholders could be /negatively impacted as a result.
Lending of Portfolio Securities
The Funds may lend portfolio securities constituting up to 33 1 / 3 % of each Fund’s total assets (as permitted by the 1940 Act). Under present regulatory policies, such loans may be made to institutions, such as brokers or dealers, pursuant to agreements requiring the loans to be continuously secured by collateral in cash, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities, irrevocable bank letters of credit (upon consent of the Board of Trustees) or any combination thereof, marked to market daily, at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. Cash received as collateral for securities lending transactions may be invested in liquid, short-term investments approved by the Investment Advisor.
Investing the collateral subjects the Funds to risks, and each Fund will be responsible for any loss that may result from its investment of the borrowed collateral. The Funds will have the right to terminate a loan at any time and recall the loaned securities within the normal and customary settlement time for securities transactions. For the duration of a loan, the respective Fund will continue to receive the equivalent of the interest or dividends paid by the issuer on the securities loaned and will also receive compensation from investment of the collateral.
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The Funds will generally not have the right to vote securities during the existence of the loan, but the Advisor may call the loan to exercise such Fund’s voting or consent rights on material matters affecting the Fund’s investment in such loaned securities. As with other extensions of credit there are risks of delay in recovering, or even loss of rights in, the collateral and loaned securities should the borrower of the securities fail financially.
Loans will be made only to firms deemed creditworthy, and when the consideration which can be earned from securities loans is deemed to justify the attendant risk. The creditworthiness of a borrower will be considered in determining whether to lend portfolio securities and will be monitored during the period of the loan. It is intended that the value of securities loaned by each Fund will not exceed one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets (including the loan collateral). Loan collateral (including any investment of the collateral) is not subject to the percentage limitations stated elsewhere in this SAI or the Prospectus regarding investing in fixed-income securities and cash equivalents.
Liquidation of a Fund
The Board may determine to close and liquidate a Fund at any time, which may have adverse consequences for shareholders. In the event of the liquidation of a Fund, shareholders will receive a liquidating distribution in cash or in-kind equal to their proportionate interest in the Fund. A liquidating distribution may 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 sales loads, account fees, or fund expenses), and a shareholder may receive an amount in liquidation less than the shareholder’s original investment.
Tax Risks
As with any investment, you should consider how your investment in Shares of a Fund will be taxed. The tax information in the Prospectus and this SAI is provided as general information. You should consult your own tax professional about the tax consequences of an investment in Shares of a Fund.
MANAGEMENT
Board Responsibilities. The business of the Trust is managed under the direction of the Board. The Board has considered and approved contracts, as described herein, under which certain companies provide essential management and administrative services to the Trust. The day-to-day business of the Trust, including the day-to-day management of risk, is performed by the service providers of the Trust, such as the Advisor, Distributor and Administrator. The Board is responsible for overseeing the Trust’s service providers and, thus, has oversight responsibility with respect to the risk management performed by those service providers. Risk management seeks to identify and eliminate or mitigate the potential effects of risks such as events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the Trust or the Funds. The Board’s role in risk management oversight begins before the inception of an investment portfolio, at which time the Advisor presents the Board with information concerning the investment objectives, strategies and risks of the investment portfolio. Additionally, the Advisor provides the Board with an overview of, among other things, the firm’s investment philosophy, brokerage practices and compliance infrastructure. Thereafter, the Board oversees the risk management of the investment portfolio’s operations, in part, by requesting periodic reports from and otherwise communicating with various personnel of the service providers, including the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and the independent registered public accounting firm of the Trust. The Board and, with respect to identified risks that relate to its scope of expertise, the Audit Committee of the Board, oversee efforts by management and service providers to manage risks to which the Funds may be exposed.
Under the overall supervision of the Board and the Audit Committee (discussed in more detail below), the service providers to the Trust employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify risks relevant to the operations of the Trust and the Funds to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each service provider is responsible for one or more discrete aspects of the Trust’s business and, consequently, for managing the risks associated with that activity.
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The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Funds by the Advisor and receives information about those services at its regular meetings. In addition, on at least an annual basis, in connection with its consideration of whether to renew the Advisory Agreement with the Advisor, the Board receives detailed information from the Advisor. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the Advisor’s adherence to each Fund’s investment restrictions and compliance with various policies and procedures of the Trust and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews information about each Fund’s performance and investments.
The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer meets regularly with the Board to review and discuss compliance and other issues. At least annually, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer provides the Board with a report reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Trust’s policies and procedures and those of its service providers, including the Advisor. The report addresses the operation of the policies and procedures of the Trust and each service provider since the date of the last report, material changes to the policies and procedures since the date of the last report, any recommendations for material changes to the policies and procedures, and material compliance matters since the date of the last report.
The Board receives reports from the Trust’s service providers regarding operational risks, portfolio valuation and other matters. Annually, the independent registered public accounting firm reviews with the Audit Committee its audit of the financial statements of the Funds, focusing on major areas of risk encountered by the Trust and noting any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the Trust’s internal controls.
The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the Funds can be identified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve each Fund’s goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, despite the periodic reports the Board receives and the Board’s discussions with the service providers to the Trust, it may not be made aware of all of the relevant information of a particular risk. Most of the Trust’s investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the Advisor and other service providers, each of which has an independent interest in risk management but whose policies and the methods by which one or more risk management functions are carried out may differ from the Trust’s and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s risk management oversight is subject to substantial limitations.
Members of the Board and Officers of the Trust. Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust, term of office, portfolios supervised and the principal occupations and other directorships for a minimum of the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as members of the Board and as Executive Officers of the Trust. Also included below is the term of office for each of the Executive Officers of the Trust. The members of the Board serve as Trustees for the life of the Trust or until retirement, removal, or their office is terminated pursuant to the Trust’s Declaration of Trust.
Reena Aggarwal, an Independent Trustee, is Chair of the Board of Trustees. Three of the Trustees, Reena Aggarwal, Michael Pignataro and Paul Schaeffer, and their immediate family members have no affiliation or business connection with the Advisor or the Funds’ principal underwriter or any of their affiliated persons and do not own any stock or other securities issued by the Advisor or the Funds’ principal underwriter. These Trustees are not Interested Persons of the Trust and are referred to herein as “Independent Trustees.” Kirk Lehneis (the “Interested Trustee”) is an interested person of the Trust as that term is defined under Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act because of his affiliation with the Advisor.
There is an Audit Committee and Nominating Committee of the Board, each of which is chaired by an Independent Trustee and comprised solely of Independent Trustees. The Committee chair for each is responsible for running the Committee meeting, formulating agendas for those meetings, and coordinating with management to serve as a liaison between the Independent Trustees and management on matters within the scope of the responsibilities of such Committee as set forth in its Board- approved charter. There is a Valuation Committee, which is comprised of the Independent Trustees and representatives of the Advisor to take action in connection with the valuation of portfolio securities held by a Fund in accordance with the Board- approved Valuation Procedures. The Board has determined that this leadership structure is appropriate given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Funds. The Board made this determination in consideration of, among other things, the fact that the Independent Trustees constitute a majority of the Board, the assets under management of the Funds, the number of portfolios overseen by the Board and the total number of trustees on the Board.
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Independent Trustees | |||||
Name and Year of Birth (1) |
Position(s) Held with Trust |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served (2) |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee (3) | Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past 5 Years |
Reena Aggarwal 1957 |
Trustee
Chair |
Since August 2008
Since January 2018 |
Vice Provost of Faculty (2016 to present), Georgetown University, Robert E. McDonough Professor (2003 to present) and Professor of Finance, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University (2000 to present); Director, Georgetown Center for Financial Markets and Policy (2010 to present); Co-Chair of Board, Social Innovations and Public Service Fund, Georgetown University (2012 to 2014). | 21 | Chair of Board, IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ Active ETF Trust (2018 to present); Trustee, IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ Active ETF Trust (2008 to present); FBR & Co. (investment banking) (2011 to 2017); Cohen & Steers (asset management) (2017 to present); Director, Brightwood Capital Advisors, L.P. (private equity investment) (2013 to present) |
Michael A. Pignataro, 1959 | Trustee | Since April 2015 | Director, Credit Suisse Asset Management (2001 to 2012); and Chief Financial Officer, Credit Suisse Funds (1996 to 2013). | 21 | Trustee, IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ Active ETF Trust (2015 to present); The New Ireland Fund, Inc. (closed-end fund) (2015 to present) |
Paul D. Schaeffer, 1951 | Trustee | Since April 2015 | President, ASP (dba Aspiring Solution Partners) (financial services consulting) (2013 to present); Executive Advisor, Aquiline Capital Partners LLC (private equity investment) (2014 to present). | 21 | Trustee, IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ Active ETF Trust (2015 to present); Management Board Member, RIA in a Box LLC (financial services consulting) (2018 to present); Context Capital Funds (mutual fund trust) (2 Portfolios) (2014 to 2018); Management Board Member, Altegris Investments, LLC (registered broker-dealer) (2016 to 2018); Management Board Member, AssetMark Inc. (financial services consulting) (2016 to 2017); PopTech! (conference operator) (2012 to 2016). |
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Interested Trustee | |||||
Name and Year of Birth (1) |
Position(s) Held with Trust |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served (2) |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee (3) | Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past 5 Years |
Kirk C. Lehneis, 1974 (4) |
Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer | Since January 2018 | Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Chairman of the Board (since September 2017), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board, NYLIM Service Company LLC (since September 2017); President, MainStay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust, and MainStay VP Funds Trust (since September 2017); Chief Executive Officer, IndexIQ Advisors LLC (since January 2018); Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer, IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust (since January 2018). | 21 | None |
Name and Year of Birth (1) | Position(s) Held with Trust | Term of Office and Length of Time Served (2) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
Jon H. Zimmerman, 1982 |
Executive Vice President | Since April 2018 | Chief Operating Officer, IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ Active ETF Trust and IndexIQ ETF Trust (2018 to present); Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (2015-present); Vice President, Morgan Stanley (2007 to 2015). |
Adefolahan Oyefeso, 1974
|
Treasurer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Office | Since April 2018 | Vice President of Operations & Finance, IndexIQ Advisors LLC (1/2015 to present); Vice President and Director of Fund Administration Client Service Department at The Bank of New York Mellon (2007 to 2015). |
Matthew V. Curtin, 1982
|
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer | Since June 2015 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, IndexIQ, IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust (since June 2015), Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust (June 2015 to January 2017); Associate General Counsel, New York Life Insurance Company (since February 2015); Associate, Dechert LLP (2007 to 2015). |
Kevin M. Bopp 1969 |
Chief Compliance Officer | Since January 2017 | Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ, IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust (since January 2017); Chief Compliance Officer (since January 2016), Director and Associate General Counsel (2011 to 2014) and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2010 to 2011), New York Life Investment Management LLC; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, and MainStay VP Funds Trust (2010 to 2014), MainStay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (2011 to 2014). MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since 2014); Assistant Secretary, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust. |
(1) | The address of each Trustee or officer is c/o IndexIQ, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. |
(2) | Trustees and Officers serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified. |
(3) | The Funds are part of a “fund complex”. The fund complex includes all operational open-end funds (including all of their portfolios) advised by the Advisor. As of the date of this SAI, the fund complex consists of the Trust’s funds and the two funds of the IndexIQ Active ETF Trust advised by the Advisor. |
(4) | Mr. Lehneis is an “interested person” of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) because of his affiliations with the Advisor. |
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The Board met five times during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018.
Description of Standing Board Committees
Audit Committee. The principal responsibilities of the Audit Committee are the appointment, compensation and oversight of the Trust’s independent auditors, including the resolution of disagreements regarding financial reporting between Trust management and such independent auditors. The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include, without limitation, to (i) oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Trust and its internal control over financial reporting and, as the Committee deems appropriate, to inquire into the internal control over financial reporting of certain third-party service providers; (ii) oversee the quality and integrity of the Funds’ financial statements and the independent audits thereof; (iii) oversee, or, as appropriate, assist Board oversight of, the Trust’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements that relate to the Trust’s accounting and financial reporting, internal control over financial reporting and independent audits; (iv) approve prior to appointment the engagement of the Trust’s independent auditors and, in connection therewith, to review and evaluate the qualifications, independence and performance of the Trust’s independent auditors; and (v) act as a liaison between the Trust’s independent auditors and the full Board. The Board has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee. All of the Independent Trustees serve on the Trust’s Audit Committee. During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018, the Audit Committee met three times.
Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee has been established to: (i) assist the Board in matters involving mutual fund governance and industry practices; (ii) select and nominate candidates for appointment or election to serve as Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust or its Advisor or distributor (as defined by the 1940 Act); and (iii) advise the Board on ways to improve its effectiveness. All of the Independent Trustees serve on the Nominating Committee. As stated above, each Trustee holds office for an indefinite term until the occurrence of certain events. In filling Board vacancies, the Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders. Nominee recommendations should be submitted to the Trust at its mailing address stated in the Fund’s Prospectus and should be directed to the attention of the IndexIQ ETF Trust Nominating Committee. During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018, the Nominating Committee met two times.
Valuation Committee. The Valuation Committee shall oversee the implementation of the Trust’s Valuation Procedures. The Valuation Committee shall make fair value determinations on behalf of the Board as specified in the Valuation Procedures. The Valuation Committee has appointed the Advisor Fair Valuation Committee to deal in the first instance with questions that arise or cannot be resolved under the Valuation Procedures. All of the Independent Trustees serve on the Trust’s Valuation Committee. During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018, the Valuation Committee met four times.
Individual Trustee Qualifications
The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve on the Board because of their ability to review and understand information about the Trust and the funds provided to them by management, to identify and request other information they may deem relevant to the performance of their duties, to question management and other service providers regarding material factors bearing on the management and administration of the funds, and to exercise their business judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of each funds’ shareholders. The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve as a Trustee based on their own experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as described below.
The Trust has concluded that Ms. Aggarwal should serve as trustee of the Trust and as an audit committee financial expert because of the experience she has gained as a professor of finance, deputy dean at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and Director of the Georgetown Center for Financial Markets and Policy, her service as trustee for another mutual fund family, the experience she has gained serving as trustee of the Trust since 2008 and her general expertise with respect to financial matters and accounting principles.
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The Trust has concluded that Mr. Pignataro should serve as trustee of the Trust and as an audit committee financial expert because of the experience he has gained as a businessman and, in particular, his prior service in the financial services industry as a Director of Credit Suisse Asset Management and Chief Financial Officer of the Credit Suisse Funds.
The Trust has concluded that Mr. Schaeffer should serve as trustee of the Trust because of his experience in the financial services industry, including his experience as a director of and service provider to investment companies.
The Trust has concluded that Mr. Lehneis should serve as trustee of the Trust because of the experience he has gained as President of the MainStay Funds, Chief Operating Officer of New York Life Investment Management LLC, and President of IndexIQ, his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving as Chairman of the Board of New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2017.
Trustee Ownership of Fund Shares
Listed below for each Trustee is a dollar range of securities beneficially owned in the Trust together with the aggregate dollar range of equity securities in all registered investment companies overseen by each Trustee that are in the same family of investment companies as the Trust, as of December 31, 2017. As of December 31, 2017, the Funds had not yet commenced operations.
Name of Trustee | Fund Name | Dollar Range of Equity Securities in Funds | Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Trustees in Family of Investment Companies 1 |
Reena Aggarwal | None | None | None |
Michael Pignataro | None | None | None |
Paul Schaeffer |
IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Tracker ETF IQ Merger Arbitrage ETF |
$50,001-$100,000 $10,001 - $50,000 |
Above $100,000 |
Kirk C. Lehneis 2 | IQ Leaders GTAA Tracker ETF | $10,001 - $50,000 | $10,000 to $50,000 |
(1) | The fund complex includes all operational open-end funds (including all of their portfolios) advised by the Advisor. As of the date of this SAI, the fund complex consists of the series IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust. |
(2) | Mr. Lehneis is an “interested trustee” of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) because of his affiliations with the Advisor. |
Board Compensation
Effective January 1, 2018, each Independent Trustee receives from the Fund Complex, either directly or indirectly, an annual retainer of $46,000. In addition, effective January 1, 2018, as the Chair of the Board, Ms. Aggarwal receives an annual stipend of $35,000; as Audit Committee chair, Mr. Pignataro receives an annual stipend of $10,000; and as Valuation Committee chair, Mr. Schaeffer receives an annual stipend of $10,000. Prior to January 1, 2018, for each in-person quarterly Board Meeting, each Independent Trustee received $5,000; for each additional in-person meeting, each Independent Trustee received $3,000; for any phone meeting, each Independent Trustee received $2,000; and as Audit Committee chair, Ms. Aggarwal received an annual stipend of $10,000. In addition, the Independent Trustees are reimbursed for all reasonable travel expenses relating to their attendance at the Board Meetings. The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the compensation of each Trustee for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018:
Name and Position | Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued As Part of Trust Expenses | Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement | Total Compensation From Trust and Fund Complex Paid to Trustees (1) |
Reena Aggarwal, Trustee | N/A | N/A | $79,500 |
Michael Pignataro, Trustee | N/A | N/A | $45,500 |
Paul Schaeffer, Trustee | N/A | N/A | $45,500 |
Kirk C. Lehneis, Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer (2) | None | None | None |
(1) | The fund complex includes all operational open-end funds (including all of their portfolios) advised by the Advisor. As of the date of this SAI, the fund complex consists of the series of IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust. |
(2) | Mr. Lehneis is an “interested person” of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) because of his affiliations with the Advisor. |
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Code of Ethics
The Trust, its Advisor and principal underwriter have each adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act that permit personnel subject to their particular codes of ethics to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund.
PROXY VOTING POLICIES
The Board believes that the voting of proxies on securities held by the Funds is an important element of the overall investment process. As such, the Board has delegated responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by each Fund to the Advisor. The Advisor will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures, a summary of which is included in Appendix A to this Statement of Additional Information. The Board will periodically review each Fund’s proxy voting record.
The Trust is required to disclose annually the Funds’ complete proxy voting record on Form N-PX covering the period July 1 through June 30 and file it with the SEC no later than August 31 of each year. The Fund’s Form N-PX will be available at no charge upon request by calling 1-888-474-7725. It will also be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
As of the date of this SAI, the Funds have not commenced operations and there are no owners of record 5% or more of the outstanding Shares of any Fund.
MANAGEMENT SERVICES
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “Management.”
Investment Advisor
IndexIQ Advisors LLC, the Advisor, serves as investment advisor to the Funds and has overall responsibility for the general management and administration of the Trust, pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Advisor (the “Advisory Agreement”). Under the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor, subject to the supervision of the Board, provides an investment program for each Fund and is responsible for the investment of the Fund’s assets in conformity with the stated investment policies of each Fund. The Advisor is responsible for placing purchase and sale orders and providing continuous supervision of the investment portfolio of each of the Funds. The Advisor also arranges for the provision of distribution, transfer agency, custody, administration and all other services necessary for the Funds to operate.
The Advisory Agreement will remain in effect with respect to the Funds from year to year provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the vote of a majority of the Funds’ outstanding voting securities or a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, and (ii) the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees of the Trust, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
The Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically if assigned (as defined in the 1940 Act). The Advisory Agreement is also terminable at any time without penalty by the Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Funds on 60 days’ written notice to the Advisor or by the Advisor on 60 days’ written notice to the Trust.
Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor is entitled to receive a fee, payable monthly, at the annual rate for each of the Funds based on a percentage of each Fund’s average daily net assets as follows:
Fund Name | Management Fee | |
IQ 500 International ETF | 0.25% | |
IQ 500 ETF | 0.20% |
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In consideration of the fees paid with respect to the Funds, the Advisor has agreed to pay all expenses of the Trust, except (i) brokerage and other transaction expenses, including taxes; (ii) extraordinary legal fees or expenses, such as those for litigation or arbitration; (iii) compensation and expenses of the Independent Trustees, counsel to the Independent Trustees, and the Trust’s chief compliance officer; (iv) extraordinary expenses; (v) distribution fees and expenses paid by the Trust under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act; and (vi) the advisory fee payable to the Advisor hereunder.
As of the date of this SAI, the Funds have not commenced operations and, therefore, have not yet incurred any advisory fees under the Advisory Agreement.
In addition to providing advisory services under the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor also: (i) supervises all non-advisory operations of the Funds; (ii) provides personnel to perform such executive, administrative and clerical services as are reasonably necessary to provide effective administration of the Funds; (iii) arranges for (a) the preparation of all required tax returns, (b) the preparation and submission of reports to existing shareholders, (c) the periodic updating of prospectuses and statements of additional information and (d) the preparation of reports to be filed with the SEC and other regulatory authorities; (iv) maintains the Funds’ records; and (v) provides office space and all necessary office equipment and services.
Expense Limitation Agreement
The Advisor has entered into Expense Limitation Agreement with the Funds under which it has agreed to waive or reduce its fees and to assume other expenses of the Funds in an amount that limits "Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses" (exclusive of interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses that are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, dividends, interest and brokerage expenses paid on short sales, acquired und fees and expenses, extraordinary expenses, if any, and payments, if any, under the Rule 12b-1 Plan) to not more than a percentage of the average daily net assets of each Fund until August 31, 2020, as follows:
Fund Name |
Total
Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense
Waiver/Reimbursement |
|
IQ 500 International ETF | 0.25% | |
IQ 500 ETF | 0.20% |
Portfolio Manager
The Advisor acts as portfolio manager for the Funds. The Advisor will supervise and manage the investment portfolios of the Funds and will direct the purchase and sale of each Fund’s investment securities. The Advisor utilizes a team of investment professionals acting together to manage the assets of the Funds. The team meets regularly to review portfolio holdings and to discuss purchase and sale activity. The team adjusts holdings in the portfolio as they deem appropriate in the pursuit of the Fund’s investment objective.
The portfolio managers who are currently jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds’ portfolios are Greg Barrato and James Harrison.
Greg Barrato joined the Advisor as Vice President in November 2010 and has been Senior Vice President of the Advisor since August 2013 and portfolio manager of the Funds since February 2011. Prior to joining the Advisor, Mr. Barrato served as Head Global Equity Trader and Trader at Lucerne Capital Management, LLC from 2008 to 2010 and as Assistant Trader and Operations Manager at ReachCapital Management, LP from 2004 to 2008. Mr. Barrato is a 2002 graduate from the University of Connecticut.
James Harrison has been a member of the portfolio management of the Advisor since 2015 and has been a Vice President of the Advisor since June 2018. Prior to joining the Advisor, Mr. Harrison served as trading assistant, operations specialist and sales assistant at Cuttone & Company from 2010 to 2015. Mr. Harrison is a graduate of St. Lawrence University.
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Other Accounts Managed
The following tables provide additional information about other portfolios or accounts managed by the Funds’ portfolio managers as of October 31, 2018.
Total number of other accounts managed by the portfolio managers within each category below and the total assets in the accounts managed within each category below.
Registered Investment Companies | Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | Other Accounts | ||||
Portfolio Manager | Number of Accounts |
Total Assets ($mm) |
Number of Accounts |
Total Assets ($mm) |
Number of Accounts |
Total Assets ($m) |
Greg Barrato | 19 | 3,958 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
James Harrison | 19 | 3,958 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Material Conflicts of Interest .
Because the portfolio managers manage multiple portfolios for multiple clients, the potential for conflicts of interest exists. Each portfolio manager may manage portfolios having substantially the same investment style as the Funds. However, the portfolios managed by a portfolio manager may not have portfolio compositions identical to those of the Funds managed by the portfolio manager due, for example, to specific investment limitations or guidelines present in some portfolios or accounts, but not others. The portfolio managers may purchase securities for one portfolio and not another portfolio, and the performance of securities purchased for one portfolio may vary from the performance of securities purchased for other portfolios. A portfolio manager may place transactions on behalf of other accounts that are directly or indirectly contrary to investment decisions made on behalf of the Fund, or make investment decisions that are similar to those made for the Fund, both of which have the potential to adversely impact the Fund depending on market conditions. For example, a portfolio manager may purchase a security in one portfolio while appropriately selling that same security in another portfolio. In addition, some of these portfolios have fee structures that are or have the potential to be higher than the advisory fees paid by the Funds, which can cause potential conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities between the Funds and the other accounts. However, the compensation structure for portfolio managers does not generally provide incentive to favor one account over another because that part of a manager’s bonus based on performance is not based on the performance of one account to the exclusion of others. There are many other factors considered in determining the portfolio managers’ bonus and there is no formula that is applied to weight the factors listed (see “Compensation”). In addition, current trading practices do not allow the Advisor to intentionally favor one portfolio over another as trades are executed as trade orders are received. Portfolio’s rebalancing dates also generally vary between fund families. Program trades created from the portfolio rebalance are executed at market on close.
Compensation for the Portfolio Manager
The portfolio managers receive a base pay and an annual bonus incentive based on performance against individual and organizational unit objectives, as well as overall Advisor results. The plan is designed to align manager compensation with investors' goals by rewarding portfolio managers who obtain results consistent with the objectives of the products under the individual’s management. In addition, these employees also participate in a long-term incentive program. The long-term incentive plan is eligible to senior level employees and is designed to reward profitable growth in company value. An employee's total compensation package is reviewed periodically to ensure that they are competitive relative to the external marketplace.
Ownership of Securities
The portfolio managers do not own Shares of the Funds.
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OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
Fund Administrator, Custodian, Transfer Agent and Securities Lending Agent
The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon”) serves as the Funds’ administrator, custodian, transfer agent and securities lending agent. BNY Mellon’s principal address is 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286. Under the Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement, BNY Mellon provides necessary administrative, legal, tax, accounting services, and financial reporting for the maintenance and operations of the Trust and each Fund. In addition, BNY Mellon makes available the office space, equipment, personnel and facilities required to provide such services.
BNY Mellon supervises the overall administration of the Trust and the Funds, including, among other responsibilities, assisting in the preparation and filing of documents required for compliance by the Funds with applicable laws and regulations and arranging for the maintenance of books and records of the Funds. BNY Mellon provides persons satisfactory to the Board to serve as officers of the Trust.
BNY Mellon is the principal operating subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation.
BNY Mellon serves as custodian of the Funds’ assets (the “Custodian”). Under the Custody Agreement with the Trust, BNY Mellon maintains in separate accounts cash, securities and other assets of the Trust and the Funds, keeps all necessary accounts and records, and provides other services. BNY Mellon is required, upon order of the Trust, to deliver securities held by BNY Mellon and to make payments for securities purchased by the Trust for the Funds. Under the Custody Agreement, BNY Mellon is also authorized to appoint certain foreign custodians or foreign custody managers for Fund investments outside the U.S.
The Custodian has agreed to (1) make receipts and disbursements of money on behalf of the Funds; (2) collect and receive all income and other payments and distributions on account of each Fund’s portfolio investments; (3) respond to correspondence from Fund shareholders and others relating to its duties; and (4) make periodic reports to each Fund concerning the Funds’ operations. The Custodian does not exercise any supervisory function over the purchase and sale of securities. The Advisor pays the Custodian fees out of the Advisor’s unified management fee.
BNY Mellon serves as transfer agent and dividend paying agent for the Funds (the “Transfer Agent”). The Transfer Agent has agreed to (1) issue and redeem Shares of each Fund; (2) make dividend and other distributions to shareholders of each Fund; (3) respond to correspondence by Fund shareholders and other relating to its duties; (4) maintain shareholder accounts; and (5) make periodic reports to the Funds. The Advisor pays the Transfer Agent out of the Advisor’s unified management fee.
As compensation for the foregoing services, BNY Mellon receives certain out of pocket costs, transaction fees and asset based fees, which are accrued daily and paid monthly by the Trust. As of the date of this SAI, the Funds had not commenced operations and, therefore, have not yet paid any administration, custody or transfer agency fees.
Securities Lending
BNY Mellon also serves as the Trust’s securities lending agent pursuant to a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement. As compensation for providing securities lending services, BNY Mellon receives a portion of the income earned by each Fund on collateral investments in connection with the lending program.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and BNY Mellon, the Funds may lend their portfolio securities to certain qualified borrowers. As securities lending agent for the Funds, BNY Mellon administers the Funds’ securities lending program. The services provided to the Funds by BNY Mellon with respect to the Funds’ securities lending activities during the most recent fiscal year included, among other things: locating approved borrowers and arranging loans; collecting fees and rebates due to a Fund from a borrower; monitoring daily the value of the loaned securities and collateral and marking to market the daily value of securities on loan; collecting and maintaining necessary collateral; managing cash collateral, which may include investing the cash collateral in approved investment pools; managing qualified dividends; negotiating loan terms; recordkeeping and account servicing; monitoring dividend activity and proxy votes relating to loaned securities; and arranging for return of loaned securities to a Fund at loan termination.
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Index Provider
IndexIQ, located at 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010, is the index provider for the Funds. IndexIQ is in the business of developing and maintaining financial indexes, including the Underlying Indexes. Presently, IndexIQ has developed and is maintaining a number of indexes in addition to the Underlying Indexes. IndexIQ has entered into an index licensing agreement (the “Licensing Agreement”) with the Advisor to allow the Advisor’s use of the Underlying Indexes for the operation of the Funds. The Advisor pays licensing fees to IndexIQ from the Advisor’s management fees or other resources. The Advisor has, in turn, entered into a sub-licensing agreement (the “Sub-Licensing Agreement”) with the Trust to allow the Funds to utilize the Underlying Indexes. The Funds pay no fees to IndexIQ or the Advisor under the Sub-Licensing Agreement.
Distributor
ALPS Distributors, Inc., the Distributor, is located at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203. The Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). NYLIFE Distributors LLC has entered into a Services Agreement with ALPS to market the Funds.
Shares will be continuously offered for sale by the Trust through the Distributor only in whole Creation Units, as described in the section of this SAI entitled “Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units.” The Distributor also acts as an agent for the Trust. The Distributor will deliver a prospectus to authorized participants purchasing Shares in Creation Units and will maintain records of both orders placed with it and confirmations of acceptance furnished by it. The Distributor has no role in determining the investment policies of the Funds or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Funds.
The Board of Trustees has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. In accordance with its Distribution and Service Plan, each Fund is authorized to pay an amount up to 0.10% of its average daily net assets each year to finance activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Creation Units of each Fund or the provision of investor services. No Rule 12b-1 fees are currently paid by the Funds and there are no plans to impose these fees. However, in the event Rule 12b-1 fees are charged in the future, they will be paid out of the respective Fund’s assets, and over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and they may cost you more than certain other types of sales charges.
Under the Service and Distribution Plan, and as required by Rule 12b-1, the Trustees will receive and review after the end of each calendar quarter a written report provided by the Distributor of the amounts expended under the Plan, if any, and the purpose for which such expenditures were made.
The Advisor and its affiliates may, out of their own resources, pay amounts to third parties for distribution or marketing services on behalf of the Funds. The making of these payments could create a conflict of interest for a financial intermediary receiving such payments.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, located at 300 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017, serves as the independent registered public accounting firm to the Trust. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will perform the annual audit of the Funds’ financial statements.
Ernst & Young LLP, located at 5 Times Square, New York, New York 10036, serves as tax advisor to the Trust and will prepare the Funds’ federal, state and excise tax returns, and advise the Trust on matters of accounting and federal and state income taxation.
Legal Counsel
Chapman and Cutler LLP, 1270 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020, serves as legal counsel to the Trust and the Funds.
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CERTAIN CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
IndexIQ and the Advisor have established policies, procedures, systems and infrastructure to address any potential conflicts of interest that may arise because of IndexIQ, an affiliate of the Advisor, serving as index provider for the Funds.
IndexIQ maintains policies and procedures designed to limit or prohibit communication between the employees of IndexIQ with ultimate responsibility for the Underlying Indexes (the “Index Group”) and the employees of the Advisor with respect to issues related to the maintenance, calculation and reconstitution of the Underlying Indexes (the “Policies and Procedures”). Furthermore, IndexIQ has retained an unaffiliated third party to calculate each Underlying Index (the “Calculation Agent”).
Changes to the constituents of the Underlying Indexes made by IndexIQ or the Calculation Agent will be disclosed by IndexIQ and published on its website at nylinvestments.com/etfs. Any such IndexIQ announcements or website disclosures to the public will be made in such a manner that none of the IndexIQ employees outside of the Index Group, the Advisor, or a Fund, is notified of actions prior to the general investing public.
IndexIQ, as index provider, has adopted Policies and Procedures prohibiting its employees from disclosing or using any non- public information acquired through his or her employment, except as appropriate in connection with the rendering of services to the administration of the Underlying Indexes. Also, IndexIQ has adopted Policies and Procedures that prohibit and are designed to prevent anyone, including the members of the Index Group, from disseminating or using non-public information about pending changes to Underlying Indexes constituents or Index Methodology. These policies specifically prohibit anyone, including the members of the Index Group, from sharing any non-public information about an Underlying Index with any personnel of the Advisor responsible for management of the related Fund or any affiliated person. The Advisor also has adopted policies that prohibit personnel responsible for the management of a Fund from sharing any non-public information about the management of the Fund with any personnel of the Index Group, especially those persons responsible for creating, monitoring, calculating, maintaining or disseminating its Underlying Index.
In addition, IndexIQ has retained an unaffiliated third-party Calculation Agent to calculate and maintain the Underlying Indexes on a daily basis. The Calculation Agent will be instructed to not communicate any non-public information about the Underlying Indexes to anyone, and expressly not to the personnel of the Advisor responsible for the management of the Funds.
The Index Group personnel responsible for creating and monitoring the Underlying Indexes, the personnel of the Calculation Agent responsible for calculating and maintaining the Underlying Indexes, and the portfolio managers responsible for day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund are employees of separate legal organizations and the Calculation Agent personnel are located in physically separate offices from the Index Group personnel and portfolio managers. The Calculation Agent is not, and will not be, affiliated with IndexIQ or the Advisor.
Members of the Index Group will not have access to paper or electronic files used by the Advisor in connection with their portfolio management activities. Neither the Advisor will have access to the computer systems used by the Calculation Agent, nor to the computer systems used by the Index Group to monitor, calculate and rebalance the Underlying Indexes. The Advisor has also adopted Policies and Procedures and a Code of Ethics that require, among other things, any personnel responsible for the management of a Fund and any investment account to (i) pre-clear all non-exempt personal securities transactions with a designated senior employee of the Advisor, and (ii) require reporting of securities transactions to such designated employee in accordance with Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”).
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PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
Subject to the general supervision by the Board, the Advisor is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the Funds, the selection of brokers and dealers to effect the transactions, which may be affiliates of the Advisor, and the negotiation of brokerage commissions. The Funds may execute brokerage or other agency transactions through registered broker-dealers who receive compensation for their services in conformity with the 1940 Act, the Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations thereunder. Compensation may also be paid in connection with riskless principal transactions (in Nasdaq or over-the-counter securities and securities listed on an exchange) and agency Nasdaq or over-the-counter transactions executed with an electronic communications network or an alternative trading system.
The Funds will give primary consideration to obtaining the most favorable prices and efficient executions of transactions in implementing trading policy. Consistent with this policy, when securities transactions are traded on an exchange, the Funds’ policy will be to pay commissions that are considered fair and reasonable without necessarily determining that the lowest possible commissions are paid in all circumstances. The Advisor believes that a requirement always to seek the lowest possible commission cost could impede effective portfolio management and preclude the Funds from obtaining a high quality of brokerage services. In seeking to determine the reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid in any transaction, the Advisor will rely upon its experience and knowledge regarding commissions generally charged by various brokers and on its judgment in evaluating the brokerage and research services received from the broker effecting the transaction. Such determinations will be necessarily subjective and imprecise, as in most cases an exact dollar value for those services is not ascertainable.
The Advisor does not consider sales of Shares by broker-dealers as a factor in the selection of broker-dealers to execute portfolio transactions.
As permitted by Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act, the Advisor may cause a Fund to pay a broker-dealer a commission for effecting a securities transaction for the Fund that is in excess of the commission that another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction, if the Advisor make a good faith determination that the broker’s commission paid by the Fund is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by the broker-dealer, viewed in terms of either the particular transaction or the Advisor’s overall responsibilities to the Fund and its other investment advisory clients. The practice of using a portion of a Fund’s commission dollars to pay for brokerage and research services provided to the Advisor is sometimes referred to as “soft dollars.” Section 28(e) is sometimes referred to as a “safe harbor,” because it permits this practice, subject to a number of restrictions, including the Advisor’s compliance with certain procedural requirements and limitations on the type of brokerage and research services that qualify for the safe harbor.
Research products and services may include, but are not limited to, general economic, political, business and market information and reviews, industry and company information and reviews, evaluations of securities and recommendations as to the purchase and sale of securities, financial data on a company or companies, performance and risk measuring services and analysis, stock price quotation services, computerized historical financial databases and related software, credit rating services, analysis of corporate responsibility issues, brokerage analysts’ earnings estimates, computerized links to current market data, software dedicated to research, and portfolio modeling. Research services may be provided in the form of reports, computer-generated data feeds and other services, telephone contacts, and personal meetings with securities analysts, as well as in the form of meetings arranged with corporate officers and industry spokespersons, economists, academics and governmental representatives. Brokerage products and services assist in the execution, clearance and settlement of securities transactions, as well as functions incidental thereto, including but not limited to related communication and connectivity services and equipment, software related to order routing, market access, algorithmic trading, and other trading activities. On occasion, a broker-dealer may furnish the Advisor with a service that has a mixed use (that is, the service is used both for brokerage and research activities that are within the safe harbor and for other activities). In this case, the Advisor is required to reasonably allocate the cost of the service, so that any portion of the service that does not qualify for the safe harbor is paid for by the Advisor from its own funds, and not by portfolio commissions paid by the Funds.
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Research products and services provided to the Advisor by broker-dealers that effect securities transactions for the Funds may be used by the Advisor in servicing all of its accounts. Accordingly, not all of these services may be used by the Advisor in connection with the Funds. Some of these products and services are also available to the Advisor for cash, and some do not have an explicit cost or determinable value. The research received does not reduce the advisory fees paid to the Advisor for services provided to the Funds. The Advisor’s expenses would likely increase if the Advisor had to generate these research products and services through its own efforts, or if it paid for these products or services itself.
On occasions when the Advisor deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interest of a Fund as well as its other customers (including any other fund or other investment company or advisory account for which the Advisor acts as investment advisor or sub-investment advisor), the Advisor, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased for a Fund with those to be sold or purchased for such other customers in order to obtain the best net price and most favorable execution under the circumstances. In such event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Advisor in the manner it considers to be equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Funds and such other customers. In some instances, this procedure may adversely affect the price and size of the position obtainable for the Funds.
As of the date of this SAI, the Funds have not commenced operations and, therefore, not entered into securities transactions.
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
Portfolio Disclosure Policy
The Trust has adopted a Portfolio Holdings Policy (the “Policy”) designed to govern the disclosure of Fund portfolio holdings and the use of material non-public information about Fund holdings. The Policy applies to all officers, employees and agents of the Funds, including the Advisor. The Policy is designed to ensure that the disclosure of information about each Fund’s portfolio holdings is consistent with applicable legal requirements and otherwise in the best interest of each Fund.
As an ETF, information about each Fund’s portfolio holdings is made available on a daily basis in accordance with the provisions of any Order of the SEC applicable to the Funds, regulations of the Funds’ listing Exchange and other applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") regulations, orders and no-action relief. Such information typically reflects all or a portion of a Fund’s anticipated portfolio holdings as of the next Business Day (as defined below). This information is used in connection with the creation and redemption process and is disseminated on a daily basis through the facilities of the Exchange, the National Securities Clearing Corporation (the “NSCC”) and/or third party service providers.
Each Fund will disclose on the Funds’ website (nylinvestments.com/etfs) at the start of each Business Day the identities and quantities of the securities and other assets held by each Fund that will form the basis of the Fund’s calculation of its net asset value (the “NAV”) on that Business Day. The portfolio holdings so disclosed will be based on information as of the close of business on the prior Business Day and/or trades that have been completed prior to the opening of business on that Business Day and that are expected to settle on the Business Day. Online disclosure of such holdings is publicly available at no charge.
Daily access to each Fund’s portfolio holdings is permitted to personnel of the Advisor, the Distributor and the Funds’ administrator, custodian and accountant and other agents or service providers of the Trust who have need of such information in connection with the ordinary course of their respective duties to the Funds. The Funds' Chief Compliance Officer may authorize disclosure of portfolio holdings.
Each Fund will disclose its complete portfolio holdings schedule in public filings with the SEC on a quarterly basis, based on the Fund’s fiscal year, within sixty (60) days of the end of the quarter, and will provide that information to shareholders, as required by federal securities laws and regulations thereunder.
No person is authorized to disclose a Fund’s portfolio holdings or other investment positions except in accordance with the Policy. The Trust’s Board reviews the implementation of the Policy on a periodic basis.
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INDICATIVE INTRA-DAY VALUE
The approximate value of the Funds’ investments on a per-Share basis, the Indicative IIV, is disseminated by ICE Data Indices, LLC (“ICE Data”) every 15 seconds during hours of trading on the NYSE Arca or NASDAQ. The IIV should not be viewed as a “real-time” update of NAV because the IIV will be calculated by an independent third party calculator and may not be calculated in the exact same manner as NAV, which is computed daily.
ICE Data calculates the IIV during hours of trading on the Exchange by dividing the “Estimated Fund Value” as of the time of the calculation by the total number of outstanding Shares. “Estimated Fund Value” is the sum of the estimated amount of cash held in a Fund’s portfolio, the estimated amount of accrued interest owing to a Fund and the estimated value of the securities held in a Fund’s portfolio, minus the estimated amount of liabilities. The IIV will be calculated based on the same portfolio holdings disclosed on the Funds’ website. In determining the estimated value for each of the component securities, the IIV will use last sale, market prices or other methods that would be considered appropriate for pricing equity securities held by registered investment companies.
Although the Funds provide the independent third party calculator with information to calculate the IIV, the Funds are not involved in the actual calculation of the IIV and are not responsible for the calculation or dissemination of the IIV. The Funds make no warranty as to the accuracy of the IIV.
The Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or marketed by ICE Data, its affiliates or their respective Third Party Suppliers.
ICE DATA OR ITS THIRD PARTY SUPPLIERS MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABIITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH RESPECT TO THE IIVS, FUND OR ANY FUND DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. IN NO EVENT SHALL ICE DATA HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING SHARES
Organization and Description of Shares of Beneficial Interest
The Trust is a Delaware statutory trust and registered investment company. The Trust was organized on July 1, 2008, and has authorized capital of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest of no par value that may be issued in more than one class or series.
Under Delaware law, the Trust is not required to hold an annual shareholders meeting if the 1940 Act does not require such a meeting. Generally, there will not be annual meetings of Trust shareholders. If requested by shareholders of at least 10% of the outstanding Shares of the Trust, the Trust will call a meeting of the Trust’s shareholders for the purpose of voting upon the question of removal of a Trustee and will assist in communications with other Trust shareholders. Shareholders holding two-thirds of Shares outstanding may remove Trustees from office by votes cast at a meeting of Trust shareholders or by written consent.
When issued, Shares are fully-paid, non-assessable, redeemable and freely transferable; provided, however, that Shares may not be redeemed individually, but only in Creation Units. The Shares do not have preemptive rights or cumulative voting rights, and none of the Shares do not have any preference to conversion, exchange, dividends, retirements, liquidation, redemption or any other feature. Shares have equal voting rights, except that, if the Trust creates additional funds, only Shares of that fund may be entitled to vote on a matter affecting that particular fund. Trust shareholders are entitled to require the Trust to redeem Creation Units if such shareholders are Authorized Participants. The Declaration of Trust confers upon the Board the power, by resolution, to alter the number of Shares constituting a Creation Unit or to specify that Shares of the Trust may be individually redeemable. The Trust reserves the right to adjust the stock prices of Shares to maintain convenient trading ranges for investors. Any such adjustments would be accomplished through stock splits or reverse stock splits which would have no effect on the net assets of the Funds.
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The Trust’s Declaration of Trust disclaims liability of the shareholders or the officers of the Trust for acts or obligations of the Trust which are binding only on the assets and property of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification by the Trust for all loss and expense of the Funds’ shareholders held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust. The risk of a Trust’s shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Funds themselves would not be able to meet the Trust’s obligations and this risk should be considered remote. If a Fund does not grow to a size to permit it to be economically viable, the Fund may cease operations. In such an event, shareholders may be required to liquidate or transfer their Shares at an inopportune time and shareholders may lose money on their investment.
Book Entry Only System
DTC will act as securities depositary for the Shares. The Shares of the Funds are represented by global securities registered in the name of DTC or its nominee and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC. Except as provided below, certificates will not be issued for Shares.
DTC has advised the Trust as follows: DTC, the world’s largest securities depository, is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds and provides asset servicing for over 3.5 million issues of U.S. and non-U.S. equity issues, corporate and municipal debt issues and money market instruments (from over 100 countries). DTC was created to hold securities of its participants (the “DTC Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among the DTC Participants in such securities through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges in accounts of DTC Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC Participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly- owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, the NSCC and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. More specifically, DTCC is owned by a number of its DTC Participants and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the NYSE Alternext U.S. (formerly known as the American Stock Exchange LLC) (the “Alternext”) and FINRA.
Access to DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”). DTC agrees with and represents to DTC Participants that it will administer its book-entry system in accordance with its rules and bylaws and requirements of law. Beneficial ownership of Shares will be 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”) will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership will be 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 DTC Participant a written confirmation relating to their purchase of Shares. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair the ability of certain investors to acquire beneficial interests in Shares.
Beneficial Owners of Shares will not be entitled to have Shares registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificates in definitive form and are not considered the registered holders of the Shares. Accordingly, each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of DTC, DTC Participants and any Indirect Participants through which such Beneficial Owner holds its interests in order to exercise any rights of a holder of Shares. The Trust understands that under existing industry practice, in the event the Trust requests any action of holders of Shares, or a Beneficial Owner desires to take any action that DTC, as the record owner of all outstanding Shares, is entitled to take, DTC would authorize the DTC Participants to take such action and that the DTC Participants would authorize the Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners acting through such DTC Participants to take such action and would otherwise act upon the instructions of Beneficial Owners owning through them. DTC, through its nominee Cede & Co., is the record owner of all outstanding Shares.
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Conveyance of all notices, statements and other communications to Beneficial Owners will be effected as follows. DTC will make available to the Trust upon request and for a fee to be charged to the Trust a listing of Shares holdings of each DTC Participant. The Trust shall inquire of each such DTC Participant as to the number of Beneficial Owners holding Shares, directly or indirectly, through such DTC Participant. The Trust will 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 Trust 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. Beneficial Owners may wish to take certain steps to augment the transmission to them of notices of significant events with respect to Shares by providing their names and addresses to the DTC registrar and request that copies of notices be provided directly to them.
Distributions of Shares 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 immediately credit 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 Trust 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 Shares at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Trust and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the Trust 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 Trust makes other arrangements with respect thereto satisfactory to the Exchange.
DTC rules applicable to DTC Participants are on file with the SEC. More information about DTC can be found at www.dtcc.com and www.dtc.org.
PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS
Creation
The Trust issues and sells Shares of each Fund only in Creation Units on a continuous basis on any Business Day (as defined below) through the Distributor at the Shares’ NAV next determined after receipt of an order in proper form. The Distributor processes purchase orders only on a day that the Exchange is open for trading (a “Business Day”). The Exchange is open for trading Monday through Friday except for the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Deposit of Securities and Deposit or Delivery of Cash
The consideration for purchase of Creation Units of a Fund generally consists of the Deposit Securities for each Creation Unit constituting a substantial replication, or representation, of the securities included in the relevant Fund’s portfolio as selected by the Advisor (“Fund Securities”) and the Cash Component computed as described below. Together, the Deposit Securities and the Cash Component constitute the “Fund Deposit,” which represents the minimum investment amount for a Creation Unit of a Fund.
The Cash Component serves to compensate the Trust or the Authorized Participant, as applicable, for any differences between the NAV per Creation Unit and the Deposit Amount (as defined below). The Cash Component is an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the Fund Shares (per Creation Unit) and the “Deposit Amount,” an amount equal to the market value of the Deposit Securities. If the Cash Component is a positive number ( i.e. , 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 ( i.e. , the NAV per Creation Unit is less than the Deposit Amount), the Authorized Participant will receive the Cash Component.
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In addition, the Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of an amount of cash (that is a “cash in lieu” amount) to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security which may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery or that may not be eligible for transfer through the systems of DTC or the Clearing Process (discussed below) or for other similar reasons. The Trust also reserves the right to permit or require a “cash in lieu” amount where the delivery of Deposit Securities by the Authorized Participant (as described below) would be restricted under the securities laws or where delivery of Deposit Securities to the Authorized Participant would result in the disposition of Deposit Securities by the Authorized Participant becoming restricted under the securities laws, and in certain other situations.
The Custodian through the NSCC (see the section of this SAI entitled “Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units—Creation— Procedures for Creation of Creation Units”), makes available on each Business Day, prior to the opening of business on the Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m. Eastern time), the list of the name and the required number of shares of each Deposit Security to be included in the current Fund Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous Business Day) for each Fund. This Fund Deposit is applicable, subject to any adjustments as described below, to orders to effect creations of Creation Units of the Fund until such time as the next-announced composition of the Deposit Securities is made available.
The identity and number of shares of the Deposit Securities required for a Fund Deposit for each Fund changes as rebalancing adjustments and corporate action events are reflected within the Fund from time to time by the Advisor, with a view to the investment objective of the Fund. In addition, the Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of an amount of cash (that is a “cash in lieu” amount) to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security that may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery or that may not be eligible for transfer through the systems of DTC or the Clearing Process (discussed below) or for other similar reasons. The Trust also reserves the right to permit or require a “cash in lieu” amount where the delivery of Deposit Securities by the Authorized Participant (as described below) would be restricted under the securities laws or where delivery of Deposit Securities to the Authorized Participant would result in the disposition of Deposit Securities by the Authorized Participant becoming restricted under the securities laws, and in certain other situations.
In addition to the list of names and number of securities constituting the current Deposit Securities of a Fund Deposit, the Custodian, through the NSCC, also makes available on each Business Day the estimated Cash Component, effective through and including the previous Business Day, per outstanding Creation Unit of the Fund.
Procedures for Creation of Creation Units
All orders to create Creation Units must be placed with the Distributor either (1) through Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC (the “Clearing Process”), a clearing agency that is registered with the SEC, by a “Participating Party,” i.e., a broker-dealer or other participant in the Clearing Process; or (2) outside the Clearing Process by a DTC Participant (see the section of this SAI entitled “Additional Information Concerning Shares — Book Entry Only System”). In each case, the Participating Party or the DTC Participant must have executed an agreement with the Distributor with respect to creations and redemptions of Creation Units (a “Participant Agreement”); and accepted by the Transfer Agent such parties are collectively referred to as “APs” or “Authorized Participants.” Investors should contact the Distributor for the names of Authorized Participants. All Fund Shares, whether created through or outside the Clearing Process, will be entered on the records of DTC in the name of Cede & Co. for the account of a DTC Participant.
The Distributor will process orders to purchase Creation Units received by U.S. mail, telephone, facsimile and other electronic means of communication by the closing time of the regular trading session on the Exchange (the “Closing Time”) (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time), as long as they are in proper form. Mail is received periodically throughout the day. An order sent by U.S. mail will be opened and time stamped when it is received. If an order to purchase Creation Units is received in proper form by Closing Time, then it will be processed that day. Purchase orders received in proper form after Closing Time will be processed on the following Business Day and will be priced at the NAV determined on that day. Custom orders must be received by the Distributor no later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on the trade date. A custom order may be placed by an Authorized Participant in the event that the Trust permits the substitution of an amount of
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cash to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security which may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery or which may not be eligible for trading by such Authorized Participant or the investor for which it is acting or other relevant reason. 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 by telephone or other transmission method acceptable to the Distributor pursuant to procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement, as described below in the sections of this SAI entitled “Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units—Placement of Creation Orders Using the Clearing Process” and “Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units—Placement of Creation Orders Outside the Clearing Process.”
All orders to create Creation Units from investors who are not Authorized Participants shall be placed with an Authorized Participant in the form required by such Authorized Participant. In addition, the Authorized Participant may request the investor to make certain representations or enter into agreements with respect to the order, e.g. , to provide for payments of cash, when required. Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not have executed a Participant Agreement and, therefore, orders to create Creation Units of a Fund have to be placed by the investor’s broker through an Authorized Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement. In such cases there may be additional charges to such investor. At any given time, there may be only a limited number of broker-dealers that have executed a Participant Agreement.
Those placing orders for Creation Units through the Clearing Process should afford sufficient time to permit proper submission of the order to the Distributor prior to the Closing Time on the Transmittal Date. Orders for Creation Units that are effected outside the Clearing Process are likely to require transmittal by the DTC Participant earlier on the Transmittal Date than orders effected using the Clearing Process. Those persons placing orders outside the Clearing Process should ascertain the 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 the Fund Deposit. For more information about Clearing Process and DTC, see the sections of this SAI entitled “Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units—Creation—Placement of Creation Orders Using the Clearing Process” and “Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units—Creation—Placement of Creation Orders Outside the Clearing Process.”
In the case of a cash purchase, the Authorized Participant must pay the Fund Deposit partially or entirely in cash. In addition, to offset the brokerage and other transaction costs associated with using the cash to purchase the Deposit Securities of the Fund, the Authorized Participant must pay the creation transaction fee for such Fund.
Placement of Creation Orders Using the Clearing Process
The Clearing Process is the process of creating or redeeming Creation Units through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC. Fund Deposits made through the Clearing Process must be delivered through a Participating Party that has executed a Participant Agreement. The Participant Agreement authorizes the Distributor to transmit through the Custodian to NSCC, on behalf of the Participating Party, such trade instructions as are necessary to effect the Participating Party’s creation order. Pursuant to such trade instructions to NSCC, the Participating Party agrees to deliver the Fund Deposit to the Trust, together with such additional information as may be required by the Distributor. An order to create Creation Units through the Clearing Process is deemed received by the Distributor on the Transmittal Date if (1) such order is received by the Distributor not later than the Closing Time on such Transmittal Date and (2) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed.
Placement of Creation Orders Outside the Clearing Process
Fund Deposits made outside the Clearing Process 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 to be effected outside the Clearing Process does not need to be a Participating Party, but such orders must state that the DTC Participant is not using the Clearing Process and that the creation of Creation Units will instead be effected through a transfer of securities and cash directly through DTC. The Fund Deposit transfer must be ordered by the DTC Participant on the Transmittal Date 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 by no later than 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on the next Business Day following the Transmittal Date (the “DTC Cut-Off-Time”).
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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 Trust, whose determination shall be final and binding. The amount of cash equal to the Cash Component must be transferred directly to the Custodian through the Federal Reserve Bank wire transfer system in a timely manner so as to be received by the Custodian no later than 2:00 p.m. Eastern time on the next Business Day following the Transmittal Date. An order to create Creation Units outside the Clearing Process is deemed received by the Distributor on the Transmittal Date if (1) such order is received by the Distributor not later than the Closing Time on such Transmittal Date and (2) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. However, if the Custodian does not receive both the required Deposit Securities and the Cash Component by 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Eastern time, respectively, on the next Business Day following the Transmittal Date, such order will be canceled. Upon written notice to the Distributor, such canceled order may be resubmitted the following Business Day using a Fund Deposit as newly constituted to reflect the then-current Deposit Securities and Cash Component. The delivery of Creation Units so created will occur no later than the second Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Distributor.
Additional transaction fees may be imposed with respect to transactions effected through a DTC participant outside the Clearing Process and in the limited circumstances in which any cash can be used in lieu of Deposit Securities to create Creation Units. See the section of this SAI entitled “Purchase and Sale of Creation Units—Creation—Creation Transaction Fee.”
Creation Units may be created in advance of receipt by the Trust of all or a portion of the applicable Deposit Securities. In these circumstances, the initial deposit will have a value greater than the NAV of the Fund Shares on the date the order is placed in proper form since, in addition to available Deposit Securities, cash must be deposited in an amount equal to the sum of (1) the Cash Component plus (2) up to 115% of the then-current market value of the undelivered Deposit Securities (the “Additional Cash Deposit”). The order shall be deemed to be received on the Business Day on which the order is placed provided that the order is placed in proper form prior to Closing Time and funds in the appropriate amount are deposited with the Custodian by 11:00 a.m. Eastern time the following Business Day. If the order is not placed in proper form by Closing Time or funds in the appropriate amount are not received by 11:00 a.m. the next Business Day, then the order may be deemed to be canceled and the Authorized Participant shall be liable to the Fund for losses, if any, resulting therefrom. An additional amount of cash shall be required to be deposited with the Trust, pending receipt of the undelivered Deposit Securities to the extent necessary to maintain the Additional Cash Deposit with the Trust in an amount at least equal up to 115% of the daily marked-to-market value of the undelivered Deposit Securities. To the extent that undelivered Deposit Securities are not received by 1:00 p.m. Eastern time on the second Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Distributor, or in the event a marked-to- market payment is not made within one Business Day following notification by the Distributor that such a payment is required, the Trust may use the cash on deposit to purchase the undelivered Deposit Securities. Authorized Participants will be liable to the Trust and the Fund for the costs incurred by the Trust in connection with any such purchases. These costs will be deemed to include the amount by which the actual purchase price of the Deposit Securities exceeds the market value of such Deposit Securities on the day the purchase order was deemed received by the Distributor plus the brokerage and related transaction costs associated with such purchases. The Trust will return any unused portion of the Additional Cash Deposit once all of the undelivered Deposit Securities have been properly received by the Custodian or purchased by the Trust and deposited into the Trust. In addition, a transaction fee will be charged in all cases. See the section of this SAI entitled “Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units—Creation—Creation Transaction Fee.” The delivery of Creation Units so created will occur no later than the second Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Distributor.
Acceptance of Orders for Creation Units
The Trust reserves the absolute right to reject a creation order transmitted to it by the Distributor if: (1) the order is not in proper form; (2) the investor(s), upon obtaining the Fund Shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding Shares of any Fund; (3) the Deposit Securities delivered are not as disseminated for that date by the Custodian, as described above; (4) acceptance of the Deposit Securities would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Fund; (5) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (6) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would otherwise, in the discretion
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of the Trust or the Advisor, have an adverse effect on the Trust or the rights of beneficial owners; or (7) there exist circumstances outside the control of the Trust, the Custodian, the Distributor and the Advisor that 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, telecopy and computer failures; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving computer or other information systems affecting the Trust, the Advisor, the Distributor, DTC, NSCC, the Custodian or sub-custodian or any other participant in the creation process and similar extraordinary events. The Distributor shall notify the Authorized Participant of its rejection of the order. The Trust, the Custodian, any sub-custodian and the Distributor are under no 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 each security in the Deposit Securities and the validity, form, eligibility and acceptance for deposit of any securities to be delivered shall be determined by the Trust and the Trust’s determination shall be final and binding.
Creation Units typically are issued on a “T+2 basis” (that is two Business Days after trade date).
However, for the IQ 500 International ETF, as discussed in Appendix B, the Fund reserves the right to settle Creation Unit transactions on a basis other than T+2 in order to accommodate foreign market holiday schedules, to account for different treatment among foreign and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and ex-dividend dates (that is the last day the holder of a security can sell the security and still receive dividends payable on the security), and in certain other circumstances.
To the extent contemplated by an Authorized Participant’s agreement with the Distributor, the Trust will issue Creation Units to such Authorized Participant notwithstanding the fact that the corresponding Portfolio Deposits have not been received in part or in whole, in reliance on the undertaking of the Authorized Participant to deliver the missing Deposit Securities as soon as possible, which undertaking shall be secured by such Authorized Participant’s delivery and maintenance of collateral having a value equal to 110%, which the Adviser may change from time to time, of the value of the missing Deposit Securities in accordance with the Trust’s then-effective procedures. Such collateral must be delivered no later than 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the contractual settlement date. The only collateral that is acceptable to the Trust is cash in U.S. Dollars or an irrevocable letter of credit in form, and drawn on a bank, that is satisfactory to the Trust. The cash collateral posted by the Authorized Participant may be invested at the risk of the Authorized Participant, and income, if any, on invested cash collateral will be paid to that Authorized Participant. Information concerning the Trust’s current procedures for collateralization of missing Deposit Securities is available from the Transfer Agent. The Authorized Participant Agreement will permit the Trust to buy the missing Deposit Securities at any time and will subject the Authorized Participant to liability for any shortfall between the cost to the Trust of purchasing such securities and the cash collateral or the amount that may be drawn under any letter of credit.
In certain cases, Authorized Participants will create and redeem Creation Units on the same trade date. In these instances, the Trust reserves the right to settle these transactions on a net basis. All questions as to the number of shares of each security in the Deposit Securities and the validity, form, eligibility and acceptance for deposit of any securities to be delivered shall be determined by the Trust, and the Trust’s determination shall be final and binding.
Creation Transaction Fee
Investors will be required to pay to the Custodian a fixed transaction fee (the “Creation Transaction Fee”) to offset the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance of Creation Units. The standard creation transaction fee will be the same regardless of the number of Creation Units purchased by an investor on the applicable Business Day.
When determining whether to waive the Creation Transaction Fee, the Advisor considers a number of factors including, but not limited to, whether waiving the Creation Transaction Fee will: facilitate the initial launch of a Fund; reduce the cost of portfolio rebalancing; improve the quality of the secondary trading market for a Fund's Shares and not result in a Fund bearing additional costs or expenses as a result of the waiver.
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The Creation Transaction Fee for each creation order is set forth below:
Fund Name | Creation Transaction Fee |
IQ 500 International ETF | $2,500 |
IQ 500 ETF | $500 |
An additional variable fee of up to four times the fixed transaction fee (expressed as a percentage of the value of the Deposit Securities) may be imposed for (1) creations effected outside the Clearing Process and (2) cash creations (to offset the Trust’s brokerage and other transaction costs associated with using cash to purchase the requisite Deposit Securities). Investors are responsible for the costs of transferring the securities constituting the Deposit Securities to the account of the Trust.
In order to seek to replicate the in-kind creation order process for creation orders executed in whole or in part with cash, the Trust 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 (“Creation Market Purchases”). In such cases where the Trust makes Creation Market Purchases, the Authorized Participant will reimburse the Trust for, among other things, any difference between the market value at which the securities and/or financial instruments were purchased by the Trust and the cash-in-lieu amount, applicable registration fees, brokerage commissions and certain taxes.
Redemption
The process to redeem Creation Units is essentially the reverse of the process by which Creation Units are created, as described above. To redeem Shares directly from the Funds, an investor must be an Authorized Participant or must redeem through an Authorized Participant. The Trust redeems Creation Units on a continuous basis on any Business Day through the Distributor at the Shares’ NAV next determined after receipt of an order in proper form. A Fund will not redeem Shares in amounts less than Creation Units. Authorized Participants must accumulate enough Shares in the Secondary Market to constitute a Creation Unit in order to have such Shares redeemed by the Trust. 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.
With respect to a Fund, the Custodian, through the NSCC, makes available prior to the opening of business on the Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m. Eastern time) on each Business Day, the identity of the Fund Securities that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption requests received in proper form (as described below) on that day. Fund Securities received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities that are applicable to creations of Creation Units. Unless cash redemptions are available or specified for a Fund, the redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit generally consist of Fund Securities — as announced on the Business Day the request for redemption is received in proper form — plus or minus cash in an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the Fund Shares being redeemed, as next determined after a receipt of a redemption request in proper form, and the value of the Fund Securities (the “Cash Redemption Amount”), less a redemption transaction fee (see the section of this SAI entitled “Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units—Redemption— Redemption Transaction Fee”).
The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed (1) for any period during which the Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); (2) for any period during which trading on the Exchange is suspended or restricted; (3) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of the Shares of the Fund or determination of a Fund’s NAV is not reasonably practicable; or (4) in such other circumstances as is permitted by the SEC.
Deliveries of redemption proceeds by a Fund generally will be made within two Business Days (that is “T+2”).
However, as discussed in Appendix B, each Fund reserves the right to settle redemption transactions and deliver redemption proceeds on a basis other than T+2 to accommodate foreign market holiday schedules, to account for different treatment among foreign and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and dividend ex-dates (that is the last date the holder of a security can sell the security and still receive dividends payable
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on the security sold), and in certain other circumstances. For each country relating to a Fund, Appendix B hereto identifies the instances where more than seven days would be needed to deliver redemption proceeds. Pursuant to an order of the SEC, in respect of such Fund, the Trust will make delivery of in-kind redemption proceeds within the number of days stated in Appendix B to be the maximum number of days necessary to deliver redemption proceeds.
In the event that cash redemptions are permitted or required by the Trust, proceeds will be paid to the Authorized Participant redeeming shares on behalf of the redeeming investor as soon as practicable after the date of redemption (within seven calendar days thereafter, except for the instances listed in Appendix B hereto where more than seven calendar days would be needed).
Placement of Redemption Orders Using the Clearing Process
Orders to redeem Creation Units through the Clearing Process must be delivered through an Authorized Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement. Investors other than Authorized Participants are responsible for making arrangements with an Authorized Participant for an order to redeem. An order to redeem Creation Units is deemed received by the Trust on the Transmittal Date if: (1) such order is received by the Distributor not later than Closing Time on such Transmittal Date; and (2) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. Such order will be effected based on the NAV of the relevant Fund as next determined. An order to redeem Creation Units using the Clearing Process made in proper form but received by the Distributor after Closing Time will be deemed received on the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date and will be effected at the NAV determined on such next Business Day. The requisite Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount will be transferred by the second NSCC business day following the date on which such request for redemption is deemed received.
Placement of Redemption Orders Outside the Clearing Process
Orders to redeem Creation Units outside the Clearing Process 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 to be effected outside the Clearing Process does not need to be a Participating Party, but such orders must state that the DTC Participant is not using the Clearing Process and that redemption of Creation Units will instead be effected through transfer of Fund Shares directly through DTC. An order to redeem Creation Units outside the Clearing Process is deemed received by the Transfer Agent on the Transmittal Date if (1) such order is received by the Transfer Agent not later than Closing Time on such Transmittal Date; (2) such order is accompanied or followed by the requisite number of Fund Shares, which delivery must be made through DTC to the Custodian no later than the DTC Cut-Off-Time, and the Cash Redemption Amount, if owed to the Fund, which delivery must be made by 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time; and (3) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. After the Transfer Agent receives an order for redemption outside the Clearing Process, the Transfer Agent will initiate procedures to transfer the requisite Fund Securities which are expected to be delivered and the Cash Redemption Amount, if any, by the second Business Day following the Transmittal Date.
The calculation of the value of the Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered or received upon redemption (by the Authorized Participant or the Trust, as applicable) will be made by the Custodian according to the procedures set forth the section of this SAI entitled “Determination of Net Asset Value” computed on the Business Day on which a redemption order is deemed received by the Distributor. Therefore, if a redemption order in proper form is submitted to the Transfer Agent by a DTC Participant not later than Closing Time on the Transmittal Date, and the requisite number of Shares of the Fund are delivered to the Custodian prior to the DTC Cut-Off-Time, then the value of the Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered or received (by the Authorized Participant or the Trust, as applicable) will be determined by the Custodian on such Transmittal Date. If, however, either (1) the requisite number of Shares of the relevant Fund are not delivered by the DTC Cut-Off-Time, as described above, or (2) the redemption order is not submitted in proper form, then the redemption order will not be deemed received as of the Transmittal Date. In such case, the value of the Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered or received will be computed on the Business Day following the Transmittal Date provided that the Fund Shares of the relevant Fund are delivered through DTC to the Custodian by 11:00 a.m. Eastern time the following Business Day pursuant to a properly submitted redemption order.
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If it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Fund Securities, the Trust may in its discretion exercise its option to redeem Fund Shares in cash, and the redeeming Authorized Participant will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash. In addition, an investor may request a redemption in cash that the Trust may, in its sole discretion, permit. In either case, the investor will receive a cash payment equal to the NAV of its Fund Shares based on the NAV of Shares of the relevant Fund next determined after the redemption request is received in proper form (minus a transaction fee which will include an additional charge for cash redemptions to offset the Fund’s brokerage and other transaction costs associated with the disposition of Fund Securities). A Fund may also, in its sole discretion, upon request of a shareholder, provide such redeemer a portfolio of securities that differs from the exact composition of the Fund Securities, or cash in lieu of some securities added to the Cash Redemption Amount, but in no event will the total value of the securities delivered and the cash transmitted differ from the NAV. Redemptions of Fund Shares for Fund Securities will be subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and the Fund (whether or not it otherwise permits cash redemptions) reserves the right to redeem Creation Units for cash to the extent that the Trust 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 an investor for which it is acting that is subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular security included in the Fund Securities applicable to the redemption of a Creation Unit may be paid an equivalent amount of cash. The Authorized Participant may request the redeeming Beneficial Owner of the Fund Shares to complete an order form or to enter into agreements with respect to such matters as compensating cash payment, beneficial ownership of shares or delivery instructions.
Redemption Transaction Fee
Investors will be required to pay to the Custodian a fixed transaction fee (the “Redemption Transaction Fee”) to offset the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the redemption of Creation Units. The standard redemption transaction fee will be the same regardless of the number of Creation Units redeemed by an investor on the applicable Business Day.
When determining whether to waive the Redemption Transaction Fee, the Advisor considers a number of factors including, but not limited to, whether waiving the Redemption Transaction Fee will: reduce the cost of portfolio rebalancing; improve the quality of the Secondary Market for the Fund's Shares and not result in a Fund bearing additional cost or expenses as a result of the waiver.
The Redemption Transaction Fee for each redemption order is set forth below:
Fund Name | Creation Transaction Fee |
IQ 500 International ETF | $2,500 |
IQ 500 ETF | $500 |
An additional variable fee of up to four times the fixed transaction fee (expressed as a percentage value of the Fund Securities) may be imposed for (1) redemptions effected outside the Clearing Process and (2) cash redemptions (to offset the Trust’s brokerage and other transaction costs associate with the sale of Fund Securities). Investors will also bear the costs of transferring the Fund Securities from the Trust to their account or on their order.
In order to seek to replicate the in-kind redemption order process for creation orders executed in whole or in part with cash, the Trust 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 Trust makes Market Sales, the Authorized Participant will reimburse the Trust for, among other things, any difference between the market value at which the securities and/or financial instruments were sold or settled by the Trust and the cash-in-lieu amount, applicable registration fees, brokerage commissions and certain taxes.
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Cash Creations and Redemptions
The Trust reserves the right to offer a “cash” option for creations and redemptions of Shares, although it has no current intention of doing so for Funds. In each instance of such cash creations and redemptions, transaction fees may be imposed that will be higher than the transaction fees associated with in-kind creations and redemptions. In all cases, such fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of the SEC applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities.
CONTINUOUS OFFERING
The method by which Creation Units are created and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. Because new Creation Units are issued and sold by the Trust on an ongoing basis, at any point a “distribution,” as such term is used in the Securities Act, may occur. Broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities on their part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed 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 Securities Act.
For example, a broker-dealer firm or its client may be deemed a statutory underwriter if it takes Creation Units after placing an order with the Distributor, breaks them down into constituent Shares, and sells such Shares directly to customers, or if it chooses to couple the creation of a supply of new Shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of Secondary Market demand for Shares. A determination of whether one is an underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act must take into account all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its client in the particular case, and the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to a categorization as an underwriter.
Broker-dealers who are not “underwriters” but are participating in a distribution (as contrasted to ordinary secondary trading transactions), and thus dealing with Shares that are part of an “unsold allotment” within the meaning of Section 4(3)(C) of the Securities Act, would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus-delivery exemption provided by Section 4(3) of the Securities Act. This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(3) of the Securities Act is not available in respect of such transactions as a result of Section 24(d) of the 1940 Act. As a result, broker-dealer firms should note that dealers who are not underwriters but are participating in a distribution (as contrasted with ordinary Secondary Market transactions) and thus dealing with the Shares that are part of an over-allotment within the meaning of Section 4(3)(A) of the Securities Act would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(3) of the Securities Act. Firms that incur a prospectus delivery obligation with respect to Shares are reminded that, under Rule 153 of the Securities Act, a prospectus delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the Securities Act owed to an exchange member in connection with a sale on the 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.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “Determination of Net Asset Value (NAV).”
The NAV per Share for each Fund is computed by dividing the value of the net assets of the Fund ( i.e. , the value of its total assets less total liabilities) by the total number of Shares outstanding, rounded to the nearest cent. Expenses and fees, including the management fee, are accrued daily and taken into account for purposes of determining NAV. The NAV of each Fund is determined as of the close of the regular trading session on the Exchange (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on each day that such exchange is open. Any assets or liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are converted into U.S. dollars at the current market rates on the date of valuation as quoted by one or more sources.
In computing each Fund’s NAV, the Fund’s portfolio securities are valued based on market quotations. When market quotations are not readily available for a portfolio security a Fund must use such security’s fair value as determined in good faith in accordance with the Fund’s Fair Value Pricing Procedures which are approved by the Board.
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The value of each Fund’s portfolio securities is based on such securities’ closing price on local markets when available. If a portfolio security’s market price is not readily available or does not otherwise accurately reflect the fair value of such security, the portfolio security will be valued by another method that the Advisor believes will better reflect fair value in accordance with the Trust’s valuation policies and procedures approved by the Board. Each Fund may use fair value pricing in a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to, situations when the value of a Fund’s portfolio security has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the market on which such security is principally traded (such as a corporate action or other news that may materially affect the price of such security) or trading in such security has been suspended or halted. In addition, each Fund may fair value foreign equity portfolio securities each day the Fund calculates its NAV. Accordingly, a Fund’s NAV may reflect certain portfolio securities’ fair values rather than their market prices. Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that a fair value determination for a portfolio security is materially different than the value that could be realized upon the sale of such security. In addition, fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate a Fund’s NAV and the prices used by the Fund’s Underlying Index. This may adversely affect a Fund’s ability to track its Underlying Index. With respect to securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges, the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities may change on days when you will not be able to purchase or sell your Shares.
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
General Policies
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “Dividends, Distributions and Taxes.”
Dividends from net investment income are declared and paid at least annually by each Fund. Distributions of net realized capital gains, if any, generally are declared and paid once a year, but the Trust may make distributions on a more frequent basis for each Fund to improve its Underlying Index tracking or to comply with the distribution requirements of the Code, in all events in a manner consistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act. In addition, the Trust may distribute at least annually amounts representing the full dividend yield on the underlying Portfolio Securities of the Funds, net of expenses of the Funds, as if each Fund owned such underlying Portfolio Securities for the entire dividend period in which case some portion of each distribution may result in a return of capital for tax purposes for certain shareholders.
Dividends and other distributions on Shares are distributed, as described below, on a pro rata basis to Beneficial Owners of such Shares. Dividend payments are made through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners then of record with proceeds received from the Trust. The Trust may make additional distributions to the extent necessary (i) to distribute the entire annual “investment company taxable income” of the Trust, plus any net capital gains and (ii) to avoid imposition of the excise tax imposed by Section 4982 of the Code. Management of the Trust reserves the right to declare special dividends if, in its reasonable discretion, such action is necessary or advisable to preserve the status of each Fund as a “regulated investment company” (a “RIC”) or to avoid imposition of income or excise taxes on undistributed income.
Dividend Reinvestment Service
No reinvestment service is provided by the Trust. Broker-dealers may make available the DTC book-entry Dividend Reinvestment Service for use by Beneficial Owners of the Funds through DTC Participants for reinvestment of their dividend distributions. If this service is used, dividend distributions of both income and realized gains will be automatically reinvested in additional whole Shares of the Funds. Beneficial Owners should contact their broker to determine the availability and costs of the service and the details of participation therein. Brokers may require Beneficial Owners to adhere to specific procedures and timetables.
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION
Set forth below is a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations affecting the Funds and the purchase, ownership and disposition of Shares. It is based upon the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), U.S. Treasury Department regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial authorities, and administrative rulings and practices, all as in effect as of the date in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “Dividends, Distributions and Taxes.”
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Except to the extent discussed below, this summary assumes that a Fund’s shareholder holds Shares as capital assets within the meaning of the Code, and does not hold Shares in connection with a trade or business. This summary does not address all potential U.S. federal income tax considerations possibly applicable to an investment in Shares, and does not address the tax consequences to Fund shareholders subject to special tax rules, including, but not limited to, partnerships and the partners therein, tax-exempt shareholders, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”), those who hold Fund Shares through an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax-advantaged account, and, except to the extent discussed below, “non-U.S. shareholders” (as defined below). This discussion does not discuss any aspect of U.S. state, local, estate and gift, or non-U.S., tax law. Furthermore, this discussion is not intended or written to be legal or tax advice to any shareholder in a Fund or other person and is not intended or written to be used or relied on, and cannot be used or relied on, by any such person for the purpose of avoiding any U.S. federal tax penalties that may be imposed on such person. Prospective Fund shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the specific U.S. federal, state and local, and non-U.S., tax consequences of investing in Shares based on their particular circumstances.
The Funds have not requested and will not request an advance ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) as to the U.S. federal income tax matters described below. The IRS could adopt positions contrary to those discussed below and such positions of this SAI and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. The following information supplements and should be sustained. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors with regard to the U.S. federal tax consequences of the purchase, ownership or disposition of Shares, as well as the tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, non-U.S. country or other taxing jurisdiction.
Tax Treatment of the Funds
In General . Each Fund intends to qualify and elect to be treated as a separate regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the Code. As a RIC, a Fund generally will not be required to pay corporate-level U.S. federal income taxes on any ordinary income or capital gains that it distributes to its shareholders.
To qualify and remain eligible for the special tax treatment accorded to RICs, each Fund must meet certain income, asset and distribution requirements, described in more detail below. Specifically, each Fund must (i) derive at least 90% of its gross income in 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, other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTPs”) ( i.e. , partnerships that are traded on an established securities market or readily tradable on a Secondary Market, other than partnerships that derive at least 90% of their income from interest, dividends, and other qualifying RIC income described above), and (ii) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, (a) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets is represented by cash, securities of other RICs, U.S. government securities and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater in value than 5% of the Fund’s total assets and not greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer, any two or more issuers of which 20% or more of the voting stock of each such issuer is held by the Fund and that are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses or in the securities of one or more QPTPs. Furthermore, each Fund must distribute annually at least 90% of the sum of (i) its “investment company taxable income” (which includes dividends, interest and net short-term capital gains) and (ii) certain net tax-exempt income, if any.
Failure to Maintain RIC Status . If a Fund fails to qualify as a RIC for any year (subject to certain curative measures allowed by the Code), the Fund will be subject to regular corporate-level U.S. federal income tax in that year on all of its taxable income, regardless of whether the Fund makes any distributions to its shareholders. In addition, in such case, distributions will be taxable to a Fund’s shareholders generally as ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, possibly eligible for (i) in the case of an individual Fund shareholder, treatment as a qualified dividend (as discussed below) subject to tax at preferential long-term capital gains rates or (ii) in the case of a corporate Fund shareholder, a dividends-received deduction. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the Funds will qualify for the special tax treatment accorded to RICs.
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Excise Tax . A Fund will be subject to a 4% excise tax on certain undistributed income generally if the Fund does not distribute to its shareholders in each calendar year at least 98% of its ordinary income for the calendar year (taking into account certain deferrals and elections), 98.2% of its capital gain net income (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the twelve months ended October 31 of such year (or later if the Fund is permitted to elect and so elects), plus 100% of any undistributed amounts from prior years. For these purposes, a Fund will be treated as having distributed any amount on which it has been subject to U.S. corporate income tax for the taxable year ending within such calendar year. Each Fund intends to make distributions necessary to avoid this 4% excise tax, although there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so.
Phantom Income . With respect to some or all of its investments, a Fund may be required to recognize taxable income in advance of receiving the related cash payment. For example, under the “wash sale” rules, a Fund may not be able to deduct currently a loss on a disposition of a portfolio security. As a result, a Fund may be required to make an annual income distribution greater than the total cash actually received during the year. Such distribution may be made from the existing cash assets of the Fund or cash generated from selling portfolio securities. The Fund may realize gains or losses from such sales, in which event the Fund’s shareholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution than they would in the absence of such transactions. (See also — “Certain Debt Instruments” below.)
Certain Debt Instruments . Some of the debt securities (with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by a Fund (such as zero coupon debt instruments or debt instruments with payment in-kind interest) may be treated as debt securities that are issued originally at a discount. Generally, the amount of original issue discount is treated as interest income and is included in income over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. If a Fund acquires debt securities (with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) in the Secondary Market, such debt securities may be treated as having market discount. Generally, any gain recognized on the disposition of, and any partial payment of principal on, a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the “accrued market discount” on such debt security. Market discount generally accrues in equal daily installments. A Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt securities having market discount, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.
Some debt securities (with a fixed maturity date of one year or less from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by a Fund may be treated as having acquisition discount, or original issue discount in the case of certain types of debt securities. Generally, a Fund will be required to include the acquisition discount, or original issue discount, in income over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. A Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt securities having acquisition discount, or original issue discount, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.
PFIC Investments . A Fund may purchase shares in a non-U.S. corporation treated as a “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Fund may be subject to increased U.S. federal income tax (plus charges in the nature of interest on previously-deferred income taxes on the PFIC’s income) on any “excess distributions” made on, or gain from a sale (or other disposition) of, the PFIC shares even if the Fund distributes such income to its shareholders.
In lieu of the increased income tax and deferred tax interest charges on excess distributions on, and dispositions of, a PFIC’s shares, the Fund can elect to treat the underlying PFIC as a “qualified electing fund,” provided that the PFIC agrees to provide the Fund with certain information on an annual basis. With a “qualified electing fund” election in place, the Fund must include in its income each year its share (whether distributed or not) of the ordinary earnings and net capital gain of the PFIC.
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In the alternative, a Fund can elect, under certain conditions, to mark-to-market at the end of each taxable year its PFIC shares. The Fund would recognize as ordinary income any increase in the value of the PFIC shares and as an ordinary loss (up to any prior net income resulting from the mark-to-market election) any decrease in the value of the PFIC shares.
With a “mark-to-market” or “qualified election fund” election in place on a PFIC, a Fund might be required to recognize in a year income in excess of the sum of the actual distributions received by it on the PFIC shares and the proceeds from its dispositions of the PFIC’s shares. Any such income generally would be subject to the RIC distribution requirements and would be taken into account for purposes of the 4% excise tax (described above).
Section 1256 Contracts . A Fund’s investments in so-called “Section 1256 contracts,” such as certain futures contracts, most non-U.S. currency forward contracts traded in the interbank market and options on most stock indices, are subject to special tax rules. Section 1256 contracts held by a Fund at the end of its taxable year are required to be marked to their market value, and any unrealized gain or loss on those positions will be included in a Fund’s income as if each position had been sold for its fair market value at the end of the taxable year. The resulting gain or loss will be combined with any gain or loss realized by a Fund from positions in Section 1256 contracts closed during the taxable year. Provided such positions were held as capital assets and were not part of a “hedging transaction” or a “straddle,” 60% of the resulting net gain or loss will be treated as long-term gain or loss, and 40% of such net gain or loss will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss, regardless of the period of time the positions were actually held by a Fund. In addition, a Fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on certain Section 1256 contracts to the extent of any unrecognized gains on related positions held by the Fund. Income from Section 1256 contracts generally would be subject to the RIC distribution requirements and would be taken into account for purposes of the 4% excise tax (described above).
Swaps . As a result of entering into swap contracts, a Fund may make or receive periodic net payments. A Fund also may make or receive a payment when a swap is terminated prior to maturity through an assignment of the swap or other closing transaction. Periodic net payments generally will constitute ordinary income or deductions, while termination of a swap generally will result in capital gain or loss (which will be a long-term capital gain or loss if a Fund has been a party to the swap for more than one year). With respect to certain types of swaps, a Fund may be required to currently recognize income or loss with respect to future payments on such swaps or may elect under certain circumstances to mark such swaps to market annually for tax purposes as ordinary income or loss. The tax treatment of many types of credit default swaps is uncertain.
Short Sales . In general, gain or loss on a short sale is recognized when a Fund closes the sale by delivering the borrowed property to the lender, not when the borrowed property is sold. If, however, a Fund already owns property that is identical to the kind it borrows and sells pursuant to a short sale “against the box,” and such pre-existing ownership position has appreciated ( i.e. , the fair market value exceeds the Fund’s tax basis), the Fund may be required to recognize such gain at the time the borrowed stock is sold. Any gain or loss realized upon closing out a short sale generally is considered as capital gain or loss to the extent that the property used to close the short sale constitutes a capital asset in the Fund’s hands. Except with respect to certain situations where the property used by a Fund to close a short sale has a long-term holding period on the date of the short sale, special rules generally would treat the gains on short sales as short-term capital gains. These rules also may terminate the running of the holding period of “substantially identical property” held by a Fund. Moreover, a loss on a short sale will be treated as long-term capital loss if, on the date of the short sale, “substantially identical property” has been held by a Fund for more than one year. In general, a Fund will not be permitted to deduct payments made to reimburse the lender of securities for dividends paid on borrowed stock if the short sale is closed on or before the 45th day after the short sale is entered into.
Foreign Currency Transactions . Gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the time a Fund accrues income, expenses or other items denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund actually collects or pays such items are generally treated as ordinary income or loss. Similarly, gains or losses on foreign currency forward contracts, certain foreign currency options and futures contracts and the disposition of debt securities denominated in a foreign currency, to the extent attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the acquisition and disposition dates, generally are also treated as ordinary income or loss, unless a Fund were to elect otherwise where such an election is permitted.
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Non-U.S. Investments . Dividends, interest and proceeds from the direct or indirect sale of non-U.S. securities may be subject to non-U.S. withholding tax and other taxes, including financial transaction taxes. Even if a Fund is entitled to seek a refund in respect of such taxes, it may not have sufficient information to do so or may choose not to do so. Tax treaties between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes in some cases. Non-U.S. taxes paid by a Fund will reduce the return from the Fund’s investments.
Special or Uncertain Tax Consequences . A Fund’s investment or other activities could be subject to special and complex tax rules that may produce differing tax consequences, such as disallowing or limiting the use of losses or deductions, causing the recognition of income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, affecting the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur or altering the characterization of certain complex financial transactions.
A Fund may engage in investment or other activities the treatment of which may not be clear or may be subject to recharacterization by the IRS. In particular, the tax treatment of certain swaps and other derivatives and income from foreign currency transactions is unclear for purposes of determining a Fund’s status as a RIC. If a final determination on the tax treatment of a Fund’s investment or other activities differs from the Fund’s original expectations, the final determination could adversely affect the Fund’s status as a RIC or the timing or character of income recognized by the Fund, requiring the Fund to purchase or sell assets, alter its portfolio or take other action in order to comply with the final determination.
Tax Treatment of Fund Shareholders
Taxation of U.S. Shareholders
The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Fund Shares applicable to “U.S. shareholders.” For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. shareholder” is a beneficial owner of Fund Shares who, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is (i) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the U.S.; (ii) a corporation (or an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in the U.S. or under the laws of the U.S., or of any state thereof, or the District of Columbia; (iii) an estate, the income of which is includable in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or (iv) a trust, if (a) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (b) the trust has a valid election in place to be treated as a U.S. person.
Fund Distributions . In general, Fund distributions are subject to U.S. federal income tax when paid, regardless of whether they consist of cash or property and regardless of whether they are re-invested in Shares. However, any Fund distribution declared in October, November or December of any calendar year and payable to shareholders of record on a specified date during such month will be deemed to have been received by each Fund shareholder on December 31 of such calendar year, provided such dividend is actually paid during January of the following calendar year.
Distributions of a Fund’s net investment income and a Fund’s net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses (collectively referred to as “ordinary income dividends”) are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits (subject to an exception for “qualified dividend income, as discussed below). Corporate shareholders of a Fund may be eligible to take a dividends-received deduction with respect to such distributions, provided the distributions are attributable to dividends received by the Fund on stock of U.S. corporations with respect to which the Fund meets certain holding period and other requirements. To the extent designated as “capital gain dividends” by a Fund, distributions of a Fund’s net long-term capital gains in excess of net short-term capital losses (“net capital gain”) are taxable at long-term capital gain tax rates to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, regardless of a Fund shareholder’s holding period in the Fund’s Shares. Such dividends will not be eligible for a dividends-received deduction by corporate shareholders.
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A Fund’s net capital gain is computed by taking into account the Fund’s capital loss carryforwards, if any. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010, capital losses incurred in tax years beginning after December 22, 2010 can be carried forward indefinitely and retain the character of the original loss. To the extent that these carryforwards are available to offset future capital gains, it is probable that the amount offset will not be distributed to shareholders. In the event that a Fund were to experience an ownership change as defined under the Code, the Fund’s loss carryforwards, if any, may be subject to limitation.
Distributions of “qualified dividend income” (defined below) are taxed to certain non-corporate shareholders at the reduced rates applicable to long-term capital gain to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, provided that the Fund shareholder meets certain holding period and other requirements with respect to the distributing Fund’s Shares and the distributing Fund meets certain holding period and other requirements with respect to the dividend-paying stocks. Dividends subject to these special rules, however, are not actually treated as capital gains and, thus, are not included in the computation of a non-corporate shareholder’s net capital gain and generally cannot be used to offset capital losses. The portion of distributions that a Fund may report as qualified dividend income generally is limited to the amount of qualified dividend income received by the Fund, but if for any Fund taxable year 95% or more of the Fund’s gross income (exclusive of net capital gain from sales of stock and securities) consists of qualified dividend income, all distributions of such income for that taxable year may be reported as qualified dividend income. For this purpose, “qualified dividend income” generally means income from dividends received by a Fund from U.S. corporations and qualified non-U.S. corporations. Income from dividends received by a Fund from a REIT or another RIC generally is qualified dividend income only to the extent that the dividend distributions are made out of qualified dividend income received by such REIT or other RIC.
To the extent that a Fund makes a distribution of income received by such Fund in lieu of dividends with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction, such income will not constitute qualified dividend income to individual shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders.
Distributions in excess of a Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will, as to each shareholder, be treated as a tax- free return of capital to the extent of the shareholder’s tax basis in its Shares of the Fund, and as a capital gain thereafter (assuming the shareholder holds its Shares of the Fund as capital assets).
Each Fund intends to distribute its net capital gain at least annually. However, by providing written notice to its shareholders no later than 60 days after its year-end, a Fund may elect to retain some or all of its net capital gain and designate the retained amount as a “deemed distribution.” In that event, the Fund pays U.S. federal income tax on the retained net capital gain, and each Fund shareholder recognizes a proportionate share of the Fund’s undistributed net capital gain. In addition, each Fund shareholder can claim a tax credit or refund for the shareholder’s proportionate share of the Fund’s U.S. federal income taxes paid on the undistributed net capital gain and increase the shareholder’s tax basis in the Fund Shares by an amount equal to the shareholder’s proportionate share of the Fund’s undistributed net capital gain, reduced by the amount of the shareholder’s tax credit or refund. Organizations or persons not subject to U.S. federal income tax on such net capital gain will be entitled to a refund of their pro rata share of such taxes paid by the Fund upon timely filing appropriate returns or claims for refund with the IRS.
With respect to non-corporate Fund shareholders ( i.e. , individuals, trusts and estates), ordinary income and short-term capital gain are taxed at a current maximum rate of 37% and long-term capital gain is taxed at a current maximum rate of 20%. Corporate shareholders are taxed at a current maximum rate of 21% on their income and gain.
In addition, high-income individuals (and certain trusts and estates) generally will be subject to a 3.8% Medicare tax on “net investment income,” in addition to otherwise applicable U.S. federal income tax. “Net investment income” generally will include dividends (including capital gain dividends) received from a Fund and net gains from the redemption or other disposition of Shares. Please consult your tax advisor regarding this tax.
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If a Fund is a “qualified fund of funds” ( i.e. , a RIC at least 50% of the total assets of which, at the close of each quarter of the taxable year, is represented by interests in other RICs) or more than 50% of a Fund’s total assets at the end of a taxable year consist of non-U.S. stock or securities, the Fund may elect to “pass through” to its shareholders certain non-U.S. income taxes paid by the Fund. This means that each shareholder will be required to (i) include in gross income, even though not actually received, the shareholder’s pro rata share of the Fund’s non-U.S. income taxes, and (ii) either take a corresponding deduction (in calculating U.S. federal taxable income) or credit (in calculating U.S. federal income tax), subject to certain limitations.
Investors considering buying Shares just prior to a distribution should be aware that, although the price of the Shares purchased at such time may reflect the forthcoming distribution, such distribution nevertheless may be taxable (as opposed to a non-taxable return of capital).
Exempt-Interest Dividends . If at the end of each quarter of a Fund’s taxable year, (i) the Fund is a qualified fund of funds (as defined above), or (ii) 50% or more of the Fund’s assets, by value, consist of certain obligations exempt from U.S. federal income tax under Section 103(a) of the Code (relating generally to obligations of a state or local governmental unit), the Fund shall be qualified to designate a portion of its dividends as “exempt-interest dividends.” Exempt-interest dividends generally will be excludable from a shareholder’s gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Exempt-interest dividends will be included, however, in determining the portion, if any, of a person’s social security and railroad retirement benefit payments subject to U.S. federal income tax. Interest on indebtedness incurred to purchase or carry shares of a Fund that pays exempt-interest dividends will not be deductible by the shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent attributable to exempt-interest dividends.
Furthermore, exempt-interest dividends paid by a Fund could subject certain shareholders in the Fund to the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax. For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2017, corporations are subject to an alternative minimum tax based, in part, on certain differences between taxable income as adjusted for other tax preferences and the corporation’s “adjusted current earnings,” which more closely reflect a corporation’s economic income. Because an exempt-interest dividend paid by a Fund will be included in adjusted current earnings, a corporate shareholder of such Fund may be required to pay alternative minimum tax on exempt- interest dividends paid by the Fund. In addition, if a Fund invests in “private activity bonds,” a portion of the exempt-interest dividends paid by such Fund may be treated as an item of “tax preference” and, therefore, could subject certain shareholders of the Fund to the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax.
REIT/REMIC Investments . A Fund may invest in REITs owning residual interests in REMICs. Certain income from a REIT that is attributable to a REMIC residual interest (known as “excess inclusion” income) is allocated to a Fund’s shareholders in proportion to the dividends received from the Fund, producing the same income tax consequences as if the Fund shareholders directly received the excess inclusion income. In general, excess inclusion income (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) constitutes “unrelated business taxable income” to certain entities (such as a qualified pension plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan or other tax-exempt entity), and (iii) in the case of a non-U.S. shareholder, does not qualify for any withholding tax reduction or exemption. In addition, if at any time during any taxable year certain types of entities own Shares, the Fund will be subject to a tax equal to the product of (i) the excess inclusion income allocable to such entities and (ii) the highest U.S. federal income tax rate imposed on corporations (currently 35%). A Fund also is subject to information reporting with respect to any excess inclusion income.
Sales or Exchanges of Shares . Any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale or exchange of Shares generally is treated as a long- term gain or loss if the Shares have been held for more than one year. Any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale or exchange of Shares held for one year or less generally is treated as a short-term gain or loss, except that any capital loss on the sale of Shares held for six months or less is treated as long-term capital loss to the extent that capital gain dividends were paid (or deemed to be paid) with respect to such Shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a sale or exchange of Fund Shares will be disallowed if substantially identical shares are purchased (through reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the Fund Shares. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
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Legislation passed by Congress requires reporting to the IRS and to taxpayers of adjusted cost basis information for “covered securities,” which generally include shares of a RIC acquired on or after January 1, 2012. Shareholders should contact their brokers to obtain information with respect to the available cost basis reporting methods and available elections for their accounts.
Creation Unit Issues and Redemptions . On an issue of Shares as part of a Creation Unit, made by means of an in-kind deposit, an Authorized Participant generally recognizes capital gain or loss equal to the difference between (i) the fair market value (at issue) of the issued Shares (plus any cash received by the Authorized Participant as part of the issue) and (ii) the Authorized Participant’s aggregate basis in the exchanged securities (plus any cash paid by the Authorized Participant as part of the issue). On a redemption of Shares as part of a Creation Unit where the redemption is conducted in-kind by a payment of Fund Securities, an Authorized Participant generally recognizes capital gain or loss equal to the difference between (i) the fair market value (at redemption) of the securities received (plus any cash received by the Authorized Participant as part of the redemption) and (ii) the Authorized Participant’s basis in the redeemed Shares (plus any cash paid by the Authorized Participant as part of the redemption). However, the IRS may assert, under the “wash sale” rules or on the basis that there has been no significant change in the Authorized Participant’s economic position, that any loss on an issue or redemption of Creation Units cannot be deducted currently.
In general, any capital gain or loss recognized upon the issue or redemption of Shares (as components of a Creation Unit) is treated either as long-term capital gain or loss, if the deposited securities (in the case of an issue) or the Shares (in the case of a redemption) have been held for more than one year, or otherwise as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any capital loss on a redemption of Shares held for six months or less is treated as long-term capital loss to the extent that capital gain dividends were paid (or deemed to be paid) with respect to such Fund Shares.
Reportable Transactions . If a Fund shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to Shares of $2 million or more (for an individual Fund shareholder) or $10 million or more (for a corporate shareholder) in any single taxable year (or a greater loss over a combination of years), the Fund shareholder may be required file a disclosure statement with the IRS. Significant penalties may be imposed upon the failure to comply with these reporting rules. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these rules in light of their individual circumstances.
Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders
The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Fund Shares applicable to “non-U.S. shareholders.” For purposes of this discussion, a “non-U.S. shareholder” is a beneficial owner of Fund Shares that is not a U.S. shareholder (as defined above) and is not an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The following discussion is based on current law, and is for general information only. It addresses only selected, and not all, aspects of U.S. federal income taxation.
Dividends . With respect to non-U.S. shareholders of a Fund, the Fund’s ordinary income dividends generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% (or at a lower rate established under an applicable tax treaty). However, ordinary income dividends that are “interest-related dividends” or “short-term capital gain dividends” (each as defined below) and capital gain dividends generally will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding (or income) tax, provided that the non-U.S. shareholder furnishes the Fund with a completed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, (or acceptable substitute documentation) establishing the non-U.S. shareholder’s non-U.S. status and the Fund does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the non-U.S. shareholder would be subject to such withholding tax if the non-U.S. shareholder were to receive the related amounts directly rather than as dividends from the Fund. “Interest-related dividends” generally means dividends designated by a Fund as attributable to such Fund’s U.S.-source interest income, other than certain contingent interest and interest from obligations of a corporation or partnership in which such Fund is at least a 10% shareholder, reduced by expenses that are allocable to such income. “Short-term capital gain dividends” generally means dividends designated by a Fund as attributable to the excess of such Fund’s net short-term capital gain over its net long-term capital loss. Depending on its circumstances, a Fund may treat such dividends, in whole or in part, as ineligible from these exemptions from withholding.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, special rules apply in certain cases, including as described below. For example, in cases where dividend income from a non-U.S. shareholder’s investment in a Fund is effectively connected with a trade or business of the non-U.S. shareholder conducted in the U.S., the non-U.S. shareholder generally will be exempt from withholding tax, but will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. shareholders. Such income generally must be reported on a U.S. federal income tax return. Furthermore, such income also may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax in the case of a non-U.S. shareholder that is a corporation. In addition, if a non-U.S. shareholder is an individual who is present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a “tax home” in the U.S., any gain incurred by such shareholder with respect to his or her capital gain dividends and short-term capital gain dividends would be subject to a 30% U.S. federal income tax (which, in the case of short-term capital gain dividends, may, in certain instances, be withheld at source by a Fund). Lastly, special rules apply with respect to dividends that are subject to the Foreign Investment in Real Property Act (“FIRPTA”), discussed below (see—“Investments in U.S. Real Property”).
Sales or Exchanges of Fund Shares . Under current law, gain on a sale or exchange of Shares generally will be exempt from U.S. federal income tax (including withholding at the source) unless (i) the non-U.S. shareholder is an individual who was physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a “tax home” in the U.S., in which case the non-U.S. shareholder would incur a 30% U.S. federal income tax on his capital gain, (ii) the gain is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by the non-U.S. shareholder (in which case the non-U.S. shareholder generally would be taxable on such gain at the same graduated rates applicable to U.S. shareholders, would be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return and, in the case of a corporate non-U.S. shareholder, may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax), or (iii) the gain is subject to FIRPTA, as discussed below (see—“Investments in U.S. Real Property”).
Credits or Refunds . To claim a credit or refund for any Fund-level taxes on any undistributed long-term capital gains (as discussed above) or any taxes collected through withholding, a non-U.S. Fund shareholder must obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number and file a U.S. federal income tax return even if the non-U.S. Fund shareholder would not otherwise be required to do so.
Investments in U.S. Real Property . Subject to the exemptions described below, a non-U.S. shareholder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax under FIRPTA on any gain from the sale or exchange of Shares if the Fund is a “U.S. real property holding corporation” (as defined below) at any time during the shorter of the period during which the non-U.S. shareholder held such Shares and the five-year period ending on the date of the disposition of those Shares. Any such gain will be taxed in the same manner as for a U.S. Fund shareholder and in certain cases will be collected through withholding at the source in an amount equal to 15% of the sales proceeds. A Fund will be a “U.S. real property holding corporation” if the fair market value of its “U.S. real property interests” (“USRPIs”) (which includes shares of U.S. real property holding corporations and certain participating debt securities) equals or exceeds 50% of the fair market value of such interests plus its interests in real property located outside the U.S. plus any other assets used or held for use in a business.
An exemption from FIRPTA applies if either (i) the class of Shares disposed of by the non-U.S. shareholder is regularly traded on an established securities market (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and the non-U.S. shareholder did not actually or constructively hold more than 5% of such class of Shares at any time during the five-year period prior to the disposition, or (ii) the Fund is a “domestically-controlled RIC.” A “domestically-controlled RIC” is any RIC in which at all times during the relevant testing period 50% or more in value of the RIC’s stock is owned by U.S. persons.
Furthermore, special rules apply under FIRPTA in respect of distributions attributable to gains from USRPIs. In general, if a Fund is a U.S. real property holding corporation (taking certain special rules into account), distributions by such Fund attributable to gains from USRPIs will be treated as income effectively connected with a trade or business within the U.S., subject generally to tax at the same graduated rates applicable to U.S. shareholders and, in the case of a corporation that is a non-U.S. shareholder, a “branch profits” tax at a rate of 30% (or other applicable lower treaty rate). Such distributions will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax and generally will give rise to an obligation on the part of the non-U.S. shareholder to file a U.S. federal income tax return.
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Even if a Fund is treated as a U.S. real property holding corporation, distributions on the Fund’s Shares will not be treated, under the rule described above, as income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business in the case of a non-U.S. shareholder that owns (for the applicable period) 5% or less (by class) of Shares and such class is regularly traded on an established securities market for U.S. federal income tax purposes (but such distribution will be treated as ordinary dividends subject to a 30% withholding tax or lower applicable treaty rate).
Non-U.S. shareholders that engage in certain “wash sale” and/or substitute dividend payment transactions the effect of which is to avoid the receipt of distributions from the Fund that would be treated as gain effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business will be treated as having received such distributions.
All shareholders of the Fund should consult their tax advisers regarding the application of the rules described above.
Back-Up Withholding
A Fund (or a financial intermediary such as a broker through which a shareholder holds Shares in a Fund) may be required to report certain information on a Fund shareholder to the IRS and withhold U.S. federal income tax (“backup withholding”) at a 24% rate from taxable distributions and redemption or sale proceeds payable to the Fund shareholder if (i) the Fund shareholder fails to provide the Fund with a correct taxpayer identification number or make required certifications, or if the IRS notifies the Fund that the Fund shareholder is otherwise subject to backup withholding, and (ii) the Fund shareholder is not otherwise exempt from backup withholding. Non-U.S. shareholders can qualify for exemption from backup withholding by submitting a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amount withheld may be credited against a Fund shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
The U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act ("FATCA") generally imposes a 30% withholding tax on "withholdable payments" (defined below) made to (i) a "foreign financial institution" ("FFI"), unless the FFI enters into an agreement with the IRS to provide information regarding certain of its direct and indirect U.S. account holders and satisfy certain due diligence and other specified requirements, and (ii) a "non-financial foreign entity" (“NFFE”) unless such NFFE provides certain information to the withholding agent about certain of its direct and indirect “substantial U.S. owners” or certifies that it has no such U.S. owners. The beneficial owner of a "withholdable payment" may be eligible for a refund or credit of the withheld tax. The U.S. government also has entered into several intergovernmental agreements with other jurisdictions to provide an alternative, and generally easier, approach for FFIs to comply with FATCA.
"Withholdable payments" generally include, among other items, (i) U.S.-source interest and dividends, and (ii) gross proceeds from the sale or disposition, occurring on or after January 1, 2019, of property of a type that can produce U.S.-source interest or dividends.
A Fund may be required to impose a 30% withholding tax on withholdable payments to a shareholder if the shareholder fails to provide the Fund with the information, certifications or documentation required under FATCA, including information, certification or documentation necessary for the Fund to determine if the shareholder is a non-U.S. shareholder or a U.S. shareholder and, if it is a non-U.S. shareholder, if the non-U.S. shareholder has “substantial U.S. owners” and/or is in compliance with (or meets an exception from) FATCA requirements. The Fund will not pay any additional amounts to shareholders in respect of any amounts withheld. The Fund may disclose any shareholder information, certifications or documentation to the IRS or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA.
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The requirements of, and exceptions from, FATCA are complex. All prospective shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the potential application of FATCA with respect to their own situation.
Section 351
The Trust, on behalf of each Fund, has the right to reject an order for a purchase of Shares of the Fund if the purchaser (or any group of purchasers) would, upon obtaining the shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding Shares of a given 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.
OTHER INFORMATION
The Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by the Exchange. The Exchange makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of Shares or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Funds particularly or the ability of the Funds to achieve their objective. The Exchange has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Funds.
For purposes of the 1940 Act, the Funds are registered investment companies, and the acquisition of Shares by other registered investment companies and companies relying on exemption from registration as investment companies under Section 3(c)(1) or 3 (c)(7) of the 1940 Act is subject to the restrictions of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act, except as permitted by an exemptive order that permits registered investment companies to invest in the Funds beyond those limitations.
Shareholder inquiries may be made by writing to the Trust, c/o IndexIQ Advisors LLC, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, the Funds have not yet commenced operations.
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APPENDIX A
SUMMARY OF PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES
The Advisor exercises its proxy voting rights with regard to the holdings in each Fund’s investment portfolio with the goals of maximizing the value of the Fund’s investments, promoting accountability of a company’s management and board of directors (collectively, the “Management”) to its shareholders, aligning the interests of management with those of shareholders, and increasing transparency of a company’s business and operations.
The Advisor seeks to avoid material conflicts of interest through its use of a third-party proxy services vendor (the “Proxy Vendor”), which applies detailed, pre-determined proxy voting guidelines (the “Voting Guidelines”) in an objective and consistent manner across client accounts, based on research and recommendations provided by a third party vendor, and without consideration of any client relationship factors. The Advisor engages a third party as an independent fiduciary to vote all proxies for the Funds.
All proxy voting proposals are reviewed, categorized, analyzed and voted in accordance with the Voting Guidelines. These guidelines are reviewed periodically and updated as necessary to reflect new issues and any changes in our policies on specific issues. Items that can be categorized under the Voting Guidelines will be voted in accordance with any applicable guidelines. Proposals that cannot be categorized under the Voting Guidelines will be referred to the Portfolio Oversight Committee for discussion and vote. Additionally, the Portfolio Oversight Committee may review any proposal where it has identified a particular company, industry or issue for special scrutiny. With regard to voting proxies of foreign companies, the Advisor weighs the cost of voting, and potential inability to sell the securities (which may occur during the voting process) against the benefit of voting the proxies to determine whether or not to vote.
51
APPENDIX B
SECURITIES SETTLEMENTS FOR CREATIONS AND REDEMPTIONS
Each Fund generally intends to effect deliveries of Creation Units and Deposit Securities on a basis of “T” plus two business days. Each Fund may effect deliveries of Creation Units and Deposit Securities on a basis other than T plus two 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 a 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 will be extended by the number of such intervening holidays, but not more than twelve calendar days. In the event that a delay in a redemption settlement cycle will extend to more than twelve calendar days, the Fund will effect a cash-in-lieu redemption to the extent necessary. In addition to holidays, other unforeseeable closings in a foreign market due to emergencies may also prevent the Trust from delivering securities within the normal settlement period.
The securities delivery cycles currently practicable for transferring Deposit Securities to redeeming investors, coupled with foreign market holiday schedules, will require a delivery process longer than seven calendar days in certain circumstances.
The holidays applicable to the Funds during such periods are listed below, as are instances where more than seven days will be needed to deliver redemption proceeds. Although certain holidays may occur on different dates in subsequent years, the number of days required to deliver redemption proceeds in any given year is not expected to exceed the maximum number of days listed below for the Funds. 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, could affect the information set forth herein at some time in the future.
The dates of the Regular Holidays in calendar year 2018 are:
Argentina : | |||
January 1 | May 1 | August 20 | |
March 30 | May 25 | October 15 | |
April 1 | June 18 | December 8 | |
April 2 | July 9 | December 25 | |
Australia : | |||
January 1 | April 25 | December 25 | |
January 26 | June 11 | December 26 | |
March 30 | August 6 | ||
April 2 | October 1 | ||
Austria : | |||
January 1 | May 10 | October 26 | December 26 |
January 6 | May 21 | November 1 | |
April 2 | May 31 | December 8 | |
May 1 | August 15 | December 25 | |
Belgium : | |||
January 1 | May 10 | November 1 | |
April 1 | May 21 | November 11 | |
April 2 | July 21 | December 25 | |
May 1 | August 15 |
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Italy : | |||
January 1 | April 2 | December 25 | |
March 30 | May 1 | December 26 | |
Japan : | |||
January 1 | April 30 | September 17 | December 31 |
January 2 | May 3 | September 24 | |
January 3 | May 4 | October 8 | |
January 8 | May 5 | November 3 | |
February 12 | July 16 | November 23 | |
March 21 | August 11 | December 24 | |
Malaysia : | |||
January 1 | August 31 | December 25 | |
February 1 | September 16 | ||
May 1 | September 17 | ||
Mexico : | |||
January 1 | March 30 | November 2 | December 25 |
February 5 | May 1 | November 19 | |
March 19 | May 5 | December 1 | |
March 29 | September 16 | December 12 | |
Morocco : | |||
January 1 | July 30 | August 22 | November 20 |
January 11 | August 14 | August 23 | November 21 |
May 1 | August 20 | September 11 | January 1 |
June 15 | August 21 | November 6 | |
Netherlands : | |||
January 1 | April 27 | December 25 | |
March 25 | May 12 | December 26 | |
March 30 | May 21 | ||
April 2 | October 28 | ||
New Zealand : | |||
January 1 | January 29 | April 2 | October 22 |
January 2 | February 6 | April 25 | December 25 |
January 22 | March 30 | June 4 | December 26 |
Nigeria : | |||
January 1 | May 1 | June 15 | December 26 |
March 8 | May 27 | August 22 | |
March 30 | May 29 | October 1 | |
April 2 | June 12 | December 25 | |
Norway : | |||
January 1 | April 2 | May 17 | December 25 |
March 29 | May 1 | May 21 | December 26 |
March 30 | May 10 | ||
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Spain : | |||
January 1 | March 30 | July 25 | November 1 |
March 19 | May 1 | August 15 | December 25 |
March 29 | May 31 | October 12 | |
Sweden : | |||
January 1 | May 10 | December 25 | |
March 30 | June 6 | December 26 | |
April 2 | June 22 | December 31 | |
May 1 | December 24 | ||
Switzerland : | |||
January 1 | June 10 | ||
April 19 | August 1 | ||
April 22 | December 25 | ||
May 30 | December 26 | ||
Taiwan : | |||
January 1 | April 5 | October 10 | |
February 28 | May 1 | ||
Thailand : | |||
January 1 | April 13 | May 29 | December 5 |
January 2 | April 16 | July 26 | December 10 |
March 2 | May 1 | August 13 | December 31 |
April 6 | May 7 | October 23 | |
Turkey : | |||
January 1 | May 1 | August 30 | |
April 23 | May 19 | October 29 | |
United Kingdom : | |||
January 1 | April 2 | August 27 | December 26 |
March 25 | May 7 | October 28 | |
March 30 | May 28 | December 25 | |
Vietnam : | |||
January 2 | January 29 | April 6 | May 2 |
January 27 | January 30 | May 1 | September 4 |
January 28 |
57
In the calendar year 2018, the dates of regular holidays affecting the following securities markets present the worst-case redemption cycle for a Fund as follows:
China :
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
2/12/2018 | 2/22/2018 | 10 |
2/13/2018 | 2/23/2018 | 10 |
2/14/2018 | 2/26/2018 | 12 |
9/26/2018 | 10/8/2018 | 12 |
9/27/2018 | 10/9/2018 | 12 |
9/28/2018 | 10/10/2018 | 12 |
Czech Republic :
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
12/21/2018 | 12/31/2018 | 10 |
Egypt :
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
8/20/2018 | 8/28/2018 | 8 |
Japan :
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
12/27/2017 | 1/4/2018 | 8 |
12/28/2017 | 1/5/2018 | 8 |
12/29/2017 | 1/9/2018 | 11 |
Morocco :
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
8/17/2018 | 8/28/2018 | 11 |
Norway :
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
3/26/2018 | 4/3/2018 | 8 |
3/27/2018 | 4/4/2018 | 8 |
3/28/2018 | 4/5/2018 | 8 |
Russia :
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
12/29/2017 | 1/10/2018 | 12 |
South Africa :
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
12/21/2017 | 1/1/2018 | 11 |
12/22/2017 | 1/2/2018 | 11 |
Vietnam :
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
2/14/2018 | 2/22/2018 | 8 |
58
The dates of the Regular Holidays in calendar year 2019 are:
59
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South Korea: | |||
January 1 | May 1 | June 13 | September 26 |
February 4 | May 5 | August 15 | October 3 |
February 5 | May 7 | September 23 | October 9 |
February 6 | May 22 | September 24 | December 25 |
March 1 | June 6 | September 25 | |
Spain: | |||
January 1 | April 22 | September 11 | December 8 |
January 6 | May 1 | October 12 | December 25 |
April 18 | July 25 | November 1 | |
April 19 | August 15 | December 6 | |
Sweden: | |||
January 1 | May 1 | June 22 | December 26 |
January 6 | May 30 | November 2 | December 31 |
April 19 | June 6 | December 24 | |
April 22 | June 21 | December 25 | |
Switzerland: | |||
January 1 | April 22 | August 1 | |
January 2 | May 30 | December 25 | |
April 19 | June 10 | December 26 | |
Taiwan: | |||
January 1 | February 7 | February 23 | April 5 |
February 4 | February 8 | February 28 | June 7 |
February 5 | February 9 | March 1 | September 13 |
February 6 | February 19 | April 4 | October 10 |
Thailand: | |||
January 1 | April 15 | July 17 | December 10 |
February 19 | April 16 | July 29 | December 31 |
April 8 | April 17 | October 14 | |
April 13 | May 1 | October 23 | |
April 14 | May 19 | December 5 | |
Turkey: | |||
January 1 | May 19 | August 13 | August 30 |
April 23 | June 5 | August 14 | October 29 |
May 1 | August 12 | August 15 | |
United Kingdom: | |||
January 1 | May 6 | August 6 | |
April 19 | May 27 | December 25 | |
April 22 | August 5 | December 26 | |
Vietnam: | |||
January 1 | February 6 | April 15 | September 2 |
February 4 | February 7 | April 30 | |
February 5 | February 8 | May 1 |
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In the calendar year 2019, the dates of regular holidays affecting the following securities markets present the worst-case redemption cycle for a Fund as follows:
Australia:
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
4/15/2019 | 4/23/2019 | 8 |
4/16/2019 | 4/24/2019 | 8 |
4/17/2019 | 4/26/2019 | 9 |
4/18/2019 | 4/29/2019 | 11 |
Brazil:
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
2/27/2019 | 3/7/2019 | 8 |
2/28/2019 | 3/8/2019 | 8 |
3/1/2019 | 3/11/2019 | 10 |
China:
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
1/30/2019 | 2/11/2019 | 12 |
1/31/2019 | 2/12/2019 | 12 |
2/1/2019 | 2/13/2019 | 12 |
Czech Republic:
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
1/30/2019 | 2/11/2019 | 12 |
1/31/2019 | 2/12/2019 | 12 |
2/1/2019 | 2/13/2019 | 12 |
2/4/2019 | 2/13/2019 | 9 |
2/5/2019 | 2/13/2019 | 8 |
9/25/2019 | 10/8/2019 | 13 |
9/26/2019 | 10/8/2019 | 12 |
9/27/2019 | 10/9/2019 | 12 |
Egypt:
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
8/7/2019 | 8/19/2019 | 12 |
8/8/2019 | 8/20/2019 | 12 |
8/9/2019 | 8/20/2019 | 11 |
Finland:
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
12/23/2019 | 12/31/2019 | 8 |
Hong Kong:
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
1/31/2019 | 2/8/2019 | 8 |
2/1/2019 | 2/11/2019 | 10 |
Israel:
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
10/7/2019 | 10/15/2019 | 8 |
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Japan:
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
12/26/2018 | 1/4/2019 | 9 |
12/27/2018 | 1/7/2019 | 11 |
12/28/2018 | 1/8/2019 | 11 |
Malaysia:
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
1/30/2019 | 2/7/2019 | 8 |
1/31/2019 | 2/8/2019 | 8 |
Morocco:
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
8/9/2019 | 8/19/2019 | 10 |
5/30/2019 | 6/10/2019 | 10 |
Russia:
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
12/31/2018 | 1/8/2019 | 8 |
South Africa:
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
4/12/2019 | 2/23/2019 | 11 |
4/15/2019 | 4/24/2019 | 9 |
4/16/2019 | 4/25/2019 | 9 |
4/17/2019 | 4/26/2019 | 9 |
4/18/2019 | 4/29/2019 | 11 |
4/19/2019 | 4/29/2019 | 10 |
12/19/2019 | 12/30/2019 | 11 |
12/20/2019 | 12/31/2019 | 11 |
12/23/2019 | 1/1/2020 | 9 |
12/24/2019 | 1/2/2020 | 9 |
South Korea:
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
2/1/2019 | 2/13/2019 | 12 |
2/4/2019 | 2/13/2019 | 9 |
2/5/2019 | 2/12/2019 | 8 |
9/20/2019 | 9/30/2019 | 10 |
Taiwan:
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
1/31/2019 | 2/11/2019 | 11 |
2/1/2019 | 2/11/2019 | 10 |
Turkey:
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
5/31/2019 | 6/10/2019 | 10 |
Vietnam:
Redemption Request Date | Redemption Settlement Date | Settlement Period |
1/31/2019 | 2/11/2019 | 11 |
2/1/2019 | 2/12/2019 | 11 |
2/4/2019 | 2/12/2019 | 8 |
65
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 28. Exhibits
(a) | Declaration of Trust | ||
1. | Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (“Trust Instrument”) of IndexIQ ETF Trust (“Registrant”). (7) | ||
(b) | By-Laws of Registrant. (1) | ||
(c) | Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders - Articles 4 and 7 of the Trust Instrument, Exhibit 28(a), defines the rights of holders of the securities being registered (Certificates for shares are not issued). (7) | ||
(d) | Investment Advisory Agreements | ||
1. | Investment Advisory Agreement dated April 15, 2015, between the Registrant and IndexIQ Advisors LLC (“Investment Advisor”), as adviser for the Registrant and each of its investment portfolios (the “Funds”). (5) | ||
2. | Sub-Advisory Agreement between Investment Advisor and MacKay Shields LLC for IQ S&P High Yield Low Volatility Bond ETF. (8) | ||
(e) | Underwriting Agreements | ||
1. | Distribution Agreement between ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“Distributor”) and the Registrant. (1) | ||
2. | Form of Authorized Participation Agreement. (3) | ||
(f) | Not applicable. | ||
(g) | Custody Agreement | ||
1. | Custody Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York Mellon. (1) | ||
(h) | Other Material Agreements | ||
1. | Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York Mellon. (1) | ||
2. | Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York Mellon. (1) | ||
3. | Sub-License Agreements | ||
a. | Form of Sub-License Agreement among the Registrant, Investment Advisor and Financial Development Holdco LLC (“IndexIQ”). (1) | ||
b. | Form of Sub-License Agreement among the Registrant and Investment Adviser for IQ S&P High Yield Low Volatility Bond ETF. (8) | ||
c. | Sub-License Agreement among the Registrant and Investment Adviser for IQ Chaikin U.S. Dividend Achievers ETF, IQ Chaikin U.S. Small Cap ETF and IQ Chaikin U.S. Large Cap ETF. (9) | ||
d. | Form of Sub-License Agreement among the Registrant and Investment Adviser for IQ S&P U.S. Preferred Stock Low Volatility High Dividend ETF. (11) | ||
4. | Expense Limitation Agreements and Fee Waivers | ||
a. | Notice of Fee Waiver, dated November 1, 2017, between Registrant and Investment Advisor, for IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Tracker ETF, filed herewith. | ||
b. | Notice of Fee Waiver, dated August 31, 2018, between Registrant and Investment Advisor, for IQ Enhanced Core Bond U.S. ETF, IQ Enhanced Core Plus Bond U.S. |
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ETF, IQ 50 Percent Hedged FTSE International ETF, IQ 50 Percent Hedged FTSE Europe ETF and IQ 50 Percent Hedged FTSE Japan ETF, filed herewith. | |||
c. | Expense Limitation Agreement dated August 31, 2018, between Registrant and Investment Advisor, for IQ Chaikin U.S. Large Cap ETF, IQ Chaikin U.S. Dividend Achievers ETF, IQ Chaikin U.S. Small Cap ETF and IQ S&P High Yield Low volatility Bond ETF, filed herewith. | ||
d. | Expense Limitation Agreement dated December 7, 2018, between Registrant and Investment Advisor for IQ 500 International ETF, IQ 500 ETF and IQ Short Duration Enhanced Core Bond U.S. ETF, filed herewith. | ||
e. | Notice of Fee Waiver, dated December 7, 2018, between Registrant and Investment Advisor, for IQ Real Return ETF and IQ Global Agribusiness Small Cap ETF, filed herewith. | ||
5. | Securities Lending Agreement between IndexIQ ETF Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon. (4) | ||
(i) | Opinion and Consent of Chapman and Cutler LLP regarding the legality of securities registered with respect to the Registrant, filed herewith. | ||
(j) | Not applicable. | ||
(k) | Not applicable. | ||
(l) | Not applicable. | ||
(m) | Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1. (2) | ||
(n) | Not applicable. | ||
(o) | Reserved. | ||
(p) | Codes of Ethics | ||
a. | Code of Ethics for the Investment Advisor and MacKay Shields LLC, filed herewith. | ||
b. | Code of Ethics for the Distributor. (6) | ||
c. | Code of Ethics for the Registrant. (12) | ||
(q) | Powers of Attorney executed by Reena Aggarwal, Kirk C. Lehneis, Michael A. Pignataro and Paul D. Schaeffer. (10) |
(1) | previously filed as part of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement, filed on February 4, 2009. | |
(2) | previously filed as part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 17 to the Registration Statement, filed on June 29, 2011. | |
(3) | previously filed as part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 19 to the Registration Statement filed on August 29, 2011. | |
(4) | previously filed as part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registration Statement filed on August 27, 2012. | |
(5) | previously filed as part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 32 to the Registration Statement filed on May 1, 2015. | |
(6) | previously filed as part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 78 to the Registration Statement filed on August 26, 2016. | |
(7) | previously filed as part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to the Registration Statement filed on October 17, 2016. |
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(8) | previously filed as part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 94 to the Registration Statement filed on January 11, 2017. | |
(9) | previously filed as part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 107 to the Registration Statement filed on May 11, 2017. | |
(10) | previously filed as part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 136 to the Registration Statement filed on May 8, 2018. | |
(11) | previously filed as part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 152 to the Registration Statement filed on August 16, 2018. | |
(12) | previously filed as part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 154 to the Registration Statement field on August 28, 2018. |
Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant .
Not Applicable.
Item 30. Indemnification
Under Delaware law, Section 3817 of the Treatment of Delaware Statutory Trusts empowers Delaware business trusts to indemnify and hold harmless any trustee or beneficial owner or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever, subject to such standards and restrictions as may be set forth in the governing instrument of the business trust. The Registrant’s Trust Instrument contains the following provisions:
Section 2. Indemnification and Limitation of Liability. The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrong-doing of any officer, agent, employee, Investment Advisor or Principal Underwriter of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee, and, as provided in Section 3 of this Article VII, the Trust out of its assets shall indemnify and hold harmless each and every Trustee and officer of the Trust from and against any and all claims, demands, costs, losses, expenses, and damages whatsoever arising out of or related to such Trustee’s performance of his or her duties as a Trustee or officer of the Trust; provided that nothing herein contained shall indemnify, hold harmless or protect any Trustee or officer from or against any liability to the Trust or any Shareholder 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.
Section 3. Indemnification .
(a) | Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in Subsection (b) below: |
(i) | every person who is, or has been, a Trustee or an officer, employee or agent of the Trust (including any individual who serves at its request as director, officer, partner, trustee or the like of another organization in which it has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise) (“Covered Person”) shall be indemnified by the Trust or the appropriate Series to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been a Covered Person and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof; and |
(ii) | as used herein, the words “claim,” “action,” “suit,” or “proceeding” shall apply to all claims, actions, suits or proceedings (civil, criminal or other, including appeals), actual or threatened, and |
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the words “liability” and “expenses” shall include, without limitation, attorneys, fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities. |
(b) | No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person: |
(i) | who shall have been adjudicated by a court or body before which the proceeding was brought (A) to be liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office, or (B) not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust; or | |
(ii) | in the event the matter is not adjudicated by a court or other appropriate body, unless there has been a determination that such Covered Person did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office: by at least a majority of those Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor are parties to the matter based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry); or by written opinion of independent legal counsel based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry). |
(c) The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of a Covered Person.
(d) To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, expenses incurred in defending any proceeding may be advanced by the Trust before the disposition of the proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person that such amount will be paid over by him to the Trust or applicable Series if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section; provided, however, that either a majority of the Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor parties to the matter, or independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry) that there is reason to believe that such Covered Person will not be disqualified from indemnification under this Section.
(e) Any repeal or modification of this Article VII by the Shareholders, or adoption or modification of any other provision of the Declaration or By-laws inconsistent with this Article, shall be prospective only, to the extent that such repeal, or modification would, if applied retrospectively, adversely affect any limitation on the liability of any Covered Person or indemnification available to any Covered Person with respect to any act or omission which occurred prior to such repeal, modification or adoption.
In addition, the Registrant has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with its Investment Advisor and a Distribution Agreement with its Distributor. These agreements provide indemnification for those entities and their affiliates. The Investment Advisor’s and Distributor’s personnel may serve as trustees and officers of the Trust. The Investment Advisory Agreement with the Fund provides that the Investment Advisor will not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Investment Advisor or from reckless disregard by the Investment Advisor of its obligations or duties under the Agreement. Under the Distribution Agreement, the Registrant will indemnify ALPS Distributors, Inc. against certain liabilities.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Act”), may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant by the Registrant pursuant to the Trust Instrument 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 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other
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than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by trustees, officers or controlling persons of the Registrant in connection with the successful defense of any act, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustees, officers or controlling persons in connection with the shares 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issues.
Trustees and officers liability policies purchased by the Registrant insure the Registrant and their respective trustees, partners, officers and employees, subject to the policies’ coverage limits and exclusions and varying deductibles, against loss resulting from claims by reason of any act, error, omission, misstatement, misleading statement, neglect or breach of duty.
Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Advisor .
The description of the Investment Advisor is found under the caption “Service Providers—Investment Advisor” in the Prospectus and under the caption “Management Services—Investment Advisor” in the Statement of Additional Information constituting Parts A and B, respectively, of this Registration Statement, which are incorporated by reference herein. The Investment Advisor provides investment advisory services to other persons or entities other than the Registrant.
Item 32. Principal Underwriters .
(a) ALPS Distributors, Inc. acts as the distributor for the Registrant and the following investment companies: 1290 Funds, Acacia Trust, ALPS Series Trust, The Arbitrage Funds, AQR Funds, Barings Funds Trust, BBH Trust, Brandes Investment Trust, Broadview Funds Trust, Brown Capital Management Mutual Funds, Centre Funds, CION Ares Diversified Credit Fund, Columbia ETF Trust, Columbia ETF Trust I, Columbia ETF Trust II, Cortina Funds, Inc., CRM Mutual Fund Trust, CSOP ETF Trust, Cullen Funds Trust, DBX ETF TRUST, ETFS Trust, Flat Rock Opportunity Fund, Financial Investors Trust, Firsthand Funds, FS Credit Income Fund, FS Energy Total Return Fund, FS Series Trust, Goehring & Rozencwejg Investment Funds, Goldman Sachs ETF Trust, Griffin Institutional Access Credit Fund, Griffin Institutional Access Real Estate Fund, Hartford Funds Exchange-Traded Trust, Hartford Funds NextShares Trust, Harvest Volatility Edge Trust, Heartland Group, Inc., Henssler Funds, Inc., Holland Series Fund, Inc., Index Funds, IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust, IndexIQ Active ETF Trust, IVY NextShares Trust, James Advantage Funds, James Detroit Street Trust, Lattice Strategies Trust, Litman Gregory Funds Trust, Longleaf Partners Funds Trust, Mairs & Power Funds Trust, M3Sixty Funds Trust, Meridan Fund, Inc., Natixis ETF Trust, Northern Lights Fund Trust (on behalf of 13D Activist Fund), Northstar Real Estate Capital Income Fund, Northstar Real Estate Capital Income Fund -T, Northstar Real Estate Capital Income Fund - ADV, Northstar Real Estate Capital Income Fund-C, Northstar Townsend Institutional Real Estate Fund, Pax World Series Trust I, Pax World Fund Trust III, Principal Exchange-Traded Funds, Reality Shares ETF Trust, Resource Credit Income Fund, Resource Real Estate Diversified Income Fund, RiverNorth Funds, Segall Bryant & Hamill Trust, Sierra Total Return Fund, Smead Funds Trust, SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust, SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust, Stadion Investment Trust, Stone Harbor Investment Funds, Stone Ridge Trust, Stone Ridge Trust II, Stone Ridge Trust III, Stone Ridge Trust IV, Stone Ridge Trust V, Total Income+Real Estate Fund, USCF ETF Trust, USCF Mutual Funds Trust, Wasatch Funds, WesMark Funds, Westcore Trust, and Wilmington Funds.
C- 5
To the best of Registrant’s knowledge, the directors and executive officers of ALPS Distributors, Inc., are as follows:
Name* | Position with Underwriter | Positions with Fund |
Edmund J. Burke | Director | None |
Jeremy O. May | President, Director | None |
Bradley J. Swenson | Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer | None |
Robert J. Szydlowski | Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer | None |
Eric T. Parsons | Vice President, Controller and Assistant Treasurer | None |
Joseph J. Frank** | Secretary | None |
Patrick J. Pedonti** | Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary | None |
Douglas W. Fleming** | Assistant Treasurer | None |
Steven Price | Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer | None |
Liza Orr | Vice President, Senior Counsel | None |
Jed Stahl | Vice President, Senior Counsel | None |
James Stegall | Vice President | None |
Gary Ross | Senior Vice President | None |
Kevin Ireland | Senior Vice President | None |
Mark Kiniry | Senior Vice President | None |
Tison Cory | Vice President, Intermediary Operations | None |
Hilary Quinn | Vice President | None |
Jennifer Craig | Assistant Vice President | None |
Stephen J. Kyllo | Vice President, Deputy Chief Compliance Officer | None |
Josh Eihausen | Vice President and Associate Senior Counsel | None |
Richard C. Noyes | Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary | None |
* Except as otherwise noted, the principal business address for each of the above directors and executive officers is 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203.
** The principal business address for Messrs. Pedonti, Frank and Fleming is 333 W. 11th Street, 5th Floor, Kansas City, Missouri 64105.
* This list does not serve as an admission that the Trust considers all of these persons listed to be officers of investment companies having the same Investment Advisor or Distributor or having an Investment Advisor or Distributor that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Investment Advisor or Distributor.
Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records .
All accounts, books and other documents required by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules thereunder are maintained at:
IndexIQ Advisors LLC
51 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010
The Bank of New York Mellon
240 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10286
ALPS Distributors, Inc.
1625 Broadway, Suite 2200
Denver, CO 80202
Item 34. Management Services
Not applicable.
Item 35. Undertakings
Not applicable.
C- 6
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 169 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, and State of New York on this 7th day of December, 2018.
INDEXIQ ETF TRUST | ||
|
||
By: | /s/ Kirk C. Lehneis | |
Kirk C. Lehneis | ||
President |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
* PURSUANT TO POWERS OF ATTORNEY PREVIOUSLY FILED
C- 7
Exhibits List
(h)(4)(a) (h)(4)(b) (h)(4)(c) (h)(4)(d) (h)(4)(e) |
Notice of Fee Waiver dated November 1, 2017 Notice of Fee Waiver dated August 31, 2018 Expense Limitation Agreement dated August 31, 2018 Expense Limitation Agreement dated December 7, 2018 Notice of Fee Waiver dated December 7, 2018 |
(i) | Opinion and Consent of Chapman and Cutler LLP |
(p)(a) | Code of Ethics of Investment Advisor and MacKay Shields LLC |
Exhibit (h)(4)(a)
NOTICE OF FEE WAIVER
THIS NOTICE OF FEE WAIYER is effective as of November 1, 2017, to IndexIQ ETF Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust"), on behalf of its series, IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Tracker ETF (the "Fund"), by IndexIQ Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the "Manager").
WHEREAS, the Manager has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust (the "Management Agreement"), pursuant to which the Manager is compensated based on the average net assets of the Fund and such compensation is paid by the Fund ("Management Fees");
WHEREAS, the Manager believes that it is appropriate and in the best interests of the Manager, the Fund, and the Fund's shareholders to reduce the Management Fee of the Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Manager understands and intends that the Fund will rely on this Notice in preparing amendments to a registration statement on Form N-l A and in accruing the Fund's expenses for purposes of calculating net asset value and for other purposes, and expressly permits the Fund to do so;
NOW, THEREFORE, the hereby provides notice as follows:
1. Fee Waiver by the M anager. The Manager agrees to contractually waive a portion of its Management Fee to the levels listed on Schedule A.
2. Duration and T ermination. The Manager's undertaking to waive fees shall continue until August 31, 2019.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Manager has executed this Notice effective as of the date first written above.
INDEXIQ ADVISORS LLC
/s/ David L. Fogel
By: David L. Fogel
President
1
SCHEDULE A
Contractual Management Fee Waiver
Effective November l, 2017
IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Tracker ETF (QAI)
The Manager has agreed to waive a portion of its management fee equal to 0.22% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
2
Exhibit (h)(4)(b)
NOTICE OF FEE WAIVER
THIS NOTICE OF FEE WAIYER is effective as of August 31 , 2018, to IndexIQ ETF Trust , a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust"), on behalf of its series listed on Schedule A (each a "Fund") , by IndexIQ Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the "Manager").
WHEREAS , the Manager has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust (the " Management Agreement") , pursuant to which the Manager is compensated based on the average net assets of the Fund and such compensation is paid by the Fund ("Management Fees " ) ;
WHEREAS, the Manager believes that it is appropriate and in the best interests of the Manager , the Fund, and Fund shareholders to reduce the Management Fees of the Fund ; and
WHEREAS, the Manager understands and intends that the Fund will rely on this Notice in preparing amendments to a registration statement on Form N-1A and in accruing the Fund's expenses for purposes of calculating net asset value and for other purposes , and expressly permits the Fund to do so ;
NOW , THEREFORE, the hereby provides notice as follows:
1. | Fee Waiver by the Manager. The Manager agrees to contractually waive a portion of its Management Fees to the levels listed on Schedule A. |
2. | Duration and Termination . The Manager's undertaking to waive fees shall continue until August 31 , 2019 . |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Manager has executed this No t ice effective as of the date first written above.
INDEXIQ ADVISORS LLC
/s/ Kirk C. Lehneis
By: Kirk C. Lehneis
Chief Executive Officers
SCHEDULE A
Contractual Management Fee Waivers
IQ Enhanced Core Bond U.S. ETF
The Manager has agreed to waive a portion of its management fee equal to 0.05% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
IQ Enhanced Core Plus Bond U.S. ETF
The Manager has agreed to waive a portion of its management fee equal to 0.05% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
IQ 50 Percent Hedged FTSE International ETF (HFXI)
The Manager has agreed to waive a portion of its management fee equal to 0.20% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
IQ 50 Percent Hedged FTSE Europe ETF (HFXE)
The Manager has agreed to waive a portion of its management fee equal to 0.30% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
IQ 50 Percent Hedged FTSE Japan ETF (HFXJ)
The Manager has agreed to waive a portion of its management fee equal to 0.30% of the average daily net assets of the Fund .
2
Exhibit (h)(4)(c)
EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
INDEXIQ ETF TRUST
This Agreement is made and entered into effective as of August 31 , 2018 , by and between IndexIQ Advisors LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (the "Advisor") and IndexIQ ETF Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust"), on behalf of each of its series set forth on Schedule A, attached hereto and made a part hereof, (each a "Fund" and collectively , the " Funds").
WHEREAS, the Trust is a Delaware statutory trust organized under the Certificate of Trust dated August 27, 2008, as amended and restated on September 27, 2016 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") , as an open-end management company of the series type;
WHEREAS, the Funds are series of the Trust;
WHEREAS , the Trust, on behalf of the Funds , and the Advisor entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement dated April 15, 2015 ( " Advisory Agreement") pursuant to which the Advisor provides investment advisory services to the Funds; and
WHEREAS, the Funds and the Advisor have determined that it is appropriate and in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders to limit the expenses of each Fund , and, therefore, have entered into this Agreement , in order to maintain each Fund's expense ratio within the Operating Expense Limit , as defined below, through the expiration date set forth on Schedule A.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained , the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged , the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. | Expense Limitation. |
(a) Applicable Expense Limit. To the extent that the aggregate expenses of every character , including but not limited to investment advisory fees of the Advisor (but excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses , other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of a Fund ' s business, and amounts, if any, payable pursuant to plans adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-l under the 1940 Act) incurred by a Fund in any fiscal year ("Fund Operating Expenses") , exceed the Operating Expense Limit, as defined in Section l(b) below, such excess amount (the "Excess Amount") shall be the liability of the Advisor.
(b) Operating Expense Limit. The Fund's maximum operating expense limit ( " Operating Expense Limit) in any year shall be that percentage of the average daily net assets of such Fund (or such class of such Fund , as may be designated) , as set forth on Schedule A.
(c) Method of Computation. To determine the Advisor's liability with respect to the Excess Amount , each month the Fund Operating Expenses for the Fund shall be annualized as of the last day of the month. If the annualized Fund Operating Expenses for any month exceed the Operating Expense Limit of such Fund, the Advisor shall first waive or reduce its investment advisory fee for such month by an amount sufficient to reduce the annualized Fund Operating Expenses to an amount no higher than the Operating Expense Limit. If the amount of the waived or reduced investment advisory fee for any such month is insufficient to pay the Excess Amount , the Advisor may also remit to such Fund an amount that , together with the waived or reduced investment advisory fee , is sufficient to pay such Excess Amount.
(d) Year-End Adjustment. If necessary , on or before the last day of the first month of each fiscal year , an adjustment payment shall be made by the appropriate party in order that the amount of the
investment advisory fees waived or reduced and other payments remitted by the Advisor to the Fund with respect to the previous fiscal year shall equal the Excess Amount.
2. | Term and Termination of Agreement. |
This Agreement with respect to each Fund shall continue in effect until the date set forth opposite the Fund's name on Schedule A. Nevertheless, this Agreement may be terminated, without payment of any penalty by the Trust at any time.
3. | Miscellaneous. |
(a) Captions. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no other way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
(b) Interpretation. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require the Trust or any Fund to take any action contrary to the Trust's Declaration of Trust or by-laws, or any applicable statutory or regulatory requirement to which it is subject or by which it is bound, or to relieve or deprive the Trust's Board of Trustees of its responsibility for and control of the conduct of the affairs of the Trust or the Funds.
(c) Definitions. Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement, including but not limited to the investment advisory fee, the computations of net asset values, and the allocation of expenses, having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from the terms and provisions of the Advisory Agreement or the 1940 Act, shall have the same meaning as and be resolved by reference to such Advisory Agreement or the 1940 Act.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed, as of the day and year first above written.
INDEXIQ ETF TRUST,
ON BEHALF OF EACH FUND, AS SET FORTH ON SCHEDULE A
/s/ Jonathan Zimmerman
By: Jonathan Zimmerman
Title: Executive Vice President
INDEXIQ ADVISORS LLC
/s/ Kirk C. Lehneis
By: Kirk C. Lehneis
Title: Chief Executive Officer
2
SCHEDULE A INDEXIQ
ETF TRUST
Fund and Operating Expense Limits
Name Fund |
Operating
Expense Limit |
Expiration
Date |
IQ Chaikin U.S. Dividend Achievers ETF | 0.35% | 8/31/19 |
IQ Chaikin U.S. Small Cap ETF | 0.35% | 8/31/19 |
IQ Chaikin U . S. Large Cap ETF | 0.25% | 8/31/19 |
IQ S&P High Yield Low Volatility Bond ETF | 0.40% | 8/31/19 |
IQ S&P U.S. Preferred Stock Low Volatility High Dividend ETF | 0.35% | 8/31/19 |
3
Exhibit (h)(4)(d)
EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
INDEXIQ ETF TRUST
This Agreement is made and entered into effective as of December 7, 2018, by and between IndexIQ Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Advisor”) and IndexIQ ETF Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of each of its series set forth on Schedule A, attached hereto and made a part hereof, (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”).
WHEREAS , the Trust is a Delaware statutory trust organized under the Certificate of Trust dated August 27, 2008, as amended and restated on September 27, 2016 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management company of the series type;
WHEREAS , the Funds are series of the Trust;
WHEREAS , the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and the Advisor entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement dated April 15, 2015 (“Advisory Agreement”) pursuant to which the Advisor provides investment advisory services to the Funds; and
WHEREAS , the Funds and the Advisor have determined that it is appropriate and in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders to limit the expenses of each Fund, and, therefore, have entered into this Agreement, in order to maintain each Fund’s expense ratio within the Operating Expense Limit, as defined below, through the expiration date set forth on Schedule A.
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Expense Limitation.
(a) Applicable Expense Limit. To the extent that the aggregate expenses of every character, including but not limited to investment advisory fees of the Advisor (but excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of a Fund’s business, and amounts, if any, payable pursuant to plans adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act) incurred by a Fund in any fiscal year (“Fund Operating Expenses”), exceed the Operating Expense Limit, as defined in Section 1(b) below, such excess amount (the “Excess Amount”) shall be the liability of the Advisor.
(b) Operating Expense Limit. The Fund’s maximum operating expense limit (“Operating Expense Limit) in any year shall be that percentage of the average daily net assets of such Fund (or such class of such Fund, as may be designated), as set forth on Schedule A.
(c) Method of Computation. To determine the Advisor’s liability with respect to the Excess Amount, each month the Fund Operating Expenses for the Fund shall be annualized as of the last day of the month. If the annualized Fund Operating Expenses for any month exceed the Operating Expense Limit of such Fund, the Advisor shall first waive or reduce its investment advisory fee for such month by an amount sufficient to reduce the annualized Fund Operating Expenses to an amount no higher than the Operating Expense Limit. If the amount of the waived or reduced investment advisory fee for any such month is insufficient to pay the Excess Amount, the Advisor may also remit to such Fund an amount that, together with the waived or reduced investment advisory fee, is sufficient to pay such Excess Amount.
(d) Year-End Adjustment. If necessary, on or before the last day of the first month of each fiscal year, an adjustment payment shall be made by the appropriate party in order that the amount of the
investment advisory fees waived or reduced and other payments remitted by the Advisor to the Fund with respect to the previous fiscal year shall equal the Excess Amount.
2. Term and Termination of Agreement.
This Agreement with respect to each Fund shall continue in effect until the date set forth opposite the Fund’s name on Schedule A. Nevertheless, this Agreement may be terminated, without payment of any penalty by the Trust at any time.
3. Miscellaneous.
(a) Captions. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no other way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
(b) Interpretation. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require the Trust or any Fund to take any action contrary to the Trust’s Declaration of Trust or by-laws, or any applicable statutory or regulatory requirement to which it is subject or by which it is bound, or to relieve or deprive the Trust’s Board of Trustees of its responsibility for and control of the conduct of the affairs of the Trust or the Funds.
(c) Definitions. Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement, including but not limited to the investment advisory fee, the computations of net asset values, and the allocation of expenses, having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from the terms and provisions of the Advisory Agreement or the 1940 Act, shall have the same meaning as and be resolved by reference to such Advisory Agreement or the 1940 Act.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed, as of the day and year first above written.
INDEXIQ ETF TRUST, | ||
ON BEHALF OF EACH FUND, AS | ||
SET FORTH ON SCHEDULE A | ||
/s/ Jonathan Zimmerman | ||
By: | Jonathan Zimmerman | |
Title: | Executive Vice President | |
IndexIQ Advisors LLC | ||
/s/ Kirk C. Lehneis | ||
By: | Kirk C. Lehneis | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
SCHEDULE A
INDEXIQ ETF TRUST
Fund and Operating Expense Limits
Name Fund |
Operating
Expense Limit |
Expiration Date |
IQ Short Duration Enhanced Core Bond U.S. ETF | 0.20% | 8/31/20 |
IQ 500 ETF | 0.20% | 8/31/20 |
IQ 500 International ETF | 0.25% | 8/31/20 |
Exhibit (h)(4)(e)
NOTICE OF FEE WAIVER
THIS NOTICE OF FEE WAIVER is effective as of December 7, 2018, to IndexIQ ETF Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of its series listed on Schedule A (each a “Fund”), by IndexIQ Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Manager”).
WHEREAS, the Manager has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust (the “Management Agreement”), pursuant to which the Manager is compensated based on the average net assets of the Fund and such compensation is paid by the Fund (“Management Fees”);
WHEREAS, the Manager believes that it is appropriate and in the best interests of the Manager, the Fund, and Fund shareholders to reduce the Management Fees of the Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Manager understands and intends that the Fund will rely on this Notice in preparing amendments to a registration statement on Form N-1A and in accruing the Fund’s expenses for purposes of calculating net asset value and for other purposes, and expressly permits the Fund to do so;
NOW, THEREFORE, the hereby provides notice as follows:
1. | Fee Waiver by the Manager . The Manager agrees to contractually waive a portion of its Management Fees to the levels listed on Schedule A. |
2. | Duration and Termination . The Manager’s undertaking to waive fees shall continue until August 31, 2020. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Manager has executed this Notice effective as of the date first written above.
INDEXIQ ADVISORS LLC
By: | /s/ Kirk C. Lehneis |
Kirk C. Lehneis | |
Chief Executive Officer |
SCHEDULE A
Contractual Management Fee Waivers
IQ Real Return ETF
The Manager has agreed to waive a portion of its management fee equal to 0.28% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
IQ Leaders GTAA Tracker ETF
The Manager has agreed to waive a portion of its management fee equal to 0.23% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
Exhibit (i)
|
1270 Avenue of the Americas 30th Floor New York, NY 10020-1708 |
|
|
Kathleen H. Moriarty Partner |
T 212.655.2548 F 646.571.0113 moriarty@chapman.com |
December 7, 2018
Board of Trustees of IndexIQ ETF Trust
51 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010
Re: | IndexIQ ETF Trust (Registration Nos. 333-152915 and 811-22227) with respect to IQ 500 International ETF and IQ 500 ETF IQ (the "Funds") |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for IndexIQ ETF Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust"), in connection with the Trust's filing on December 7, 2018 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") of its Post-Effective Amendments No. 169 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") (File No . 333-152915) and its Amendment No. 171 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (File No . 811-22227), respectively, to its Registration Statement on Form N- l A (as amended, the "Registration Statement") relating to the issuance and sale by the Trust of an unlimited number of authorized shares of each of the Funds (the "Shares").
In connection with this opinion , we have examined originals or copies , certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such instruments, documents and records as we have deemed relevant and necessary to examine for the purpose of this opinion , including (a) the Registration Statement , (b) the Trust ' s Declaration of Trust, as amended to date , (c) the Trust's By-laws, as amended to date, (d) resolutions of the Board of Trustees of the Trust related to the Shares and the Funds; and ( e) such other instruments , documents , statements and records of the Trust and others as we have deemed relevant and necessary to examine and rely upon for the purpose of this opinion.
In connection with this opinion, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the accuracy and completeness of all documents and records that we have reviewed, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of the documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified , conformed or reproduced copies .
December 7, 2018
Page 2
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares proposed to be offered and sold pursuant to the Registration Statement, when Post-Effective Amendment No. 169 and Amendment No. 171 becomes effective pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Commission , will have been validly authorized and, when sold in accordance with the terms of the Registration Statement and the requirements of applicable federal and state law and delivered by the Trust against receipt of the net asset value of the Shares , as described in the Registration Statement, will have been legally and validly issued and will be fully paid and non-assessable by the Trust.
This opinion is given as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to advise you of changes that may hereafter be brought to our attention. This opinion is limited to the Delaware statutory trust laws governing matters such as the authorization and issuance of the Shares, and we do not express any opinion concerning any other laws .
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement , to be filed with the Commission , and to the use of our name in the Registration Statement under the caption "General Information" in the prospectus that is a part thereof and under the caption "Counsel and Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm" in the statement of additional information that is a part thereof and in any revised or amended versions thereof . In giving such consent, however, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the 193 3 Act, as amended , and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Chapman and Cutler LLP
Chapman and Cutler LLP
Exhibit (p)(a)
New York Life Investment
Management Holdings LLC
Code of Ethics
September 2018
S ECTION 1 | G ENERAL F IDUCIARY P RINCIPLES AND S TANDARDS OF B USINESS CONDUCT |
This Code of Ethics (“Code”) has been adopted by New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC’ (“NYLIM Holdings”) and certain of its divisions, subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively, “New York Life Investments” or the “Company”) 1 and is designed to comply with Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”). The Company has delegated administration and enforcement of this Code to New York Life Investments Compliance (the “Compliance Department”).
Pursuant to Section 206 of the Advisers Act, both the Company and its employees are prohibited from engaging in fraudulent, deceptive or manipulative conduct. Compliance with this principal involves more than acting with honesty and good faith alone. It means that the Company has an affirmative duty of utmost good faith to act solely in the best interest of its clients. The Company is committed to promoting the highest ethical standards and practices, while pursuing its business interests.
The Code is designed to ensure that Employees comply with all applicable federal securities laws and the conditions in any applicable exemptive relief. It is based upon the principle that the Company and its employees owe a fiduciary duty to our clients to conduct their affairs, including their personal securities transactions, in such a manner as to avoid: (i) serving their own personal interests ahead of clients, (ii) taking inappropriate advantage of their position with the Company, (iii) making any untrue statement, omitting a material fact, or otherwise being misleading, including the use or misuse of false rumors or (iv) any actual or potential conflicts of interest or any abuse of their position of trust and responsibility.
Each employee has an obligation to make prompt and full disclosure of any situation which may involve a conflict of interest. Potential conflicts that require disclosure include, but are not limited to, outside employment and material business relationships, outside directorships, gifts and entertainment, political activity, or any other arrangement or circumstance, including family or other personal relationships which might dissuade an Employee from acting in the best interest of the Company and its Clients. Employees shall promptly notify the Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) or Local Compliance Officer (“LCO”) of any violation or potential violation of the Code.
This Code does not attempt to identify all possible conflicts of interest, and literal compliance with each of its specific provisions will not shield Employees from liability for personal trading or other conduct that violates a fiduciary duty to our Clients.
Some provisions of the Code, particularly with respect to personal trading, only apply to Access Persons, as defined herein and do not apply to all Employees of the Company. Status as an Access
1 For purposes of this Code, “New York Life Investments” or the “Company” includes the following NYLIM Holdings entities: GoldPoint Partners LLC, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, New York Life Investment Management LLC, New York Life Investment Management (UK) Limited, NYLIFE Distributors LLC, NYLIM Service Company LLC, and the following New York Life Insurance Company subsidiaries: Credit Value Partners, LLC , Madison Capital Funding LLC, New York Life Trust Company, and NYL Investors LLC. Ausbil Investment Management Limited, Candriam Belgium SA, Candriam S.A. (France), Candriam Luxembourg S.A, NYLIM Asia Limited – Japan Branch, and Private Advisors, LLC, all direct or indirect subsidiaries of New York Life Insurance Company, administer their own Codes of Ethics. Each entity referred to above may be referred to individually as an “Investment Adviser.”
2 | P a g e
Person will depend on a person’s specific title, functions, duties, activities, and access to information. See Section II for the definition of Access Persons.
Employees are also required to adhere to the policies relating to the Code, including, but not limited to: Insider Trading and Information Barrier Policy, Conflicts of Interest Policy, Gift and Entertainment Policy, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act/Anti-Corruption Policy, Mutual Fund Selective Disclosure Policy, Personal Political Contributions Policy, and Integrity – Standards of Business Conduct Policy 2 (“Related Policies”). These Related Policies have been distributed separately from this Code. Employees of IndexIQ are also subject to the IndexIQ Self-Indexing Policies and Procedures.
S ECTION 2 | D EFINITIONS |
Access Person - shall have the same meaning as set forth in Rule 204A-1 of the Advisers Act and shall include:
- | All officers (defined as Managing Director and above) or directors of New York Life Investments; |
- | any “Supervised Person” of New York Life Investments or any other person who has access to non-public information regarding any clients’ purchase or sale of securities, or non- public information regarding the portfolio holdings of any Affiliated Fund, or who is involved in making securities recommendations to clients, or who has access to such recommendations that are non-public; |
- | Includes Index Personnel and Investment Personnel. |
Affiliated Fund - The MainStay Group of Funds.
Automatic Investment Plan –regular periodic purchases (or withdrawals) that are made automatically in (or from) investment accounts in accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation. An automatic investment plan includes dividend reinvestment plans (“DRIPs”) and Employee Stock Purchase Plans (“ESPPs”).
Beneficial Ownership - shall be interpreted in the same manner as it would be under Rule 16a- 1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) in determining whether a person is the beneficial owner of a security for purposes of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. A beneficial owner is any person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the securities. A pecuniary interest in securities means the opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in any profit derived from a transaction in those securities. A person is presumed to have an indirect pecuniary interest in securities held by members of a person’s Immediate Family who either reside with, or are financially dependent upon, or whose investments are controlled by, that person. A person also has a beneficial interest in securities held: (i) in a trust
2 In certain instances, NYLIC’s Code of Conduct may differ. However, in these cases, employees subject to this Code must meet the requirements of this Code and their firm’s related policies.
3 | P a g e
which he or she is a trustee, has a beneficial interest or is the settlor with a power to revoke; (ii) by another person and he or she has a contract or an understanding with such person that the securities held in that person’s name are for his or her benefit; (iii) in the form of a right to acquisition of such security through the exercise of warrants, options, rights, or conversion rights; (iv) by a partnership of which he or she is a member; (v) by a corporation that he or she uses as a personal trading medium; or (vi) by a holding company that he or she controls.
Buy or Sell Order - an order placed with a broker to buy or sell a security.
Cashless Exercise - transactions executed when exercising employee stock options. Essentially, the money is borrowed to exercise the option to purchase shares, the option is exercised and simultaneously the shares are sold to pay for the purchase, taxes, and broker commissions.
Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) – NYLIM CCO
Client - any client of the Company, including a registered investment company (mutual fund) or other person or entity.
Covered Security - means any security as defined in Section 202(a)(18) of the Advisers Act, except that it does not include:
- | direct obligations of the U.S. Government; |
- | bankers’ acceptances; |
- | bank certificates of deposit; |
- | commercial paper; |
- | high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; |
- | shares issued by open-end mutual funds, including the MainStay Funds (shares of exchange traded funds (“ETFs”) or other exchange traded vehicles are not considered open-end mutual funds); |
- | interests in qualified state college tuition programs (“529 Plans”); and |
- | cryptocurrencies or digital currencies, such as Bitcoin or Ether, which are a virtual or digital representations of value. However, a virtual currency token offered in an initial or digital coin offering will be deemed a Covered Security for purposes of the Code and subject to preclearance requirements (See Section 3.3 Initial Public Offerings, Private Placements and Initial Coin Offerings) . |
Discretionary Managed Account – an account managed on a discretionary basis by a person (or Robo-Adviser) other than an Employee over which the Employee has no direct or indirect influence or control over the selection or disposition of securities and no advance knowledge of transactions therein.
Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIPs) – a stock purchase plan offered by a corporation whereby shareholders purchase stock directly from the company (usually through a transfer agent) and allow investors to reinvest their cash dividends by purchasing additional shares or fractional shares.
Employee - any person employed by the Company. Temporary employees and consultants may be subject to the Code, as determined by the Compliance Department based on, among other things, contract length, job duties, work location, and other factors, at whatever designation the Compliance Department believes is appropriate.
Employee Stock Option Plan – contracts between a company and its employees that give employees the right to buy a specific number of the company’s shares at a fixed price within a certain period of time.
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Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) - an organized plan for employees to buy shares of their
company’s stock.
Exchange Traded Fund – an exchange-traded fund or ETF is an investment company or unit investment trust that trades like stock. The price of an ETF is derived from and based upon the securities held by the portfolio. An ETF may be passively managed and follow a specified index or actively managed. ETFs are considered covered securities under this Code.
Federal Securities Laws - the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, any rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under any of these statutes, the Bank Secrecy Act as it applies to funds and investment advisers, and any rules adopted thereunder by the Commission or the Department of the Treasury.
Front Running - the buying or selling of a security by a person, with the intent of taking advantage
of the market impact of a client’s transaction in the underlying security by or on behalf of the Client.
Immediate Family - any of the following individuals: child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships who reside in the same household. The term also includes any related or unrelated individual who resides with, or whose investments are controlled by, or whose financial support is materially contributed to by, the employee, such as a “significant other.”
IndexIQ ETFs – each exchange traded fund series of the IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust.
IndexIQ Employees – employees of IndexIQ Advisors LLC and IndexIQ LLC.
Index Personnel – certain employees of IndexIQ LLC and its affiliates who have responsibility for underlying affiliated indexes and rules based processes, as well as employees of IndexIQ LLC and its affiliates appointed to assist such employees in the performance of his/her duties. Index Personnel also include other employees of the Company that may have access to non-public information with respect to indexes that IndexIQ ETFs seek to track.
Index Rebalance - a time period when an IndexIQ ETF or other accounts for which IndexIQ Advisors LLC acts as advisor and/or sub-advisor receives its rebalance or reconstitution information with respect to an underlying index for which (i) IndexIQ LLC or (ii) an unaffiliated entity serves as the index provider.
Initial Public Offering - an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933, the issuer of which immediately before registration was not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Insider Trading - the purchase or sale of securities of a public company while in possession of material, non-public information or communicating such information to others.
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Investment Club - a group of two or more people, each of whom contributes monies to an investment pool and participates in the investment making decision process and shares in the investment returns.
Investment Personnel - employees who, in connection with their regular functions or duties, make or participate in making recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of securities for Client Accounts (i.e., portfolio managers, traders and analysts).
Local Compliance Officer (“LCO”) – CCO or designee of an applicable NYLIM Holdings’ entity.
MainStay Funds – each open-end fund series of The MainStay Group of Funds. The term MainStay Funds also include open-end fund series of the IndexIQ Trust.
New York Life Investments - includes the following NYLIM Holdings entities: Credit Value Partners LLC, GoldPoint Partners LLC, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, IndexIQ, LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, Madison Capital Funding, New York Life Investment Management LLC, New York Life Investment Management (UK) Limited, NYLIM Service Company LLC, and NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as well as the following New York Life Insurance Company subsidiaries: NYL Investors LLC and New York Life Trust Company.
Non-Access Person – employees that do not fall into the definition of Access Person.
Private Placement - an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 under Sections 4(2) or 4(6), or Rules 504, 505 or 506 thereunder.
Reportable Fund: an investment company, whether or not affiliated, advised or subadvised by the Company and any investment company whose investment adviser or principal underwriter is controlled by or under common control with the Company (e.g., IndexIQ funds).
Restricted List – a listing of securities maintained by the CCO or LCO in which trading by Access Persons is generally prohibited.
Registered Representative - an Employee who is registered as such with a member firm of the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).
Scalping - buying and selling a security on the same day as a Client and includes, among other transactions, the buying of a security when a client is selling that security, or selling a security when a Client is buying that security, with the intention of taking advantage of the market impact.
Supervised Person – an Investment Adviser’s supervised persons are its partners, officers, directors (or other persons occupying a similar status or performing similar functions) and employees, as well as any other persons who provide advice on behalf of the adviser and are subject to the adviser’s supervision and control.
S ECTION 3 | P ERSONAL I NVESTING A CTIVITIES - R ESTRICTIONS A ND M ONITORING P ROCEDURES |
3.1 | General Policy –All Employees |
The Company has adopted the following principles governing personal investment activity which apply to all Employees :
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- | All personal securities transactions will be conducted in such a manner as to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or any abuse of an individual’s position of trust and responsibility; |
- | Employees may not engage in Insider Trading; |
- | Employees must not take inappropriate advantage of their positions; |
- | The interests of Client accounts will at all times be placed first (no Front Running or Scalping); |
- | Active personal trading (e.g., day trading) is discouraged. While there is currently no limitation on the number of trades that an Employee may execute per quarter or trade requests that an Employee may submit per quarter, the Code grants the CCO and LCO the power to impose such a limitation on any Employee if: (i) it is believed to be in the best interest of the Company or its Clients, or (ii) such trading interferes with an Employee’s professional duties; |
- | No personal trades may be effected through the Company’s traders; |
- | Employees may not purchase and sell (or exchange), or sell and purchase (or exchange), shares of the same MainStay Fund within 30 days. The 30-day holding period is measured from the time of the most recent purchase of shares of the relevant MainStay Fund by the Employee. This applies to all MainStay Funds, including shares owned through a 401(K) plan or similar account, or through a variable insurance product. It does not apply to purchases that are effected as part of an automatic dividend reinvestment plan, an automatic investment plan, a payroll deduction plan or program, or transactions in money market funds; |
- | Employees may not do anything indirectly that, if done directly, would violate the Code. For example, never use a derivative, or any other instrument or technique, to get around a rule. Such actions would be the equivalent of direct Code violations. |
3.2 | Additional Requirements for Access Persons and Investment Personnel |
If you are designated an Access Person because of your position in the Company or your access to information regarding Client information, you are subject to the following additional requirements.
3.2.1 | Preclearance of Covered Securities |
Access Persons must preclear all transactions in Covered Securities. Preclearance of personal securities transactions allows the Company to prevent certain trades that may conflict with Client trading. Each Access Person must submit their requests through the employee preclearance system via the Company’s Intranet. Automated feedback will be provided to the Employee as to whether the request is approved or denied.
In the event that the system is unavailable, Access Persons must send a request via an email to the Compliance Department, including the information contained in the hardcopy Preclearance Form (Exhibit C) and receive approval prior to completing any transaction in Covered Securities. The Compliance Department will provide approval or denial via email.
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The authorization given through the system or by the Compliance Department is effective for the calendar day that the request was submitted and ultimately approved. If your transaction is not executed on that same day, a new request must be submitted. 3
All stop orders and good to cancel orders are prohibited. Any preclearance request with these instructions will be denied.
You must preclear all transactions in IndexIQ ETFs and any non-affiliated ETF which hold less than 30 securities in its portfolio.
3.2.2 | Holding Period/Short Swing Rule |
Access Persons may not profit from the purchase and sale or sale and purchase of the same (or equivalent) Covered Security within sixty calendar days. The holding period is measured from the time of the most recent purchase of shares of the relevant Covered Security by the Employee (LIFO method). Violations may result in, among other things, disgorgement of the profit to the Client or to a charity of the Company’s choice. Exceptions may be made by the CCO or LCO to accommodate special circumstances. Notwithstanding the above, an Access person who receives a grant of options through an Employee Stock Option Plan, who chooses to exercise those options in a Cashless Exercise, will be allowed an exception from the sixty-day holding period, but only after obtaining approval from the Compliance Department.
3.2.3 | Trading /Black-Out Period |
Access Persons may not purchase or sell a Covered Security on a day when there is a Buy or Sell Order for a Client of their respective Investment Adviser. Access Persons deemed Investment Personnel, IndexIQ Employees and Index Personnel are further restricted in black-out periods. Investment Personnel may not purchase or sell a Covered Security if any purchase or sale of such securities has been made for an Investment Adviser Client account in the prior seven calendar days or can reasonably be anticipated for a Company Client account in the next seven calendar days.
3.2.4 | Exceptions to Blackout Period |
Exceptions may be granted to the black-out period set forth in paragraph 3.2.3 above on days when there is no Buy or Sell order for a Client of the Company and the transaction involves one of the following:
(i) | Securities in the Russell 1000 Index – 2,000 shares or less; |
(ii) | Securities NOT in the Russell 1000 Index – |
a. | Securities with market cap greater than $5 billion – 500 shares or less, or |
3 For employees of New York Life Investments International Ltd., New York Life Investment Management (UK) Limited only, authorization given through the employee preclearance system or by the Compliance Department is effective until the close of local markets on the next business day.
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b. | Securities with market cap less than $5 billion - the smaller of 500 shares or less in the aggregate or less than .001% of the issuer’s market capitalization. |
The above exceptions will not apply to Index Personnel or IndexIQ Employees during a black-out period resulting from an Index Rebalance.
3.2.5 | Other Exceptions |
Requirements pertaining to Sections 3.2.1 through 3.2.4 do not apply to transactions:
- | by employees of New York Life Insurance Company who are directors of New York Life Investments or certain other designated departments or persons, who do not have access to information about the Company’s purchases and sales of securities; |
- | in Discretionary Managed Accounts provided the employee provides the Compliance Department with a copy of the fully executed investment management agreement which provides for the investment advisor’s complete discretion and control over the account, and provided the Employee (and his/her investment advisor) certifies that he/she will not have any direct or indirect influence or control over the account (see Exhibit G). Employees that have Discretionary Managed Accounts managed by an immediate family member are still subject to Sections 3.2.1 through 3.2.4; |
- | that are non-volitional in nature: e.g., stock splits, stock dividends, exchanges and conversions, mandatory tenders, pro rata distributions to all holders of a class of securities, gifts, inheritances, margin/maintenance calls (where the securities to be sold are not directed by the covered person), and sales pursuant to regulated tender offers; |
- | in Automatic Investment Plans such as DRIPs, ESPPs or similar accounts; |
- | in any non-affiliated ETF, which holds 30 or more securities in its portfolio; |
- | in securities that are not “Covered Securities”; |
- | in government-sponsored enterprises fixed income securities (e.g., FNMA, FHLMC); |
- | in variable rate demand notes (“VRDN’s”) and variable rate demand obligations (“VRDO’s”); |
- | in municipal (“muni”) bonds. This exception will not apply to MacKay Shields Employees; or |
- | in municipal auction rate securities (“ARS”) with short-term coupon resets (e.g., 7 days) and closed-end municipal auction rate “Preferred” shares. MacKay Shields Employees must preclear these instruments. |
3.3 | Initial Public Offerings Private Placements and Initial Coin Offerings |
No Access Person (or Employees who are Registered Representatives) may directly or indirectly acquire Beneficial Ownership in any securities in an Initial Public Offering of securities, a Private Placement or a virtual currency token offered in an initial or digital coin offering (also called ICOs or token sales) except with the express written prior approval of the CCO or LCO where applicable, in consultation with Corporate Compliance. Employees may submit a preclearance request using the employee preclearance system or email using Exhibit D.
3.4 | Restricted List |
No Access Person may acquire or dispose of any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership in securities of an issuer listed on the Access Person’s respective Investment Adviser’s Restrictive List. Although transactions in securities of an issuer listed on the Restricted List are generally prohibited, case-by-
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case exceptions may be granted by the CCO.
3.5 | Options |
Investment Personnel are prohibited from trading in options with respect to individual securities covered under this Code. Transactions in index options effected on a broad-based index are permitted. Access Persons trading options on individual securities must ensure that expiration dates meet or exceed the 60-day holding period and short swing rule. Access Persons are also prohibited from trading in uncovered options on individual securities (i.e., trading in a position where the seller of an option contract does not own any, or enough, of the underlying security).
3.6 | Investment Clubs |
Access Persons and members of their Immediate Family may not participate in Investment Clubs. In certain limited instances, exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis.
3.7 | Section 16 Requirements |
Certain Employees are considered “Fund Insiders” pursuant to Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to closed-end funds advised or subadvised by an applicable Investment Adviser. Pre- clearance by Fund Insiders is required prior to transacting in closed-end fund shares, including closed-end fund shares purchased or sold in Discretionary Managed Accounts. In addition, transactions in closed-end fund shares by Fund Insiders require additional reporting to the Commission, and are subject to holding periods. Please refer to the MainStay Funds’ Policies and Procedures for Compliance with Section 16 of the Securities Act of 1934 or contact the applicable CCO for more information.
S ECTION 4 | R ECORDKEEPING AND R EPORTING R EQUIREMENTS |
4.1 | Initial Securities Holdings and Account Reports |
Access Persons must, no later than 10 days after becoming an employee, submit an initial holdings and account report and certification (Exhibit E –Access Persons). The holdings information presented in this report must be current as of 45 days prior to employment. Access Persons must also disclose all broker, dealer or bank accounts in which any Securities (including Covered Securities) are held. Non-Access Persons are only required to disclose where Affiliated or Reportable Fund shares are held. Additionally, each new Employee shall file an “Acknowledgement of Receipt of the Code of Ethics and Related Policies” (via the employee preclearance system or Exhibit A). New employees may only maintain accounts at brokers from which Compliance receives an electronic feed. Contact Compliance for a complete list.
4.2 | Quarterly Reporting |
Access Persons must, no later than 30 calendar days following quarter end, certify to all transactions in any Covered Security and Affiliated Funds or, alternatively, must confirm that there were no such transactions in the applicable quarter. This does not apply to transactions in Discretionary Managed Accounts as described in Section 3.2.5. Employees must complete this requirement electronically through the system. In the event that the system is unavailable, Access Persons shall file a “Quarterly Transactions Report” (Exhibit F).
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4.3 | Annual Reporting |
No later than January 30 th each year: (i) all Employees must file an annual certification indicating that the Employee has complied with the Code and Related Policies and (ii) Access Persons must also file an annual holdings report and certify to their brokerage accounts as of year-end.
Employees must complete these requirements through the system.
4.4 | Opening of Brokerage Accounts |
Access Persons shall promptly notify the Compliance Department of any new account opened with a broker, dealer or bank including Discretionary Managed Accounts. Access Persons must provide the Compliance Department with sufficient information so that Compliance can arrange for duplicate confirmations and accounts statements to be provided to the Compliance Department, either directly or through an entity engaged to facilitate implementation of the Code of Ethics, at the following address:
New York Life Investments
PO Box 468
Jersey City, New Jersey, 07303-0468
Attn: Compliance Department
Non-Access Persons are only required to notify the Compliance Department of any new accounts opened with a broker, dealer or bank in which Affiliated Fund shares or Reportable Fund shares are held.
New employees deemed Access Persons may only open brokerage accounts with a firm that provides Compliance with an electronic feed of trade confirmations and statements. Contact Compliance for the complete list of firms.
4.5 | New York Life Investments Recordkeeping |
The Company is required under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the Investment Company Act to keep records of certain transactions in which its Employees have direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership.
The Compliance Department maintains all records relating to compliance with the Code, such as preclearance requests, exception reports, other internal memoranda relating to non-compliant transactions, and preclearance records, records of violations and any actions taken as a result thereof, written acknowledgements, and the names of Access Persons for a minimum period of eight years. Acknowledgements of the Code will be maintained for eight years after the individual ceases to be an Employee.
4.6 | Personal Recordkeeping |
Access Persons should maintain copies of their pre-clearance authorizations, brokerage confirms and brokerage statements, if any. If there is any question as to whether a proposed transaction might involve a possible violation of the Code, the transaction should be discussed in advance with the CCO or LCO.
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S ECTION 5 | A DMINISTRATION |
5.1 | Mutual Fund Code of Ethics |
Certain Employees may owe a specific duty of care to each mutual fund Client based on the Employee’s status as an Access Person of that mutual fund. It has been determined that each Employee’s compliance with the Company’s Code will also satisfy the requirements of Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act as well as any mutual fund that the Company presently advises or subadvises.
5.2 | Sanctions and Review |
Upon discovering a violation of the Code, the Company shall take whatever remedial steps it deems necessary and available to correct an actual or apparent conflict (e.g., trade reversal etc.). Following those corrective efforts, the CCO may impose sanctions if, based upon all of the facts and circumstances considered, such action is deemed appropriate. The magnitude of these penalties varies with the severity of the violation, although repeat offenders will likely be subjected to harsher punishment. These sanctions may include, among others, the reversal of trades, disgorgement of profits, suspension of trading privileges or, in more serious cases, inclusion in annual performance evaluations, suspension or termination of employment. It is important to note that violations of the Code may occur without employee fault (e.g., despite preclearance). In those cases, punitive action may not be warranted, although remedial steps may still be necessary.
5.3 | Review by CCO |
On a quarterly basis, the CCO will provide the Board of Trustees of the MainStay Funds and IndexIQ ETFs with a report describing issues arising under the Code since its last report, including but not limited to information about material violations of the Code by Access Persons and sanctions imposed in response to such violations. The CCO or LCO may also provide this information to the Compliance Committees of the respective Investment Adviser and other senior management teams.
5.4 | Monitoring |
The Company has delegated administration and enforcement of this Code to New York Life Investments Compliance. Compliance, utilizing the system and other methods, conducts reviews of all personal securities transactions and holdings reports with a view towards determining whether Employees have complied with all provisions of the Code. Compliance is responsible for developing and maintaining more detailed standard operating procedures around daily monitoring to detect and prevent violations of this Code.
5.5 | Acknowledgment and Training |
Each Employee must certify initially and annually thereafter that he or she has read and understood, is subject to and has complied with the Code and its related polices. Each Employee must attend a Code of Ethics training session conducted by Compliance within a reasonable time of becoming an Employee.
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5.6 | Exceptions |
The CCO or LCO as applicable, in consultation with Corporate Compliance, may grant written exceptions to provisions of the Code in circumstances which present special hardship. Exceptions shall be structured to be as narrow as is reasonably practicable with appropriate safeguards designed to prevent abuse of the exception. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, no exception to a provision of the Code shall be granted where such exception would result in a violation of Rule 17j-1 or Rule 204A-1.
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EXHIBIT A
A CKNOWLEDGEMENT OF R ECEIPT OF THE C ODE OF E THICS AND R ELATED P OLICIES
· | N EW Y ORK L IFE I NVESTMENT M ANAGEMENT H OLDINGS LLC C ODE OF E THICS |
· | N EW Y ORK L IFE I NVESTMENT M ANAGEMENT LLC I NSIDE I NFORMATION AND I NFORMATION B ARRIER P OLICY AND P ROCEDURES |
· | N EW Y ORK L IFE I NVESTMENT M ANAGEMENT C ONFLICTS OF I NTEREST P OLICY |
· | N EW Y ORK L IFE I NVESTMENT M ANAGEMENT H OLDINGS LLC G IFT & E NTERTAINMENT P OLICY |
· | P OLICY AND P ROCEDURES C ONCERNING S ELECTIVE D ISCLOSURE OF M UTUAL F UND P ORTFOLIO H OLDINGS |
· | N EW Y ORK L IFE I NVESTMENT M ANAGEMENT P ERSONAL P OLITICAL C ONTRIBUTIONS P OLICY |
· | I NTEGRITY – S TANDARDS OF B USINESS C ONDUCT |
· | N EW Y ORK L IFE I NVESTMENT M ANAGEMENT F OREIGN C ORRUPT P RACTICES A CT /A NTI - C ORRUPTION P OLICY |
· | I NDEX IQ S ELF -I NDEXING P OLICIES AND P ROCEDURES * |
· | N EW Y ORK L IFE I NVESTMENT M ANAGEMENT I NDEX P ERSONNEL C OMPLIANCE P OLICY AND |
P ROCEDURES **
I hereby certify that I have received a copy of the New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC Code of Ethics and other policies listed above, have read and am subject to the Code and these other policies, and understand the relevant requirements.
Received by: | |||
Signature |
Signature |
||
Name |
Name |
||
Title | Title | ||
Department | Department | ||
Date | Date |
* Applies only to employees of IndexIQ
** Applies to certain employees of the NYLIM Strategic Asset Allocation and Solutions Group
This form may also be submitted via the employee preclearance system
EXHIBIT B
A NNUAL C ERTIFICATION OF C OMPLIANCE WITH THE
· | N EW Y ORK L IFE I NVESTMENT M ANAGEMENT H OLDINGS LLC C ODE OF E THICS |
· | N EW Y ORK L IFE I NVESTMENT M ANAGEMENT LLC I NSIDE I NFORMATION AND I NFORMATION B ARRIER P OLICY AND P ROCEDURES |
· | N EW Y ORK L IFE I NVESTMENT M ANAGEMENT C ONFLICTS OF I NTEREST P OLICY |
· | N EW Y ORK L IFE I NVESTMENT M ANAGEMENT H OLDINGS LLC G IFT & E NTERTAINMENT P OLICY |
· | P OLICY AND P ROCEDURES C ONCERNING S ELECTIVE D ISCLOSURE OF M UTUAL F UND P ORTFOLIO H OLDINGS |
· | N EW Y ORK L IFE I NVESTMENT M ANAGEMENT P ERSONAL P OLITICAL C ONTRIBUTIONS P OLICY |
· | I NTEGRITY – S TANDARDS OF B USINESS C ONDUCT |
· | N EW Y ORK L IFE I NVESTMENT M ANAGEMENT F OREIGN C ORRUPT P RACTICES A CT /A NTI - C ORRUPTION P OLICY |
· | I NDEX IQ S ELF -I NDEXING P OLICIES AND P ROCEDURES * |
· | N EW Y ORK L IFE I NVESTMENT M ANAGEMENT I NDEX P ERSONNEL C OMPLIANCE P OLICY AND |
P ROCEDURES **
I hereby certify that I have received read and understood the Code and policies listed above. I further certify that I have complied with and will continue to comply with each of the provisions of the Code and policies to which I am subject.
Received by: | |||
Signature |
Signature |
||
Name |
Name |
||
Title | Title | ||
Department | Department | ||
Date | Date |
* Applies only to employees of IndexIQ
** Applies to certain employees of the NYLIM Strategic Asset Allocation and Solutions Group
This form may also be submitted via the employee preclearance system
EXHIBIT C
NEW
YORK LIFE INVESTMENTS
P
ERSONAL
S
ECURITIES
T
RADING
P
RECLEARANCE
R
EQUEST
F
ORM
Employee Name | |
Broker | |
Brokerage Account # | |
Received by/Date Received |
TRADES MUST BE MADE ON THE SAME DAY THAT APPROVAL IS RECEIVED.
DATE |
NAME OF SECURITY |
# OF SHRS, PRINCIPAL AMOUNT, ETC. |
APPROX PRICE |
SYMBOL
|
SEC. MKT. CAP. |
PURCHASE/SALE |
DIRECT OWNERSHIP (D) FAMILY (F) CONTROL (C) |
APPROVED DENIED |
The person indicated above has stated and represents that:
(a) | he/she has no inside information (including information relating to planned securities transactions by the Company) relating to the above referenced issuer(s); |
(b) | there are no conflict of interest in these transactions with respect to Client portfolios (IF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS, PLEASE CONTACT THE COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY); and |
(c) | these securities are not initial public offerings or private placements. |
This form may also be submitted via the employee preclearance system
EXHIBIT D
N EW Y ORK L IFE I NVESTMENTS H OLDINGS LLC
IPO/L
IMITED
O
FFERING/
Initial
Coin Offering
P RECLEARANCE R EQUEST F ORM
Employee Name |
|
Employee Title |
|
Registered Representative?* |
|
If yes, transaction must be approved by Distributors CCO also. | (YES or NO) |
Are you a NYLIC Officer? (YES or NO) | |
If yes, please note that in order to invest in certain private funds, there are certain conditions that may need to be satisfied under New York Insurance Law Section 1411(e) in order to make the investment due to insurance law restrictions. Compliance, with the assistance of OGC, will review these restrictions prior to approving your investment. |
______ Proposed investment in an Initial Public Offering (“IPO”) 1
Name of Security: | |
Estimated Quantity: | |
Estimated Trade Date: | |
Estimated Price: | |
Broker/Dealer (if any): | |
Brokerage Account Number: |
I represent that my trading in this investment is not based on material non-public information.
______ Proposed investment in a limited offering (e.g., private placement, hedge fund, etc.)
Estimated Date of Transaction: | |
Name of Private Investment Entity: *Please provide copy of Offering Memorandum |
|
Transaction: | Initial Purchase _______ Additional Purchase _________ |
Amount of Transaction (USD$, number of shares, units, interest, etc.): |
1 Please note that your Broker/Dealer may have further restrictions on purchasing IPOs if you meet the Restricted Person definition under FINRA Rule 5130
EXHIBIT D (cont.) | |
Conflicts Review: | |
Is this Private Fund a fund that is managed or sponsored by NYLIC or an affiliate of NYLIC? | Yes ________ No _________ |
If yes, and you are a NYLIC Officer, then you are prohibited from owning more than 5% of the fund. Compliance will confirm this prior to approving your investment, and will monitor it on an on-going basis. | |
How did you become aware of the opportunity to invest in this limited offering? | |
What is the nature of your relationship with the individual or entity offering the opportunity? | |
Are you investing with any special terms? (e.g., less than required minimum amount) | |
Are you aware of whether the Firm has any other business dealings with the sponsor or manager of this vehicle? |
I understand that approval for limited offerings will only be in effect for 90 days from the date of
the Chief Compliance Officer’s signature.
Employee Signature | Date | |
Approved/Denied |
||
CCO Signature | Date | |
NYLIFE Distributors CCO* |
* Required if employee is a registered representative of NY Life Distributors LLC
This form may also be submitted electronically in the employee preclearance system.
EXHIBIT E- Access Persons
ACCESS PERSON INITIAL/ANNUAL SECURITIES HOLDINGS/ ACCOUNT REPORT AND CERTIFICATION
Name | |
Initial Report | |
Annual Report |
As of the date below, the following are each and every Covered Security 2 , Affiliated Fund, Reportable Fund, and securities account in which I have a direct or indirect “Beneficial Ownership” interest. For purposes of this report, the term Beneficial Ownership is very broad and includes, but is not limited to, ownership of securities or securities accounts (including Discretionary Managed Accounts) by or for the benefit of a person, or such person’s “immediate family” sharing the same household, including any account in which the Employee or family member of that person holds a direct or indirect beneficial interest, retains discretionary investment authority or exercises a power of attorney. The term “immediate family” means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law and also includes adoptive relationships. For a more complete definition of these terms, please consult the New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC Code of Ethics
This report need not disclose Covered Securities held in any account over which the Access Person has no direct or indirect influence or control.
Name of Security/Affiliated Fund /Reportable Fund |
Exchange Ticker Symbol or CUSIP |
Broker, Dealer or Bank where Security Held |
No. of Shares and Principal Amount |
Nature of Interest (Direct Ownership, Family Member, Control, Etc.) |
2 Covered Securities do not include bank certificates of deposit, open-end mutual fund shares and U.S. Government obligations.
EXHIBIT E- Access Persons (cont.)
Name of any broker, dealer or bank with which I maintain an account in which any securities (including securities that are not Covered Securities and Discretionary Managed Accounts) are held for my direct or indirect benefit (“Securities Account”) as of the date appearing above:
Name of Broker, Dealer or Bank with which Account Is Held |
Date Account Established |
Account Number |
I understand that brokerage accounts may only be maintained at brokers where Compliance receives an electronic feed of trade confirmations and statements. I may be required to transfer these accounts to a different broker. I acknowledge that I am responsible for all associated transfer costs.
I certify that the securities listed above are the only Covered Securities, Affiliated Funds, and Reportable Funds in which I have a direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership interest. I further certify that the accounts listed above are the only securities accounts in which I have a direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership interest. I also consent to the release of certain personal information (name, home address, social security number and spouse’s first initial) by the Company in order to obtain statements and confirmations for my securities accounts. During this time, the Company will agree that all personal information shall be held in strict confidence and shall not be revealed to any person, corporation or entity (including third parties)(together referred to as "Engaged Parties"), other than any Engaged Parties hired to facilitate implementation of the Code of Ethics, as required by law, a court order or a demand by a regulatory agency having jurisdiction, without prior written consent of the Company and the employee. Any Engaged Parties hired to facilitate implementation of the Code of Ethics will be held to the same standards with respect to maintaining the confidentiality of personal information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, I understand however that the Company is authorized to disclose to its other customers, should they inquire, that I am currently (or have been) employed in some capacity in the securities related/financial services industry without identifying New York Life Investments (or its affiliates) as the employer. Such disclosure would generally take place if I opened a securities account with a client of the Company. These steps are being taken by the Company in its commitment to ensure compliance with federal securities laws.
EXHIBIT E- Access Persons (cont.)
Employee Signature | |
Date of Submission | |
Received By | |
Date Received |
Return form to:
New York Life Investments
30 Hudson Street 23 rd Floor
Jersey City, New Jersey, 07302
Attn: Compliance Department
EXHIBIT E –Non-Access Persons
NON-ACCESS PERSON INITIAL/ANNUAL ACCOUNT REPORT AND CERTIFICATION
Name | |
Initial Report | |
Annual Report |
As of the date below, the following are each and every securities account in which I have a direct or indirect “Beneficial Ownership” interest that holds Affiliated Funds and/or Reportable Funds. For purposes of this report, the term Beneficial Ownership is very broad and includes, but is not limited to, ownership of securities or securities accounts (including Discretionary Managed Accounts) by or for the benefit of a person, or such person’s “immediate family” sharing the same household, including any account in which the Employee or family member of that person holds a direct or indirect beneficial interest, retains discretionary investment authority or exercises a power of attorney. The term “immediate family” means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in- law, or sister-in-law and also includes adoptive relationships. For a more complete definition of these terms, please consult the New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC Code of Ethics:
Name of Broker, Dealer or Bank with which Account Is Held |
Date Account Established |
Account Number |
I certify that the securities accounts listed above are the only securities accounts in which I have a direct or indirect “Beneficial Ownership” interest that holds Affiliated Funds and/or Reportable Funds. I also consent to the release of certain personal information (name, home address, social security number and spouse’s first initial) by the Company in order to obtain statements and confirmations for my securities accounts. During this time, the Company will agree that all personal information shall be held in strict confidence and shall not be revealed to any person, corporation or entity (including third parties) (together referred to as "Engaged Parties"), other than any Engaged Parties hired to facilitate implementation of the Code of Ethics, without prior written consent of the Company and the employee. Any Engaged Parties hired to facilitate implementation of the Code of Ethics, as required by law, a court order or a demand by a regulatory agency having jurisdiction, will be held to the same standards with respect to maintaining the confidentiality of personal information.
EXHIBIT E –Non-Access Persons (cont.)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, I understand however that the Company is authorized to disclose to its other customers, should they inquire, that I am currently (or have been) employed in some capacity in the securities related/financial services industry without identifying New York Life Investments (or its affiliates) as the employer. Such disclosure would generally take place if I opened a securities account with a client of the Company. These steps are being taken by the Company in its commitment to ensure compliance with federal securities laws.
Employee Signature | |
Date of Submission | |
Received By | |
Date Received |
Return form to:
New York Life Investments
30 Hudson Street 23 rd Floor
Jersey City, New Jersey, 07302
Attn: Compliance Department
This form may also be submitted via the employee preclearance system.
EXHIBIT F
QUARTERLY TRANSACTIONS REPORT
Name | |
Quarter Ending |
As of the date appearing below, the following are each and every transaction in a Covered Security, Affiliated Fund and Reportable Fund in which I have a direct or indirect “Beneficial Ownership” interest For a more complete definition of these terms, please consult the New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC Code of Ethics . This report need not disclose transactions in Covered Securities and Affiliated Fund Shares in any account over which the Employee has no direct influence or control.
Name of Security/ |
Amount |
Exchange |
Interest |
Trade |
Nature of |
Price |
Nature of Interest |
Firm Through |
(# | ||||||||
Shares | Ticker | Rate/ | (Direct | Which | ||||
Affiliated | or | Symbol or | Maturity | Transaction | Ownership, | Transaction | ||
Fund/Reportable | Principal | CUSIP | Date (if | (Purchase, | Spouse, Control, | Was Effected | ||
Fund | Amount) | applicable) | Date | Sale, Etc.) | Etc.) | |||
If no transactions in Covered Securities, Affiliated Fund Shares or Reportable Fund Shares occurred, please insert “NONE” here:
In connection with any purchases or sales of securities for Clients during the quarter, I disclosed to the Company any material interests in my Covered Securities, Affiliated Fund Shares, and Reportable Fund Shares which might reasonably have been expected to involve a conflict with the interests of Clients. Also, I have disclosed all my Covered Securities, Affiliated Fund Shares and Reportable Fund shares holdings to the Company.
Employee Signature | |
Date of Submission | |
Received By | |
Date Received |
This form may also be submitted via the employee preclearance system
EXHIBIT G
New York Life Investments Holdings LLC
Employee Certification – Third-Party Discretionary Managed Account(s)
I currently hold the position of at (the “Firm”), and I am requesting an exemption from the pre-clearance and reporting requirements of the NYLIM Holdings LLC Code of Ethics with respect to the below listed account(s) for which I have retained a third-party manager with complete investment discretion.
Third Party Management Firm: | |
Financial Advisor Name and Contact Information: |
|
Do you have any personal or family relationship with the Financial Advisor? | |
Account Number(s): |
I understand in making this request that I must agree/certify to the following:
· | I have provided the Compliance Department with a copy of the fully executed investment management agreement which is currently in effect. |
· | Such agreement provides for the manager’s complete discretion and control over |
the account.
· | I will not have any direct or indirect influence or control over the account, including but not limited to: |
o I will not suggest that the manager make any particular purchases or sales of securities;
o I will not direct the manager to make any particular purchases or sales of securities;
o | I will not consult with the manager as to the particular allocation of specific investments |
o I will not ask the manager about intended purchases or sales ahead of time;
o | I will not participate in any manner in the manager’s specific investment decision- making. |
· | I will not engage in an initial public offering or private placement via the discretionary agreement. |
· | I will not discuss with my Financial Advisor any Firm related investment activity in advance. |
· | I further understand that the Compliance Department will, upon receipt of all required information, seek approval from the Chief Compliance Officer and notify me of the decision. |
EXHIBIT G (cont.)
· | If for any reason it becomes necessary for me to become involved in the trading activity conducted by my Financial Advisor, I will notify the Compliance Department ahead of time. |
· | I will arrange for my Financial Advisor to provide promptly account statements upon request. |
· | If my Financial Advisor is an immediate family member, trading activity will be subject to preclearance. Duplicate trade confirmations and statements must be provided to Compliance. |
· | To the best of my knowledge, I have provided the Compliance Department with all information relevant to this request; and I have not failed to disclose any relevant information concerning this request or concerning the discretionary managed account relationship. |
· | I agree to notify the Compliance Department immediately if there is any material change to the information set forth in this certification. |
Employee Signature | |
Name | |
Date |
EXHIBIT G (cont.)
Third-Party Investment Manager/Financial Advisor Certification
As a third-party investment manager (“Manager”), we certify that we will have full discretion over
the account(s) listed below, and that Mr./Ms (the “Employee”) will not have any direct or indirect influence or control over the account(s), including but not limited to:
o | The Employee will not suggest that the Manager make any particular purchases or sales of securities |
o | The Employee will not direct the Manager to make any particular purchases or sales of securities |
o | The Employee will not consult with the Manager as to the particular allocation of specific investments |
o | The Employee will not ask the Manager about intended purchases or sales ahead of time |
o | The Employee will not participate in any manner in the manager’s specific investment decision-making. |
· | We will provide copies of account statements to the Compliance Department promptly upon request in the future. |
· | We understand that the Employee is requesting an exemption from applicable Code of Ethics requirements pursuant to which the Employee will not be required to seek prior approval for or otherwise report securities transactions in the account(s). If the Manager is an immediate family member of the employee, preclearance of transactions and the provision of account statements and trade confirmations will be required. |
· | We agree to notify the Compliance Department immediately if there is any material change to the information set forth in this certification. |
Signature | Date | ||||
Name | |||||
Title | |||||
Name of Firm | |||||
Account Number(s) | |||||
Account Name(s) | |||||
Internal Use Only |
Chief Compliance Officer Date |