As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 13, 2019
Securities Act File No. 333-228832
Investment Company Act File No. 811-23402
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 | ☒ | |||
Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 | ☒ | |||
Post-Effective Amendment No. | ☐ |
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 | ☒ | |||
Amendment No. 2 | ☒ | |||
(Check appropriate box or boxes) |
BLACKROCK ETF TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809
United States of America
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrants Telephone Number, including Area Code: (800) 441-7762
John M. Perlowski
BlackRock ETF Trust
55 East 52nd Street
New York, New York 10055
United States of America
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
John A. MacKinnon, Esq. Sidley Austin LLP 787 Seventh Avenue New York, New York 10019-6018 |
Benjamin Archibald, Esq. BlackRock Advisors, LLC 55 East 52nd Street New York, New York 10055 |
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
Registrant elects to register an indefinite number of shares of beneficial interest pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(a), may determine.
2019 Prospectus |
|
► | BlackRock U.S. Equity Factor Rotation ETF | DYNF | NYSE ARCA |
Ticker: DYNF | Stock Exchange: NYSE Arca |
1 Year | 3 Years | |||
$31 | $97 |
Approximate
Value of a Creation Unit |
Creation
Unit Size |
Standard
Creation/ Redemption Transaction Fee |
Maximum
Additional
Charge for Creations* |
Maximum
Additional
Charge for Redemptions* |
||||
$2,500,000 | 100,000 | $1,750 | 3.0% | 2.0% |
* | As a percentage of the net asset value per Creation Unit, inclusive, in the case of redemptions, of the standard redemption transaction fee. |
Call: | 1-800-441-7762 (toll free) |
Write: |
c/o
BlackRock Investments, LLC
1 University Square Drive, Princeton, NJ 08540 |
Fund | Ticker | Listing Exchange | ||
BlackRock U.S. Equity Factor Rotation ETF (the “Fund”) | DYNF | NYSE Arca |
1. | Concentrate its investments in a particular industry, as that term is used in the Investment Company Act. |
2. | Borrow money, except as permitted under the Investment Company Act. |
3. | Issue senior securities to the extent such issuance would violate the Investment Company Act. |
4. | Purchase or hold real estate, except the Fund may purchase and hold securities or other instruments that are secured by, or linked to, real estate or interests therein, securities of REITs, mortgage-related securities and securities of issuers engaged in the real estate business, and the Fund may purchase and hold real estate as a result of the ownership of securities or other instruments. |
5. | Underwrite securities issued by others, except to the extent that the sale of portfolio securities by the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriting or as otherwise permitted by applicable law. |
6. | Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except as permitted by the Investment Company Act. |
7. | Make loans to the extent prohibited by the Investment Company Act. |
a. | Purchase securities of other investment companies, except to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act. As a matter of policy, however, the Fund will not purchase shares of any registered open-end investment company or registered unit investment trust, in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F) or (G) (the “fund of funds” provisions) of the Investment Company Act, at any time the Fund has knowledge that its shares are purchased by another investment company investor in reliance on the provisions of subparagraph (G) of Section 12(d)(1). |
b. | Make short sales of securities or maintain a short position, except to the extent permitted by the Fund’s Prospectus and SAI, as amended from time to time, and applicable law. |
Name
and
Year of Birth 1 |
Position(s)
Held (Length of Service) |
Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
Number
of BlackRock-Advised
Registered Investment Companies (“RICs”) Consisting of Investment Portfolios (“Portfolios”) Overseen |
Public
Company
and Other Investment Company Directorships Held During Past Five Years |
||||
Robert
Fairbairn
1965 |
Trustee
(Since 2019) |
Senior Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2010; oversees BlackRock’s Strategic Partner Program and Strategic Product Management Group; Member of BlackRock’s Global Executive and Global Operating Committees; Co-Chair of BlackRock’s Human Capital Committee; Member of the Board of Managers of BlackRock Investments, LLC from 2011 to 2018; Global Head of BlackRock’s Retail and iShares ® businesses from 2012 to 2016. | 127 RICs consisting of 298 Portfolios | None | ||||
John
M. Perlowski
1964 |
Trustee,
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Since 2019) |
Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2009; Head of BlackRock Global Accounting and Product Services since 2009; Advisory Director of Family Resource Network (charitable foundation) since 2009. | 127 RICs consisting of 298 Portfolios | None |
1 | The address of each Trustee is c/o BlackRock, Inc., 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055. |
2 | Mr. Fairbairn and Mr. Perlowski are both “interested persons,” as defined in the 1940 Act, of the Trust based on their positions with BlackRock, Inc. and its affiliates. Mr. Fairbairn and Mr. Perlowski are also board members of the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex. |
Name
and
Year of Birth 1,2 |
Position(s)
Held (Length of Service) |
Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
Number
of BlackRock-Advised
Registered Investment Companies (“RICs”) Consisting of Investment Portfolios (“Portfolios”) Overseen |
Public
Company
and Other Investment Company Directorships Held During Past Five Years |
||||
Mark
Stalnecker
1951 |
Chair
of the Board and Trustee
(Since 2019) |
Chief Investment Officer, University of Delaware from 1999 to 2013; Trustee and Chair of the Finance and Investment Committees, Winterthur Museum and Country Estate from 2005 to 2016; Member of the Investment Committee, Delaware Public Employees’ Retirement System since 2002; Member of the Investment Committee, Christiana Care Health System from 2009 to 2017; Member of the Investment Committee, Delaware Community Foundation from 2013 to 2014; Director and Chair of the Audit Committee, SEI Private Trust Co. from 2001 to 2014. | 40 RICs consisting of 186 Portfolios | None | ||||
Bruce
R. Bond
1946 |
Trustee
(Since 2019) |
Board Member, Amsphere Limited (software) since 2018; Trustee and Member of the Governance Committee, State Street Research Mutual Funds from 1997 to 2005; Board Member of Governance, Audit and Finance Committee, Avaya Inc. (computer equipment) from 2003 to 2007. | 40 RICs consisting of 186 Portfolios | None |
Name
and
Year of Birth 1,2 |
Position(s)
Held (Length of Service) |
Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
Number
of BlackRock-Advised
Registered Investment Companies (“RICs”) Consisting of Investment Portfolios (“Portfolios”) Overseen |
Public
Company
and Other Investment Company Directorships Held During Past Five Years |
||||
Susan
J. Carter
1956 |
Trustee
(Since 2019) |
Director, Pacific Pension Institute from 2014 to 2018; Advisory Board Member, Center for Private Equity and Entrepreneurship at Tuck School of Business since 1997; Senior Advisor, CCI (investment adviser) in 2015; Chief Executive Officer, CCI from 2013 to 2014; President & Chief Executive Officer, CCI from 1997 to 2013; Advisory Board Member, Girls Who Invest from 2015 to 2018 and Board Member thereof since 2018; Advisory Board Member, Bridges Fund Management since 2016; Trustee, Financial Accounting Foundation since 2017; Practitioner Advisory Board Member, PCRI since 2017. | 40 RICs consisting of 186 Portfolios | None | ||||
Collette
Chilton
1958 |
Trustee
(Since 2019) |
Chief Investment Officer, Williams College since 2006; Chief Investment Officer, Lucent Asset Management Corporation from 1998 to 2006. | 40 RICs consisting of 186 Portfolios | None | ||||
Neil
A. Cotty
1954 |
Trustee
(Since 2019) |
Bank of America Corporation from 1996 to 2015, serving in various senior finance leadership roles, including Chief Accounting Officer from 2009 to 2015, Chief Financial Officer of Global Banking, Markets and Wealth Management from 2008 to 2009, Chief Accounting Officer from 2004 to 2008, Chief Financial Officer of Consumer Bank from 2003 to 2004, Chief Financial Officer of Global Corporate Investment Bank from 1999 to 2002. | 40 RICs consisting of 186 Portfolios | None |
Name
and
Year of Birth 1,2 |
Position(s)
Held (Length of Service) |
Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
Number
of BlackRock-Advised
Registered Investment Companies (“RICs”) Consisting of Investment Portfolios (“Portfolios”) Overseen |
Public
Company
and Other Investment Company Directorships Held During Past Five Years |
||||
Lena
G. Goldberg
1949 |
Trustee
(Since 2019) |
Senior Lecturer, Harvard Business School, since 2008; Director, Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. since 2013; FMR LLC/Fidelity Investments (financial services) from 1996 to 2008, serving in various senior roles including Executive Vice President – Strategic Corporate Initiatives and Executive Vice President and General Counsel; Partner, Sullivan & Worcester LLP from 1985 to 1996 and Associate thereof from 1979 to 1985. | 40 RICs consisting of 186 Portfolios | None | ||||
Robert
M. Hernandez
1944 |
Trustee
(Since 2019) |
Director, Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of USX Corporation (energy and steel business) from 1991 to 2001; Director and non-executive Chairman, RTI International Metals, Inc. from 1990 to 2015; Director, TE Connectivity (electronics) from 2006 to 2012. | 40 RICs consisting of 186 Portfolios | Chubb Limited (insurance company); Eastman Chemical Company |
Name
and
Year of Birth 1,2 |
Position(s)
Held (Length of Service) |
Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
Number
of BlackRock-Advised
Registered Investment Companies (“RICs”) Consisting of Investment Portfolios (“Portfolios”) Overseen |
Public
Company
and Other Investment Company Directorships Held During Past Five Years |
||||
Henry
R. Keizer
1956 |
Trustee
(Since 2019) |
Director, Park Indemnity Ltd. (captive insurer) since 2010; Director, MUFG Americas Holdings Corporation and MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (financial and bank holding company) from 2014 to 2016; Director, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants from 2009 to 2011; Director, KPMG LLP (audit, tax and advisory services) from 2004 to 2005 and 2010 to 2012; Director, KPMG International in 2012, Deputy Chairman and Chief Operating Officer thereof from 2010 to 2012 and U.S. Vice Chairman of Audit thereof from 2005 to 2010; Global Head of Audit, KPMGI (consortium of KPMG firms) from 2006 to 2010; Director, YMCA of Greater New York from 2006 to 2010. | 40 RICs consisting of 186 Portfolios | Hertz Global Holdings (car rental); Montpelier Re Holdings, Ltd. (publicly held property and casual reinsurance) from 2013 until 2015; WABCO (commercial vehicle safety systems); Sealed Air Corp. (packaging) | ||||
Cynthia
A. Montgomery
1952 |
Trustee
(Since 2019) |
Professor, Harvard Business School since 1989. | 40 RICs consisting of 186 Portfolios | Newell Rubbermaid, Inc. (manufacturing) |
Name
and
Year of Birth 1,2 |
Position(s)
Held (Length of Service) |
Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
Number
of BlackRock-Advised
Registered Investment Companies (“RICs”) Consisting of Investment Portfolios (“Portfolios”) Overseen |
Public
Company
and Other Investment Company Directorships Held During Past Five Years |
||||
Donald
C. Opatrny
1952 |
Trustee
(Since 2019) |
Trustee, Vice Chair, Member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Investment Committee, Cornell University since 2004; President, Trustee and Member of the Investment Committee, The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum from 2007 to 2014; Member of the Board and Investment Committee, University School from 2007 to 2018; Member of the Investment Committee, Mellon Foundation from 2009 to 2015; Trustee, Artstor (a Mellon Foundation affiliate) from 2010 to 2015; President and Trustee, the Center for the Arts, Jackson Hole from 2011 to 2018; Director, Athena Capital Advisors LLC (investment management firm) since 2013; Trustee and Chair of the Investment Committee, Community Foundation of Jackson Hole since 2014; Member of Affordable Housing Supply Board of Jackson, Wyoming since 2018; Member, Investment Funds Committee, State of Wyoming since 2017; Trustee, Phoenix Art Museum since 2018. | 40 RICs consisting of 186 Portfolios | None | ||||
Joseph
P. Platt
1947 |
Trustee
(Since 2019) |
General Partner, Thorn Partners, LP (private investments) since 1998; Director, WQED Multi-Media (public broadcasting not-for-profit) since 2001; Chair, Basic Health International (non-profit) since 2015. | 40 RICs consisting of 186 Portfolios | Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. (reinsurance company); Consol Energy Inc. |
Name
and
Year of Birth 1,2 |
Position(s)
Held (Length of Service) |
Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
Number
of BlackRock-Advised
Registered Investment Companies (“RICs”) Consisting of Investment Portfolios (“Portfolios”) Overseen |
Public
Company
and Other Investment Company Directorships Held During Past Five Years |
||||
Kenneth
L. Urish
1951 |
Trustee
(Since 2019) |
Managing Partner, Urish Popeck & Co., LLC (certified public accountants and consultants) since 1976; Past-Chairman of the Professional Ethics Committee of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Committee Member thereof since 2007; Member of External Advisory Board, The Pennsylvania State University Accounting Department since founding in 2001; Principal, UP Strategic Wealth Investment Advisors, LLC since 2013; Trustee, The Holy Family Institute from 2001 to 2010; President and Trustee, Pittsburgh Catholic Publishing Associates from 2003 to 2008; Director, Inter-Tel from 2006 to 2007. | 40 RICs consisting of 186 Portfolios | None | ||||
Claire
A. Walton
1957 |
Trustee
(Since 2019) |
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Liberty Square Asset Management, LP from 1998 to 2015; General Partner of Neon Liberty Capital Management, LLC since 2003; Director, Boston Hedge Fund Group from 2009 to 2018; Director, Woodstock Ski Runners since 2013; Director, Massachusetts Council on Economic Education from 2013 to 2015. | 40 RICs consisting of 186 Portfolios | None |
1 | The address of each Trustee is c/o BlackRock, Inc., 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055. |
2 | Independent Trustees serve until their resignation, retirement, removal or death, or until December 31 of the year in which they turn 75. The Board may determine to extend the terms of Independent Trustees on a case-by-case basis, as appropriate. |
Name
and
Year of Birth 1,2 |
Position(s)
Held (Length of Service) |
Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
||
Officers Who Are Not Trustees | ||||
Jennifer
McGovern
1977 |
Vice
President
(Since 2019) |
Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2016; Director of BlackRock, Inc. from 2011 to 2015; Head of Product Structure and Oversight for BlackRock’s U.S. Wealth Advisory Group since 2013. | ||
Neal
J. Andrews
1966 |
Chief
Financial Officer
(Since 2019) |
Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2006. | ||
Jay
M. Fife
1970 |
Treasurer
(Since 2019) |
Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2007. | ||
Charles
Park
1967 |
Chief
Compliance Officer
(Since 2019) |
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer for certain BlackRock-advised Funds from 2014 to 2015; Chief Compliance Officer of BlackRock Advisors, LLC and the BlackRock-advised Funds in the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex and the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex since 2014; Principal of and Chief Compliance Officer for iShares ® Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC since 2012 and BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BFA”) since 2006; Chief Compliance Officer for the BFA-advised iShares ® exchange traded funds since 2006; Chief Compliance Officer for BlackRock Asset Management International Inc. since 2012. | ||
John
MacKessy
1972 |
Anti-Money
Laundering Compliance Officer
(Since 2019) |
Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2017; Global Head of Anti-Money Laundering at BlackRock, Inc. since 2017; Director of AML Monitoring and Investigations Group of Citibank from 2015 to 2017; Global Anti-Money Laundering and Economic Sanctions Officer for MasterCard from 2011 to 2015. |
Name
and
Year of Birth 1,2 |
Position(s)
Held (Length of Service) |
Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
||
Benjamin
Archibald
1975 |
Secretary
(Since 2019) |
Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2014; Director of BlackRock, Inc. from 2010 to 2013; Secretary of the iShares ® exchange traded funds since 2015; Secretary of the BlackRock-advised mutual funds since 2012. |
1 | The address of each Officer is c/o BlackRock, Inc., 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055. |
2 | Officers of the Trust serve at the pleasure of the Board. |
Name |
Aggregate
Dollar
Range of Equity Securities in Supervised Funds |
|
Interested Trustees: | ||
Robert Fairbairn | Over $100,000 | |
John M. Perlowski | Over $100,000 | |
Independent Trustees: | ||
Bruce R. Bond | Over $100,000 | |
Susan J. Carter | Over $100,000 | |
Collette Chilton | Over $100,000 | |
Neil A. Cotty | Over $100,000 | |
Lena G. Goldberg | Over $100,000 | |
Robert M. Hernandez | Over $100,000 |
Name |
Aggregate
Dollar
Range of Equity Securities in Supervised Funds |
|
Henry R. Keizer | Over $100,000 | |
Cynthia A. Montgomery | Over $100,000 | |
Donald C. Opatrny | Over $100,000 | |
Joseph P. Platt | Over $100,000 | |
Mark Stalnecker | Over $100,000 | |
Kenneth L. Urish | Over $100,000 | |
Claire A. Walton | Over $100,000 |
Name |
Compensation
from the Fund |
Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon Retirement |
Aggregate
Compensation from the Fund and Other BlackRock- Advised Funds 1 |
|||
Interested Trustees: | ||||||
Robert Fairbairn | None | None | None | |||
John M. Perlowski | None | None | None | |||
Independent Trustees: | ||||||
Bruce R. Bond | $482 | None | $397,500 | |||
Susan J. Carter | $482 | None | $390,000 | |||
Collette Chilton | $482 | None | $384,000 | |||
Neil A. Cotty | $482 | None | $390,000 | |||
Lena G. Goldberg 2 | $490 | None | $377,500 | |||
Robert M. Hernandez | $482 | None | $477,500 | |||
Henry R. Keizer 3 | $490 | None | $397,500 | |||
Cynthia A. Montgomery 4 | $490 | None | $400,000 | |||
Donald C. Opatrny 5 | $490 | None | $387,500 | |||
Joseph P. Platt | $482 | None | $392,000 | |||
Mark Stalnecker 6 | $514 | None | $430,000 | |||
Kenneth L. Urish | $482 | None | $410,000 |
Name |
Compensation
from the Fund |
Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon Retirement |
Aggregate
Compensation from the Fund and Other BlackRock- Advised Funds 1 |
|||
Claire A. Walton | $482 | None | $390,000 |
1 | For the number of BlackRock-advised Funds from which each Trustee receives compensation, see the biographical information chart beginning on page 17. |
2 | Chair of the Compliance Committee. |
3 | Chair of the Audit Committee. |
4 | Chair of the Governance Committee. |
5 | Chair of the Performance Oversight Committee. |
6 | Chair of the Board and Chair of the Urgent Topics Committee. |
Ked Hogan | ||||
Types of Accounts | Number | Total Assets | ||
Registered Investment Companies | 11 | $ 300,100,000 | ||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 15 | 14,170,000,000 | ||
Other Accounts | 9 | 3,020,000,000 |
Phil Hodges | ||||
Types of Accounts | Number | Total Assets | ||
Registered Investment Companies | 1 | $ 163,600,000 | ||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 21 | 7,990,000,000 | ||
Other Accounts | 2 | 1,480,000,000 |
Michael Gates | ||||
Types of Accounts | Number | Total Assets | ||
Registered Investment Companies | 8 | $1,700,000,000 | ||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 2 | 107,600,000 | ||
Other Accounts | 0 | 0 |
Ked Hogan | ||||
Types of Accounts |
Number
of Other Accounts
with Performance Fees Managed by Portfolio Manager |
Aggregate
of Total Assets |
||
Registered Investment Companies | 0 | $ 0 | ||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 0 | 0 | ||
Other Accounts | 0 | 0 |
Phil Hodges | ||||
Types of Accounts |
Number
of Other Accounts
with Performance Fees Managed by Portfolio Manager |
Aggregate
of Total Assets |
||
Registered Investment Companies | 0 | $ 0 | ||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 0 | 0 | ||
Other Accounts | 0 | 0 |
Michael Gates | ||||
Types of Accounts |
Number
of Other Accounts
with Performance Fees Managed by Portfolio Manager |
Aggregate
of Total Assets |
||
Registered Investment Companies | 0 | $ 0 | ||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 0 | 0 | ||
Other Accounts | 0 | 0 |
Shares
Per
Creation Unit |
Approximate
Value Per Creation Unit (U.S.$) |
|
100,000 | $2,500,000 |
Standard
Creation
Transaction Fee |
Maximum
Additional
Charge* |
|
$1,750 | 3.0% |
* | As a percentage of the net asset value per Creation Unit. |
Standard
Redemption
Transaction Fee |
Maximum
Additional
Charge* |
|
$1,750 | 2.0% |
* | As a percentage of the net asset value per Creation Unit, inclusive of the standard redemption transaction fee. |
ASSETS: | |
Cash | $ 100,000 |
NET ASSETS: | $ 100,000 |
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF: | |
Paid-in capital | $ 100,000 |
Net Assets, February 22, 2019 | |
$ 100,000 | |
Net asset value per common share: | |
Equivalent to 4,000 shares of common stock issued and outstanding, No Par Value, unlimited shares authorized | $ 25.00 |
• | Equity investments traded on a recognized securities exchange are valued at that day’s last traded price or official closing price, as applicable, on the exchange where the stock is primarily traded. Equity investments traded on a recognized exchange for which there were no sales on that day are valued at the last traded price. |
• | Exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds traded on a recognized securities exchange are valued at that day’s last traded price or official closing price, as applicable, on the exchange where the fund is primarily traded. Funds traded on a recognized exchange for which there were no sales on that day may be valued at the last traded price. |
• | Investments in open-end U.S. mutual funds (including money market funds) are valued at that day’s published net asset value (“NAV”). |
• | Futures contract notional values are determined based on that day’s last reported settlement price on the exchange where the contract is traded. |
• | Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued based on that day’s prevailing forward exchange rate for the underlying currencies. Interpolated values are derived when the settlement date of the contract is an interim date for which quotations are not available. |
• | Swap agreements are valued utilizing quotes received daily by independent pricing services or through brokers, which are derived using daily swap curves and models that incorporate a number of market data factors, such as discounted cash flows, trades and values of the underlying reference instruments. |
• | Repurchase agreements are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. |
• | Level 1 – unadjusted price quotations in active markets/exchanges for identical assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access |
• | Level 2 – other observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or other market–corroborated inputs) |
• | Level 3 – unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are not available (including the Fund’s own assumptions used in determining the fair value of investments and derivative financial instruments) |
Average Daily Net Assets | Fee |
First $1 billion | 0.30% |
$1 billion - $3 billion | 0.28% |
$3 billion - $5 billion | 0.27% |
$5 billion - $10 billion | 0.26% |
Greater than $10 billion | 0.25% |
• | Boards and directors |
• | Auditors and audit-related issues |
• | Capital structure, mergers, asset sales and other special transactions |
• | Compensation and benefits |
• | Environmental and social issues |
• | General corporate governance matters and shareholder protections |
• | establishing an appropriate corporate governance structure |
• | supporting and overseeing management in setting long-term strategic goals, applicable measures of value-creation and milestones that will demonstrate progress, and steps taken if any obstacles are anticipated or incurred |
• | ensuring the integrity of financial statements |
• | making independent decisions regarding mergers, acquisitions and disposals |
• | establishing appropriate executive compensation structures |
• | addressing business issues, including environmental and social issues, when they have the potential to materially impact company reputation and performance |
• | current or former employment at the company or a subsidiary within the past several years |
• | being, or representing, a shareholder with a substantial shareholding in the company |
• | interlocking directorships |
• | having any other interest, business or other relationship which could, or could reasonably be perceived to, materially interfere with the director’s ability to act in the best interests of the company |
• | BlackRock clients who may be issuers of securities or proponents of shareholder resolutions |
• | BlackRock business partners or third parties who may be issuers of securities or proponents of shareholder resolutions |
• | BlackRock employees who may sit on the boards of public companies held in Funds managed by BlackRock |
• | Significant BlackRock, Inc. investors who may be issuers of securities held in Funds managed by BlackRock |
• | Securities of BlackRock, Inc. or BlackRock investment funds held in Funds managed by BlackRock |
• | BlackRock, Inc. board members who serve as senior executives of public companies held in Funds managed by BlackRock |
• | Adopted the Guidelines which are designed to protect and enhance the economic value of the companies in which BlackRock invests on behalf of clients. |
• | Established a reporting structure that separates BIS from employees with sales, vendor management or business partnership roles. In addition, BlackRock seeks to ensure that all engagements with corporate issuers, dissident shareholders or shareholder proponents are managed consistently and without regard to BlackRock’s relationship with such parties. Clients or business partners are not given special treatment or differentiated access to BIS. BIS prioritizes engagements based on factors including but not limited to our need for additional information to make a voting decision or our view on the likelihood that an engagement could lead to positive outcome(s) over time for the economic value of the company. Within the normal course of business, BIS may engage directly with BlackRock clients, business partners and/or third parties, and/or with employees with sales, vendor management or business partnership roles, in discussions regarding our approach to stewardship, general corporate governance matters, client reporting needs, and/or to otherwise ensure that proxy-related client service levels are met. |
• | Determined to engage, in certain instances, an independent fiduciary to vote proxies as a further safeguard to avoid potential conflicts of interest, to satisfy regulatory compliance requirements, or as may be otherwise required by applicable law. In such circumstances, the independent fiduciary provides BlackRock’s proxy voting agent with instructions, in accordance with the Guidelines, as to how to vote such proxies, and BlackRock’s proxy voting agent votes the proxy in accordance with the independent fiduciary’s determination. BlackRock uses an independent fiduciary to vote proxies of (i) any company that is affiliated with BlackRock, Inc., (ii) any public company that includes BlackRock employees on its board of directors, (iii) The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., (iv) any public company of which a BlackRock, Inc. board member serves as a senior executive, and (v) companies when legal or regulatory requirements compel BlackRock to use an independent fiduciary. In selecting an independent fiduciary, we assess several characteristics, including but not limited to: independence, an ability to analyze proxy issues and vote in the best economic interest of our clients, reputation for reliability and integrity, and operational capacity to accurately deliver the assigned votes in a timely manner. We may engage more than one independent fiduciary, in part in order to mitigate potential or perceived conflicts of interest at an independent fiduciary. The Global Committee appoints and reviews the performance of the independent fiduciar(ies), generally on an annual basis. |
BLACKROCK ETF TRUST
PART C. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 28. |
Exhibits . |
Exhibit
|
Description |
|||
1 | Articles of Incorporation | |||
(a) |
Certificate of Trust, dated October 31, 2018, filed December 14, 2018 as an Exhibit to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) (File No. 333-228832). |
|||
(b) |
Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the Declaration of Trust), dated February 21, 2019, filed March 4, 2019 as an Exhibit to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act (File No. 333-228832). |
|||
2 |
By-laws |
|||
(a) |
By-Laws, dated November 19, 2018, filed December 14, 2018 as an Exhibit to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act (File No. 333-228832). |
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3 |
Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders |
|||
(a) |
Articles II, VII, IX and X of the Declaration of Trust, filed March 4, 2019 as an Exhibit to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act (File No. 333-228832). |
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(b) |
Articles IV and VI of the By-Laws, filed as an Exhibit to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act (File No. 333-228832). |
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4 |
Investment Advisory Contracts. |
|||
(a) |
Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and BlackRock Fund Advisors, filed March 4, 2019 as an Exhibit to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act (File No. 333-228832). |
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5 |
Underwriting Contracts |
|||
(a) |
Form of Distribution Agreement between Registrant and BlackRock Investments, LLC (BRIL), filed March 4, 2019 as an Exhibit to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act (File No. 333-228832). |
|||
6 |
Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts |
|||
(a) |
Not applicable. |
|||
7 |
Custodian Agreements |
|||
(a) |
Master Custodian Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated December 31, 2018 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 7(g) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 943 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of BlackRock Funds SM (File No. 33-26305), filed on February 28, 2019. |
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8 |
Other Material Contracts |
|||
(a) |
Administration and Fund Accounting Services Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated December 31, 2018 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 8(k) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 43 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Managed Account Series (File No. 333-124463), filed on February 28, 2019. |
|||
(b) |
Form of Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company.* |
(c) |
Form of Fourth Amended and Restated Securities Lending Agency Agreement between Registrant and BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 8(l) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 923 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of BlackRock Funds SM (File No. 33-26305), filed on January 25, 2019. |
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9 |
Legal Opinion |
|||
(a) |
Opinion of Sidley Austin LLP, with respect to the legality of the shares being offered, filed March 4, 2019 as an Exhibit to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act (File No. 333-228832). |
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10 |
Other Opinions |
|||
(a) |
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for Registrant.* |
|||
11 |
Omitted Financial Statements |
|||
(a) |
None |
|||
12 |
Initial Capital Agreements |
|||
(a) |
Form of Purchase Agreement between Registrant and BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., filed March 4, 2019 as an Exhibit to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act (File No. 333-228832). |
|||
13 |
Rule 12b-1 Plan. |
|||
(a) |
Not applicable. |
|||
14 |
Rule 18f-3 Plan. |
|||
(a) |
Not applicable. |
|||
15 |
Reserved |
|||
16 |
Codes of Ethics. |
|||
(a) |
Code of Ethics of Registrant is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(1) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of BlackRock Variable Series Funds II, Inc. (File No. 333-224376), filed on July 2, 2018. |
|||
(b) |
Code of Ethics of BlackRock Investments, LLC (formerly BlackRock Investments, Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 15(b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 48 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of BlackRock Advantage U.S. Total Market Fund, Inc. (f/k/a BlackRock Value Opportunities Fund, Inc.) (File No. 2-60836), filed on July 28, 2014. |
|||
(c) |
Code of Ethics of BlackRock Fund Advisors is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 15(c) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 48 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of BlackRock Advantage U.S. Total Market Fund, Inc. (f/k/a BlackRock Value Opportunities Fund, Inc.) (File No. 2-60836), filed on July 28, 2014. |
|||
99 |
Power of Attorney |
|||
(a) |
Power of Attorney, dated February 21, 2019, for Bruce R. Bond, Susan J. Carter, Collete Chilton, Neil A. Cotty, Robert Fairbairn, Lena G. Goldberg, Robert M. Hernandez, Henry R. Keizer, Cynthia A. Montgomery, Donald C. Opatrny, John M. Perlowski, Joseph P. Platt, Mark Stalnecker, Kenneth L. Urish and Claire A. Walton.* |
* |
Filed herewith. |
Item 29. |
Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with the Fund. |
Registrant does not control and is not under common control with any other person.
Item 30. |
Indemnification. |
Indemnification of Registrants principal underwriter against certain losses is provided for in Section 8 of the Distribution Agreement incorporated by reference herein as Exhibit 5(a). Indemnification of Registrants Custodian, Transfer Agent and Administrator is provided for, respectively, in Section 15 of the Master Custodian Agreement incorporated by reference herein as Exhibit 7(a), Section 7 of the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement incorporated by reference herein as Exhibit 8(b) and Section 8 of the Administration and Fund Accounting Services Agreement incorporated by reference herein as Exhibit 8(a). Registrant intends to obtain from a major insurance carrier a trustees and officers liability policy covering certain types of errors and omissions. In addition, Section 10.2 of Registrants Declaration of Trust filed herein as Exhibit 1(b) provides as follows:
Indemnification.
(a) Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in paragraph (b) below:
(i) every Person who is, or has been, a Trustee or officer of the Trust (hereinafter referred to as a Covered Person) shall be indemnified by the Trust or the applicable Series to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him or her in connection with any claim, action, suit, or proceeding in which he or she becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his or her being or having been a Trustee or officer and against amounts paid or incurred by him or her in the settlement thereof; and
(ii) 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, while in office or thereafter, and the words liability and expenses shall include, without limitation, attorneys fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties, and other liabilities.
(b) To the extent required under the 1940 Act, but only to such extent, 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 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
(ii) in the event of a settlement, 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:
(A) |
by the court or other body approving the settlement; |
(B) |
by at least a majority of those Trustees who neither are 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 |
(C) |
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, shall continue as to a Person who has ceased to be a Covered Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such a Person. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification to which Trust personnel, other than Covered Persons, and other Persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.
(d) To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, expenses in connection with the preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit, or proceeding of the character described in paragraph (a) of this Section 10.2 shall be paid by the Trust or Series from time to time prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of
any undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person that such amount will be paid over by him to the Trust or Series if it ultimately is determined that he or she is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 10.2; provided, however, that either (a) such Covered Person shall have provided appropriate security for such undertaking; (b) the Trust is insured against losses arising out of any such advance payments, or (c) 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 trial-type inquiry or full investigation), that there is a reason to believe that such Covered Person will be found entitled to indemnification under this Section 10.2. Notwithstanding anything else herein, any amendment to Article X hereof shall not be effective to limit the rights to indemnification or insurance provided herein with respect to any Covered Persons without such Covered Persons written consent. The advancement of any expenses pursuant to this Section 10.2(d) shall under no circumstances be considered a loan under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended from time to time, or for any other reason.
(e) The Trust is authorized to enter into separate indemnification agreements with any one or more Trustees or officers of the Trust.
(f) Any repeal or modification of this Article X or adoption or modification of any other provision of this Trust Instrument 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 or right to advancement of expenses available to any Covered Person with respect to any act or omission that occurred prior to such repeal, modification or adoption.
(g) To the extent that any determination is required to be made as to whether a Covered Person engaged in conduct for which indemnification is not provided as described herein, or as to whether there is reason to believe that a Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification, the Person or Persons making the determination shall afford the Covered Person a rebuttable presumption that the Covered Person has not engaged in such conduct and that there is reason to believe that the Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Trust Instrument to the contrary, any liability and/or expense against which any Covered Person is indemnified under this Section 10.2 and any advancement of expenses that any Covered Person is entitled to be paid under Section 10.2(d) shall be deemed to be joint and several obligations of the Trust and each Series, and the assets of the Trust and each Series shall be subject to the claims of any Covered Person therefor under this Article X; provided that any such liability, expense or obligation may be allocated and charged by the Trustees between or among the Trust and/or any one or more Series (and Classes) in such manner as the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair and equitable.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, 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 than the payment by Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, 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 issue.
Section 10.3 of Registrants Declaration of Trust, filed herein as Exhibit 1(b), also provides for the indemnification of shareholders of Registrant. Section 10.3 states as follows:
Shareholders. In case any Shareholder or former Shareholder of any Series shall be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his being or having been a Shareholder of such Series and not because of his acts or omissions or for some other reason, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his heirs, executors, administrators, or other legal representatives, or, in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled out of the assets belonging to the applicable Series to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss
and expense arising from such liability. The Trust, on behalf of the affected Series, shall assume, upon request by the Shareholder, the defense of any claim made against the Shareholder for any act or obligation of the Series and satisfy any judgment thereon from the assets of the Series.
Item 31. |
Business and Other Connections of the Investment Advisers. |
(a) BlackRock Fund Advisors (BFA). The information required by this Item 31 about officers and directors of BFA, together with information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by such officers and directors during the past two years, is incorporated by reference to Schedules A and D of Form ADV, filed by BFA pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (SEC File No. 801-22609).
Item 32. |
Principal Underwriters. |
(a) BlackRock Investments, LLC (BRIL) acts as the principal underwriter or placement agent, as applicable, for each of the following open-end registered investment companies, including Registrant:
BIF Money Fund |
BlackRock Multi-State Municipal Series Trust |
|
BlackRock Advantage Global Fund, Inc. |
BlackRock Municipal Bond Fund, Inc. |
|
BlackRock Advantage U.S. Total Market Fund, Inc. |
BlackRock Municipal Series Trust |
|
BlackRock Allocation Target Shares |
BlackRock Natural Resources Trust |
|
BlackRock Asian Dragon Fund, Inc. |
BlackRock Series Fund, Inc. |
|
BlackRock Balanced Capital Fund, Inc. |
BlackRock Series Fund II, Inc. |
|
BlackRock Basic Value Fund, Inc. |
BlackRock Series, Inc. |
|
BlackRock Bond Fund, Inc. |
BlackRock Strategic Global Bond Fund, Inc. |
|
BlackRock California Municipal Series Trust |
BlackRock Variable Series Funds, Inc. |
|
BlackRock Capital Appreciation Fund, Inc. |
BlackRock Variable Series Funds II, Inc. |
|
BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund, Inc. |
FDP Series, Inc. |
|
BlackRock Equity Dividend Fund |
FDP Series II, Inc. |
|
BlackRock ETF Trust |
Funds For Institutions Series |
|
BlackRock EuroFund |
iShares, Inc. |
|
BlackRock Financial Institutions Series Trust |
iShares Trust |
|
BlackRock Focus Growth Fund, Inc. |
iShares U.S. ETF Trust |
|
BlackRock Funds |
Managed Account Series |
|
BlackRock Funds II |
Managed Account Series II |
|
BlackRock Funds III |
Master Advantage U.S. Total Market LLC |
|
BlackRock Funds IV |
Master Bond LLC |
|
BlackRock Funds V |
Master Focus Growth LLC |
|
BlackRock Funds VI |
Master Institutional Money Market LLC |
|
BlackRock Global Allocation Fund, Inc. |
Master Investment Portfolio |
|
BlackRock Index Funds, Inc. |
Master Investment Portfolio II |
|
BlackRock Large Cap Series Funds, Inc. |
Master Large Cap Series LLC |
|
BlackRock Latin America Fund, Inc. |
Master Money LLC |
|
BlackRock Liquidity Funds |
Quantitative Master Series LLC |
|
BlackRock Long-Horizon Equity Fund |
Ready Assets Government Liquidity Fund |
|
BlackRock Mid Cap Dividend Series, Inc. |
Ready Assets U.S. Treasury Money Fund |
|
Retirement Series Trust |
BRIL also acts as the distributor or placement agent for the following closed-end registered investment companies:
BlackRock Floating Rate Income Strategies Fund, Inc.
BlackRock Health Sciences Trust
BRIL provides numerous financial services to BlackRock-advised funds and is the distributor of BlackRocks open-end funds. These services include coordinating and executing Authorized Participation Agreements, preparing, reviewing and providing advice with respect to all sales literature and responding to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority comments on marketing materials.
(b) Set forth below is information concerning each director and officer of BRIL. The principal business address of each such person is 40 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10022.
Name |
Position(s) and Office(s) with BRIL |
Position(s) and
Office(s) with Registrant |
||
Abigail Reynolds | Chairman and Member, Board of Managers, and Chief Executive Officer | None | ||
Christopher J. Meade | Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Senior Managing Director | None | ||
Lauren Bradley | Chief Financial Officer and Vice President | None | ||
Gregory Rosta | Chief Compliance Officer and Director | None | ||
Jon Maro | Chief Operating Officer and Director | None | ||
Anne Ackerley | Member, Board of Managers, and Managing Director | None | ||
Blair Alleman | Managing Director | None | ||
Michael Bishopp | Managing Director | None | ||
Thomas Callahan | Member, Board of Managers, and Managing Director | None | ||
Samara Cohen | Managing Director | None | ||
John Diorio | Managing Director | None | ||
Lisa Hill | Managing Director | None | ||
Brendan Kyne | Managing Director | None | ||
Paul Lohrey | Managing Director | None | ||
Martin Small | Managing Director | None | ||
Jonathan Steel | Managing Director | None | ||
Katrina Gil | Director | None | ||
Chris Nugent | Director | None | ||
Andrew Dickson | Director and Secretary | None | ||
Terri Slane | Director and Assistant Secretary | None | ||
Lourdes Sanchez | Vice President | None | ||
Lita Midwinter | Anti-Money Laundering Officer | None | ||
Zach Buchwald | Member, Board of Managers | None | ||
Sarah Melvin | Member, Board of Managers | None | ||
Richard Prager | Member, Board of Managers | None | ||
Gerald Pucci | Member, Board of Managers | None | ||
Salim Ramji | Member, Board of Managers | None |
(c) Not applicable.
Item 33. |
Location of Accounts and Records. |
All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act and the rules thereunder are maintained at the offices of:
(a) Registrant, 100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809.
(b) BlackRock Investments, LLC, 40 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10022 (records relating to its functions as distributor).
(c) BlackRock Fund Advisors, 400 Howard Street, San Francisco, California 94105 (records relating to its functions as investment adviser).
(d) State Street Bank and Trust Company, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111 (records relating to its functions as administrator, custodian and transfer agent).
Item 34. |
Management Services. |
None.
Item 35. |
Undertakings. |
None.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York and the State of New York, on March 13, 2019
B LACK R OCK ETF T RUST (R EGISTRANT ) ON BEHALF OF B LACK R OCK U.S. E QUITY F ACTOR R OTATION ETF |
||
By: |
/ S / J OHN M. P ERLOWSKI |
|
(John M. Perlowski, President and Chief Executive Officer) |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature |
Title |
Date |
||
/s/ J OHN M. P ERLOWSKI (John M. Perlowski) |
Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
March 13, 2019 | ||
/s/ N EAL J. A NDREWS (Neal J. Andrews) |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
March 13, 2019 | ||
B RUCE R. B OND * |
Trustee | |||
(Bruce R. Bond) | ||||
S USAN J. C ARTER * (Susan J. Carter) |
Trustee | |||
C OLLETTE C HILTON * (Collette Chilton) |
Trustee | |||
N EIL A. C OTTY * (Neil A. Cotty) |
Trustee | |||
L ENA G. G OLDBERG * (Lena G. Goldberg) |
Trustee | |||
R OBERT M. H ERNANDEZ * (Robert M. Hernandez) |
Trustee | |||
H ENRY R. K EIZER * (Henry R. Keizer) |
Trustee | |||
C YNTHIA A. M ONTGOMERY * (Cynthia A. Montgomery) |
Trustee | |||
D ONALD C. O PATRNY * (Donald C. Opatrny) |
Trustee |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number |
Description |
|
8(b) | Form of Transfer Agency and Service Agreement. | |
10(a) | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for Registrant. |
Exhibit 8(b)
FORM OF TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of the day of , 2019, by and between STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, a Massachusetts trust company having its principal office and place of business at One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111 (State Street or the Transfer Agent), and BLACKROCK ETF TRUST, a Delaware statutory trust having its principal office and place of business at 100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809 (the Trust).
WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue shares of beneficial interest (Shares) in separate series, with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets;
WHEREAS, the Trust intends to initially offer Shares in one series, as named in the attached Schedule A , which may be amended by the parties from time to time (such series, together with all other series subsequently established by the Trust and made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 12 of this Agreement, being herein referred to as a Fund, and collectively as the Funds);
WHEREAS, each Fund will issue and redeem Shares only in aggregations of Shares known as Creation Units as described in the currently effective prospectus and statement of additional information of the Trust (collectively, the Prospectus);
WHEREAS, only those entities (Authorized Participants) that have entered into an Authorized Participant Agreement with the distributor of the Trust, currently (the Distributor), are eligible to place orders for Creation Units with the Distributor;
WHEREAS, the Depository Trust Company, a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York (DTC) or its nominee will be the record or registered owner of all outstanding Shares;
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to appoint the Transfer Agent to act as its transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and agent in connection with certain other activities; and Transfer Agent is willing to accept such appointment;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto, agree as follows:
1. |
TERMS OF APPOINTMENT |
1.1 |
Appointment . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Trust on behalf of each Fund hereby employs and appoints the Transfer Agent to act as, and the Transfer Agent agrees to act as, transfer agent for the Creation Units and dividend disbursing agent of the Trust and each Fund. |
1.2 |
Transfer Agency Services . In accordance with procedures established from time to time by agreement between the Trust on behalf of the Funds, as applicable, and the Transfer Agent, the Transfer Agent shall: |
(i) |
establish each Authorized Participants account in the applicable Fund on the exchange traded fund platform; |
(ii) |
receive and process orders for the purchase of Creation Units from the Distributor or the Trust, deposit and deliver Creation Units, and deliver the appropriate order details thereof to the custodian of the applicable Fund as identified by the Trust (the Custodian); |
(iii) |
receive and process redemption requests and redemption directions from the Distributor or the Trust, receive the redemption units (Redemption Units) from the Authorized Participant, process the withdrawal of the Redemption Units from DTC, and deliver the appropriate order details thereof to the Custodian; |
(iv) |
at the appropriate time as and when it receives monies paid to it by the Custodian with respect to any redemption, pay over or cause to be paid over in the appropriate manner such monies, if any, to the redeeming Authorized Participant as instructed by the Distributor or the Trust; |
(v) |
prepare and transmit by means of DTCs book-entry system payments for any dividends and distributions declared by the Trust on behalf of the applicable Fund; |
(vi) |
record the issuance of Shares of the applicable Fund and maintain a record of the total number of Shares of each Fund which are issued and outstanding; but Transfer Agent shall have no obligation, when recording the issuance of Shares, to monitor the issuance of such Shares to determine if there are authorized Shares available for issuance or to take cognizance of any laws relating to, or corporate actions required for, the issue or sale of such Shares, which functions shall be the sole responsibility of the Trust and each Fund; and, excluding DTC or its nominee as the record or registered owner, the Transfer Agent shall have no obligations or responsibilities to account for, keep records of, or otherwise related to, the beneficial owners of the Shares; and |
(vii) |
maintain and manage, as agent for the Trust and each Fund, such bank accounts as the Transfer Agent shall deem necessary for the performance of its duties under this Agreement, including but not limited to, the processing of Creation Unit purchases and redemptions and the payment of a Funds dividends and distributions. The Transfer Agent may maintain such accounts at the bank or banks deemed appropriate by the Transfer Agent in accordance with applicable law. |
1.3 |
Additional Services . In addition to, and neither in lieu of nor in contravention of the services set forth in Section 1.2 above, the Transfer Agent shall perform such other services for the Trust that are mutually agreed to by the parties from time to time, for which the Trust will pay such fees as may be mutually agreed upon, including the Transfer Agents reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. The provision of such services shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. |
1.4 |
Authorized Persons . The Trust, on behalf of each Fund, hereby agrees and acknowledges that the Transfer Agent may rely on the current list of authorized persons, including the Distributor, as provided or agreed to by the Trust and as may be amended from time to time, in receiving instructions to issue or redeem Creation Units. The Trust, on behalf of each Fund, agrees and covenants for itself and each such authorized person that any order or sale of or transaction in Creation Units received by it after the order cut-off time as set forth in the Prospectus or such earlier time as designated by such Fund (the Order Cut-Off Time), shall be effectuated at the net asset value determined on the next business day or as otherwise required pursuant to the applicable Funds then-effective Prospectus, and the Trust or such authorized person shall so instruct the Transfer Agent of the proper effective date of the transaction. |
1.5 |
Anti-Money Laundering and Client Screening . With respect to the Trusts or any Funds offering and sale of Creation Units at any time, and for all subsequent transfers of such interests, the Trust or its delegate shall, to the extent applicable, directly or indirectly and to the extent required by law: (i) conduct know your customer/client identity due diligence with respect to potential investors and transferees in the Shares and Creation Units and shall obtain and retain due diligence records for each investor and transferee; (ii) use its best efforts to ensure that each investors and any transferees funds used to purchase Creation Units or Shares shall not be derived from, nor the product of, any criminal activity; (iii) if requested, provide periodic written verifications that such investors/transferees have been checked against the United States Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control database for any non-compliance or exceptions; and (iv) perform its obligations under this Section in accordance with all applicable anti-money laundering laws and regulations. In the event that the Transfer Agent has received advice from counsel that access to underlying due diligence records pertaining to the investors/transferees is necessary to ensure compliance by the Transfer Agent with relevant anti-money laundering (or other applicable) laws or regulations, the Trust shall, upon receipt of written request from the Transfer Agent, provide the Transfer Agent copies of such due diligence records. |
1.6 |
State Transaction (Blue Sky) Reporting . If applicable, the Trust shall be solely responsible for its blue sky compliance and state registration requirements. |
1.7 |
Tax Law . The Transfer Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Trust, a Fund, any Creation Units, any Shares, a beneficial owner thereof, an Authorized Participant or the Transfer Agent in connection with the services provided by the Transfer Agent hereunder by the |
3
tax laws of any country or of any state or political subdivision thereof. It shall be the responsibility of the Trust to notify the Transfer Agent of the obligations imposed on the Trust, a Fund, the Creation Units, the Shares, or the Transfer Agent in connection with the services provided by the Transfer Agent hereunder by the tax law of countries, states and political subdivisions thereof, including responsibility for withholding and other taxes, assessments or other governmental charges, certifications and governmental reporting. |
1.8 |
REGULATION GG. The Trust represents and warrants that it does not engage in an Internet gambling business, as such term is defined in Section 233.2(r) of Federal Reserve Regulation GG (12 CFR 233) and covenants that it shall not engage in an Internet gambling business. In accordance with Regulation GG, the Trust is hereby notified that restricted transactions, as such term is defined in Section 233.2(y) of Regulation GG, are prohibited in any dealings with the Transfer Agent pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise between or among any party hereto. |
2. |
FEES AND EXPENSES |
2.1 |
Fee Schedule . For the performance by the Transfer Agent of services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the Trust agrees on behalf of each of the Funds to pay, or to cause to be paid to, the Transfer Agent the fees and expenses set forth in a written fee schedule agreed to between the parties. |
3. |
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TRANSFER AGENT |
The Transfer Agent represents and warrants to the Trust that:
3.1 |
It is a trust company duly organized and existing under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. |
3.2 |
It is duly registered as a transfer agent under Section 17A(c)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), it will remain so registered for the duration of this Agreement, and it will promptly notify the Trust in the event of any material change in its status as a registered transfer agent. |
3.3 |
It is duly qualified to carry on its business in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. |
3.4 |
It is empowered under applicable laws and by its organizational documents to enter into and perform the services contemplated in this Agreement. |
3.5 |
All requisite organizational proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement. |
3.6 |
It has adopted written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to prevent violations of the Federal Securities Laws as such term is defined in Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), with respect to the services to be provided under this Agreement. |
4. |
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TRUST ON BEHALF OF THE FUNDS |
The Trust on behalf of the Funds represents and warrants to the Transfer Agent that:
4.1 |
The Trust is organized, existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of organization. |
4.2 |
The Trust is empowered under applicable laws and by its organizational documents to enter into and perform this Agreement. |
4.3 |
All requisite proceedings have been taken to authorize the Trust to enter into, perform and receive services pursuant to this Agreement. |
4.4 |
The Trust is registered under the 1940 Act as an open-end management investment company. |
4.5 |
A registration statement is currently effective under the 1940 Act and will remain effective, and all appropriate state securities law filings have been made and will continue to be made, with respect to all Shares of the Trust being offered for sale. |
4.6 |
Where information provided by the Trust or the Trusts investors includes information about an identifiable individual (Personal Information), the Trust represents and warrants that it has obtained all consents and approvals, as required by all applicable laws, regulations, by-laws and ordinances that regulate the collection, processing, use or disclosure of Personal Information, necessary to disclose such Personal Information to the Transfer Agent, and as required for the Transfer Agent to use and disclose such Personal Information in connection with the performance of the services hereunder. The Trust acknowledges that the Transfer Agent may perform any of the services, and may use and disclose Personal Information outside of the jurisdiction in which it was initially collected by the Trust, including the United States and that information relating to the Trust, including Personal Information of investors may be accessed by national security authorities, law enforcement and courts. The Transfer Agent shall be kept indemnified by and be without liability to the Trust for any action taken or omitted by it in reliance upon this representation and warranty, including without limitation, any liability or costs in connection with claims or complaints for failure to comply with any applicable law that regulates the collection, processing, use or disclosure of Personal Information. |
5. |
DATA ACCESS SERVICES |
5.1 |
The Trust acknowledges that the databases, computer programs, screen formats, report formats, interactive design techniques, and documentation manuals furnished to the Trust by the Transfer Agent as part of the Trusts ability to access certain Trust-related data maintained by the Transfer Agent or another third party on databases under the control and ownership of the Transfer Agent (Data Access Services) constitute copyrighted, trade secret, or other proprietary information |
5
(collectively, Proprietary Information) of substantial value to the Transfer Agent or another third party. In no event shall Proprietary Information be deemed to be Authorized Participant information or the confidential information of the Trust. The Trust, on behalf of itself and the Funds, agrees to treat all Proprietary Information as proprietary to the Transfer Agent and further agrees that it shall not divulge any Proprietary Information to any person or organization except as may be provided hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trust agrees for itself and its officers and trustees, on behalf of the Funds and their agents, to: |
(i) |
use such programs and databases solely on the Trusts, or such agents computers, or solely from equipment at the location(s) agreed to between the Trust and the Transfer Agent, and solely in accordance with the Transfer Agents applicable user documentation; |
(ii) |
refrain from copying or duplicating in any way the Proprietary Information; |
(iii) |
refrain from obtaining unauthorized access to any portion of the Proprietary Information, and if such access is inadvertently obtained, to inform the Transfer Agent in a timely manner of such fact and dispose of such information in accordance with the Transfer Agents instructions; |
(iv) |
refrain from causing or allowing Proprietary Information transmitted from the Transfer Agents computers to the Trusts, or such agents computer to be retransmitted to any other computer facility or other location, except with the prior written consent of the Transfer Agent; |
(v) |
allow the Trust or such agents to have access only to those authorized transactions agreed upon by the Trust and the Transfer Agent; |
(vi) |
honor all reasonable written requests made by the Transfer Agent to protect at the Transfer Agents expense the rights of the Transfer Agent in Proprietary Information at common law, under federal copyright law and under other federal or state law. |
5.2 |
Proprietary Information shall not include all or any portion of any of the foregoing items that are or become publicly available without breach of this Agreement; that are released for general disclosure by a written release by the Transfer Agent; or that are already in the possession of the receiving party at the time of receipt without obligation of confidentiality or breach of this Agreement. |
5.3 |
If the Trust notifies the Transfer Agent that any of the Data Access Services do not operate in material compliance with the most recently issued user documentation for such services, the Transfer Agent shall endeavor in a timely manner to correct such failure. Organizations from which the Transfer Agent may obtain certain data included in the Data Access Services are solely responsible for the contents of such data, and the Trust agrees to make no claim against the Transfer Agent arising out of the contents of such third-party data, including, but not limited to, the accuracy thereof. DATA ACCESS SERVICES AND ALL COMPUTER PROGRAMS |
AND SOFTWARE SPECIFICATIONS USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH ARE PROVIDED ON AN AS IS, AS AVAILABLE BASIS. THE TRANSFER AGENT EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES EXCEPT THOSE EXPRESSLY STATED HEREIN INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. |
5.4 |
If the transactions available to the Trust include the ability to originate electronic instructions to the Transfer Agent in order to effect the transfer or movement of cash or Creation Units or transmit Authorized Participant information or other information, then in such event the Transfer Agent shall be entitled to rely on the validity and authenticity of such instruction without undertaking any further inquiry as long as such instruction is undertaken in conformity with security procedures established by the Transfer Agent from time to time. |
5.5 |
Each party shall take reasonable efforts to advise its employees of their obligations pursuant to this Section. The obligations of this Section shall survive any earlier termination of this Agreement. |
6. |
STANDARD OF CARE / LIMITATION OF LIABILITY |
6.1 |
In carrying out the provisions of this Agreement, the Transfer Agent shall act (i) with reasonable care and diligence and in good faith, (ii) without negligence, fraud, willful misconduct, willful omission or bad faith, and at least at the same standard of care as the Transfer Agent provides for itself and its affiliates ( Affiliates ) with respect to similar services, and (iii) with the level of skill and care which would be expected from a reasonably skilled and experienced professional provider of services similar to the services provided under this Agreement. The Transfer Agent assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable for loss or damage due to errors, including encoding and payment processing errors, unless and to the extent said errors are caused as a result of the Transfer Agent failing to exercise such standard of care. The parties agree that any encoding or payment processing errors shall be governed by this standard of care, and that Section 4-209 of the Uniform Commercial Code is superseded by this Section. |
6.2 |
Except as may otherwise be agreed to by the parties, the Transfer Agents cumulative liability for each calendar year (a Liability Period) with respect to the Trust under this Agreement regardless of the form of action or legal theory shall be limited to its total annual compensation earned and fees payable hereunder during the preceding Compensation Period, as defined herein, for any liability or loss suffered by the Trust including, but not limited to, any liability relating to qualification of the Trust as a regulated investment company or any liability relating to the Trusts compliance with any federal or state tax or securities statute, regulation or ruling during such Liability Period. Compensation Period shall mean the calendar year ending immediately prior to each Liability Period in which the event(s) giving rise to the Transfer Agents liability for that period have occurred. In no event shall the Transfer Agent be liable for special, incidental, indirect, punitive or consequential damages, regardless of the form of action and even if the same were foreseeable. |
7
7. |
INDEMNIFICATION |
7.1 |
The Transfer Agent shall not be responsible for, and the Trust on behalf of itself and each Fund shall indemnify and hold the Transfer Agent harmless from and against, any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, counsel fees (including the defense of any lawsuit in which the Transfer Agent or Affiliate is a named party), payments, expenses and liability arising out of or attributable to: |
(i) |
all actions of the Transfer Agent or its agents or subcontractors required to be taken pursuant to this Agreement, provided that such actions are taken in accordance with the standard of care in Section 6.1; |
(ii) |
the Trusts material breach of any representation, warranty or covenant of the Trust hereunder; |
(iii) |
the Trusts lack of good faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct; |
(iv) |
reasonable reliance upon, and any subsequent use of or action taken or omitted, by the Transfer Agent, or its agents or subcontractors on: (a) any information, records, documents, data, stock certificates or services, which are received by the Transfer Agent or its agents or subcontractors by machine readable input, facsimile, CRT data entry, electronic instructions or other similar means authorized by the Trust, and which have been prepared, maintained or performed by the Trust or any other person or firm on behalf of the Trust, including but not limited to any broker-dealer, third party administrator or previous transfer agent; (b) any instructions or requests of the Trust or its officers or the Trusts agents or subcontractors or their officers or employees; (c) any reasonable instructions or opinions of legal counsel to the Trust or any Fund with respect to any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by the Transfer Agent under this Agreement which are provided to the Transfer Agent after consultation with such legal counsel; or (d) any paper or document, reasonably believed to be genuine, authentic, or signed by the proper person or persons; |
(v) |
the offer or sale of Creation Units in violation of any requirement under the federal or state securities laws or regulations requiring that such Creation Units be registered, or in violation of any stop order or other determination or ruling by any federal or state agency with respect to the offer or sale of such Creation Units; |
(vi) |
the negotiation and processing of any checks, wires and ACH transmissions, including without limitation, for deposit into, or credit to, the Trusts demand deposit accounts maintained by the Transfer Agent; |
(vii) |
all actions relating to the transmission of Trust, Creation Unit or Authorized Participant data through the NSCC clearing systems, if applicable; and |
(viii) |
any tax obligations under the tax laws of any country or of any state or political subdivision thereof, including taxes, withholding and reporting requirements, claims for exemption and refund, additions for late payment, interest, penalties and other expenses (including legal expenses) that may be assessed, imposed or charged against the Transfer Agent as transfer agent hereunder. |
7.2 |
At any time the Transfer Agent may apply to any officer of the Trust for instructions, and may consult with legal counsel (which may be Trust counsel) with respect to any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by the Transfer Agent under this Agreement, and the Transfer Agent and its agents or subcontractors shall not be liable and shall be indemnified by the Trust on behalf of the applicable Fund for any action taken or omitted by it in reasonable reliance upon such instructions or upon the opinion of such counsel. The Transfer Agent, its agents and subcontractors shall be protected and indemnified in acting upon any paper or document furnished by or on behalf of the Trust or the applicable Fund, reasonably believed to be genuine and to have been signed by the proper person or persons, or upon any instruction, information, data, records or documents provided the Transfer Agent or its agents or subcontractors by machine readable input, electronic data entry or other similar means authorized by the Trust on behalf of the Funds, and shall not be held to have notice of any change of authority of any person, until receipt of written notice thereof from the Trust. |
8. |
ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE TRUST AND THE TRANSFER AGENT |
8.1 |
Delivery of Documents . The Trust shall promptly furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Transfer Agent the following: |
(i) |
A certificate of the Secretary of the Trust certifying the resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Trust authorizing the appointment of the Transfer Agent and the execution and delivery of this Agreement. |
(ii) |
A copy of the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the Trust and all amendments thereto. |
8.2 |
Records . In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Transfer Agent agrees that all records which it maintains for the Trust shall at all times remain the property of the Trust, shall be readily accessible during normal business hours, and shall be promptly surrendered upon the termination of the Agreement or otherwise on written request except as otherwise provided in Section 10.3. The Transfer Agent further agrees that all records that it maintains for the Trust pursuant to Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act will be preserved for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act unless any such records are earlier surrendered as provided above. Records may be surrendered in either written or |
9
machine-readable form, at the option of the Transfer Agent. In the event that the Transfer Agent is requested or authorized by the Trust, or required by subpoena, administrative order, court order or other legal process, applicable law or regulation, or required in connection with any investigation, examination or inspection of the Trust by state or federal regulatory agencies, to produce the records of the Trust or the Transfer Agents personnel as witnesses or deponents, the Trust agrees to pay the Transfer Agent for the Transfer Agents time and expenses, as well as the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agents counsel, incurred in such production. |
9. |
CONFIDENTIALITY AND USE OF DATA |
9.1 |
All information provided under this Agreement by a party (the Disclosing Party) to the other party (the Receiving Party) regarding the Disclosing Partys business and operations shall be treated as confidential. Subject to Section 9.2 below, all confidential information provided under this Agreement by Disclosing Party shall be used, including disclosure to third parties, by the Receiving Party, or its agents, delegates or service providers, solely for the purpose of performing or receiving the services and discharging the Receiving Partys other obligations under the Agreement or managing the business of the Receiving Party and its Affiliates, including financial and operational management and reporting, risk management, legal and regulatory compliance and client service management. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information (a) that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available, other than through a breach of this Agreement, (b) that is independently derived by the Receiving Party without the use of any information provided by the Disclosing Party in connection with this Agreement, or (c) where the party seeking to disclose has received the prior written consent of the party providing the information, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Receiving Party shall be permitted to disclose any confidential information provided under this Agreement by Disclosing Party (i) to comply with any legal or regulatory proceeding, investigation, audit, examination, subpoena, civil investigative demand or other similar process or (ii) as required by operation of law or regulation or as required to comply with the requirements of any market infrastructure that the Disclosing Party or its agents direct the Transfer Agent or its Affiliates to employ (or which is required in connection with the holding or settlement of instruments included in the assets subject to this Agreement), provided that the Receiving Party take reasonable steps to otherwise maintain the confidential nature of such information . |
9.2 |
(i) In connection with the provision of the services and the discharge of its other obligations under this Agreement, the Transfer Agent (which term for purposes of this Section 9.2 includes each of its Affiliates) may collect and store information regarding the Trust or any Fund (Fund Information) and share such Fund Information with its Affiliates, agents, delegates and service providers in order and to the extent reasonably necessary (i) to carry out the provision of services contemplated under this Agreement and other agreements between the Trust and |
the Transfer Agent or any of its Affiliates and (ii) to carry out the internal management of its businesses, including, but not limited to, financial and operational management and reporting, risk management, legal and regulatory compliance. |
(ii) Except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, nothing in this Section 9.2 shall limit the confidentiality and data-protection obligations of the Transfer Agent and its Affiliates under this Agreement and applicable law. The Transfer Agent shall cause any Affiliate, agent or service provider to which it has disclosed Data pursuant to this Section 9.2 to comply at all times with confidentiality and data-protection obligations as if it were a party to this Agreement.
9.3 |
The Transfer Agent affirms that it has, and will continue to have throughout the term of this Agreement, procedures in place that are reasonably designed to protect the privacy of non-public personal consumer/customer financial information to the extent required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. |
10. |
EFFECTIVE PERIOD AND TERMINATION |
10.1 |
Term. This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect for an initial term ending one (1) year from the effective date (the Initial Term). After the expiration of the Initial Term, this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive one (1) year terms. Following the Initial Term, this Agreement may be terminated by any Trust or Fund upon no less than ninety (90) days prior written notice to the Transfer Agent, or by the Transfer Agent upon no less than 180 days prior written notice to the applicable Trust or Fund. |
10.2 |
Termination. During the Initial Term and thereafter, either party may terminate this Agreement as to the Trust or a Fund: (i) in the event of the other partys material breach of a material provision of this Agreement that the other party has either failed to cure or failed to establish a remedial plan to cure that is reasonably acceptable to the non-breaching party, in each case, within 60 days written notice of such breach, or (ii) in the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the other party, the commencement by or against the other party of a bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding, or upon the happening of a like event to the other party at the direction of an appropriate agency or court of competent jurisdiction. |
10.3 |
Payments Owing to the Transfer Agent. Upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to Sections 10.1 and 10.2 with respect to the Trust or any Fund, the Trust or applicable Fund shall pay Transfer Agent its compensation due as of the date of such termination and shall reimburse Transfer Agent for its costs, expenses and disbursements. In the event of: (i) the Trusts termination of this Agreement with respect to the Trust or its Fund(s) for any reason other than as set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph or (ii) a transaction not in the ordinary course of |
11
business pursuant to which the Transfer Agent is not retained to continue providing services hereunder to the Trust or a Fund (or its respective successor), the Trust or applicable Fund shall pay the Transfer Agent its compensation due through the end of the then-current term (based upon the average monthly compensation previously earned by Transfer Agent with respect to the Trust or such Fund) and shall reimburse the Transfer Agent for its costs, expenses and disbursements. Upon receipt of such payment and reimbursement, the Transfer Agent will deliver the Trusts or such Funds records as set forth herein. |
10.4 |
Exclusions. For the avoidance of doubt, no full term payment will be required pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 10.3 in the event of any transaction such as (a) the liquidation or dissolution of the Trust or a Fund and distribution of the Trusts or such Funds assets as a result of the Boards determination in its reasonable business judgment that the Trust or such Fund is no longer viable or that the liquidation is in the best interest of the Trust or such Fund, (b) a merger of the Trust or a Fund into, or the consolidation of the Trust or a Fund with, another entity, or (c) the sale by the Trust or a Fund of all, or substantially all, of its assets to another entity, in each of (b) and (c) where the Trust provides ninety (90) days prior written notice in advance of the closing date of any such transactions. |
10.5 |
Effect of Termination. Termination of this Agreement with respect to any one particular Fund shall in no way affect the rights and duties under this Agreement with respect to the Trust or any other Fund. |
11. |
ADDITIONAL TRUSTS/FUNDS |
In the event that any statutory trust in addition to those listed on Appendix A hereto desires to have the Transfer Agent render services as Transfer Agent under the terms hereof, it shall so notify the Transfer Agent in writing, and if the Transfer Agent agrees in writing to provide such services, such statutory trust shall become a Trust hereunder and be bound by all terms and conditions and provisions hereof, except as otherwise modified in writing.
In the event that the Trust establishes one or more series of Shares in addition to the Fund listed on the attached Schedule A , with respect to which the Trust desires to have the Transfer Agent render services as transfer agent under the terms hereof, it shall so notify the Transfer Agent in writing, and if the Transfer Agent agrees in writing to provide such services, such series of Shares shall become a Fund hereunder.
12. |
ASSIGNMENT |
12.1 |
Except as provided in Section 14 below, neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by (a) the Trust without the written consent of the Transfer Agent or (b) the Transfer Agent without the written consent of the Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Transfer Agent may assign this Agreement to a successor of all or a substantial portion of its business or to an Affiliate of the Transfer Agent upon ninety (90) days written notice to the Trust. |
12.2 |
Except as explicitly stated elsewhere in this Agreement, nothing under this Agreement shall be construed to give any rights or benefits in this Agreement to anyone other than the Transfer Agent and the Trust on behalf of the Funds, and the duties and responsibilities undertaken pursuant to this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Transfer Agent and the Trust on behalf of the Funds. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns. |
12.3 |
This Agreement does not constitute an agreement for a partnership or joint venture between the Transfer Agent and the Trust. Other than as provided in Section 14 neither party shall make any commitments with third parties that are binding on the other party without the other partys prior written consent. |
13. |
RESERVED. |
14. |
MISCELLANEOUS |
14.1 |
Amendment . This Agreement may be amended or modified by a written agreement executed by both parties. |
14.2 |
New York Law to Apply . This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to any conflict of laws rules. |
14.3 |
Force Majeure . In the event either party is unable to perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, strikes, equipment or transmission failure or damage reasonably beyond its control, or other causes reasonably beyond its control, such party shall not be liable for damages to the other for any damages resulting from such failure to perform or otherwise from such causes. |
14.4 |
Data Protection . The Transfer Agent will implement and maintain a comprehensive written information security program that contains appropriate security measures to safeguard the personal information of the Trusts shareholders, employees, directors and/or officers that the Transfer Agent receives, stores, maintains, processes or otherwise accesses in connection with the provision of services hereunder. For these purposes, personal information shall mean (i) an individuals name (first initial and last name or first name and last name), address or telephone number plus (a) social security number, (b) drivers license number, (c) state identification card number, (d) debit or credit card number, (e) financial account number or (f) personal identification number or password that would permit access to a persons account or (ii) any combination of the foregoing that would allow a person to log onto or access an individuals account. Notwithstanding the foregoing personal information shall not include information that is lawfully obtained from publicly available information, or from federal, state or local government records lawfully made available to the general public. |
13
14.5 |
Survival . All provisions regarding indemnification, warranty, liability, and limits thereon, and confidentiality and/or protections of proprietary rights and trade secrets shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
14.6 |
Severability . If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired. |
14.7 |
Priorities Clause . In the event of any conflict, discrepancy or ambiguity between the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement and any schedules or attachments hereto, the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement shall take precedence. |
14.8 |
Waiver. The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver nor shall it deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any term of this Agreement or the failure of a party hereto to exercise or any delay in exercising any right or remedy under this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of any such term, right or remedy or a waiver of any other rights or remedies, and no single or partial exercise of any right or remedy under this Agreement shall prevent any further exercise of the right or remedy or the exercise of any other right or remedy. Any waiver must be in writing signed by the waiving party. |
14.9 |
Entire Agreement . This Agreement and any schedules, exhibits, attachments or amendments hereto constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof whether oral or written. |
14.10 |
Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement . Counterparts may be executed in either original or electronically transmitted form (e.g., faxes or emailed portable document format (PDF) form), and the parties hereby adopt as original any signatures received via electronically transmitted form. |
14.11 |
Reproduction of Documents . This Agreement and all schedules, exhibits, attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto all/each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence. |
14.12 |
Notices . Any notice instruction or other instrument required to be given hereunder will be in writing and may be sent by hand, or by facsimile transmission, or |
overnight delivery by any recognized delivery service, to the parties at the following address or such other address as may be notified by any party from time to time: |
(a) |
If to Transfer Agent, to: |
State Street Bank and Trust Company
Transfer Agency
Attention: Compliance
One Heritage Drive Building
1 Heritage Drive
Mail Stop OHD0100
North Quincy MA 02171
With a copy to:
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
Legal Division Global Services Americas
One Lincoln Street
Boston, MA 02111
Attention: Senior Vice President and Senior Managing Counsel
(b) |
If to the Trust, to: |
BlackRock Advisors, LLC
40 East 52 nd Street, 19 th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Neal J. Andrews
Telephone: 302-797-6179
14.13 |
Interpretive and Other Provisions . In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Transfer Agent and the Trust on behalf of each of the Funds, may from time to time agree on such provisions interpretive of or in addition to the provisions of this Agreement as may in their joint opinion be consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement. Any such interpretive or additional provisions shall be in a writing signed by all parties, provided that no such interpretive or additional provisions shall contravene any applicable laws or regulations or any provision of the Trusts governing documents. No interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement. |
14.14 |
Delegation . The Transfer Agent shall retain the right to employ its Affiliates to provide or assist it in the provision of any part of the services stated herein or the discharge of any other obligations or duties under this Agreement without the consent or approval of the Trust. The Transfer Agent may employ other agents, subcontractors, consultants and other third parties (each a Delegate) to provide the services stated herein to the Trust upon the prior written consent of the Trust. The |
15
Transfer Agent shall be responsible for the acts and omissions of any such Delegate or Affiliate so employed as if the Transfer Agent had committed such acts and omissions itself. The Transfer Agent shall be responsible for the compensation of its Delegates and Affiliates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the term Delegate include consultants, authorized data sources, suppliers of Transfer Agents third party technology, providers of market infrastructure, and other non-affiliated entities that provide similar assistance to the Transfer Agent in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, and the Transfer Agent shall have no liability for their acts or omissions except as otherwise expressly provided elsewhere in this Agreement. |
14.15 |
Limitation on Liability of Trustees. Notice is hereby given that this Agreement is not executed on behalf of any directors or trustees of any Trust as individuals, and the obligations of this Agreement are not binding on any of the directors, trustees, officers, shareholders or partners of any Trust individually, but are binding only upon the property of each Trust or Fund. In relation to each Trust which is a business trust, this Agreement is executed and made by the Trustees of the Trust not individually, but as trustees under the Declarations of Trust of the Trust and the obligations of this Agreement are not binding upon any of such Trustees or upon any of the shareholders of the Fund individually, but bind only the trust estate of the Trust. The Transfer Agent agrees that no shareholder, director, trustee, officer or partner of any Trust may be held personally liable or responsible for any obligations of any Trust arising out of this Agreement. |
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed in their names and on their behalf by and through their duly authorized officers, as of the day and year first above written.
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY |
By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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BLACKROCK ETF TRUST |
By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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17
Schedule A
LIST OF FUNDS
BlackRock ETF Trust |
BLK
Ticker |
Custody
Account# |
||||||
1. BlackRock U.S. Equity Factor Rotation ETF |
DYNF | 9ETF |
Exhibit 10(a)
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form N-1A of BlackRock ETF Trust of our report dated March 11, 2019, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights of BlackRock U.S. Equity Factor Rotation ETF, which appears in such Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm in such Registration Statement.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 11, 2019