As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 30, 2016
1933 Act Registration No. 333-182308
1940 Act Registration No. 811-22717
United States
Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form N-1A
Registration Statement Under the Securities Act of 1933 | [ ] |
Pre-Effective Amendment No. __ | [ ] |
Post-Effective Amendment No. 70 | [X] |
and/or | |
Registration Statement Under the Investment Company Act of 1940 | [ ] |
Amendment No. 72 | [X] |
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (800) 621-1675
W. Scott Jardine, Esq., Secretary
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
First Trust Advisors L.P.
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Copy to:
Eric F. Fess, Esq.
Chapman and Cutler LLP
111 West Monroe Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
[X] immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
[ ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
[ ] 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
[ ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
[ ] 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
[ ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.
If appropriate, check the following box:
[ ] this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
Contents of Post-Effective Amendment No. 70
This Registration Statement comprises the following papers and contents:
The Facing Sheet
Part A - Prospectus for First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Retail ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF and First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF
Part B - Statement of Additional Information for First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Retail ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF and First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF
Part C - Other Information
Signatures
Index to Exhibits
Exhibits
First Trust
Exchange-Traded Fund VI |
FUND NAME | TICKER SYMBOL | EXCHANGE |
First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF | FTXO | Nasdaq |
First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF | FTXG | Nasdaq |
First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF | FTXN | Nasdaq |
First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF | FTXH | Nasdaq |
First Trust Nasdaq Retail ETF | FTXD | Nasdaq |
First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF | FTXL | Nasdaq |
First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF | FTXR | Nasdaq |
Summary Information | |
|
3 |
|
7 |
|
11 |
|
15 |
|
19 |
|
23 |
|
27 |
|
31 |
|
31 |
|
31 |
|
33 |
|
33 |
|
34 |
|
36 |
|
36 |
|
38 |
|
38 |
|
39 |
|
39 |
|
39 |
|
39 |
|
40 |
|
41 |
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | None |
Management Fees | 0.60% |
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees (1) | 0.00% |
Other Expenses (2) | 0.00% |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 0.60% |
(1) | Although the Fund has adopted a 12b-1 plan that permits it to pay up to 0.25% per annum, it will not pay 12b-1 fees at any time before August 30, 2018. |
(2) | "Other Expenses" is an estimate based on the expenses the Fund expects to incur for the current fiscal year. |
1 Year | 3 Years |
$61 | $220 |
1. | The selection universe for the Index begins with all eligible bank stocks in the Base Index. Please see “Index Information” in the prospectus for a list of stock eligibility criteria. |
2. | The Index Provider selects the 30 most liquid stocks. Liquidity is measured by the average daily volume (ADDTV) which is the average daily amount of individual securities traded in a day over a 3-month timeframe. |
3. | The remaining stocks are ranked based on the sum of the following three factors: 3, 6, 9 and 12-month average price appreciation; cash flow to price; and expected volatility based on 12-month historical stock price fluctuation. |
4. | Each stock is weighted based on the sum of the three factors (accounting for standard deviation) with a maximum limit of 8% of the total value of the Index per stock. No more than five stocks may be weighted at the maximum 8% cap. The excess weight of any capped stock is distributed proportionally across the remaining stocks in the Index. Next, any remaining stocks in excess of 4% of the total value of the Index are capped at 4% of the total value of the Index and the excess weight is redistributed proportionally across the remaining stocks in the Index. |
• | Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust |
• | Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of First Trust |
• | Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | None |
Management Fees | 0.60% |
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees (1) | 0.00% |
Other Expenses (2) | 0.00% |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 0.60% |
(1) | Although the Fund has adopted a 12b-1 plan that permits it to pay up to 0.25% per annum, it will not pay 12b-1 fees at any time before August 30, 2018. |
(2) | "Other Expenses" is an estimate based on the expenses the Fund expects to incur for the current fiscal year. |
1 Year | 3 Years |
$61 | $220 |
1. | The selection universe for the Index begins with all eligible food and beverage companies in the Base Index. Please see “Index Information” in the prospectus for a list of stock eligibility criteria. |
2. | The Index Provider selects the 30 most liquid stocks. Liquidity is measured by the average daily trading volume (ADDTV) which is the average daily amount of individual securities traded in a day over a 3-month timeframe. |
3. | The remaining stocks are ranked based on the sum of the following three factors: 3, 6, 9 and 12-month average price appreciation; cash flow to price; and expected volatility based on 12-month historical stock price fluctuation. |
4. | Each stock is weighted based on the sum of the three factors (accounting for standard deviation) with a maximum limit of 8% of the total value of the Index per stock. No more than five stocks may be weighted at the maximum 8% cap. The excess weight of any capped stock is distributed proportionally across the remaining stocks in the Index. Next, any remaining stocks in excess of 4% of the total value of the Index are capped at 4% of the total value of the Index and the excess weight is redistributed proportionally across the remaining stocks in the Index. |
• | Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust |
• | Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of First Trust |
• | Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | None |
Management Fees | 0.60% |
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees (1) | 0.00% |
Other Expenses (2) | 0.00% |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 0.60% |
(1) | Although the Fund has adopted a 12b-1 plan that permits it to pay up to 0.25% per annum, it will not pay 12b-1 fees at any time before August 30, 2018. |
(2) | "Other Expenses" is an estimate based on the expenses the Fund expects to incur for the current fiscal year. |
1 Year | 3 Years |
$61 | $220 |
1. | The selection universe for the Index begins with all eligible oil and gas stocks in the Base Index. Please see “Index Information” in the prospectus for a list of stock eligibility criteria. |
2. | The Index Provider selects the 50 most liquid stocks. Liquidity is measured by the average daily trading volume (ADDTV) which is the average daily amount of individual securities traded in a day over a 3-month timeframe. |
3. | The remaining stocks are ranked based on the sum of the following three factors: 3-, 6-, 9- and 12-month average price appreciation; cash flow to price; and expected volatility based on 12-month historical stock price fluctuation. |
4. | Each stock is weighted based on the sum of the three factors (accounting for standard deviation) with a maximum of 8% of the total value of the Index per stock. No more than five stocks may be weighted at the maximum 8% cap. The excess weight of any capped stock is distributed proportionally across the remaining stocks in the Index. Next, any remaining stocks in excess of 4% of the total value of the Index are capped at 4% of the total value of the Index and the excess weight is redistributed proportionally across the remaining stocks in the Index. |
• | Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust |
• | Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of First Trust |
• | Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | None |
Management Fees | 0.60% |
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees (1) | 0.00% |
Other Expenses (2) | 0.00% |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 0.60% |
(1) | Although the Fund has adopted a 12b-1 plan that permits it to pay up to 0.25% per annum, it will not pay 12b-1 fees at any time before August 30, 2018. |
(2) | "Other Expenses" is an estimate based on the expenses the Fund expects to incur for the current fiscal year. |
1 Year | 3 Years |
$61 | $220 |
1. | The selection universe for the Index begins with all eligible pharmaceuticals companies in the Base Index. Please see “Index Information” in the prospectus for a list of stock eligibility criteria. |
2. | The Index Provider selects the 30 most liquid stocks. Liquidity is measured by the average daily trading volume (ADDTV) which is the average daily amount of individual securities traded in a day over a 3-month timeframe. |
3. | The remaining stocks are ranked based on the sum of the following three factors: 3, 6, 9 and 12-month average price appreciation; cash flow to price; and expected volatility based on 12-month historical stock price fluctuation. |
4. | Each stock is weighted based on the sum of the three factors (accounting for standard deviation) with a maximum limit of 8% of the total value of the Index per stock. No more than five stocks may be weighted at the maximum 8% cap. The excess weight of any capped stock is distributed proportionally across the remaining stocks in the Index. Next, any remaining stocks in excess of 4% of the total value of the Index are capped at 4% of the total value of the Index and the excess weight is redistributed proportionally across the remaining stocks in the Index. |
• | Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust |
• | Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of First Trust |
• | Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | None |
Management Fees | 0.60% |
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees (1) | 0.00% |
Other Expenses (2) | 0.00% |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 0.60% |
(1) | Although the Fund has adopted a 12b-1 plan that permits it to pay up to 0.25% per annum, it will not pay 12b-1 fees at any time before August 30, 2018. |
(2) | "Other Expenses" is an estimate based on the expenses the Fund expects to incur for the current fiscal year. |
1 Year | 3 Years |
$61 | $220 |
1. | The selection universe for the Index begins with all eligible bank stocks in the Base Index. Please see “Index Information” in the prospectus for a list of stock eligibility criteria. |
2. | The Index Provider selects the 50 most liquid stocks. Liquidity is measured by the average daily trading volume (ADDTV) which is the average daily amount of individual securities traded in a day over a 3-month timeframe. |
3. | The remaining stocks are ranked based on the sum of the following three factors: 3, 6, 9 and 12-month average price appreciation; cash flow to price; and expected volatility based on 12-month historical stock price fluctuation. |
4. | Each stock is weighted based on the sum of the three factors (accounting for standard deviation) with a maximum limit of 8% of the total value of the Index per stock. No more than five stocks may be weighted at the maximum 8% cap. The excess weight of any capped stock is distributed proportionally across the remaining stocks in the Index. Next, any remaining stocks in excess of 4% of the total value of the Index are capped at 4% of the total value of the Index and the excess weight is redistributed proportionally across the remaining stocks in the Index. |
• | Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust |
• | Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of First Trust |
• | Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | None |
Management Fees | 0.60% |
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees (1) | 0.00% |
Other Expenses (2) | 0.00% |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 0.60% |
(1) | Although the Fund has adopted a 12b-1 plan that permits it to pay up to 0.25% per annum, it will not pay 12b-1 fees at any time before August 30, 2018. |
(2) | "Other Expenses" is an estimate based on the expenses the Fund expects to incur for the current fiscal year. |
1 Year | 3 Years |
$61 | $220 |
1. | The selection universe for the Index begins with all eligible semiconductor stocks in the Base Index. Please see “Index Information” in the prospectus for a list of stock eligibility criteria. |
2. | The Index Provider selects the 30 most liquid stocks. Liquidity is measured by the average daily trading volume (ADDTV) which is the average daily amount of individual securities traded in a day over a 3-month timeframe. |
3. | The remaining stocks are ranked based on the sum of the following three factors: 3-, 6-, 9- and 12-month average price appreciation; cash flow to price; and expected volatility based on 12-month historical stock price fluctuation. |
4. | Each stock is weighted based on the sum of the three factors (accounting for standard deviation) with a maximum limit of 8% of the total value of the Index per stock. No more than five stocks may be weighted at the maximum 8% cap. The excess weight of any capped stock is distributed proportionally across the remaining stocks in the Index. Next, any remaining stocks in excess of 4% of the total value of the Index are capped at 4% of the total value of the Index and the excess weight is redistributed proportionally across the remaining stocks in the Index. |
• | Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust |
• | Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of First Trust |
• | Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | None |
Management Fees | 0.60% |
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees (1) | 0.00% |
Other Expenses (2) | 0.00% |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 0.60% |
(1) | Although the Fund has adopted a 12b-1 plan that permits it to pay up to 0.25% per annum, it will not pay 12b-1 fees at any time before August 30, 2018. |
(2) | "Other Expenses" is an estimate based on the expenses the Fund expects to incur for the current fiscal year. |
1 Year | 3 Years |
$61 | $220 |
1. | The selection universe for the Index begins with all eligible transportation stocks in the Base Index. Please see “Index Information” in the prospectus for a list of stock eligibility criteria. |
2. | The Index Provider selects the 30 most liquid stocks. Liquidity is measured by the average daily trading volume (ADDTV) which is the average daily amount of individual securities traded in a day over a 3-month timeframe. |
3. | The remaining stocks are ranked based on the sum of the following three factors: 3, 6, 9 and 12-month average price appreciation; cash flow to price; and expected volatility based on 12-month historical stock price fluctuation. |
4. | Each stock is weighted based on the sum of the three factors (accounting for standard deviation) with a maximum limit of 8% of the total value of the Index per stock. No more than five stocks may be weighted at the maximum 8% cap. The excess weight of any capped stock is distributed proportionally across the remaining stocks in the Index. Next, any remaining stocks in excess of 4% of the total value of the Index are capped at 4% of the total value of the Index and the excess weight is redistributed proportionally across the remaining stocks in the Index. |
• | Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust |
• | Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of First Trust |
• | Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust |
• | Mr. Lindquist is Chairman of the Investment Committee and presides over Investment Committee meetings. Mr. Lindquist is responsible for overseeing the implementation of each Fund’s investment strategy. Mr. Lindquist was a Senior Vice President of First Trust and FTP from September 2005 to July 2012 and is now a Managing Director of First Trust and FTP. |
• | Mr. Erickson joined First Trust in 1994 and is a Senior Vice President of First Trust and FTP. As the head of First Trust’s Equity Research Group, Mr. Erickson is responsible for determining the securities to be purchased and sold by funds that do not utilize quantitative investment strategies. |
• | Mr. McGarel is the Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and a Managing Director of First Trust and FTP. As First Trust’s Chief Investment Officer, Mr. McGarel consults with the other members of the Investment Committee on market conditions and First Trust’s general investment philosophy. Mr. McGarel was a Senior Vice President of First Trust and FTP from January 2004 to July 2012. |
• | Mr. Testin is a Senior Vice President of First Trust and FTP. Mr. Testin is the head of First Trust’s Portfolio Management Group. Mr. Testin has been a Senior Vice President of First Trust and FTP since November 2003. |
• | Mr. Ueland joined First Trust as a Vice President in August 2005 and has been a Senior Vice President of First Trust and FTP since September 2012. At First Trust, he plays an important role in executing the investment strategies of each portfolio of exchange-traded funds advised by First Trust. |
• | Mr. Peterson is a Senior Vice President and head of First Trust’s strategy research group. He joined First Trust in January of 2000. Mr. Peterson is responsible for developing and implementing quantitative equity investment strategies. Mr. Peterson received his B.S. in Finance from Bradley University in 1997 and his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 2005. He has over 18 years of financial services industry experience and is a recipient of the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. |
Fund | Management Fee |
First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF | 0.60% |
First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF | 0.60% |
First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF | 0.60% |
First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF | 0.60% |
First Trust Nasdaq Retail ETF | 0.60% |
First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF | 0.60% |
First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF | 0.60% |
• | Be included in the NASDAQ US Benchmark Index (NQUSB); |
• | One security per issuer is permitted; |
• | Have a minimum worldwide market capitalization of $1 billion; |
• | Have a certain minimum three-month average daily dollar trading volume; |
• | Have a minimum free float of 20%; |
• | May not have entered into a definitive agreement or other arrangement which would likely result in the security no longer being Index eligible; and |
• | May not be issued by an issuer currently in bankruptcy proceedings. |
First Trust
Exchange-Traded Fund VI |
FUND NAME | TICKER SYMBOL | EXCHANGE | ||
First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF | FTXO | Nasdaq | ||
First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF | FTXG | Nasdaq | ||
First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF | FTXN | Nasdaq | ||
First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF | FTXH | Nasdaq | ||
First Trust Nasdaq Retail ETF | FTXD | Nasdaq | ||
First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF | FTXL | Nasdaq | ||
First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF | FTXR | Nasdaq |
|
1 |
|
2 |
|
3 |
|
4 |
|
7 |
|
7 |
|
9 |
|
17 |
Custodian, Administrator, Fund Accountant, Transfer Agent, Distributor, Index Providers and Exchange
|
18 |
|
20 |
|
21 |
|
22 |
|
23 |
|
30 |
|
33 |
|
35 |
|
35 |
|
A-1 |
(1) | A Fund may not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act. |
(2) | A Fund may not borrow money, except as permitted under the 1940 Act. |
(3) | A Fund will not underwrite the securities of other issuers except to the extent a Fund may be considered an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act” ), in connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio securities. |
(4) | A Fund will not purchase or sell real estate or interests therein, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prohibit a Fund from purchasing or selling securities or other instruments backed by real estate or of issuers engaged in real estate activities). |
(5) | A Fund may not make loans to other persons, except through (i) the purchase of debt securities permissible under a Fund's investment policies, (ii) repurchase agreements, or (iii) the lending of portfolio securities, provided that no such loan of portfolio securities may be made by a Fund if, as a result, the aggregate of such loans would exceed 33⅓% of the value of a Fund's total assets. |
(6) | A Fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent a Fund from purchasing or selling options, futures contracts, forward contracts or other derivative instruments, or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities). |
(7) | A Fund may not invest 25% or more of the value of its total assets in securities of issuers in any one industry or group of industries, except to the extent that the Fund’s Index is based on concentrations in an industry or a group of industries. This restriction does not apply to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities. |
(1) | A Fund may invest in U.S. government securities, including bills, notes and bonds differing as to maturity and rates of interest, which are either issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities. U.S. government securities include securities that are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, by various agencies of the U.S. government, or by various instrumentalities that have been established or sponsored by the U.S. government. U.S. Treasury securities are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the United States. Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies and U.S. government-sponsored instrumentalities may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Some of the U.S. government agencies that issue or guarantee securities include the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Farmers Home Administration, the Federal Housing Administration, the Maritime Administration, the Small Business Administration and The Tennessee Valley Authority. An instrumentality of the U.S. government is a government agency organized under federal charter with government supervision. Instrumentalities issuing or guaranteeing securities include, among others, the Federal Home Loan Banks, the Federal Land Banks, the Central Bank for Cooperatives, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks and the Federal National Mortgage Association ( “Fannie Mae” ). In the case of those U.S. government securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, the investor must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the security for ultimate repayment and may not be able to assert a claim against the United States itself in the event that the agency or instrumentality does not meet its commitment. The U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities do not guarantee the market value of their securities; consequently, the value of such securities may fluctuate. In addition, each Fund may invest in sovereign debt obligations of non-U.S. countries. A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and interest in a timely manner may be affected by a number of factors, including its cash flow situation, the extent of its non-U.S. reserves, the availability of sufficient non-U.S. exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward principal international lenders and the political constraints to which it may be subject. |
(2) | A Fund may invest in certificates of deposit issued against funds deposited in a bank or savings and loan association. Such certificates are for a definite period of time, earn a specified rate of return and are normally negotiable. If such certificates of deposit are non-negotiable, they will be considered illiquid securities and be subject to a Fund's 15% restriction on investments in illiquid securities. Pursuant to the certificate of deposit, the issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the certificate on the date specified thereon. Under current FDIC regulations, the maximum insurance payable as to any one certificate of deposit is $250,000; therefore, certificates of deposit purchased by a Fund may not be fully insured. A Fund may only invest in certificates of deposit issued by U.S. banks with at least $1 billion in assets. |
(3) | A Fund may invest in bankers’ acceptances, which are short-term credit instruments used to finance commercial transactions. Generally, an acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank by an exporter or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then “accepted” by a bank that, in effect, unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance may then be held by the accepting bank as an asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of interest for a specific maturity. |
(4) | A Fund may invest in repurchase agreements, which involve purchases of debt securities with counterparties that are deemed by First Trust to present acceptable credit risks. In such an action, at the time a Fund purchases the security, it simultaneously agrees to resell and redeliver the security to the seller, who also simultaneously agrees to buy back the security at a fixed price and time. This assures a predetermined yield for a Fund during its holding period since the resale price is always greater than the purchase price and reflects an agreed-upon market rate. Such actions afford an opportunity for a Fund to invest temporarily available cash. A Fund may enter into repurchase agreements only with respect to obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies or |
instrumentalities, certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances in which a Fund may invest. Repurchase agreements may be considered loans to the seller, collateralized by the underlying securities. The risk to a Fund is limited to the ability of the seller to pay the agreed-upon sum on the repurchase date; in the event of default, the repurchase agreement provides that the affected Fund is entitled to sell the underlying collateral. If the value of the collateral declines after the agreement is entered into, however, and if the seller defaults under a repurchase agreement when the value of the underlying collateral is less than the repurchase price, a Fund could incur a loss of both principal and interest. The portfolio managers monitor the value of the collateral at the time the action is entered into and at all times during the term of the repurchase agreement. The portfolio managers do so in an effort to determine that the value of the collateral always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price to be paid to a Fund. If the seller were to be subject to a federal bankruptcy proceeding, the ability of a Fund to liquidate the collateral could be delayed or impaired because of certain provisions of the bankruptcy laws. | |
(5) | A Fund may invest in bank time deposits, which are monies kept on deposit with banks or savings and loan associations for a stated period of time at a fixed rate of interest. There may be penalties for the early withdrawal of such time deposits, in which case the yields of these investments will be reduced. |
(6) | A Fund may invest in commercial paper, which are short-term unsecured promissory notes, including variable rate master demand notes issued by corporations to finance their current operations. Master demand notes are direct lending arrangements between the Fund and a corporation. There is no secondary market for the notes. However, they are redeemable by a Fund at any time. A Fund's portfolio managers will consider the financial condition of the corporation ( e.g. , earning power, cash flow and other liquidity ratios) and will continuously monitor the corporation’s ability to meet all of its financial obligations, because a Fund's liquidity might be impaired if the corporation were unable to pay principal and interest on demand. A Fund may invest in commercial paper only if it has received the highest rating from at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization or, if unrated, judged by First Trust to be of comparable quality. |
(7) | A Fund may invest in shares of money market funds, as consistent with its investment objective and policies. Shares of money market funds are subject to management fees and other expenses of those funds. Therefore, investments in money market funds will cause the Fund to bear proportionately the costs incurred by the money market funds’ operations. At the same time, a Fund will continue to pay its own management fees and expenses with respect to all of its assets, including any portion invested in the shares of other investment companies. Although money market funds that operate in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act seek to preserve a $1.00 share price (until October 2016, when amended Rule 2a-7 will require share prices of non-government money market funds to be valued at their floating net asset value), it is possible for the Fund to lose money by investing in money market funds. |
Name, Address
and Date of Birth |
Position
and Offices with Trust |
Term of
Office and Year First Elected or Appointed |
Principal Occupations
During Past 5 Years |
Number of
Portfolios in the First Trust Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other
Trusteeships or Directorships Held by Trustee During the Past 5 Years |
TRUSTEE WHO IS AN INTERESTED PERSON OF THE TRUST | |||||
James A. Bowen
(1)
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400 Wheaton, IL 60187 D.O.B.: 09/55 |
Chairman of the Board and Trustee |
• Indefinite term
• Since inception |
Chief Executive Officer, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.;
Chairman of the Board of Directors, BondWave LLC (Software Development Company/
Investment Advisor) and Stonebridge Advisors LLC (Investment Advisor) |
135 Portfolios | None |
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES | |||||
Richard E. Erickson
c/o First Trust Advisors L.P. 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400 Wheaton, IL 60187 D.O.B.: 04/51 |
Trustee |
• Indefinite term
• Since inception |
Physician; President, Wheaton Orthopedics; Limited Partner, Gundersen Real Estate Limited Partnership; Member, Sportsmed LLC | 135 Portfolios | None |
Thomas R. Kadlec
c/o First Trust Advisors L.P. 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400 Wheaton, IL 60187 D.O.B.: 11/57 |
Trustee |
• Indefinite term
• Since inception |
President, ADM Investor Services, Inc. (Futures Commission Merchant) | 135 Portfolios | Director of ADM Investor Services, Inc., ADM Investor Services International, and Futures Industry Association |
Robert F. Keith
c/o First Trust Advisors L.P. 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400 Wheaton, IL 60187 D.O.B.: 11/56 |
Trustee |
• Indefinite term
• Since inception |
President, Hibs Enterprises (Financial and Management Consulting) | 135 Portfolios | Director of Trust Company of Illinois |
Niel B. Nielson
c/o First Trust Advisors L.P. 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400 Wheaton, IL 60187 D.O.B.: 03/54 |
Trustee |
• Indefinite term
• Since inception |
Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer (January 2015 to present), Pelita Harapan Educational Foundation (Educational Products and Services); President and Chief Executive Officer (June 2012 to September 2014), Servant Interactive LLC (Educational Products and Services); President and Chief Executive Officer (June 2012 to September 2014), Dew Learning LLC (Educational Products and Services); President (June 2002 to June 2012), Covenant College | 135 Portfolios |
Director of Covenant Transport Inc.
(May 2003 to May 2014) |
Name, Address
and Date of Birth |
Position
and Offices with Trust |
Term of
Office and Year First Elected or Appointed |
Principal Occupations
During Past 5 Years |
Number of
Portfolios in the First Trust Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other
Trusteeships or Directorships Held by Trustee During the Past 5 Years |
OFFICERS OF THE TRUST | |||||
James M. Dykas
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400 Wheaton, IL 60187 D.O.B.: 01/66 |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
• Indefinite term
• Since January 2016 |
Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer (January 2016 to present), Controller (January 2011 to January 2016), Senior Vice President (April 2007 to January 2016), First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. | N/A | N/A |
W. Scott Jardine
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400 Wheaton, IL 60187 D.O.B.: 05/60 |
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer |
• Indefinite term
• Since inception |
General Counsel, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.; Secretary and
General Counsel, BondWave LLC (Software Development Company/
Investment Advisor) and Secretary, Stonebridge Advisors LLC (Investment Advisor) |
N/A | N/A |
Daniel J. Lindquist
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400 Wheaton, IL 60187 D.O.B.: 02/70 |
Vice President |
• Indefinite term
• Since inception |
Managing Director (July 2012 to present), Senior Vice President (September 2005 to July 2012), First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. | N/A | N/A |
Kristi A. Maher
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400 Wheaton, IL 60187 D.O.B.: 12/66 |
Chief Compliance Officer and Assistant Secretary |
• Indefinite term
• CCO since January 2011, Assistant Secretary since Inception |
Deputy General Counsel, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. | N/A | N/A |
Donald P. Swade
120 E. Liberty Drive Suite 400 Wheaton, IL 60187 D.O.B.: 08/72 |
Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer |
• Indefinite term
• Since January 2016 |
Vice President (April 2012 to Present), First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P., Vice President (September 2006 to April 2012), Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC/Claymore Securities, Inc. | N/A | N/A |
Roger F. Testin
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400 Wheaton, IL 60187 D.O.B.: 06/66 |
Vice President |
• Indefinite term
• Since inception |
Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. | N/A | N/A |
Stan Ueland
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400 Wheaton, IL 60187 D.O.B.: 11/70 |
Vice President |
• Indefinite term
• Since inception |
Senior Vice President (September 2012 to present), Vice President (August 2005 to September 2012) First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. | N/A | N/A |
(1) | Mr. Bowen is deemed an “interested person” of the Trust due to his position as Chief Executive Officer of First Trust, investment advisor of the Funds. |
Name of Trustee |
Estimated Compensation from
the Funds (1) |
Total Compensation from
the First Trust Fund Complex (2) |
Richard E. Erickson | $2,098 | $352,350 |
Thomas R. Kadlec | $2,143 | $361,500 |
Robert F. Keith | $2,121 | $357,350 |
Niel B. Nielson | $2,121 | $356,500 |
(1) | The estimated compensation to be paid by the Fund to the Independent Trustees for one fiscal year for services to the Funds. |
(2) | The total compensation paid to the Independent Trustees for the calendar year ended December 31, 2015 for services to the 120 portfolios, which consists of 7 open-end mutual funds, 16 closed-end funds and 97 exchange-traded funds. |
Trustee |
Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in the Funds (Number of Shares Held) |
Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Trustee in the First Trust Fund Complex |
Interested Trustee | ||
James A. Bowen | None | Over $100,000 |
Independent Trustees | ||
Richard E. Erickson | None | Over $100,000 |
Thomas R. Kadlec | None | Over $100,000 |
Robert F. Keith | None | Over $100,000 |
Niel B. Nielson | None | Over $100,000 |
Name |
Position with
First Trust |
Length of Service
with First Trust |
Principal Occupation During Past Five Years |
Daniel J. Lindquist |
Chairman of the
Investment Committee and Managing Director |
Since 2004 |
Managing Director (July 2012 to present), Senior Vice
President (September 2005 to July 2012), Vice President (April 2004 to September 2005), First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. |
Jon C. Erickson | Senior Vice President | Since 1994 |
Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and
First Trust Portfolios L.P. |
David G. McGarel |
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director |
Since 1997 |
Chief Operating Officer (January 2016 to present)
Chief Investment Officer (June 2012 to present), Managing Director (July 2012 to present), Senior Vice President (September 2005 to July 2012), First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. |
Roger F. Testin | Senior Vice President | Since 2001 |
Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and
First Trust Portfolios L.P. |
Stan Ueland | Senior Vice President | Since 2005 |
Senior Vice President (September 2012 to present), Vice
President (August 2005 to September 2012), First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. |
Chris A. Peterson | Senior Vice President | Since 2000 |
Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and
First Trust Portfolios L.P. |
Portfolio Managers |
Registered
Investment Companies Number of Accounts ($ Assets) |
Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles Number of Accounts ($ Assets) |
Other Accounts
Number of Accounts ($ Assets) |
Roger F. Testin | 93 ($30,882,151,983) | 27 ($417,737,356) | 2,035 ($654,310,505) |
Jon C. Erickson | 93 ($30,882,151,983) | 27 ($417,737,356) | 2,035 ($654,310,505) |
David G. McGarel | 93 ($30,882,151,983) | 27 ($417,737,356) | 2,035 ($654,310,505) |
Daniel J. Lindquist | 93 ($30,882,151,983) | 27 ($417,737,356) | 2,035 ($654,310,505) |
Stan Ueland | 82 ($29,914,597,048) | 12 ($106,113,709) | N/A |
Chris A. Peterson | 86 ($30,343,595,918) | N/A | N/A |
Todd Larson | 7 ($666,651,661) | N/A | N/A |
Number of Securities
in a Creation Unit |
Creation
Transaction Fee |
1-100 | $500 |
101-499 | $1,000 |
500 or more | $1,500 |
Number of Securities
in a Creation Unit |
Redemption
Transaction Fee |
1-100 | $500 |
101-499 | $1,000 |
500 or more | $1,500 |
Transmittal
Date (T) |
Next Business
Day (T+1) |
Second Business
Day (T+2) |
Third Business
Day (T+3) |
|
CREATION OUTSIDE NSCC | ||||
Custom Orders |
3:00 p.m. (ET)
Order in proper form must be received by the Distributor. Order received after 3:00 p.m. (ET) will be treated as standard orders. |
11:00 a.m. (ET)
Deposit Securities must be received by a Fund’s account through DTC. 2:00 p.m. (ET) Cash Component must be received by the Custodian. |
No action. |
Creation Unit
Aggregations will be delivered. |
REDEMPTION THROUGH NSCC | ||||
Standard Orders |
4:00 p.m. (ET)
Order must be received by the Transfer Agent. Orders received after 4:00 p.m. (ET) will be deemed received on the next business day (T+1) |
No action. | No action. |
Fund Securities and
Cash Redemption Amount will be transferred. |
Custom Orders |
3:00 p.m. (ET)
Order must be received by the Transfer Agent Order received after 3:00 p.m. (ET) will be treated as standard orders. |
No action. | No action. |
Fund Securities and
Cash Redemption Amount will be transferred. |
REDEMPTION OUTSIDE NSCC | ||||
Standard Orders |
4:00 p.m. (ET)
Order must be received by the Transfer Agent. Order received after 4:00 p.m. (ET) will be deemed received on the next business day (T+1). |
11:00 a.m. (ET)
Fund shares must be delivered through DTC to the Custodian. 2:00 p.m. (ET) Cash Component, if any, is due. *If the order is not in proper form or the Fund shares are not delivered, then the order will not be deemed received as of T. |
No action. |
Fund Securities and
Cash Redemption Amount are delivered to the redeeming beneficial owner. |
Custom Orders |
3:00 p.m. (ET)
Order must be received by the Transfer Agent. Order received after 3:00 p.m. (ET) will be treated as standard orders. |
11:00 a.m. (ET)
Fund shares must be delivered through DTC to the Custodian. 2:00 p.m. (ET) Cash Component, if any, is due. *If the order is not in proper form or the Fund shares are not delivered, then the order will not be deemed received as of T. |
No action. |
Fund Securities and
Cash Redemption Amount are delivered to the redeeming beneficial owner. |
(1) | Common stocks and other equity securities listed on any national or foreign exchange other than Nasdaq and the London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market ( “AIM” ) will be valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which they are principally traded, or the official closing price for Nasdaq and AIM securities. Securities listed on Nasdaq or AIM are valued at the official closing price on the Business Day as of which such value is being determined. Portfolio securities traded on more than one securities exchange are valued at the last sale price or official closing price, as applicable, on the Business Day as of which such value is being determined at the close of the exchange representing the principal market for such securities. |
(2) | Shares of open-end funds are valued at fair value which is based on NAV per share. |
(3) | Securities traded in the OTC market are fair valued at the mean of their most recent bid and asked price, if available, and otherwise at their closing bid price. |
(4) | Exchange traded options and futures contracts are valued at the closing price in the market where such contracts are principally traded. If no closing price is available, they will be fair valued at the mean of their most recent bid and asked price, if available, and otherwise at their closing bid price. OTC options and futures contracts are fair valued at the mean of their most recent bid and asked price, if available, and otherwise at their closing bid price. |
(5) | Forward foreign currency contracts are fair valued at the current day’s interpolated foreign exchange rate, as calculated using the current day’s spot rate, and the 30-, 60-, 90- and 180-day forward rates provided by an independent pricing service or by certain independent dealers in such contracts. |
(1) | Fixed-income securities, interest rate swaps, credit default swaps, total return swaps, currency swaps, currency-linked notes, credit-linked notes and other similar instruments will be fair valued using a pricing service. |
(2) | Fixed income and other debt securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less when purchased are fair valued at cost adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts (amortized cost), provided the Advisor’s Pricing Committee has determined that the use of amortized cost is an appropriate reflection of fair value given market and issuer specific conditions existing at the time of the determination. Factors that may be considered in determining the appropriateness of the use of amortized cost include, but are not limited to, the following: |
(i) | the credit conditions in the relevant market and changes thereto; |
(ii) | the liquidity conditions in the relevant market and changes thereto; |
(iii) | the interest rate conditions in the relevant market and changes thereto (such as significant changes in interest rates); |
(iv) | issuer-specific conditions (such as significant credit deterioration); and |
(v) | any other market-based data the Advisor’s Pricing Committee considers relevant. In this regard, the Advisor’s Pricing Committee may use last-obtained market-based data to assist it when valuing portfolio securities using amortized cost. |
(3) | Repurchase agreements will be valued as follows. Overnight repurchase agreements will be fair valued at cost when it represents the best estimate of fair value. Term repurchase agreements ( i.e. , those whose maturity exceeds seven days) will be fair valued by the Advisor's Pricing Committee at the average of the bid quotations obtained daily from at least two recognized dealers. |
➤ | General Recommendation: Generally vote for director nominees, except under the following circumstances: |
1.1. | The board is classified, and a continuing director responsible for a problematic governance issue at the board/committee level that would warrant a withhold/against vote recommendation is not up for election. All appropriate nominees (except new) may be held accountable. |
1.2. | The board lacks accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers. Sustained poor performance is measured by one- and three-year total shareholder returns in the bottom half of a company’s four-digit GICS industry group (Russell 3000 companies only). Take into consideration the company’s five-year total shareholder return and operational metrics. Problematic provisions include but are not limited to: |
➤ | A classified board structure; |
➤ | A supermajority vote requirement; |
➤ | Either a plurality vote standard in uncontested director elections or a majority vote standard with no plurality carve-out for contested elections; |
➤ | The inability of shareholders to call special meetings; |
➤ | The inability of shareholders to act by written consent; |
➤ | A dual-class capital structure; and/or |
➤ | A non-shareholder-approved poison pill. |
(1) | In general, companies with a plurality vote standard use “Withhold” as the contrary vote option in director elections; companies with a majority vote standard use “Against”. However, it will vary by company and the proxy must be checked to determine the valid contrary vote option for the particular company. |
(2) | A “new nominee” is any current nominee who has not already been elected by shareholders and who joined the board after the problematic action in question transpired. If ISS cannot determine whether the nominee joined the board before or after the problematic action transpired, the nominee will be considered a “new nominee” if he or she joined the board within the 12 months prior to the upcoming shareholder meeting. |
1.3. | The company’s poison pill has a “dead-hand” or “modified dead-hand” feature. Vote against or withhold from nominees every year until this feature is removed; |
1.4. | The board adopts a poison pill with a term of more than 12 months (“long-term pill”), or renews any existing pill, including any “short-term” pill (12 months or less), without shareholder approval. A commitment or policy that puts a newly adopted pill to a binding shareholder vote may potentially offset an adverse vote recommendation. Review such companies with classified boards every year, and such companies with annually elected boards at least once every three years, and vote against or withhold votes from all nominees if the company still maintains a non-shareholder-approved poison pill; or |
1.5. | The board makes a material adverse change to an existing poison pill without shareholder approval. |
1.6. | The board adopts a poison pill with a term of 12 months or less (“short-term pill”) without shareholder approval, taking into account the following factors: |
➤ | The date of the pill‘s adoption relative to the date of the next meeting of shareholders — i.e. whether the company had time to put the pill on the ballot for shareholder ratification given the circumstances; |
➤ | The issuer’s rationale; |
➤ | The issuer’s governance structure and practices; and |
➤ | The issuer’s track record of accountability to shareholders. |
1.7. | The non-audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive (see discussion under “Auditor Ratification”); |
1.8. | The company receives an adverse opinion on the company’s financial statements from its auditor; or |
1.9. | There is persuasive evidence that the Audit Committee entered into an inappropriate indemnification agreement with its auditor that limits the ability of the company, or its shareholders, to pursue legitimate legal recourse against the audit firm. |
1.10. | Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a level of serious concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures. Examine the severity, breadth, chronological sequence, and duration, as well as the company’s efforts at remediation or corrective actions, in determining whether withhold/against votes are warranted. |
1.11. | There is a significant misalignment between CEO pay and company performance (pay for performance); |
1.12. | The company maintains significant problematic pay practices; |
1.13. | The board exhibits a significant level of poor communication and responsiveness to shareholders; |
1.14. | The company fails to submit one-time transfers of stock options to a shareholder vote; or |
1.15. | The company fails to fulfill the terms of a burn rate commitment made to shareholders. |
1.16. | The company’s previous say-on-pay received the support of less than 70 percent of votes cast, taking into account: |
➤ | The company's response, including: |
➤ | Disclosure of engagement efforts with major institutional investors regarding the issues that contributed to the low level of support; |
➤ | Specific actions taken to address the issues that contributed to the low level of support; |
➤ | Other recent compensation actions taken by the company; |
➤ | Whether the issues raised are recurring or isolated; |
➤ | The company's ownership structure; and |
➤ | Whether the support level was less than 50 percent, which would warrant the highest degree of responsiveness. |
1.17. | Generally vote against or withhold from directors individually, committee members, or the entire board (except new nominees, who should be considered case-by-case) if the board amends the company's bylaws or charter without shareholder approval in a manner that materially diminishes shareholders' rights or that could adversely impact shareholders, considering the following factors: |
➤ | The board's rationale for adopting the bylaw/charter amendment without shareholder ratification; |
➤ | Disclosure by the company of any significant engagement with shareholders regarding the amendment; |
➤ | The level of impairment of shareholders' rights caused by the board's unilateral amendment to the bylaws/charter; |
➤ | The board's track record with regard to unilateral board action on bylaw/charter amendments or other entrenchment provisions; |
➤ | The company's ownership structure; |
➤ | The company's existing governance provisions; |
➤ | The timing of the board's amendment to the bylaws/charter in connection with a significant business development; and, |
➤ | Other factors, as deemed appropriate, that may be relevant to determine the impact of the amendment on shareholders. |
➤ | Classified the board; |
➤ | Adopted supermajority vote requirements to amend the bylaws or charter; or |
➤ | Eliminated shareholders' ability to amend bylaws. |
1.18. | For newly public companies, generally vote against or withhold from directors individually, committee members, or the entire board (except new nominees, who should be considered case-by-case) if, prior to or in connection with the company's public offering, the company or its board adopted bylaw or charter provisions materially adverse to shareholder rights, considering the following factors: |
➤ | The level of impairment of shareholders' rights caused by the provision; |
➤ | The disclosed rationale for adopting the provision; |
➤ | The ability to change the governance structure in the future ( e.g. , limitations on shareholders’ right to amend the bylaws or charter, or supermajority vote requirements to amend the bylaws or charter); |
➤ | The ability of shareholders to hold directors accountable through annual director elections, or whether the company has a classified board structure; and, |
➤ | A public commitment to put the provision to a shareholder vote within three years of the date of the initial public offering. |
1.19. | Material failures of governance, stewardship, risk oversight (3) , or fiduciary responsibilities at the company; |
1.20. | Failure to replace management as appropriate; or |
1.21. | Egregious actions related to a director’s service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company. |
2.1. | The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received the support of a majority of the shares cast in the previous year. Factors that will be considered are: |
➤ | Disclosed outreach efforts by the board to shareholders in the wake of the vote; |
➤ | Rationale provided in the proxy statement for the level of implementation; |
➤ | The subject matter of the proposal; |
➤ | The level of support for and opposition to the resolution in past meetings; |
➤ | Actions taken by the board in response to the majority vote and its engagement with shareholders; |
➤ | The continuation of the underlying issue as a voting item on the ballot (as either shareholder or management proposals); and |
➤ | Other factors as appropriate. |
2.2. | The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of shares are tendered; |
2.3. | At the previous board election, any director received more than 50 percent withhold/against votes of the shares cast and the company has failed to address the issue(s) that caused the high withhold/against vote; |
2.4. | The board implements an advisory vote on executive compensation on a less frequent basis than the frequency that received the majority of votes cast at the most recent shareholder meeting at which shareholders voted on the say-on-pay frequency; or |
(3) | Examples of failure of risk oversight include, but are not limited to: bribery; large or serial fines or sanctions from regulatory bodies; significant adverse legal judgments or settlements; hedging of company stock; or significant pledging of company stock. |
2.5. | The board implements an advisory vote on executive compensation on a less frequent basis than the frequency that received a plurality, but not a majority, of the votes cast at the most recent shareholder meeting at which shareholders voted on the say-on-pay frequency, taking into account: |
➤ | The board's rationale for selecting a frequency that is different from the frequency that received a plurality; |
➤ | The company's ownership structure and vote results; |
➤ | ISS' analysis of whether there are compensation concerns or a history of problematic compensation practices; and |
➤ | The previous year's support level on the company's say-on-pay proposal. |
3.1. | Generally vote against or withhold from directors (except new nominees, who should be considered case-by-case (4) who attend less than 75 percent of the aggregate of their board and committee meetings for the period for which they served, unless an acceptable reason for absences is disclosed in the proxy or another SEC filing. Acceptable reasons for director absences are generally limited to the following: |
➤ | Medical issues/illness; |
➤ | Family emergencies; and |
➤ | Missing only one meeting (when the total of all meetings is three or fewer). |
3.2. | If the proxy disclosure is unclear and insufficient to determine whether a director attended at least 75 percent of the aggregate of his/her board and committee meetings during his/her period of service, vote against or withhold from the director(s) in question. |
3.3. | Sit on more than six public company boards; with respect to annual meetings on or after Feb. 1, 2017 (5) , sit on more than five public company boards; or |
3.4. | Are CEOs of public companies who sit on the boards of more than two public companies besides their own — withhold only at their outside boards (6) . |
4.1. | The inside or affiliated outside director serves on any of the three key committees: audit, compensation, or nominating; |
(4) | For new nominees only, schedule conflicts due to commitments made prior to their appointment to the board are considered if disclosed in the proxy or another SEC filing. |
(5) | This policy change includes a 1-year transition period to allow time for affected directors to address necessary changes if they wish. |
(6) | Although all of a CEO’s subsidiary boards will be counted as separate boards, ISS will not recommend a withhold vote from the CEO of a parent company board or any of the controlled (>50 percent ownership) subsidiaries of that parent, but may do so at subsidiaries that are less than 50 percent controlled and boards outside the parent/subsidiary relationships. |
4.2. | The company lacks an audit, compensation, or nominating committee so that the full board functions as that committee; |
4.3. | The company lacks a formal nominating committee, even if the board attests that the independent directors fulfill the functions of such a committee; or |
4.4. | Independent directors make up less than a majority of the directors. |
➤ | General Recommendation: Generally vote for shareholder proposals requiring that the chairman’s position be filled by an independent director, taking into consideration the following: |
➤ | The scope of the proposal; |
➤ | The company's current board leadership structure; |
➤ | The company's governance structure and practices; |
➤ | Company performance; and |
➤ | Any other relevant factors that may be applicable. |
➤ | General Recommendation: Generally vote for management and shareholder proposals for proxy access with the following provisions: |
➤ | Ownership threshold: maximum requirement not more than three percent (3%) of the voting power; |
➤ | Ownership duration: maximum requirement not longer than three (3) years of continuous ownership for each member of the nominating group; |
➤ | Aggregation: minimal or no limits on the number of shareholders permitted to form a nominating group; |
➤ | Cap: cap on nominees of generally twenty-five percent (25%) of the board. |
➤ | General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on the election of directors in contested elections, considering the following factors: |
➤ | Long-term financial performance of the company relative to its industry; |
➤ | Management’s track record; |
➤ | Background to the contested election; |
➤ | Nominee qualifications and any compensatory arrangements; |
➤ | Strategic plan of dissident slate and quality of the critique against management; |
➤ | Likelihood that the proposed goals and objectives can be achieved (both slates); and |
➤ | Stock ownership positions. |
➤ | General Recommendation: Vote for proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support. |
➤ | Past Board Performance: |
➤ | The company's use of authorized shares during the last three years |
➤ | The Current Request: |
➤ | Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes of the proposed increase; |
➤ | Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request; and |
➤ | The dilutive impact of the request as determined relative to an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company's need for shares and total shareholder returns. |
A. | Most companies: 100 percent of existing authorized shares. |
B. | Companies with less than 50 percent of existing authorized shares either outstanding or reserved for issuance: 50 percent of existing authorized shares. |
C. | Companies with one- and three-year total shareholder returns (TSRs) in the bottom 10 percent of the U.S. market as of the end of the calendar quarter that is closest to their most recent fiscal year end: 50 percent of existing authorized shares. |
D. | Companies at which both conditions (B and C) above are both present: 25 percent of existing authorized shares. |
➤ | General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on mergers and acquisitions. Review and evaluate the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including: |
➤ | Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, emphasis is placed on the offer premium, market reaction and strategic rationale. |
➤ | Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction should cause closer scrutiny of a deal. |
➤ | Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favorable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions. |
➤ | Negotiations and process - Were the terms of the transaction negotiated at arm's-length? Was the process fair and equitable? A fair process helps to ensure the best price for shareholders. Significant negotiation "wins" can also signify the deal makers' competency. The comprehensiveness of the sales process ( e.g. , full auction, partial auction, no auction) can also affect shareholder value. |
➤ | Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? As the result of potential conflicts, the directors and officers of the company may be more likely to vote to approve a merger than if they did not hold these interests. Consider whether these interests |
may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger. The CIC figure presented in the "ISS Transaction Summary" section of this report is an aggregate figure that can in certain cases be a misleading indicator of the true value transfer from shareholders to insiders. Where such figure appears to be excessive, analyze the underlying assumptions to determine whether a potential conflict exists. | |
➤ | Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance. |
1. | Maintain appropriate pay-for-performance alignment, with emphasis on long-term shareholder value: This principle encompasses overall executive pay practices, which must be designed to attract, retain, and appropriately motivate the key employees who drive shareholder value creation over the long term. It will take into consideration, among other factors, the link between pay and performance; the mix between fixed and variable pay; performance goals; and equity-based plan costs; |
2. | Avoid arrangements that risk “pay for failure”: This principle addresses the appropriateness of long or indefinite contracts, excessive severance packages, and guaranteed compensation; |
3. | Maintain an independent and effective compensation committee: This principle promotes oversight of executive pay programs by directors with appropriate skills, knowledge, experience, and a sound process for compensation decision-making ( e.g. , including access to independent expertise and advice when needed); |
4. | Provide shareholders with clear, comprehensive compensation disclosures: This principle underscores the importance of informative and timely disclosures that enable shareholders to evaluate executive pay practices fully and fairly; |
5. | Avoid inappropriate pay to non-executive directors: This principle recognizes the interests of shareholders in ensuring that compensation to outside directors does not compromise their independence and ability to make appropriate judgments in overseeing managers’ pay and performance. At the market level, it may incorporate a variety of generally accepted best practices. |
➤ | General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on ballot items related to executive pay and practices, as well as certain aspects of outside director compensation. |
Vote against Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation (Management Say-on-Pay — MSOP) if: |
➤ | There is a significant misalignment between CEO pay and company performance (pay for performance); |
➤ | The company maintains significant problematic pay practices; |
➤ | The board exhibits a significant level of poor communication and responsiveness to shareholders. |
➤ | There is no MSOP on the ballot, and an against vote on an MSOP is warranted due to pay for performance misalignment, problematic pay practices, or the lack of adequate responsiveness on compensation issues raised previously, or a combination thereof; |
➤ | The board fails to respond adequately to a previous MSOP proposal that received less than 70 percent support of votes cast; |
➤ | The company has recently practiced or approved problematic pay practices, including option repricing or option backdating; or |
➤ | The situation is egregious. |
1. | Peer Group (8) Alignment: |
➤ | The degree of alignment between the company's annualized TSR rank and the CEO's annualized total pay rank within a peer group, each measured over a three-year period. |
➤ | The multiple of the CEO's total pay relative to the peer group median. |
2. | Absolute Alignment (9) – the absolute alignment between the trend in CEO pay and company TSR over the prior five fiscal years – i.e. , the difference between the trend in annual pay changes and the trend in annualized TSR during the period. |
(7) | The Russell 3000E Index includes approximately 4,000 of the largest U.S. equity securities. |
(8) | The revised peer group is generally comprised of 14-24 companies that are selected using market cap, revenue (or assets for certain financial firms), GICS industry group, and company's selected peers' GICS industry group, with size constraints, via a process designed to select peers that are comparable to the subject company in terms of revenue/assets and industry, and also within a market cap bucket that is reflective of the company's. For Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels companies, market cap is the only size determinant. |
(9) | Only Russell 3000 Index companies are subject to the Absolute Alignment analysis. |
➤ | The ratio of performance- to time-based equity awards; |
➤ | The overall ratio of performance-based compensation; |
➤ | The completeness of disclosure and rigor of performance goals; |
➤ | The company's peer group benchmarking practices; |
➤ | Actual results of financial/operational metrics, such as growth in revenue, profit, cash flow, etc., both absolute and relative to peers; |
➤ | Special circumstances related to, for example, a new CEO in the prior FY or anomalous equity grant practices ( e.g. , bi-annual awards); |
➤ | Realizable pay (10) compared to grant pay; and |
➤ | Any other factors deemed relevant. |
➤ | Problematic practices related to non-performance-based compensation elements; |
➤ | Incentives that may motivate excessive risk-taking; and |
➤ | Options Backdating. |
➤ | Repricing or replacing of underwater stock options/SARS without prior shareholder approval (including cash buyouts and voluntary surrender of underwater options); |
➤ | Excessive perquisites or tax gross-ups, including any gross-up related to a secular trust or restricted stock vesting; |
➤ | New or extended agreements that provide for: |
➤ | CIC payments exceeding 3 times base salary and average/target/most recent bonus; |
➤ | CIC severance payments without involuntary job loss or substantial diminution of duties ("single" or "modified single" triggers); |
➤ | CIC payments with excise tax gross-ups (including "modified" gross-ups); |
➤ | Insufficient executive compensation disclosure by externally-managed issuers (EMIs) such that a reasonable assessment of pay programs and practices applicable to the EMI's executives is not possible. |
➤ | Multi-year guaranteed bonuses; |
➤ | A single or common performance metric used for short- and long-term plans; |
➤ | Lucrative severance packages; |
➤ | High pay opportunities relative to industry peers; |
➤ | Disproportionate supplemental pensions; or |
➤ | Mega annual equity grants that provide unlimited upside with no downside risk. |
(10) | ISS research reports include realizable pay for S&P1500 companies. |
➤ | Reason and motive for the options backdating issue, such as inadvertent vs. deliberate grant date changes; |
➤ | Duration of options backdating; |
➤ | Size of restatement due to options backdating; |
➤ | Corrective actions taken by the board or compensation committee, such as canceling or re-pricing backdated options, the recouping of option gains on backdated grants; and |
➤ | Adoption of a grant policy that prohibits backdating, and creates a fixed grant schedule or window period for equity grants in the future. |
➤ | Failure to respond to majority-supported shareholder proposals on executive pay topics; or |
➤ | Failure to adequately respond to the company's previous say-on-pay proposal that received the support of less than 70 percent of votes cast, taking into account: |
➤ | The company's response, including: |
➤ | Disclosure of engagement efforts with major institutional investors regarding the issues that contributed to the low level of support; |
➤ | Specific actions taken to address the issues that contributed to the low level of support; |
➤ | Other recent compensation actions taken by the company; |
➤ | Whether the issues raised are recurring or isolated; |
➤ | The company's ownership structure; and |
➤ | Whether the support level was less than 50 percent, which would warrant the highest degree of responsiveness. |
➤ | General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on certain equity-based compensation plans (11) depending on a combination of certain plan features and equity grant practices, where positive factors may counterbalance negative factors, and vice versa, as evaluated using an "equity plan scorecard" (EPSC) approach with three pillars: |
➤ | Plan Cost: The total estimated cost of the company’s equity plans relative to industry/market cap peers, measured by the company's estimated Shareholder Value Transfer (SVT) in relation to peers and considering both: |
➤ | SVT based on new shares requested plus shares remaining for future grants, plus outstanding unvested/unexercised grants; and |
➤ | SVT based only on new shares requested plus shares remaining for future grants. |
➤ | Plan Features: |
➤ | Automatic single-triggered award vesting upon a change in control (CIC); |
➤ | Discretionary vesting authority; |
➤ | Liberal share recycling on various award types; |
(11) | Proposals evaluated under the EPSC policy generally include those to approve or amend (1) stock option plans for employees and/or employees and directors, (2) restricted stock plans for employees and/or employees and directors, and (3) omnibus stock incentive plans for employees and/or employees and directors. |
➤ | Lack of minimum vesting period for grants made under the plan. |
➤ | Grant Practices: |
➤ | The company’s three year burn rate relative to its industry/market cap peers; |
➤ | Vesting requirements in most recent CEO equity grants (3-year look-back); |
➤ | The estimated duration of the plan (based on the sum of shares remaining available and the new shares requested, divided by the average annual shares granted in the prior three years); |
➤ | The proportion of the CEO's most recent equity grants/awards subject to performance conditions; |
➤ | Whether the company maintains a claw-back policy; |
➤ | Whether the company has established post exercise/vesting share-holding requirements. |
➤ | Awards may vest in connection with a liberal change-of-control definition; |
➤ | The plan would permit repricing or cash buyout of underwater options without shareholder approval (either by expressly permitting it — for NYSE and Nasdaq listed companies — or by not prohibiting it when the company has a history of repricing — for non-listed companies); |
➤ | The plan is a vehicle for problematic pay practices or a significant pay-for-performance disconnect under certain circumstances; or |
➤ | Any other plan features are determined to have a significant negative impact on shareholder interests. |
➤ | General Recommendation: Generally vote case-by-case, taking into consideration whether implementation of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value, and in addition the following will also be considered: |
➤ | If the issues presented in the proposal are more appropriately or effectively dealt with through legislation or government regulation; |
➤ | If the company has already responded in an appropriate and sufficient manner to the issue(s) raised in the proposal; |
➤ | Whether the proposal's request is unduly burdensome (scope or timeframe) or overly prescriptive; |
➤ | The company's approach compared with any industry standard practices for addressing the issue(s) raised by the proposal; |
➤ | If the proposal requests increased disclosure or greater transparency, whether or not reasonable and sufficient information is currently available to shareholders from the company or from other publicly available sources; and |
➤ | If the proposal requests increased disclosure or greater transparency, whether or not implementation would reveal proprietary or confidential information that could place the company at a competitive disadvantage. |
➤ | General Recommendation: Generally vote for resolutions requesting that a company disclose information on the risks related to climate change on its operations and investments, such as financial, physical, or regulatory risks, considering: |
➤ | Whether the company already provides current, publicly-available information on the impact that climate change may have on the company as well as associated company policies and procedures to address related risks and/or opportunities; |
➤ | The company’s level of disclosure is at least comparable to that of industry peers; and |
➤ | There are no significant controversies, fines, penalties, or litigation associated with the company’s environmental performance. |
➤ | The company already discloses current, publicly-available information on the impacts that GHG emissions may have on the company as well as associated company policies and procedures to address related risks and/or opportunities; |
➤ | The company's level of disclosure is comparable to that of industry peers; and |
➤ | There are no significant, controversies, fines, penalties, or litigation associated with the company's GHG emissions. |
➤ | Whether the company provides disclosure of year-over-year GHG emissions performance data; |
➤ | Whether company disclosure lags behind industry peers; |
➤ | The company's actual GHG emissions performance; |
➤ | The company's current GHG emission policies, oversight mechanisms, and related initiatives; and |
➤ | Whether the company has been the subject of recent, significant violations, fines, litigation, or controversy related to GHG emissions. |
➤ | General Recommendation: Generally vote for requests for reports on a company's efforts to diversify the board, unless: |
➤ | The gender and racial minority representation of the company’s board is reasonably inclusive in relation to companies of similar size and business; and |
➤ | The board already reports on its nominating procedures and gender and racial minority initiatives on the board and within the company. |
➤ | The degree of existing gender and racial minority diversity on the company’s board and among its executive officers; |
➤ | The level of gender and racial minority representation that exists at the company’s industry peers; |
➤ | The company’s established process for addressing gender and racial minority board representation; |
➤ | Whether the proposal includes an overly prescriptive request to amend nominating committee charter language; |
➤ | The independence of the company’s nominating committee; |
➤ | Whether the company uses an outside search firm to identify potential director nominees; and |
➤ | Whether the company has had recent controversies, fines, or litigation regarding equal employment practices. |
➤ | General Recommendation: Generally vote for proposals requesting that a company report on its policies, initiatives, and oversight mechanisms related to social, economic, and environmental sustainability, unless: |
➤ | The company already discloses similar information through existing reports or policies such as an environment, health, and safety (EHS) report; a comprehensive code of corporate conduct; and/or a diversity report; or |
➤ | The company has formally committed to the implementation of a reporting program based on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines or a similar standard within a specified time frame. |
➤ | General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on proposals to link, or report on linking, executive compensation to sustainability (environmental and social) criteria, considering: |
➤ | Whether the company has significant and/or persistent controversies or regulatory violations regarding social and/or environmental issues; |
➤ | Whether the company has management systems and oversight mechanisms in place regarding its social and environmental performance; |
➤ | The degree to which industry peers have incorporated similar non-financial performance criteria in their executive compensation practices; and |
➤ | The company's current level of disclosure regarding its environmental and social performance. |
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Part C – Other Information
Item 28. Exhibits
Exhibit No. Description
(a) | (1) Declaration of Trust of the Registrant (1) |
(2) Amended and Restated Establishment and Designation of Series (12)
(b) | By-Laws of the Registrant (1) |
(c) | Not Applicable |
(d) | (1) Investment Management Agreement dated August 10, 2012 (3) |
(2) Investment Management Agreement dated August 16, 2013 (4)
(3) Investment Management Agreement dated July 17, 2014 (9)
(4) Investment Management Agreement dated August 30, 2016 (13)
(e) | (1) Distribution Agreement dated August 10, 2012 (3) |
(2) Exhibit A to Distribution Agreement (13)
(f) | Not Applicable |
(g) | (1) Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman Co. dated August 2, 2012 (2) |
(2) Appendix A to the Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman Co. dated August 30, 2016 (13)
(h) | (1) Administrative Agency Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman Co. dated August 2, 2012 (3) |
(2) Form of Subscription Agreement (32)
(3) Appendix A to the Administrative Agency Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman Co. dated August 30, 2016 (13)
(4) Sublicense Agreement between First Trust Advisors L.P. and Nasdaq, Inc. (12)
(5) Exhibit A to the CMS Authorization Letter between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman Co. dated August 30, 2016 (13)
(i) | (1) Opinion and Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP dated August 30, 2016 (13) |
(2) Opinion and Consent of Chapman and Cutler LLP dated August 30, 2016 (13)
(j) | Not Applicable |
(k) | Not Applicable |
(l) | Not Applicable |
(m) | (1) 12b-1 Service Plan (2) |
(2) Exhibit A to 12b-1 Service Plan (13)
(3) 12b-1 Plan Extension Letter Agreement, dated July 19, 2016 (13)
(n) | Not Applicable |
(o) | Not Applicable |
(p) | (1) First Trust Advisors L.P., First Trust Portfolios L.P. Code of Ethics, amended on July 1, 2013 (8) |
(2) First Trust Funds Code of Ethics, amended on October 30, 2013 (8)
(q) | Powers of Attorney for Messrs. Bowen, Erickson, Kadlec, Keith and Nielson authorizing W. Scott Jardine, James M. Dykas, Kristi A. Maher and Eric F. Fess to execute the Registration Statement (11) |
__________________
(1) | Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-182308) filed on June 25, 2012. |
(2) | Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-182308) filed on August 9, 2012. |
(3) | Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-182308) filed on January 28, 2013. |
(4) | Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-182308) filed on December 18, 2013. |
(5) | Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-182308) filed on February 24, 2014. |
(6) | Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-182308) filed on March 4, 2014. |
(7) | Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-182308) filed on May 7, 2014. |
(8) | Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-182308) filed on July 16, 2014. |
(9) | Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-182308) filed on January 21, 2015. |
(10) | Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-182308) filed on September 4, 2015. |
(11) | Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-182308) filed on January 14, 2016. |
(12) | Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-182308) filed on March 11, 2016. |
(13) | Filed herewith. |
29. Persons Controlled By or Under Common Control with Registrant
Not Applicable
Item 30. Indemnification
Section 9.5 of the Registrant’s Declaration of Trust provides as follows:
Section 9.5. Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in this Section 9.5, every person who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer, or employee of the Trust, including persons who serve at the request of the Trust as directors, trustees, officers, employees or agents of another organization in which the Trust has an interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person” ), shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him or in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been such a Trustee, director, officer, employee or agent and against amounts paid or incurred by him in settlement thereof.
No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person to the extent such indemnification is prohibited by applicable federal law.
The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not 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 such a Covered Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
Subject to applicable federal law, expenses of preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit or proceeding subject to a claim for indemnification under this Section 9.5 shall be advanced by the Trust prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the recipient to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 9.5.
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.
As used in this Section 9.5, the words “claim,” “action,” “suit” or “proceeding” shall apply to all claims, demands, actions, suits, investigations, regulatory inquiries, proceedings or any other occurrence of a similar nature, whether actual or threatened and whether civil, criminal, administrative or other, including appeals, and the words “liability” and “expenses” shall include without limitation, attorneys’ fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.
Item 31. Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser
First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust”), investment adviser to the Registrant, serves as adviser or sub-adviser to various other open-end and closed-end management investment companies and is the portfolio supervisor of certain unit investment trusts. The principal business of certain of First Trust’s principal executive officers involves various activities in connection with the family of unit investment trusts sponsored by First Trust Portfolios L.P. (“FTP”). The principal address for all these investment companies, First Trust, FTP and the persons below is 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187.
A description of any business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which the officers of First Trust who serve as officers or trustees of the Registrant have engaged during the last two years for his or her account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee appears under “Management of the Fund” in the Statement of Additional Information. Such information for the remaining senior officers of First Trust appears below:
Name and Position with First Trust | Employment During Past Two Years |
Andrew S. Roggensack, President | Managing Director and President, First Trust |
R. Scott Hall, Managing Director | Managing Director, First Trust |
Ronald D. McAlister, Managing Director | Managing Director, First Trust |
David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director | Managing Director; Senior Vice President, First Trust |
Kathleen Brown, Chief Compliance Officer and Senior Vice President | Chief Compliance Officer and Senior Vice President, First Trust |
Brian Wesbury, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President | Chief Economist and Senior Vice President, First Trust |
Item 32. Principal Underwriter
(a) FTP serves as principal underwriter of the shares of the Registrant, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund II, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund IV, First Trust Exchange Traded Fund V, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII, First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX ® Fund, First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX ® Fund II, First Trust Variable Insurance Trust and First Trust Series Fund. FTP serves as principal underwriter and depositor of the following investment companies registered as unit investment trusts: the First Trust Combined Series, FT Series (formerly known as the First Trust Special Situations Trust), the First Trust Insured Corporate Trust, the First Trust of Insured Municipal Bonds and the First Trust GNMA.
(b)
(c) Not Applicable
Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records
First Trust, 120 East Liberty Drive, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, maintains the Registrant’s organizational documents, minutes of meetings, contracts of the Registrant and all advisory material of the investment adviser.
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., 50 Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 ( “BBH” ) maintains all general and subsidiary ledgers, journals, trial balances, records of all portfolio purchases and sales, and all other requirement records not maintained by First Trust.
BBH also maintains all the required records in its capacity as transfer, accounting, dividend payment and interest holder service agent for the Registrant.
Item 34. Management Services
Not Applicable
Item 35. Undertakings
Not Applicable
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement under rule 485(b) under the Securities Act and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Wheaton, and State of Illinois, on the 30th day of August, 2016.
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI | ||
By: | /s/ James M. Dykas | |
James M. Dykas, 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 date indicated:
Signature | Title | Date | |
/s/ James M. Dykas |
President and Chief Executive
Officer |
August 30, 2016 | |
James M. Dykas | |||
/s/ Donald P. Swade |
Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer
and Chief Accounting Officer |
August 30, 2016 | |
Donald P. Swade | |||
James A. Bowen* |
)
Trustee ) |
||
) | |||
Richard E. Erickson* |
)
Trustee ) |
||
) | |||
Thomas R. Kadlec* |
)
Trustee ) |
||
) | By: | /s/ W. Scott Jardine | |
Robert F. Keith* |
)
Trustee ) |
W. Scott Jardine
Attorney-In-Fact |
|
) | August 30, 2016 | ||
Niel B. Nielson * |
)
Trustee ) |
||
) |
* | Original powers of attorney authorizing W. Scott Jardine, James M. Dykas, Eric F. Fess and Kristi A. Maher to execute Registrant's Registration Statement, and Amendments thereto, for each of the trustees of the Registrant on whose behalf this Registration Statement is filed, were previously executed, filed as an exhibit and are incorporated by reference herein. |
Index to Exhibits
(d) (4) Investment Management Agreement dated August 30, 2016
(e) (2) Exhibit A to Distribution Agreement
(g) (2) Appendix A to the Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman Co. dated August 30, 2016.
(h) (3) Appendix A to the Administrative Agency Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman Co. dated August 30, 2016
(h) (5) Exhibit A to the CMS Authorization Letter between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman Co. dated August 30, 2016
(i) (1) Opinion and Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP dated August 30, 2016
(i) (2) Opinion and Consent of Chapman and Cutler LLP dated August 30, 2016
(m) (2) Exhibit A to 12b-1 Service Plan
(m) (3) 12b-1 Plan Extension Letter Agreement, dated July 19, 2016
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT made this 30th day of August, 2016, by and between FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND VI, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), and FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P., an Illinois limited partnership (the "Adviser").
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"), as an open-end management investment company;
WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue shares in separate series, with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets;
WHEREAS, the Trust intends to offer shares in series as set forth on Schedule A attached hereto and any other series as to which this Agreement may hereafter be made applicable and set forth on Schedule A, which may be amended from time to time (each such series being herein referred to as a "Fund," and collectively as the "Funds"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Adviser as investment adviser, to furnish certain investment advisory and portfolio management services to the Trust with respect to the Funds, and the Adviser is willing to furnish such services.
WITNESSETH:
In consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter contained, it is hereby agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows:
1. The Trust hereby engages the Adviser to act as the investment adviser for, and to set the overall investment strategy and manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of, each Fund in accordance with each Fund's investment objectives and policies and limitations, and to administer each Fund's affairs to the extent requested by and subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Trust for the period and upon the terms herein set forth. The investment of each Fund's assets shall be subject to the Fund's policies, restrictions and limitations with respect to investments as set forth in the Fund's then current registration statement under the l940 Act, and all applicable laws and the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the management of registered open-end management investment companies.
The Adviser accepts such employment and agrees during such period to render such services, to furnish office facilities and equipment and clerical, bookkeeping and administrative services (other than such services, if any, provided by the Funds' transfer agent, administrator or other service providers) for the Funds, to permit any of its officers or employees to serve without compensation as trustees or officers of the Trust if elected or appointed to such positions, and to assume the obligations herein set forth for the compensation herein provided. The Adviser shall at its own expense furnish all executive and other personnel, office space, and office facilities required to render the investment management and administrative services set forth in this Agreement. In the event that the Adviser pays or assumes any expenses of a Fund
not required to be paid or assumed by the Adviser under this Agreement, the Adviser shall not be obligated hereby to pay or assume the same or similar expense in the future; provided, that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to relieve the Adviser of any obligation to a Fund under any separate agreement or arrangement between the parties.
2. The Adviser shall, for all purposes herein provided, be deemed to be an independent contractor and, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, shall neither have the authority to act for nor represent the Trust in any way, nor otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust.
3. For the services and facilities described in Section 1, each Fund will pay to the Adviser, at the end of each calendar month, and the Adviser agrees to accept as full compensation therefore, an investment management fee equal to the annual rate of each Fund's average daily net assets as set forth on Schedule A.
For the month and year in which this Agreement becomes effective, or terminates, there shall be an appropriate proration on the basis of the number of days that the Agreement shall have been in effect during the month and year, respectively. The services of the Adviser to the Trust under this Agreement are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Adviser shall be free to render similar services or other services to others so long as its services hereunder are not impaired thereby.
4. During the term of this Agreement, the Adviser shall pay all of the expenses of each Fund of the Trust (including the cost of transfer agency, sub-advisory, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services and license fees, if any) but excluding the fee payment under this Agreement, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions (such as dividend and distribution expenses from securities sold short and/or other investment related costs), distribution and service fees payable pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 plan, if any, and extraordinary expenses.
5. The Adviser shall arrange for suitably qualified officers or employees of the Adviser to serve, without compensation from the Trust, as Trustees, officers or agents of the Trust, if duly elected or appointed to such positions, and subject to their individual consent and to any limitations imposed by law.
6. For purposes of this Agreement, brokerage commissions paid by a Fund upon the purchase or sale of a Fund's portfolio securities or other assets shall be considered a cost of the securities or assets of the Fund and shall be paid by the Fund.
7. The Adviser is authorized to select the brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants, banks, or any other agent or counterparty that will execute the purchases and sales of a Fund's portfolio investments on behalf of the Fund, and is directed to use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain best execution, which includes most favorable net results and execution of the Fund's orders, taking into account all appropriate factors, including price, dealer spread or commission, size and difficulty of the transaction and research or other services provided. Subject to approval by the Trust's Board of Trustees
and to the extent permitted by and in conformance with applicable law and the rules and regulations thereunder (including Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act), the Adviser may select brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants or other persons affiliated with the Adviser. It is understood that the Adviser will not be deemed to have acted unlawfully, or to have breached a fiduciary duty to the Trust, or be in breach of any obligation owing to the Trust under this Agreement, or otherwise, solely by reason of its having caused the Fund to pay a member of a securities exchange, a broker or a dealer a commission for effecting a securities transaction for the Fund in excess of the amount of commission another member of an exchange, broker or dealer would have charged if the Adviser determined in good faith that the commission paid was reasonable in relation to the brokerage or research services provided by such member, broker or dealer, viewed in terms of that particular transaction or the Adviser's overall responsibilities with respect to its accounts, including the Fund, as to which it exercises investment discretion.
In addition, the Adviser may, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the rules and regulations thereunder, aggregate purchase and sale orders of portfolio investments with similar orders being made simultaneously for other accounts managed by the Adviser or its affiliates, if in the Adviser's reasonable judgment such aggregation shall result in an overall economic benefit to a Fund, taking into consideration the selling or purchase price, brokerage commissions and other expenses. In the event that a purchase or sale of an asset of a Fund occurs as part of any aggregate sale or purchase orders, the objective of the Adviser and any of its affiliates involved in such transaction shall be to allocate the securities or other assets so purchased or sold, as well as expenses incurred in the transaction, among the Fund and other accounts in an equitable manner. Nevertheless, each Fund acknowledges that under some circumstances, such allocation may adversely affect the Fund with respect to the price or size of the portfolio investments obtainable or salable. Whenever a Fund and one or more other investment advisory clients of the Adviser have available funds for investment, investments suitable and appropriate for each will be allocated in a manner believed by the Adviser to be equitable to each, although such allocation may result in a delay in one or more client accounts being fully invested that would not occur if such an allocation were not made. Moreover, it is possible that due to differing investment objectives or for other reasons, the Adviser and its affiliates may purchase securities or other instruments of an issuer for one client and at approximately the same time recommend selling or sell the same or similar types of securities, assets or instruments for another client.
The Adviser will not arrange purchases or sales of portfolio investments between a Fund and other accounts advised by the Adviser or its affiliates unless (a) such purchases or sales are in accordance with applicable law and the rules and regulations thereunder (including Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act) and the Trust's policies and procedures, (b) the Adviser determines the purchase or sale is in the best interests of each Fund, and (c) the Trust's Board of Trustees has approved these types of transactions.
To the extent a Fund seeks to adopt, amend or eliminate any objectives, policies, restrictions or procedures in a manner that modifies or restricts Adviser's authority regarding the execution of the Fund's portfolio transactions, the Fund agrees to use reasonable commercial efforts to consult with the Adviser regarding the modifications or restrictions prior to such adoption, amendment or elimination.
The Adviser will communicate to the officers and Trustees of the Trust such information relating to transactions for the Funds as they may reasonably request. In no instance will portfolio investments be purchased by or sold to the Adviser or any affiliated person of either the Trust or the Adviser, except as may be permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any applicable exemptive orders.
The Adviser further agrees that it:
(a) will use the same degree of skill and care in providing such services as it uses in providing services to fiduciary accounts for which it has investment responsibilities;
(b) will (i) conform in all material respects to all applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission, (ii) comply in all material respects with all policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees for the Trust and communicated to the Adviser, and (iii) conduct its activities under this Agreement in all material respects in accordance with any applicable regulations of any governmental authority pertaining to its investment advisory, commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisory activities;
(c) will report regularly to the Board of Trustees of the Trust (generally on a quarterly basis) and will make appropriate persons available for the purpose of reviewing with representatives of the Board of Trustees on a regular basis at reasonable times the management of each Fund, including, without limitation, review of the general investment strategies of each Fund, the performance of each Fund's investment portfolio in relation to relevant standard industry indices and general conditions affecting the marketplace and will provide various other reports from time to time as reasonably requested by the Board of Trustees of the Trust; and
(d) will prepare and maintain such books and records with respect to each Fund's securities and other transactions as required under applicable law and will prepare and furnish the Trust's Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Board of Trustees may reasonably request. The Adviser further agrees that all records which it maintains for each Fund are the property of the Fund and the Adviser will surrender promptly to the Fund any such records upon the request of the Fund (provided, however, that Adviser shall be permitted to retain copies thereof); and shall be permitted to retain originals (with copies to the Fund) to the extent required under Rule 204-2 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or other applicable law.
8. Subject to applicable statutes and regulations, it is understood that
officers, Trustees, or agents of the Trust are, or may be, interested persons
(as such term is defined in the 1940 Act and rules and regulations thereunder)
of the Adviser as officers, directors, agents, shareholders or otherwise, and
that the officers, directors, shareholders and agents of the Adviser may be
interested persons of the Trust otherwise than as Trustees, officers or agents.
9. The Adviser shall not be liable for any loss sustained by reason of the purchase, sale or retention of any asset, whether or not such purchase, sale or retention shall have been based upon the investigation and research made by any other individual, firm or corporation, if such recommendation shall have been selected with due care and in good faith, except loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of its obligations and duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
10. Subject to obtaining the initial and periodic approvals required under
Section 15 of the 1940 Act (after taking into effect any exemptive order,
no-action assurances or other relief, rule or regulation upon which the
respective Fund may rely), the Adviser may retain one or more sub-advisers at
the Adviser's own cost and expense for the purpose of furnishing one or more of
the services described in Section 1 hereof with respect to a Fund. In addition,
the Adviser may adjust from time to time the duties delegated to any
sub-adviser, the portion of portfolio assets of the Fund that the sub-adviser
shall manage and the fees to be paid to the sub-adviser pursuant to any
sub-advisory agreement or other arrangement entered into in accordance with this
Agreement, subject to the approvals set forth in Section 15 of the 1940 Act if
required after taking into account any exemptive order, no-action assurances or
other relief, rule or regulation upon which the respective Fund may rely.
Retention of one or more sub-advisers shall in no way reduce the
responsibilities or obligations of the Adviser under this Agreement and the
Adviser shall be responsible to a Fund for all acts or omissions of any
sub-adviser in connection with the performance of the Adviser's duties
hereunder. In addition, to the extent the respective Fund is relying on an
exemptive order or an amendment thereto permitting the Fund to hire one or more
sub-advisers or amend a sub-advisory agreement without shareholder approval, the
Adviser agrees to comply with any terms and conditions provided in such
exemptive order or amendment applicable to it.
11. The Trust acknowledges that the Adviser now acts, and intends in the future to act, as an investment adviser to other managed accounts and as investment adviser or sub-investment adviser to one or more other investment companies that are not a series of the Trust. In addition, the Trust acknowledges that the persons employed by the Adviser to assist in the Adviser's duties under this Agreement will not devote their full time to such efforts. It is also agreed that the Adviser may use any supplemental research obtained for the benefit of the Trust in providing investment advice to its other investment advisory accounts and for managing its own accounts.
12. This Agreement shall be effective on the date provided on Schedule A for each respective Fund, provided it has been approved in the manner required by the 1940 Act (after taking into effect any exemptive order, no action assurances, or other relief, rule or regulation upon which the Trust may rely). This Agreement shall continue in effect until the two-year anniversary of the date of its effectiveness as to a Fund, unless and until terminated by either party as hereinafter provided, and shall continue in force from year to year thereafter, but only as long as such continuance is specifically approved, at least annually, in the manner required by the 1940 Act (after taking into effect any exemptive order, no action assurances, or other relief, rule or regulation upon which the Trust may rely).
This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment, and may be terminated at any time without the payment of any penalty by a Fund or by the Adviser upon sixty (60) days' written notice to the other party. Each Fund may effect termination by action of the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, accompanied by appropriate notice. This Agreement may be terminated, at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, in the event that it shall have been established by a court of competent jurisdiction that the Adviser, or any officer or director of the Adviser, has taken any action which results in a breach of the material covenants of the Adviser set forth herein. Termination of this Agreement shall not affect the right of the Adviser to receive payments on any unpaid balance of the compensation, described in Section 3, earned prior to such termination and for any additional period during which the Adviser serves as such for the Fund, subject to applicable law. The terms "assignment" and "vote of the majority of outstanding voting securities" shall have the same meanings set forth in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
13. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument executed by both parties.
14. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule, or otherwise, the remainder shall not be thereby affected.
15. Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing, addressed and delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the other party at such address as such other party may designate for receipt of such notice.
16. All parties hereto are expressly put on notice of the Trust's Declaration of Trust and all amendments thereto, a copy of which is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the limitation of shareholder and trustee liability contained therein. This Agreement is executed on behalf of the Trust by the Trust's officers as officers and not individually and the obligations imposed upon the Trust or a Fund by this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trust's Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the respective Fund, and persons dealing with the Trust must look solely to the assets of such Fund for the enforcement of any claims.
17. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with applicable federal law and (except as to Section 16 hereof which shall be construed in accordance with the laws of Massachusetts) the laws of the State of Illinois.
18. None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or enforceable by, any person or entity that is not a party hereto.
19. Any action brought on or with respect to this Agreement or any other document executed in connection herewith or therewith by a party to this Agreement against another party to this Agreement shall be brought only in a court of competent jurisdiction in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, or if venue does not lie in any such court only in a court of competent jurisdiction within
the State of Illinois (the "Chosen Courts"). Each party to this Agreement (a)
consents to jurisdiction in the Chosen Courts; (b) waives any objection to venue
in any of the Chosen Courts; and (c) waives any objection that any of the Chosen
Courts is an inconvenient forum. In any action commenced by a party hereto
against another party to the Agreement, there shall be no right to a jury trial.
THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IS EXPRESSLY WAIVED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED
BY LAW.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust and the Adviser have caused this Agreement to be executed on the day and year above written.
FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND VI
By: /s/ James M. Dykas ------------------------------- Name: James M. Dykas Title: President and CEO ATTEST: /s/ Patrick M. D'Onofrio --------------------------- Name: Patrick M. D'Onofrio Title: Assistant General Counsel |
FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.
By: /s/ James M. Dykas ------------------------------- Name: James M. Dykas Title: Chief Financial Officer ATTEST: /s/ Patrick M. D'Onofrio --------------------------- Name: Patrick M. D'Onofrio Title: Assistant General Counsel |
SCHEDULE A
(as of August 30, 2016 )
FUNDS
ANNUAL RATE OF AVERAGE
Series DAILY NET ASSETS EFFECTIVE DATE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF 0.60% August 30, 2016 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF 0.60% August 30, 2016 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First Trust Nasdaq Retail ETF 0.60% August 30, 2016 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF 0.60% August 30, 2016 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF 0.60% August 30, 2016 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF 0.60% August 30, 2016 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF 0.60% August 30, 2016 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
EXHIBIT A
(AS OF AUGUST 30, 2016)
SERIES OF THE TRUST
SERIES EFFECTIVE DATE ---------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund August 10, 2012 Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund August 10, 2012 International Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund August 16, 2013 First Trust High Income ETF January 7, 2014 First Trust Low Beta Income ETF January 7, 2014 First Trust NASDAQ Rising Dividend Achievers ETF January 7, 2014 First Trust RBA Quality Income ETF February 24, 2014 First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance(TM) February 24, 2014 First Trust Dorsey Wright Focus 5 ETF March 4, 2014 First Trust International Dorsey Wright Focus 5 ETF July 17, 2014 First Trust Dorsey Wright Dynamic Focus 5 ETF March 8, 2016 First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF August 30, 2016 First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF August 30, 2016 First Trust Nasdaq Retail ETF August 30, 2016 First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF August 30, 2016 First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF August 30, 2016 First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF August 30, 2016 First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF August 30, 2016 |
APPENDIX A
TO
THE CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND VI
and
BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.
Dated as of August 30, 2016
The following is a list of Funds/Portfolios for which the Custodian shall serve under a Custodian Agreement dated as of August 2, 2012:
Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund International Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund First Trust High Income ETF First Trust Low Beta ETF First Trust NASDAQ Rising Dividend Achievers ETF First Trust Dorsey Wright Focus 5 ETF First Trust RBA Quality Income ETF First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance(TM) ETF First Trust International Dorsey Wright Focus 5 ETF First Trust Dorsey Wright Dynamic Focus 5 ETF First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF First Trust Nasdaq Retail ETF First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this to be executed in its name and on behalf of each such Fund/Portfolio.
FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND VI
BY: /s/ James M. Dykas ---------------------------- NAME: James M. Dykas TITLE: President and CEO DATE: August 30, 2016 |
APPENDIX A
TO
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND VI
and
BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.
Dated as of August 30, 2016
The following is a list of Funds/Portfolios for which the Administrator shall serve under a Administrative Agency Agreement dated as of August 2, 2012:
Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund International Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund First Trust High Income ETF First Trust Low Beta ETF First Trust NASDAQ Rising Dividend Achievers ETF First Trust Dorsey Wright Focus 5 ETF First Trust RBA Quality Income ETF First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance(TM) ETF First Trust International Dorsey Wright Focus 5 ETF First Trust Dorsey Wright Dynamic Focus 5 ETF First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF First Trust Nasdaq Retail ETF First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this to be executed in its name and on behalf of each such Fund/Portfolio.
FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND VI
BY: /s/ James M. Dykas ---------------------------- NAME: James M. Dykas TITLE: President and CEO DATE: August 30, 2016 |
EXHIBIT A
TO THE CMS AUTHORIZATION LETTER
BETWEEN
FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND VI
and
BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.
Dated as of August 30, 2016
The following is a list of Funds / Portfolios that have subscribed to the BBH&Co. Cash Management Service (CMS).
First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund International Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund First Trust High Income ETF First Trust Low Beta ETF First Trust NASDAQ Rising Dividend Achievers ETF First Trust Dorsey Wright Focus 5 ETF First Trust RBA Quality Income ETF First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance(TM) ETF First Trust International Dorsey Wright Focus 5 ETF First Trust Dorsey Wright Dynamic Focus 5 ETF First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF First Trust Nasdaq Retail ETF First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this to be executed in its name and on behalf of each such Fund/Portfolio.
FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND VI
BY: /s/ James M. Dykas ---------------------------- NAME: James M. Dykas TITLE: President and CEO DATE: August 30, 2016 |
August 30, 2016
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
120 E. Liberty Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
Chapman and Cutler LLP
111 West Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60603
Re: First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special Massachusetts counsel to First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI (the "Trust") on behalf of its series First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Retail ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF and First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF (each a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds") in connection with the Trust's Post-Effective Amendment to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about August 30, 2016 (as so amended, the "Registration Statement") with respect to each Fund's shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share (collectively, the "Shares"). You have requested that we deliver this opinion to you in connection with the Trust's filing of such Registration Statement.
In connection with the furnishing of this opinion, we have examined the following documents:
(a) a certificate of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as to the existence of the Trust;
(b) a copy, stamped as filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of the Trust's Declaration of Trust dated as of June 4, 2012 (the "Declaration");
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Chapman and Cutler LLP
August 30, 2016
(c) a copy of Trust's Establishment and Designation of Series of Shares of Beneficial Interest, effective as of March 8, 2016, as filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on March 11, 2016 (the "Designation");
(d) a certificate executed by an appropriate officer of the Trust, certifying as to, and attaching copies of, the Trust's Declaration, Designation, By-Laws, and resolutions adopted by the Trust's Board of Trustees at meetings held on March 6-7, 2016 and July 19, 2016 (the "Resolutions"); and
(e) a draft of the Registration Statement received on July 15, 2016.
In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the conformity to the originals of all of the documents reviewed by us as copies, the authenticity and completeness of all original documents reviewed by us in original or copy form and the legal competence of each individual executing any document. We have also assumed that the Registration Statement, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, will be in substantially the form of filing referred to in paragraph (e) above. We have further assumed that the Trust's Declaration, Designation, By-Laws and the Resolutions will not have been amended, modified or withdrawn with respect to matters relating to the Shares and will be in full force and effect on the date of the issuance of such Shares.
This opinion is based entirely on our review of the documents listed above and such investigation of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate. We have made no other review or investigation of any kind whatsoever, and we have assumed, without independent inquiry, the accuracy of the information set forth in such documents.
As to any opinion below relating to the due formation or existence of the Trust under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, our opinion relies entirely upon and is limited by the certificate of public officials referred to in (a) above.
This opinion is limited solely to the internal substantive laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as applied by courts located in Massachusetts (other than Massachusetts securities laws, as to which we express no opinion), to the extent that the same may apply to or govern the transactions referred to herein. No opinion is given herein as to the choice of law which any tribunal may apply to such transaction. In addition, to the extent that the Trust's Declaration, Designation or By-Laws refer to, incorporate or require compliance with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or any other law or regulation applicable to the Trust, except for the internal substantive laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as aforesaid, we have assumed compliance by the Trust with such Act and such other laws and regulations.
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Chapman and Cutler LLP
August 30, 2016
We understand that all of the foregoing assumptions and limitations are acceptable to you.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, please be advised that it is our opinion that:
1. The Trust has been formed and is existing under the Trust's Declaration of Trust and the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a voluntary association with transferable shares of beneficial interest commonly referred to as a "Massachusetts business trust."
2. The Shares, when issued and sold in accordance with the Resolutions and for the consideration described in the Registration Statement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, except that, as set forth in the Registration Statement, shareholders of the Trust may under certain circumstances be held personally liable for its obligations.
This opinion is given as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update this opinion to reflect any changes in law or any other facts or circumstances which may hereafter come to our attention. We hereby consent to your reliance on this opinion in connection with your opinion to the Trust with respect to the Shares and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In rendering this opinion and giving this consent, we do not concede that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP |
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER LLP 111 WEST MONROE STREET
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60603
August 30, 2016
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have served as counsel for the First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI (the "Trust"), which proposes to offer and sell shares of each of its series (the "Shares") First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Retail ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF and First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF (the "Funds"), in the manner and on the terms set forth in Amendment No. 70 and Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on or about August 30, 2016 (the "Amendment") with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, respectively.
In connection therewith, we have examined such pertinent records and documents and matters of law, including the opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP issued to the Trust or Trust's counsel upon which we have relied as they relate to the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as we have deemed necessary in order to enable us to express the opinion hereinafter set forth.
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
The Shares of the Funds may be issued from time to time in accordance with the Trust's Declaration of Trust dated June 4, 2012 and the Trust's By-Laws, and subject to compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and applicable state laws regulating the sale of securities and the receipt by the Funds of the purchase price of not less than the net asset value per Share, and such Shares, when so issued and sold by the Funds, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable, except
August 30, 2016
that, as set forth in the Amendment, shareholders of the Funds may under certain circumstances be held personally liable for its obligations.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (File No. 333-182308) relating to the Shares referred to above, to the use of our name and to the reference to our firm in said Registration Statement.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Chapman and Cutler LLP --------------------------------- CHAPMAN AND CUTLER LLP |
EXHIBIT A
(AS OF JULY 19, 2016)
FUND EFFECTIVE DATE
First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund August 10, 2012 Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund August 10, 2012 International Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund August 16, 2013 First Trust High Income ETF January 7, 2014 First Trust Low Beta Income ETF January 7, 2014 First Trust NASDAQ Rising Dividend Achievers ETF January 7, 2014 First Trust RBA Quality Income ETF February 24, 2014 First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance(TM) February 24, 2014 First Trust Dorsey Wright Focus 5 ETF March 4, 2014 First Trust International Dorsey Wright Focus 5 ETF July 17, 2014 First Trust Dorsey Wright Dynamic Focus 5 ETF March 8, 2016 First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF August 30, 2016 First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF August 30, 2016 First Trust Nasdaq Retail ETF August 30, 2016 First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF August 30, 2016 First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF August 30, 2016 First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF August 30, 2016 First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF August 30, 2016 |
July 19, 2016
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
120 East Liberty Drive
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
Re: 12b-1 Plan Extension Letter for First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI (the "Trust")
Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is hereby acknowledged that First Trust Portfolios L.P. serves as the distributor of the shares of each series of the above-referenced Trust. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), comprised of various exchange-traded funds (each, a "Fund," and, collectively, the "Funds") set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto, which may be amended from time to time.
It is further acknowledged that the Trust has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan (the "Plan") pursuant to Rule l2b-1 under the 1940 Act with respect to the shares of beneficial interest ("Shares") of the Funds. Pursuant to the Plan, each Fund may bear a fee not to exceed 0.25% per annum of such Fund's average daily net assets.
The purpose of this letter agreement is to agree and acknowledge that the Funds shall not pay, and we shall not collect, any fees pursuant to the Plan any time before the date set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto for each Fund.
Very Truly Yours,
FIRST TRUST PORTFOLIOS L.P.
/s/ James M. Dykas --------------------------- James M. Dykas Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer |
AGREED AND ACKNOWLEDGED:
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
/s/ Donald Swade --------------------------- Donald Swade Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer |
EXHIBIT A ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- FUNDS DATES ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- First Trust Exchange Traded Fund VI ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund 01/31/17 ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund 01/31/17 ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- International Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund 01/31/17 ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- First Trust NASDAQ Rising Dividend Achievers ETF 01/31/17 ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- First Trust RBA Quality Income ETF 01/31/17 ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ETF 01/31/17 ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- First Trust Dorsey Wright Focus 5 ETF 01/31/17 ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- First Trust Dorsey Wright International Focus 5 ETF 01/31/17 ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- First Trust High Income ETF 01/31/17 ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- First Trust Low Beta ETF 01/31/17 ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- First Trust Dorsey Wright Dynamic Focus 5 ETF 03/08/18 ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF 08/30/18 ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF 08/30/18 ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- First Trust Nasdaq Retail ETF 08/30/18 ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF 08/30/18 ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF 08/30/18 ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF 08/30/18 ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF 08/30/18 ----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- |