PGIM ACTIVE AGGREGATE BOND ETF
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Ticker Symbol: PAB | Listing Exchange: NYSE Arca, Inc. |
To enroll in e-delivery, go to pgim.com/investments/resource/edelivery
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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved the Fund's shares, nor has the SEC determined that this prospectus is complete or accurate. It is a criminal offense to state otherwise.
Exchange traded funds are distributed by Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (PIMS), member SIPC. PGIM Fixed Income is a unit of PGIM, Inc. (PGIM), a registered investment adviser. PIMS and PGIM are Prudential Financial companies. © 2021 Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities. The Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide.
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Number of Years You Own Shares
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1 Year
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3 Years
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$19 | $61 |
Visit our website at www.pgim.com/investments | 3 |
4 | PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF |
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Investment Manager
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Subadviser
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Portfolio Managers
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Title
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Service Date
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PGIM Investments LLC | PGIM Fixed Income | Richard Piccirillo | Managing Director | April 2021 |
Lindsay Rosner, CFA | Vice President | April 2021 | ||
Stewart Wong, CLU, ChFC | Managing Director | April 2021 |
8 | PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF |
Visit our website at www.pgim.com/investments | 9 |
10 | PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF |
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12 | PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF |
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Principal Strategies: Investment Limits
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Bonds: At least 80% of investable assets
Derivatives: Up to 25% of net assets
Foreign debt securities (USD denominated): Up to 25% of investable assets
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Certain Non-Principal Strategies: Investment Limits
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Short Sales: Up to 25% of net assets
Illiquid Investments: Up to 15% of net assets
Borrowing: Up to 33
1
⁄
3
% of total assets
Money market instruments: Up to 100% of total assets on a temporary basis
Other Unregistered Structured Products: Up to 5% of total assets
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14 | PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF |
Visit our website at www.pgim.com/investments | 15 |
16 | PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF |
Visit our website at www.pgim.com/investments | 17 |
18 | PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF |
Visit our website at www.pgim.com/investments | 19 |
20 | PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF |
Visit our website at www.pgim.com/investments | 21 |
22 | PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF |
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24 | PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF |
Visit our website at www.pgim.com/investments | 25 |
Expected Distribution Schedule*
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Dividends | Monthly |
Long Term Capital Gains | Annually |
Short Term Capital Gains | Annually |
26 | PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF |
Visit our website at www.pgim.com/investments | 27 |
28 | PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF |
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30 | PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF |
Visit our website at www.pgim.com/investments | 31 |
32 | PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF |
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please read this Prospectus before you invest in the Fund and keep it for future reference. Information on the Fund's net asset value, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads can be found at www.pgiminvestments.com.
For information or shareholder questions contact: |
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MAIL
PGIM Investments LLC
655 Broad Street, 17th Floor Newark NJ 07102
WEBSITE
www.pgiminvestments.com
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TELEPHONE
(888) 247-8090
(973) 802-2093 (from outside the US) |
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E-DELIVERY
You may request e-delivery of Fund documents by contacting your financial intermediary directly or by going to www.icsdelivery.com. Instead of receiving printed documents by mail, you will receive notification via email when new materials are available. You can cancel your enrollment or change your email address at any time by visiting the website address above.
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PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF
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Ticker Symbol
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PAB |
Listing Exchange
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NYSE Arca, Inc. |
ETF1006STAT | The Fund's Investment Company Act File No. 811-23324 |
PGIM ACTIVE AGGREGATE BOND ETF
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Ticker Symbol: PAB
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Listing Exchange:
NYSE Arca, Inc. |
Term
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Definition
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1933 Act | Securities Act of 1933, as amended |
1934 Act | Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended |
1940 Act | Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended |
1940 Act Laws, Interpretations and Exemptions | Exemptive order, SEC release, no-action letter or similar relief or interpretations, collectively |
ADR | American Depositary Receipt |
ADS | American Depositary Share |
Board | Fund’s Board of Directors or Trustees |
Board Member | A trustee or director of the Fund’s Board |
CEA | Commodity Exchange Act, as amended |
CFTC | US Commodity Futures Trading Commission |
Code | Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended |
CMO | Collateralized Mortgage Obligation |
ETF | Exchange-Traded Fund |
EDR | European Depositary Receipt |
Exchange | NYSE Arca, Inc. |
Fannie Mae | Federal National Mortgage Association |
FDIC | Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation |
Term
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Definition
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Fitch | Fitch Ratings, Inc. |
Freddie Mac | Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation |
GDR | Global Depositary Receipt |
Ginnie Mae | Government National Mortgage Association |
IPO | Initial Public Offering |
IRS | Internal Revenue Service |
LIBOR | London Interbank Offered Rate |
Manager or PGIM Investments | PGIM Investments LLC |
Moody’s | Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. |
NASDAQ | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations |
NAV | Net Asset Value |
NRSRO | Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization |
NYSE | New York Stock Exchange |
OTC | Over the Counter |
Prudential | Prudential Financial, Inc. |
QPTP | Qualified Publicly Traded Partnership |
REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust |
RIC | Regulated Investment Company, as the term is used in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended |
S&P | S&P Global Ratings |
SEC | US Securities and Exchange Commission |
World Bank | International Bank for Reconstruction and Development |
■ | Junk bonds are issued by less creditworthy issuers. These securities are vulnerable to adverse changes in the issuer's economic condition and to general economic conditions. Issuers of junk bonds may be unable to meet their interest or principal payment obligations because of an economic downturn, specific issuer developments or the unavailability of additional financing. |
■ | The issuers of junk bonds may have a larger amount of outstanding debt relative to their assets than issuers of investment grade bonds. If the issuer experiences financial stress, it may be unable to meet its debt obligations. |
■ | Junk bonds are frequently ranked junior to claims by other creditors. If the issuer cannot meet its obligations, the senior obligations are generally paid off before the junior obligations. |
■ | Junk bonds frequently have redemption features that permit an issuer to repurchase the security from a Fund before it matures. If an issuer redeems the junk bonds, a Fund may have to invest the proceeds in bonds with lower yields and may lose income. |
■ | Prices of junk bonds are subject to extreme price fluctuations. Negative economic developments may have a greater impact on the prices of junk bonds than on other higher rated fixed income securities. |
■ | Junk bonds may be more illiquid than higher rated fixed income securities even under normal economic conditions. There are fewer dealers in the junk bond market, and there may be significant differences in the prices quoted for junk bonds by the dealers. Because they are less liquid, judgment may play a greater role in valuing certain of a Fund’s portfolio securities than in the case of securities trading in a more liquid market. |
■ | A Fund may incur expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon default or to negotiate new terms with a defaulting issuer. |
Interested Board Members
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Name
Year of Birth Position(s) Portfolios Overseen |
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
Other Directorships
Held During Past Five Years |
Length of
Board Service |
Stuart S. Parker
1962 Board Member & President Portfolios Overseen: 95 |
President of PGIM Investments LLC (formerly known as Prudential Investments LLC) (since January 2012); Executive Vice President of Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (since December 2012); formerly Executive Vice President of Jennison Associates LLC and Head of Retail Distribution of PGIM Investments LLC (June 2005-December 2011). | None. | Since January 2012 |
Scott E. Benjamin
1973 Board Member & Vice President Portfolios Overseen: 95 |
Executive Vice President (since May 2009) of PGIM Investments LLC; Vice President (since June 2012) of Prudential Investment Management Services LLC; Executive Vice President (since September 2009) of AST Investment Services, Inc.; Senior Vice President of Product Development and Marketing, PGIM Investments (since February 2006); formerly Vice President of Product Development and Product Management, PGIM Investments LLC (2003-2006). | None. | Since March 2010 |
Fund Officers
(a)
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Name
Year of Birth Fund Position |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years
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Length of
Service as Fund Officer |
Claudia DiGiacomo
1974 Chief Legal Officer |
Chief Legal Officer, Executive Vice President and Secretary of PGIM Investments LLC (since August 2020); Chief Legal Officer of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (since August 2020); Chief Legal Officer of PIFM Holdco, LLC (since August 2020); Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since January 2005) of Prudential; and Corporate Counsel of AST Investment Services, Inc. (since August 2020); formerly Vice President and Assistant Secretary of PGIM Investments LLC (2005-2020); formerly Associate at Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP (1999-2004). | Since December 2005 |
Dino Capasso
1974 Chief Compliance Officer |
Chief Compliance Officer (July 2019-Present) of PGIM Investments LLC; Chief Compliance Officer (July 2019-Present) of the PGIM Funds, Target Funds, Advanced Series Trust, The Prudential Series Fund, Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc., PGIM Global High Yield Fund, Inc., and PGIM High Yield Bond Fund, Inc.; Vice President and Deputy Chief Compliance Officer (June 2017-2019) of PGIM Investments LLC; formerly, Senior Vice President and Senior Counsel (January 2016-June 2017), and Vice President and Counsel (February 2012-December 2015) of Pacific Investment Management Company LLC. | Since July 2019 |
Andrew R. French
1962 Secretary |
Vice President (since December 2018 - present) of PGIM Investments LLC; Formerly, Vice President and Corporate Counsel (2010-2018) of Prudential; formerly Director and Corporate Counsel (2006-2010) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since January 2007) of PGIM Investments LLC; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since January 2007) of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC. | Since October 2006 |
Diana N. Huffman
1982 Assistant Secretary |
Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since September 2015) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since August 2020) of PGIM Investments LLC; formerly Associate at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (2009-2015). | Since March 2019 |
Melissa Gonzalez
1980 Assistant Secretary |
Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since September 2018) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since August 2020) of PGIM Investments LLC; formerly Director and Corporate Counsel (March 2014-September 2018) of Prudential. | Since March 2020 |
Patrick E. McGuinness
1986 Assistant Secretary |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since August 2020) of PGIM Investments LLC; Director and Corporate Counsel (since February 2017) of Prudential; and Corporate Counsel (2012 – 2017) of IIL, Inc. | Since June 2020 |
Debra Rubano
1975 Assistant Secretary |
Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since November 2020) of Prudential; formerly Director and Senior Counsel of Allianz Global Investors U.S. Holdings LLC (2010-2020) and Assistant Secretary of numerous funds in the Allianz fund complex (2015-2020). | Since December 2020 |
Kelly A. Coyne
1968 Assistant Secretary |
Director, Investment Operations of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (since 2010). | Since March 2015 |
Fund Officers
(a)
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Name
Year of Birth Fund Position |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years
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Length of
Service as Fund Officer |
Christian J. Kelly
1975 Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer |
Vice President, Head of Fund Administration of PGIM Investments LLC (since November 2018); formerly, Director of Fund Administration of Lord Abbett & Co. LLC (2009-2018), Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer of the Lord Abbett Family of Funds (2017-2018); Director of Accounting, Avenue Capital Group (2008-2009); Senior Manager, Investment Management Practice of Deloitte & Touche LLP (1998-2007). | Since January 2019 |
Lana Lomuti
1967 Assistant Treasurer |
Vice President (since 2007) and Director (2005-2007), within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; formerly Assistant Treasurer (December 2007-February 2014) of The Greater China Fund, Inc. | Since April 2014 |
Russ Shupak
1973 Assistant Treasurer |
Vice President (since 2017) and Director (2013-2017), within PGIM Investments Fund Administration. | Since September 2019 |
Deborah Conway
1969 Assistant Treasurer |
Vice President (since 2017) and Director (2007-2017), within PGIM Investments Fund Administration. | Since September 2019 |
Elyse M. McLaughlin
1974 Assistant Treasurer |
Vice President (since 2017) and Director (2011-2017), within PGIM Investments Fund Administration. | Since September 2019 |
Jonathan Corbett
1983 Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer |
Vice President, Corporate Compliance, Global Compliance Programs and Compliance Risk Management since (since August 2019) of Prudential; formerly, Vice President and Head of Key Risk Areas Compliance (March 2016 to July 2019), Chief Privacy Officer (March 2016 to July 2019) and head of Global Financial Crimes Unit (April 2014 to March 2016) at MetLife. | Since April 2021 |
■ | Board Members are deemed to be “Interested,” as defined in the 1940 Act, by reason of their affiliation with PGIM Investments LLC and/or an affiliate of PGIM Investments LLC. |
■ | Unless otherwise noted, the address of all Board Members and Officers is c/o PGIM Investments LLC, 655 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102-4410. |
■ | There is no set term of office for Board Members or Officers. The Board Members have adopted a retirement policy, which calls for the retirement of Board Members on December 31 of the year in which they reach the age of 75. |
■ | “Other Directorships Held” includes all directorships of companies required to register or file reports with the SEC under the 1934 Act (that is, “public companies”) or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act. |
■ | “Portfolios Overseen” includes all investment companies managed by PGIM Investments LLC. The investment companies for which PGIM Investments LLC serves as manager include the PGIM Funds, The Prudential Variable Contract Accounts, PGIM ETF Trust, PGIM High Yield Bond Fund, Inc., PGIM Global High Yield Fund, Inc., PGIM Short Duration High Yield Opportunities Fund, The Prudential Series Fund, Prudential's Gibraltar Fund, Inc. and the Advanced Series Trust. |
■ | As used in the Fund Officers table “Prudential” means The Prudential Insurance Company of America. |
Name |
Aggregate Fiscal Year
Compensation from the Funds*** |
Pension or Retirement Benefits
Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses |
Estimated Annual Benefits
Upon Retirement |
Total Compensation from Funds
and Fund Complex for Most Recent Calendar Year |
Compensation Received by Independent Board Members
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Ellen S. Alberding** | $500 | None | None | $329,000 (33/95)* |
Kevin J. Bannon | $500 | None | None | $312,000 (33/95)* |
Board Committee Meetings (for most recently completed fiscal year)
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Audit Committee
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Nominating & Governance Committee
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Dryden & Gibraltar Investment Committees
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6 | 4 | 4 |
■ | Expenses of any subadviser of the Funds, the Funds’ transfer agent, registrar, distributor, depository, dividend disbursing agent, securities lending agent, any index calculation, maintenance or dissemination agent, accounting services provider, and the agent responsible for calculating the current value of portfolio positions for dissemination during the business day; |
■ | All fees and expenses of the Custodian that relate to the Funds, including (i) the custodial function and the recordkeeping connected therewith, (ii) preparing and maintaining the general accounting records of the Funds, and (iii) the pricing or valuation of the shares of the Funds; |
■ | Expenses of obtaining quotations for calculating the value of the Funds’ net assets and expenses relating to the computation of the Funds’ net asset value; |
■ | Expenses of maintaining the Funds’ tax records; |
■ | Recordkeeping fees and expenses for shareholder accounts; |
■ | Costs and/or fees, including legal fees, incident to the preparation, printing and distribution of the Funds’ product descriptions (unless such expenses are paid for pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan or related agreement), notices and reports of each Fund to its shareholders and other related communications of each Fund to its shareholders (other than those that are paid by the Funds), the expenses of preparing, setting in print, printing and distributing prospectuses and statements of additional information and any supplements thereto (unless such expenses are paid for pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan or related agreement), the filing of reports with regulatory bodies, the maintenance of each Fund’s existence and qualification to do business, and the expenses of issuing, redeeming, registering and qualifying for sale, shares with federal and state securities authorities; |
■ | Any licensing fees necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Funds; |
■ | Any costs related to the use of any index for which an affiliated person, or an affiliated person of an affiliated person, of the Trust, Funds, Manager, any subadviser, the distributor or promoter of the Fund serves as index provider, as such may be required by the 1940 Act or any exemptive relief relied upon under the 1940 Act; |
■ | The Funds’ ordinary legal fees, including fees that arise in the ordinary course of business in connection with listing shares of the Funds on a securities exchange; |
■ | Fees and expenses of independent accountants for the Funds; |
■ | Costs of printing certificates (if any) representing shares of the Funds; |
■ | Each Fund’s pro rata portion of the fidelity bond or other insurance premiums; |
■ | Association membership dues; |
■ | Organizational and offering expenses, and any other expenses which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
■ | Fees and expenses of Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust within the meaning of the Investment Company Act; and |
■ | Salaries and expenses of all employees of the Trust and the Manager. |
■ | Taxes (including, but not limited to, income, excise, stamp, transfer and withholding taxes) and governmental fees, if any, levied against the Fund; |
■ | Brokerage fees, commissions and other portfolio transaction expenses incurred for the Funds, including acquired fund fees and expenses and expenses of other pooled investment vehicles and expenses relating to creation and redemption transactions; |
■ | Costs, including the interest expenses and any loan commitment or other associated fees, of borrowing money; |
■ | Expenses incurred pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan or related agreement, including distribution fees; |
■ | Expenses incident to meetings of each Fund’s shareholders and the associated preparation, filing and mailing of associated notices and proxy statements; and |
■ | Extraordinary expenses, including extraordinary legal expenses, as may arise including expenses incurred in connection with litigation, investigations, regulatory inquiries, proceedings, other claims and the legal obligations of the Funds to indemnify its Trustees, officers, employees, shareholders, distributors, the Manager, and agents with respect thereto; and |
■ | The management fee payable to PGIM Investments. |
Management Fees Received by PGIM Investments
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2020
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2019
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2018*
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Gross Fee | $1,324,911 | $370,018 | $20,334 |
Amount Waived/Reimbursed by PGIM Investments | None | $(284) | $(314) |
Net Fee | $1,324,911 | $369,734 | $20,020 |
Management Fees Received by PGIM Investments
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2020
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2019*
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2018
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Gross Fee | $155,645 | $131,051 | N/A |
Management Fees Received by PGIM Investments
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2020
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2019*
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2018
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Amount Waived/Reimbursed by PGIM Investments | None | $(994) | N/A |
Net Fee | $155,645 | $130,057 | N/A |
Subadvisory Fees Paid by PGIM Investments
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2020
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2019
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2018*
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$662,456 | $184,779 | $9,851 |
PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF
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Subadviser
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Portfolio Managers
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Registered Investment
Companies/Total Assets |
Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles/ Total Assets |
Other Accounts/
Total Assets |
PGIM Fixed Income* | Robert Cignarella, CFA | 29/$33,554,106,472 | 30/$8,001,912,964 |
114/$15,448,965,222
8/$1,491,439,868
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Robert Spano, CFA, CPA | 29/$33,272,800,265 | 30/$8,001,912,964 |
114/$15,448,965,222
8/$1,491,439,868
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Ryan Kelly, CFA | 29/$33,272,800,265 | 30/$8,001,912,964 |
114/$15,448,965,222
8/$1,491,439,868
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Brian Clapp, CFA | 29/$33,272,800,265 | 30/$8,001,912,964 |
114/$15,448,965,222
8/$1,491,439,868
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Daniel Thorogood, CFA | 29/$33,272,800,265 | 30/$8,001,912,964 |
114/$15,448,965,222
8/$1,491,439,868
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PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF
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Subadviser
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Portfolio Managers
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Registered Investment
Companies/Total Assets** |
Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles/ Total Assets** |
Other Accounts/
Total Assets** |
PGIM Fixed Income* | Richard Piccirillo** | 31/$91,946,687,863 |
16/$28,005,720,586
1/$1,128,559,806
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102/$61,316,620,000
4/$1,334,274,939
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Lindsay Rosner, CFA** | 22/$18,551,540,680 | 6/$7,761,193,309 |
34/$24,019,320,711
3/$632,788,045
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Stewart Wong, CLU,ChFC** | 18/$6,108,612,850 |
13/$11,899,810,444
6/$4,347,938,485
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107/$14,612,786,560
4/$125,557,299
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1. | business initiatives; |
2. | the number of investment professionals receiving a bonus and related peer group compensation; |
3. | financial metrics of the business relative to those of appropriate peer groups; and |
4. | investment performance of portfolios: (i) relative to appropriate peer groups; and/or (ii) as measured against relevant investment indices. |
■ |
POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
Like other investment advisers, PGIM Fixed Income is subject to various conflicts of interest in the ordinary course of its business. PGIM Fixed Income strives to identify potential risks, including conflicts of interest, that are inherent in its business, and PGIM Fixed Income conducts annual conflict of interest reviews. When actual or potential conflicts of interest are identified, PGIM Fixed Income seeks to address such conflicts through one or more of the following methods:
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■ | elimination of the conflict; |
■ | disclosure of the conflict; or |
■ | management of the conflict through the adoption of appropriate policies, procedures or other mitigants. |
■ | Performance Fees - PGIM Fixed Income manages accounts with asset-based fees alongside accounts with performance-based fees. This side-by-side management may be deemed to create an incentive for PGIM Fixed Income and its investment professionals to favor one account over another. Specifically, PGIM Fixed Income or its affiliates could be considered to have the incentive to favor accounts for which PGIM Fixed Income or an affiliate receives performance fees, and possibly take greater investment risks in those accounts, in order to bolster performance and increase its fees. |
■ | Affiliated accounts - PGIM Fixed Income manages accounts on behalf of its affiliates as well as unaffiliated accounts. PGIM Fixed Income could be considered to have an incentive to favor accounts of affiliates over others. |
■ | Large accounts/higher fee strategies - large accounts and clients typically generate more revenue than do smaller accounts or clients and certain of PGIM Fixed Income’s strategies have higher fees than others. As a result, a portfolio manager could be considered to have an incentive when allocating scarce investment opportunities to favor accounts that pay a higher fee or generate more income for PGIM Fixed Income. |
■ | Long only and long/short accounts - PGIM Fixed Income manages accounts that only allow it to hold securities long as well as accounts that permit short selling. PGIM Fixed Income may, therefore, sell, and has at times sold, a security short in some client accounts while holding the same security long in other client accounts. These short sales could reduce the value of the securities held in the long only accounts. In addition, purchases for long only accounts could have a negative impact on the short positions. |
■ | Securities of the same kind or class - PGIM Fixed Income sometimes buys or sells, or direct or recommend that a client buy or sell, securities of the same kind or class that are purchased or sold for another client at prices that may be different. Although such pricing differences could appear as preferences for one client over another, PGIM Fixed Income’s trade execution in each case is driven by its consideration of a variety of factors as PGIM Fixed Income seeks the most advantageous terms reasonably attainable in the circumstances. PGIM Fixed Income may also, at any time, execute, and has at times executed, trades of securities of the same kind or class in one direction for an account and in the opposite direction for another account, or not trade such securities in any other account. While such trades (or a decision not to trade) could appear as inconsistencies in how PGIM Fixed Income views a security for one client versus another, opposite way trades are generally due to differences in investment strategy, portfolio composition or client direction. |
■ | Investment at different levels of an issuer’s capital structure - PGIM Fixed Income may invest, and has at times invested, client assets in the same issuer, but at different levels in the issuer’s capital structure. For instance, PGIM Fixed Income may invest, and has at times invested, client assets in private securities or loans of an issuer and invest the assets of other clients in publicly traded securities of the same issuer. In addition, PGIM Fixed Income may invest, and has at times invested, client assets in a class or tranche of securities of a securitized finance vehicle (such as a collateralized loan obligation, asset-backed security or mortgage-backed security) where PGIM Fixed Income also, at the same or different time, invests the assets of another client (including affiliated clients) in a different class or tranche of securities of the same vehicle. These different securities may have different voting rights, dividend or repayment priorities, rights in bankruptcy or other features that conflict with one another. For some of these securities (particularly private securitized product investments for which clients own all or a significant portion of the outstanding securities or obligations), PGIM Fixed Income may have, and has had, input regarding the characteristics and the relative rights and priorities of the various classes or tranches. |
■ | When PGIM Fixed Income invests client assets in different levels of an issuer’s capital structure, it is permitted to take actions with respect to the assets held by one client (including affiliated clients) that are potentially adverse to other clients, for example, by foreclosing on loans or by putting an issuer into default. In negotiating the terms and conditions of any such investments, or any subsequent amendments or waivers, PGIM Fixed Income may find that the interests of a client and the interests of one or more other clients (including affiliated clients) could conflict. In these situations, decisions over proxy voting, corporate reorganizations, how to exit an investment, bankruptcy matters (including, for example, whether to trigger an event of default or the terms of any workout) or other actions or inactions may result in conflicts of interest. Similarly, if an issuer in which a client and one or more other clients directly or indirectly hold different classes of securities encounters financial problems, decisions over the terms of any workout will raise conflicts of interest (including potential conflicts over proposed waivers and amendments to debt covenants). For example, a senior bond holder may prefer a liquidation of the issuer in which it may be paid in full, whereas an equity or junior bond holder might prefer a reorganization that holds the potential to create value for the equity holders or junior bond holders. In some cases, PGIM Fixed Income may refrain, and has at times refrained, from taking certain actions or making investments on behalf of certain clients or PGIM Fixed Income may sell, and has at times sold, investments for certain clients, in each case in order to mitigate conflicts of interest or legal, regulatory or other risks to PGIM Fixed Income. This could potentially disadvantage the clients on whose behalf the actions are not taken, investments are not made, or investments are sold. Conversely, in other cases, PGIM Fixed Income will not refrain, and has at times not refrained, from taking actions or making investments on behalf of some clients (including affiliated clients), which could potentially disadvantage other clients. Any of the foregoing conflicts of interest will be resolved on a case-by-case basis. Any such resolution will take into consideration the interests of the relevant clients, the circumstances giving rise to the conflict and applicable laws. |
■ | Financial interests of investment professionals - PGIM Fixed Income investment professionals from time to time invest in certain investment vehicles that it manages, including ETFs, mutual funds and collective investment trusts. Also, certain of these investment vehicles are options under the 401(k) and deferred compensation plans offered by Prudential Financial, Inc. In addition, the value of grants under PGIM Fixed Income’s long-term incentive plan and targeted long-term incentive plan is affected by the performance of certain client accounts. As a result, PGIM Fixed Income investment professionals have financial interests in accounts managed by PGIM Fixed Income or that are related to the performance of certain client accounts. |
■ | Non-discretionary/limited discretion accounts - PGIM Fixed Income provides non-discretionary investment advice to some clients and manages others on a discretionary basis. Trades in non-discretionary accounts or accounts where discretion is limited could occur before, in concert with, or after PGIM Fixed Income executes similar trades in its discretionary accounts. The non-discretionary/limited discretion clients may be disadvantaged if PGIM Fixed Income delivers investment advice to them after it initiates trading for the discretionary clients, or vice versa. |
■ | In keeping with PGIM Fixed Income’s fiduciary obligations, its policy with respect to trade aggregation and allocation is to treat all of its client accounts fairly and equitably over time. PGIM Fixed Income’s trade management oversight committee, which generally meets quarterly, is responsible for providing oversight with respect to trade aggregation and allocation. Its compliance group periodically reviews a sampling of new issue allocations and related documentation to confirm compliance with the trade aggregation and allocation procedures. In addition, the compliance and investment risk management groups review forensic reports regarding new issue and secondary trade activity on a quarterly basis. This forensic analysis includes such data as the: (i) number of new issues allocated in the strategy; (ii) size of new issue allocations to each portfolio in the strategy; (iii) profitability of new issue transactions; (iv) portfolio turnover; and (v) metrics related to large and block trade activity. The results of these analyses are reviewed and discussed at PGIM Fixed Income’s trade management oversight committee meetings. The procedures above are designed to detect patterns and anomalies in PGIM Fixed Income’s side-by-side management and trading so that it may assess and improve its processes. |
■ | PGIM Fixed Income has procedures that specifically address its side-by-side management of certain long/short and long only portfolios. These procedures address potential conflicts that could arise from differing positions between long/short and long only portfolios. In addition, lending opportunities with respect to securities for which the market is demanding a slight premium rate over normal market rates are allocated to long only accounts prior to allocating the opportunities to long/short accounts. |
■ |
Conflicts Related to Investment of Client Assets in Affiliated Funds
. PGIM Fixed Income invests, and may in the future invest, client assets in funds that it manages or subadvises for an affiliate. PGIM Fixed Income also invests cash collateral from securities lending transactions in these funds. These investments benefit both PGIM Fixed Income and its affiliate.
|
■ |
Insurance Affiliate General Accounts
. Because of the substantial size of the general accounts of PGIM Fixed Income’s affiliated insurance companies (the “Insurance Affiliates”), trading by these general accounts, including PGIM Fixed Income’s trades on behalf of the accounts, may affect the market prices or limit the availability of the securities or instruments transacted. Although PGIM Fixed Income does not expect that the general accounts of affiliated insurers will execute transactions that will move a market frequently, and generally only in response to unusual market or issuer events, the execution of these transactions could have an adverse effect on transactions for or positions held by other clients.
|
■ | PGIM Fixed Income invests in the securities of one or more clients for the accounts of other clients. |
■ | PGIM Fixed Income’s affiliates sell various products and/or services to certain companies whose securities PGIM Fixed Income purchases and sells for PGIM Fixed Income clients. |
■ | PGIM Fixed Income invests in the debt securities of companies whose equity is held by its affiliates. |
■ | PGIM Fixed Income’s affiliates hold public and private debt and equity securities of a large number of issuers. PGIM Fixed Income invests in some of the same issuers for other client accounts but at different levels in the capital structure. For example: |
■ |
Affiliated accounts have held and can in the future hold the senior debt of an issuer whose subordinated debt is held by PGIM Fixed Income’s clients or hold secured debt of an issuer whose public unsecured debt is held in client accounts. See “
Investment at different levels of an issuer’s capital structure
|
■ | To the extent permitted by applicable law, PGIM Fixed Income can also invest client assets in offerings of securities, the proceeds of which are used to repay debt obligations held in affiliated accounts or other client accounts. PGIM Fixed Income’s interest in having the debt repaid creates a conflict of interest. PGIM Fixed Income has adopted a refinancing policy to address this conflict. |
■ | Certain of PGIM Fixed Income’s affiliates (as well as directors or officers of its affiliates) are officers or directors of issuers in which PGIM Fixed Income invests from time to time. These issuers may also be service providers to PGIM Fixed Income or its affiliates. |
■ | In addition, PGIM Fixed Income can invest client assets in securities backed by commercial mortgage loans that were originated or are serviced by an affiliate. |
■ | it provides advisory services to the proprietary accounts of investment consultants and/or their affiliates, and advisory services to funds offered by investment consultants and/or their affiliates; |
■ | it invites investment consultants to events or other entertainment hosted by PGIM Fixed Income; |
■ | it purchases software applications, market data, access to databases, technology services and other products or services from certain investment consultants; and |
■ | it may pay for the opportunity to participate in conferences organized by investment consultants. |
Securities Lending Activities
|
|||
|
PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF
|
PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF
|
PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF*
|
Gross income from securities lending activities |
$
|
$
|
N/A |
Fees and/or compensation for securities lending activities and related services | |||
Fees paid to securities lending agent from a revenue split |
$
|
$
|
N/A |
Fees paid for any cash collateral management service (including fees deducted from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle) |
$
|
$
|
N/A |
Administrative fees not included in revenue split |
$
|
$
|
N/A |
Indemnification fee not included in revenue split |
$
|
$
|
N/A |
Rebate (paid to borrower) | $(4,830) | $(10,021) | N/A |
Other fees not included in revenue split (specify) |
$
|
$
|
N/A |
Aggregate fees/compensation for securities lending activities | $(5,346) | $(10,639) | N/A |
Net income from securities lending activities |
$
|
$
|
N/A |
Fees Paid to BBH
|
|
Amount
|
|
PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF | $340,773 |
PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF | $179,901 |
PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF* | N/A |
Payments Received by Distributor: PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF
|
|
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE (12b-1) FEES | N/A |
Payments Received by Distributor: PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF
|
|
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE (12b-1) FEES | N/A |
Payments Received by Distributor: PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF
|
|
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE (12b-1) FEES | N/A |
Amounts Spent by the Distributor: PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF
|
|||
Printing & Mailing
Prospectuses to Other than Current Shareholders |
Compensation to Broker/Dealers for
Commissions to Representatives and Other Expenses* |
Overhead Costs**
|
Total Amount
Spent by Distributor |
None | None | None | None |
Brokerage Commissions Paid by the PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF
|
|||
2020
|
2019
|
2018*
|
|
Total brokerage commissions paid by the Fund | None | None | None |
Total brokerage commissions paid to affiliated brokers | None | None | None |
Percentage of total brokerage commissions paid to affiliated brokers | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Percentage of the aggregate dollar amount of portfolio transactions involving the payment of commissions to affiliated brokers | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Brokerage Commissions Paid by the PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF
|
|||
2020
|
2019*
|
2018
|
|
Total brokerage commissions paid by the Fund | None | None | None |
Total brokerage commissions paid to affiliated brokers | None | None | None |
Percentage of total brokerage commissions paid to affiliated brokers | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Percentage of the aggregate dollar amount of portfolio transactions involving the payment of commissions to affiliated brokers | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Brokerage Commissions Paid by the PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF
|
|||
2020*
|
2019*
|
2018*
|
|
Total brokerage commissions paid by the Fund | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Total brokerage commissions paid to affiliated brokers | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Percentage of total brokerage commissions paid to affiliated brokers | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Percentage of the aggregate dollar amount of portfolio transactions involving the payment of commissions to affiliated brokers | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Broker-Dealer Securities Holdings
|
||
Broker-Dealer Name
|
Equity or Debt
|
Amount
|
PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF
|
||
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. | Debt | $3,615,294 |
CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC | Debt | $5,007,062 |
Goldman Sachs & Co, LLC | Debt | $4,149,172 |
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC | Debt | $3,171,920 |
Broker-Dealer Securities Holdings
|
||
Broker-Dealer Name
|
Equity or Debt
|
Amount
|
PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF
|
||
None | None | None |
PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF
|
||
None | None | None |
Portfolio Turnover Rate
|
||
Fund name
|
2020
|
2019
|
PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF | 47% | 7% |
PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF | 57% | 55% |
PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF | N/A | N/A |
Current Series of the Trust
|
||
Name
|
Date Established
|
Date Operations Commenced
|
PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF | December 7, 2017 | April 5, 2018 |
PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF | June 20, 2018 | September 24, 2018 |
PGIM QMA Strategic Alpha International Equity ETF | June 20, 2018 | December 4, 2018 |
PGIM QMA Strategic Alpha Large-Cap Core ETF | June 20, 2018 | October 17, 2018 |
PGIM QMA Strategic Alpha Small-Cap Growth ETF | June 20, 2018 | November 13, 2018 |
PGIM QMA Strategic Alpha Small-Cap Value ETF | June 20, 2018 | November 13, 2018 |
PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF | January 26, 2021 | April 12, 2021 |
Fund
|
Approximate Value
of a Creation Unit |
Size of a
Creation Unit |
Fixed
Transaction Fee |
Maximum Additional
Charge for Creations* |
Maximum Additional
Charge for Redemptions* |
PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF | $1,250,000 | 25,000 shares | $600.00 | 3.00% | 2.00% |
PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF | $1,000,000 | 25,000 shares | $2,000.00 | 3.00% | 2.00% |
PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF | $1,250,000 | 25,000 shares | $2,000.00 | 3.00% | 2.00% |
* | As a percentage of the NAV per Creation Unit, inclusive, in the case of redemptions, of the fixed redemption transaction fee. |
■ | A request for release of portfolio holdings shall be prepared setting forth a legitimate business purpose for such release which shall specify the Fund(s), the terms of such release, and frequency (e.g., level of detail, staleness). Such request shall address whether there are any conflicts of interest between the Fund and the investment adviser, subadviser, principal underwriter or any affiliated person thereof and how such conflicts shall be dealt with to demonstrate that the disclosure is in the best interest of the shareholders of the Fund(s). |
■ | The request shall be forwarded to PGIM Investments’ Product Development Group and to the Chief Compliance Officer or his delegate for review and approval. |
■ | A confidentiality agreement in the form approved by a Fund officer must be executed by the recipient of the portfolio holdings. |
■ | A Fund officer shall approve the release and the agreement. Copies of the release and agreement shall be sent to PGIM Investments’ Law Department. |
■ | Written notification of the approval shall be sent by such officer to PGIM Investments’ Fund Administration Group to arrange the release of portfolio holdings. |
■ | PGIM Investments’ Fund Administration Group shall arrange the release by the Custodian Bank. |
■ | Full holdings on a daily basis to Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), Broadridge and Glass, Lewis & Co. (proxy voting administrator/agents) at the end of each day; |
■ | Full holdings on a daily basis to ISS (securities class action claims administrator) at the end of each day; |
■ | Full holdings on a daily basis to a Fund's subadviser(s), Custodian Bank, sub-custodian (if any) and accounting agents (which includes the Custodian Bank and any other accounting agent that may be appointed) at the end of each day. When a Fund has more than one subadviser, each subadviser receives holdings information only with respect to the “sleeve” or segment of the Fund for which the subadviser has responsibility; |
■ | Full holdings to a Fund's independent registered public accounting firm as soon as practicable following the Fund's fiscal year-end or on an as-needed basis; |
■ | Full holdings to a Fund’s counsel on an as-needed basis; |
■ | Full holdings to counsel to a Fund’s independent board members on an as-needed basis; and |
■ | Full holdings to financial printers as soon as practicable following the end of a Fund's quarterly, semi-annual and annual period-ends. |
■ | Fund trades on a quarterly basis to Abel/Noser Corp. (an agency-only broker and transaction cost analysis company) as soon as practicable following a Fund's fiscal quarter-end; |
■ | Full holdings on a daily basis to FactSet Research Systems, Inc. (investment research provider) at the end of each day; |
■ | Full holdings on a daily basis to FT Interactive Data (a fair value information service) at the end of each day; |
■ | Full holdings on a quarterly basis to Frank Russell Company (investment research provider) when made available; |
■ | Full holdings on a monthly basis to Fidelity Advisors (wrap program provider) approximately five days after the end of each month (PGIM Jennison Growth Fund and certain other selected PGIM Funds only); |
■ | Full holdings on a daily basis to ICE (InterContinental Exchange), IHS Markit and Thompson Reuters (securities valuation); |
■ | Full holdings on a daily basis to Standard & Poor’s Corporation (securities valuation); |
■ | Full holdings on a monthly basis to FX Transparency (foreign exchange/transaction analysis) when made available. |
■ | Amortization schedule-the longer the final maturity relative to other maturities the more likely it will be treated as a note. |
■ | Source of payment-the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note. |
Name and Principal Business Address
|
Positions and Offices with Underwriter
|
Positions and Offices with Registrant
|
||
Adam Scaramella
(1)
|
President | N/A | ||
Monica Oswald
(3)
|
Executive Vice President | N/A | ||
Stuart S. Parker
(2)
|
Executive Vice President |
Board Member and
President |
||
Scott E. Benjamin
(2)
|
Vice President |
Board Member and
Vice President |
||
Francine Boucher
(1)
|
Senior Vice President, Chief
Legal Officer and Secretary |
N/A | ||
Peter J. Boland
(2)
|
Senior Vice President
and Chief Administrative Officer |
N/A | ||
John N. Christolini
(3)
|
Senior Vice President and Co-Chief Compliance Officer | N/A | ||
Jaynthi K Gandhi
(2)
|
Senior Vice President
and Chief Compliance Officer |
N/A | ||
Robert Smit
(2)
|
Senior Vice President, Comptroller
and Chief Financial Officer |
N/A | ||
Hansjerg Schlenker
(2)
|
Senior Vice President and
Chief Operations Officer |
N/A | ||
Lenore J Paoli
(3)
|
Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer | N/A | ||
Peter Puzio
(3)
|
Senior Vice President | N/A |
Name and Principal Business Address
|
Positions and Offices with Underwriter
|
Positions and Offices with Registrant
|
||
Kevin Chaillet
(1)
|
Treasurer | N/A | ||
Jonathan Corbett
(4)
|
Vice President and Anti-Money
Laundering Officer |
Anti-Money Laundering
Compliance Officer |
(1)
|
213 Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102 |
(2)
|
655 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102 |
(3)
|
280 Trumbull Street, Hartford, CT 06103 |
(4)
|
751 Broad Street, Newark NJ, 07102 |
PGIM ETF Trust
|
* |
Stuart S. Parker, President |
Signature
|
Title
|
Date
|
||
*
Ellen S. Alberding |
Trustee | |||
*
Kevin J. Bannon |
Trustee | |||
*
Scott E. Benjamin |
Trustee | |||
*
Linda W. Bynoe |
Trustee | |||
*
Barry H. Evans |
Trustee | |||
*
Keith F. Hartstein |
Trustee | |||
*
Laurie Simon Hodrick |
Trustee | |||
*
Stuart S. Parker |
Trustee and President, Principal Executive Officer | |||
*
Brian K. Reid |
Trustee | |||
*
Grace C. Torres |
Trustee | |||
*
Christian J. Kelly |
Treasurer, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer | |||
*By: /s/ Diana Huffman
Diana Huffman |
Attorney-in-Fact | April 12, 2021 |
/s/ Ellen S. Alberding
Ellen S. Alberding |
/s/ Laurie Simon Hodrick
Laurie Simon Hodrick |
/s/ Kevin J. Bannon
Kevin J. Bannon |
/s/ Christian J. Kelly
Christian J. Kelly |
/s/ Scott E. Benjamin
Scott E. Benjamin |
/s/ Stuart S. Parker
Stuart S. Parker |
/s/ Linda W. Bynoe
Linda W. Bynoe |
/s/ Brian K. Reid
Brian K. Reid |
/s/ Barry H. Evans
Barry H. Evans |
/s/ Grace C. Torres
Grace C. Torres |
/s/ Keith F. Hartstein
Keith F. Hartstein |
|
Dated: January 7, 2021 |
Item 28
Exhibit No. |
Description
|
|
(d)(12) | Management Agreement between the Registrant and PGIM Investments LLC on behalf of PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF. | |
(d)(13) | Management Fee Waiver for PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF. | |
(d)(14) | Subadvisory Agreement between PGIM Investments LLC and PGIM, Inc. on behalf of PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF. | |
(d)(15) | Subadvisory Fee Waiver for PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF. | |
(e)(3) | Amendment to Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Prudential Investment Management Services LLC to add PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF. | |
(g)(3) | Amendment to Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. to add PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF. | |
(h)(4) | Amendment to Administrative and Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. to add PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF. | |
(i)(4) | Opinion and consent of Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell LLP as to the legality of the securities being registered for PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF. | |
(m) | Distribution and Service Plan. |
PGIM ETF TRUST
PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
Agreement made the 1st day of April, 2021, between PGIM ETF Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the Trust), on behalf of its series, the PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF (the Fund), and PGIM Investments LLC, a New York limited liability company (the Manager).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act); and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Manager to render, or contract to obtain as hereinafter provided, investment advisory services to the Trust and the Fund, and the Trust also desires to avail itself of the facilities available to the Manager with respect to the administration of its day-to-day business affairs, and the Manager is willing to render such investment advisory and administrative services;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
1.The Trust hereby appoints the Manager to act as manager of the Fund and as administrator of its business affairs for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Manager accepts such appointment and agrees to render the services herein described, for the compensation herein provided. Subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the Manager is authorized to enter into a subadvisory agreement with PGIM, Inc., or any other subadviser, whether or not affiliated with the Manager (each, a Subadviser), pursuant to which such Subadviser shall furnish to the Fund the investment advisory services in connection with the management of the Fund (each, a Subadvisory Agreement). Subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the Manager is authorized to retain more than one Subadviser for the Fund, and if the Fund has more than one Subadviser, the Manager is authorized to allocate the Fund's assets among the Subadvisers. The Manager will continue to have responsibility for all investment advisory services furnished pursuant to any Subadvisory Agreement. The Trust and the Manager understand and agree that the Manager may manage the Fund in a "manager- of-managers" style with either a single or multiple subadvisers. To the extent applicable to the Trust, the Manager may pursue a manager-of-managers program pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In pursuing a manager-of-managers program it is contemplated that the Manager will, among other things: (i) continually evaluate the performance of each Subadviser to the Fund, if applicable, through quantitative and qualitative analysis and consultations with such Subadviser; (ii) periodically make recommendations to the Board as to whether the contract with one or more Subadvisers should be renewed, modified, or terminated; and (iii) periodically report to the Board regarding the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Trust recognizes that a Subadviser's services may be terminated or modified pursuant to the "manager-of-managers" process, and that the Manager may appoint a new Subadviser for a Subadviser that is so removed.
2.Subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, the Manager shall administer the Fund's business affairs and, in connection therewith, shall furnish the Fund with office facilities and with clerical, bookkeeping and recordkeeping services at such office facilities and, subject to Section 1 hereof and any Subadvisory Agreement, the Manager shall manage the investment operations of the Trust and the Fund and the composition of the Fund's portfolio, including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Fund's investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in the Fund's registration statement, and subject to the following understandings:
(a)The Manager (or a Subadviser under the Manager's supervision) shall provide supervision of the Fund's investments, and shall determine from time to time what investments or securities will be purchased, retained, sold or loaned by the Fund, and what portion of the assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash.
(b)The Manager, in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, shall act in conformity with the Declaration of Trust of the Trust as it may be amended from time to time and the Fund's registration statement and with the instructions and directions of the Board of Trustees, and will conform to and comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In connection therewith, the Manager shall, among other things, prepare and file (or cause to be prepared and filed) such reports as are, or may in the future be, required by the SEC.
(c)The Manager (or the Subadviser under the Manager's supervision) shall determine the securities and other financial instruments to be purchased or sold by the Fund and will place orders pursuant to its determinations with or through such persons, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants in conformity with the policy with respect to brokerage as set forth in the Fund's registration statement or as the Board of Trustees may direct from time to time. In providing the Fund with investment supervision, it is recognized that the Manager (or the Subadviser under the Manager's supervision) will give primary consideration to securing the most favorable price and efficient execution. Consistent with this policy, the Manager (or Subadviser under the Manager's supervision) may consider the financial responsibility, research and investment information and other services provided by brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants who may effect or be a party to any such transaction or other transactions to which other clients of the Manager (or Subadviser) may be a party, the size and difficulty in executing an order, and the value of the expected contribution of the broker-dealer to the investment performance of the Fund on a continuing basis. The Manager (or Subadviser) to the Fund each shall have discretion to effect investment transactions for the Fund through broker-dealers (including, to the extent legally permissible, broker-dealers affiliated with the
Subadviser(s)) qualified to obtain best execution of such transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services, as such services are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended (the 1934 Act), and to cause the Fund to pay any such broker- dealers an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the brokerage or research services provided by such broker-dealer, viewed in light of either that particular investment transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Manager (or the Subadviser) with respect to the Fund and other accounts as to which they or it may exercise investment discretion (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the 1934 Act), are reasonable in relation to the amount of commission.
On occasions when the Manager (or a Subadviser under the Manager's supervision) deems the purchase or sale of a security or other financial instrument to be in the best interest of the Fund as well as other clients of the Manager (or the Subadviser), the Manager (or Subadviser), to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities or other financial instruments to be so sold or purchased in order to obtain the most favorable price or lower brokerage commissions and efficient execution. In such event, allocation of the securities or other financial instruments so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Manager (or the Subadviser) in the manner it considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other clients.
(d)The Manager (or the Subadviser under the Manager's supervision) shall maintain all books and records with respect to the Fund's portfolio transactions and shall render to the Trust's Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Board may reasonably request.
(e)The Manager (or the Subadviser under the Manager's supervision) shall be responsible for the financial and accounting records to be maintained by the Fund (including those being maintained by the Fund's Custodian).
(f)The Manager (or the Subadviser under the Manager's supervision) shall provide the Fund's Custodian on each business day information relating to all transactions concerning the Fund's assets. The Manager (or the Subadviser under the supervision of the Manager) shall determine and make such modifications to the identity and number of shares of the securities or financial instruments or cash in lieu thereof to be accepted in exchange for creation units of the Fund and the securities or financial instruments or cash in lieu thereof that will be applicable that day to redemption requests received by the Fund and facilitate the appropriate dissemination of such information.
(g)The investment management services of the Manager to the Fund under this Agreement are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Manager shall be free to render similar services to others.
(h)The Manager shall make reasonably available its employees and officers for consultation with any of the Trustees or officers or employees of the Trust with respect to any matter discussed herein, including, without limitation, the valuation of the Fund's securities.
3.The Trust has delivered to the Manager copies of each of the following documents and will deliver to it all future amendments and supplements, if any:
(a)Declaration of Trust of the Trust;
(b)By-Laws of the Trust (such By-Laws, as in effect on the date hereof and as amended from time to time, are herein called the "By- Laws");
(c)Certified resolutions of the Board of Trustees of the Trust authorizing the appointment of the Manager and approving the form of this agreement;
(d)Registration Statement under the 1940 Act and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on Form N-1A (the Registration Statement), as filed with the SEC relating to the Trust and the Fund and the Fund's shares of beneficial interest, and all amendments thereto; and
(e)Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Fund.
4.The Manager shall authorize and permit any of its officers and employees who may be elected as Trustees or officers of the Trust to serve in the capacities in which they are elected. All services to be furnished by the Manager under this Agreement may be furnished through the medium of any such officers or employees of the Manager.
5.The Manager shall keep the Fund's books and records required to be maintained by it pursuant to Paragraph 2 hereof. The Manager agrees that all records that it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Fund, and it will surrender promptly to the Fund any such records upon the Fund's request; provided, however, that the Manager may retain a copy of such records. The Manager further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act any such records as are required to be maintained by the Manager pursuant to Paragraph 2 hereof.
6.During the term of this Agreement, the Manager shall bear all fees and expenses, and shall furnish all necessary services, facilities and personnel, in connection with its responsibilities under this Agreement, except such expenses that are assumed by the Fund under Section 7 of this Agreement. In addition, the Manager shall bear the following fees and expenses of the Trust and/or the Fund (as may be required), other than those expenses under Section 7 of this Agreement :
2
(a)Expenses of any Subadviser of the Fund, the Fund's transfer agent, registrar, distributor, depository, dividend disbursing agent, securities lending agent, any index calculation, maintenance or dissemination agent, accounting services provider, and the agent responsible for calculating the current value of the Fund's portfolio positions for dissemination during the business day;
(b)all fees and expenses of the Fund's custodian bank (the Custodian) that relate to the Fund, including (i) the custodial function and the recordkeeping connected therewith, (ii) preparing and maintaining the general accounting records of the Fund and the provision of any such records to the Manager useful to the Manager in connection with the Manager's responsibility for the accounting records of the Fund pursuant to Section 31 of the 1940 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder, and (iii) the pricing or valuation of the shares of the Fund, including the cost of any pricing or valuation service or services which may be retained pursuant to the authorization of the Board of Trustees,
(c) Expenses of obtaining quotations for calculating the value of the Fund's net assets and expenses relating to the computation of the Fund's net asset value;
(d)Expenses of maintaining the Fund's tax records;
(e)Recordkeeping fees and expenses for shareholder accounts;
(f)Costs and/or fees, including legal fees, incident to the preparation, printing and distribution of Fund product descriptions (unless such expenses are paid for pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan or related agreement), notices and reports of the Fund to its shareholders and other related communications of the Fund to its shareholders (other than those that are expenses pursuant to Section 7), the expenses of preparing, setting in print, printing and distributing prospectuses and statements of additional information and any supplements thereto (unless such expenses are paid for pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan or related agreement), the filing of reports with regulatory bodies, the maintenance of the Fund's existence and qualification to do business, and the expenses of issuing, redeeming, registering and qualifying for sale, shares with federal and state securities authorities;
(g)Any licensing fees necessary for the operation of the Trust and the Fund;
(h)Any costs related to the use of any index for which an affiliated person, as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act, or an affiliated person of an affiliated person, of the Trust or a Fund, of the Manager, any Subadviser, the distributor or promoter of the Fund serves as index provider, as such may be required by the 1940 Act or any exemptive relief relied upon under the 1940 Act;
(i) The Fund's ordinary legal fees, including the legal fees that arise in the ordinary course of business for a Delaware statutory trust registered as an open-end management investment company or fees that arise in the ordinary course of business in connection with listing Shares of the Fund on a securities exchange;
(j)Fees and expenses of independent accountants for the Fund;
(k)Costs of printing certificates (if any) representing shares of the Fund;
(l) The Fund's pro rata portion of the fidelity bond required by Section 17(g) of the 1940 Act, or other insurance premiums;
(m)Association membership dues;
(n)Organizational and offering expenses of the Trust and the Fund;
(o)the fees and expenses of Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act; and
(p)the salaries and expenses of all employees of the Trust and the Manager.
7. During the term of this Agreement, the Fund assumes and will pay the expenses described below:
(a)Taxes (including, but not limited to, income, excise, stamp, transfer and withholding taxes) and governmental fees, if any, levied against the Fund;
(b)Brokerage fees, commissions and other portfolio transaction expenses incurred for the Fund, including, without limitation, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (as such term is defined in Form N-1A as promulgated by the SEC) and expenses of other pooled investment vehicles and expenses relating to creation and redemption transactions;
(c)Costs, including the interest expenses and any loan commitment or other associated fees, of borrowing money;
(d)Expenses incurred pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan or related agreement, including distribution fees;
(e)Expenses incident to meetings of the Fund's shareholders and the associated preparation, filing and mailing of associated notices and proxy statements;
(f)Extraordinary expenses, including extraordinary legal expenses, as may arise including expenses incurred in connection with litigation, investigations, regulatory inquiries, proceedings, other claims and the legal obligations of the Fund to indemnify its Trustees, officers, employees, shareholders, distributors, the Manager, and agents with respect thereto; and
(g)The management fee payable to the Manager under this Agreement.
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The payment or assumption by the Manager of any expense of the Trust or the Fund that the Manager is not required by this Agreement to pay or assume shall not obligate the Manager to pay or assume the same or any similar expense of the Trust or the Fund on any subsequent occasion.
8.For the services provided and the expenses assumed pursuant to this Agreement, the Fund will pay to the Manager as full compensation therefore a fee at the annual rate(s) as described on the attached Schedule A with respect to the average daily net assets of the Fund. This fee will be computed daily, and will be paid to the Manager monthly. The Fund shall not pay any fee or other compensation to the Manager for the services provided and the expenses assumed pursuant to this Agreement.
9.The Manager shall not be liable for any error of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services (in which case any award of damages shall be limited to the period and the amount set forth in Section 36(b)(3) of the 1940 Act) or loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
The Fund shall indemnify the Manager and hold it harmless from and against all damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlements) incurred by the Manager in or by reason of any pending, threatened or completed action, suit, investigation or other proceeding (including an action or suit by or in the right of the Fund or its security holders) arising out of or otherwise based upon any action actually or allegedly taken or omitted to be taken by the Manager in connection with the performance of any of its duties or obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall protect or be deemed to protect the Manager against or entitle or be deemed to entitle the Manager to indemnification in respect of any liability to the Fund or its security holders to which the Manager would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of their duties and obligations under this Agreement.
10.This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of more than two years from the date hereof only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated with respect to the Fund 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 (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, or by the Manager at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on not more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' written notice to the Fund. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
11.Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any officer or employee of the Manager who may also be a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any business, whether of a similar or dissimilar nature, nor limit or restrict the right of the Manager to engage in any other business or to render services of any kind to any other corporation, firm, individual or association.
12.Except as otherwise provided herein or authorized by the Board of Trustees of the Trust from time to time, the Manager shall for all purposes herein be deemed to be an independent contractor, and shall have no authority to act for or represent the Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund.
13.During the term of this Agreement, the Fund agrees to furnish the Manager at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy statements, reports to shareholders, sales literature, or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Fund or the public, which refer in any way to the Manager, prior to use thereof and not to use such material if the Manager reasonably objects in writing within five business days (or such other time as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. In the event of termination of this Agreement, the Fund will continue to furnish to the Manager copies of any of the above-mentioned materials which refer in any way to the Manager. Sales literature may be furnished to the Manager hereunder by first-class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment or hand delivery. The Fund shall furnish or otherwise make available to the Manager such other information relating to the business affairs of the Fund as the Manager at any time, or from time to time, reasonably requests in order to discharge its obligations hereunder.
14.This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the consent of the Fund must be obtained in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
15.Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Manager at 655 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102-4410, Attention: Secretary; or
(2) to the Trust at 655 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102-4410, Attention: President.
16.This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the 1940 Act and the laws of the State of New York.
17.The Trust may use the name "PGIM ETF Trust - PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF" or any name including the words "PGIM" or "Prudential" only for so long as this Agreement or any extension, renewal or amendment hereof remains in effect, including any similar agreement with any organization which shall have succeeded to the Manager's business as Manager or any extension, renewal or amendment thereof remain in effect. At such time as such an agreement shall no longer be in effect, the Fund will (to the extent that it lawfully can) cease to use such a name or any other name indicating that it is advised by, managed by or otherwise connected with the Manager, or any organization which shall have so succeeded to such businesses. In no event shall the Trust or the Fund use the name
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"PGIM ETF Trust PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF" or any name including the words "PGIM" or "Prudential" if the Manager's function is transferred or assigned to a company of which Prudential Financial, Inc. and/or The Prudential Insurance Company of America does not have control.
18.A copy of the Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of State of Delaware.
19.Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act, shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States courts or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations or orders of the SEC issued pursuant to the 1940 Act or of guidance published by the staff of the SEC. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected in any provision of this Agreement, is related by rules, regulation or order of the SEC, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year above written.
PGIM ETF TRUST
On behalf of its series, PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF
By: s/Stuart Parker
Name: Stuart Parker
Title: President
PGIM INVESTMENTS LLC
By: s/Scott E. Benjamin
Name: Scott E. Benjamin
Title: Executive Vice President
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SCHEDULE A
Fund |
Annual Fee Rate |
PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF |
0.19% on average daily net assets |
|
|
Schedule dated: April 1, 2021 |
|
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PGIM Investments LLC
655Broad Street 17th Floor Newark, New Jersey 07102
April 1, 2021
The Board of Trustees
PGIM ETF Trust
655Broad Street17th Floor Newark, New Jersey 07102
Re: PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF (the Fund)
To the Board of Trustees:
PGIM Investments LLC (PGIM Investments) has contractually agreed, beginning from the inception of the Fund, to waive any management fees it receives from the Fund in an amount equal to the subadvisory fees paid by the Fund to the PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund due to the Fund's investment of its excess overnight cash in the PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund. This waiver will remain in effect for as long as the Fund remains invested or intends to invest in the PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund.
Very truly yours,
PGIM INVESTMENTS LLC
By: |
s/Scott E. Benjamin |
Name: |
Scott E. Benjamin |
Title: |
Executive Vice President |
PGIM ETF TRUST
PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of this 1st day of April, 2021 between PGIM Investments LLC (PGIM Investments or the Manager), a New York limited liability company, and PGIM, Inc. (PGIM), a New Jersey corporation (the Subadviser).
WHEREAS, the Manager has entered into a Management Agreement (the Management Agreement) dated April 1, 2021 with PGIM ETF Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the Trust) and an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), pursuant to which PGIM Investments acts as Manager of the PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF (the Fund), a series of the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Manager, acting pursuant to the Management Agreement, desires to retain the Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to the Fund and to manage such portion of the Fund as the Manager shall from time to time direct, and the Subadviser is willing to render such investment advisory services; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
1.(a) Subject to the supervision of the Manager and the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the Subadviser shall manage such portion of the Fund's portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser by the Manager, including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Fund's investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in its then current prospectus and statement of additional information (such Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time, being herein called the Prospectus), and subject to the following understandings:
(i)The Subadviser shall provide supervision of such portion of the Fund's investments as the Manager shall direct, and shall determine from time to time what investments and securities will be purchased, retained, sold or loaned by the Fund, and what portion of the assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash or cash equivalents.
(ii)In the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the copies of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust, as amended, the By-laws of the Trust, the Prospectus of the Fund, and the Fund's valuation procedures and any other procedures adopted by the Board applicable to the Fund (and any amendments thereto) as provided to it by the Manager (the Fund Documents) and with the instructions and directions of the Manager and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, co-operate with the Manager's (or its designees') personnel responsible for monitoring the Fund's compliance and will conform to, and comply with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable exchange listing requirements and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In connection therewith, the Subadviser shall, among other things, prepare and file such reports as are, or may in the future be, required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission). The Manager shall provide Subadviser timely with copies of any updated Fund Documents.
(iii)The Subadviser shall determine the securities and other financial instruments to be purchased or sold by such portion of the Fund's portfolio, as applicable, and may place orders with or through such persons, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants (including but not limited to any broker, dealer or futures commission merchants affiliated with the Manager or the Subadviser) to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage as set forth in the Fund's Prospectus or as the Board of Trustees may direct in writing from time to time. In providing the Fund with investment supervision, it is recognized that the Subadviser will give primary consideration to securing the most favorable price and efficient execution. Within the framework of this policy, the Subadviser may consider the financial responsibility, research and investment information and other services provided by brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants who may effect or be a party to any such transaction or other transactions to which the Subadviser's other clients may be a party. The Manager (or Subadviser) to the Fund each shall have discretion to effect investment transactions for the Fund through broker-dealers (including, to the extent legally permissible, broker-dealers affiliated with the Manager or Subadviser) qualified to obtain best execution of such transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services, as such services are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), and to cause the Fund to pay any such broker-dealers an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the brokerage or research services provided by such broker-dealer, viewed in light of either that particular investment transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Manager (or the
Subadviser) with respect to the Fund and other accounts as to which they or it may exercise investment discretion (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the 1934 Act), are reasonable in relation to the amount of commission. Pursuant to the rules promulgated under Section 326 of the USA Patriot Act, broker-dealers are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account with them. In accordance therewith, broker-dealers whom the Subadviser selects to execute transactions in the Fund's account may seek identifying information about the Fund.
On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security or other financial instrument to be in the best interest of the Fund as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities or other financial instruments to be sold or purchased. In such event, allocation of the securities or other financial instruments so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser consider to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other clients.
(iv)The Subadviser shall maintain all books and records with respect to the Fund's portfolio transactions effected by it as required by subparagraphs (b)(5), (6), (7), (9), (10) and (11) and paragraph (f) of Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, and shall render to the Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Trustees may reasonably request. The Subadviser shall make reasonably available its employees and officers for consultation with any of the Trustees or officers or employees of the Fund with respect to any matter discussed herein, including, without limitation, the valuation of the Fund's securities.
(v)The Subadviser or an affiliate shall provide the Fund's custodian (the Custodian) on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the portion of the Fund's assets it manages, and shall provide the Manager with such information upon request of the Manager.
(vi)The investment management services provided by the Subadviser hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to render similar services to others. The Subadviser and Manager understand and agree that if the Manager manages the Fund in a "manager-of-managers" style, the Manager will, among other things, (i) continually evaluate the performance of the Subadviser through quantitative and qualitative analysis and consultations with the Subadviser, (ii) periodically make recommendations to the Trust's Board as to whether the contract with one or more Subadviser should be renewed, modified, or terminated, and (iii) periodically report to the Trust's Board regarding the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Subadviser recognizes that its services may be terminated or modified pursuant to this process.
(vii)The Subadviser acknowledges that the Manager and the Fund intend to rely on Rule 17a-10, Rule 10f-3, Rule
12d3-1 and Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act, and the Subadviser hereby agrees that it shall not consult with any other subadviser to the Fund with respect to transactions in securities or other financial instruments for the Fund's portfolio or any other transactions of Fund assets.
(b)The Subadviser shall authorize and permit any of its directors, officers and employees who may be elected as Trustees or officers of the Fund to serve in the capacities in which they are elected. Services to be furnished by the Subadviser under this Agreement may be furnished through the medium of any of such directors, officers or employees.
(c)The Subadviser shall keep the Fund's books and records required to be maintained by the Subadviser pursuant to paragraph l(a) hereof and shall timely furnish to the Manager all information relating to the Subadviser's services hereunder needed by the Manager to keep the other books and records of the Fund required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation. The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Fund, and the Subadviser will surrender promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the Fund's request; provided, however, that the Subadviser may retain a copy of such records. The Subadviser further agree to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 of the Commission under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation any such records as are required to be maintained by it pursuant to paragraph l(a) hereof.
(d)In connection with its duties under this Agreement, the Subadviser agrees to maintain adequate compliance procedures to ensure its compliance with the 1940 Act, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the Advisers Act), and other applicable state and federal regulations.
(e)The Subadviser shall maintain a written code of ethics (the Code of Ethics) that it reasonably believes complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act, a copy of which
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shall be provided to the Manager and the Fund, and shall institute procedures reasonably necessary to prevent any Access Person (as defined in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act) from violating its Code of Ethics. The Subadviser shall follow such Code of Ethics in performing its services under this Agreement. Further, the Subadviser represents that it maintains adequate compliance procedures to ensure its compliance with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, and other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In particular, the Subadviser represents that it has policies and procedures regarding the detection and prevention of the misuse of material, non- public information by the Subadviser and its employees as required by the applicable federal securities laws.
(f)The Subadviser shall furnish to the Manager copies of all records prepared in connection with (i) the performance of this Agreement and (ii) the maintenance of compliance procedures pursuant to paragraph l(d) hereof as the Manager may reasonably request.
(g)The Subadviser shall be responsible for the voting of all shareholder proxies with respect to the investments and securities held in the Fund's portfolio, subject to such reasonable reporting and other requirements as shall be established by the Manager.
(h)The Subadviser acknowledges that it is responsible for evaluating whether market quotations are readily available for the Fund's portfolio securities, evaluating whether those market quotations are reliable for purposes of valuing the Fund's portfolio securities, evaluating whether those market quotations are reliable for determining the Fund's net asset value per share and promptly notifying the Manager upon the occurrence of any significant event with respect to any of the Fund's portfolio securities in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act and any related written guidance from the Commission and the Commission staff. Upon reasonable request from the Manager, the Subadviser (through a qualified person) will assist the valuation committee of the Fund or the Manager in valuing securities of the Fund as may be required from time to time, including making available information of which the Subadviser has knowledge related to the securities being valued.
(i)The Subadviser shall provide the Manager with any information reasonably requested regarding its management of the Fund's portfolio required for any shareholder report, amended registration statement, or prospectus supplement to be filed by the Fund with the Commission. The Subadviser shall provide the Manager with any reasonable certification, documentation or other information reasonably requested or required by the Manager for purposes of the certifications of shareholder reports by the Fund's principal financial officer and principal executive officer pursuant to the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 or other law or regulation. The Subadviser shall promptly inform the Fund and the Manager if the Subadviser becomes aware of any information in the Prospectus that is (or will become) materially inaccurate or incomplete.
(j)The Subadviser shall comply with the Fund Documents provided to the Subadviser by the Manager or the Fund. The Subadviser shall notify the Manager as soon as reasonably practicable upon detection of any material breach of such Fund Documents.
(k)The Subadviser shall keep the Fund and the Manager informed of developments relating to its duties as Subadviser of which the Subadviser has, or should have, knowledge that would materially affect the Fund. In this regard, the Subadviser shall provide the Trust, the Manager, and their respective officers with such periodic reports concerning the obligations the Subadviser has assumed under this Agreement as the Fund and the Manager may from time to time reasonably request. Additionally, prior to each Board meeting, the Subadviser shall provide the Manager and the Board with reports regarding the Subadviser's management of the Fund's portfolio during the most recently completed quarter, in such form as may be mutually agreed upon by the Subadviser and the Manager. The Subadviser shall certify quarterly to the Fund and the Manager that it and its "Advisory Persons" (as defined in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act) have complied materially with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act during the previous quarter or, if not, explain what the Subadviser has done to seek to ensure such compliance in the future. Annually, the Subadviser shall furnish a written report, which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 and Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act, concerning the Subadviser's Code of Ethics and compliance program, respectively, to the Fund and the Manager. Upon written request of the Fund or the Manager with respect to material violations of the Code of Ethics directly affecting the Fund, the Subadviser shall permit representatives of the Fund or the Manager to examine reports (or summaries of the reports) required to be made by Rule 17j-l(d)(1) relating to enforcement of the Code of Ethics.
2.The Manager shall continue to have responsibility for all services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the Management Agreement and, as more particularly discussed above, shall oversee and review the Subadviser's performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Manager shall provide (or cause the Custodian to provide) timely information to the Subadviser regarding such matters as the composition of assets in the portion of the Fund managed by the Subadvisers, cash
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requirements and cash available for investment in such portion of the Fund, and all other information as may be reasonably necessary for the Subadviser to perform its duties hereunder (including any excerpts of minutes of meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Fund that affect the duties of the Subadviser).
3.For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the Manager shall pay the Subadviser as full compensation therefor, a fee equal to the percentage of the Fund's average daily net assets of the portion of the Fund managed by the Subadviser as described in the attached Schedule A. Expense caps or fee waivers for the Fund that may be agreed to by the Manager, but not agreed to by the Subadviser, shall not cause a reduction in the amount of the payment to the Subadviser by the Manager.
4.(a) The Subadviser acknowledges that, in the course of its engagement by the Manager, the Subadviser may receive or have access to confidential and proprietary information of the Manager or third parties with whom the Manager conducts business. Such information is collectively referred to as "Confidential Information." Confidential Information includes the Manager's business and other proprietary information, written or oral.
(b)The Subadviser certifies that (i) its treatment of Confidential Information is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations with respect to privacy and data security, and (ii) it has implemented and currently maintains an effective written information security program ("Information Security Program") including administrative, technical, and physical safeguards and other security measures necessary to (a) ensure the security and confidentiality of Confidential Information; (b) protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of Confidential Information; and (c) protect against unauthorized access to, destruction, modification, disclosure or use of Confidential Information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to the Manager, or to any person who may be identified by Confidential Information. The Subadviser shall immediately notify the Manager if the Subadviser is in material breach of this Section. At the Manager's request, the Subadviser agrees to certify in writing to the Manager, its compliance with the terms of this Section.
(c)The Subadviser shall notify the Manager or its agents of its designated primary security manager. The security manager will be responsible for managing and coordinating the performance of the Subadvisers' obligations set forth in its Information Security Program and this Agreement.
(d)The Subadviser shall review and, as appropriate, revise its Information Security Program at least annually or whenever there is a material change in the Subadviser's business practices that may reasonably affect the security, confidentiality or integrity of Confidential Information. During the course of providing the services, the Subadviser may not alter or modify its Information Security Program in such a way that will weaken or compromise the security, confidentiality, or integrity of Confidential Information.
(e)The Subadviser shall maintain appropriate access controls, including, but not limited to, limiting access to Confidential Information to the minimum number of the Subadviser's Employees who require such access in order to provide the services to the Manager.
(f)The Subadviser shall conduct periodic risk assessments to identify and assess reasonably foreseeable internal and external risks to the security, confidentiality, and integrity of Confidential Information; and evaluate and improve, where necessary, the effectiveness of its information security controls. Such assessments will also consider the Subadviser's compliance with its Information Security Program and the laws applicable to the Subadviser.
(g)The Subadviser shall conduct regular penetration and vulnerability testing of its information technology infrastructure and networks. If any testing detects any anomalies, intrusions, or vulnerabilities in any information technology systems processing, storing or transmitting any of the Manager's Confidential Information, the Subadviser shall promptly report those findings to the Manager.
(h)The Subadviser shall notify the Manager, promptly and without unreasonable delay, but in no event more than 48 hours of learning of any unauthorized access or disclosure, unauthorized, unlawful or accidental loss, misuse, destruction, acquisition of, or damage to Confidential Information may have occurred or is under investigation (a "Security Incident"). Thereafter, the Subadviser shall: (i) promptly furnish to the Manager full details of the Security Incident; (ii) assist and cooperate with the Manager and the Manager's designated representatives in the Manager's investigation of the Subadviser, Employees or third parties related to the Security Incident. The Subadviser will provide the Manager with physical access to the facilities and operations affected, facilitate the Manager's interviews with Employees and others involved in the matter, and make available to the Manager all relevant records, logs, files, and data; (iii) cooperate with the Manager in any litigation or other formal action against third parties deemed necessary by the Manager to protect the Manager's rights; and (iv) take appropriate action to prevent a recurrence of any Security Incident.
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(i)Upon the Manager's reasonable request at any time during the term of the Agreement, the Subadviser shall promptly provide the Manager with information related to the Subadviser's information security safeguards and practices.
(j)For the purpose of auditing the Subadviser's compliance with this Section, the Subadviser shall provide to the Manager, on reasonable notice: (a) access to the Subadviser's information processing premises and records; (b) reasonable assistance and cooperation of the Subadviser's relevant staff; and (c) reasonable facilities at the Subadviser's premises.
5.The Subadviser will not engage any third party to provide services to the portion of the Trust's portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser by the Manager without the express written consent of the Manager. To the extent that the Subadviser receives approval from the Manager to engage a third-party service provider, the Subadviser assumes all responsibility for any action or inaction of the service provider as it related to the Trust's portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser by the Manager. In addition, the Subadviser shall fully indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the Manager and its directors, officers, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against all claims, demands, actions, suits, damages, liabilities, losses, settlements, judgments, costs, and expenses (including but not limited to reasonable attorney's fees and costs) which arise out of or relate to the provision of services provided by any such service provider.
6.The Subadviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Fund or the Manager in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the Subadviser's part in the performance of its duties or from its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to waive any rights the Manager or the Fund may have against the Subadviser under federal or state securities laws. The Manager shall indemnify the Subadviser, its affiliated persons, its officers, directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Manager's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws. The Subadviser shall indemnify the Manager, its affiliated persons, officers, directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Subadviser's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws.
7.This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of more than two years from the date hereof only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated by the Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, or by the Manager or the Subadviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on not more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' written notice to the other party. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) or upon the termination of the Management Agreement. The Subadviser agrees that it will promptly notify the Fund and the Manager of the occurrence of any event that would result in the assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, a change of control (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Subadviser. Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Manager and/or Fund at 655 Broad Street, 17th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102- 4077, Attention: Secretary; and (2) to the Subadviser at 655 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102, Attention: Chief Legal Officer (for PGIM) and at Grand Buildings 1-3 Strand Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5HR, Attention: Chief Legal Officer.
8.Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any of the Subadviser's directors, officers or employees who may also be a Trustee, officer or employee of the Fund to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any business, whether of a similar or a dissimilar nature, nor limit or restrict the Subadviser's right to engage in any other business or to render services of any kind to any other corporation, firm, individual or association.
9.During the term of this Agreement, the Manager agrees to furnish the Subadviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy statements, reports to shareholders, sales literature or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Fund or the public, which refer to the Subadviser in any way, prior to use thereof and not to use such material if the Subadviser reasonably objects in writing five business days (or such other time as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. Sales literature may be furnished to the Subadviser hereunder by first-class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment or hand delivery.
- 5 -
10.This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the consent of the Fund must be obtained in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
11.This Agreement shall be governed by the 1940 Act and the laws of the State of New York.
12.Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act, shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States courts or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations or orders of the Commission issued pursuant to the 1940 Act or of guidance published by the staff of the Commission. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected in any provision of this Agreement, is related by rules, regulation or order of the Commission, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
- 6 -
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.
PGIM INVESTMENTS LLC
By: s/Scott E. Benjamin
Name: Scott E. Benjamin
Title: Executive Vice President
JH/dm
PGIM, INC.
By: s/Daniel Malooly
Name: Daniel Malooly
Title: Vice President
- 7 -
SCHEDULE A
PGIM ETF TRUST
As compensation for services provided by PGIM, Inc. (the Subadviser), PGIM Investments will pay the Subadviser an advisory fee on the net asset value of the Fund's portfolio that is managed by the Subadviser that is equal, on an annualized basis, to the following:
Portfolio Name |
Advisory Fee |
PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF |
0.095% of the average daily net assets of the Fund |
Dated as of April 1, 2021.
- 8 -
PGIM, Inc.
655 Broad Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
April 1, 2020
The Board of Trustees
PGIM ETF Trust
655 Broad Street17th Floor
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Re: PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF (the Fund)
To the Board of Trustees:
From the inception of the Fund, PGIM, Inc. (PGIM) agrees to waive any subadvisory fees it receives from the Fund in an amount equal to the subadvisory fees paid by the Fund to the PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund due to the Fund's investment of its excess overnight cash in the PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund. This waiver will remain in effect for as long as the Fund remains invested or intends to invest in the PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund.
Very truly yours,
PGIM, INC.
By: |
s/Daniel Malooly |
JH/dm |
Name: |
Daniel Malooly |
|
Title: |
Vice President |
|
AMENDMENT
TO
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDMENT TO DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (the Amendment) is made as of April 1, 2021 between PGIM ETF Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the Trust), on behalf of each of its series set forth on attached Exhibit A (each referred to as the "Fund") and Prudential Investment Management Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Distributor).
WHEREAS, the Distributor and the Trust entered into a Distribution Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2018 (as amended, modified and/or supplemented to date, the "Agreement;" all capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Agreement); and
WHEREAS, the Distributor and the Trust desire to amend the Agreement as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by the parties, the Distributor and the Trust hereby agree as follows:
1.The Agreement is hereby amended as of the date hereof by deleting the existing Exhibit A to the Agreement and replacing it with the Exhibit A attached hereto. Each of the undersigned hereby acknowledges, agrees and confirms that the terms of the Agreement shall apply separately and respectively to each Fund.
2.This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed to be an original. This Amendment shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed and delivered by each of the parties. A photocopy or telefax of the Amendment shall be acceptable evidence of the existence of the Amendment and the Distributor shall be protected in relying on the photocopy or telefax until the Distributor has received the original of the Agreement.
3.This Amendment, together with the Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to its subject matter and supersedes all oral communications and prior writings with respect hereto. Except as expressly modified hereby, the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms and conditions.
4.This Amendment shall be construed in accordance the governing law and exclusive jurisdiction provisions of the Agreement.
[Signature page follows]
1
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned parties has executed this Amendment to Distribution Agreement effective as of the date first above written.
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC
s/Scott E. Benjamin
By: __________________________________
Name: Scott E. Benjamin
Title: Vice President
PGIM ETF TRUST
(on behalf of its series as listed on Exhibit A)
By: __s/Stuart Parker
Name: Stuart Parker
Title: President
2
Exhibit A
PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF
PGIM QMA Strategic Alpha International Equity ETF PGIM QMA Strategic Alpha Large-Cap Core ETF PGIM QMA Strategic Alpha Small-Cap Growth ETF PGIM QMA Strategic Alpha Small-Cap Value ETF PGIM QMA Active Aggregate Bond ETF
Dated: April 1, 2021.
Execution Version
AMENDMENT
TO
CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDMENT TO CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT (this "Amendment") is made as of April 7, 2021 by and between PGIM ETF TRUST (the Fund, including on behalf of each of its separate series listed on Exhibit A hereto, the Portfolios), a management investment company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware and registered with the Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), and BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO., a limited partnership formed under the laws of the State of New York ("BBH").
WHEREAS, the Fund and BBH entered into a custodian agreement dated as of April 2, 2018 as amended, modified and/or supplemented (the "Agreement");
WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 13.3 of the Agreement, the Fund and BBH desire to amend the Agreement as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by the parties, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1.The Agreement is hereby amended by deleting Exhibit A in its entirety and replacing with Exhibit A, attached hereto, with the addition of the below new Portfolio:
PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF
2.This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Amendment. A facsimile transmission or other electronic mail transmission (e.g. ".pdf" or ".tif") of the Amendment shall be acceptable evidence of the existence of the Amendment and the Custodian shall be protected in relying on the facsimile or electronic mail transmission of a .pdf or .tif until the Custodian has received the original of the Amendment.
3.This Amendment, together with the Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to its subject matter and supersedes all oral communications and prior writings with respect hereto. Except as expressly modified hereby, the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms and conditions.
4.This Amendment shall be construed in accordance the governing law and exclusive jurisdiction provisions of the Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned parties has executed this Amendment to Custodian Agreement effective as of the date first above written.
BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.
By: s/Hugh Bolton
Name: Hugh Bolton
Title: Managing Director
Date:
PGIM ETF TRUST
s/Deborah Conway
By: __________________________________
Name: Deborah Conway
Title: Vice President, Mutual Fund Administration
Date: 4/2/21
Exhibit A
To
Custodian Agreement
between PGIM ETF Trust and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
dated as of April 2, 2018
(Updated as of $SULO __, 2021)
PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF
PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF
PGIM QMA Strategic Alpha International Equity ETF
PGIM QMA Strategic Alpha Large-Cap Core ETF
PGIM QMA Strategic Alpha Small-Cap Growth ETF
PGIM QMA Strategic Alpha Small-Cap Value ETF
PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF
AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO ADMINISTRATIVE AND TRANSFER AGENCY AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO ADMINISTRATIVE AND TRANSFER AGENCY AGREEMENT (this "Amendment No. 2") is made as of April 7, 2021 by and between Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., a New York Limited Partnership (the "Administrator" or "TA"), and PGIM ETF TRUST, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Fund"), on behalf of each of its series listed on Appendix A to the Agreement (as defined below), severally and not jointly (each a "Portfolio" and collectively, the "Portfolios"), registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
WHEREAS, the Administrator and the Fund entered into an Administrative and Transfer Agency Agreement, dated as of April 2, 2018 (as amended, modified and/or supplemented to date, the "Agreement;" all capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Agreement);
WHEREAS, Section 16 of the Agreement provides that the Agreement may not be amended unless done in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the amendment is sought; and
WHEREAS, the parties wish to amend the Agreement as set forth herein.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises set forth in the Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1.Appendix A to the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the Appendix A attached hereto. Each of the undersigned hereby acknowledges, agrees and confirms that the terms of the Agreement shall apply separately and respectively to each Portfolio.
2.This Amendment No. 2 may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed to be an original. This Amendment No. 2 shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed and delivered by each of the parties. A photocopy or telefax of the Amendment shall be acceptable evidence of the existence of this Amendment No. 2 and the Administrator shall be protected in relying on the photocopy or telefax until the Administrator has received the original of the Agreement.
3.This Amendment No. 2, together with the prior Amendment dated September 10, 2018, the Fund Accounting Services Addendum to Administrative and Transfer Agency Agreement dated March 17, 2021 and the Agreement together constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to its subject matter and supersedes all oral communications and prior writings with respect hereto. Except as expressly modified hereby, the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms and conditions.
4.This Amendment No. 2 shall be construed in accordance with the governing law and exclusive jurisdiction provisions of the Agreement.
[Signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned parties have executed this Amendment No. 2 to Administrative and Transfer Agency Agreement effective as of the date first above written.
BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. |
PGIM ETF TRUST |
|
(on behalf of each Portfolio listed in |
|
Appendix A of the Agreement) |
s/Hugh Bolton |
s/Deborah Conway |
|
_________________________ |
||
___________________________ |
||
Name: Hugh Bolton |
Name: Deborah Conway |
|
Title: Managing Director |
Title: Vice President, Mutual Fund Administration |
|
Date: |
Date: 4/2/21 |
APPENDIX A TO
ADMINISTRATIVE AND TRANSFER AGENCY
AGREEMENT
Dated as of April __, 2021
The following is a list of Portfolios for which the Administrator shall serve under an Administrative and Transfer Agency Agreement dated as of April 2, 2018, as amended:
PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF
PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF
PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF
PGIM QMA Strategic Alpha International Equity ETF
PGIM QMA Strategic Alpha Large-Cap Core ETF
PGIM QMA Strategic Alpha Small-Cap Growth ETF
PGIM QMA Strategic Alpha Small-Cap Value ETF
Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell llp P.O. Box 1347 Wilmington, Delaware 19899-1347
|
April 12, 2021
PGIM ETF Trust
655 Broad Street, 17th Floor
Newark, NJ 07102
Re:PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special Delaware counsel to PGIM ETF Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), in connection with certain matters of Delaware law relating to the issuance of shares (the “Registered Shares”) of PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF (the “Fund”), a Series of the Trust. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise herein defined are used as defined in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of October 23, 2017 (the “Governing Instrument”).
In rendering this opinion, we have examined and relied on copies of the following documents, each in the form provided to us: Post-Effective Amendment No. 18 to Registration Statement No. 811-23324 under the Securities Act of 1933 on Form N-1A of the Trust to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about the date hereof (the “Registration Statement”); the Certificate of Trust of the Trust as filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “State Office”) on October 23, 2017 (the “Certificate of Trust”); the Governing Instrument; the By-Laws of the Trust adopted as of October 23, 2017; resolutions prepared for adoption at a meeting of the Trustees of the Trust held on January 25, 2021 relating to the establishment of the Fund, the filing of the Registration Statement and the issuance of the Registered Shares (the “Authorizing Resolutions” and together with the Governing Instrument, the By-Laws of the Trust and the Registration Statement, the “Governing Documents”); and a certification of good standing of the Trust obtained as of a recent date from the State Office. In such examinations, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies or drafts of documents to be executed, and the legal capacity of natural persons to complete the execution of documents. We have further assumed for purposes of this opinion: the due formation or organization, valid existence and good standing of each entity that is a signatory to any of the documents reviewed by us under the laws of the jurisdiction of its respective formation or organization; the due adoption, authorization, execution and delivery by, or on behalf of, each of the parties thereto of the above-referenced agreements, instruments, certificates and other documents (including, without
limitation, the due adoption by the Board of Trustees of the Authorizing Resolutions) and of all documents contemplated by the Governing Documents to be executed by investors desiring to become Shareholders; the payment of consideration for Shares, and the application of such consideration, as provided in the Governing Documents, and compliance with all other terms, conditions and restrictions set forth in the Governing Documents in connection with the issuance of Shares; the taking of all appropriate action by the Trustees to designate Series and Classes of Shares, including the Fund, and the rights and preferences attributable thereto as contemplated by the Governing Instrument; that no event has occurred subsequent to the filing of the Certificate, or will occur prior to the issuance of the Registered Shares, that would cause a termination or dissolution of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof; that the Trust became, prior to or within 180 days following the first issuance of beneficial interests therein, a registered investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; that the activities of the Trust have been and will be conducted in accordance with the terms of the Governing Instrument and the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. §§ 3801 et seq. (the “Delaware Act”); that appropriate notation of the names and addresses of, the number of Shares held by, and the consideration paid by, Shareholders will be maintained in the appropriate registers and other books and records of the Trust in connection with the issuance or transfer of Shares; that the Registered Shares constitute the Shares covered by the Registration Statement; and that each of the documents examined by us is in full force and effect, expresses the entire understanding of the parties thereto with respect to the subject matter thereof and has not been amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, except as herein referenced. We have not reviewed any documents other than those identified above in connection with this opinion, and we have assumed that there are no documents, facts or circumstances that are contrary to, or inconsistent with the opinion expressed herein. No opinion is expressed herein with respect to the requirements of, or compliance with, federal or state securities or blue sky laws. Further, we express no opinion on the sufficiency or accuracy of any registration or offering documentation relating to the Trust or the Registered Shares. As to any facts material to our opinion, other than those assumed, we have relied without independent investigation on the above-referenced documents and on the accuracy, as of the date hereof, of the matters therein contained.
Based on and subject to the foregoing, and limited in all respects to matters of Delaware law, it is our opinion that the Registered Shares, when issued to Shareholders of the Fund in accordance with the terms, conditions, requirements and procedures set forth in the Governing Documents, will constitute legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable Shares.
We hereby consent to the filing of a copy of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder. This opinion speaks only as of the date hereof and is based on our understandings and assumptions as to present facts, and on the application of Delaware law as the same exist on the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update or supplement this opinion after the date hereof for the benefit of any person or entity (including any Shareholder) with respect to any facts or circumstances that may hereafter come to our attention or any changes in facts or law that may hereafter occur or take effect. This opinion is intended solely for the benefit of the Trust and the Shareholders in connection with the matters contemplated hereby and may not be relied upon by any other person or entity, or for any other purpose, without our prior written consent.
Sincerely,
MORRIS, NICHOLS, ARSHT & TUNNELL LLP
/s/ Louis G. Hering
14703653.1
PGIM ETF TRUST
Distribution and Service Plan
Introduction
The Distribution and Service Plan set forth below (the "Plan") has been adopted by PGIM ETF Trust (the "Trust") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), for shares of its series listed on Schedule A attached hereto (each, a "Fund"), as it may be amended from time to time.
The Trust has entered into a Distribution Agreement (the "Agreement") with Prudential Investment Management Services LLC, the Fund's principal underwriter (the "Distributor"), with respect to the creation and distribution of large aggregations of shares as described in the prospectus (as defined in the Distribution Agreement) each Fund;
A majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the "Board"), including a majority of those Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Funds (as defined in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or any agreements related to it (the "Rule 12b-1 Trustees"), have approved this Plan by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on this Plan and have determined that there is a reasonable likelihood that adoption of this Plan will benefit the Funds and their shareholders. Expenditures under this Plan by the Funds for Distribution Activities (defined below) are primarily intended to result in the sale of shares of the Funds within the meaning of paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.
The purpose of the Plan is to create incentives for the Distributor, qualified broker-dealers, other financial institutions (which may include banks and retirement recordkeepers) and others that enter into a distribution, underwriting, selling, selected dealer or services agreement or other similar agreement with respect to shares of the Funds (each of the foregoing, an "Intermediary"), and such Intermediaries' financial professionals or other employees (as applicable), to provide distribution assistance to their customers who are investors in the Funds, to defray the costs and expenses associated with the preparation, printing and distribution of prospectuses and sales literature and other promotional and distribution activities and to provide for the servicing and maintenance of shareholder accounts. The Intermediary may retain portions of the service and distribution fees payable hereunder in excess of its expenses incurred.
The Plan
The aspects of the Plan are as follows:
1.Distribution Activities
The Funds shall, directly or indirectly, engage Intermediaries to distribute or assist in the distribution of shares of each Fund and/or to service shareholder accounts. Services provided and activities primarily intended to result in the sale of shares of the Funds are referred to herein as "Distribution Activities." Distribution Activities do not include any services or activities that would constitute "personal service and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts" under paragraph (b)(9) of Rule 2341 of the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA").
2.Payment of Service Fee
Each Fund may pay an annual service fee of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund ("service fee") to one or more Intermediaries as compensation for providing personal service and/or maintaining shareholder accounts, including (i) expenditures for overhead and other expenses of an Intermediary, (ii) telephone and other communications expenses relating to the provision of shareholder services and (iii) compensation to and expenses of financial professionals and other employees of an Intermediary for the provision of shareholder services. If and when authorized by the Board, each Fund shall calculate and accrue daily amounts payable by its shares hereunder and shall pay such amounts monthly or at such other intervals as the Board may determine. The service fees payable hereunder to an Intermediary to cover expenses for personal service and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts may not exceed the maximum amount, if any, as may from time to time be permitted for such
services under Rule 2341 of the Conduct Rules of FINRA or any successor rule, in each case as amended or interpreted by FINRA ("Rule 2341").
3.Payment for Distribution Activities
Each Fund may pay an annual distribution fee, which, together with the service fee (described in Section 2 hereof), shall not exceed 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund, to one or more Intermediaries as compensation for the performance of Distribution Activities. If and when authorized by the Board, each Fund shall calculate and accrue daily amounts payable by its shares hereunder and shall pay such amounts monthly or at such other intervals as the Board may determine. Payments under the Plan that may be used by the Intermediary to cover expenses primarily intended to result in the sale of shares may not exceed the maximum amount, if any, as may from time to time be permitted for such services under Rule 2341.
The fees payable by each Fund under the Plan may be used to compensate an Intermediary for Distribution Activities, including without limitation:
(a)sales commissions (including trailer commissions) paid to, or on account of, financial professionals or other employees of the Distributor;
(b)indirect and overhead costs of an Intermediary associated with the performance of Distribution Activities, including platform development and maintenance as well as central office and branch expenses;
(c)advertising for the Fund in various forms through any available medium, including the cost of preparing, printing and distributing Fund prospectuses, statements of additional information and periodic financial reports and sales literature to persons other than current shareholders of the Fund;
(d)amounts paid to, or on account of, Intermediaries for performing services under a selling agreement, selected dealer agreement or other similar agreement with the Distributor, including, but not limited to, sales commissions, trailer commissions, and other costs associated with Distribution Activities;
(e)payments made to, and expenses of, an Intermediary and other persons who provide support or services to Fund shareholders, including but not limited to, office space and equipment, communication facilities, answering routine inquiries regarding the Fund and its operations, processing shareholder transactions, promotional, advertising or marketing activity, sub-accounting and recordkeeping services (in excess of ordinary payments made to the Fund's transfer agent or to Intermediaries or other parties that act as sub-transfer agent, sub-accounting agent or other recordkeeper), obtaining shareholder information and providing information about the Fund, and asset allocation services; and
(f)interest-related expenses, or the cost of capital associated with, the financing of any of the foregoing.
4.Quarterly Reports; Additional Information
An appropriate officer of each Fund will provide to the Board for review, at least quarterly, a written report specifying in reasonable detail the amounts expended under the Plan and the purposes for which such expenditures were made in compliance with the requirements of Rule 12b-1. The Distributor will provide to the Board such additional information as the Board shall from time to time reasonably request, including information about Distribution Activities undertaken or to be undertaken by the Distributor.
The Distributor will inform the Board of the amounts payable in respect of Distribution Activities (including commissions and trailer commissions and other amounts) and account servicing fees to be paid by the Distributor to financial professionals or other employees of the Distributor and to Intermediaries that have entered into selected dealer agreements, selling agreements or other similar agreements with the Distributor.
2
5.Effectiveness; Continuation
The Plan shall take effect as to each Fund as of the date set forth on Schedule A; provided that, if the Plan is adopted for any Fund after any public offering of its voting securities or the sale of such securities to persons who are not affiliated persons of the Trust, affiliated persons of such persons, promoters of the company, or affiliated persons of such promoters, the Plan for such Fund shall be approved by a vote of at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of such Fund.
The Plan shall, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its terms, continue in full force and effect for so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board and a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the continuation of the Plan.
6.Termination
This Plan may be terminated with respect to a Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund.
7.Amendments
The Plan may not be amended to change the combined service and distribution fees to be paid as provided for in Sections 2 and 3 hereof so as to increase materially the amounts payable under this Plan with respect to a Fund unless such amendment shall be approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund. All material amendments of the Plan, including the addition of additional Funds to Schedule A, shall be approved by a majority of the Board and a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan.
8.Rule 12b-1 Trustees
While the Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees shall be committed to the discretion of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees as required by applicable law.
9.Records
Each Fund shall preserve copies of the Plan and any related agreements and all reports made pursuant to Section 4 hereof, for a period of not less than six years from the date of effectiveness of the Plan, such agreements or reports, and for at least the first two years in an easily accessible place.
10.Severability
The provisions of the Plan are severable for each Fund listed on Schedule A, and whenever any action is to be taken with respect to the Plan, such action will be taken separately for each Fund affected.
Dated: March 26, 2018
3
|
Schedule A |
PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF |
Effective Date: March 26, 2018 |
PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF |
Effective Date: September 1, 2018 |
PGIM QMA Strategic Alpha Large-Cap Core ETF |
Effective Date: September 1, 2018 |
PGIM QMA Strategic Alpha Small-Cap Growth ETF Effective Date: September 1, 2018 |
|
PGIM QMA Strategic Alpha Small-Cap Value ETF |
Effective Date: September 1, 2018 |
PGIM QMA Strategic Alpha International Equity ETF Effective Date: September 1,2018 |
|
PGIM Active Aggregate Bond ETF |
Effective Date: April 1, 2021 |
4