November 17, 2009
First Trust Launches New Exchange Traded Fund (GRID) Based on NASDAQ OMX® Clean Edge® Smart Grid Infrastructure Index
First Investment Product Based on the Index
The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ), Clean Edge, Inc., and First Trust Advisors L.P. have announced the launch of a new exchange traded fund (ETF) — the First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund (NASDAQ:GRID). It is based on the NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Smart Grid Infrastructure Index (NASDAQ:QGRD), a benchmark for the smart grid and electric infrastructure sector. The ETF is managed by First Trust Advisors L.P. and listed on NASDAQ®.
QGRD is a modified market-capitalization index and includes companies that are primarily involved in electric grid; electric meters, devices and networks; energy storage and management; and enabling software used by the smart grid and electric infrastructure sector.
First Trust’s ETF, GRID, is designed to correspond to the price and yield performance of the index on which it is based. ETFs are financial products that trade like shares of stock and can be bought and sold throughout the trading day.
“First Trust has filled the need for an investment product based on an index that has brought sharper focus to an industry that is transforming our nation’s energy grid,” said NASDAQ OMX Executive Vice President John Jacobs. “This ETF reflects First Trust’s commitment to extending its suite of products to broaden investor choice.”
“This is the first ETF to track a smart grid and electric infrastructure index,” said Ron Pernick, Clean Edge Co-Founder and Managing Director. “First Trust continues to demonstrate leadership and to build a strong presence in the clean-energy sector.”
“With a growing demand for electricity and the increasingly inefficient infrastructure, the current power grid is unable to keep up with the twenty first century technology,” according to Ryan Issakainen, Vice President, Exchange-Traded Fund Strategist for First Trust Portfolios. “There’s a growing movement towards a next generation power grid — Smart Grid. Electricity is one of the largest and most capital intensivesectors in our economy and we are tremendously excited about the potential that this industry represents.”
The NASDAQ OMX® Clean Edge® Smart Grid Infrastructure Index is calculated in real-time across the combined exchanges and is disseminated by NASDAQ OMX in U.S. Dollars. The Index commenced calculation on September 22, 2009 with a value of 250.00.
The NASDAQ OMX® Clean Edge® Smart Grid Infrastructure Index is comprised of companies that are screened by Clean Edge. To view the companies in the NASDAQ OMX® Clean Edge® Smart Grid Infrastructure Index, visit NASDAQ’s website.
About NASDAQ OMX
The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. is the world’s largest exchange company. It delivers trading, exchange technology and public company services across six continents, with over 3,800 listed companies. NASDAQ OMX offers multiple capital raising solutions to companies around the globe, including its U.S. listings market, NASDAQ OMX Nordic, NASDAQ OMX Baltic, NASDAQ OMX First North, and the U.S. 144A sector. The company offers trading across multiple asset classes including equities, derivatives, debt, commodities, structured products and exchange-traded funds. NASDAQ OMX technology supports the operations of over 70 exchanges, clearing organizations and central securities depositories in more than 50 countries. NASDAQ OMX Nordic and NASDAQ OMX Baltic are not legal entities but describe the common offering from NASDAQ OMX exchanges in Helsinki, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Iceland, Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius. For more information about NASDAQ OMX, visit http://www.nasdaqomx.com.
About Clean Edge
Clean Edge, Inc., with offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and Portland, Ore., is a leading research and publishing firm that helps companies, investors, and policymakers understand and profit from clean technologies. Founded in 2000, Clean Edge and its network of partners and affiliates offer unparalleled intelligence and insight into the clean-tech sector. Among its many activities, the company publishes the annual “Clean Energy Trends” report, produces the annual Clean-Tech Investor Summit (along with IBF), and maintains a number of clean-energy stock indexes. To keep abreast of the latest clean-tech news, access industry reports, learn more about the company’s annual summit and stock indexes, or sign up for Clean Edge’s free e-newsletter, visit http://www.cleanedge.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The matters described herein may contain forward-looking statements that are made under the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the NASDAQ OMX Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index and NASDAQ OMX Group’s other products and offerings. We caution that these statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond NASDAQ OMX’s control. These factors include, but are not limited to, factors detailed in NASDAQ OMX’s annual report on Form 10-K, and periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to release any revisions to any forward-looking statements.
NASDAQ OMX Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index (“Index”) is the exclusive property of The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc., (collectively, with its affiliates “NASDAQ OMX”) and Clean Edge, Inc. (“Clean Edge”). NASDAQ OMX has contracted with Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) to calculate and maintain the NASDAQ OMX Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index. S&P shall have no liability for any errors or omissions in calculating the Index.
Media Contacts:
NASDAQ Media Contact: Wayne Lee
301.978.4875
Wayne.D.Lee@Nasdaq.com
NASDAQ Issuer & Investor Contact:
Lisa Chaney
301.978.8281
Lisa.Chaney@Nasdaq.com
Clean Edge, Inc.
Ron Pernick
503.493.8681
pernick@cleanedge.com