0001510337 2012-11-29 2012-11-29 0001510337 FDT:S000031802Member 2012-11-29 2012-11-29 0001510337 FDT:S000031802Member FDT:C000099056Member 2012-11-29 2012-11-29 0001510337 FDT:S000031795Member 2012-11-29 2012-11-29 0001510337 FDT:S000031795Member FDT:C000099049Member 2012-11-29 2012-11-29 iso4217:USD xbrli:pure Other 2012-11-29 First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX Fund II 0001510337 false FDT 2012-11-29 2012-11-09 2012-11-09 <p>INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE</p> <p>INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE</p> <p>SUMMARY INFORMATION</p> <p>SUMMARY INFORMATION</p> <p>The First Trust Developed Markets Ex-US AlphaDEX(R) Fund (the "Fund") seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield (before the Fund's fees and expenses) of an equity index called the Defined Developed Markets Ex-US Index (the "Index").</p> <p>The First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX(R) Fund (the "Fund") seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield (before the Fund's fees and expenses) of an equity index called the Defined Emerging Markets Index (the "Index").</p> <p>FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND</p> <p>FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND</p> <p>The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Shares of the Fund. Investors purchasing and selling Shares may be subject to costs (including customary brokerage commissions) charged by their broker.</p> <p>The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Shares of the Fund. Investors purchasing and selling Shares may be subject to costs (including customary brokerage commissions) charged by their broker.</p> <p>SHAREHOLDER FEES (fees paid directly from your investment)</p> <p>SHAREHOLDER FEES (fees paid directly from your investment)</p> <div style="display: none">~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/ShareholderFeesData column period compact * column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact FDT_S000031802Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <div style="display: none">~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/ShareholderFeesData column period compact * column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact FDT_S000031795Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <p>ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)</p> <p>ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)</p> <div style="display: none">~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/OperatingExpensesData column period compact * column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact FDT_S000031802Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <div style="display: none">~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/OperatingExpensesData column period compact * column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact FDT_S000031795Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <p>EXAMPLE</p> <p>EXAMPLE</p> <p>The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. This example does not take into account customary brokerage commissions that you pay when purchasing or selling Shares of the Fund in the secondary market.</p> <p>The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then you retain the Shares or redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's annual operating expenses remain at current levels until April 30, 2013 and thereafter at 1.05% to represent the imposition of the 12b-1 fee of 0.25% per annum of the Fund's average daily net assets. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:</p> <p>The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. This example does not take into account customary brokerage commissions that you pay when purchasing or selling Shares of the Fund in the secondary market.</p> <p>The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then you retain the Shares or redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's annual operating expenses remain at current levels until April 30, 2013 and thereafter at 1.05% to represent the imposition of the 12b-1 fee of 0.25% per annum of the Fund's average daily net assets. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:</p> <div style="display: none">~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/ExpenseExample column period compact * column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact FDT_S000031802Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <div style="display: none">~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/ExpenseExample column period compact * column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact FDT_S000031795Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <p>PORTFOLIO TURNOVER</p> <p>PORTFOLIO TURNOVER</p> <p>The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. During the fiscal period April 18, 2011 (inception) through December 31, 2011, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 67% of the average value of its portfolio.</p> <p>The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. During the fiscal period April 18, 2011 (inception) through December 31, 2011, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 56% of the average value of its portfolio.</p> <p>PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES</p> <p>PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES</p> <p>The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in stocks that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an "indexing" investment approach, attempts to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Index. First Trust seeks a correlation of 0.95 or better (before fees and expenses) between the Fund's performance and the performance of the Index; a figure of 1.00 would represent perfect correlation. First Trust will regularly monitor the Fund's tracking accuracy and will seek to maintain an appropriate correlation.</p> <p>The Index is in the "Defined Index Series," a family of custom enhanced indices developed, maintained and sponsored by Standard &#38; Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&#38;P" or the "Index Provider"). The Index is a modified equal-dollar weighted index designed by S&#38;P to objectively identify and select stocks from the S&#38;P Developed Markets Ex-US BMI Index (the "Base Index") that may generate positive alpha relative to traditional passive-style indices through the use of the AlphaDEX(R) selection methodology. The Base Index is a comprehensive, rules-based index designed to measure stock market performance in developed markets excluding the United States. The Base Index covers all publicly listed equities with float adjusted market values of $100 million or more and annual dollar value traded of at least $50 million. Alpha is an indication of how much an investment outperforms or underperforms on a risk-adjusted basis relative to its benchmark. As of March 31, 2012, the Index was comprised of 295 securities from 23 countries. The Index is rebalanced and reconstituted as of the last business day of the semi-annual periods ended March 31 and September 30. Changes to the Index will be effective at the open of trading on the ninth business day of the following month.</p> <p>The Fund intends to invest entirely in the Index; however, there may also be instances in which the Fund may be overweighted in certain stocks in the Index, purchase securities not in the Index that are appropriate to substitute for certain securities in the Index or utilize various combinations of the above techniques in seeking to track the Index.</p> <p>The Fund may lend securities representing up to 20% of the value of its total assets to broker-dealers, banks and other institutions to generate additional income. When the Fund loans its portfolio securities, it will receive, at the inception of each loan, cash collateral equal to at least 102% (for domestic securities) or 105% (for international securities) of the market value of the loaned securities.</p> <p>The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in stocks that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an "indexing" investment approach, attempts to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Index. First Trust seeks a correlation of 0.95 or better (before fees and expenses) between the Fund's performance and the performance of the Index; a figure of 1.00 would represent perfect correlation. First Trust will regularly monitor the Fund's tracking accuracy and will seek to maintain an appropriate correlation.</p> <p>The Index is in the "Defined Index Series," a family of custom enhanced indices developed, maintained and sponsored by Standard &#38; Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&#38;P" or the "Index Provider"). The Index is a modified equal-dollar weighted index designed by S&#38;P to objectively identify and select stocks from the S&#38;P Emerging Markets BMI Index (the "Base Index") that may generate positive alpha relative to traditional passive-style indices through the use of the AlphaDEX(R) selection methodology. The Base Index is a comprehensive, rules-based index designed to measure stock market performance in emerging markets. The Base Index covers all publicly listed equities with float adjusted market values of $100 million or more and annual dollar value traded of at least $50 million. Alpha is an indication of how much an investment outperforms or underperforms on a risk-adjusted basis relative to its benchmark. As of March 31, 2012, the Index was comprised of 148 securities from 17 countries. The Index is rebalanced and reconstituted as of the last business day of the semi-annual periods ended March 31 and September 30. Changes to the Index will be effective at the open of trading on the ninth business day of the following month.</p> <p>The Fund intends to invest entirely in the Index; however, there may also be instances in which the Fund may be overweighted in certain stocks in the Index, purchase securities not in the Index that are appropriate to substitute for certain securities in the Index or utilize various combinations of the above techniques in seeking to track the Index.</p> <p>The Fund may lend securities representing up to 20% of the value of its total assets to broker-dealers, banks and other institutions to generate additional income. When the Fund loans its portfolio securities, it will receive, at the inception of each loan, cash collateral equal to at least 102% (for domestic securities) or 105% (for international securities) of the market value of the loaned securities.</p> <p>PRINCIPAL RISKS</p> <p>PRINCIPAL RISKS</p> <p>You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.</p> <p>MARKET RISK. Market risk is the risk that a particular stock owned by the Fund, Shares of the Fund or stocks in general may fall in value. Shares are subject to market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic, political, regulatory or market developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in stock prices. Overall stock values could decline generally or could underperform other investments.</p> <p>NON-CORRELATION RISK. The Fund's return may not match the return of the Index for a number of reasons. For example, the Fund incurs operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and may incur costs in buying and selling securities, especially when rebalancing the Fund's portfolio holdings to reflect changes in the composition of the Index. In addition, the Fund's portfolio holdings may not exactly replicate the securities included in the Index or the ratios between the securities included in the Index.</p> <p>REPLICATION MANAGEMENT RISK. The Fund is exposed to additional market risk due to its policy of investing principally in the securities included in the Index. As a result of this policy, securities held by the Fund will generally not be bought or sold in response to market fluctuations, and the securities may be issued by companies concentrated in a particular industry. Therefore, the Fund will generally not sell a stock because the stock's issuer is in financial trouble, unless that stock is removed or is anticipated to be removed from the Index.</p> <p>NON-DIVERSIFICATION RISK. The Fund is classified as "non-diversified" under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). As a result, the Fund is only limited as to the percentage of its assets which may be invested in the securities of any one issuer by the diversification requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The Fund may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers. As a result, the Fund may be more susceptible to a single adverse economic or regulatory occurrence affecting one or more of these issuers, experience increased volatility and be highly concentrated in certain issuers.</p> <p>NON-U.S. SECURITIES RISK. The Fund invests in securities of non-U.S. issuers, including non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities traded outside of the United States and U.S. dollar-denominated securities of non-U.S. issuers traded in the United States. Such securities are subject to higher volatility than securities of domestic issuers due to possible adverse political, social or economic developments; restrictions on foreign investment or exchange of securities; lack of liquidity; excessive taxation; government seizure of assets; different legal or accounting standards; and less government supervision and regulation of exchanges in foreign countries.</p> <p>CURRENCY RISK. Because the Fund's NAV is determined on the basis of U.S. dollars and the Fund invests in foreign securities, you may lose money if the local currency of a foreign market depreciates against the U.S. dollar, even if the local currency value of the Fund's holdings goes up.</p> <p>JAPAN RISK. The Fund invests in the stock of companies operating in Japan. Because Japan's economy and equity market share a strong correlation with the U.S. markets, the Japanese economy may be affected by economic problems in the U.S. Japan also has a growing economic relationship with China and other Southeast Asian countries, and thus Japan's economy may also be affected by economic, political or social instability in those countries. Despite a strengthening in the economic relationship between Japan and China, the countries' political relationship has at times been strained in recent years. Should political tension increase, it could adversely affect the economy and destabilize the region as a whole. Japan also remains heavily dependent on oil imports, and higher commodity prices could therefore have a negative impact on the economy. Japanese securities may also be subject to lack of liquidity; excessive taxation; government seizure of assets; different legal or accounting standards and less government supervision and regulation of exchanges than in the United States. Furthermore, the natural disasters that have impacted Japan and the ongoing recovery efforts have had a negative affect on Japan's economy, and may continue to do so.</p> <p>SECURITIES LENDING RISK. The Fund may engage in securities lending. Securities lending involves the risk that the Fund may lose money because the borrower of the Fund's loaned securities fails to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. The Fund could also lose money in the event of a decline in the value of the collateral provided for the loaned securities or a decline in the value of any investments made with cash collateral. These events could also trigger adverse tax consequences for the Fund.</p> <p>You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.</p> <p>MARKET RISK. Market risk is the risk that a particular stock owned by the Fund, Shares of the Fund or stocks in general may fall in value. Shares are subject to market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic, political, regulatory or market developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in stock prices. Overall stock values could decline generally or could underperform other investments.</p> <p>NON-CORRELATION RISK. The Fund's return may not match the return of the Index for a number of reasons. For example, the Fund incurs operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and may incur costs in buying and selling securities, especially when rebalancing the Fund's portfolio holdings to reflect changes in the composition of the Index. In addition, the Fund's portfolio holdings may not exactly replicate the securities included in the Index or the ratios between the securities included in the Index.</p> <p>REPLICATION MANAGEMENT RISK. The Fund is exposed to additional market risk due to its policy of investing principally in the securities included in the Index. As a result of this policy, securities held by the Fund will generally not be bought or sold in response to market fluctuations, and the securities may be issued by companies concentrated in a particular industry. Therefore, the Fund will generally not sell a stock because the stock's issuer is in financial trouble, unless that stock is removed or is anticipated to be removed from the Index.</p> <p>NON-DIVERSIFICATION RISK. The Fund is classified as "non-diversified" under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). As a result, the Fund is only limited as to the percentage of its assets which may be invested in the securities of any one issuer by the diversification requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The Fund may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers. As a result, the Fund may be more susceptible to a single adverse economic or regulatory occurrence affecting one or more of these issuers, experience increased volatility and be highly concentrated in certain issuers.</p> <p>NON-U.S. SECURITIES AND EMERGING MARKETS RISK. The Fund invests in securities of non-U.S. issuers, including non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities traded outside of the United States and U.S. dollar-denominated securities of non-U.S. issuers traded in the United States. Such securities are subject to higher volatility than securities of domestic issuers due to possible adverse political, social or economic developments; restrictions on foreign investment or exchange of securities; lack of liquidity; excessive taxation; government seizure of assets; different legal or accounting standards; and less government supervision and regulation of exchanges in foreign countries. These risks may be heightened for securities of companies located in, or with significant operations in, emerging market countries.</p> <p>CHINA RISK. The Fund may invest in H shares, certain depositary receipts and U.S.-listed common stock of companies that are domiciled in China, including Hong Kong. Some Chinese companies are listed on both the Hong Kong Stock Exchange with H shares and the Shanghai Stock Exchange with A shares. Price differentials between H shares and A shares of the same company may be significant. Also, price fluctuations of A shares are limited to either 5% or 10% per trading day, while no such limitations exist for H shares. Therefore, H shares may be susceptible to greater price fluctuations. Investing in securities of companies in China involves additional risks, including, but not limited to, the economy of China differs, often unfavorably, from the U.S. economy in such respects as structure, general development, government involvement, wealth distribution, rate of inflation, growth rate, allocation of resources and capital reinvestment, among others; the central government has historically exercised substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through administrative regulation and/or state ownership; and actions of the Chinese central and local government authorities continue to have a substantial effect on economic conditions in China. Furthermore, China's economy is dependent on the economies of other Asian countries and can be significantly affected by currency fluctuations and increasing competition from Asia's other low-cost emerging economies. Chinese securities may also be subject to greater restrictions on foreign investment or exchange of securities; lack of liquidity; excessive taxation; government seizure of assets; different legal or accounting standards and less government supervision and regulation of exchanges than in the United States. These risks may be heightened for securities of companies located in, or with significant operations in, an emerging market country like China.</p> <p>BRAZIL RISK. The Fund invests in companies that are operating in Brazil. Brazil has experienced substantial economic instability resulting from, among other things, periods of very high inflation, persistent structural public sector deficits and significant devaluations of its currency leading also to a high degree of price volatility in both the Brazilian equity and foreign currency markets. Brazilian companies may also be adversely affected by high interest and unemployment rates, and are particularly sensitive to fluctuations in commodity prices. Brazilian securities may also be subject to restrictions on foreign investment or exchange of securities; lack of liquidity; excessive taxation; government seizure of assets; different legal or accounting standards and less government supervision and regulation of exchanges than in the United States. These risks may be heightened for securities of companies located in, or with significant operations in, an emerging market country like Brazil.</p> <p>CURRENCY RISK. Because the Fund's NAV is determined on the basis of U.S. dollars and the Fund invests in foreign securities, you may lose money if the local currency of a foreign market depreciates against the U.S. dollar, even if the local currency value of the Fund's holdings goes up.</p> <p>SECURITIES LENDING RISK. The Fund may engage in securities lending. Securities lending involves the risk that the Fund may lose money because the borrower of the Fund's loaned securities fails to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. The Fund could also lose money in the event of a decline in the value of the collateral provided for the loaned securities or a decline in the value of any investments made with cash collateral. These events could also trigger adverse tax consequences for the Fund.</p> <p>ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN</p> <p>ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN</p> <p>The Fund has not yet operated for a full calendar year and, therefore, performance information is not included in this section of the Prospectus. See "Total Return Information" for performance information regarding the Fund.</p> <p>The Fund has not yet operated for a full calendar year and, therefore, performance information is not included in this section of the Prospectus. See "Total Return Information" for performance information regarding the Fund.</p> 0 0 .0080 .0080 .0000 .0000 .0000 .0000 .0080 .0080 82 301 547 1252 Although the Fund has adopted a 12b-1 plan that permits it to pay up to 0.25% per annum, it will not pay 12b-1 fees at any time before April 30, 2013.