Securities Act of 1933 Registration No. 033-60973
Investment Company Act of 1940 Registration No. 811-07319
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 [X]
[ ] Pre-Effective Amendment No. ______
[X] Post-Effective Amendment No. 81
and
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 [X]
[X] Amendment No. 81
Fidelity Covington Trust
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
245 Summer Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)(Zip Code)
Registrant’s Telephone Number: 617-563-7000
Cynthia Lo Bessette, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer
245 Summer Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
It is proposed that this filing will become effective on January 26, 2021 pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485 at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
| Fund | Ticker |
| Fidelity Growth Opportunities ETF | FGRO |
| Fidelity Magellan® ETF | FMAG |
| Fidelity Real Estate Investment ETF | FPRO |
| Fidelity Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF | FSMO |
Principal U.S. Listing Exchange: Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.
Prospectus
January 26, 2021
These ETFs are different from traditional ETFs.
Traditional ETFs tell the public what assets they hold each day. These ETFs will not. This may create additional risks for your investment. For example:
• You may have to pay more money to trade an ETF's shares. These ETFs will provide less information to traders, who tend to charge more for trades when they have less information.
• The price you pay to buy ETF shares on an exchange may not match the value of an ETF's portfolio. The same is true when you sell shares. These price differences may be greater for these ETFs compared to other ETFs because it provides less information to traders.
• These additional risks may be even greater in bad or uncertain market conditions.
• Each ETF will publish on its website each day a "Tracking Basket" designed to help trading in shares of the ETF. While the Tracking Basket includes some of an ETF's holdings, it is not the ETF's actual portfolio.
The differences between these ETFs and other ETFs may also have advantages. By keeping certain information about an ETF secret, these ETFs may face less risk that other traders can predict or copy its investment strategy. This may improve an ETF's performance. If other traders are able to copy or predict an ETF's investment strategy, however, this may hurt the ETF's performance.
For additional information regarding the unique attributes and risks of these ETFs, see the sections entitled "Principal Investment Risks" (in the Fund Summary and Fund Basics sections) and “Additional Information about each Fund” (in the Shareholder Information section) below.
|
These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission has not determined if this prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. |
 245 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210 |
Contents
|
Fund Summary |
||
| Fund Basics | ||
| Shareholder Information |
Additional Information about the Purchase and Sale of Shares |
|
| Fund Services | ||
| Appendix |
Fund Summary
Fund:
Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF
Investment Objective
The fund seeks long-term growth of capital.
Fee Table
The following table describes the fees and expenses that may be incurred when you buy, hold, and sell shares of the fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table or example below.
Shareholder fees
| (fees paid directly from your investment) |
Annual Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)
| Management fee | ||
| Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) fees | ||
| Other expenses(a) | ||
| Total annual operating expenses |
(a)
This example helps compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other funds.
Let's say, hypothetically, that the annual return for shares of the fund is 5% and that your shareholder fees and the annual operating expenses for shares of the fund are exactly as described in the fee table. This example illustrates the effect of fees and expenses, but is not meant to suggest actual or expected fees and expenses or returns, all of which may vary. For every $10,000 you invested, here's how much you would pay in total expenses if you sell all of your shares at the end of each time period indicated:
| 1 year | $ |
| 3 years | $ |
Portfolio Turnover
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 operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's performance.
Principal Investment Strategies
- The fund is an actively managed ETF that operates pursuant to an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (Order) and is not required to publicly disclose its complete portfolio holdings each business day. Instead, the fund publishes each business day on its website a “Tracking Basket,” which is designed to closely track the daily performance of the fund but is not the fund’s actual portfolio. The Tracking Basket is comprised of: (1) select recently disclosed portfolio holdings (Strategy Components); (2) liquid ETFs that convey information about the types of instruments (that are not otherwise fully represented by the Strategy Components) in which the fund invests (Representative ETFs); and (3) cash and cash equivalents. For additional information regarding the Tracking Basket, see “Additional Information about the Fund – Tracking Basket Structure” in the prospectus.
- The fund also publishes each business day on its website the “Tracking Basket Weight Overlap,” which is the percentage weight overlap between the holdings of the prior business day's Tracking Basket compared to the holdings of the fund that formed the basis for the fund’s calculation of net asset value per share (NAV) at the end of the prior business day. The Tracking Basket Weight Overlap is designed to provide investors with an understanding of how similar the Tracking Basket is to the fund’s actual portfolio in percentage terms.
- Normally investing primarily in equity securities.
- Investing in companies that Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC (FMR) believes have above-average growth potential (stocks of these companies are often called "growth" stocks).
- Investing in domestic and foreign issuers.
- Using fundamental analysis of factors such as each issuer's financial condition and industry position, as well as market and economic conditions, to select investments.
Principal Investment Risks
• Tracking Basket Structure Risk. The fund’s Tracking Basket structure may affect the price at which shares of the fund trade in the secondary market. Although the Tracking Basket is intended to provide investors with enough information to allow for an effective arbitrage mechanism that will keep the market price of the fund at or close to the fund’s NAV per share, there is a risk that market prices will vary significantly from NAV. ETFs trading on the basis of a published Tracking Basket may trade at a wider bid/ask spread than ETFs that publish their portfolios on a daily basis, and therefore, may cost investors more to trade. These risks may increase during periods of market disruption or volatility.
In addition, although the fund seeks to benefit from keeping its portfolio information secret, market participants may attempt to use the Tracking Basket to identify the fund’s trading strategy. If successful, this could result in such market participants engaging in certain predatory trading practices that may have the potential to harm the fund and its shareholders, such as front running the fund’s trades of portfolio securities.
- Arbitrage Risk. Unlike ETFs that publicly disclose their complete portfolio holdings each business day, the fund provides certain other information intended to allow market participants to estimate the value of positions in fund shares. Although this information is designed to facilitate arbitrage opportunities in fund shares to reduce bid/ask spread and minimize discounts or premiums between the market price and NAV of fund shares, there is no guarantee the fund’s arbitrage mechanism will operate as intended and that the fund will not experience wide bid/ask spreads and/or large discounts or premiums to NAV. In addition, market participants may attempt to use the disclosed information to “reverse engineer” the fund’s trading strategy, which, if successful, could increase opportunities for predatory trading practices that may have the potential to negatively impact the fund’s performance.
- Fluctuation of Net Asset Value and Share Price. Shares may trade at a larger premium or discount to the NAV than shares of other ETFs, including ETFs that make their daily holdings public. The NAV of the fund will generally fluctuate with changes in the market value of the fund's holdings. The fund's shares can be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. Disruptions to creations and redemptions, the existence of extreme market volatility or potential lack of an active trading market for the fund's shares may result in the fund's shares trading significantly above (at a premium) or below (at a discount) to NAV. In addition, in stressed market conditions or periods of market disruption or volatility, the market for shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for the fund’s underlying portfolio holdings.
- Trading Issues. The fund has no public trading history and will operate differently from other actively managed ETFs that publish their portfolio holdings on a daily basis. There can be no assurance that an active trading market will develop or be maintained or that the market for fund shares will operate as intended, which could lead to the fund's shares trading at wider spreads and larger premiums and discounts to NAV than other actively managed ETFs that publish their portfolio holdings on a daily basis, particularly during periods of market disruption or volatility. As a result, it may cost investors more to trade fund shares than shares of other ETFs. There is no guarantee that the fund will be able to attract market makers and Authorized Participants. Market makers and Authorized Participants are not obligated to make a market in the fund’s shares or to submit purchase and redemption orders for creation units.
- Trading Halt Risk. There may be circumstances where a security held in the fund’s portfolio but not in the Tracking Basket does not have readily available market quotations. If the Adviser determines that such circumstance may affect the reliability of the Tracking Basket as an arbitrage vehicle, that information, along with the identity and weighting of that security in the fund’s portfolio, will be publicly disclosed on the fund’s website and the Adviser will assess appropriate remedial measures. In these circumstances, market participants may use this information to engage in certain predatory trading practices that may have the potential to harm the fund and its shareholders. In addition, if securities representing 10% or more of the fund’s portfolio do not have readily available market quotations, the Adviser would promptly request the Exchange to halt trading on the fund, meaning that investors would not be able to trade their shares. Trading may also be halted in other circumstances, for example, due to market conditions.
- Authorized Participant Concentration Risk. The fund may have a limited number of financial institutions that act as authorized participants, none of which are obligated to engage in creation and/or redemption transactions. To the extent that those authorized participants do not engage in creation and redemption orders, there may be a significantly diminished trading market for fund shares or fund shares may trade at a discount (or premium) to NAV and possibly face trading halts and/or de-listing. The authorized participant concentration risk may be heightened due to the fact that the fund does not disclose its portfolio holdings daily, unlike certain other actively managed ETFs, and could be greater during market disruptions or periods of volatility.
- Stock Market Volatility. Stock markets are volatile and can decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. Different parts of the market, including different market sectors, and different types of securities can react differently to these developments.
- Foreign Exposure. Foreign markets can be more volatile than the U.S. market due to increased risks of adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments and can perform differently from the U.S. market.
- Issuer-Specific Changes. The value of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than, and can perform differently from, the market as a whole.
- "Growth" Investing. "Growth" stocks can react differently to issuer, political, market, and economic developments than the market as a whole and other types of stocks. "Growth" stocks tend to be more expensive relative to their earnings or assets compared to other types of stocks. As a result, "growth" stocks tend to be sensitive to changes in their earnings and more volatile than other types of stocks.
- Mid Cap Investing. The value of securities of medium size, less well-known issuers can perform differently from the market as a whole and other types of stocks and can be more volatile than that of larger issuers.
Performance
Investment Adviser
FMR (the Adviser) is the fund's manager and other investment advisers serve as sub-advisers for the fund.
Portfolio Manager(s)
Michael Kim (co-manager) has managed the fund since February 2021.
Kyle Weaver (co-manager) has managed the fund since February 2021.
Purchase and Sale of Shares
Shares of the fund are listed and traded on an exchange, and individual fund shares may only be bought and sold in the secondary market through a broker or dealer at market price. These transactions, which do not involve the fund, are made at market prices that may vary throughout the day, rather than at NAV. Shares of the fund may trade at a price greater than the fund's NAV (premium) or less than the fund's NAV (discount). An investor may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase shares (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for shares (ask) when buying or selling fund shares in the secondary market (the “bid-ask spread”). Recent information, including information regarding the fund’s NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spread, is available at www.fidelity.com.
Tax Information
Distributions you receive from the fund are subject to federal income tax and generally will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, and may also be subject to state or local taxes, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged retirement account (in which case you may be taxed later, upon withdrawal of your investment from such account).
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
The fund, the Adviser, Fidelity Distributors Company LLC (FDC), and/or their affiliates may pay intermediaries, which may include banks, broker-dealers, retirement plan sponsors, administrators, or service-providers (who may be affiliated with the Adviser or FDC), for the sale of fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing your intermediary and your investment professional to recommend the fund over another investment. Ask your investment professional or visit your intermediary's web site for more information.
Fund Summary
Fund:
Fidelity® Magellan® ETF
Investment Objective
The fund seeks long-term growth of capital.
Fee Table
The following table describes the fees and expenses that may be incurred when you buy, hold, and sell shares of the fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table or example below.
Shareholder fees
| (fees paid directly from your investment) |
Annual Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)
| Management fee | ||
| Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) fees | ||
| Other expenses(a) | ||
| Total annual operating expenses |
(a)
This example helps compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other funds.
Let's say, hypothetically, that the annual return for shares of the fund is 5% and that your shareholder fees and the annual operating expenses for shares of the fund are exactly as described in the fee table. This example illustrates the effect of fees and expenses, but is not meant to suggest actual or expected fees and expenses or returns, all of which may vary. For every $10,000 you invested, here's how much you would pay in total expenses if you sell all of your shares at the end of each time period indicated:
| 1 year | $ |
| 3 years | $ |
Portfolio Turnover
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 operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's performance.
Principal Investment Strategies
- The fund is an actively managed ETF that operates pursuant to an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (Order) and is not required to publicly disclose its complete portfolio holdings each business day. Instead, the fund publishes each business day on its website a “Tracking Basket,” which is designed to closely track the daily performance of the fund but is not the fund’s actual portfolio. The Tracking Basket is comprised of: (1) select recently disclosed portfolio holdings (Strategy Components); (2) liquid ETFs that convey information about the types of instruments (that are not otherwise fully represented by the Strategy Components) in which the fund invests (Representative ETFs); and (3) cash and cash equivalents. For additional information regarding the Tracking Basket, see “Additional Information about the Fund – Tracking Basket Structure” in the prospectus.
- The fund also publishes each business day on its website the “Tracking Basket Weight Overlap,” which is the percentage weight overlap between the holdings of the prior business day's Tracking Basket compared to the holdings of the fund that formed the basis for the fund’s calculation of net asset value per share (NAV) at the end of the prior business day. The Tracking Basket Weight Overlap is designed to provide investors with an understanding of how similar the Tracking Basket is to the fund’s actual portfolio in percentage terms.
- Normally investing primarily in equity securities.
- Investing in either "growth" stocks or "value" stocks or both.
- Investing in domestic and foreign issuers.
- Using fundamental analysis of factors such as each issuer's financial condition and industry position, as well as market and economic conditions, to select investments.
Principal Investment Risks
• Tracking Basket Structure Risk. The fund’s Tracking Basket structure may affect the price at which shares of the fund trade in the secondary market. Although the Tracking Basket is intended to provide investors with enough information to allow for an effective arbitrage mechanism that will keep the market price of the fund at or close to the fund’s NAV per share, there is a risk that market prices will vary significantly from NAV. ETFs trading on the basis of a published Tracking Basket may trade at a wider bid/ask spread than ETFs that publish their portfolios on a daily basis, and therefore, may cost investors more to trade. These risks may increase during periods of market disruption or volatility.
In addition, although the fund seeks to benefit from keeping its portfolio information secret, market participants may attempt to use the Tracking Basket to identify the fund’s trading strategy. If successful, this could result in such market participants engaging in certain predatory trading practices that may have the potential to harm the fund and its shareholders, such as front running the fund’s trades of portfolio securities.
- Arbitrage Risk. Unlike ETFs that publicly disclose their complete portfolio holdings each business day, the fund provides certain other information intended to allow market participants to estimate the value of positions in fund shares. Although this information is designed to facilitate arbitrage opportunities in fund shares to reduce bid/ask spread and minimize discounts or premiums between the market price and NAV of fund shares, there is no guarantee the fund’s arbitrage mechanism will operate as intended and that the fund will not experience wide bid/ask spreads and/or large discounts or premiums to NAV. In addition, market participants may attempt to use the disclosed information to “reverse engineer” the fund’s trading strategy, which, if successful, could increase opportunities for predatory trading practices that may have the potential to negatively impact the fund’s performance.
- Fluctuation of Net Asset Value and Share Price. Shares may trade at a larger premium or discount to the NAV than shares of other ETFs, including ETFs that make their daily holdings public. The NAV of the fund will generally fluctuate with changes in the market value of the fund's holdings. The fund's shares can be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. Disruptions to creations and redemptions, the existence of extreme market volatility or potential lack of an active trading market for the fund's shares may result in the fund's shares trading significantly above (at a premium) or below (at a discount) to NAV. In addition, in stressed market conditions or periods of market disruption or volatility, the market for shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for the fund’s underlying portfolio holdings.
- Trading Issues. The fund has no public trading history and will operate differently from other actively managed ETFs that publish their portfolio holdings on a daily basis. There can be no assurance that an active trading market will develop or be maintained or that the market for fund shares will operate as intended, which could lead to the fund's shares trading at wider spreads and larger premiums and discounts to NAV than other actively managed ETFs that publish their portfolio holdings on a daily basis, particularly during periods of market disruption or volatility. As a result, it may cost investors more to trade fund shares than shares of other ETFs. There is no guarantee that the fund will be able to attract market makers and Authorized Participants. Market makers and Authorized Participants are not obligated to make a market in the fund’s shares or to submit purchase and redemption orders for creation units.
- Trading Halt Risk. There may be circumstances where a security held in the fund’s portfolio but not in the Tracking Basket does not have readily available market quotations. If the Adviser determines that such circumstance may affect the reliability of the Tracking Basket as an arbitrage vehicle, that information, along with the identity and weighting of that security in the fund’s portfolio, will be publicly disclosed on the fund’s website and the Adviser will assess appropriate remedial measures. In these circumstances, market participants may use this information to engage in certain predatory trading practices that may have the potential to harm the fund and its shareholders. In addition, if securities representing 10% or more of the fund’s portfolio do not have readily available market quotations, the Adviser would promptly request the Exchange to halt trading on the fund, meaning that investors would not be able to trade their shares. Trading may also be halted in other circumstances, for example, due to market conditions.
- Authorized Participant Concentration Risk. The fund may have a limited number of financial institutions that act as authorized participants, none of which are obligated to engage in creation and/or redemption transactions. To the extent that those authorized participants do not engage in creation and redemption orders, there may be a significantly diminished trading market for fund shares or fund shares may trade at a discount (or premium) to NAV and possibly face trading halts and/or de-listing. The authorized participant concentration risk may be heightened due to the fact that the fund does not disclose its portfolio holdings daily, unlike certain other actively managed ETFs, and could be greater during market disruptions or periods of volatility.
- Stock Market Volatility. Stock markets are volatile and can decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. Different parts of the market, including different market sectors, and different types of securities can react differently to these developments.
- Foreign Exposure. Foreign markets can be more volatile than the U.S. market due to increased risks of adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments and can perform differently from the U.S. market.
- Issuer-Specific Changes. The value of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than, and can perform differently from, the market as a whole.
- "Growth" Investing. "Growth" stocks can perform differently from the market as a whole and other types of stocks and can be more volatile than other types of stocks.
- "Value" Investing. "Value" stocks can perform differently from the market as a whole and other types of stocks and can continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time.
Performance
Investment Adviser
Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC (FMR) (the Adviser) is the fund's manager and other investment advisers serve as sub-advisers for the fund.
Portfolio Manager(s)
Tim Gannon (co-manager) has managed the fund since February 2021.
Sammy Simnegar (co-manager) has managed the fund since February 2021.
Purchase and Sale of Shares
Shares of the fund are listed and traded on an exchange, and individual fund shares may only be bought and sold in the secondary market through a broker or dealer at market price. These transactions, which do not involve the fund, are made at market prices that may vary throughout the day, rather than at NAV. Shares of the fund may trade at a price greater than a fund's NAV (premium) or less than a fund's NAV (discount). An investor may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase shares (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for shares (ask) when buying or selling fund shares in the secondary market (the "bid-ask spread"). Recent information, including information regarding the fund's NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spread, is available at www.fidelity.com.
Tax Information
Distributions you receive from the fund are subject to federal income tax and generally will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, and may also be subject to state or local taxes, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged retirement account (in which case you may be taxed later, upon withdrawal of your investment from such account).
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
The fund, the Adviser, Fidelity Distributors Company LLC (FDC), and/or their affiliates may pay intermediaries, which may include banks, broker-dealers, retirement plan sponsors, administrators, or service-providers (who may be affiliated with the Adviser or FDC), for the sale of fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing your intermediary and your investment professional to recommend the fund over another investment. Ask your investment professional or visit your intermediary's web site for more information.
Fund Summary
Fund:
Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF
Investment Objective
The fund seeks above-average income and long-term capital growth, consistent with reasonable investment risk.
Fee Table
The following table describes the fees and expenses that may be incurred when you buy, hold, and sell shares of the fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table or example below.
Shareholder fees
| (fees paid directly from your investment) |
Annual Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)
| Management fee | ||
| Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) fees | ||
| Other expenses(a) | ||
| Total annual operating expenses |
(a)
This example helps compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other funds.
Let's say, hypothetically, that the annual return for shares of the fund is 5% and that your shareholder fees and the annual operating expenses for shares of the fund are exactly as described in the fee table. This example illustrates the effect of fees and expenses, but is not meant to suggest actual or expected fees and expenses or returns, all of which may vary. For every $10,000 you invested, here's how much you would pay in total expenses if you sell all of your shares at the end of each time period indicated:
| 1 year | $ |
| 3 years | $ |
Portfolio Turnover
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 operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's performance.
Principal Investment Strategies
- The fund is an actively managed ETF that operates pursuant to an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (Order) and is not required to publicly disclose its complete portfolio holdings each business day. Instead, the fund publishes each business day on its website a “Tracking Basket,” which is designed to closely track the daily performance of the fund but is not the fund’s actual portfolio. The Tracking Basket is comprised of: (1) select recently disclosed portfolio holdings (Strategy Components); (2) liquid ETFs that convey information about the types of instruments (that are not otherwise fully represented by the Strategy Components) in which the fund invests (Representative ETFs); and (3) cash and cash equivalents. For additional information regarding the Tracking Basket, see “Additional Information about the Fund – Tracking Basket Structure” in the prospectus.
- The fund also publishes each business day on its website the “Tracking Basket Weight Overlap,” which is the percentage weight overlap between the holdings of the prior business day's Tracking Basket compared to the holdings of the fund that formed the basis for the fund’s calculation of net asset value per share (NAV) at the end of the prior business day. The Tracking Basket Weight Overlap is designed to provide investors with an understanding of how similar the Tracking Basket is to the fund’s actual portfolio in percentage terms.
- Normally investing primarily in equity securities.
- Investing in domestic and foreign issuers.
- Using fundamental analysis of factors such as each issuer's financial condition and industry position, as well as market and economic conditions, to select investments.
Principal Investment Risks
• Tracking Basket Structure Risk. The fund’s Tracking Basket structure may affect the price at which shares of the fund trade in the secondary market. Although the Tracking Basket is intended to provide investors with enough information to allow for an effective arbitrage mechanism that will keep the market price of the fund at or close to the fund’s NAV per share, there is a risk that market prices will vary significantly from NAV. ETFs trading on the basis of a published Tracking Basket may trade at a wider bid/ask spread than ETFs that publish their portfolios on a daily basis, and therefore, may cost investors more to trade. These risks may increase during periods of market disruption or volatility.
In addition, although the fund seeks to benefit from keeping its portfolio information secret, market participants may attempt to use the Tracking Basket to identify the fund’s trading strategy. If successful, this could result in such market participants engaging in certain predatory trading practices that may have the potential to harm the fund and its shareholders, such as front running the fund’s trades of portfolio securities.
- Arbitrage Risk. Unlike ETFs that publicly disclose their complete portfolio holdings each business day, the fund provides certain other information intended to allow market participants to estimate the value of positions in fund shares. Although this information is designed to facilitate arbitrage opportunities in fund shares to reduce bid/ask spread and minimize discounts or premiums between the market price and NAV of fund shares, there is no guarantee the fund’s arbitrage mechanism will operate as intended and that the fund will not experience wide bid/ask spreads and/or large discounts or premiums to NAV. In addition, market participants may attempt to use the disclosed information to “reverse engineer” the fund’s trading strategy, which, if successful, could increase opportunities for predatory trading practices that may have the potential to negatively impact the fund’s performance.
- Fluctuation of Net Asset Value and Share Price. Shares may trade at a larger premium or discount to the NAV than shares of other ETFs, including ETFs that make their daily holdings public. The NAV of the fund will generally fluctuate with changes in the market value of the fund's holdings. The fund's shares can be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. Disruptions to creations and redemptions, the existence of extreme market volatility or potential lack of an active trading market for the fund's shares may result in the fund's shares trading significantly above (at a premium) or below (at a discount) to NAV. In addition, in stressed market conditions or periods of market disruption or volatility, the market for shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for the fund’s underlying portfolio holdings.
- Trading Issues. The fund has no public trading history and will operate differently from other actively managed ETFs that publish their portfolio holdings on a daily basis. There can be no assurance that an active trading market will develop or be maintained or that the market for fund shares will operate as intended, which could lead to the fund's shares trading at wider spreads and larger premiums and discounts to NAV than other actively managed ETFs that publish their portfolio holdings on a daily basis, particularly during periods of market disruption or volatility. As a result, it may cost investors more to trade fund shares than shares of other ETFs. There is no guarantee that the fund will be able to attract market makers and Authorized Participants. Market makers and Authorized Participants are not obligated to make a market in the fund’s shares or to submit purchase and redemption orders for creation units.
- Trading Halt Risk. There may be circumstances where a security held in the fund’s portfolio but not in the Tracking Basket does not have readily available market quotations. If the Adviser determines that such circumstance may affect the reliability of the Tracking Basket as an arbitrage vehicle, that information, along with the identity and weighting of that security in the fund’s portfolio, will be publicly disclosed on the fund’s website and the Adviser will assess appropriate remedial measures. In these circumstances, market participants may use this information to engage in certain predatory trading practices that may have the potential to harm the fund and its shareholders. In addition, if securities representing 10% or more of the fund’s portfolio do not have readily available market quotations, the Adviser would promptly request the Exchange to halt trading on the fund, meaning that investors would not be able to trade their shares. Trading may also be halted in other circumstances, for example, due to market conditions.
- Authorized Participant Concentration Risk. The fund may have a limited number of financial institutions that act as authorized participants, none of which are obligated to engage in creation and/or redemption transactions. To the extent that those authorized participants do not engage in creation and redemption orders, there may be a significantly diminished trading market for fund shares or fund shares may trade at a discount (or premium) to NAV and possibly face trading halts and/or de-listing. The authorized participant concentration risk may be heightened due to the fact that the fund does not disclose its portfolio holdings daily, unlike certain other actively managed ETFs, and could be greater during market disruptions or periods of volatility.
- Stock Market Volatility. Stock markets are volatile and can decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. Different parts of the market, including different market sectors, and different types of securities can react differently to these developments.
- Foreign Exposure. Foreign markets can be more volatile than the U.S. market due to increased risks of adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments and can perform differently from the U.S. market.
- Real Estate Industry Concentration. Changes in real estate values or economic downturns can have a significant negative effect on issuers in the real estate industry. The value of securities of issuers in the real estate industry can be affected by changes in real estate values and rental income, property taxes, interest rates, tax and regulatory requirements, and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer.
- Issuer-Specific Changes. The value of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than, and can perform differently from, the market as a whole.
- Mid Cap Investing. The value of securities of medium size, less well-known issuers can perform differently from the market as a whole and other types of stocks and can be more volatile than that of larger issuers.
Performance
Investment Adviser
Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC (FMR) (the Adviser) is the fund's manager and other investment advisers serve as sub-advisers for the fund.
Portfolio Manager(s)
Steven Buller (co-manager) has managed the fund since February 2021.
Zhitong Zhang (co-manager) has managed the fund since February 2021.
Purchase and Sale of Shares
Shares of the fund are listed and traded on an exchange, and individual fund shares may only be bought and sold in the secondary market through a broker or dealer at market price. These transactions, which do not involve the fund, are made at market prices that may vary throughout the day, rather than at NAV. Shares of the fund may trade at a price greater than the fund's NAV (premium) or less than the fund's NAV (discount). An investor may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase shares (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for shares (ask) when buying or selling fund shares in the secondary market (the “bid-ask spread”). Recent information, including information regarding the fund’s NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spread, is available at www.fidelity.com.
Tax Information
Distributions you receive from the fund are subject to federal income tax and generally will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, and may also be subject to state or local taxes, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged retirement account (in which case you may be taxed later, upon withdrawal of your investment from such account).
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
The fund, the Adviser, Fidelity Distributors Company LLC (FDC), and/or their affiliates may pay intermediaries, which may include banks, broker-dealers, retirement plan sponsors, administrators, or service-providers (who may be affiliated with the Adviser or FDC), for the sale of fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing your intermediary and your investment professional to recommend the fund over another investment. Ask your investment professional or visit your intermediary's web site for more information.
Fund Summary
Fund:
Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF
Investment Objective
The fund seeks long-term growth of capital.
Fee Table
The following table describes the fees and expenses that may be incurred when you buy, hold, and sell shares of the fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table or example below.
Shareholder fees
| (fees paid directly from your investment) |
Annual Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)
| Management fee | ||
| Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) fees | ||
| Other expenses(a) | ||
| Total annual operating expenses |
(a)
This example helps compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other funds.
Let's say, hypothetically, that the annual return for shares of the fund is 5% and that your shareholder fees and the annual operating expenses for shares of the fund are exactly as described in the fee table. This example illustrates the effect of fees and expenses, but is not meant to suggest actual or expected fees and expenses or returns, all of which may vary. For every $10,000 you invested, here's how much you would pay in total expenses if you sell all of your shares at the end of each time period indicated:
| 1 year | $ |
| 3 years | $ |
Portfolio Turnover
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 operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's performance.
Principal Investment Strategies
- The fund is an actively managed ETF that operates pursuant to an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (Order) and is not required to publicly disclose its complete portfolio holdings each business day. Instead, the fund publishes each business day on its website a “Tracking Basket,” which is designed to closely track the daily performance of the fund but is not the fund’s actual portfolio. The Tracking Basket is comprised of: (1) select recently disclosed portfolio holdings (Strategy Components); (2) liquid ETFs that convey information about the types of instruments (that are not otherwise fully represented by the Strategy Components) in which the fund invests (Representative ETFs); and (3) cash and cash equivalents. For additional information regarding the Tracking Basket, see “Additional Information about the Fund – Tracking Basket Structure” in the prospectus.
- The fund also publishes each business day on its website the “Tracking Basket Weight Overlap,” which is the percentage weight overlap between the holdings of the prior business day's Tracking Basket compared to the holdings of the fund that formed the basis for the fund’s calculation of net asset value per share (NAV) at the end of the prior business day. The Tracking Basket Weight Overlap is designed to provide investors with an understanding of how similar the Tracking Basket is to the fund’s actual portfolio in percentage terms.
- Normally investing primarily in equity securities.
- Normally investing at least 80% of assets in securities of companies with small to medium market capitalizations (which, for purposes of this fund, are those companies with market capitalizations similar to companies in the Russell 2500™ Index).
- Investing in domestic and foreign issuers.
- Investing in either "growth" stocks or "value" stocks or both.
- Using fundamental analysis of factors such as each issuer's financial condition and industry position, as well as market and economic conditions, and quantitative analysis to select investments.
Principal Investment Risks
• Tracking Basket Structure Risk. The fund’s Tracking Basket structure may affect the price at which shares of the fund trade in the secondary market. Although the Tracking Basket is intended to provide investors with enough information to allow for an effective arbitrage mechanism that will keep the market price of the fund at or close to the fund’s NAV per share, there is a risk that market prices will vary significantly from NAV. ETFs trading on the basis of a published Tracking Basket may trade at a wider bid/ask spread than ETFs that publish their portfolios on a daily basis, and therefore, may cost investors more to trade. These risks may increase during periods of market disruption or volatility.
In addition, although the fund seeks to benefit from keeping its portfolio information secret, market participants may attempt to use the Tracking Basket to identify the fund’s trading strategy. If successful, this could result in such market participants engaging in certain predatory trading practices that may have the potential to harm the fund and its shareholders, such as front running the fund’s trades of portfolio securities.
- Arbitrage Risk. Unlike ETFs that publicly disclose their complete portfolio holdings each business day, the fund provides certain other information intended to allow market participants to estimate the value of positions in fund shares. Although this information is designed to facilitate arbitrage opportunities in fund shares to reduce bid/ask spread and minimize discounts or premiums between the market price and NAV of fund shares, there is no guarantee the fund’s arbitrage mechanism will operate as intended and that the fund will not experience wide bid/ask spreads and/or large discounts or premiums to NAV. In addition, market participants may attempt to use the disclosed information to “reverse engineer” the fund’s trading strategy, which, if successful, could increase opportunities for predatory trading practices that may have the potential to negatively impact the fund’s performance.
- Fluctuation of Net Asset Value and Share Price. Shares may trade at a larger premium or discount to the NAV than shares of other ETFs, including ETFs that make their daily holdings public. The NAV of the fund will generally fluctuate with changes in the market value of the fund's holdings. The fund's shares can be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. Disruptions to creations and redemptions, the existence of extreme market volatility or potential lack of an active trading market for the fund's shares may result in the fund's shares trading significantly above (at a premium) or below (at a discount) to NAV. In addition, in stressed market conditions or periods of market disruption or volatility, the market for shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for the fund’s underlying portfolio holdings.
- Trading Issues. The fund has no public trading history and will operate differently from other actively managed ETFs that publish their portfolio holdings on a daily basis. There can be no assurance that an active trading market will develop or be maintained or that the market for fund shares will operate as intended, which could lead to the fund's shares trading at wider spreads and larger premiums and discounts to NAV than other actively managed ETFs that publish their portfolio holdings on a daily basis, particularly during periods of market disruption or volatility. As a result, it may cost investors more to trade fund shares than shares of other ETFs. There is no guarantee that the fund will be able to attract market makers and Authorized Participants. Market makers and Authorized Participants are not obligated to make a market in the fund’s shares or to submit purchase and redemption orders for creation units.
- Trading Halt Risk. There may be circumstances where a security held in the fund’s portfolio but not in the Tracking Basket does not have readily available market quotations. If the Adviser determines that such circumstance may affect the reliability of the Tracking Basket as an arbitrage vehicle, that information, along with the identity and weighting of that security in the fund’s portfolio, will be publicly disclosed on the fund’s website and the Adviser will assess appropriate remedial measures. In these circumstances, market participants may use this information to engage in certain predatory trading practices that may have the potential to harm the fund and its shareholders. In addition, if securities representing 10% or more of the fund’s portfolio do not have readily available market quotations, the Adviser would promptly request the Exchange to halt trading on the fund, meaning that investors would not be able to trade their shares. Trading may also be halted in other circumstances, for example, due to market conditions.
- Authorized Participant Concentration Risk. The fund may have a limited number of financial institutions that act as authorized participants, none of which are obligated to engage in creation and/or redemption transactions. To the extent that those authorized participants do not engage in creation and redemption orders, there may be a significantly diminished trading market for fund shares or fund shares may trade at a discount (or premium) to NAV and possibly face trading halts and/or de-listing. The authorized participant concentration risk may be heightened due to the fact that the fund does not disclose its portfolio holdings daily, unlike certain other actively managed ETFs, and could be greater during market disruptions or periods of volatility.
- Stock Market Volatility. Stock markets are volatile and can decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. Different parts of the market, including different market sectors, and different types of securities can react differently to these developments.
- Foreign Exposure. Foreign markets can be more volatile than the U.S. market due to increased risks of adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments and can perform differently from the U.S. market.
- Issuer-Specific Changes. The value of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than, and can perform differently from, the market as a whole.
- Quantitative Investing. Securities selected using quantitative analysis can perform differently from the market as a whole or securities selected using only fundamental analysis.
- Small Cap Investing. The value of securities of smaller, less well-known issuers can perform differently from the market as a whole and other types of stocks and can be more volatile than that of larger issuers.
- Mid Cap Investing. The value of securities of medium size, less well-known issuers can perform differently from the market as a whole and other types of stocks and can be more volatile than that of larger issuers.
Performance
Investment Adviser
Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC (FMR) (the Adviser) is the fund's manager and other investment advisers serve as sub-advisers for the fund.
Portfolio Manager(s)
Tim Gannon (co-manager) has managed the fund since February 2021.
Michelle Hoerber (co-manager) has managed the fund since February 2021.
Purchase and Sale of Shares
Shares of the fund are listed and traded on an exchange, and individual fund shares may only be bought and sold in the secondary market through a broker or dealer at market price. These transactions, which do not involve the fund, are made at market prices that may vary throughout the day, rather than at NAV. Shares of the fund may trade at a price greater than the fund's NAV (premium) or less than the fund's NAV (discount). An investor may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase shares (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for shares (ask) when buying or selling fund shares in the secondary market (the “bid-ask spread”). Recent information, including information regarding the fund’s NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spread, is available at www.fidelity.com.
Tax Information
Distributions you receive from the fund are subject to federal income tax and generally will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, and may also be subject to state or local taxes, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged retirement account (in which case you may be taxed later, upon withdrawal of your investment from such account).
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
The fund, the Adviser, Fidelity Distributors Company LLC (FDC), and/or their affiliates may pay intermediaries, which may include banks, broker-dealers, retirement plan sponsors, administrators, or service-providers (who may be affiliated with the Adviser or FDC), for the sale of fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing your intermediary and your investment professional to recommend the fund over another investment. Ask your investment professional or visit your intermediary's web site for more information.
Fund Basics
Investment Details
Investment Objective
Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF seeks long-term growth of capital.
Principal Investment Strategies
The fund is an actively managed ETF that operates pursuant to an exemptive order from the SEC and is not required to publicly disclose its complete portfolio holdings each business day. Instead, the fund publishes its Tracking Basket on its website each business day. While the Tracking Basket, which is designed to closely track the daily performance of the fund, includes some of the fund’s holdings, it is not the fund’s actual portfolio. The Tracking Basket is comprised of Strategy Components (select recently disclosed portfolio holdings), Representative ETFs (liquid ETFs that convey information about the types of instruments (that are not otherwise fully represented by the Strategy Components) in which the fund invests), and cash and cash equivalents. For additional information regarding the Tracking Basket, see “Additional Information about the Fund – Tracking Basket Structure” below.
The fund also publishes each business day on its website the Tracking Basket Weight Overlap, which is the percentage weight overlap between the holdings of the prior business day's Tracking Basket compared to the holdings of the fund that formed the basis for the fund’s calculation of NAV per share at the end of the prior business day. The Tracking Basket Weight Overlap is designed to provide investors with an understanding of how similar the Tracking Basket is to the fund’s actual portfolio in percentage terms. There is no minimum Tracking Basket Weight Overlap.
The Adviser normally invests the fund’s assets primarily in equity securities.
The Adviser invests the fund's assets in companies it believes have above-average growth potential. Growth may be measured by factors such as earnings or revenue.
Companies with high growth potential tend to be companies with higher than average price/earnings (P/E) or price/book (P/B) ratios. Companies with strong growth potential often have new products, technologies, distribution channels, or other opportunities, or have a strong industry or market position. The stocks of these companies are often called "growth" stocks.
Although the Adviser focuses on investing the fund's assets in securities issued by larger-sized companies, the Adviser may also make substantial investments in securities issued by medium and smaller companies.
The Adviser may invest the fund's assets in securities of foreign issuers in addition to securities of domestic issuers. The fund may only invest in common stocks listed on a foreign exchange that trade contemporaneously with the fund’s shares.
The fund may invest a significant percentage of its assets in relatively few companies and may invest up to 25% in a single company. The fund is classified as non-diversified.
In buying and selling securities for the fund, the Adviser relies on fundamental analysis, which involves a bottom-up assessment of a company's potential for success in light of factors including its financial condition, earnings outlook, strategy, management, industry position, and economic and market conditions.
If the Adviser's strategies do not work as intended, the fund may not achieve its objective.
Shareholders should be aware that investments made by the fund and results achieved by the fund at any given time are not expected to be the same as those made by other funds for which the Adviser or an affiliate acts as manager, including funds with names, investment objectives, and policies that are similar to the fund.
Investment Objective
Fidelity® Magellan® ETF seeks long-term growth of capital.
Principal Investment Strategies
The fund is an actively managed ETF that operates pursuant to an exemptive order from the SEC and is not required to publicly disclose its complete portfolio holdings each business day. Instead, the fund publishes its Tracking Basket on its website each business day. While the Tracking Basket, which is designed to closely track the daily performance of the fund, includes some of the fund’s holdings, it is not the fund’s actual portfolio. The Tracking Basket is comprised of Strategy Components (select recently disclosed portfolio holdings), Representative ETFs (liquid ETFs that convey information about the types of instruments (that are not otherwise fully represented by the Strategy Components) in which the fund invests), and cash and cash equivalents. For additional information regarding the Tracking Basket, see “Additional Information about the Fund – Tracking Basket Structure” below.
The fund also publishes each business day on its website the Tracking Basket Weight Overlap, which is the percentage weight overlap between the holdings of the prior business day's Tracking Basket compared to the holdings of the fund that formed the basis for the fund’s calculation of NAV per share at the end of the prior business day. The Tracking Basket Weight Overlap is designed to provide investors with an understanding of how similar the Tracking Basket is to the fund’s actual portfolio in percentage terms. There is no minimum Tracking Basket Weight Overlap.
The Adviser normally invests the fund’s assets primarily in equity securities.
The Adviser may invest the fund's assets in securities of foreign issuers in addition to securities of domestic issuers. The fund may only invest in common stocks listed on a foreign exchange that trade contemporaneously with the fund’s shares.
The Adviser is not constrained by any particular investment style. At any given time, the Adviser may tend to buy "growth" stocks or "value" stocks, or a combination of both types.
The fund may invest a significant percentage of its assets in relatively few companies and may invest up to 25% in a single company. The fund is classified as non-diversified.
In buying and selling securities for the fund, the Adviser relies on fundamental analysis, which involves a bottom-up assessment of a company's potential for success in light of factors including its financial condition, earnings outlook, strategy, management, industry position, and economic and market conditions.
If the Adviser's strategies do not work as intended, the fund may not achieve its objective.
Shareholders should be aware that investments made by the fund and results achieved by the fund at any given time are not expected to be the same as those made by other funds for which the Adviser or an affiliate acts as manager, including funds with names, investment objectives, and policies that are similar to the fund.
Investment Objective
Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF seeks above-average income and long-term capital growth, consistent with reasonable investment risk.
Principal Investment Strategies
The fund is an actively managed ETF that operates pursuant to an exemptive order from the SEC and is not required to publicly disclose its complete portfolio holdings each business day. Instead, the fund publishes its Tracking Basket on its website each business day. While the Tracking Basket, which is designed to closely track the daily performance of the fund, includes some of the fund’s holdings, it is not the fund’s actual portfolio. The Tracking Basket is comprised of Strategy Components (select recently disclosed portfolio holdings), Representative ETFs (liquid ETFs that convey information about the types of instruments (that are not otherwise fully represented by the Strategy Components) in which the fund invests), and cash and cash equivalents. For additional information regarding the Tracking Basket, see “Additional Information about the Fund – Tracking Basket Structure” below.
The fund also publishes each business day on its website the Tracking Basket Weight Overlap, which is the percentage weight overlap between the holdings of the prior business day's Tracking Basket compared to the holdings of the fund that formed the basis for the fund’s calculation of NAV per share at the end of the prior business day. The Tracking Basket Weight Overlap is designed to provide investors with an understanding of how similar the Tracking Basket is to the fund’s actual portfolio in percentage terms. There is no minimum Tracking Basket Weight Overlap.
The Adviser normally invests the fund’s assets primarily in equity securities.
The Adviser normally invests at least 80% of the fund's assets in securities of companies principally engaged in the real estate industry and other real estate related investments. Companies in the real estate industry and real estate related investments may include, for example, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) that either own properties or make construction or mortgage loans, real estate developers, companies with substantial real estate holdings, and other companies whose products and services are related to the real estate industry, such as building supply manufacturers, mortgage lenders, or mortgage servicing companies.
The Adviser may invest the fund's assets in securities of foreign issuers in addition to securities of domestic issuers. The fund may only invest in common stocks listed on a foreign exchange that trade contemporaneously with the fund’s shares.
The fund may invest a significant percentage of its assets in relatively few companies and may invest up to 25% in a single company. The fund is classified as non-diversified.
In buying and selling securities for the fund, the Adviser relies on fundamental analysis, which involves a bottom-up assessment of a company's potential for success in light of factors including its financial condition, earnings outlook, strategy, management, industry position, and economic and market conditions.
If the Adviser's strategies do not work as intended, the fund may not achieve its objective.
Shareholders should be aware that investments made by the fund and results achieved by the fund at any given time are not expected to be the same as those made by other funds for which the Adviser or an affiliate acts as manager, including funds with names, investment objectives, and policies that are similar to the fund.
Investment Objective
Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF seeks long-term growth of capital.
Principal Investment Strategies
The fund is an actively managed ETF that operates pursuant to an exemptive order from the SEC and is not required to publicly disclose its complete portfolio holdings each business day. Instead, the fund publishes its Tracking Basket on its website each business day. While the Tracking Basket, which is designed to closely track the daily performance of the fund, includes some of the fund’s holdings, it is not the fund’s actual portfolio. The Tracking Basket is comprised of Strategy Components (select recently disclosed portfolio holdings), Representative ETFs (liquid ETFs that convey information about the types of instruments (that are not otherwise fully represented by the Strategy Components) in which the fund invests), and cash and cash equivalents. For additional information regarding the Tracking Basket, see “Additional Information about the Fund – Tracking Basket Structure” below.
The fund also publishes each business day on its website the Tracking Basket Weight Overlap, which is the percentage weight overlap between the holdings of the prior business day's Tracking Basket compared to the holdings of the fund that formed the basis for the fund’s calculation of NAV per share at the end of the prior business day. The Tracking Basket Weight Overlap is designed to provide investors with an understanding of how similar the Tracking Basket is to the fund’s actual portfolio in percentage terms. There is no minimum Tracking Basket Weight Overlap.
The Adviser normally invests the fund’s assets primarily in equity securities.
The Adviser normally invests at least 80% of the fund's assets in securities of companies with small to medium market capitalizations. Although a universal definition of small to medium market capitalization companies does not exist, for purposes of this fund, the Adviser generally defines small to medium market capitalization companies as those companies whose market capitalization is similar to the market capitalization of companies included in the Russell 2500™ Index. A company's market capitalization is based on its current market capitalization or its market capitalization at the time of the fund's investment. The size of the companies in the index changes with market conditions and the composition of the index.
The Adviser may invest the fund's assets in securities of foreign issuers in addition to securities of domestic issuers. The fund may only invest in common stocks listed on a foreign exchange that trade contemporaneously with the fund’s shares.
The fund may invest a significant percentage of its assets in relatively few companies and may invest up to 25% in a single company. The fund is classified as non-diversified.
In buying and selling securities for the fund, the Adviser relies on both fundamental and quantitative analysis. Fundamental analysis involves a bottom-up assessment of a company's potential for success in light of factors including its financial condition, earnings outlook, strategy, management, industry position, and economic and market conditions. Quantitative analysis includes portfolio construction in terms of relative position size, relative sector weights, turnover and the total number of holdings.
The Adviser is not constrained by any particular investment style. At any given time, the Adviser may tend to buy "growth" stocks or "value" stocks, or a combination of both types.
If the Adviser's strategies do not work as intended, the fund may not achieve its objective.
Shareholders should be aware that investments made by the fund and results achieved by the fund at any given time are not expected to be the same as those made by other funds for which the Adviser or an affiliate acts as manager, including funds with names, investment objectives, and policies that are similar to the fund.
Description of Principal Security Types
Equity securities represent an ownership interest, or the right to acquire an ownership interest, in an issuer. Different types of equity securities provide different voting and dividend rights and priority in the event of the bankruptcy of the issuer. Each fund principally invests in common stocks, preferred stocks, American Depository Receipts (ADRs), ETFs, and real estate investment trusts, in each case that are traded on a U.S. securities exchange; and common stocks listed on a foreign exchange that trade on such exchange contemporaneously with its shares.
Principal Investment Risks
Many factors affect each fund's performance. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as pandemics and epidemics, may magnify factors that affect a fund’s performance. A fund's NAV changes daily based on changes in market conditions and interest rates and in response to other economic, political, or financial developments. A fund's reaction to these developments will be affected by the types of securities in which the fund invests, the financial condition, industry and economic sector, and geographic location of an issuer, and the fund's level of investment in the securities of that issuer. In addition, because each fund may invest a significant percentage of assets in a single issuer, the fund's performance could be closely tied to that one issuer and could be more volatile than the performance of more diversified funds. When you sell your shares they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you could lose money by investing in a fund.
The following provides more information about the risks above and other factors that can significantly affect a fund's performance:
Tracking Basket Structure Risk. The fund’s Tracking Basket structure may affect the price at which shares of the fund trade in the secondary market. Although the Tracking Basket is intended to provide investors with enough information to allow for an effective arbitrage mechanism that will keep the market price of the fund at or close to the underlying NAV per share of the fund, there is a risk (which may increase during periods of market disruption or volatility) that market prices will vary significantly from the underlying NAV of the fund. ETFs trading on the basis of a published Tracking Basket may trade at a wider bid/ask spread than ETFs that publish their portfolios on a daily basis, especially during periods of market disruption or volatility, and therefore, may cost investors more to trade.
In addition, although the fund seeks to benefit from keeping its portfolio information secret, market participants may attempt to use the Tracking Basket to identify the fund’s trading strategy. If successful, this could result in such market participants engaging in certain predatory trading practices that may have the potential to harm the fund and its shareholders, such as front running the fund’s trades of portfolio securities.
Arbitrage Risk. Unlike ETFs that publicly disclose their complete portfolio holdings each business day, the fund discloses the Tracking Basket and Tracking Basket Weight Overlap, which is intended to allow market participants to estimate the value of positions in fund shares. Although this information is designed to facilitate arbitrage opportunities in fund shares to reduce bid/ask spread and minimize discounts or premiums between the market price and NAV of fund shares, there is no guarantee the fund’s arbitrage mechanism will operate as intended and that the fund will not experience wide bid/ask spreads and/or large discounts or premiums to NAV. In addition, market participants may attempt to use the disclosed information to “reverse engineer” the fund’s trading strategy, which, if successful, could increase opportunities for predatory trading practices that may have the potential to negatively impact the fund’s performance. These practices may include front running (trading ahead of the fund) or free riding (mirroring the fund’s strategies).
Fluctuation of Net Asset Value and Share Price. Shares may trade at a larger premium or discount to the NAV than shares of other ETFs, including ETFs that make their daily holdings public. The NAV of each fund's shares will generally fluctuate with changes in the market value of each fund's holdings. Each fund's shares are listed on an exchange and can be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. The market prices of shares will fluctuate in accordance with changes in NAV and supply and demand on the listing exchange. Although disclosure of the Tracking Basket and Tracking Basket Weight Overlap is designed to facilitate the arbitrage process to permit the shares of the fund to trade at market prices that are at or close to NAV, it is possible that the market price and NAV will vary significantly. As a result, you may sustain losses if you pay more than the shares' NAV when you purchase shares, or receive less than the shares' NAV when you sell shares, in the secondary market. During periods of disruptions to creations and redemptions, the existence of extreme market volatility, or lack of an active trading market for a fund's shares, the market price of fund shares is more likely to differ significantly from the fund's NAV. During such periods, you may be unable to sell your shares or may incur significant losses if you sell your shares. There are various methods by which investors can purchase and sell shares and various orders that may be placed. Investors should consult their financial intermediary before purchasing or selling shares of a fund. Disruptions at market makers, Authorized Participants or market participants may also result in significant differences between the market price of a fund's shares and the fund's NAV. In addition, in stressed market conditions or periods of market disruption or volatility, the market for shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for the fund's underlying portfolio holdings.
The market price of shares during the trading day, like the price of any exchange-traded security, includes a bid-ask spread charged by the exchange specialist, market makers, or other participants that trade the particular security. In times of severe market disruption or volatility, the bid-ask spread can increase significantly. At those times, shares are most likely to be traded at a discount to NAV, and the discount is likely to be greatest when the price of shares is falling fastest, which may be the time that you most want to sell your shares.
Trading Issues. The fund has no public trading history and will operate differently from other actively managed ETFs that publish their portfolio holdings on a daily basis. Although shares are listed on an exchange, there can be no assurance that an active trading market or requirements to remain listed will be met or maintained, or that the market for fund shares will operate as intended. If the market does not operate as intended, it could lead to the fund’s shares trading at wider spreads and larger premiums and discounts to NAV than other actively managed ETFs that publish their portfolio holdings on a daily basis, particularly during periods of market disruption or volatility. As a result, it may cost investors more to trade fund shares than shares of other ETFs.
Only an Authorized Participant may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with the fund. There is no guarantee that the fund will be able to attract market makers and Authorized Participants. There are no obligations of market makers to make a market in the fund's shares or of Authorized Participants to submit purchase or redemption orders for Creation Units. In addition, trading of shares in the secondary market may be halted, for example, due to activation of marketwide "circuit breakers." If trading halts or an unanticipated early closing of the listing exchange occurs, a shareholder may be unable to purchase or sell shares of the fund. FDC, the distributor of the fund's shares, does not maintain a secondary market in the shares.
If a fund's shares are delisted from the listing exchange, the Adviser may seek to list the fund shares on another market, merge the fund with another exchange-traded fund or traditional mutual fund, or redeem the fund shares at NAV.
Shares of the fund, similar to shares of other issuers listed on a stock exchange, may be sold short and are therefore subject to the risk of increased volatility and price decreases associated with being sold short.
Trading Halt Risk. There may be circumstances where a security held in the fund’s portfolio but not in the Tracking Basket does not have readily available market quotations. If the Adviser determines that such circumstance may affect the reliability of the Tracking Basket as an arbitrage vehicle, that information, along with the identity and weighting of that security in the fund’s portfolio, will be publicly disclosed on the fund’s website and the Adviser will assess appropriate remedial measures. In these circumstances, market participants may use this information to engage in certain predatory trading practices that may have the potential to harm the fund and its shareholders. In addition, if securities representing 10% or more of the fund’s portfolio do not have readily available market quotations, the Adviser would promptly request the Exchange to halt trading on the fund, meaning that investors would not be able to trade their shares. Trading may also be halted in other circumstances, for example, due to market conditions.
Authorized Participant Concentration Risk. The fund may have a limited number of financial institutions that act as Authorized Participants, none of which are obligated to engage in creation and/or redemption transactions. Decisions by market makers or Authorized Participants to reduce their role with respect to market making or creation and redemption activities during times of market stress, or a decline in the number of Authorized Participants due to decisions to exit the business, bankruptcy, or other factors, could inhibit the effectiveness of the arbitrage process in maintaining the relationship between the underlying value of the fund’s portfolio securities and the market price of fund shares. To the extent no other Authorized Participants are able to step forward to create or redeem, shares may trade at a discount to NAV and possibly face delisting. The Authorized Participant concentration risk may be heightened due to the fact that the fund does not disclose its portfolio holdings daily, unlike certain other actively managed ETFs, and could be greater during market disruptions or periods of market volatility and in scenarios where authorized participants have limited or diminished access to the capital required to post collateral.
Stock Market Volatility. For example, stocks of companies in one sector can react differently from those in another, large cap stocks can react differently from small cap stocks, and "growth" stocks can react differently from "value" stocks. Issuer, political, or economic developments can affect a single issuer, issuers within an industry or economic sector or geographic region, or the market as a whole. Changes in the financial condition of a single issuer can impact the market as a whole. Terrorism and related geo-political risks have led, and may in the future lead, to increased short-term market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on world economies and markets generally.
Foreign Exposure. Foreign securities, securities denominated in or providing exposure to foreign currencies, and securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations can involve additional risks relating to political, economic, or regulatory conditions in foreign countries. These risks include fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; withholding or other taxes; trading, settlement, custodial, and other operational risks; and the less stringent investor protection and disclosure standards of some foreign markets. All of these factors can make foreign investments more volatile and potentially less liquid than U.S. investments. In addition, foreign markets can perform differently from the U.S. market.
Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers or providers in, or foreign exchange rates with, a different country or region.
Industry Concentration. Market conditions, interest rates, and economic, regulatory, or financial developments could significantly affect a single industry, and the securities of companies in that industry could react similarly to these or other developments. In addition, from time to time, a small number of companies may represent a large portion of a single industry, and these companies can be sensitive to adverse economic, regulatory, or financial developments.
The real estate industry is particularly sensitive to economic downturns. The value of securities of issuers in the real estate industry, including REITs, can be affected by changes in real estate values and rental income, property taxes, interest rates, tax and regulatory requirements, and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. In addition, the value of REITs can depend on the structure of and cash flow generated by the REIT, and REITs may not have diversified holdings. Because REITs are pooled investment vehicles that have expenses of their own, the fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of those expenses.
Issuer-Specific Changes. Changes in the financial condition of an issuer or counterparty, changes in specific economic or political conditions that affect a particular type of security or issuer, and changes in general economic or political conditions can increase the risk of default by an issuer or counterparty, which can affect a security's or instrument's value.
Quantitative Investing. The value of securities selected using quantitative analysis can react differently to issuer, political, market, and economic developments than the market as a whole or securities selected using only fundamental analysis.
"Growth" Investing. "Growth" stocks can react differently to issuer, political, market, and economic developments than the market as a whole and other types of stocks. "Growth" stocks tend to be more expensive relative to their earnings or assets compared to other types of stocks. As a result, "growth" stocks tend to be sensitive to changes in their earnings and more volatile than other types of stocks.
"Value" Investing. "Value" stocks can react differently to issuer, political, market, and economic developments than the market as a whole and other types of stocks. "Value" stocks tend to be inexpensive relative to their earnings or assets compared to other types of stocks. However, "value" stocks can continue to be inexpensive for long periods of time and may not ever realize their full value.
Small Cap Investing. The value of securities of smaller, less well-known issuers can be more volatile than that of larger issuers and can react differently to issuer, political, market, and economic developments than the market as a whole and other types of stocks. Smaller issuers can have more limited product lines, markets, and financial resources.
Mid Cap Investing. The value of securities of medium size, less well-known issuers can be more volatile than that of relatively larger issuers and can react differently to issuer, political, market, and economic developments than the market as a whole and other types of stocks.
In response to market, economic, political, or other conditions, a fund may temporarily use a different investment strategy for defensive purposes. If the fund does so, different factors could affect its performance and the fund may not achieve its investment objective.
Other Investment Strategies
In addition to the principal investment strategies discussed above, the Adviser may lend the fund's securities to broker-dealers or other institutions to earn income for the fund.
The Adviser may also use various techniques, such as buying and selling futures contracts and ETFs, to increase or decrease the fund's exposure to changing security prices or other factors that affect security values. All futures contracts in which the fund may invest will be listed on a U.S. futures exchange and trade contemporaneously with the fund's shares.
Permitted Investments
Under the terms of the Order, the fund’s investments are limited to the following: ETFs, notes, common stocks, preferred stocks, ADRs, real estate investment trusts, commodity pools, metals trusts, and currency trusts, in each case that are traded on a U.S. securities exchange; common stocks listed on a foreign exchange that trade on such exchange contemporaneously with the fund’s shares; exchange-traded futures that are traded on a U.S. futures exchange contemporaneously with the fund’s shares; and cash and cash equivalents (which are short-term U.S. Treasury securities, government money market funds, and repurchase agreements).
Shareholder Notice
The following is subject to change only upon 60 days' prior notice to shareholders:
Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF normally invests at least 80% of its assets in securities of companies principally engaged in the real estate industry and other real estate related investments.
Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF normally invests at least 80% of its assets in securities of companies with small to medium market capitalizations.
Valuing Shares
The fund is open for business each day that either the listing exchange or the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open.
The NAV is the value of a single share. Fidelity normally calculates NAV as of the close of regular trading hours on the listing exchange or the NYSE, normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. Each fund's assets normally are valued as of this time for the purpose of computing NAV. The prices at which creations and redemptions occur are based on the next calculation of NAV after a creation or redemption order is received in an acceptable form under the authorized participant agreement.
NAV is not calculated and a fund will not process purchase and redemption requests submitted on days when the fund is not open for business. The time at which shares are priced and until which purchase and redemption orders are accepted may be changed as permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Shares of each fund may be purchased through a broker in the secondary market by individual investors at market prices which may vary throughout the day and may differ from NAV.
To the extent that a fund's assets are traded in other markets on days when the fund is not open for business, the value of the fund's assets may be affected on those days. In addition, trading in some of a fund's assets may not occur on days when the fund is open for business.
Shares of government money market funds in which each fund may invest (referred to as underlying funds) are valued at their respective NAVs. NAV is calculated using the values of any underlying funds in which it invests. Other assets are valued primarily on the basis of market quotations, official closing prices, or information furnished by a pricing service. Certain short-term securities are valued on the basis of amortized cost. If market quotations, official closing prices, or information furnished by a pricing service are not readily available or, in the Adviser's opinion, are deemed unreliable for a security, then that security will be fair valued in good faith by the Adviser in accordance with applicable fair value pricing policies.
Fair value pricing is based on subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value of a security may differ materially from the value that would be realized if the security were sold.
Shareholder Information
Additional Information about the Purchase and Sale of Shares
As used in this prospectus, the term "shares" generally refers to the shares offered through this prospectus.
General Information
Information on Fidelity
Fidelity Investments was established in 1946 to manage one of America's first mutual funds. Today, Fidelity is one of the world's largest providers of financial services.
In addition to its fund business, the company operates one of America's leading brokerage firms, Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC. Fidelity is also a leader in providing tax-advantaged retirement plans for individuals investing on their own or through their employer.
The Depository Trust Company (DTC) is a limited trust company and securities depository that facilitates the clearance and settlement of trades for its participating banks and broker-dealers. DTC has executed an agreement with FDC, each fund's distributor.
Additional Information about each Fund
Each fund is an actively managed ETF that operates pursuant to an SEC exemptive order. In many respects each fund operates similarly to other ETFs. For example, as described in this Prospectus, shares of each fund are generally purchased and redeemed in Creation Unit aggregations through Authorized Participants, shares of each fund are listed and traded on a stock exchange, and individual investors can purchase or sell shares in less than Creation Unit sizes and for cash in the secondary market through a broker. Each fund’s Creation Units generally can be purchased or redeemed in-kind in exchange for the Strategy Components included in each fund’s Tracking Basket, together with an amount of cash corresponding to the value of the Representative ETFs and cash and cash equivalents that form the remainder of the Tracking Basket.
Tracking Basket Structure
However, each fund has some unique features that differentiate it from other ETFs. As described above, each fund does not disclose its complete portfolio holdings each business day, and instead, each fund discloses other information to the market that is designed to facilitate arbitrage opportunities in fund shares to maintain efficient secondary market trading of shares. On each business day before the commencement of trading in shares on the listing exchange, each fund publishes on its website a Tracking Basket that is designed to closely track the daily performance of each fund. The Tracking Basket is comprised of Strategy Components (select recently disclosed portfolio holdings), Representative ETFs (liquid ETFs that convey information about the types of instruments (that are not otherwise fully represented by the Strategy Components) in which each fund invests), and cash and cash equivalents. Representative ETFs are selected for inclusion in the Tracking Basket such that, when aggregated with the other Tracking Basket components, the Tracking Basket corresponds to each fund's overall holdings exposure. Representative ETFs may constitute no more than 50% of the Tracking Basket’s assets on each business day at the time that the Tracking Basket is published.
The Tracking Basket is constructed utilizing a proprietary optimization process to minimize daily deviations in return of the Tracking Basket relative to each fund and is used to facilitate the creation/redemption process and arbitrage. The Tracking Basket is typically expected to be rebalanced on schedule with the public disclosure of each fund’s holdings; however, a new Tracking Basket may be generated as frequently as daily. In determining whether to rebalance the Tracking Basket, the Adviser will consider various factors, including liquidity of the securities in the Tracking Basket, tracking error of the Tracking Basket relative to each fund, and the cost to create and trade the Tracking Basket.
Tracking Basket Weight Overlap
In addition to disclosure of the Tracking Basket, each fund publishes the Tracking Basket Weight Overlap on its website on each business day before the commencement of trading in shares on the listing exchange. The Tracking Basket Weight Overlap is the percentage weight overlap between the holdings of the prior day's Tracking Basket compared to the holdings of each fund that formed the basis for each fund’s calculation of NAV at the end of the prior business day. It is calculated by taking the lesser weight of each asset held in common between each fund's portfolio and the Tracking Basket, and adding the totals. The Tracking Basket Weight Overlap is intended to provide investors with an understanding of the degree to which the Tracking Basket and each fund’s portfolio overlap and help investors evaluate the risk that the performance of the Tracking Basket may deviate from the performance of the portfolio holdings of each fund.
Information on the Fund’s Website
Investors can access information about the Tracking Basket and Tracking Basket Weight Overlap for each business day on www.fidelity.com. Each fund discloses its complete portfolio holdings, including the name, identifier, market value and weight of each security and instrument in the portfolio, on www.fidelity.com on a monthly basis with a 30 day lag. Recent information, including information regarding each fund's NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid/ask spread, is also available at www.fidelity.com.
Buying and Selling Shares in the Secondary Market
Shares of each fund are listed and traded on an exchange, and individual fund shares may only be bought and sold in the secondary market through a broker. Each fund does not impose any minimum investment for shares of a fund purchased on an exchange. These transactions are made at market prices that may vary throughout the day and may be greater than a fund's NAV (premium) or less than a fund's NAV (discount). As a result, you may pay more than NAV when you purchase shares, and receive less than NAV when you sell shares, in the secondary market. If you buy or sell shares in the secondary market, you will generally incur customary brokerage commissions and charges and you may also incur the cost of the spread between the price at which a dealer will buy fund shares and the somewhat higher price at which a dealer will sell shares. Due to such commissions and charges and spread costs, frequent trading may detract significantly from investment returns.
Each fund is designed to offer investors an investment that can be bought and sold frequently in the secondary market without impact on a fund, and such trading activity is designed to enable the market price of fund shares to remain at or close to NAV. Accordingly, the Board of Trustees has not adopted policies and procedures designed to discourage excessive or short-term trading by these investors.
Shares can be purchased and redeemed directly from the fund at NAV only by Authorized Participants in large increments called "Creation Units". Each fund accommodates frequent purchases and redemptions of Creation Units by Authorized Participants and does not place a limit on purchases or redemptions of Creation Units by these investors. Each fund reserves the right, but does not have the obligation, to reject any purchase or redemption transaction at any time. With respect to foreign common stocks, each fund may pay redemption proceeds more than seven (but no more than fifteen) calendar days after each fund's shares are tendered for redemption as a result of local market holidays. In addition, each fund reserves the right to impose restrictions on disruptive, excessive, or short-term trading.
Precautionary Notes
- Note to Investment Companies. For purposes of the 1940 Act, shares are issued by a fund, and the acquisition of shares by investment companies is subject to the restrictions of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act. Registered investment companies are permitted to invest in a fund beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions set forth in an SEC exemptive order issued to FMR and its affiliates, including that such investment companies enter into an agreement with each fund.
- Note to Authorized Participants Regarding Continuous Offering. Certain legal risks may exist that are unique to Authorized Participants purchasing Creation Units directly from a fund. Because new Creation Units may be issued on an ongoing basis, at any point a "distribution," as such term is used in the Securities Act of 1933 (the Securities Act), could be occurring. As a broker-dealer, certain activities that you perform may, depending on the circumstances, result in your being deemed a participant in a distribution, in a manner which could render you a statutory underwriter and subject you to the prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the Securities Act.
For example, you may be deemed a statutory underwriter if you purchase Creation Units from a fund, break them down into individual fund shares, and sell such shares directly to customers, or if you choose to couple the creation of a supply of new fund shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for fund shares. A determination of whether a person is an underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act depends upon all of the facts and circumstances pertaining to that person's activities, and the examples mentioned here should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to a categorization as an underwriter.
Dealers who are not "underwriters" but are participating in a distribution (as opposed to engaging in ordinary secondary market transactions), and thus dealing with shares as part of an "unsold allotment" within the meaning of Section 4(a)(3)(C) of the Securities Act, will be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act.
This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act is not available in respect of such transactions as a result of Section 24(d) of the 1940 Act. As a result, you should note that dealers who are not underwriters but are participating in a distribution (as opposed to engaging in ordinary secondary market transactions) and thus dealing with the shares that are part of an overallotment within the meaning of Section 4(a)(3)(A) of the Securities Act would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act. Firms that incur a prospectus-delivery obligation with respect to shares of a fund are reminded that, under Rule 153 under the Securities Act, a prospectus delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the Securities Act owed to an exchange member in connection with a sale on an exchange is satisfied by the fact that the prospectus is available at the exchange upon request. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in Rule 153 is only available with respect to transactions on an exchange. Certain affiliates of each fund may purchase and resell fund shares pursuant to this prospectus.
- Note to Secondary Market Investors. DTC, or its nominee, is the registered owner of all outstanding shares of a fund. The Adviser will not have any record of your ownership. Your ownership of shares will be shown on the records of DTC and the DTC participant broker through which you hold the shares. Your broker will provide you with account statements, confirmations of your purchases and sales, and tax information. Your broker will also be responsible for distributing income and capital gain distributions and for sending you shareholder reports and other information as may be required.
Costs Associated with Creations and Redemptions
The funds may impose a creation transaction fee and a redemption transaction fee to offset transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance and redemption of Creation Units of shares. Information about the procedures regarding creation and redemption of Creation Units and the applicable transaction fees is included in the statement of additional information (SAI).
Dividends and Capital Gain Distributions
Each fund earns interest, dividends, and other income from its investments, and distributes this income (less expenses) to shareholders as dividends. Each fund also realizes capital gains from its investments, and distributes these gains (less any losses) as capital gain distributions. If you purchased your shares in the secondary market, your broker is responsible for distributing the income and capital gain distributions to you.
Each fund normally pays dividends, if any, quarterly in March, June, September, and December and capital gain distributions in December.
Tax Consequences
As with any investment, your investment in a fund could have tax consequences for you. If you are not investing through a tax-advantaged retirement account, you should consider these tax consequences.
Taxes on Distributions
Distributions investors receive are subject to federal income tax, and may also be subject to state or local taxes.
For federal tax purposes, certain distributions, including dividends and distributions of short-term capital gains, are taxable to investors as ordinary income, while certain distributions, including distributions of long-term capital gains, are taxable to investors generally as capital gains. A percentage of certain distributions of dividends may qualify for taxation at long-term capital gains rates (provided certain holding period requirements are met).
Unlike other ETFs, the securities in each fund's Tracking Basket exchanged for a Creation Unit will not correspond pro rata to the positions in each fund's portfolio, and each fund may effect its creations and redemptions partially or wholly for cash rather than on an in-kind basis. Because of this, each fund may be unable to realize certain tax benefits associated with in-kind transfers of portfolio securities that may be realized by other ETFs. Shareholders may be subject to tax on gains they would not otherwise have been subject to and/or at an earlier date than if each fund had effected redemptions wholly on an in-kind basis.
If investors buy shares when a fund has realized but not yet distributed income or capital gains, they will be "buying a dividend" by paying the full price for the shares and then receiving a portion of the price back in the form of a taxable distribution.
Any taxable distributions investors receive will normally be taxable to them when they receive them.
Taxes on Transactions
Purchases and sales of shares, as well as purchases and redemptions of Creation Units, may result in a capital gain or loss for federal tax purposes.
Fund Services
Fund Management
Adviser
FMR. The Adviser is each fund's manager. The address of the Adviser is 245 Summer Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210.
As of January 1, 2020, the Adviser had approximately $2.6 trillion in discretionary assets under management, and as of December 31, 2019, approximately $3.2 trillion when combined with all of its affiliates' assets under management.
As the manager, the Adviser has overall responsibility for directing each fund's investments and handling its business affairs.
Sub-Adviser(s)
FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited (FMR UK), at 1 St. Martin's Le Grand, London, EC1A 4AS, United Kingdom, serves as a sub-adviser for each fund. As of December 31, 2019, FMR UK had approximately $23.9 billion in discretionary assets under management. FMR UK may provide investment research and advice on issuers based outside the United States and may also provide investment advisory services for each fund. FMR UK is an affiliate of the Adviser.
Fidelity Management & Research (Hong Kong) Limited (FMR H.K.), at Floor 19, 41 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong, serves as a sub-adviser for each fund. As of December 31, 2019, FMR H.K. had approximately $16.5 billion in discretionary assets under management. FMR H.K. may provide investment research and advice on issuers based outside the United States and may also provide investment advisory services for each fund. FMR H.K. is an affiliate of the Adviser.
Fidelity Management & Research (Japan) Limited (FMR Japan), at Kamiyacho Prime Place, 1-17, Toranomon-4-Chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, serves as a sub-adviser for each fund. As of March 31, 2020, FMR Japan had approximately $4.2 billion in discretionary assets under management. FMR Japan may provide investment research and advice on issuers based outside the United States and may also provide investment advisory services for each fund. FMR Japan is an affiliate of the Adviser.
Portfolio Manager(s)
Michael Kim is co-manager of Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF, which he has managed since February 2021. He also manages other funds. Since joining Fidelity Investments in 2007, Mr. Kim has worked as a quantitative analyst and portfolio manager.
Kyle Weaver is co-manager of Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF, which he has managed since February 2021. He also manages other funds. Since joining Fidelity Investments in 2008, Mr. Weaver has worked as a research analyst and portfolio manager.
Tim Gannon is co-manager of Fidelity® Magellan® ETF and Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF, which he has managed since February 2021. He also manages other funds. Since joining Fidelity Investments in 2006, Mr. Gannon has worked as a quantitative analyst and portfolio manager.
Sammy Simnegar is co-manager of Fidelity® Magellan® ETF, which he has managed since February 2021. He also manages other funds. Since joining Fidelity Investments in 1998, Mr. Simnegar has worked as an equity research analyst and portfolio manager.
Steven Buller is co-manager of Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF, which he has managed since February 2021. He also manages other funds. Since joining Fidelity Investments in 1992, Mr. Buller has worked as a research analyst and portfolio manager.
Zhitong Zhang is co-manager of Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF, which she has managed since February 2021. Since joining Fidelity Investments in 2013, Ms. Zhang has worked as a quantitative analyst and portfolio manager.
Michelle Hoerber is co-manager of Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF, which she has managed since February 2021. Since joining Fidelity Investments in 2014, Ms. Hoerber has worked as a quantitative analyst and portfolio manager.
The SAI provides additional information about the compensation of, any other accounts managed by, and any fund shares held by the portfolio manager(s).
From time to time a manager, analyst, or other Fidelity employee may express views regarding a particular company, security, industry, or market sector. The views expressed by any such person are the views of only that individual as of the time expressed and do not necessarily represent the views of Fidelity or any other person in the Fidelity organization. Any such views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and Fidelity disclaims any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for a Fidelity® fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any Fidelity® fund.
Advisory Fee(s)
Each fund pays a management fee to the Adviser. The management fee is calculated and paid to the Adviser every month. The Adviser pays all of the other expenses of each fund with limited exceptions.
Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF, Fidelity® Magellan® ETF, and Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF each have an annual management fee rate of 0.59% of its average net assets. Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF's annual management fee rate is 0.64% of its average net assets.
The Adviser pays FMR UK, FMR H.K., and FMR Japan for providing sub-advisory services.
The basis for the Board of Trustees approving the management contract and sub-advisory agreements for each fund will be included in each fund's semi-annual report for the fiscal period ending January 31, 2021, when available.
From time to time, the Adviser or its affiliates may agree to reimburse or waive certain fund expenses while retaining the ability to be repaid if expenses fall below the specified limit prior to the end of the fiscal year.
Reimbursement or waiver arrangements can decrease expenses and boost performance.
Fund Distribution
FDC distributes each fund's shares.
Intermediaries may receive from the Adviser, FDC, and/or their affiliates compensation for providing recordkeeping and administrative services, as well as other retirement plan expenses, and compensation for services intended to result in the sale of fund shares. These payments are described in more detail in this section and in the SAI.
Distribution and Service Plan(s)
While each fund will not make direct payments for distribution or shareholder support services, each fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act with respect to its shares. Each Plan recognizes that the Adviser may use its management fee revenues, as well as its past profits or its resources from any other source, to pay FDC for expenses incurred in connection with providing services intended to result in the sale of shares of each fund and/or shareholder support services. The Adviser, directly or through FDC, may pay significant amounts to intermediaries that provide those services. Currently, the Board of Trustees of each fund has authorized such payments for shares of each fund.
If payments made by the Adviser to FDC or to intermediaries under a Distribution and Service Plan were considered to be paid out of a fund's assets on an ongoing basis, they might increase the cost of your investment and might cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
No dealer, sales representative, or any other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations, other than those contained in this prospectus and in the related SAI, in connection with the offer contained in this prospectus. If given or made, such other information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the funds or FDC. This prospectus and the related SAI do not constitute an offer by the funds or by FDC to sell shares of the funds to or to buy shares of the funds from any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer.
Other Service Providers
State Street Bank and Trust Company serves as each fund's transfer agent and custodian, and is located at One Heritage Drive, Floor 1, North Quincy, Massachusetts, 02171 and 1 Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02111, respectively.
Appendix
Additional Index Information
Russell 2500™ Index is a market capitalization-weighted index designed to measure the performance of the small to mid-cap segment of the U.S. equity market. It includes approximately 2,500 of the smallest securities in the Russell 3000® Index.
You can obtain additional information about the funds. A description of each fund's policies and procedures for disclosing its holdings is available in the funds' SAI and on Fidelity's web sites. The SAI also includes more detailed information about each fund and its investments. The SAI is incorporated herein by reference (legally forms a part of the prospectus). A financial report will be available once the funds have completed their first annual or semi-annual period. Each fund's annual and semi-annual reports also include additional information. Each fund's annual report includes a discussion of the fund's holdings and recent market conditions and the fund's investment strategies that affected performance.
For a free copy of any of these documents or to request other information or ask questions about a fund, call Fidelity at 1-800-FIDELITY. In addition, you may visit Fidelity's web site at www.fidelity.com for a free copy of a prospectus, SAI, or annual or semi-annual report or to request other information.
The SAI, the funds' annual and semi-annual reports and other related materials are available from the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) Database on the SEC's web site (http://www.sec.gov). You can obtain copies of this information, after paying a duplicating fee, by sending a request by e-mail to publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520. You can also review and copy information about the funds, including the funds' SAI, at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Call 1-202-551-8090 for information on the operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room.
Investment Company Act of 1940, File Number, 811-07319
FDC is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). You may obtain information about SIPC, including the SIPC brochure, by visiting www.sipc.org or calling SIPC at 202-371-8300.
Fidelity, Magellan, and Fidelity Investments & Pyramid Design are registered service marks of FMR LLC. © 2021 FMR LLC. All rights reserved.
Any third-party marks that may appear above are the marks of their respective owners.
| 1.9900242.101 | ETC-PRO-0121 |
| Fund | Ticker |
| Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF | FGRO |
| Fidelity® Magellan® ETF | FMAG |
| Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF | FPRO |
| Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF | FSMO |
Funds of Fidelity Covington Trust
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Principal U.S. Listing Exchange: Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.
January 26, 2021
This statement of additional information (SAI) is not a prospectus. An annual report for each fund will be available once the fund has completed its first annual period.
To obtain a free additional copy of a prospectus or SAI, dated January 26, 2021, please call Fidelity at 1-800-FIDELITY or visit Fidelity’s web site at www.fidelity.com.
ETC-PTB-0121
1.9900243.101
245 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND(S)
Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF, Fidelity® Magellan® ETF, and Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF each seek long-term growth of capital. Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF seeks above-average income and long-term capital growth, consistent with reasonable investment risk. Each fund is an actively-managed exchange-traded fund that operates pursuant to an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued on December 10, 2019 (Order). In many respects each fund operates similarly to other ETFs. Each fund issues and redeems shares on a continuous basis at net asset value per share (NAV) in aggregations of a specified number of shares called "Creation Units." Creation Units generally are issued in exchange for portfolio securities and an amount of cash. Shares are listed and traded on an exchange. Shares trade in the secondary market at market prices that may differ from the shares' NAV. Shares are not individually redeemable, but are redeemable only in Creation Unit aggregations, also in exchange for portfolio securities and an amount of cash. Shareholders who are not Authorized Participants (as defined herein), therefore, will not be able to purchase or redeem shares directly with or from a fund. Instead, most shareholders who are not Authorized Participants will buy and sell shares in the secondary market through a broker.
Each fund also has some unique features that differentiate it from other ETFs. Unlike other actively managed ETFs that publish their portfolio holdings on a daily basis, each fund does not publicly disclose the composition of its portfolio each business day, which may affect the price at which shares of each fund trade in the secondary market. Each fund instead publishes each business day on its website a “Tracking Basket,” which is designed to closely track the daily performance of each fund but is not each fund’s actual portfolio. The Tracking Basket is comprised of: (1) select recently disclosed portfolio holdings (Strategy Components); (2) liquid ETFs that convey information about the types of instruments (that are not otherwise fully represented by Strategy Components) in which each fund invests (Representative ETFs); and (3) cash and cash equivalents. Each fund also publishes each business day on its website the “Tracking Basket Weight Overlap,” which is the percentage weight overlap between the holdings of the prior day's Tracking Basket compared to the holdings of each fund that formed the basis for each fund’s calculation of NAV at the end of the prior business day. The Tracking Basket Weight Overlap is designed to provide investors with an understanding of how similar the Tracking Basket is to each fund’s actual portfolio in percentage terms and help investors evaluate the risk that the performance of the Tracking Basket may deviate from the performance of the portfolio holdings of each fund.
Under the terms of the Order, each fund’s investments are limited to the following: ETFs, notes, common stocks, preferred stocks, American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), real estate investment trusts, commodity pools, metals trusts, and currency trusts, in each case that are traded on a U.S. securities exchange; common stocks listed on a foreign exchange that trade on such exchange contemporaneously with each fund’s shares; exchange-traded futures that are traded on a U.S. futures exchange contemporaneously with each fund’s shares; and cash and cash equivalents (which are short-term U.S. Treasury securities, government money market funds, and repurchase agreements). Each fund will not purchase any securities that are illiquid investments (as defined in Rule 22e-4(a)(8) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act)) at the time of purchase. In addition, pursuant to the Order, each fund will not: borrow for investment purposes; hold short positions; or invest in “penny stocks” (as defined in Rule 3a51-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
The Tracking Basket also constitutes the names and quantities of instruments to be exchanged with each fund for both purchases and redemptions of fund shares, although each fund generally requires an Authorized Participant to deposit or receive (as applicable) cash in lieu of Representative ETFs, as described further under the heading “Buying and Selling Information” below.
Each fund discloses its complete portfolio holdings, including the name, identifier, market value and weight of each security and instrument in the portfolio, on www.fidelity.com on a monthly basis with a 30 day lag.
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND LIMITATIONS
The following policies and limitations supplement those set forth in the prospectus. Unless otherwise noted, whenever an investment policy or limitation states a maximum percentage of a fund's assets that may be invested in any security or other asset, or sets forth a policy regarding quality standards, such standard or percentage limitation will be determined immediately after and as a result of the fund's acquisition of such security or other asset. Accordingly, any subsequent change in values, net assets, or other circumstances will not be considered when determining whether the investment complies with the fund's investment policies and limitations.
Notwithstanding the following fundamental investment limitations, a fund’s investments and operations will be limited by the terms and conditions of the Order (as set forth above). For example, the Order prohibits a fund from borrowing for investment purposes and investing in real estate and commodities directly.
A fund's fundamental investment policies and limitations cannot be changed without approval by a "majority of the outstanding voting securities" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the fund. However, except for the fundamental investment limitations listed below, the investment policies and limitations described in this SAI are not fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval.
The following are each fund's fundamental investment limitations set forth in their entirety.
Senior Securities
For each fund:
The fund may not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Borrowing
For each fund:
The fund may not borrow money, except that the fund may borrow money for temporary or emergency purposes (not for leveraging or investment) in an amount not exceeding 33 1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings). Any borrowings that come to exceed this amount will be reduced within three days (not including Sundays and holidays) to the extent necessary to comply with the 33 1/3% limitation.
Underwriting
For each fund:
The fund may not underwrite securities issued by others, except to the extent that the fund may be considered an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in the disposition of restricted securities or in connection with investments in other investment companies.
Concentration
For Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF, Fidelity® Magellan® ETF, and Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF:
The fund may not purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a result, more than 25% of the fund's total assets would be invested in the securities of companies whose principal business activities are in the same industry.
For purposes of the fund's concentration limitation discussed above, with respect to any investment in repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. Government securities, Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC (FMR) looks through to the U.S. Government securities.
For purposes of the fund's concentration limitation discussed above, with respect to any investment in Fidelity® Money Market Central Fund and/or any non-money market central fund, FMR looks through to the holdings of the central fund.
For purposes of the fund's concentration limitation discussed above, FMR may analyze the characteristics of a particular issuer and security and assign an industry or sector classification consistent with those characteristics in the event that the third-party classification provider used by FMR does not assign a classification.
For Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF:
The fund may not purchase any security if, as a result, more than 25% of its total assets would be invested in the securities of companies having their principal business activities in the same industry, except that the fund will invest more than 25% of its total assets in the real estate industry (this limitation does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the United States Government or its agencies or instrumentalities).
For purposes of the fund's concentration limitation discussed above, with respect to any investment in repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. Government securities, FMR looks through to the U.S. Government securities.
For purposes of the fund's concentration limitation discussed above, with respect to any investment in Fidelity® Money Market Central Fund and/or any non-money market central fund, FMR looks through to the holdings of the central fund.
For purposes of the fund's concentration limitation discussed above, FMR may analyze the characteristics of a particular issuer and security and assign an industry or sector classification consistent with those characteristics in the event that the third-party classification provider used by FMR does not assign a classification.
Real Estate
For each fund:
The fund may not purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the fund from investing in securities or other instruments backed by real estate or securities of companies engaged in the real estate business).
Commodities
For each fund:
The fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the fund from purchasing or selling futures contracts or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities).
For purposes of the fund’s commodities limitation discussed above, all futures contracts in which the fund may invest will be listed on a U.S. futures exchange and trade contemporaneously with the fund’s shares.
Loans
For each fund:
The fund may not lend any security or make any other loan if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, but this limitation does not apply to purchases of debt securities or to repurchase agreements, or to acquisitions of loans, loan participations or other forms of debt instruments.
The following investment limitation is not fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval.
Diversification
For each fund:
In order to qualify as a "regulated investment company" under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the fund currently intends to comply with certain diversification limits imposed by Subchapter M.
Subchapter M generally requires a fund to invest no more than 25% of its total assets in securities of any one issuer or in the securities of certain publicly-traded partnerships and to invest at least 50% of its total assets so that (a) no more than 5% of the fund's total assets are invested in securities of any one issuer, and (b) the fund does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer. However, Subchapter M allows unlimited investments in cash, cash items, government securities (as defined in Subchapter M) and securities of other regulated investment companies. These tax requirements are generally applied at the end of each quarter of the fund's taxable year.
The following pages contain more detailed information about types of instruments in which a fund may invest, techniques a fund's adviser (or a sub-adviser) may employ in pursuit of the fund's investment objective, and a summary of related risks. A fund's adviser (or a sub-adviser) may not buy all of these instruments or use all of these techniques unless it believes that doing so will help the fund achieve its goal. However, a fund's adviser (or a sub-adviser) is not required to buy any particular instrument or use any particular technique even if to do so might benefit the fund.
On the following pages in this section titled "Investment Policies and Limitations," and except as otherwise indicated, references to "an adviser" or "the adviser" may relate to a fund's adviser or a sub-adviser, as applicable.
Affiliated Bank Transactions. A Fidelity® fund may engage in transactions with financial institutions that are, or may be considered to be, "affiliated persons" of the fund under the 1940 Act. These transactions may involve repurchase agreements with custodian banks; repurchase agreements with the 50 largest U.S. banks (measured by deposits); and short-term U.S. Treasury securities with affiliated financial institutions that are primary dealers in these securities. In accordance with exemptive orders issued by the SEC, the Board of Trustees has established and periodically reviews procedures applicable to transactions involving affiliated financial institutions.
Borrowing. If a fund borrows money, its share price may be subject to greater fluctuation until the borrowing is paid off. A fund may not borrow money for investment purposes.
Cash Management. A fund may hold uninvested short-term U.S. Treasury securities, repurchase agreements, or shares of government money market funds. Generally, these securities offer less potential for gains than other types of securities.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Notice of Exclusion. The trust, on behalf of the Fidelity® funds to which this SAI relates, has filed with the National Futures Association a notice claiming an exclusion from the definition of the term "commodity pool operator" (CPO) under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, and the rules of the CFTC promulgated thereunder, with respect to each fund's operation. Accordingly, neither a fund nor its adviser is subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool or a CPO. However, the CFTC has adopted certain rule amendments that significantly affect the continued availability of this exclusion, and may subject advisers to funds to regulation by the CFTC. As of the date of this SAI, the adviser does not expect to register as a CPO of the funds. However, there is no certainty that a fund or its adviser will be able to rely on an exclusion in the future as the fund's investments change over time. A fund may determine not to use investment strategies that trigger additional CFTC regulation or may determine to operate subject to CFTC regulation, if applicable. If a fund or its adviser operates subject to CFTC regulation, it may incur additional expenses.
Common Stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock, although related proceedings can take time to resolve and results can be unpredictable. For purposes of a Fidelity® fund's policies related to investment in common stock Fidelity considers depositary receipts evidencing ownership of common stock to be common stock.
Companies "Principally Engaged" in the Real Estate Industry. For purposes of a Fidelity® fund's investment objective and policy to normally invest at least 80% of its assets in securities of companies principally engaged in the real estate industry and other real estate related investments, Fidelity may consider a company to be principally engaged in the real estate industry if: (i) at least a plurality of its assets (marked to market), gross income, or net profits are attributable to ownership, construction, management, or sale of residential, commercial, or industrial real estate, or (ii) a third party has given the company an industry or sector classification consistent with real estate.
Debt Securities are used by issuers to borrow money. The issuer usually pays a fixed, variable, or floating rate of interest, and must repay the amount borrowed, usually at the maturity of the security. Some debt securities, such as zero coupon bonds, do not pay interest but are sold at a deep discount from their face values. A fund's investments in debt securities are limited to short-term U.S. Treasury securities and exchange-traded notes.
Disruption to Financial Markets and Related Government Intervention. Economic downturns can trigger various economic, legal, budgetary, tax, and regulatory reforms across the globe. Instability in the financial markets in the wake of events such as the 2008 economic downturn led the U.S. Government and other governments to take a number of then-unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that experienced extreme volatility, and in some cases, a lack of liquidity. Federal, state, local, foreign, and other governments, their regulatory agencies, or self-regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which a fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Reforms may also change the way in which a fund is regulated and could limit or preclude a fund's ability to achieve its investment objective or engage in certain strategies. Also, while reforms generally are intended to strengthen markets, systems, and public finances, they could affect fund expenses and the value of fund investments in unpredictable ways.
Similarly, widespread disease including pandemics and epidemics, and natural or environmental disasters, such as earthquakes, droughts, fires, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis and climate-related phenomena generally, have been and can be highly disruptive to economies and markets, adversely impacting individual companies, sectors, industries, markets, currencies, interest and inflation rates, credit ratings, investor sentiment, and other factors affecting the value of a fund's investments. Economies and financial markets throughout the world have become increasingly interconnected, which increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one region or country will adversely affect markets or issuers in other regions or countries, including the United States. Additionally, market disruptions may result in increased market volatility; regulatory trading halts; closure of domestic or foreign exchanges, markets, or governments; or market participants operating pursuant to business continuity plans for indeterminate periods of time. Further, market disruptions can (i) prevent a fund from executing advantageous investment decisions in a timely manner, (ii) negatively impact a fund's ability to achieve its investment objective, and (iii) may exacerbate the risks discussed elsewhere in a fund’s registration statement, including political, social, and economic risks.
The value of a fund's portfolio is also generally subject to the risk of future local, national, or global economic or natural disturbances based on unknown weaknesses in the markets in which a fund invests. In the event of such a disturbance, the issuers of securities held by a fund may experience significant declines in the value of their assets and even cease operations, or may receive government assistance accompanied by increased restrictions on their business operations or other government intervention. In addition, it remains uncertain that the U.S. Government or foreign governments will intervene in response to current or future market disturbances and the effect of any such future intervention cannot be predicted.
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are shares of other investment companies, commodity pools, or other entities that are traded on an exchange. Typically, assets underlying the ETF shares are stocks, though they may also be commodities or other instruments. An ETF may seek to replicate the performance of a specific index or may be actively managed.
Typically, shares of an ETF that tracks an index are expected to increase in value as the value of the underlying benchmark increases. However, in the case of inverse ETFs (also called "short ETFs" or "bear ETFs"), ETF shares are expected to increase in value as the value of the underlying benchmark decreases. Inverse ETFs seek to deliver the opposite of the performance of the benchmark they track and are often marketed as a way for investors to profit from, or at least hedge their exposure to, downward moving markets. Investments in inverse ETFs are similar to holding short positions in the underlying benchmark.
ETF shares are redeemable only in large blocks of shares often called "creation units" by persons other than a fund, and are redeemed principally in-kind at each day's next calculated net asset value per share (NAV). ETFs typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by a fund. A fund's purchase of ETFs results in the layering of expenses, such that the fund would indirectly bear a proportionate share of any ETF's operating expenses. Further, while traditional investment companies are continuously offered at NAV, ETFs are traded in the secondary market (e.g., on a stock exchange) on an intra-day basis at prices that may be above or below the value of their underlying portfolios.
Some of the risks of investing in an ETF that tracks an index are similar to those of investing in an indexed mutual fund, including tracking error risk (the risk of errors in matching the ETF's underlying assets to the index or other benchmark); and the risk that because an ETF that tracks an index is not actively managed, it cannot sell stocks or other assets as long as they are represented in the index or other benchmark. Other ETF risks include the risk that ETFs may trade in the secondary market at a discount from their NAV and the risk that the ETFs may not be liquid. ETFs also may be leveraged. Leveraged ETFs seek to deliver multiples of the performance of the index or other benchmark they track and use derivatives in an effort to amplify the returns (or decline, in the case of inverse ETFs) of the underlying index or benchmark. While leveraged ETFs may offer the potential for greater return, the potential for loss and the speed at which losses can be realized also are greater. Most leveraged and inverse ETFs "reset" daily, meaning they are designed to achieve their stated objectives on a daily basis. Leveraged and inverse ETFs can deviate substantially from the performance of their underlying benchmark over longer periods of time, particularly in volatile periods.
Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs) are a type of senior, unsecured, unsubordinated debt security issued by financial institutions that combines aspects of both bonds and ETFs. An ETN's returns are based on the performance of a market index or other reference asset minus fees and expenses. Similar to ETFs, ETNs are listed on an exchange and traded in the secondary market. However, unlike an ETF, an ETN can be held until the ETN's maturity, at which time the issuer will pay a return linked to the performance of the market index or other reference asset to which the ETN is linked minus certain fees. Unlike regular bonds, ETNs typically do not make periodic interest payments and principal typically is not protected.
ETNs also incur certain expenses not incurred by their applicable index. The market value of an ETN is determined by supply and demand, the current performance of the index or other reference asset, and the credit rating of the ETN issuer. The market value of ETN shares may differ from their intraday indicative value. The value of an ETN may also change due to a change in the issuer's credit rating. As a result, there may be times when an ETN's share trades at a premium or discount to its NAV. Some ETNs that use leverage in an effort to amplify the returns of an underlying index or other reference asset can, at times, be relatively illiquid and, thus, they may be difficult to purchase or sell at a fair price. Leveraged ETNs may offer the potential for greater return, but the potential for loss and speed at which losses can be realized also are greater.
Exposure to Foreign Markets. The fund may only invest in common stocks listed on a foreign exchange that trade contemporaneously with the fund’s shares. Foreign securities, securities denominated in or providing exposure to foreign currencies, and securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve significant risks in addition to the risks inherent in U.S. investments.
Foreign investments involve risks relating to local political, economic, regulatory, or social instability, military action or unrest, or adverse diplomatic developments, and may be affected by actions of foreign governments adverse to the interests of U.S. investors. Such actions may include expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation, restrictions on U.S. investment or on the ability to repatriate assets or convert currency into U.S. dollars, or other government intervention. From time to time, a fund's adviser and/or its affiliates may determine that, as a result of regulatory requirements that may apply to the adviser and/or its affiliates due to investments in a particular country, investments in the securities of issuers domiciled or listed on trading markets in that country above certain thresholds (which may apply at the account level or in the aggregate across all accounts managed by the adviser and its affiliates) may be impractical or undesirable. In such instances, the adviser may limit or exclude investment in a particular issuer, and investment flexibility may be restricted. There is no assurance that a fund's adviser will be able to anticipate these potential events or counter their effects. In addition, the value of securities denominated in foreign currencies and of dividends and interest paid with respect to such securities will fluctuate based on the relative strength of the U.S. dollar.
It is anticipated that in most cases the best available market for foreign securities will be on an exchange located outside of the United States. Foreign stock markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, are generally not as developed as those in the United States, and securities of some foreign issuers may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers. Foreign security trading, settlement and custodial practices (including those involving securities settlement where fund assets may be released prior to receipt of payment) are often less developed than those in U.S. markets, and may result in increased investment or valuation risk or substantial delays in the event of a failed trade or the insolvency of, or breach of duty by, a foreign broker-dealer, securities depository, or foreign subcustodian. In addition, the costs associated with foreign investments, including withholding taxes, brokerage commissions, and custodial costs, are generally higher than with U.S. investments.
Foreign markets may offer less protection to investors than U.S. markets. Foreign issuers are generally not bound by uniform accounting, auditing, and financial reporting requirements and standards of practice comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers. Adequate public information on foreign issuers may not be available, and it may be difficult to secure dividends and information regarding corporate actions on a timely basis. In general, there is less overall governmental supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the United States. Regulatory enforcement may be influenced by economic or political concerns, and investors may have difficulty enforcing their legal rights in foreign countries.
Some foreign securities impose restrictions on transfer within the United States or to U.S. persons. Although securities subject to such transfer restrictions may be marketable abroad, they may be less liquid than foreign securities of the same class that are not subject to such restrictions.
ADRs are certificates issued by a U.S. financial institution (depository) and evidence ownership in a security or pool of securities issued by a foreign issuer that have been deposited with the depositary. Each ADR is registered under the Securities Act on Form F-6. ADRs in which the fund may invest will trade on a U.S. securities exchange. The underlying shares are held in trust by a custodian bank or similar financial institution in the issuer's home country. The depositary bank may not have physical custody of the underlying securities at all times and may charge fees for various services, including forwarding dividends and interest and corporate actions. ADRs are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies. However, ADRs continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities. These risks include foreign exchange risk as well as the political and economic risks of the underlying issuer's country.
Funds' Rights as Investors. Fidelity® funds do not intend to direct or administer the day-to-day operations of any company. A fund may, however, exercise its rights as a shareholder or lender and may communicate its views on important matters of policy to a company's management, board of directors, and shareholders, and holders of a company's other securities when such matters could have a significant effect on the value of the fund's investment in the company. The activities in which a fund may engage, either individually or in conjunction with others, may include, among others, supporting or opposing proposed changes in a company's corporate structure or business activities; seeking changes in a company's directors or management; seeking changes in a company's direction or policies; seeking the sale or reorganization of the company or a portion of its assets; supporting or opposing third-party takeover efforts; supporting the filing of a bankruptcy petition; or foreclosing on collateral securing a security. This area of corporate activity is increasingly prone to litigation and it is possible that a fund could be involved in lawsuits related to such activities. Such activities will be monitored with a view to mitigating, to the extent possible, the risk of litigation against a fund and the risk of actual liability if a fund is involved in litigation. No guarantee can be made, however, that litigation against a fund will not be undertaken or liabilities incurred. A fund's proxy voting guidelines are included in its SAI.
Futures. The success of any strategy involving futures depends on an adviser's analysis of many economic and mathematical factors and a fund's return may be higher if it never invested in such instruments. If a fund invests a significant portion of its assets in futures, its investment exposure could far exceed the value of its portfolio securities and its investment performance could be primarily dependent upon securities it does not own. All futures contracts in which the fund may invest will be listed on a U.S. futures exchange and trade contemporaneously with the fund's shares.
Each of Fidelity® Growth ETF, Fidelity® Magellan® ETF, Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF, and Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF will not: (a) sell futures contracts if, as a result, more than 25% of the fund's total assets would be hedged with futures under normal conditions or (b) purchase futures contracts if, as a result, the fund's total obligations upon settlement or exercise of purchased futures contracts would exceed 25% of its total assets under normal conditions. In addition, each of Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF, Fidelity® Magellan® ETF, Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF, and Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF will invest in futures contracts only where the futures contract's reference asset is an asset that the fund could invest in directly, or in the case of an index future, is based on an index of a type of asset that the fund could invest in directly.
The policies and limitations regarding the funds' investments in futures contracts may be changed as regulatory agencies permit.
The requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company may limit the extent to which a fund may enter into futures contracts.
In purchasing a futures contract, the buyer agrees to purchase a specified underlying instrument at a specified future date. In selling a futures contract, the seller agrees to sell a specified underlying instrument at a specified date. Futures contracts are standardized, exchange-traded contracts and the price at which the purchase and sale will take place is fixed when the buyer and seller enter into the contract. Some currently available futures contracts are based on specific securities, or baskets of securities and some are based on indexes of securities prices. Futures on indexes and futures not calling for physical delivery of the underlying instrument will be settled through cash payments rather than through delivery of the underlying instrument. Futures can be held until their delivery dates, or can be closed out by offsetting purchases or sales of futures contracts before then if a liquid market is available. A fund may realize a gain or loss by closing out its futures contracts.
The value of a futures contract tends to increase and decrease in tandem with the value of its underlying instrument. Therefore, purchasing futures contracts will tend to increase a fund's exposure to positive and negative price fluctuations in the underlying instrument, much as if it had purchased the underlying instrument directly. When a fund sells a futures contract, by contrast, the value of its futures position will tend to move in a direction contrary to the market for the underlying instrument. Selling futures contracts, therefore, will tend to offset both positive and negative market price changes, much as if the underlying instrument had been sold.
The purchaser or seller of a futures contract is not required to deliver or pay for the underlying instrument or the final cash settlement price, as applicable, unless the contract is held until the delivery date. However, both the purchaser and seller are required to deposit "initial margin" with a futures broker, known as a futures commission merchant, when the contract is entered into. If the value of either party's position declines, that party will be required to make additional "variation margin" payments to settle the change in value on a daily basis. This process of "marking to market" will be reflected in the daily calculation of open positions computed in a fund's NAV. The party that has a gain is entitled to receive all or a portion of this amount. Initial and variation margin payments do not constitute purchasing securities on margin for purposes of a fund's investment limitations. Variation margin does not represent a borrowing or loan by a fund, but is instead a settlement between a fund and the futures commission merchant of the amount one would owe the other if the fund's contract expired. In the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of a futures commission merchant that holds margin on behalf of a fund, the fund may be entitled to return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the futures commission merchant's other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the fund. A fund is also required to segregate liquid assets equivalent to the fund's outstanding obligations under the contract in excess of the initial margin and variation margin, if any.
There is no assurance a liquid market will exist for any particular futures contract at any particular time. Exchanges may establish daily price fluctuation limits for futures contracts, and may halt trading if a contract's price moves upward or downward more than the limit in a given day. On volatile trading days when the price fluctuation limit is reached or a trading halt is imposed, it may be impossible to enter into new positions or close out existing positions. The daily limit governs only price movements during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses because the limit may work to prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. For example, futures prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of positions and subjecting some holders of futures contracts to substantial losses.
If the market for a contract is not liquid because of price fluctuation limits or other market conditions, it could prevent prompt liquidation of unfavorable positions, and potentially could require a fund to continue to hold a position until delivery or expiration regardless of changes in its value. As a result, a fund's access to other assets held to cover its futures positions could also be impaired.
Because there are a limited number of types of exchange-traded futures contracts, it is likely that the standardized contracts available will not match a fund's current or anticipated investments exactly. A fund may invest in futures contracts based on securities with different issuers, maturities, or other characteristics from the securities in which the fund typically invests, which involves a risk that the futures position will not track the performance of the fund's other investments.
Futures prices can also diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the underlying instruments match a fund's investments well. Futures prices are affected by such factors as current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract, which may not affect security prices the same way. Imperfect correlation may also result from differing levels of demand in the futures markets and the securities markets, from structural differences in how futures and securities are traded, or from imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or trading halts. A fund may purchase or sell futures contracts with a greater or lesser value than the securities it wishes to hedge or intends to purchase in order to attempt to compensate for differences in volatility between the contract and the securities, although this may not be successful in all cases. If price changes in a fund's futures positions are poorly correlated with its other investments, the positions may fail to produce anticipated gains or result in losses that are not offset by gains in other investments.
Illiquid Investments means any investment that cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Difficulty in selling or disposing of illiquid investments may result in a loss or may be costly to a fund. Each fund will not purchase any securities that are illiquid investments (as defined in Rule 22e-4(a)(8) of the 1940 Act) at the time of purchase. Each fund may hold no more than 15% of the value of its assets in illiquid investments.
Under the supervision of the Board of Trustees, a Fidelity® fund's adviser classifies the liquidity of the fund's investments and monitors the extent of funds’ illiquid investments.
Various market, trading and investment-specific factors may be considered in determining the liquidity of a fund's investments including, but not limited to (1) the existence of an active trading market, (2) the nature of the security and the market in which it trades, (3) the number, diversity, and quality of dealers and prospective purchasers in the marketplace, (4) the frequency, volume, and volatility of trade and price quotations, (5) bid-ask spreads, (6) dates of issuance and maturity, (7) demand, put or tender features, and (8) restrictions on trading or transferring the investment.
Fidelity classifies certain investments as illiquid based upon these criteria. Fidelity also monitors for certain market, trading and investment-specific events that may cause Fidelity to re-evaluate an investment’s liquidity status and may lead to an investment being classified as illiquid. In addition, Fidelity uses a third-party to assist with the liquidity classifications of the fund’s investments, which includes calculating the time to sell and settle a specified size position in a particular investment without the sale significantly changing the market value of the investment.
Increasing Government Debt. The total public debt of the United States and other countries around the globe as a percent of gross domestic product has grown rapidly since the beginning of the 2008 financial downturn. Although high debt levels do not necessarily indicate or cause economic problems, they may create certain systemic risks if sound debt management practices are not implemented.
A high national debt level may increase market pressures to meet government funding needs, which may drive debt cost higher and cause a country to sell additional debt, thereby increasing refinancing risk. A high national debt also raises concerns that a government will not be able to make principal or interest payments when they are due. In the worst case, unsustainable debt levels can decline the valuation of currencies, and can prevent a government from implementing effective counter-cyclical fiscal policy in economic downturns.
On August 5, 2011, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services lowered its long-term sovereign credit rating on the United States one level to "AA+" from "AAA." While Standard & Poor's Ratings Services affirmed the United States' short-term sovereign credit rating as "A-1+," there is no guarantee that Standard & Poor's Ratings Services will not decide to lower this rating in the future. Standard & Poor's Ratings Services stated that its decision was prompted by its view on the rising public debt burden and its perception of greater policymaking uncertainty. The market prices and yields of securities supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government may be adversely affected by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services decisions to downgrade the long-term sovereign credit rating of the United States.
Insolvency of Issuers and Intermediaries. Issuers of fund portfolio securities that become insolvent or declare bankruptcy can pose special investment risks. In each circumstance, risk of loss, valuation uncertainty, increased illiquidity, and other unpredictable occurrences may negatively impact an investment. Each of these risks may be amplified in foreign markets, where security trading, settlement, and custodial practices can be less developed than those in the U.S. markets, and bankruptcy laws differ from those of the U.S.
As a general matter, if the issuer of a fund portfolio security is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds and preferred stock have priority over the claims of common stock owners. These events can negatively impact the value of the issuer's securities and the results of related proceedings can be unpredictable.
Uncertainty may arise upon the insolvency of a securities or commodities intermediary such as a broker dealer or futures commission merchant with which a fund has pending transactions. In addition, insolvency and liquidation proceedings take time to resolve, which can limit or preclude a fund's ability to terminate a transaction or obtain related assets or collateral in a timely fashion. If an intermediary becomes insolvent, while securities positions and other holdings may be protected by U.S. or foreign laws, it is sometimes difficult to determine whether these protections are available to specific trades based on the circumstances. Receiving the benefit of these protections can also take time to resolve, which may result in illiquid positions.
Preferred Stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). Equity REITs own real estate properties, while mortgage REITs make construction, development, and long-term mortgage loans. Their value may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property of the trusts, the creditworthiness of the issuer, property taxes, interest rates, and tax and regulatory requirements, such as those relating to the environment. Both types of trusts are dependent upon management skill, are not diversified, and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers, self-liquidation, and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free status of income under the Internal Revenue Code and failing to maintain exemption from the 1940 Act. A fund may only invest in REITs traded on a U.S. securities exchange.
Repurchase Agreements involve an agreement to purchase a security and to sell that security back to the original seller at an agreed-upon price. The resale price reflects the purchase price plus an agreed-upon incremental amount which is unrelated to the coupon rate or maturity of the purchased security. As protection against the risk that the original seller will not fulfill its obligation, the securities are held in a separate account at a bank, marked-to-market daily, and maintained at a value at least equal to the sale price plus the accrued incremental amount. The value of the security purchased may be more or less than the price at which the counterparty has agreed to purchase the security. In addition, delays or losses could result if the other party to the agreement defaults or becomes insolvent. A fund may be limited in its ability to exercise its right to liquidate assets related to a repurchase agreement with an insolvent counterparty. A Fidelity® fund may engage in repurchase agreement transactions with parties whose creditworthiness has been reviewed and found satisfactory by the fund's adviser.
Securities Lending. A Fidelity® fund may lend securities to parties such as broker-dealers or other institutions, including an affiliate, National Financial Services LLC (NFS). Securities lending allows a fund to retain ownership of the securities loaned and, at the same time, earn additional income. The borrower provides the fund with collateral in an amount at least equal to the value of the securities loaned. The fund seeks to maintain the ability to obtain the right to vote or consent on proxy proposals involving material events affecting securities loaned. If the borrower defaults on its obligation to return the securities loaned because of insolvency or other reasons, a fund could experience delays and costs in recovering the securities loaned or in gaining access to the collateral. These delays and costs could be greater for foreign securities. If a fund is not able to recover the securities loaned, the fund may sell the collateral and purchase a replacement investment in the market. The value of the collateral could decrease below the value of the replacement investment by the time the replacement investment is purchased. For a Fidelity® fund, loans will be made only to parties deemed by the fund's adviser to be in good standing and when, in the adviser's judgment, the income earned would justify the risks.
The Fidelity® funds have retained agents, including NFS, an affiliate of the funds, to act as securities lending agent. If NFS acts as securities lending agent for a fund, it is subject to the overall supervision of the fund’s adviser, and NFS will administer the lending program in accordance with guidelines approved by the fund’s Trustees.
Cash received as collateral through loan transactions may be invested in other eligible securities, including shares of a money market fund. Investing this cash subjects that investment, as well as the securities loaned, to market appreciation or depreciation.
Securities of Other Investment Companies, including shares of closed-end investment companies (which include business development companies (BDCs)), unit investment trusts, and open-end investment companies, represent interests in professionally managed portfolios that may invest in any type of instrument. Investing in other investment companies involves substantially the same risks as investing directly in the underlying instruments, but may involve additional expenses at the underlying investment company-level, such as portfolio management fees and operating expenses. Fees and expenses incurred indirectly by a fund as a result of its investment in shares of one or more other investment companies generally are referred to as "acquired fund fees and expenses" and may appear as a separate line item in a fund's prospectus fee table. For certain investment companies, such as BDCs, these expenses may be significant. Certain types of investment companies, such as closed-end investment companies, issue a fixed number of shares that trade on a stock exchange or over-the-counter at a premium or a discount to their NAV. Others are continuously offered at NAV, but may also be traded in the secondary market. A fund may only invest in exchange-traded closed-end funds and exchange-traded BDCs. In addition, a fund may only invest in unit investment trusts organized as ETFs and may only invest in open-end funds that are ETFs or government money market funds.
The securities of closed-end funds may be leveraged. As a result, a fund may be indirectly exposed to leverage through an investment in such securities. An investment in securities of closed-end funds that use leverage may expose a fund to higher volatility in the market value of such securities and the possibility that the fund's long-term returns on such securities will be diminished.
A fund's ability to invest in securities of other investment companies may be limited by federal securities laws. To the extent a fund acquires securities issued by unaffiliated investment companies, the Adviser's access to information regarding such underlying fund's portfolio may be limited and subject to such fund's policies regarding disclosure of fund holdings.
Temporary Defensive Policies. Each of Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF, Fidelity® Magellan® ETF, Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF, and Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF reserves the right to invest without limitation in preferred stocks and short-term U.S. Treasury securities for temporary, defensive purposes.
Transfer Agent Bank Accounts. Proceeds from shareholder purchases of a Fidelity® fund may pass through a series of demand deposit bank accounts before being held at the fund's custodian. Redemption proceeds may pass from the custodian to the shareholder through a similar series of bank accounts.
If a bank account is registered to the transfer agent or an affiliate, who acts as an agent for the funds when opening, closing, and conducting business in the bank account, the transfer agent or an affiliate may invest overnight balances in the account in repurchase agreements. Any balances that are not invested in repurchase agreements remain in the bank account overnight. Any risks associated with such an account are investment risks of the funds. A fund faces the risk of loss of these balances if the bank becomes insolvent.
In addition to the investment policies and limitations discussed above, a fund is subject to the additional operational risk discussed below.
Considerations Regarding Cybersecurity. With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet to conduct business, a fund’s service providers are susceptible to operational, information security and related risks. In general, cyber incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events and may arise from external or internal sources. Cyber attacks include, but are not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to digital systems (e.g., through “hacking” or malicious software coding) for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information; corrupting data, equipment or systems; or causing operational disruption. Cyber attacks may also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks on websites (i.e., efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users). Cyber incidents affecting a fund’s manager, any sub-adviser and other service providers (including, but not limited to, fund accountants, custodians, transfer agents and financial intermediaries) have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, interference with a fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of fund shareholders to transact business, destruction to equipment and systems, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs. Similar adverse consequences could result from cyber incidents affecting issuers of securities in which a fund invests, counterparties with which a fund engages in transactions, governmental and other regulatory authorities, exchange and other financial market operators, banks, brokers, dealers, insurance companies and other financial institutions (including financial intermediaries and service providers for fund shareholders) and other parties. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred in order to prevent any cyber incidents in the future.
While a fund’s service providers have established business continuity plans in the event of, and risk management systems to prevent, such cyber incidents, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified. Furthermore, a fund cannot control the cyber security plans and systems put in place by its service providers or any other third parties whose operations may affect a fund or its shareholders. A fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.
EXCHANGE TRADED FUND RISKS
Continuous Offering. The method by which Creation Units of shares are created and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. Because new Creation Units of shares are issued and sold by a fund on an ongoing basis, at any point a "distribution," as such term is used in the 1933 Act, may occur. Broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities on their part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner which could render them statutory underwriters and subject them to the prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the 1933 Act.
For example, a broker-dealer firm or its client may be deemed a statutory underwriter if it takes Creation Units after placing an order with Fidelity Distributors Company LLC (FDC), each fund's distributor, breaks them down into constituent shares, and sells such shares directly to customers, or if it chooses to couple the creation of a supply of new shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for shares. A determination of whether one is an underwriter for purposes of the 1933 Act must take into account all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its client in the particular case, and the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to a categorization as an underwriter.
Broker-dealer firms should also note that dealers who are not "underwriters," but are effecting transactions in shares of a fund, whether or not participating in the distribution of shares, are generally required to deliver a prospectus. This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(a)(3) of the 1933 Act is not available in respect of such transactions as a result of Section 24(d) of the 1940 Act. As a result, broker-dealer firms should note that dealers who are not underwriters but are participating in a distribution (as opposed to engaging in ordinary secondary market transactions) and thus dealing with the shares that are part of an overallotment within the meaning of Section 4(a)(3)(A) of the 1933 Act would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(a)(3) of the 1933 Act. Firms that incur a prospectus-delivery obligation with respect to shares of each fund are reminded that, under Rule 153 under the 1933 Act, a prospectus-delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the 1933 Act owed to an exchange member in connection with a sale on an exchange is satisfied by the fact that the prospectus is available from the exchange upon request. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in Rule 153 is only available with respect to transactions on an exchange.
Listing and Trading. Shares of each fund have been approved for listing and trading on an exchange. Each fund's shares trade on an exchange at prices that may differ to some degree from their NAV. The listing exchange may remove each fund's shares from listing if (i) following the initial 12-month period beginning upon the commencement of trading of each fund, there are fewer than 50 beneficial owners of each fund's shares for 30 or more consecutive trading days; (ii) either the Tracking Basket or the holdings of the portfolio are not made available to all market participants at the same time; (iii) each fund has failed to file any filings required by the SEC or listing exchange is aware that the fund is not in compliance with the conditions of any exemptive order or no-action relief granted by the SEC with respect to each fund; (iv) certain ongoing listing requirements are not continuously maintained; (v) any of the representations made by each fund in connection with its listing order are not continuously met; or (vi) such other event shall occur or condition exists that, in the opinion of the listing exchange, makes further dealings on the exchange inadvisable. The listing exchange will remove each fund's shares from listing and trading upon termination of the trust. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the listing exchange necessary to maintain the listing of each fund's shares will continue to be met.
As in the case of other publicly-traded securities, brokers' commissions on transactions will be based on negotiated commission rates at customary levels.
Unlike other actively managed ETFs that publish their portfolio holdings on a daily basis, the fund does not publicly disclose the composition of its portfolio each business day, which may affect the price at which shares of the fund trade in the secondary market. Given the differences between the fund and ETFs that disclose their complete holdings daily, there is a risk that market prices of the fund may vary significantly from NAV, and that the fund’s shares may trade at a wider bid/ask spread – and therefore cost investors more to trade – than shares of other ETFs. These risks are heightened during periods of market disruption or volatility. In addition, although the fund seeks to benefit from keeping its portfolio information secret, market participants may attempt to use the Tracking Basket to identify the fund’s trading strategy. If successful, this could result in such market participants engaging in certain predatory trading practices that may have the potential to harm the fund and its shareholders, such as front running the fund’s trades of portfolio securities.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
Orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities are placed on behalf of a fund by Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC (FMR or the Adviser) pursuant to authority contained in the management contract. To the extent that the Adviser grants investment management authority to a sub-adviser (see the section entitled "Management Contracts"), that sub-adviser is authorized to provide the services described in the respective sub-advisory agreement, and in accordance with the policies described in this section. Furthermore, the sub-adviser's trading and associated policies, which may differ from the Adviser's policies, may apply to that fund, subject to applicable law.
The Adviser or a sub-adviser may be responsible for the placement of portfolio securities transactions for other investment companies and investment accounts for which it has or its affiliates have investment discretion.
A fund will not incur any commissions or sales charges when it invests in shares of mutual funds (including government money market funds), but it may incur such costs when it invests directly in other types of securities.
Purchases and sales of equity securities on a securities exchange are effected through brokers who receive compensation for their services. Generally, compensation relating to securities traded on foreign exchanges will be higher than compensation relating to securities traded on U.S. exchanges and may not be subject to negotiation. Compensation may also be paid in connection with principal transactions. Equity securities may be purchased from underwriters at prices that include underwriting fees.
Purchases and sales of fixed-income securities (which, for each fund, are limited to short-term U.S. Treasury securities) are generally made with an issuer or a primary market-maker acting as principal. Although there is no stated brokerage commission paid by a fund for any fixed-income security, the price paid by a fund to an underwriter includes the disclosed underwriting fee and prices in secondary trades usually include an undisclosed dealer commission or markup reflecting the spread between the bid and ask prices of the fixed-income security. New issues of equity and fixed-income securities may also be purchased in underwritten fixed price offerings.
The Trustees of each fund periodically review the Adviser's performance of its responsibilities in connection with the placement of portfolio securities transactions on behalf of each fund. The Trustees also review the compensation paid by each fund over representative periods of time to determine if it was reasonable in relation to the benefits to the fund.
The Adviser.
The Selection of Securities Brokers and Dealers
The Adviser or its affiliates generally have authority to select securities brokers (whether acting as a broker or a dealer) to place or execute a fund's portfolio securities transactions. In selecting securities brokers, including affiliates of the Adviser, to execute a fund's portfolio securities transactions, the Adviser or its affiliates consider the factors they deem relevant in the context of a particular trade and in regard to the Adviser's or its affiliates' overall responsibilities with respect to the fund and other investment accounts, including any instructions from the fund's portfolio manager, which may emphasize, for example, speed of execution over other factors. Based on the factors considered, the Adviser or its affiliates may choose to execute an order using ECNs or venues, including algorithmic trading, crossing networks, direct market access and program trading or by actively working an order. Other possibly relevant factors may include, but are not limited to, the following: price; the size and type of the securities transaction; the reasonableness of compensation to be paid, including spreads and commission rates; the speed and certainty of trade executions, including broker willingness to commit capital; the nature and characteristics of the markets for the security to be purchased or sold, including the degree of specialization of the broker in such markets or securities; the availability of liquidity in the security, including the liquidity provided by individual brokers and the liquidity and depth afforded by a market center or market-maker; the reliability of a market center or broker; the broker’s overall trading relationship with the Adviser or its affiliates; the trader's assessment of whether and how closely the broker likely will follow the trader's instructions to the broker; the degree of anonymity that a particular broker or market can provide; the potential for avoiding or lessening market impact; the execution services rendered on a continuing basis; the execution efficiency, settlement capability, and financial condition of the broker or dealer; arrangements for payment of fund expenses, if applicable; and the provision of additional brokerage and research products and services, if applicable and where allowed by law.
In seeking best qualitative execution for portfolio securities transactions, the Adviser or its affiliates may select a broker that uses a trading method, including algorithmic trading, for which the broker may charge a higher commission than its lowest available commission rate. The Adviser or its affiliates also may select a broker that charges more than the lowest commission rate available from another broker. The Adviser or its affiliates may execute an entire securities transaction with a broker and allocate all or a portion of the transaction and/or related commissions to a second broker where a client does not permit trading with an affiliate of the Adviser or in other limited situations. In those situations, the commission rate paid to the second broker may be higher than the commission rate paid to the executing broker. For futures transactions, the selection of a futures commission merchant is generally based on the overall quality of execution and other services provided by the futures commission merchant. The Adviser or its affiliates may choose to execute futures transactions electronically.
The Acquisition of Brokerage and Research Products and Services
Brokers (who are not affiliates of the Adviser) that execute transactions for a fund managed outside of the European Union may receive higher compensation from the fund than other brokers might have charged the fund, in recognition of the value of the brokerage or research products and services they provide to the Adviser or its affiliates.
Research Products and Services. These products and services may include, when permissible under applicable law, but are not limited to: economic, industry, company, municipal, sovereign (U.S. and non-U.S.), legal, or political research reports; market color; company meeting facilitation; compilation of securities prices, earnings, dividends and similar data; quotation services, data, information and other services; analytical computer software and services; and investment recommendations. In addition to receiving brokerage and research products and services via written reports and computer-delivered services, such reports may also be provided by telephone and in-person meetings with securities analysts, corporate and industry spokespersons, economists, academicians and government representatives and others with relevant professional expertise. The Adviser or its affiliates may request that a broker provide a specific proprietary or third-party product or service. Some of these brokerage and research products and services supplement the Adviser's or its affiliates' own research activities in providing investment advice to the funds.
Execution Services. In addition, when permissible under applicable law, brokerage and research products and services include those that assist in the execution, clearing, and settlement of securities transactions, as well as other incidental functions (including, but not limited to, communication services related to trade execution, order routing and algorithmic trading, post-trade matching, exchange of messages among brokers or dealers, custodians and institutions, and the use of electronic confirmation and affirmation of institutional trades).
Mixed-Use Products and Services. Although the Adviser or its affiliates do not use fund commissions to pay for products or services that do not qualify as brokerage and research products and services or eligible external research under MiFID II and FCA regulations (as defined below), where allowed by applicable law, they may use commission dollars to obtain certain products or services that are not used exclusively in the Adviser's or its affiliates' investment decision-making process (mixed-use products or services). In those circumstances, the Adviser or its affiliates will make a good faith judgment to evaluate the various benefits and uses to which they intend to put the mixed-use product or service, and will pay for that portion of the mixed-use product or service that does not qualify as brokerage and research products and services or eligible external research with their own resources (referred to as "hard dollars").
Benefit to the Adviser. The Adviser's or its affiliates' expenses likely would be increased if they attempted to generate these additional brokerage and research products and services through their own efforts, or if they paid for these brokerage and research products or services with their own resources. Therefore, the Adviser or its affiliates may have an incentive to select or recommend a broker-dealer based on its interest in receiving the brokerage and research products and services, rather than on the Adviser’s or its affiliates’ funds interest in receiving most favorable execution. The Adviser and its affiliates manage the receipt of brokerage and research products and services and the potential for conflicts through its Commission Uses Program. The Commission Uses Program effectively “unbundles” commissions paid to brokers who provide brokerage and research products and services, i.e., commissions consist of an execution commission, which covers the execution of the trade (including clearance and settlement), and a research charge, which is used to cover brokerage and research products and services. In selecting brokers for executing transactions on behalf of the fund, the trading desks through which the Adviser or its affiliates may execute trades are instructed to execute portfolio transactions on behalf of the funds based on the quality of execution without any consideration of brokerage and research products and services the broker provides. Where commissions paid to a broker include both an execution commission and a research charge, while the broker receives the entire commission, it retains the execution commission and either credits or transmits the research portion to a commission sharing arrangement (CSA) pool, also known as “soft dollars,” which is used to pay research expenses. (In some cases, the Adviser or its affiliates may request that a broker which is not a party to any particular transaction provide a specific proprietary or third-party product or service, which would be paid for from the CSA pool.) The administration of brokerage and research products and services is managed separately from the trading desks, which means that traders have no responsibility for administering soft dollar activities. Furthermore, where permissible under applicable law, certain of the brokerage and research products and services that the Adviser or its affiliates receive are furnished by brokers on their own initiative, either in connection with a particular transaction or as part of their overall services. Some of these brokerage and research products or services may be provided at no additional cost to the Adviser or its affiliates or have no explicit cost associated with them. In addition, the Adviser or its affiliates may request that a broker provide a specific proprietary or third-party product or service, certain of which third-party products or services may be provided by a broker that is not a party to a particular transaction and is not connected with the transacting broker’s overall services.
The Adviser's Decision-Making Process. In connection with the allocation of fund brokerage, the Adviser or its affiliates make a good faith determination that the compensation paid to brokers and dealers is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research products and services provided to the Adviser or its affiliates, viewed in terms of the particular transaction for a fund or the Adviser's or its affiliates' overall responsibilities to that fund or other investment companies and investment accounts for which the Adviser or its affiliates have investment discretion; however, each brokerage and research product or service received in connection with a fund's brokerage may not benefit all funds and certain funds may receive the benefit of the brokerage and research product or services obtained with other funds’ commissions. As required under applicable laws or fund policy, commissions generated by certain funds may only be used to obtain certain brokerage and research products and services. As a result, certain funds may pay more proportionately of certain types of brokerage and research products and services than others, while the overall amount of brokerage and research products and services paid by each fund continues to be allocated equitably. While the Adviser or its affiliates may take into account the brokerage and/or research products and services provided by a broker or dealer in determining whether compensation paid is reasonable, neither the Adviser, its affiliates, nor the funds incur an obligation to any broker, dealer, or third party to pay for any brokerage and research product or service (or portion thereof) by generating a specific amount of compensation or otherwise. Typically, for funds managed by the Adviser or its affiliates outside of the European Union, these brokerage and research products and services assist the Adviser or its affiliates in terms of their overall investment responsibilities to a fund or any other investment companies and investment accounts for which the Adviser or its affiliates may have investment discretion. Certain funds or investment accounts may use brokerage commissions to acquire brokerage and research products and services that may also benefit other funds or accounts managed by the Adviser or its affiliates, and not every fund or investment account uses the brokerage and research products and services that may have been acquired through that fund’s commissions.
Research Contracts. The Adviser or its affiliates have arrangements with certain third-party research providers and brokers through whom the Adviser or its affiliates effect fund trades, whereby the Adviser or its affiliates may pay with fund commissions or hard dollars for all or a portion of the cost of research products and services purchased from such research providers or brokers. If hard dollar payments are used, the Adviser or its affiliates may still cause a fund to pay more for execution than the lowest commission rate available from the broker providing research products and services to the Adviser or its affiliates, or that may be available from another broker. The Adviser or its affiliates view hard dollar payments for research products and services as likely to reduce the fund’s total commission costs even though it is expected that in such hard dollar arrangements the commissions available for recapture and used to pay fund expenses, as described below will decrease. The Adviser's or its affiliates' determination to pay for research products and services separately is wholly voluntary on the Adviser's or its affiliates' part and may be extended to additional brokers or discontinued with any broker participating in this arrangement.
Funds Managed within the European Union. The Adviser and its affiliates have established policies and procedures relating to brokerage commission uses in compliance with the revised Markets in Financial Instruments Directive in the European Union, commonly referred to as “MiFID II”, and the implementation of MiFID II within the United Kingdom through the Conduct of Business Sourcebook Rules of the UK Financial Conduct Authority (the FCA), where applicable.
Funds, or portions thereof, that are managed within the European Union by FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited (FMR UK) will use research payment accounts (RPAs) to cover costs associated with equity and high yield external research that is consumed by those funds or investment accounts in accordance with MiFID II and FCA regulations. With RPAs, funds pay for external research through a separate research charge that is generally assessed and collected alongside the execution commission1. For funds that use an RPA, FMR UK will establish a research budget. The budget will be set by first grouping funds or investment accounts by strategy (e.g., asset allocation, blend, growth, etc.), and then determining what external research is consumed to support the strategies and portfolio management services provided within the European Union. In this regard, research budgets are set by research need and are not otherwise linked to the volume or value of transactions executed on behalf of the fund or investment account. For funds where portions are managed both within and outside of the European Union, external research may be paid using both CSA and an RPA. Determinations of what is eligible research and how costs are allocated will be made in accordance with the Adviser’s and its affiliates’ policies and procedures. Costs for research consumed by funds that use an RPA will be allocated among the funds or investment accounts within defined strategies pro rata based on the assets under management for each fund or investment account. While the research charge paid on behalf of any one fund that uses an RPA may vary over time, the overall research charge determined at the fund level on an annual basis will not be exceeded.
FMR UK will be responsible for managing the RPA and may delegate its administration to a third-party administrator for the facilitation of the purchase of external research and payments to research providers. RPA assets will be maintained in accounts at a third-party depository institution, held in the name of FMR UK.
Impacted funds, like those funds that participate in CSA pools, may make payments to a broker that include both an execution commission and a research charge, but unlike CSAs (for which research charges may be retained by the broker and credited to the CSA, as described above), the broker will receive separate payments for the execution commission and the research charge and will promptly remit the research charge to the RPA. Assets in the RPA will be used to satisfy external research costs consumed by the funds.
If the costs of paying for external research exceed the amount initially agreed in relation to funds in a given strategy, the Adviser or its affiliates may continue to charge those funds or investment accounts beyond the agreed amount in accordance with MiFID II, continue to acquire external research for the funds or investment accounts using its own resources, or cease to purchase external research for those funds or investment accounts until the next annual research budget. In the event that assets for specific funds remain in the RPA at the end of a period, they may be rolled over to the next period to offset next year’s research charges for those funds or rebated to those funds.
Funds managed by FMR UK that trade only fixed income securities will not participate in RPAs because fixed income securities trade based on spreads rather than commissions, and thus unbundling the execution commission and research charge is impractical. Therefore, FMR UK and its affiliates have established policies and procedures to ensure that external research that is paid for through RPAs is not made available to FMR UK portfolio managers that manage fixed income funds or investment accounts in any manner inconsistent with MiFID II and FCA regulations.
1The staff of the SEC addressed concerns that reliance on an RPA mechanism to pay for research would not be deemed a "commission" for purposes of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by indicating that they would not recommend enforcement against investment advisers who used an RPA to pay for research and brokerage products and services so long as certain conditions were met. Therefore, references to "research charges" as part of the RPA mechanism to satisfy MiFID II requirements can be considered "commissions" for Section 28(e) purposes.
Commission Recapture
The Adviser or its affiliates may engage in brokerage transactions with brokers (who are not affiliates of the Adviser) who have entered into arrangements with the Adviser or its affiliates under which the broker may rebate a portion of the compensation paid by a fund (Commission Recapture Program). Not all brokers with whom a fund trades have been asked to participate in brokerage Commission Recapture Program.
Affiliated Transactions
The Adviser or its affiliates may place trades with certain brokers, including NFS, through its Fidelity Capital Markets (FCM) division, and Luminex Trading & Analytics LLC (Luminex), with whom they are under common control or affiliated, provided the Adviser or its affiliates determine that these affiliates' trade-execution abilities and costs are comparable to those of non-affiliated, qualified brokerage firms, and that such transactions be executed in accordance with applicable rules under the 1940 Act and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees of the funds and subject to other applicable law. In addition, the Adviser or its affiliates may place trades with brokers that use NFS or Fidelity Clearing Canada ULC (FCC) as a clearing agent.
The Trustees of each fund have approved procedures whereby a fund is permitted to purchase securities that are offered in underwritings in which an affiliate of the adviser or certain other affiliates participate. In addition, for underwritings where such an affiliate participates as a principal underwriter, certain restrictions may apply that could, among other things, limit the amount of securities that the funds could purchase in the underwritings.
Non-U.S. Securities Transactions
To facilitate trade settlement and related activities in non-U.S. securities transactions, the Adviser or its affiliates may effect spot foreign currency transactions with foreign currency dealers. In certain circumstances, due to local law and regulation, logistical or operational challenges, or the process for settling securities transactions in certain markets (e.g., short settlement periods), spot currency transactions may be effected on behalf of funds by parties other than the Adviser or its affiliates, including funds' custodian banks (working through sub-custodians or agents in the relevant non-U.S. jurisdiction) or broker-dealers that executed the related securities transaction.
Trade Allocation
Although the Trustees and officers of each fund are substantially the same as those of certain other Fidelity® funds, investment decisions for each fund are made independently from those of other Fidelity® funds or investment accounts (including proprietary accounts). The same security is often held in the portfolio of more than one of these funds or investment accounts. Simultaneous transactions are inevitable when several funds and investment accounts are managed by the same investment adviser, or an affiliate thereof, particularly when the same security is suitable for the investment objective of more than one fund or investment account.
When two or more funds or investment accounts are simultaneously engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security or instrument, the prices and amounts are allocated in accordance with procedures believed by the Adviser to be appropriate and equitable to each fund or investment account. In some cases this could have a detrimental effect on the price or value of the security or instrument as far as a fund is concerned. In other cases, however, the ability of the funds to participate in volume transactions will produce better executions and prices for the funds.
Commissions Paid A fund may pay compensation including both commissions and spreads in connection with the placement of portfolio transactions. The amount of brokerage commissions paid by a fund may change from year to year because of, among other things, changing asset levels, shareholder activity, and/or portfolio turnover.
VALUATION
The NAV is the value of a single share. NAV is computed by adding the value of a fund's investments, cash, and other assets, subtracting its liabilities, and dividing the result by the number of shares outstanding.
The value of fund shares bought and sold in the secondary market is driven by market price. The price of these shares, like the price of all traded securities, is subject to factors such as supply and demand, as well as the current value of the portfolio securities held by a fund. Secondary market shares, available for purchase or sale on an intraday basis, do not have a fixed relationship either to the previous day's NAV nor the current day's NAV. Prices in the secondary market, therefore, may be below, at, or above the most recently calculated NAV of such shares.
The Board of Trustees has ultimate responsibility for pricing, but has delegated day-to-day valuation responsibilities to FMR. FMR has established the FMR Fair Value Committee (the Committee) to fulfill these responsibilities.
Shares of government money market funds held by a fund are valued at their respective NAVs. If an underlying fund's NAV is unavailable, shares of that underlying fund will be fair valued in good faith by the Committee in accordance with applicable fair value pricing policies.
Generally, other portfolio securities and assets held by a fund are valued as follows:
Most equity securities are valued at the official closing price or the last reported sale price or, if no sale has occurred, at the last quoted bid price on the primary market or exchange on which they are traded.
Short-term securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less for which market quotations and information furnished by a pricing service are not readily available may be valued at amortized cost, which approximates current value.
Futures contracts are valued at the settlement or closing price.
Prices described above are obtained from pricing services that have been approved by the Board of Trustees. A number of pricing services are available and the funds may use more than one of these services. The funds may also discontinue the use of any pricing service at any time. A fund's adviser engages in oversight activities with respect to the fund's pricing services, which includes, among other things, testing the prices provided by pricing services prior to calculation of a fund's NAV, conducting periodic due diligence meetings, and periodically reviewing the methodologies and inputs used by these services.
Foreign securities and instruments are valued in their local currency following the methodologies described above. Foreign securities, instruments and currencies are translated to U.S. dollars, based on foreign currency exchange rate quotations supplied by a pricing service as of the close of regular trading on the listing exchange or the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), which uses a proprietary model to determine the exchange rate.
Other portfolio securities and assets for which market quotations, official closing prices, or information furnished by a pricing service are not readily available or, in the opinion of the Committee, are deemed unreliable will be fair valued in good faith by the Committee in accordance with applicable fair value pricing policies. For example, if, in the opinion of the Committee, a security's value has been materially affected by events occurring before a fund's pricing time but after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded, that security will be fair valued in good faith by the Committee in accordance with applicable fair value pricing policies. In fair valuing a security, the Committee may consider factors including price movements in futures contracts and ADRs, market and trading trends, the bid/ask quotes of brokers, and off-exchange institutional trading.
In determining the fair value of a private placement security for which market quotations are not available, the Committee generally applies one or more valuation methods including the market approach, income approach and cost approach. The market approach considers factors including the price of recent investments in the same or a similar security or financial metrics of comparable securities. The income approach considers factors including expected future cash flows, security specific risks and corresponding discount rates. The cost approach considers factors including the value of the security’s underlying assets and liabilities.
Each fund's adviser reports to the Board on the Committee’s activities and fair value determinations. The Board monitors the appropriateness of the procedures used in valuing the fund’s investments and ratifies the fair value determinations of the Committee.
BUYING AND SELLING INFORMATION
Book-Entry Only System. The Depository Trust Company (DTC) acts as securities depository for the shares. Shares of each fund are represented by securities registered in the name of DTC or its nominee and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC. Certificates will not be issued for shares.
DTC, a limited-purpose trust company, was created to hold securities of its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among DTC participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the DTC participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers, and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC participant, either directly or indirectly.
Beneficial ownership of shares is limited to DTC participants and persons holding interests through DTC participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in shares (owners of beneficial interests are referred to herein as Beneficial Owners) is shown on, and the transfer of ownership is effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to DTC participants) and on the records of DTC participants (with respect to indirect DTC participants and Beneficial Owners that are not DTC participants). Beneficial Owners will receive from or through a DTC participant a written confirmation relating to their purchase of shares.
Conveyance of all notices, statements and other communications to Beneficial Owners is effected as follows. Pursuant to the Depositary Agreement between the trust and DTC, DTC is required to make available to the trust upon request and for a fee to be charged to the trust a listing of the shares of each fund held by each DTC participant. The trust shall inquire of each such DTC participant as to the number of Beneficial Owners holding fund shares, directly or indirectly, through such DTC participant. The trust shall provide each such DTC participant with copies of such notice, statement or other communication, in such form, number and at such place as such DTC participant may reasonably request, in order that such notice, statement or communication may be transmitted by such DTC participant, directly or indirectly, to such Beneficial Owners. In addition, the trust shall pay to each such DTC participant a fair and reasonable amount as reimbursement for the expenses attendant to such transmittal, all subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
Share distributions shall be made to DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., as the registered holder of all shares. DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any such distributions, shall credit immediately DTC participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in shares of each fund as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. Payments by DTC participants to indirect DTC participants and Beneficial Owners of shares held through such DTC participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in a "street name," and will be the responsibility of such DTC participants.
The trust has no responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or notices to Beneficial Owners, or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in such shares, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests, or for any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and the DTC participants or the relationship between such DTC participants and the indirect DTC participants and Beneficial Owners owning through such DTC participants.
DTC may decide to discontinue providing its service with respect to shares at any time by giving reasonable notice to the trust and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the trust shall take action either to find a replacement for DTC to perform its functions at a comparable cost or, if such a replacement is unavailable, to issue and deliver printed certificates representing ownership of shares, unless the trust makes other arrangements with respect thereto satisfactory to the listing exchange.
Creation Units. The trust issues and redeems shares of each fund only in Creation Unit aggregations on a continuous basis through FDC, without a sales load, at its NAV next determined after receipt, on any Business Day (as defined herein), of an order in proper form. An Authorized Participant that is not a "qualified institutional buyer," as such term is defined under Rule 144A of the 1933 Act, will not be able to receive, as part of a redemption, restricted securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A.
A "Business Day" with respect to each fund is any day on which the listing exchange or the NYSE is open for business. As of the date of the prospectus, the listing exchange and the NYSE observe the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President's Day (Washington's Birthday) (U.S.), Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day (U.S.), Labor Day (U.S.), Thanksgiving Day (U.S.), and Christmas Day.
To be eligible to place orders to purchase a Creation Unit of each fund, an entity must be an "Authorized Participant" which is a member or participant of a clearing agency registered with the SEC, which has a written agreement with a fund or one of its service providers that allows the Authorized Participant to place orders for the purchase and redemption of Creation Units ("Participant Agreement"). All shares of each fund, however created, will be entered on the records of DTC in the name of Cede & Co. for the account of a DTC participant.
Each fund reserves the right to adjust the prices of fund shares and the number of shares in a Creation Unit in the future to maintain convenient trading ranges for investors. Any adjustments would be accomplished through stock splits or reverse stock splits, which would have no effect on the net assets of each fund.
Portfolio Deposit. The consideration for purchase of a Creation Unit generally consists of an in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities constituting the securities included in each fund's Tracking Basket (Deposit Securities) together with a deposit of a specified cash payment (Cash Component) computed as described herein. Alternatively, each fund may issue and redeem Creation Units in exchange for a specified all-cash payment (Cash Deposit). Together, the Deposit Securities and the Cash Component or, alternatively, the Cash Deposit, constitute the "Portfolio Deposit," which represents the minimum initial and subsequent investment amount for a Creation Unit. In the event each fund requires Deposit Securities and a Cash Component in consideration for purchasing a Creation Unit, the function of the Cash Component is to compensate for any differences between the NAV per Creation Unit and the Deposit Amount (as defined below). The Cash Component would be an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the shares (per Creation Unit) and the "Deposit Amount," which is an amount equal to the market value of the Deposit Securities. If the Cash Component is a positive number (the NAV per Creation Unit exceeds the Deposit Amount), the Authorized Participant will deliver the Cash Component. If the Cash Component is a negative number (the NAV per Creation Unit is less than the Deposit Amount), the Authorized Participant will receive the Cash Component. Computation of the Cash Component excludes any stamp duty or other similar fees and expenses payable upon transfer of beneficial ownership of the Deposit Securities, which shall be the sole responsibility of the Authorized Participant.
FMR, or its agent, makes available through FDC or the transfer agent (through the National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC)) on each Business Day, prior to the opening of trading on the listing exchange or the NYSE (currently 9:30 a.m. Eastern time), the list of the names and the required number of shares of each Deposit Security and the amount of the Cash Component (or Cash Deposit) to be included in the current Portfolio Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous Business Day) for the fund. Such Portfolio Deposit is applicable, subject to any adjustments as described below, in order to effect purchases of Creation Units until such time as the next-announced Portfolio Deposit composition is made available.
The identity and number of shares of the Deposit Securities and the amount of the Cash Component (or Cash Deposit) required for a Portfolio Deposit for the fund changes as corporate action events, such as dividends, splits, and rights issues, are reflected from time to time by FMR with a view to the investment objective of the fund. The composition of the Deposit Securities may also change in response to adjustments to the weighting or composition of the securities constituting the fund’s Tracking Basket.
The fund generally requires the substitution of an amount of cash (i.e., a cash in lieu amount) to replace Deposit Securities that are Representative ETFs. In addition, the fund may determine, upon receiving a purchase order from an Authorized Participant, to have the purchase be made entirely or in part in cash. This includes, but is not limited to, a determination to permit the substitution of an amount of cash to replace any Deposit Security that is not available in sufficient quantity for delivery, not eligible for transfer through the systems of DTC, the Federal Reserve System or the clearing process through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC, (the Clearing Process), not permitted to be re-registered in the name of the trust as a result of an in-kind purchase order pursuant to local law or market convention, restricted under the securities laws or which may not be eligible for trading by an Authorized Participant or the investor for which it is acting. In such cases where the fund purchases portfolio securities with cash, the Authorized Participant will reimburse the fund for, among other things, any difference between the market value at which the securities were purchased by the fund and the cash in lieu amount (which amount, at FMR's discretion, may be capped), applicable registration fees and taxes. Brokerage commissions incurred in connection with the fund's acquisition of Deposit Securities will be at the expense of the fund and will affect the value of all shares of the fund; but FMR may adjust the transaction fee to the extent the composition of the Deposit Securities changes or cash in lieu is added to the Cash Component to protect ongoing shareholders.
Procedures for Creation Unit Purchases. All purchase orders must be placed for one or more Creation Units. All orders to purchase Creation Units must be received by FDC or its agent no later than the closing time of regular trading hours on the listing exchange or NYSE (ordinarily 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) (the Closing Time), or one hour prior to the Closing Time (ordinarily 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time) in the case of nonconforming orders, in each case on the date such order is placed in order for the creation of Creation Units to be effected based on the NAV of shares of each fund as next determined on such date after receipt of the order in proper form. The date on which an order to purchase Creation Units (or an order to redeem Creation Units as discussed below) is placed is referred to as the "Transmittal Date." Orders must be transmitted by an Authorized Participant by telephone or other transmission method acceptable to FDC pursuant to procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement. Severe economic or market disruptions or changes, or telephone or other communications failure may impede the ability to reach FDC or an Authorized Participant.
All orders to purchase Creation Units shall be placed with an Authorized Participant, as applicable, in the form required by such Authorized Participant. In addition, the Authorized Participant may request the investor to make certain representations or enter into agreements with respect to the order, including payments of cash to pay the Cash Component, when required. Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not have executed a Participant Agreement and that, therefore, orders to purchase Creation Units have to be placed by the investor's broker through an Authorized Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement. In such cases there may be additional charges to such investor. At any given time, there may be only a limited number of broker-dealers that have executed a Participant Agreement.
Those placing orders to purchase Creation Units should afford sufficient time to permit proper submission of the order to FDC prior to the applicable deadlines on the Transmittal Date. Authorized participants may ascertain the deadlines applicable to the Federal Reserve Bank wire system and DTC by contacting the operations department of the depository institution or broker effecting such transfer of the Deposit Securities and Cash Component.
Portfolio Deposits must be delivered through the Federal Reserve System (for cash and government securities) and through DTC (for corporate securities) by an Authorized Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement. The Portfolio Deposit transfer must be ordered by the Authorized Participant on the Transmittal Date in a timely fashion so as to ensure the delivery of the requisite number of Deposit Securities through DTC to the account of each fund by no later than 1:00 p.m. Eastern time of the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date. In certain cases Authorized Participants will purchase and redeem Creation Units of each fund on the same Transmittal Date. In these instances, each fund reserves the right to settle these transactions on a net basis.
All questions as to the number of Deposit Securities to be delivered, and the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) for the deposit of any tendered securities, will be determined by each fund, whose determination shall be final and binding. For purchase orders composed solely of a Cash Component, the amount of cash equal to the Cash Component must be transferred directly to each fund's custodian through the Federal Reserve Bank wire transfer system in a timely manner so as to be received by each fund's custodian no later than 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on the next Business Day immediately following such Transmittal Date. An order to purchase Creation Units is deemed received by FDC on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by FDC or its agent not later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on such Transmittal Date; and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. However, if each fund's custodian does not receive the required Deposit Securities together with the associated Cash Component by 1:00 p.m. or, with respect to purchase orders composed solely of a Cash Component, the Cash Component by 10:00 a.m. on the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date, such order will be deemed not in proper form and canceled. Upon written notice to FDC, such canceled order may be resubmitted the following Business Day using a Portfolio Deposit as newly constituted to reflect the next calculated NAV of each fund. The delivery of Creation Units so purchased will occur not later than the second (2nd) Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by FDC.
FDC or its agent will inform the transfer agent, FMR and each fund's custodian upon receipt of a purchase order. The custodian will then provide such information to the appropriate subcustodian. The custodian will cause the subcustodian to maintain an account into which the Deposit Securities (or the cash value of all or part of such securities, in the case of a permitted or required cash purchase or "cash in lieu" amount) will be delivered. Deposit Securities must be delivered to an account maintained at the applicable local custodian. The trust must also receive, on or before the contractual settlement date, immediately available or same day funds estimated by the custodian to be sufficient to pay the Cash Component next determined after receipt in proper form of the purchase order, together with the purchase transaction fee described below.
Once the trust has accepted a purchase order, the trust will confirm the issuance of a Creation Unit of a fund against receipt of payment, at such NAV as will have been calculated after receipt in proper form of such order. FDC or its agent will then transmit a confirmation of acceptance of such order.
Creation Units will not be issued until the transfer of good title to the trust of the Deposit Securities and the payment of the Cash Component has been completed. When the subcustodian has confirmed to the custodian that the required Deposit Securities (or the cash value thereof) have been delivered to the account of the relevant subcustodian, FDC and FMR will be notified of such delivery and the trust will issue and cause the delivery of the Creation Units.
Creation Units may be created in advance of receipt by each fund of all or a portion of the applicable Deposit Securities as described below. In these circumstances, the initial deposit will have a value greater than the NAV of the shares on the date the order is placed in proper form since, in addition to available Deposit Securities, cash must be deposited in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Cash Component (including any Transaction Fees), plus (ii) 105% of the market value of the undelivered Deposit Securities (Additional Cash Deposit). The order shall be deemed to be received on the Business Day on which the order is placed provided that the order is placed in proper form prior to 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on such date and federal funds in the appropriate amount are deposited with each fund's custodian by 10:00 a.m. Eastern time the following Business Day. If the order is not placed in proper form by 3:00 p.m. or federal funds in the appropriate amount are not received by 10:00 a.m. the next Business Day, then the order may be deemed to be rejected and the Authorized Participant shall be liable to each fund for losses, if any, resulting therefrom. An additional amount of cash shall be required to be deposited with each fund, pending delivery of the missing Deposit Securities to the extent necessary to maintain the Additional Cash Deposit with each fund in an amount at least equal to 105% of the daily marked to market value of the missing Deposit Securities. In the sole discretion of each fund following the Business Day on which the order was received a fund may use the cash on deposit to purchase the missing Deposit Securities. Authorized Participants will be liable to each fund for the costs incurred by each fund in connection with any such purchases. These costs will be deemed to include the amount by which the actual purchase price of the Deposit Securities exceeds the market value of such Deposit Securities on the day the purchase order was deemed received by FDC plus the brokerage and related transaction costs associated with such purchases and the Authorized Participant shall be liable to the fund for any shortfall between the cost to the fund of purchasing any missing Deposit Securities and the value of the collateral. Each fund will return any unused portion of the Additional Cash Deposit once all of the missing Deposit Securities have been properly received by FDC or purchased by each fund and deposited into each fund.
Acceptance of Purchase Orders. Each fund reserves the absolute right to reject a purchase order transmitted to it by FDC if (i) the order is not in proper form; (ii) the investor(s), upon obtaining the shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding shares of each fund; (iii) acceptance of the Deposit Securities would have certain adverse tax consequences to each fund; (iv) acceptance of the Portfolio Deposit would, in the opinion of the fund, be unlawful; (v) acceptance of the Portfolio Deposit would otherwise, in the discretion of each fund or FMR, have an adverse effect on each fund or the rights of beneficial owners; or (vi) in the event that circumstances outside the control of each fund, make it impossible to process creation orders for all practical purposes. Examples of such circumstances include, without limitation, acts of God; public service or utility problems such as earthquakes, fires, floods, extreme weather conditions, and power outages resulting in telephone, telecopy, and computer failures; wars; civil or military disturbances, including acts of civil or military authority or governmental actions; terrorism; sabotage; epidemics; riots; labor disputes; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving computer or other information systems affecting each fund, FMR , FDC, DTC, NSCC, the transfer agent, or any other participant in the purchase process, and similar extraordinary events. Each fund and FDC have the right to require information to determine beneficial share ownership for purposes of (ii) above should it so choose or to rely on a certification from a broker-dealer who is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. as to the cost basis of Deposit Securities. If creations are on an in-kind basis, the fund further reserves the absolute right to reject or suspend an order transmitted to it by FDC and/or the transfer agent in respect of the fund if: (i) acceptance of the Deposit Securities would have certain adverse tax consequences to the fund; or (ii) for any other reasons as specified herein. FDC or the fund shall notify a prospective purchaser of a Creation Unit and/or the Authorized Participant acting on the purchaser's behalf, of its rejection of the purchaser's order. Each fund, the transfer agent, and FDC are under no duty, however, to verify or give notification of any defects or irregularities in any written order or in the delivery of a Portfolio Deposit, nor shall any of them incur any liability for the failure to give any such notification.
Redemption of Creation Units. Shares may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their NAV next determined after receipt of a redemption request in proper form by each fund through the transfer agent and only on a Business Day through an Authorized Participant that has entered into a Participant Agreement. Each fund generally will not redeem shares in amounts less than Creation Unit-size aggregations. Beneficial Owners must accumulate enough shares to constitute a Creation Unit in order to have such shares redeemed by each fund. There can be no assurance, however, that there will be sufficient liquidity in the public trading market at any time to permit assembly of a Creation Unit. Investors should expect to incur brokerage and other costs in connection with assembling a sufficient number of shares to constitute a redeemable Creation Unit.
FMR, through FDC or the transfer agent (through the NSCC) makes available immediately prior to the opening of trading on the listing exchange or the NYSE (currently 9:30 a.m. Eastern time) on each Business Day, the identity of the portfolio of securities constituting the securities included in each fund's Tracking Basket (Fund Securities) that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption requests received in proper form (as defined below) on that day.
The redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit may consist of Fund Securities - as announced by FMR, or its agent, on the Business Day of the request for redemption received in proper form - plus cash in an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the shares being redeemed, as next determined after a receipt of the request in proper form, and the value of the Fund Securities (Cash Redemption Amount), less a redemption transaction fee and any variable fee as listed below. In the event that the Fund Securities have a value greater than the NAV of the shares being redeemed, a compensating cash payment to a fund equal to the differential plus the applicable redemption transaction fee is required to be made by or through an Authorized Participant by the redeeming shareholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each fund will substitute a cash-in-lieu amount to replace any Fund Security that is a non-deliverable instrument. The amount of the cash paid out in such cases will be equivalent to the value of the instrument listed as a Fund Security. In addition, each fund generally substitutes a cash in lieu amount to replace any Fund Securities that are Representative ETFs.
The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed with respect to each fund (i) for any period during which the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); (ii) for any period during which trading on the NYSE is suspended or restricted; (iii) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of the shares or determination of each fund's NAV is not reasonably practicable; or (iv) in such other circumstances as is permitted by the SEC.
Orders to redeem Creation Units must be delivered through an Authorized Participant. An order to redeem Creation Units is deemed received by each fund on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received in proper form by the transfer agent not later than the Closing Time (or one hour prior to the Closing Time (ordinarily 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time) for nonconforming orders) on such Transmittal Date; (ii) such order is accompanied or followed by the requisite number of shares of each fund and the Cash Redemption Amount specified in such order, which delivery must be made through DTC to each fund's custodian no later than 1:00 p.m., for the shares, and 3:00 p.m., for the Cash Redemption Amount, Eastern time on the next Business Day following such Transmittal Date (the DTC Cut-Off-Time); and (iii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. The requisite Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount will generally be transferred by the second (2nd) Business Day following the date on which such request for redemption is deemed received, which will generally be no more than seven (7) days after such request for redemption but may be up to fifteen days for funds that invest in foreign securities. In certain cases, Authorized Participants will redeem and purchase Creation Units of each fund on the same Transmittal Date. In these instances, each fund reserves the right to settle these transactions on a net basis.
If each fund determines, based on information available to each fund when a redemption request is submitted by an Authorized Participant, that: (i) the short interest of each fund in the marketplace is greater than or equal to 100%; and (ii) the orders in the aggregate from all Authorized Participants redeeming shares on a Business Day represent 25% or more of the outstanding shares of each fund, such Authorized Participant will be required to verify to each fund the accuracy of its representations that are deemed to have been made by submitting a request for redemption. If, after receiving notice of the verification requirement, the Authorized Participant does not verify the accuracy of its representations that are deemed to have been made by submitting a request for redemption in accordance with this requirement, its redemption request will be considered not to have been received in proper form.
To the extent contemplated by an Authorized Participant's agreement, in the event the Authorized Participant has submitted a redemption request in proper form but is unable to transfer all or part of the Creation Units to be redeemed to FDC, on behalf of each fund, at or prior to the closing time of regular trading on the listing exchange on the date such redemption request is submitted, FDC will nonetheless accept the redemption request in reliance on the undertaking by the Authorized Participant to deliver the missing fund shares as soon as possible, which undertaking shall be secured by the Authorized Participant's delivery and maintenance of collateral consisting of cash having a value (marked to market daily) at least equal to 105% of the value of the missing fund shares. The current procedures for collateralization of missing shares require, among other things, that any cash collateral shall be in the form of U.S. dollars in immediately-available funds and shall be held by each fund and marked to market daily, and that the fees of each fund and any sub-custodians in respect of the delivery, maintenance, and redelivery of the cash collateral shall be payable by the Authorized Participant. The Participant Agreement will permit each fund to purchase the missing fund shares or acquire the Deposit Securities underlying such shares at any time and will subject the Authorized Participant to liability for any shortfall between the cost to each fund of purchasing such shares or Deposit Securities and the value of the collateral.
The calculation of the value of the Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered upon redemption will be made by Fidelity Service Company, Inc. (FSC) according to the procedures set forth in the section entitled "Valuation" computed on the Business Day on which a redemption order is deemed received by the transfer agent. Therefore, if a conforming redemption order in proper form is submitted to the transfer agent by an Authorized Participant not later than Closing Time, or 3:00 p.m. Eastern time in the case of nonconforming orders, on the Transmittal Date, and the requisite number of shares of each fund are delivered to each fund's custodian prior to the DTC Cut-Off-Time, then the value of the Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered will be determined by FSC on such Transmittal Date. If, however, a conforming redemption order is submitted to the transfer agent by an Authorized Participant not later than the Closing Time, or 3:00 p.m. Eastern time in the case of nonconforming orders, on the Transmittal Date but either (i) the requisite number of shares of each fund and the Cash Redemption Amount are not delivered by the DTC Cut-Off-Time as described above on the next Business Day following the Transmittal Date, or (ii) the redemption order is not submitted in proper form, then the redemption order will not be deemed received as of the Transmittal Date. In such case, the value of the Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered will be computed as of the Closing Time on the Business Day that such order is deemed received by the transfer agent, i.e., the Business Day on which the shares of each fund are delivered through DTC to FDC by the DTC Cut-Off-Time on such Business Day pursuant to a properly submitted redemption order.
Each fund may determine, upon receiving a redemption order from an Authorized Participant, to have the redemption be made entirely or in part in cash. In addition, an investor may request a redemption in cash that each fund may, in its sole discretion, permit. In either case, the investor will receive a cash payment equal to the NAV of its shares based on the NAV of shares of each fund next determined after the redemption request is received in proper from (minus a redemption transaction fee and additional charge for requested cash redemptions specified above, to offset each fund's brokerage and other transaction costs associated with the disposition of Fund Securities).
Redemption of shares for Fund Securities will be subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and each fund (whether or not it otherwise permits cash redemptions) reserves the right to redeem Creation Units for cash to the extent that each fund could not lawfully deliver specific Fund Securities upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Fund Securities under such laws. An Authorized Participant or a Beneficial Owner for which it is acting subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular stock included in the Fund Securities applicable to the redemption of a Creation Unit may be paid an equivalent amount of cash. The Authorized Participant may request the redeeming Beneficial Owner of the shares to complete an order form or to enter into agreements with respect to such matters as compensating cash payment.
In connection with taking delivery of shares for Fund Securities upon redemption of Creation Units, a redeeming shareholder or entity acting on behalf of a redeeming shareholder must maintain appropriate custody arrangements with a qualified broker-dealer, bank or other custody providers in each jurisdiction in which any of the Fund Securities are customarily traded, to which account such Fund Securities will be delivered. If neither the redeeming shareholder nor the entity acting on behalf of a redeeming shareholder has appropriate arrangements to take delivery of the Fund Securities in the applicable foreign jurisdiction and it is not possible to make other such arrangements, or if it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Fund Securities in such jurisdictions, the trust may, in its discretion, exercise its option to redeem such shares in cash, and the redeeming shareholder will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash.
Deliveries of redemption proceeds generally will be made within two Business Days. Due to the schedule of holidays in certain countries, however, the delivery of redemption proceeds may take longer than two Business Days after the day on which the redemption request is received in proper form. In such cases, the local market settlement procedures will not commence until the end of the local holiday periods.
The proclamation of new holidays, the treatment by market participants of certain days as "informal holidays" (e.g., days on which no or limited securities transactions occur, as a result of substantially shortened trading hours), the elimination of existing holidays or changes in local securities delivery practices, could affect the information set forth herein at some time in the future.
Creation/Redemption Transaction Fees. The funds may impose a "Transaction Fee" on investors purchasing or redeeming Creation Units. The Transaction Fee will be limited to amounts that have been determined by FMR to be appropriate. The purpose of the Transaction Fee is to protect the existing shareholders of the funds from the dilutive costs associated with the purchase and redemption of Creation Units. Where the fund permits cash creations (or redemptions) or cash in lieu of depositing one or more Deposit Securities, the purchaser (or redeemer) may be assessed a higher Transaction Fee to offset the transaction cost to the fund of buying (or selling) those particular Deposit Securities. To the extent a purchase/redemption transaction consists of cash and/or in-kind securities, the standard fee applies to in-kind purchases and redemptions of creation units and an additional transaction fee (up to the maximum amounts shown in the table below) may also be imposed. Each fund reserves the right to not impose the standard or additional transaction fee or to vary the amount of the transaction fee, up to the maximum listed below, depending on the materiality of the fund's actual transaction costs incurred or where FDC believes that not imposing or varying the transaction fee would be in the fund's interest. Transaction fees associated with the redemption of Creation Units will not exceed 2% of the value of shares redeemed. To the extent the fund cannot recoup the amount of transaction costs incurred in connection with a redemption from the redeeming shareholder because of the 2% cap or otherwise, those transaction costs will be borne by the fund's remaining shareholders and negatively affect the fund's performance. Actual transaction costs may vary depending on the time of day an order is received or the nature of the securities. Investors bear the costs of transferring Deposit Securities or Fund Securities to/from each fund to/from their account or on their order. Every purchaser of a Creation Unit will receive a prospectus that contains disclosure about the Transaction Fees, including the maximum amount of the additional transaction fee charged by the funds.
The following table sets forth the standard transaction fees and maximum additional transaction fees for creations and redemptions as of November 18, 2020.
| Name of Fund | Standard Creation/Redemption Transaction Fee | Maximum Additional Creation Transaction Fee* | Maximum Additional Redemption Transaction Fee* |
| Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF | $250 | 5% | 2% |
| Fidelity® Magellan® ETF | $250 | 5% | 2% |
| Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF | $250 | 5% | 2% |
| Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF | $250 | 5% | 2% |
* As a percentage of the cash amount invested or redeemed.
DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
Dividends. A portion of each fund's income may qualify for the dividends-received deduction available to corporate shareholders. A portion of each fund's dividends, when distributed to individual shareholders, may qualify for taxation at long-term capital gains rates (provided certain holding period requirements are met). Distributions by a fund to tax-advantaged retirement plan accounts are not taxable currently (but you may be taxed later, upon withdrawal of your investment from such account).
Capital Gain Distributions. Unless your shares of a fund are held in a tax-advantaged retirement plan, each fund's long-term capital gain distributions are federally taxable to shareholders generally as capital gains.
Returns of Capital. If a fund's distributions exceed its taxable income and capital gains realized during a taxable year, all or a portion of the distributions made in the same taxable year may be recharacterized as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution will generally not be taxable, but will reduce each shareholder's cost basis in the fund and result in a higher reported capital gain or lower reported capital loss when those shares on which the distribution was received are sold in taxable accounts.
Sales of Listed Shares. Gain or loss that is recognized on the sale of exchange-listed shares generally will be characterized as long-term capital gain or loss for shares that have been held for more than one year and as short-term capital gain or loss for shares that have been held for one year or less.
Purchase of Creation Units. The purchase of Creation Units generally will be a taxable event for the person who transfers securities in exchange for Creation Units but generally will not be a taxable event for the fund. The transferor will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between (a) the sum of the fair market value of the Creation Units (which may differ from their NAV) and any cash amount that is received and (b) the sum of the transferor's basis in the transferred securities, transaction fees and any cash amount that is paid. The purchase of Creation Units may trigger application of the wash sale rules for federal tax purposes.
Redemption of Creation Units. The redemption of Creation Units generally will be a taxable event for the person who receives securities in exchange for Creation Units but generally will not be a taxable event for the fund. The recipient will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between (a) the sum of the fair market value of the securities and any Cash Redemption Amount that is received and (b) the sum of the basis of the Creation Unit shares, transaction fees and any Cash Redemption Amount that is paid. The redemption of Creation Units may be treated as a wash sale for federal tax purposes.
Foreign Tax Credit or Deduction. Foreign governments may impose withholding taxes on dividends and interest earned by a fund with respect to foreign securities held directly by a fund. Foreign governments may also impose taxes on other payments or gains with respect to foreign securities held directly by a fund. Because each fund does not currently anticipate that securities of foreign issuers or underlying regulated investment companies will constitute more than 50% of its total assets at the end of its fiscal year, or fiscal quarter, respectively, shareholders should not expect to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction on their federal income tax returns with respect to foreign taxes withheld.
Tax Status of the Funds. Each fund intends to qualify each year as a "regulated investment company" under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code so that it will not be liable for federal tax on income and capital gains distributed to shareholders. In order to qualify as a regulated investment company, and avoid being subject to federal income or excise taxes at the fund level, each fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains within each calendar year as well as on a fiscal year basis (if the fiscal year is other than the calendar year), and intends to comply with other tax rules applicable to regulated investment companies.
Other Tax Information. The information above is only a summary of some of the tax consequences generally affecting each fund and its shareholders, and no attempt has been made to discuss individual tax consequences. It is up to you or your tax preparer to determine whether the sale of shares of a fund resulted in a capital gain or loss or other tax consequence to you. In addition to federal income taxes, shareholders may be subject to state and local taxes on fund distributions, and shares may be subject to state and local personal property taxes. Investors should consult their tax advisers to determine whether a fund is suitable to their particular tax situation.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
The Trustees, Members of the Advisory Board (if any), and officers of the trust and funds, as applicable, are listed below. The Board of Trustees governs each fund and is responsible for protecting the interests of shareholders. The Trustees are experienced executives who meet periodically throughout the year to oversee each fund's activities, review contractual arrangements with companies that provide services to each fund, oversee management of the risks associated with such activities and contractual arrangements, and review each fund's performance. Each of the Trustees oversees 305 funds.
The Trustees hold office without limit in time except that (a) any Trustee may resign; (b) any Trustee may be removed by written instrument, signed by at least two-thirds of the number of Trustees prior to such removal; (c) any Trustee who requests to be retired or who has become incapacitated by illness or injury may be retired by written instrument signed by a majority of the other Trustees; and (d) any Trustee may be removed at any special meeting of shareholders by a two-thirds vote of the outstanding voting securities of the trust. Each Trustee who is not an interested person (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the trust and the funds is referred to herein as an Independent Trustee. Each Independent Trustee shall retire not later than the last day of the calendar year in which his or her 75th birthday occurs. The Independent Trustees may waive this mandatory retirement age policy with respect to individual Trustees. Officers and Advisory Board Members hold office without limit in time, except that any officer or Advisory Board Member may resign or may be removed by a vote of a majority of the Trustees at any regular meeting or any special meeting of the Trustees. Except as indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the past five years.
Experience, Skills, Attributes, and Qualifications of the Trustees. The Governance and Nominating Committee has adopted a statement of policy that describes the experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills that are necessary and desirable for potential Independent Trustee candidates (Statement of Policy). The Board believes that each Trustee satisfied at the time he or she was initially elected or appointed a Trustee, and continues to satisfy, the standards contemplated by the Statement of Policy. The Governance and Nominating Committee also engages professional search firms to help identify potential Independent Trustee candidates who have the experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills consistent with the Statement of Policy. From time to time, additional criteria based on the composition and skills of the current Independent Trustees, as well as experience or skills that may be appropriate in light of future changes to board composition, business conditions, and regulatory or other developments, have also been considered by the professional search firms and the Governance and Nominating Committee. In addition, the Board takes into account the Trustees' commitment and participation in Board and committee meetings, as well as their leadership of standing and ad hoc committees throughout their tenure.
In determining that a particular Trustee was and continues to be qualified to serve as a Trustee, the Board has considered a variety of criteria, none of which, in isolation, was controlling. The Board believes that, collectively, the Trustees have balanced and diverse experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills, which allow the Board to operate effectively in governing each fund and protecting the interests of shareholders. Information about the specific experience, skills, attributes, and qualifications of each Trustee, which in each case led to the Board's conclusion that the Trustee should serve (or continue to serve) as a trustee of the funds, is provided below.
Board Structure and Oversight Function. Robert A. Lawrence is an interested person and currently serves as Acting Chairman. The Trustees have determined that an interested Chairman is appropriate and benefits shareholders because an interested Chairman has a personal and professional stake in the quality and continuity of services provided to the funds. Independent Trustees exercise their informed business judgment to appoint an individual of their choosing to serve as Chairman, regardless of whether the Trustee happens to be independent or a member of management. The Independent Trustees have determined that they can act independently and effectively without having an Independent Trustee serve as Chairman and that a key structural component for assuring that they are in a position to do so is for the Independent Trustees to constitute a substantial majority for the Board. The Independent Trustees also regularly meet in executive session. David M. Thomas serves as Lead Independent Trustee and as such (i) acts as a liaison between the Independent Trustees and management with respect to matters important to the Independent Trustees and (ii) with management prepares agendas for Board meetings.
Fidelity® funds are overseen by different Boards of Trustees. The funds' Board oversees Fidelity's high income and certain equity funds, and other Boards oversee Fidelity's investment-grade bond, money market, asset allocation, and other equity funds. The asset allocation funds may invest in Fidelity® funds overseen by the funds' Board. The use of separate Boards, each with its own committee structure, allows the Trustees of each group of Fidelity® funds to focus on the unique issues of the funds they oversee, including common research, investment, and operational issues. On occasion, the separate Boards establish joint committees to address issues of overlapping consequences for the Fidelity® funds overseen by each Board.
The Trustees operate using a system of committees to facilitate the timely and efficient consideration of all matters of importance to the Trustees, each fund, and fund shareholders and to facilitate compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and oversight of the funds' activities and associated risks. The Board, acting through its committees, has charged FMR and its affiliates with (i) identifying events or circumstances the occurrence of which could have demonstrably adverse effects on the funds' business and/or reputation; (ii) implementing processes and controls to lessen the possibility that such events or circumstances occur or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur; and (iii) creating and maintaining a system designed to evaluate continuously business and market conditions in order to facilitate the identification and implementation processes described in (i) and (ii) above. Because the day-to-day operations and activities of the funds are carried out by or through FMR, its affiliates, and other service providers, the funds' exposure to risks is mitigated but not eliminated by the processes overseen by the Trustees. While each of the Board's committees has responsibility for overseeing different aspects of the funds' activities, oversight is exercised primarily through the Operations, Audit, and Compliance Committees. Appropriate personnel, including but not limited to the funds' Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), FMR's internal auditor, the independent accountants, the funds' Treasurer and portfolio management personnel, make periodic reports to the Board's committees, as appropriate, including an annual review of Fidelity's risk management program for the Fidelity® funds. The responsibilities of each standing committee, including their oversight responsibilities, are described further under "Standing Committees of the Trustees."
Interested Trustees*:
Correspondence intended for a Trustee who is an interested person may be sent to Fidelity Investments, 245 Summer Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210.
Name, Year of Birth; Principal Occupations and Other Relevant Experience+
Bettina Doulton (1964)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2020
Trustee
Ms. Doulton also serves as Trustee of other Fidelity® funds. Prior to her retirement, Ms. Doulton served in a variety of positions at Fidelity Investments, including as a managing director of research (2006-2007), portfolio manager to certain Fidelity® funds (1993-2005), equity analyst and portfolio assistant (1990-1993), and research assistant (1987-1990). Ms. Doulton currently owns and operates Phi Builders + Architects and Cellardoor Winery. Previously, Ms. Doulton served as a member of the Board of Brown Capital Management, LLC (2013-2018).
Robert A. Lawrence (1952)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2020
Trustee
Acting Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Mr. Lawrence also serves as Trustee of other funds. Previously, Mr. Lawrence served as a Member of the Advisory Board of certain funds. Prior to his retirement in 2008, Mr. Lawrence served as Vice President of certain Fidelity® funds (2006-2008), Senior Vice President, Head of High Income Division of Fidelity Management & Research Company (investment adviser firm, 2006-2008), and President of Fidelity Strategic Investments (investment adviser firm, 2002-2005).
* Determined to be an “Interested Trustee” by virtue of, among other things, his or her affiliation with the trust or various entities under common control with FMR.
+ The information includes the Trustee's principal occupation during the last five years and other information relating to the experience, attributes, and skills relevant to the Trustee's qualifications to serve as a Trustee, which led to the conclusion that the Trustee should serve as a Trustee for each fund.
Independent Trustees:
Correspondence intended for an Independent Trustee may be sent to Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 55235, Boston, Massachusetts 02205-5235.
Name, Year of Birth; Principal Occupations and Other Relevant Experience+
Dennis J. Dirks (1948)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Trustee
Mr. Dirks also serves as Trustee of other Fidelity® funds. Prior to his retirement in May 2003, Mr. Dirks served as Chief Operating Officer and as a member of the Board of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (financial markets infrastructure), President, Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Board of The Depository Trust Company (DTC), President and a member of the Board of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC), Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of the Government Securities Clearing Corporation and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of the Mortgage-Backed Securities Clearing Corporation. Mr. Dirks currently serves as a member of the Finance Committee (2016-present) and Board (2017-present) and is Treasurer (2018-present) of the Asolo Repertory Theatre.
Donald F. Donahue (1950)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Trustee
Mr. Donahue also serves as Trustee of other Fidelity® funds. Mr. Donahue serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Miranda Partners, LLC (risk consulting for the financial services industry, 2012-present). Previously, Mr. Donahue served as Chief Executive Officer (2006-2012), Chief Operating Officer (2003-2006) and Managing Director, Customer Marketing and Development (1999-2003) of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (financial markets infrastructure). Mr. Donahue currently serves as a member (2007-present) and Co-Chairman (2016-present) of the Board of United Way of New York, a member of the Board of NYC Leadership Academy (2012-present) and a member of the Board of Advisors of Ripple Labs, Inc. (financial services, 2015-present). Mr. Donahue previously served as a member of the Advisory Board of certain Fidelity® funds (2015-2018).
Vicki L. Fuller (1957)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2020
Trustee
Ms. Fuller also serves as Trustee of other Fidelity® funds. Previously, Ms. Fuller served as a member of the Advisory Board of certain Fidelity® funds (2018-2020), Chief Investment Officer of the New York State Common Retirement Fund (2012-2018) and held a variety of positions at AllianceBernstein L.P. (global asset management, 1985-2012), including Managing Director (2006-2012) and Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager (2001-2006). Ms. Fuller currently serves as a member of the Board, Audit Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee of The Williams Companies, Inc. (natural gas infrastructure, 2018-present), as a member of the Board, Audit Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee of two Blackstone business development companies (2020-present) and as a member of the Board of Treliant, LLC (consulting, 2019-present).
Patricia L. Kampling (1959)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2020
Trustee
Ms. Kampling also serves as Trustee of other Fidelity® funds. Prior to her retirement, Ms. Kampling served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (2012-2019), President and Chief Operating Officer (2011-2012) and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (2010-2011) of Alliant Energy Corporation. Ms. Kampling currently serves as a member of the Board, Compensation Committee and Executive Committee and as Chair of the Audit Committee of Briggs & Stratton Corporation (manufacturing, 2011-present) and as a member of the Board, Audit, Finance and Risk Committee and Safety, Environmental, Technology and Operations Committee of American Water Works Company, Inc. (utilities company, 2019-present). In addition, Ms. Kampling currently serves as a member of the Board of the Nature Conservancy, Wisconsin Chapter (2019-present). Previously, Ms. Kampling served as a Member of the Advisory Board of certain Fidelity® funds (2020), a member of the Board of Interstate Power and Light Company (2012-2019) and Wisconsin Power and Light Company (2012-2019) (each a subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corporation) and as a member of the Board and Workforce Development Committee of the Business Roundtable (2018-2019).
Thomas A. Kennedy (1955)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2021
Trustee
Mr. Kennedy also serves as Trustee of other Fidelity® funds. Previously, Mr. Kennedy served as a Member of the Advisory Board of certain Fidelity® funds (2020) and held a variety of positions at Raytheon Company (aerospace and defense, 1983-2020), including Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (2014-2020) and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (2013-2014). Mr. Kennedy currently serves as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Raytheon Technologies Corporation (aerospace and defense, 2020-present). He is also a member of the Rutgers School of Engineering Industry Advisory Board (2011-present) and a member of the UCLA Engineering Dean’s Executive Board (2016-present).
Garnett A. Smith (1947)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2013
Trustee
Mr. Smith also serves as Trustee of other Fidelity® funds. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Smith served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (1990-1997) and President (1986-1990) of Inbrand Corp. (manufacturer of personal absorbent products). Prior to his employment with Inbrand Corp., he was employed by a retail fabric chain and North Carolina National Bank (now Bank of America). Mr. Smith previously served as a member of the Advisory Board of certain Fidelity® funds (2012-2013).
David M. Thomas (1949)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Trustee
Lead Independent Trustee
Mr. Thomas also serves as Trustee of other Fidelity® funds. Previously, Mr. Thomas served as Executive Chairman (2005-2006) and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (2000-2005) of IMS Health, Inc. (pharmaceutical and healthcare information solutions). Mr. Thomas currently serves as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Fortune Brands Home and Security (home and security products, 2011-present), and a member of the Board (2004-present) and Presiding Director (2013-present) of Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (marketing communication).
Susan Tomasky (1953)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2020
Trustee
Ms. Tomasky also serves as Trustee of other Fidelity® funds. Prior to her retirement, Ms. Tomasky served in various executive officer positions at American Electric Power Company, Inc. (1998-2011), including most recently as President of AEP Transmission (2007-2011). Ms. Tomasky currently serves as a member of the Board and Sustainability Committee and as Chair of the Audit Committee of Marathon Petroleum Corporation (2018-present) and as a member of the Board, Corporate Governance Committee and Organization and Compensation Committee and as Chair of the Audit Committee of Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. (utilities company, 2012-present). In addition, Ms. Tomasky currently serves as a member of the Board of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority (2007-present), as a member of the Board of the Royal Shakespeare Company – America (2009-present), as a member of the Board of the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (2011-present) and as a member of the Board of Kenyon College (2016-present). Previously, Ms. Tomasky served as a Member of the Advisory Board of certain Fidelity® funds (2020), a member of the Board (2011-2019) and as Lead Independent Director (2015-2018) of Andeavor Corporation (previously Tesoro Corporation) (independent oil refiner and marketer) and as a member of the Board of Summit Midstream Partners LP (energy, 2012-2018).
Michael E. Wiley (1950)
Trustee
Year of Election or Appointment: 2013
Mr. Wiley also serves as Trustee of other Fidelity® funds. Previously, Mr. Wiley served as a member of the Advisory Board of certain Fidelity® funds (2018-2020), Chairman, President and CEO of Baker Hughes, Inc. (oilfield services, 2000-2004). Mr. Wiley also previously served as a member of the Board of Andeavor Corporation (independent oil refiner and marketer, 2005-2018), a member of the Board of Andeavor Logistics LP (natural resources logistics, 2015-2018) and a member of the Board of High Point Resources (exploration and production, 2005-2020).
+ The information includes the Trustee's principal occupation during the last five years and other information relating to the experience, attributes, and skills relevant to the Trustee's qualifications to serve as a Trustee, which led to the conclusion that the Trustee should serve as a Trustee for each fund.
Advisory Board Members and Officers:
Correspondence intended for a Member of the Advisory Board (if any) may be sent to Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 55235, Boston, Massachusetts 02205-5235. Correspondence intended for an officer or Peter S. Lynch may be sent to Fidelity Investments, 245 Summer Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210. Officers appear below in alphabetical order.
Name, Year of Birth; Principal Occupation
Ned C. Lautenbach (1944)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2021
Member of the Advisory Board
Mr. Lautenbach also serves as a Member of the Advisory Board of other Fidelity® funds. Mr. Lautenbach currently serves as Chair of the Board of Governors, State University System of Florida (2013-present) and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (1994-present). He is also a member and has in the past served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Artis-Naples (2012-present). Previously, Mr. Lautenbach served as a Trustee of certain Fidelity® funds (2000-2020) and a member and then Lead Director of the Board of Directors of Eaton Corporation (diversified industrial, 1997-2016). He was also a Partner at Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC (private equity investment, 1998-2010); as well as Director of Sony Corporation (2006-2007). In addition, Mr. Lautenbach had a 30-year career with IBM (technology company), during which time he served as Senior Vice President and as a member of the Corporate Executive Committee (1968-1998).
Peter S. Lynch (1944)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Member of the Advisory Board
Mr. Lynch also serves as a Member of the Advisory Board of other Fidelity® funds. Mr. Lynch is Vice Chairman and a Director of Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC (investment adviser firm). In addition, Mr. Lynch serves as a Trustee of Boston College and as the Chairman of the Inner-City Scholarship Fund. Previously, Mr. Lynch served as Vice Chairman and a Director of FMR Co., Inc. (investment adviser firm) and on the Special Olympics International Board of Directors (1997-2006).
Craig S. Brown (1977)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2019
Assistant Treasurer
Mr. Brown also serves as Assistant Treasurer of other funds. Mr. Brown is an employee of Fidelity Investments (2013-present).
John J. Burke III (1964)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Burke also serves as Chief Financial Officer of other funds. Mr. Burke serves as Head of Investment Operations for Fidelity Fund and Investment Operations (2018-present) and is an employee of Fidelity Investments (1998-present). Previously Mr. Burke served as head of Asset Management Investment Operations (2012-2018).
William C. Coffey (1969)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2019
Assistant Secretary
Mr. Coffey also serves as Assistant Secretary of other funds. He is Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of FMR LLC (diversified financial services company, 2010-present), and is an employee of Fidelity Investments. Previously, Mr. Coffey served as Secretary and CLO of certain funds (2018-2019); CLO, Secretary, and Senior Vice President of Fidelity Management & Research Company and FMR Co., Inc. (investment adviser firms, 2018-2019); Secretary of Fidelity SelectCo, LLC and Fidelity Investments Money Management, Inc. (investment adviser firms, 2018-2019); CLO of Fidelity Management & Research (Hong Kong) Limited, FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited, and Fidelity Management & Research (Japan) Limited (investment adviser firms, 2018-2019); and Assistant Secretary of certain funds (2009-2018).
Timothy M. Cohen (1969)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Vice President
Mr. Cohen also serves as Vice President of other funds. Mr. Cohen serves as Co-Head of Equity (2018-present), a Director of Fidelity Management & Research (Japan) Limited (investment adviser firm, 2016-present), and is an employee of Fidelity Investments. Previously, Mr. Cohen served as Executive Vice President of Fidelity SelectCo, LLC (2019), Head of Global Equity Research (2016-2018), Chief Investment Officer - Equity and a Director of Fidelity Management & Research (U.K.) Inc. (investment adviser firm, 2013-2015) and as a Director of Fidelity Management & Research (Hong Kong) Limited (investment adviser firm, 2017).
Jonathan Davis (1968)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2013
Assistant Treasurer
Mr. Davis also serves as Assistant Treasurer of other funds. Mr. Davis serves as Assistant Treasurer of FMR Capital, Inc. (2017-present) and is an employee of Fidelity Investments. Previously, Mr. Davis served as Vice President and Associate General Counsel of FMR LLC (diversified financial services company, 2003-2010).
Laura M. Del Prato (1964)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Assistant Treasurer
Ms. Del Prato also serves as an officer of other funds. Ms. Del Prato is an employee of Fidelity Investments (2017-present). Previously, Ms. Del Prato served as President and Treasurer of The North Carolina Capital Management Trust: Cash Portfolio and Term Portfolio (2018-2020). Prior to joining Fidelity Investments, Ms. Del Prato served as a Managing Director and Treasurer of the JPMorgan Mutual Funds (2014-2017). Prior to JPMorgan, Ms. Del Prato served as a partner at Cohen Fund Audit Services (accounting firm, 2012-2013) and KPMG LLP (accounting firm, 2004-2012).
Colm A. Hogan (1973)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2020
Assistant Treasurer
Mr. Hogan also serves as an officer of other funds. Mr. Hogan serves as Assistant Treasurer of FMR Capital, Inc. (2017-present) and is an employee of Fidelity Investments (2005-present). Previously, Mr. Hogan served as Deputy Treasurer of certain Fidelity® funds (2016-2020) and Assistant Treasurer of certain Fidelity® funds (2016-2018).
Pamela R. Holding (1964)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Vice President
Ms. Holding also serves as Vice President of other funds. Ms. Holding serves as Co-Head of Equity (2018-present) and is an employee of Fidelity Investments (2013-present). Previously, Ms. Holding served as Executive Vice President of Fidelity SelectCo, LLC (2019) and as Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity Institutional Asset Management (2013-2018).
Cynthia Lo Bessette (1969)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2019
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer (CLO)
Ms. Lo Bessette also serves as an officer of other funds. Ms. Lo Bessette serves as CLO, Secretary, and Senior Vice President of Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC (investment adviser firm, 2019-present); and CLO of Fidelity Management & Research (Hong Kong) Limited, FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited, and Fidelity Management & Research (Japan) Limited (investment adviser firms, 2019-present). She is a Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of FMR LLC (diversified financial services company, 2019-present), and is an employee of Fidelity Investments. Previously, Ms. Lo Bessette served as CLO, Secretary, and Senior Vice President of FMR Co., Inc. (investment adviser firm, 2019); Secretary of Fidelity SelectCo, LLC and Fidelity Investments Money Management, Inc. (investment adviser firms, 2019). Prior to joining Fidelity Investments, Ms. Lo Bessette was Executive Vice President, General Counsel (2016-2019) and Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel (2015-2016) of OppenheimerFunds (investment management company) and Deputy Chief Legal Officer (2013-2015) of Jennison Associates LLC (investment adviser firm).
Chris Maher (1972)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2020
Deputy Treasurer
Mr. Maher also serves as an officer of other funds. Mr. Maher serves as Assistant Treasurer of FMR Capital, Inc. (2017-present), and is an employee of Fidelity Investments (2008-present). Previously, Mr. Maher served as Assistant Treasurer of certain funds (2013-2020); Vice President of Asset Management Compliance (2013), Vice President of the Program Management Group of FMR (investment adviser firm, 2010-2013), and Vice President of Valuation Oversight (2008-2010).
Jason P. Pogorelec (1975)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2020
Chief Compliance Officer
Mr. Pogorelec also serves as Chief Compliance Officer of other funds. Mr. Pogorelec is a senior Vice President of Asset Management Compliance for Fidelity Investments and is an employee of Fidelity Investments (2006-present). Previously, Mr. Pogorelec served as Vice President, Associate General Counsel for Fidelity Investments (2010-2020) and Assistant Secretary of certain Fidelity funds (2015-2020).
Brett Segaloff (1972)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2021
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Officer
Mr. Segaloff also serves as an AML Officer of other funds and other related entities. He is Director, Anti-Money Laundering (2007-present) of FMR LLC (diversified financial services company) and is an employee of Fidelity Investments (1996-present).
Stacie M. Smith (1974)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
President and Treasurer
Ms. Smith also serves as an officer of other funds. Ms. Smith serves as Assistant Treasurer of FMR Capital, Inc. (2017-present), is an employee of Fidelity Investments (2009-present), and has served in other fund officer roles. Prior to joining Fidelity Investments, Ms. Smith served as Senior Audit Manager of Ernst & Young LLP (accounting firm, 1996-2009). Previously, Ms. Smith served as Assistant Treasurer (2013-2019) and Deputy Treasurer (2013-2016) of certain Fidelity® funds.
Marc L. Spector (1972)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2017
Assistant Treasurer
Mr. Spector also serves as an officer of other funds. Mr. Spector serves as Assistant Treasurer of FMR Capital, Inc. (2017-present) and is an employee of Fidelity Investments (2016-present). Prior to joining Fidelity Investments, Mr. Spector served as Director at the Siegfried Group (accounting firm, 2013-2016), and prior to Siegfried Group as audit senior manager at Deloitte & Touche LLP (accounting firm, 2005-2013).
Jim Wegmann (1979)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2019
Assistant Treasurer
Mr. Wegmann also serves as Assistant Treasurer of other funds. Mr. Wegmann is an employee of Fidelity Investments (2011-present).
Standing Committees of the Trustees. The Board of Trustees has established various committees to support the Independent Trustees in acting independently in pursuing the best interests of the funds and their shareholders. Currently, the Board of Trustees has 9 standing committees. The members of each committee are Independent Trustees. Advisory Board members may be invited to attend meetings of the committees.
The Operations Committee is composed of all of the Independent Trustees, with Mr. Thomas currently serving as Chair. The committee serves as a forum for consideration of issues of importance to, or calling for particular determinations by, the Independent Trustees. The committee also considers matters involving potential conflicts of interest between the funds and FMR and its affiliates and reviews proposed contracts and the proposed continuation of contracts between the funds and FMR and its affiliates, and reviews and makes recommendations regarding contracts with third parties unaffiliated with FMR, including insurance coverage and custody agreements. The committee also monitors additional issues including the nature, levels and quality of services provided to shareholders and significant litigation. The committee also has oversight of compliance issues not specifically within the scope of any other committee. The committee is also responsible for definitive action on all compliance matters involving the potential for significant reimbursement by FMR. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020, the committee held 12 meeting(s).
The Fair Value Oversight Committee is composed of Mses. Fuller (Chair) and Tomasky, and Messrs. Donahue and Wiley. The Fair Value Oversight Committee monitors and establishes policies concerning procedures and controls regarding the valuation of fund investments and monitors matters of disclosure to the extent required to fulfill its statutory responsibilities. The committee also reviews actions taken by FMR's Fair Value Committee. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020, the committee held five meeting(s).
The Board of Trustees has established two Fund Oversight Committees: the Equity I Committee (composed of Messrs. Smith (Chair), Donahue, Kennedy, and Thomas, and Ms. Tomasky) and the Equity II Committee (composed of Messrs. Dirks (Chair) and Wiley, and Mses. Fuller and Kampling). Each committee develops an understanding of and reviews the investment objectives, policies, and practices of each fund under its oversight. Each committee also monitors investment performance, compliance by each relevant fund with its investment policies and restrictions and reviews appropriate benchmarks, competitive universes, unusual or exceptional investment matters, the personnel and other resources devoted to the management of each fund and all other matters bearing on each fund's investment results. Each committee will review and recommend any required action to the Board in respect of specific funds, including new funds, changes in fundamental and non-fundamental investment policies and restrictions, partial or full closing to new investors, fund mergers, fund name changes, and liquidations of funds. The members of each committee may organize working groups to make recommendations concerning issues related to funds that are within the scope of the committee's review. These working groups report to the committee or to the Independent Trustees, or both, as appropriate. Each working group may request from FMR such information from FMR as may be appropriate to the working group's deliberations. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020, the Equity I Committee held six meeting(s) and the Equity II Committee held seven meeting(s).
The Shareholder, Distribution, Brokerage and Proxy Voting Committee is composed of Messrs. Dirks (Chair) and Thomas, and Mses. Fuller and Kampling. Regarding shareholder services, the committee considers the structure and amount of the funds' transfer agency fees and fees, including direct fees to investors (other than sales loads), such as bookkeeping and custodial fees, and the nature and quality of services rendered by FMR and its affiliates or third parties (such as custodians) in consideration of these fees. The committee also considers other non-investment management services rendered to the funds by FMR and its affiliates, including pricing and bookkeeping services. The committee monitors and recommends policies concerning the securities transactions of the funds, including brokerage. The committee periodically reviews the policies and practices with respect to efforts to achieve best execution, commissions paid to firms supplying research and brokerage services or paying fund expenses, and policies and procedures designed to assure that any allocation of portfolio transactions is not influenced by the sale of fund shares. The committee also monitors brokerage and other similar relationships between the funds and firms affiliated with FMR that participate in the execution of securities transactions. Regarding the distribution of fund shares, the committee considers issues bearing on the various distribution channels employed by the funds, including issues regarding Rule 18f-3 plans and related consideration of classes of shares, sales load structures (including breakpoints), load waivers, selling concessions and service charges paid to intermediaries, Rule 12b-1 plans, contingent deferred sales charges, and finder's fees, and other means by which intermediaries are compensated for selling fund shares or providing shareholder servicing, including revenue sharing. The committee also considers issues bearing on the preparation and use of advertisements and sales literature for the funds, policies and procedures regarding frequent purchase of fund shares, and selective disclosure of portfolio holdings. Regarding proxy voting, the committee reviews the fund's proxy voting policies, considers changes to the policies, and reviews the manner in which the policies have been applied. The committee will receive reports on the manner in which proxy votes have been cast under the proxy voting policies and reports on consultations between the fund's investment advisers and portfolio companies concerning matters presented to shareholders for approval. The committee will address issues relating to the fund's annual voting report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The committee will receive reports concerning the implementation of procedures and controls designed to ensure that the proxy voting policies are implemented in accordance with their terms. The committee will consider FMR's recommendations concerning certain non-routine proposals not covered by the proxy voting policies. The committee will receive reports with respect to steps taken by FMR to assure that proxy voting has been done without regard to any other FMR relationships, business or otherwise, with that portfolio company. The committee will make recommendations to the Board concerning the casting of proxy votes in circumstances where FMR has determined that, because of a conflict of interest, the proposal to be voted on should be reviewed by the Board. The Board established the committee effective July 14, 2020. Prior to that date the committee’s responsibilities were divided between separate Shareholder, Distribution and Brokerage and Proxy Voting committees. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020, the new combined committee held one meeting(s) while the separate Shareholder, Distribution and Brokerage committee and Proxy Voting committee held five and three meeting(s), respectively.
The Audit Committee is composed of Messrs. Donahue (Chair), Kennedy, and Smith, and Ms. Tomasky. All committee members must be able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including a company's balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. At least one committee member will be an "audit committee financial expert" as defined by the SEC. The committee will have at least one committee member in common with the Compliance Committee. The committee meets separately at least annually with the funds' Treasurer, with the funds' Chief Financial Officer, with personnel responsible for the internal audit function of FMR LLC, and with the funds' outside auditors. The committee has direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation, and oversight of the work of the outside auditors employed by the funds. The committee assists the Trustees in overseeing and monitoring: (i) the systems of internal accounting and financial controls of the funds and the funds' service providers, (to the extent such controls impact the funds' financial statements); (ii) the funds' auditors and the annual audits of the funds' financial statements; (iii) the financial reporting processes of the funds; (iv) whistleblower reports; and (v) the accounting policies and disclosures of the funds. The committee considers and acts upon (i) the provision by any outside auditor of any non-audit services for any fund, and (ii) the provision by any outside auditor of certain non-audit services to fund service providers and their affiliates to the extent that such approval (in the case of this clause (ii)) is required under applicable regulations of the SEC. In furtherance of the foregoing, the committee has adopted (and may from time to time amend or supplement) and provides oversight of policies and procedures for non-audit engagements by outside auditors of the funds. The committee is responsible for approving all audit engagement fees and terms for the funds and for resolving disagreements between a fund and any outside auditor regarding any fund's financial reporting. Auditors of the funds report directly to the committee. The committee will obtain assurance of independence and objectivity from the outside auditors, including a formal written statement delineating all relationships between the auditor and the funds and any service providers consistent with the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. It oversees and receives reports on the funds' service providers' internal controls and reviews the adequacy and effectiveness of the service providers' accounting and financial controls, including: (i) any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting that are reasonably likely to adversely affect the funds' ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data; (ii) any change in the fund's internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the fund's internal control over financial reporting; and (iii) any fraud, whether material or not, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the funds' or service providers internal controls over financial reporting. The committee will also review any correspondence with regulators or governmental agencies or published reports that raise material issues regarding the funds' financial statements or accounting policies. These matters may also be reviewed by the Compliance Committee or the Operations Committee. The Chair of the Audit Committee will coordinate with the Chairs of other committees, as appropriate. The committee reviews at least annually a report from each outside auditor describing any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality control, peer review, or Public Company Accounting Oversight Board examination of the auditing firm and any material issues raised by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities of the auditing firm and in each case any steps taken to deal with such issues. The committee will oversee and receive reports on the funds' financial reporting process, will discuss with FMR, the funds' Treasurer, outside auditors and, if appropriate, internal audit personnel of FMR LLC, their qualitative judgments about the appropriateness and acceptability of accounting principles and financial disclosure practices used or proposed for adoption by the funds. The committee will review with FMR, the funds' Treasurer, outside auditor, and internal audit personnel of FMR LLC and, as appropriate, legal counsel the results of audits of the funds' financial statements. The committee will review periodically the funds' major internal controls exposures and the steps that have been taken to monitor and control such exposures. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020, the committee held four meeting(s).
The Governance and Nominating Committee is composed of Messrs. Thomas (Chair), Dirks, and Wiley. With respect to fund governance and board administration matters, the committee periodically reviews procedures of the Board of Trustees and its committees (including committee charters) and periodically reviews compensation of Independent Trustees. The committee monitors corporate governance matters and makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees on the frequency and structure of the Board of Trustee meetings and on any other aspect of Board procedures. It acts as the administrative committee under the retirement plan for Independent Trustees who retired prior to December 30, 1996 and under the fee deferral plan for Independent Trustees. It reviews the performance of legal counsel employed by the funds and the Independent Trustees. On behalf of the Independent Trustees, the committee will make such findings and determinations as to the independence of counsel for the Independent Trustees as may be necessary or appropriate under applicable regulations or otherwise. The committee is also responsible for Board administrative matters applicable to Independent Trustees, such as expense reimbursement policies and compensation for attendance at meetings, conferences and other events. The committee monitors compliance with, acts as the administrator of, and makes determinations in respect of, the provisions of the code of ethics and any supplemental policies regarding personal securities transactions applicable to the Independent Trustees. The committee monitors the functioning of each Board committee and makes recommendations for any changes, including the creation or elimination of standing or ad hoc Board committees. The committee monitors regulatory and other developments to determine whether to recommend modifications to the committee's responsibilities or other Trustee policies and procedures in light of rule changes, reports concerning "best practices" in corporate governance, and other developments in mutual fund governance. The committee reports regularly to the Independent Trustees with respect to these activities. The committee recommends that the Board establish such special or ad hoc Board committees as may be desirable or necessary from time to time in order to address ethical, legal, or other matters that may arise. The committee also oversees the annual self-evaluation of the Board of Trustees and of each committee and establishes procedures to allow it to exercise this oversight function. In conducting this oversight, the committee shall address all matters that it considers relevant to the performance of the Board of Trustees and shall report the results of its evaluation to the Board of Trustees, including any recommended amendments to the principles of governance, and any recommended changes to the funds' or the Board of Trustees' policies, procedures, and structures. The committee reviews periodically the size and composition of the Board of Trustees as a whole and recommends, if necessary, measures to be taken so that the Board of Trustees reflects the appropriate balance of knowledge, experience, skills, expertise, and diversity required for the Board as a whole and contains at least the minimum number of Independent Trustees required by law. The committee makes nominations for the election or appointment of Independent Trustees and non-management Members of any Advisory Board, and for membership on committees. The committee shall have authority to retain and terminate any third-party advisers, including authority to approve fees and other retention terms. Such advisers may include search firms to identify Independent Trustee candidates and board compensation consultants. The committee may conduct or authorize investigations into or studies of matters within the committee's scope of responsibilities, and may retain, at the funds' expense, such independent counsel or other advisers as it deems necessary. The committee will consider Independent Trustee candidates to the Board of Trustees recommended by shareholders based upon the criteria applied to candidates presented to the committee by a search firm or other source. Recommendations, along with appropriate background material concerning the candidate that demonstrates his or her ability to serve as an Independent Trustee of the funds, should be submitted to the Chair of the committee at the address maintained for communications with Independent Trustees. If the committee retains a search firm, the Chair will generally forward all such submissions to the search firm for evaluation. With respect to the criteria for selecting Independent Trustees, it is expected that all candidates will possess the following minimum qualifications: (i) unquestioned personal integrity; (ii) not an interested person of the funds within the meaning of the 1940 Act; (iii) does not have a material relationship (e.g., commercial, banking, consulting, legal, or accounting) with the adviser, any sub-adviser, or their affiliates that could create an appearance of lack of independence in respect of the funds; (iv) has the disposition to act independently in respect of FMR and its affiliates and others in order to protect the interests of the funds and all shareholders; (v) ability to attend regularly scheduled meetings during the year; (vi) demonstrates sound business judgment gained through broad experience in significant positions where the candidate has dealt with management, technical, financial, or regulatory issues; (vii) sufficient financial or accounting knowledge to add value in the complex financial environment of the funds; (viii) experience on corporate or other institutional oversight bodies having similar responsibilities, but which board memberships or other relationships could not result in business or regulatory conflicts with the funds; and (ix) capacity for the hard work and attention to detail that is required to be an effective Independent Trustee in light of the funds' complex regulatory, operational, and marketing setting. The Governance and Nominating Committee may determine that a candidate who does not have the type of previous experience or knowledge referred to above should nevertheless be considered as a nominee if the Governance and Nominating Committee finds that the candidate has additional qualifications such that his or her qualifications, taken as a whole, demonstrate the same level of fitness to serve as an Independent Trustee. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020, the committee held seven meeting(s).
The Compliance Committee is composed of Messrs. Wiley (Chair) and Smith, and Mses. Fuller and Kampling. The committee oversees the administration and operation of the compliance policies and procedures of the funds and their service providers as required by Rule 38a-1 of the 1940 Act. The committee is responsible for the review and approval of policies and procedures relating to (i) provisions of the Code of Ethics, (ii) anti-money laundering requirements, (iii) compliance with investment restrictions and limitations, (iv) privacy, (v) recordkeeping, and (vi) other compliance policies and procedures which are not otherwise delegated to another committee. The committee has responsibility for recommending to the Board the designation of a Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) of the funds. The committee serves as the primary point of contact between the CCO and the Board, it oversees the annual performance review and compensation of the CCO, and if required, makes recommendations to the Board with respect to the removal of the appointed CCO. The committee receives reports of significant correspondence with regulators or governmental agencies, employee complaints or published reports which raise concerns regarding compliance matters, and copies of significant non-routine correspondence with the SEC. The committee receives reports from the CCO including the annual report concerning the funds' compliance policies as required by Rule 38a-1, quarterly reports in respect of any breaches of fiduciary duty or violations of federal securities laws, and reports on any other compliance or related matters that would otherwise be subject to periodic reporting or that may have a significant impact on the funds. The committee will recommend to the Board, what actions, if any, should be taken with respect to such reports. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020, the committee held five meeting(s).
The Research Committee is composed of all of the Independent Trustees, with Mr. Dirks currently serving as Chair. The Committee's purpose is to assess the quality of the investment research available to FMR's investment professionals. As such, the Committee reviews information pertaining to the sources of such research, the categories of research, the manner in which the funds bear the cost of research, and FMR's internal research capabilities, including performance metrics, interactions between FMR portfolio managers and research analysts, and the professional quality of analysts in research careers. Where necessary, the Committee recommends actions with respect to various reports providing information on FMR's research function. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020, the committee held seven meeting(s).
Prior to July 14, 2020, the Board also operated through a separate Sector and ETF committee. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020, the committee held one meeting(s).
The following table sets forth information describing the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee in each fund and in all funds in the aggregate within the same fund family overseen by the Trustee for the calendar year ended December 31, 2020. (The information is as of May 31, 2020 for Ms. Doulton, Ms. Fuller, Ms. Kampling, Mr. Lawrence, and Ms. Tomasky, Trustees as of June 9, 2020.)
| Interested Trustees | ||
| DOLLAR RANGE OF FUND SHARES |
BettinaDoulton | Robert A.Lawrence |
| Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF | none | none |
| Fidelity® Magellan® ETF | none | none |
| Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF | none | none |
| Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF | none | none |
| AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE OF FUND SHARES IN ALL FUNDS OVERSEEN WITHIN FUND FAMILY |
over $100,000 | over $100,000 |
| Independent Trustees | ||||
| DOLLAR RANGE OF FUND SHARES |
Dennis J.Dirks | Donald F.Donahue | Vicki L.Fuller | Patricia L.Kampling |
| Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF | none | none | none | none |
| Fidelity® Magellan® ETF | none | none | none | none |
| Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF | none | none | none | none |
| Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF | none | none | none | none |
| AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE OF FUND SHARES IN ALL FUNDS OVERSEEN WITHIN FUND FAMILY |
over $100,000 | over $100,000 | over $100,000 | over $100,000 |
| DOLLAR RANGE OF FUND SHARES |
Thomas A.Kennedy | Garnett A.Smith | David M.Thomas | SusanTomasky |
| Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF | none | none | none | none |
| Fidelity® Magellan® ETF | none | none | none | none |
| Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF | none | none | none | none |
| Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF | none | none | none | none |
| AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE OF FUND SHARES IN ALL FUNDS OVERSEEN WITHIN FUND FAMILY |
$10,001 - $50,000 | over $100,000 | over $100,000 | over $100,000 |
| DOLLAR RANGE OF FUND SHARES |
Michael E.Wiley | |||
| Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF | none | |||
| Fidelity® Magellan® ETF | none | |||
| Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF | none | |||
| Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF | none | |||
| AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE OF FUND SHARES IN ALL FUNDS OVERSEEN WITHIN FUND FAMILY |
over $100,000 | |||
The following table sets forth information describing the compensation of each Trustee and Member of the Advisory Board (if any) for his or her services for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2021, or calendar year ended December 31, 2020, as applicable.
| Compensation Table(1) | ||||
| AGGREGATE COMPENSATION FROM A FUND |
Dennis J.Dirks | Donald F.Donahue | Vicki L.Fuller(2) | Patricia L.Kampling(3) |
| Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF(4) | $8 | $7 | $7 | $0 |
| Fidelity® Magellan® ETF(4) | $8 | $7 | $7 | $0 |
| Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF(4) | $3 | $2 | $2 | $0 |
| Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF(4) | $3 | $2 | $2 | $0 |
| TOTAL COMPENSATION FROM THE FUND COMPLEX(5) |
$475,500 | $480,000 | $470,500 | $434,167 |
| AGGREGATE COMPENSATION FROM A FUND |
Thomas A.Kennedy(6) | Ned C.Lautenbach(7) | Garnett A.Smith | David M.Thomas |
| Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF(4) | $0 | $9 | $7 | $8 |
| Fidelity® Magellan® ETF(4) | $0 | $9 | $7 | $8 |
| Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF(4) | $0 | $3 | $2 | $3 |
| Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF(4) | $0 | $3 | $2 | $3 |
| TOTAL COMPENSATION FROM THE FUND COMPLEX(5) |
$78,167 | $570,000 | $470,000 | $555,250 |
| AGGREGATE COMPENSATION FROM A FUND |
SusanTomasky(8) | Michael E.Wiley | ||
| Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF(4) | $0 | $7 | ||
| Fidelity® Magellan® ETF(4) | $0 | $7 | ||
| Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF(4) | $0 | $3 | ||
| Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF(4) | $0 | $3 | ||
| TOTAL COMPENSATION FROM THE FUND COMPLEX(5) |
$437,167 | $498,000 | ||
(1) Bettina Doulton, Robert A. Lawrence, and Peter S. Lynch are interested persons and are compensated by Fidelity.
(2) Ms. Fuller served as a Member of the Advisory Board of Fidelity Covington Trust from October 1, 2018 through June 8, 2020. Ms. Fuller serves as a Trustee of Fidelity Covington Trust effective June 9, 2020.
(3) Ms. Kampling served as a Member of the Advisory Board of Fidelity Covington Trust from February 1, 2020 through June 8, 2020. Ms. Kampling serves as a Trustee of Fidelity Covington Trust effective June 9, 2020.
(4) Estimated for the fund's first full fiscal year.
(5) Reflects compensation received for the calendar year ended December 31, 2020 for 305 funds of 30 trusts (including Fidelity Central Investment Portfolios LLC). Compensation figures include cash and may include amounts elected to be deferred. Certain individuals elected voluntarily to defer a portion of their compensation as follows: Donald F. Donahue, $256,138; Vicki L. Fuller, $50,004; Patricia L. Kampling, $200,000; Thomas A. Kennedy, $10,559; Garnett A. Smith, $256,138; and Susan Tomasky, $150,000.
(6) Mr. Kennedy served as a Member of the Advisory Board of Fidelity Covington Trust from November 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Mr. Kennedy serves as a Trustee of Fidelity Covington Trust effective January 1, 2021.
(7) Mr. Lautenbach served as a Trustee of Fidelity Covington Trust through December 31, 2020, at which time he was appointed as a Member of the Advisory Board.
(8) Ms. Tomasky served as a Member of the Advisory Board of Fidelity Covington Trust from February 1, 2020 through June 8, 2020. Ms. Tomasky serves as a Trustee of Fidelity Covington Trust effective June 9, 2020.
As of the public offering of shares of each fund, 100% of each fund's total outstanding shares was held by FMR and/or another entity or entities of which FMR LLC is the ultimate parent.
CONTROL OF INVESTMENT ADVISERS
FMR LLC, as successor by merger to FMR Corp., is the ultimate parent company of FMR, FMR UK, Fidelity Management & Research (Hong Kong) Limited (FMR H.K.), and Fidelity Management & Research (Japan) Limited (FMR Japan). The voting common shares of FMR LLC are divided into two series. Series B is held predominantly by members of the Johnson family, including Abigail P. Johnson, directly or through trusts, and is entitled to 49% of the vote on any matter acted upon by the voting common shares. Series A is held predominantly by non-Johnson family member employees of FMR LLC and its affiliates and is entitled to 51% of the vote on any such matter. The Johnson family group and all other Series B shareholders have entered into a shareholders' voting agreement under which all Series B shares will be voted in accordance with the majority vote of Series B shares. Under the 1940 Act, control of a company is presumed where one individual or group of individuals owns more than 25% of the voting securities of that company. Therefore, through their ownership of voting common shares and the execution of the shareholders' voting agreement, members of the Johnson family may be deemed, under the 1940 Act, to form a controlling group with respect to FMR LLC.
At present, the primary business activities of FMR LLC and its subsidiaries are: (i) the provision of investment advisory, management, shareholder, investment information and assistance and certain fiduciary services for individual and institutional investors; (ii) the provision of securities brokerage services; (iii) the management and development of real estate; and (iv) the investment in and operation of a number of emerging businesses.
FMR, FMR UK, FMR H.K., FMR Japan, FDC, and the funds have adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act that sets forth employees' fiduciary responsibilities regarding the funds, establishes procedures for personal investing, and restricts certain transactions. Employees subject to the code of ethics, including Fidelity investment personnel, may invest in securities for their own investment accounts, including securities that may be purchased or held by the funds.
MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS
Each fund has entered into a management contract with FMR, pursuant to which FMR furnishes investment advisory and other services.
Management Services. Under the terms of its management contract with each fund, FMR acts as investment adviser and, subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, directs the investments of the fund in accordance with its investment objective, policies and limitations. FMR also provides each fund with all necessary office facilities and personnel for servicing the fund's investments, compensates all officers of each fund and all Trustees who are interested persons of the trust or of FMR, and all personnel of each fund or FMR performing services relating to research, statistical and investment activities.
In addition, FMR or its affiliates, subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, provide the management and administrative services necessary for the operation of each fund. These services include providing facilities for maintaining each fund's organization; supervising relations with custodians, transfer and pricing agents, accountants, underwriters and other persons dealing with each fund; preparing all general shareholder communications and conducting shareholder relations; maintaining each fund's records and the registration of each fund's shares under federal securities laws and making necessary filings under state securities laws; developing management and shareholder services for each fund; and furnishing reports, evaluations and analyses on a variety of subjects to the Trustees.
Management-Related Expenses. Under the terms of a fund's management contract, FMR, either itself or through an affiliate, is responsible for payment of all operating expenses of the fund with limited exceptions. Specific expenses payable by FMR include legal expenses, fees of the custodian, auditor, and interested Trustees, a fund's proportionate share of insurance premiums and Investment Company Institute dues, and the costs of registering shares under federal securities laws and making necessary filings under state securities laws. A fund's management contract further provides that FMR will pay for typesetting, printing, and mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information, notices, and reports to shareholders. FMR also pays all fees associated with the transfer agency services and pricing and bookkeeping services.
FMR pays all other expenses of each fund with the following exceptions: expenses for typesetting, printing, and mailing proxy materials to shareholders, all other expenses incidental to holding meetings of the fund's shareholders (including proxy solicitation), fees and expenses of the Independent Trustees, interest, taxes, and such non-recurring expenses as may arise, including costs of any litigation to which the fund may be a party, and any obligation it may have to indemnify its officers and Trustees with respect to litigation. The fund shall pay its non-operating expenses, including brokerage commissions and fees and expenses associated with the fund’s securities lending program, if applicable.
Management Fees.
For the services of FMR under each management contract, Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF, Fidelity® Magellan® ETF, and Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF each pays FMR a monthly management fee at the annual rate of 0.59% of the fund's average net assets throughout the month. Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF pays FMR a monthly management fee at the annual rate of 0.64% of the fund's average net assets throughout the month.
FMR may, from time to time, voluntarily reimburse all or a portion of a fund's or, in the case of a multiple class fund, a class's operating expenses. FMR retains the ability to be repaid for these expense reimbursements in the amount that expenses fall below the limit prior to the end of the fiscal year.
Expense reimbursements will increase returns and yield, and repayment of the reimbursement will decrease returns and yield.
Sub-Advisers - FMR UK, FMR H.K., and FMR Japan. On behalf of each fund, FMR has entered into sub-advisory agreements with FMR H.K. and FMR Japan. On behalf of each fund, FMR has entered into a sub-advisory agreement with FMR UK. Pursuant to the sub-advisory agreements, FMR may receive from the sub-advisers investment research and advice on issuers outside the United States (non-discretionary services) and FMR may grant the sub-advisers investment management authority and the authority to buy and sell securities if FMR believes it would be beneficial to the fund (discretionary services). FMR, and not the fund, pays the sub-advisers.
Kyle Weaver is co-manager of Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF and receives compensation for those services. Sammy Simnegar is co-manager of Fidelity® Magellan ETF and receives compensation for those services. As of October 31, 2020, portfolio manager compensation generally consists of a fixed base salary determined periodically (typically annually), a bonus, in certain cases, participation in several types of equity-based compensation plans, and, if applicable, relocation plan benefits. A portion of each portfolio manager’s compensation may be deferred based on criteria established by FMR or at the election of the portfolio manager.
Each portfolio manager’s base salary is determined by level of responsibility and tenure at FMR or its affiliates. The primary components of each portfolio manager’s bonus are based on the pre-tax investment performance of the portfolio manager’s fund(s), accounts and master account(s) measured against a benchmark index assigned to each fund or account. The pre-tax investment performance of each portfolio manager’s fund(s), account(s) and master account(s) is weighted according to the portfolio manager’s tenure on those fund(s), account(s) and master account(s) and the average asset size of those fund(s), account(s) and master account(s) over the portfolio manager’s tenure. Each component is calculated separately over the portfolio manager’s tenure on those fund(s), account(s) and master account(s) over a measurement period that initially is contemporaneous with the portfolio manager’s tenure, but that eventually encompasses rolling periods of up to five years for the comparison to a benchmark index and rolling periods of up to three years for the comparison to a peer group, if applicable. A smaller, subjective component of each portfolio manager’s bonus is based on the portfolio manager’s overall contribution to management of FMR. The portion of Mr. Weaver’s bonus that is linked to the investment performance of the portion of Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF’s assets that the portfolio manager manages is based on the master account’s pre-tax investment performance measured against the Russell 1000® Growth Index, and the master account’s pre-tax investment performance within the Morningstar® Large Growth Category. The portion of Mr. Simnegar’s bonus that is linked to the investment performance of the portion of Fidelity® Magellan ETF’s assets that the portfolio manager manages is based on the master account’s pre-tax investment performance measured against the S&P 500® Index, and the master account’s pre-tax investment performance within the Morningstar® Large Growth; Large Value; Large Blend; Mid-Cap Growth; Mid-Cap Value; and Mid-Cap Blend Categories. Each portfolio manager also is compensated under equity-based compensation plans linked to increases or decreases in the net asset value of the stock of FMR LLC, FMR’s parent company. FMR LLC is a diverse financial services company engaged in various activities that include fund management, brokerage, retirement, and employer administrative services. If requested to relocate their primary residence, portfolio managers also may be eligible to receive benefits, such as home sale assistance and payment of certain moving expenses, under relocation plans for most full-time employees of FMR LLC and its affiliates.
Steven Buller is co-manager of Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF and receives compensation for those services. As of October 31, 2020, portfolio manager compensation generally consists of a fixed base salary determined periodically (typically annually), a bonus, in certain cases, participation in several types of equity-based compensation plans, and, if applicable, relocation plan benefits. A portion of the portfolio manager’s compensation may be deferred based on criteria established by FMR or at the election of the portfolio manager.
The portfolio manager’s base salary is determined by level of responsibility and tenure at FMR or its affiliates. The primary components of the portfolio manager’s bonus are based on (i) the pre-tax investment performance of the portfolio manager’s fund(s) and account(s) measured against a benchmark index and within a defined peer group assigned to each fund or account, and (ii) the investment performance of other FMR real estate funds and accounts. The pre-tax investment performance of the portfolio manager’s fund(s) and account(s) is weighted according to the portfolio manager’s tenure on those fund(s) and account(s) and the average asset size of those fund(s) and account(s) over the portfolio manager’s tenure. Each component is calculated separately over the portfolio manager’s tenure on those fund(s) and account(s) over a measurement period that initially is contemporaneous with the portfolio manager’s tenure, but that eventually encompasses rolling periods of up to five years for the comparison to a benchmark index and rolling periods of up to five years for the comparison to a peer group. A smaller, subjective component of the portfolio manager’s bonus is based on the portfolio manager’s overall contribution to management of FMR. The portion of the portfolio manager’s bonus that is linked to the investment performance of Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF is based on the pre-tax investment performance measured against the MSCI U.S. IMI 25-50 Real Estate Index, and the fund’s pre-tax investment performance within the Lipper Real Estate Funds. The portfolio manager also is compensated under equity-based compensation plans linked to increases or decreases in the net asset value of the stock of FMR LLC, FMR’s parent company. FMR LLC is a diverse financial services company engaged in various activities that include fund management, brokerage, retirement, and employer administrative services. If requested to relocate their primary residence, portfolio managers also may be eligible to receive benefits, such as home sale assistance and payment of certain moving expenses, under relocation plans for most full-time employees of FMR LLC and its affiliates.
A portfolio manager’s compensation plan may give rise to potential conflicts of interest. Although investors in a fund may invest through either tax-deferred accounts or taxable accounts, a portfolio manager’s compensation is linked to the pre-tax performance of the fund, rather than its after-tax performance. A portfolio manager’s base pay tends to increase with additional and more complex responsibilities that include increased assets under management and a portion of the bonus relates to marketing efforts, which together indirectly link compensation to sales. When a portfolio manager takes over a fund or an account, the time period over which performance is measured may be adjusted to provide a transition period in which to assess the portfolio. The management of multiple funds and accounts (including proprietary accounts) may give rise to potential conflicts of interest if the funds and accounts have different objectives, benchmarks, time horizons, and fees as a portfolio manager must allocate time and investment ideas across multiple funds and accounts. In addition, a fund’s trade allocation policies and procedures may give rise to conflicts of interest if the fund’s orders do not get fully executed due to being aggregated with those of other accounts managed by FMR or an affiliate. A portfolio manager may execute transactions for another fund or account that may adversely impact the value of securities held by a fund. Securities selected for other funds or accounts may outperform the securities selected for the fund. Portfolio managers may be permitted to invest in the funds they manage, even if a fund is closed to new investors. Trading in personal accounts, which may give rise to potential conflicts of interest, is restricted by a fund’s Code of Ethics.
Portfolio managers may receive interests in certain funds or accounts managed by FMR or one of its affiliated advisers (collectively, “Proprietary Accounts”). A conflict of interest situation is presented where a portfolio manager considers investing a client account in securities of an issuer in which FMR, its affiliates or their (or their fund clients’) respective directors, officers or employees already hold a significant position for their own account, including positions held indirectly through Proprietary Accounts. Because the 1940 Act, as well as other applicable laws and regulations, restricts certain transactions between affiliated entities or between an advisor and its clients, client accounts managed by FMR or its affiliates, including accounts sub-advised by third parties, are, in certain circumstances, prohibited from participating in offerings of such securities (including initial public offerings and other offerings occurring before or after an issuer’s initial public offering) or acquiring such securities in the secondary market. For example, ownership of a company by Proprietary Accounts has, in certain situations, resulted in restrictions on FMR’s and its affiliates’ client accounts’ ability to acquire securities in the company’s initial public offering and subsequent public offerings, private offerings, and in the secondary market, and additional restrictions could arise in the future; to the extent such client accounts acquire the relevant securities after such restrictions are subsequently lifted, the delay could affect the price at which the securities are acquired.
A conflict of interest situation is presented when FMR or its affiliates acquire, on behalf of their client accounts, securities of the same issuers whose securities are already held in Proprietary Accounts, because such investments could have the effect of increasing or supporting the value of the Proprietary Accounts. A conflict of interest situation also arises when FMR investment advisory personnel consider whether client accounts they manage should invest in an investment opportunity that they know is also being considered by an affiliate of FMR for a Proprietary Account, to the extent that not investing on behalf of such client accounts improves the ability of the Proprietary Account to take advantage of the opportunity. FMR has adopted policies and procedures and maintains a compliance program designed to help manage such actual and potential conflicts of interest.
The following table provides information relating to other accounts managed by Mr. Weaver as of October 31, 2020:
| Registered Investment Companies* |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
Other Accounts |
|
| Number of Accounts Managed | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Number of Accounts Managed with Performance-Based Advisory Fees | 1 | none | none |
| Assets Managed (in millions) | $18,747 | $891 | $2 |
| Assets Managed with Performance-Based Advisory Fees (in millions) | $15,744 | none | none |
*Does not include Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF, which is expected to commence operations on or about February 2, 2021.
As of October 31, 2020, the dollar range of shares of Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF beneficially owned by Mr. Weaver was none (Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF is expected to commence operations on or about February 2, 2021).
The following table provides information relating to other accounts managed by Mr. Simnegar as of October 31, 2020:
| Registered Investment Companies* |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
Other Accounts |
|
| Number of Accounts Managed | 7 | 1 | 3 |
| Number of Accounts Managed with Performance-Based Advisory Fees | 4 | none | none |
| Assets Managed (in millions) | $35,518 | $504 | $329 |
| Assets Managed with Performance-Based Advisory Fees (in millions) | $34,085 | none | none |
*Does not include Fidelity® Magellan ETF, which is expected to commence operations on or about February 2, 2021.
As of October 31, 2020, the dollar range of shares of Fidelity® Magellan ETF beneficially owned by Mr. Simnegar was none (Fidelity® Magellan ETF is expected to commence operations on or about February 2, 2021).
The following table provides information relating to other accounts managed by Mr. Buller as of October 31, 2020:
| Registered Investment Companies* |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
Other Accounts |
|
| Number of Accounts Managed | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Number of Accounts Managed with Performance-Based Advisory Fees | none | none | none |
| Assets Managed (in millions) | $3,991 | $11,031 | $4 |
| Assets Managed with Performance-Based Advisory Fees (in millions) | none | none | none |
*Does not include Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF, which is expected to commence operations on or about February 2, 2021.
As of October 31, 2020, the dollar range of shares of Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF beneficially owned by Mr. Buller was none (Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF is expected to commence operations on or about February 2, 2021).
Michael Kim is a research analyst and co-manager of Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF, and receives compensation for services as a research analyst and as a portfolio manager under a single compensation plan. Tim Gannon is a research analyst and co-manager of Fidelity® Magellan ETF and Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF, and receives compensation for services as a research analyst and as a portfolio manager under a single compensation plan. Zhitong Zhang is a research analyst and co-manager of Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF, and receives compensation for services as a research analyst and as a portfolio manager under a single compensation plan. Michelle Hoerber is a research analyst and co-manager of Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF, and receives compensation for services as a research analyst and as a portfolio manager under a single compensation plan. As of October 31, 2020, portfolio manager compensation generally consists of a fixed base salary determined periodically (typically annually), a bonus, in certain cases, participation in several types of equity-based compensation plans, and, if applicable, relocation plan benefits. A portion of each portfolio manager’s compensation may be deferred based on criteria established by FMR or at the election of the portfolio manager.
Each portfolio manager’s base salary is determined primarily by level of experience and skills, and performance as a research analyst and fund manager at FMR or its affiliates. A portion of each portfolio manager’s bonus relates to the portfolio manager’s performance as a research analyst and is based on the Director of Research’s assessment of the research analyst’s performance and may include factors such as qualitative feedback assessments, which relate to analytical work and investment results within the relevant market(s) and impact on other equity funds and accounts as a research analyst, and the research analyst’s contributions to the research groups and to FMR. Another component of the bonus is based upon (i) the pre-tax investment performance of the portfolio manager’s fund(s) and account(s) measured against a benchmark index (which may be a customized industry benchmark index developed by FMR) and within a defined peer group, if applicable, assigned to each fund or account, (ii) the investment performance of other FMR equity funds and accounts, and (iii) the pre-tax investment performance of the research analyst’s recommendations measured against a benchmark index corresponding to the research analyst’s assignment universe and against a broadly diversified equity index. The pre-tax investment performance of each portfolio manager’s fund(s) and account(s) is weighted according to the portfolio manager’s tenure on those fund(s) and account(s). The component of the bonus relating to the Director of Research’s assessment is calculated over a one-year period, and each other component of the bonus is calculated over a measurement period that initially is contemporaneous with the portfolio manager’s tenure, but that eventually encompasses rolling periods of up to five years for the comparison to a benchmark index and rolling periods of up to three years for the comparison to a peer group, if applicable. The portion of each portfolio manager’s bonus that is linked to the investment performance of the fund each portfolio manager manages is based on the fund’s pre-tax investment performance measured against the benchmark index identified below, and the fund’s pre-tax investment performance within the peer group identified below. The portfolio manager also is compensated under equity-based compensation plans linked to increases or decreases in the net asset value of the stock of FMR LLC, FMR’s parent company. FMR LLC is a diverse financial services company engaged in various activities that include fund management, brokerage, retirement, and employer administrative services. If requested to relocate their primary residence, portfolio managers also may be eligible to receive benefits, such as home sale assistance and payment of certain moving expenses, under relocation plans for most full-time employees of FMR LLC and its affiliates.
Fund / Benchmark Index / Peer Group(s)
Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF / Russell 1000® Growth Index / Morningstar® Large Growth Category
Fidelity® Magellan ETF / S&P 500® Index / Morningstar® Large Growth; Large Value; Large Blend; Mid-Cap Growth; Mid-Cap Value; and Mid-Cap Blend Categories
Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF / MSCI U.S. IMI 25-50 Real Estate Index / Lipper Real Estate Funds
Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF / Russell 1000® Growth Index / Morningstar® Large Growth Category
A portfolio manager’s compensation plan may give rise to potential conflicts of interest. Although investors in the fund may invest through either tax-deferred accounts or taxable accounts, a portfolio manager’s compensation is linked to the pre-tax performance of the fund, rather than its after-tax performance. A portfolio manager’s base pay and bonus opportunity tend to increase with the portfolio manager’s level of experience and skills relative to research and fund assignments. The management of multiple funds and accounts (including proprietary accounts) may give rise to potential conflicts of interest if the funds and accounts have different objectives, benchmarks, time horizons, and fees as a portfolio manager must allocate time and investment ideas across multiple funds and accounts. In addition, the fund’s trade allocation policies and procedures may give rise to conflicts of interest if the fund’s orders do not get fully executed due to being aggregated with those of other accounts managed by FMR. A portfolio manager may execute transactions for another fund or account that may adversely impact the value of securities held by the fund. Securities selected for other funds or accounts may outperform the securities selected for the fund. Trading in personal accounts, which may give rise to potential conflicts of interest, is restricted by a fund’s Code of Ethics. Furthermore, the potential exists that the portfolio manager’s responsibilities as a portfolio manager of the fund may not be entirely consistent with a portfolio manager’s responsibilities as a research analyst providing recommendations to other Fidelity portfolio managers.
Portfolio managers may receive interests in certain funds or accounts managed by FMR or one of its affiliated advisers (collectively, “Proprietary Accounts”). A conflict of interest situation is presented where a portfolio manager considers investing a client account in securities of an issuer in which FMR, its affiliates or their (or their fund clients’) respective directors, officers or employees already hold a significant position for their own account, including positions held indirectly through Proprietary Accounts. Because the 1940 Act, as well as other applicable laws and regulations, restricts certain transactions between affiliated entities or between an advisor and its clients, client accounts managed by FMR or its affiliates, including accounts sub-advised by third parties, are, in certain circumstances, prohibited from participating in offerings of such securities (including initial public offerings and other offerings occurring before or after an issuer’s initial public offering) or acquiring such securities in the secondary market. For example, ownership of a company by Proprietary Accounts has, in certain situations, resulted in restrictions on FMR’s and its affiliates’ client accounts’ ability to acquire securities in the company’s initial public offering and subsequent public offerings, private offerings, and in the secondary market, and additional restrictions could arise in the future; to the extent such client accounts acquire the relevant securities after such restrictions are subsequently lifted, the delay could affect the price at which the securities are acquired.
A conflict of interest situation is presented when FMR or its affiliates acquire, on behalf of their client accounts, securities of the same issuers whose securities are already held in Proprietary Accounts, because such investments could have the effect of increasing or supporting the value of the Proprietary Accounts. A conflict of interest situation also arises when FMR investment advisory personnel consider whether client accounts they manage should invest in an investment opportunity that they know is also being considered by an affiliate of FMR for a Proprietary Account, to the extent that not investing on behalf of such client accounts improves the ability of the Proprietary Account to take advantage of the opportunity. FMR has adopted policies and procedures and maintains a compliance program designed to help manage such actual and potential conflicts of interest.
The following table provides information relating to other accounts managed by Mr. Kim as of October 31, 2020:
| Registered Investment Companies* |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
Other Accounts |
|
| Number of Accounts Managed | 8 | 2 | 3 |
| Number of Accounts Managed with Performance-Based Advisory Fees | 1 | none | none |
| Assets Managed (in millions) | $419 | $1 | $5 |
| Assets Managed with Performance-Based Advisory Fees (in millions) | $10 | none | none |
*Does not include Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF, which is expected to commence operations on or about February 2, 2021.
As of October 31, 2020, the dollar range of shares of Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF beneficially owned by Mr. Kim was none (Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF is expected to commence operations on or about February 2, 2021).
The following table provides information relating to other accounts managed by Mr. Gannon as of October 31, 2020:
| Registered Investment Companies* |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
Other Accounts |
|
| Number of Accounts Managed | 1 | none | 7 |
| Number of Accounts Managed with Performance-Based Advisory Fees | none | none | none |
| Assets Managed (in millions) | $317 | none | $8 |
| Assets Managed with Performance-Based Advisory Fees (in millions) | none | none | none |
*Does not include Fidelity® Magellan ETF and Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF, which are expected to commence operations on or about February 2, 2021.
As of October 31, 2020, the dollar range of shares of Fidelity® Magellan ETF beneficially owned by Mr. Gannon was none (Fidelity® Magellan ETF is expected to commence operations on or about February 2, 2021). As of October 31, 2020, the dollar range of shares of Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF beneficially owned by Mr. Gannon was none (Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF is expected to commence operations on or about February 2, 2021).
The following table provides information relating to other accounts managed by Ms. Zhang as of October 31, 2020:
| Registered Investment Companies* |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
Other Accounts |
|
| Number of Accounts Managed | none | none | 2 |
| Number of Accounts Managed with Performance-Based Advisory Fees | none | none | none |
| Assets Managed (in millions) | none | none | $3 |
| Assets Managed with Performance-Based Advisory Fees (in millions) | none | none | none |
*Does not include Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF, which is expected to commence operations on or about February 2, 2021.
As of October 31, 2020, the dollar range of shares of Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF beneficially owned by Ms. Zhang was none (Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF is expected to commence operations on or about February 2, 2021).
The following table provides information relating to other accounts managed by Ms. Hoerber as of October 31, 2020:
| Registered Investment Companies* |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
Other Accounts |
|
| Number of Accounts Managed | none | none | 2 |
| Number of Accounts Managed with Performance-Based Advisory Fees | none | none | none |
| Assets Managed (in millions) | none | none | $3 |
| Assets Managed with Performance-Based Advisory Fees (in millions) | none | none | none |
*Does not include Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF, which is expected to commence operations on or about February 2, 2021.
As of October 31, 2020, the dollar range of shares of Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF beneficially owned by Ms. Hoerber was none (Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF is expected to commence operations on or about February 2, 2021).
PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES
Fidelity® Funds' Proxy Voting Guidelines
I. Introduction
These guidelines are intended to help Fidelity’s customers and the companies in which Fidelity invests understand how Fidelity votes proxies to further the values that have sustained Fidelity for over 70 years. In particular, these guidelines are animated by two fundamental principles: 1) putting first the long-term interests of our customers and fund shareholders; and 2) investing in companies that share our approach to creating value over the long-term. Fidelity generally adheres to these guidelines in voting proxies and our Stewardship Principles serve as the foundation for these guidelines. Our evaluation of proxies reflects information from many sources, including management or shareholders of a company presenting a proposal and proxy voting advisory firms. Fidelity maintains the flexibility to vote individual proxies based on our assessment of each situation.
In evaluating proxies, we recognize that companies can conduct themselves in ways that have important environmental and social consequences. While Fidelity always remains focused on maximizing long-term shareholder value, we also consider potential environmental, social and governance (ESG) impacts that we believe are material to individual companies and investing funds' investment objectives and strategies.
Fidelity will vote on proposals not specifically addressed by these guidelines based on an evaluation of a proposal's likelihood to enhance the long-term economic returns or profitability of the company or to maximize long-term shareholder value. Fidelity will not be influenced by business relationships or outside perspectives that may conflict with the interests of the funds and their shareholders.
II. Board of Directors and Corporate Governance
Directors of public companies play a critical role in ensuring that a company and its management team serve the interests of its shareholders. Fidelity believes that through proxy voting, it can help ensure accountability of management teams and boards of directors, align management and shareholder interests, and monitor and assess the degree of transparency and disclosure with respect to executive compensation and board actions affecting shareholders’ rights. The following general guidelines are intended to reflect these proxy voting principles.
A. Election of Directors
Fidelity will generally support director nominees in elections where all directors are unopposed (uncontested elections), except where a director clearly appears to have failed to exercise reasonable judgment or otherwise failed to sufficiently protect the interests of shareholders.
Fidelity generally will oppose the election of directors if, by way of example:
1. The director attended fewer than 75% of the total number of meetings of the board and its committees on which the director served during the company's prior fiscal year, absent extenuating circumstances.
2. Inside or affiliated directors serve on boards that are not composed of a majority of independent directors.
3. The company made a commitment to modify a proposal or practice to conform to these guidelines, and failed to act on that commitment.
4. For reasons described below under the sections entitled Compensation and Anti-Takeover Provisions and Director Elections.
B. Contested Director Elections
On occasion, directors are forced to compete for election against outside director nominees (contested elections). Fidelity believes that strong management creates long-term shareholder value. As a result, Fidelity generally will vote in support of management of companies in which the funds’ assets are invested. Fidelity will vote its proxy on a case-by-case basis in a contested election, taking into consideration a number of factors, amongst others:
1. Management’s track record and strategic plan for enhancing shareholder value;
2. The long-term performance of the company compared to its industry peers; and
3. The qualifications of the shareholder’s and management’s nominees.
Fidelity will vote for the outcome it believes has the best prospects for maximizing shareholder value over the long-term.
C. Cumulative Voting Rights
Under cumulative voting, each shareholder may exercise the number of votes equal to the number of shares owned multiplied by the number of directors up for election. Shareholders may cast all of their votes for a single nominee (or multiple nominees in varying amounts). With regular (non-cumulative) voting, by contrast, shareholders cannot allocate more than one vote per share to any one director nominee. Fidelity believes that cumulative voting can be detrimental to the overall strength of a board. Generally, therefore, Fidelity will oppose the introduction of, and support the elimination of, cumulative voting rights.
D. Classified Boards
A classified board is one that elects only a percentage of its members each year (usually one-third of directors are elected to serve a three-year term). This means that at each annual meeting only a subset of directors is up for re-election. Fidelity believes that, in general, classified boards are not as accountable to shareholders as declassified boards. For this and other reasons, Fidelity generally will oppose a board’s adoption of a classified board structure and support declassification of existing boards.
E. Independent Chairperson
In general, Fidelity believes that boards should have a process and criteria for selecting the board chair, and will oppose shareholder proposals calling for, or recommending the appointment of, a non-executive or independent chairperson. If, however, based on particular facts and circumstances, Fidelity believes that appointment of a non-executive or independent chairperson appears likely to further the interests of shareholders and promote effective oversight of management by the board of directors, Fidelity will consider voting to support a proposal for an independent chairperson under such circumstances.
F. Majority Voting in Director Elections
In general, Fidelity supports proposals calling for directors to be elected by a majority of votes cast if the proposal permits election by a plurality in the case of contested elections (where, for example, there are more nominees than board seats). Fidelity may oppose a majority voting shareholder proposal where a company’s board has adopted a policy requiring the resignation of an incumbent director who fails to receive the support of a majority of the votes cast in an uncontested election.
G. Proxy Access
Proxy access proposals generally require a company to amend its by-laws to allow a qualifying shareholder or group of shareholders to nominate directors on a company’s proxy ballot. Fidelity believes that certain safeguards as to ownership threshold and duration of ownership are important to assure that proxy access is not misused by those without a significant economic interest in the company or those driven by short term goals. Fidelity will evaluate proxy access proposals on a case-by-case basis, but generally will support proposals that include ownership of at least 3% (5% in the case of small-cap companies) of the company’s shares outstanding for at least three years; limit the number of directors that eligible shareholders may nominate to 20% of the board; and limit to 20 the number of shareholders that may form a nominating group.
H. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
In many instances there are sound reasons to indemnify officers and directors, so that they may perform their duties without the distraction of unwarranted litigation or other legal process. Fidelity generally supports charter and by-law amendments expanding the indemnification of officers or directors, or limiting their liability for breaches of care unless Fidelity is dissatisfied with their performance or the proposal is accompanied by anti-takeover provisions (see Anti-Takeover Provisions and Shareholders Rights Plans below).
III. Compensation
Incentive compensation plans can be complicated and many factors are considered when evaluating such plans. Fidelity evaluates such plans based on protecting shareholder interests and our historical knowledge of the company and its management.
A. Equity Compensation Plans
Fidelity encourages the use of reasonably designed equity compensation plans that align the interest of management with those of shareholders by providing officers and employees with incentives to increase long-term shareholder value. Fidelity considers whether such plans are too dilutive to existing shareholders because dilution reduces the voting power or economic interest of existing shareholders as a result of an increase in shares available for distribution to employees in lieu of cash compensation. Fidelity will generally oppose equity compensation plans or amendments to authorize additional shares under such plans if:
1. The company grants stock options and equity awards in a given year at a rate higher than a benchmark rate (“burn rate”) considered appropriate by Fidelity and there were no circumstances specific to the company or the compensation plans that leads Fidelity to conclude that the rate of awards is otherwise acceptable.
2. The plan includes an evergreen provision, which is a feature that provides for an automatic increase in the shares available for grant under an equity compensation plan on a regular basis.
3. The plan provides for the acceleration of vesting of equity compensation even though an actual change in control may not occur.
As to stock option plans, considerations include the following:
1. Pricing: We believe that options should be priced at 100% of fair market value on the date they are granted. We generally oppose options priced at a discount to the market, although the price may be as low as 85% of fair market value if the discount is expressly granted in lieu of salary or cash bonus.
2. Re-pricing: An “out-of-the-money” (or underwater) option has an exercise price that is higher than the current price of the stock. We generally oppose the re-pricing of underwater options because it is not consistent with a policy of offering options as a form of long-term compensation. Fidelity also generally opposes a stock option plan if the board or compensation committee has re-priced options outstanding in the past two years without shareholder approval.
Fidelity generally will support a management proposal to exchange, re-price or tender for cash, outstanding options if the proposed exchange, re-pricing, or tender offer is consistent with the interests of shareholders, taking into account a variety of factors such as:
1. Whether the proposal excludes senior management and directors;
2. Whether the exchange or re-pricing proposal is value neutral to shareholders based upon an acceptable pricing model;
3. The company's relative performance compared to other companies within the relevant industry or industries;
4. Economic and other conditions affecting the relevant industry or industries in which the company competes; and
5. Any other facts or circumstances relevant to determining whether an exchange or re-pricing proposal is consistent with the interests of shareholders.
B. Employee Stock Purchase Plans
These plans are designed to allow employees to purchase company stock at a discounted price and receive favorable tax treatment when the stock is sold. Fidelity generally will support employee stock purchase plans if the minimum stock purchase price is equal to or greater than 85% (or at least 75% in the case of non-U.S. companies where a lower minimum stock purchase price is equal to the prevailing “best practices” in that market) of the stock's fair market value and the plan constitutes a reasonable effort to encourage broad based participation in the company's stock.
IV. Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Say on Pay) and Frequency of Say on Pay Vote
Current law requires companies to allow shareholders to cast non-binding votes on the compensation for named executive officers, as well as the frequency of such votes. Fidelity generally will support proposals to ratify executive compensation unless the compensation appears misaligned with shareholder interests or is otherwise problematic, taking into account:
- The actions taken by the board or compensation committee in the previous year, including whether the company re-priced or exchanged outstanding stock options without shareholder approval; adopted or extended a golden parachute without shareholder approval; or adequately addressed concerns communicated by Fidelity in the process of discussing executive compensation;
- The alignment of executive compensation and company performance relative to peers; and
- The structure of the compensation program, including factors such as whether incentive plan metrics are appropriate, rigorous and transparent; whether the long-term element of the compensation program is evaluated over at least a three-year period; the sensitivity of pay to below median performance; the amount and nature of non-performance-based compensation; the justification and rationale behind paying discretionary bonuses; the use of stock ownership guidelines and amount of executive stock ownership; and how well elements of compensation are disclosed.
When presented with a frequency of Say on Pay vote, Fidelity generally will support holding an annual advisory vote on Say on Pay.
A. Compensation Committee
Directors serving on the compensation committee of the Board have a special responsibility to ensure that management is appropriately compensated and that compensation, among other things, fairly reflects the performance of the company. Fidelity believes that compensation should align with company performance as measured by key business metrics. Compensation policies should align the interests of executives with those of shareholders. Further, the compensation program should be disclosed in a transparent and timely manner.
Fidelity will oppose the election of directors on the compensation committees if:
1. The company has not adequately addressed concerns communicated by Fidelity in the process of discussing executive compensation.
2. Within the last year, and without shareholder approval, a company's board of directors or compensation committee has either:
a) Re-priced outstanding options, exchanged outstanding options for equity, or tendered cash for outstanding options; or
b) Adopted or extended a golden parachute.
B. Executive Severance Agreements
Executive severance compensation and benefit arrangements resulting from a termination following a change in control are known as “golden parachutes.” Fidelity generally will oppose proposals to ratify golden parachutes where the arrangement includes an excise tax gross-up provision; single trigger for cash incentives; or may result in a lump sum payment of cash and acceleration of equity that may total more than three times annual compensation (salary and bonus) in the event of a termination following a change in control.
V. Environmental and Social Issues
Grounded in our Stewardship Principles, these guidelines outline our views on corporate governance. As part of our efforts to maximize long-term shareholder value, we incorporate environmental and social issues into our evaluation of a company, particularly if we believe an issue is material to that company and the investing fund's investment objective and strategies.
Fidelity generally considers management’s recommendation and current practice when voting on shareholder proposals concerning environmental or social issues because it generally believes that management and the board are in the best position to determine how to address these matters. Fidelity, however, also believes that transparency is critical to sound corporate governance. Therefore, Fidelity may support shareholder proposals that request additional disclosures from companies regarding environmental or social issues, including where it believes that the proposed disclosures could provide meaningful information to the investment management process without unduly burdening the company. This means that Fidelity may support shareholder proposals calling for reports on sustainability, renewable energy, and environmental impact issues. Fidelity also may support proposals on issues in other areas, including but not limited to equal employment, board diversity and workforce diversity.
VI. Anti-Takeover Provisions and Shareholders Rights Plans
Fidelity generally will oppose a proposal to adopt an anti-takeover provision.
Anti-takeover provisions include:
- classified boards;
- “blank check” preferred stock (whose terms and conditions may be expressly determined by the company’s board, for example, with differential voting rights);
- golden parachutes;
- supermajority provisions (that require a large majority (generally between 67-90%) of shareholders to approve corporate changes as compared to a majority provision that simply requires more than 50% of shareholders to approve those changes);
- poison pills;
- restricting the right to call special meetings;
- provisions restricting the right of shareholders to set board size; and
- any other provision that eliminates or limits shareholder rights.
A. Shareholders Rights Plans (“poison pills”)
Poison pills allow shareholders opposed to a takeover offer to purchase stock at discounted prices under certain circumstances and effectively give boards veto power over any takeover offer. While there are advantages and disadvantages to poison pills, they can be detrimental to the creation of shareholder value and can help entrench management by deterring acquisition offers not favored by the board, but that may, in fact, be beneficial to shareholders.
Fidelity generally will support a proposal to adopt or extend a poison pill if the proposal:
1. Includes a condition in the charter or plan that specifies an expiration date (sunset provision) of no greater than five years;
2. Is integral to a business strategy that is expected to result in greater value for the shareholders;
3. Requires shareholder approval to be reinstated upon expiration or if amended;
4. Contains a mechanism to allow shareholders to consider a bona fide takeover offer for all outstanding shares without triggering the poison pill; and
5. Allows the Fidelity funds to hold an aggregate position of up to 20% of a company's total voting securities, where permissible.
Fidelity generally also will support a proposal that is crafted only for the purpose of protecting a specific tax benefit if it also believes the proposal is likely to enhance long-term economic returns or maximize long-term shareholder value.
B. Shareholder Ability to Call a Special Meeting
Fidelity generally will support shareholder proposals regarding shareholders' right to call special meetings if the threshold required to call the special meeting is no less than 25% of the outstanding stock.
C. Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent
Fidelity generally will support proposals regarding shareholders' right to act by written consent if the proposals include appropriate mechanisms for implementation. This means that proposals must include record date requests from at least 25% of the outstanding stockholders and consents must be solicited from all shareholders.
D. Supermajority Shareholder Vote Requirement
Fidelity generally will support proposals regarding supermajority provisions if Fidelity believes that the provisions protect minority shareholder interests in companies where there is a substantial or dominant shareholder.
VII. Anti-Takeover Provisions and Director Elections
Fidelity will oppose the election of all directors or directors on responsible committees if the board adopted or extended an anti-takeover provision without shareholder approval.
Fidelity will consider supporting the election of directors with respect to poison pills if:
- All of the poison pill’s features outlined under the Anti-Takeover Provisions and Shareholders Rights section above are met when a poison pill is adopted or extended.
- A board is willing to consider seeking shareholder ratification of, or adding the features outlined under the Anti-Takeover Provisions and Shareholders Rights Plans section above to, an existing poison pill. If, however, the company does not take appropriate action prior to the next annual shareholder meeting, Fidelity will oppose the election of all directors at that meeting.
- It determines that the poison pill was narrowly tailored to protect a specific tax benefit, and subject to an evaluation of its likelihood to enhance long-term economic returns or maximize long-term shareholder value.
VIII. Capital Structure and Incorporation
These guidelines are designed to protect shareholders’ value in the companies in which the Fidelity funds invest. To the extent a company’s management is committed and incentivized to maximize shareholder value, Fidelity generally votes in favor of management proposals; Fidelity may vote contrary to management where a proposal is overly dilutive to shareholders and/or compromises shareholder value or other interests. The guidelines that follow are meant to protect shareholders in these respects.
A. Increases in Common Stock
Fidelity may support reasonable increases in authorized shares for a specific purpose (a stock split or re-capitalization, for example). Fidelity generally will oppose a provision to increase a company's authorized common stock if such increase will result in a total number of authorized shares greater than three times the current number of outstanding and scheduled to be issued shares, including stock options.
In the case of REITs, however, Fidelity will oppose a provision to increase the REIT’s authorized common stock if the increase will result in a total number of authorized shares greater than five times the current number of outstanding and scheduled to be issued shares.
B. Multi-Class Share Structures
Fidelity generally will support proposals to recapitalize multi-class share structures into structures that provide equal voting rights for all shareholders, and generally will oppose proposals to introduce or increase classes of stock with differential voting rights. However, Fidelity will evaluate all such proposals in the context of their likelihood to enhance long-term economic returns or maximize long-term shareholder value.
C. Incorporation or Reincorporation in another State or Country
Fidelity generally will support management proposals calling for, or recommending that, a company reincorporate in another state or country if, on balance, the economic and corporate governance factors in the proposed jurisdiction appear reasonably likely to be better aligned with shareholder interests, taking into account the corporate laws of the current and proposed jurisdictions and any changes to the company's current and proposed governing documents. Fidelity will consider supporting these shareholder proposals in limited cases if, based upon particular facts and circumstances, remaining incorporated in the current jurisdiction appears misaligned with shareholder interests.
IX. Shares of Fidelity Funds, ETFs, or other non-Fidelity Mutual Funds and ETFs
When a Fidelity fund invests in an underlying Fidelity fund with public shareholders, an ETF, or fund that is not affiliated, Fidelity will vote in the same proportion as all other voting shareholders of the underlying fund (this is known as “echo voting”). Fidelity may not vote if "echo voting" is not operationally practical or not permitted under applicable laws and regulations. For Fidelity fund investments in a Fidelity Series Fund, Fidelity generally will vote in a manner consistent with the recommendation of the Fidelity Series Fund's Board of Trustees on all proposals.
X. Foreign Markets
Many Fidelity funds invest in voting securities issued by companies that are domiciled outside the United States and are not listed on a U.S. securities exchange. Corporate governance standards, legal or regulatory requirements and disclosure practices in foreign countries can differ from those in the United States. When voting proxies relating to non-U.S. securities, Fidelity generally will evaluate proposals under these guidelines and where applicable and feasible, take into consideration differing laws, regulations and practices in the relevant foreign market in determining how to vote shares.
In certain non-U.S. jurisdictions, shareholders voting shares of a company may be restricted from trading the shares for a period of time around the shareholder meeting date. Because these trading restrictions can hinder portfolio management and could result in a loss of liquidity for a fund, Fidelity generally will not vote proxies in circumstances where such restrictions apply. In addition, certain non-U.S. jurisdictions require voting shareholders to disclose current share ownership on a fund-by-fund basis. When such disclosure requirements apply, Fidelity generally will not vote proxies in order to safeguard fund holdings information.
XI. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
Voting of shares is conducted in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fidelity funds. In other words, securities of a company generally will be voted in a manner consistent with these guidelines and without regard to any other Fidelity companies' business relationships.
Fidelity takes its responsibility to vote shares in the best interests of the funds seriously and has implemented policies and procedures to address actual and potential conflicts of interest.
XII. Conclusion
Since its founding more than 70 years ago, Fidelity has been driven by two fundamental values: 1) putting the long-term interests of our customers and fund shareholders first; and 2) investing in companies that share our approach to creating value over the long-term. With these fundamental principles as guideposts, the funds are managed to provide the greatest possible return to shareholders consistent with governing laws and the investment guidelines and objectives of each fund.
Fidelity believes that there is a strong correlation between sound corporate governance and enhancing shareholder value. Fidelity, through the implementation of these guidelines, puts this belief into action through consistent engagement with portfolio companies on matters contained in these guidelines, and, ultimately, through the exercise of voting rights by the funds.
Glossary
• Burn rate means the total number of stock option and full value equity awards granted as compensation in a given year divided by the weighted average common stock outstanding for that same year.
- For a large-capitalization company, burn rate higher than 1.5%.
- For a small-capitalization company, burn rate higher than 2.5%.
- For a micro-capitalization company, burn rate higher than 3.5%.
• Golden parachute means employment contracts, agreements, or policies that include an excise tax gross-up provision; single trigger for cash incentives; or may result in a lump sum payment of cash and acceleration of equity that may total more than three times annual compensation (salary and bonus) in the event of a termination following a change in control.
• Large-capitalization company means a company included in the Russell 1000® Index or the Russell Global ex-U.S. Large Cap Index.
• Micro-capitalization company means a company with market capitalization under US $300 million.
• Poison pill refers to a strategy employed by a potential takeover / target company to make its stock less attractive to an acquirer. Poison pills are generally designed to dilute the acquirer's ownership and value in the event of a takeover.
• Small-capitalization company means a company not included in the Russell 1000® Index or the Russell Global ex-U.S. Large Cap Index that is not a Micro-Capitalization Company.
To view a fund's proxy voting record for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, if applicable, visit www.fidelity.com/proxyvotingresults or visit the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov.
DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
Each fund has entered into a distribution agreement with FDC, an affiliate of FMR. The principal business address of FDC is 900 Salem Street, Smithfield, Rhode Island 02917. FDC is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. The distribution agreement calls for FDC to use all reasonable efforts, consistent with its other business, to secure purchasers for shares of the funds, which are continuously offered at NAV. Promotional and administrative expenses in connection with the offer and sale of shares are paid by FMR.
The Trustees have approved a Distribution and Service Plan with respect to shares of each fund (the Plan) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the Rule). The Rule provides in substance that a fund may not engage directly or indirectly in financing any activity that is primarily intended to result in the sale of shares of the fund except pursuant to a plan approved on behalf of the fund under the Rule. The Plan, as approved by the Trustees, allows shares of the funds and/or FMR to incur certain expenses that might be considered to constitute indirect payment by the funds of distribution expenses.
The Plan adopted for each fund is described in the prospectus.
Under each Plan, if the payment of management fees by the fund to FMR is deemed to be indirect financing by the fund of the distribution of its shares, such payment is authorized by the Plan. each Plan specifically recognizes that FMR may use its revenues, including management fees paid to FMR out of such management fees, as well as its past profits or its other resources, to pay FDC for expenses incurred in connection with providing services intended to result in the sale of shares of the fund and/or shareholder support services. In addition, each Plan provides that FMR, directly or through FDC, may pay significant amounts to intermediaries that provide those services.
Prior to approving each Plan, the Trustees carefully considered all pertinent factors relating to the implementation of the Plan, and determined that there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit the fund and its shareholders. In particular, the Trustees noted that each Plan does not authorize payments by shares of the fund other than those made to FMR under its management contract with the fund. To the extent that each Plan gives FMR and FDC greater flexibility in connection with the distribution of shares, additional sales of shares or stabilization of cash flows may result. Furthermore, certain shareholder support services may be provided more effectively under the Plan by local entities with whom shareholders have other relationships.
FDC or an affiliate may compensate, or upon direction make payments for certain retirement plan expenses to intermediaries. A number of factors are considered in determining whether to pay these additional amounts. Such factors may include, without limitation, the level or type of services provided by the intermediary, the level or expected level of assets or sales of shares, and other factors. In addition to such payments, FDC or an affiliate may offer other incentives such as sponsorship of educational or client seminars relating to current products and issues, payments or reimbursements for travel and related expenses associated with due diligence trips that an intermediary may undertake in order to explore possible business relationships with affiliates of FDC, and/or payments of costs and expenses associated with attendance at seminars, including travel, lodging, entertainment, and meals. Certain of the payments described above may be significant to an intermediary. As permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority rules and other applicable laws and regulations, FDC or an affiliate may pay or allow other incentives or payments to intermediaries.
FDC or an affiliate may also make payments to banks, broker-dealers and other service-providers (who may be affiliated with FDC) for distribution-related activities and/or shareholder services. If you have purchased shares of a fund through an investment professional, please speak with your investment professional to learn more about any payments his or her firm may receive from FMR, FDC, and/or their affiliates, as well as fees and/or commissions the investment professional charges. You should also consult disclosures made by your investment professional at the time of purchase.
Any of the payments described in this section may represent a premium over payments made by other fund families. Investment professionals may have an added incentive to sell or recommend a fund over others offered by competing fund families, or retirement plan sponsors may take these payments into account when deciding whether to include a fund as a plan investment option.
FDC may also enter into agreements with securities dealers who will solicit purchases of Creation Units. Such securities dealers may also be Authorized Participants, DTC Participants, and or investor services organizations.
TRANSFER AND SERVICE AGENT AGREEMENTS
Each fund has entered into a transfer agency and service agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company (State Street), which is located at One Heritage Drive, Floor 1, North Quincy, Massachusetts, 02171. Under the terms of the agreement, State Street (or an agent, including an affiliate) acts as transfer agent and dividend and disbursing agent.
Each fund has entered into a service agent agreement with FSC, an affiliate of FMR (or an agent, including an affiliate), which is located at 245 Summer Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02210. Under the terms of the agreement, FSC (or an agent, including an affiliate) provides certain pricing and bookkeeping services for each fund and administers each fund's securities lending program. FSC has entered into a sub-administration agreement with State Street. Under the agreement, State Street (or an agent, including an affiliate) provides various fund accounting and fund administration services, including preparation of financial information for shareholder reports and tax services, for each fund.
FMR bears the cost of services under these agreements under the terms of its management contract with each fund.
SECURITIES LENDING
The securities lending agent, or the investment adviser (where the fund does not use a securities lending agent) monitors loan opportunities for each fund, negotiates the terms of the loans with borrowers, monitors the value of securities on loan and the value of the corresponding collateral, communicates with borrowers and the fund's custodian regarding marking to market the collateral, selects securities to be loaned and allocates those loan opportunities among lenders, and arranges for the return of the loaned securities upon the termination of the loan. Income and fees from securities lending activities will be included when the fund has completed its first fiscal year.
A fund does not pay cash collateral management fees, separate indemnification fees, or other fees not reflected above.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST
Trust Organization. Fidelity® Growth Opportunities ETF, Fidelity® Magellan® ETF, Fidelity® Real Estate Investment ETF, and Fidelity® Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF are funds of Fidelity Covington Trust, an open-end management investment company created under an initial declaration of trust dated May 10, 1995. The Trustees are permitted to create additional funds in the trust and to create additional classes of the funds.
The assets of the trust received for the issue or sale of shares of each fund and all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, subject to the rights of creditors, are allocated to such fund, and constitute the underlying assets of such fund. The underlying assets of each fund in the trust shall be charged with the liabilities and expenses attributable to such fund. Any general expenses of the trust shall be allocated between or among any one or more of the funds.
Shareholder Liability. The trust is an entity commonly known as a "Massachusetts business trust." Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of such a trust may, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of the trust.
The Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for the debts, liabilities, obligations, and expenses of the trust or fund. The Declaration of Trust provides that the trust shall not have any claim against shareholders except for the payment of the purchase price of shares and requires that each agreement, obligation, or instrument entered into or executed by the trust or the Trustees relating to the trust or to a fund shall include a provision limiting the obligations created thereby to the trust or to one or more funds and its or their assets. The Declaration of Trust further provides that shareholders of a fund shall not have a claim on or right to any assets belonging to any other fund.
The Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of a fund's property of any shareholder or former shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the fund solely by reason of his or her being or having been a shareholder and not because of his or her acts or omissions or for some other reason. The Declaration of Trust also provides that a fund shall, upon request, assume the defense of any claim made against any shareholder for any act or obligation of the fund and satisfy any judgment thereon. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which a fund itself would be unable to meet its obligations. FMR believes that, in view of the above, the risk of personal liability to shareholders is remote.
Voting Rights. Each fund's capital consists of shares of beneficial interest. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each dollar of net asset value they own. The voting rights of shareholders can be changed only by a shareholder vote. Shares may be voted in the aggregate, by fund, and by class.
The shares have no preemptive or conversion rights. Shares are fully paid and nonassessable, except as set forth under the heading "Shareholder Liability" above.
The trust or a fund or a class may be terminated upon the sale of its assets to, or merger with, another open-end management investment company, series, or class thereof, or upon liquidation and distribution of its assets. The Trustees may reorganize, terminate, merge, or sell all or a portion of the assets of the trust or a fund or a class without prior shareholder approval. In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of the trust, shareholders of each of its funds are entitled to receive the underlying assets of such fund available for distribution. In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of a fund or a class, shareholders of that fund or that class are entitled to receive the underlying assets of the fund or class available for distribution.
Custodians. State Street Bank and Trust Company, 1 Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts, is custodian of the assets of the funds. The custodian is responsible for the safekeeping of a fund's assets and the appointment of any subcustodian banks and clearing agencies. The Bank of New York Mellon, headquartered in New York, also may serve as special purpose custodian of certain assets in connection with repurchase agreement transactions. From time to time, subject to approval by a fund's Treasurer, a Fidelity® fund may enter into escrow arrangements with other banks if necessary to participate in certain investment offerings.
FMR, its officers and directors, its affiliated companies, Members of the Advisory Board (if any), and Members of the Board of Trustees may, from time to time, conduct transactions with various banks, including banks serving as custodians for certain funds advised by FMR or an affiliate. Transactions that have occurred to date include mortgages and personal and general business loans. In the judgment of each fund's adviser, the terms and conditions of those transactions were not influenced by existing or potential custodial or other fund relationships.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. Deloitte & Touche LLP, 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts, independent registered public accounting firm, audits financial statements for each fund and provides other audit, tax, and related services.
FUND HOLDINGS INFORMATION
Each fund views holdings information as sensitive and limits its dissemination. The Board authorized FMR to establish and administer guidelines for the dissemination of fund holdings information, which may be amended at any time without prior notice. FMR's Disclosure Policy Committee (comprising executive officers of FMR) evaluates disclosure policy with the goal of serving a fund's best interests by striking an appropriate balance between providing information about a fund's portfolio and protecting a fund from potentially harmful disclosure. The Board reviews the administration and modification of these guidelines and receives reports from the funds' chief compliance officer periodically.
On each Business Day, before the commencement of trading in shares on the listing exchange, each fund will disclose on its website the fund's Tracking Basket and Tracking Basket Weight Overlap. The Tracking Basket published on the Fund's website each Business Day will include the following information for each portfolio holding in the Tracking Basket: (1) ticker symbol; (2) CUSIP or other identifier; (3) description of holding; (4) quantity of each security or other asset held; and (5) percentage weight of the holding in the Tracking Basket. Each fund will provide a full list of holdings, including its top ten holdings, monthly on www.fidelity.com 30 days after the month-end.
The fund and persons acting on behalf of the fund will comply with Regulation Fair Disclosure as if it applied to them.
Daily portfolio composition files (PCFs) that identify the securities included in the Tracking Basket will be provided as frequently as daily to each fund's service providers to facilitate the provision of services to each fund and to certain other entities in connection with the dissemination of information necessary for transactions in Creation Units. Each business day prior to the opening of the listing exchange, a PCF containing a list of the names and the required number of shares of each Deposit Security for each fund will be provided for dissemination through the facilities of the NSCC; through other fee-based services to NSCC members; subscribers to the fee-based services, including Authorized Participants; and to entities that publish and/or analyze such information in connection with the process of purchasing or redeeming Creation Units or trading fund shares in the secondary market. In addition to making PCFs available to the NSCC, each fund will disclose the PCF or portions thereof as frequently as daily on www.fidelity.com
A fund may also from time to time provide or make available to the Board or third parties upon request specific fund level performance attribution information and statistics. Third parties may include fund shareholders or prospective fund shareholders, members of the press, consultants, and ratings and ranking organizations. Nonexclusive examples of performance attribution information and statistics may include (i) the allocation of a fund’s portfolio holdings and other investment positions among various asset classes, sectors, industries, and countries, (ii) the characteristics of the stock and bond components of a fund’s portfolio holdings and other investment positions, (iii) the attribution of fund returns by asset class, sector, industry, and country and (iv) the volatility characteristics of a fund.
FMR’s Disclosure Policy Committee may approve a request for fund level performance attribution and statistics as long as (i) such disclosure does not enable the receiving party to recreate the complete or partial portfolio holdings of any Fidelity fund prior to such fund’s public disclosure of its portfolio holdings and (ii) Fidelity has made a good faith determination that the requested information is not material given the particular facts and circumstances. Fidelity may deny any request for performance attribution information and other statistical information about a fund made by any person, and may do so for any reason or for no reason.
Disclosure of non-public portfolio holdings information for a Fidelity fund’s portfolio may only be provided pursuant to the guidelines below.
The Use of Holdings In Connection With Fund Operations. Material non-public holdings information may be provided as part of the activities associated with managing Fidelity® funds to: entities which, by explicit agreement or by virtue of their respective duties to the fund, are required to maintain the confidentiality of the information disclosed; other parties if legally required; or persons FMR believes will not misuse the disclosed information. These entities, parties, and persons include, but are not limited to: a fund's trustees; a fund's manager, its sub-advisers, if any, and their affiliates whose access persons are subject to a code of ethics (including portfolio managers of affiliated funds of funds); contractors who are subject to a confidentiality agreement; a fund's auditors; a fund's custodians; proxy voting service providers; financial printers; pricing service vendors; broker-dealers in connection with the purchase or sale of securities or requests for price quotations or bids on one or more securities; securities lending agents; counsel to a fund or its Independent Trustees; regulatory authorities; stock exchanges and other listing organizations; parties to litigation; third parties in connection with a bankruptcy proceeding relating to a fund holding; and third parties who have submitted a standing request to a money market fund for daily holdings information. Non-public holdings information may also be provided to an issuer regarding the number or percentage of its shares that are owned by a fund and in connection with redemptions in kind.
Other Uses Of Holdings Information. In addition, each fund may provide material non-public holdings information to (i) third parties that calculate information derived from holdings for use by FMR, a sub-adviser, or their affiliates, (ii) ratings and rankings organizations, and (iii) an investment adviser, trustee, or their agents to whom holdings are disclosed for due diligence purposes or in anticipation of a merger involving a fund. Each individual request is reviewed by the Disclosure Policy Committee which must find, in its sole discretion that, based on the specific facts and circumstances, the disclosure appears unlikely to be harmful to a fund. Entities receiving this information must have in place control mechanisms to reasonably ensure or otherwise agree that, (a) the holdings information will be kept confidential, (b) no employee shall use the information to effect trading or for their personal benefit, and (c) the nature and type of information that they, in turn, may disclose to third parties is limited. FMR relies primarily on the existence of non-disclosure agreements and/or control mechanisms when determining that disclosure is not likely to be harmful to a fund.
At this time, the entities receiving information described in the preceding paragraph are: Factset Research Systems Inc. (full or partial fund holdings daily, on the next business day); Standard & Poor's Ratings Services (full holdings weekly (generally as of the previous Friday), generally 5 business days thereafter); MSCI Inc. and certain affiliates (full or partial fund holdings daily, on the next business day); and Bloomberg, L.P. (full holdings daily, on the next business day).
FMR, its affiliates, or the funds will not enter into any arrangements with third parties from which they derive consideration for the disclosure of material non-public holdings information. If, in the future, such an arrangement is desired, prior Board approval would be sought and any such arrangements would be disclosed in the funds' SAI.
There can be no assurance that the funds' policies and procedures with respect to disclosure of fund portfolio holdings will prevent the misuse of such information by individuals and firms that receive such information.
APPENDIX
Fidelity, Magellan, and Fidelity Investments & Pyramid Design are registered service marks of FMR LLC. © 2021 FMR LLC. All rights reserved.
Any third-party marks that may appear above are the marks of their respective owners.
Fidelity Covington Trust
Post-Effective Amendment No. 81
PART C. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 28.
Exhibits
(a)
(b)
(c)
Not applicable.
(d)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Management Contract, dated November 18, 2020, between Fidelity Growth Opportunities ETF and Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, is filed herein as Exhibit (d)(5).
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
Management Contract, dated November 18, 2020, between Fidelity Magellan ETF and Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, is filed herein as Exhibit (d)(10).
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
(18)
(19)
(20)
(21)
Management Contract, dated November 18, 2020, between Fidelity Real Estate Investment ETF and Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, is filed herein as Exhibit (d)(21).
(22)
(23)
(24)
(25)
(26)
(27)
Management Contract, dated November 18, 2020, between Fidelity Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF and Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, is filed herein as Exhibit (d)(27).
(28)
(29)
(30)
(31)
(32)
(33)
(34)
(35)
(36)
(37)
(38)
(39)
(40)
(41)
(42)
(43)
(44)
(45)
Second Amended and Restated Investment Sub-Advisory and ETF Services Agreement, dated January 1, 2020, among BlackRock Fund Advisors, Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, and Fidelity Covington Trust, on behalf of Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF, Fidelity MSCI Consumer Discretionary Index ETF, Fidelity MSCI Consumer Staples Index ETF, Fidelity MSCI Energy Index ETF, Fidelity MSCI Financials Index ETF, Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF, Fidelity MSCI Industrials Index ETF, Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF, Fidelity MSCI Materials Index ETF, Fidelity MSCI Real Estate Index ETF, and Fidelity MSCI Utilities Index ETF, is filed herein as Exhibit (d)(45).
(46)
(47)
(48)
(49)
(50)
(51)
(52)
(53)
(e)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
General Distribution Agreement, dated November 18, 2020, between Fidelity Covington Trust and Fidelity Distributors Company LLC, on behalf of Fidelity Growth Opportunities ETF, is filed herein as Exhibit (e)(5).
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
General Distribution Agreement, dated November 18, 2020, between Fidelity Covington Trust and Fidelity Distributors Company LLC, on behalf of Fidelity Magellan ETF, is filed herein as Exhibit (e)(10).
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
(18)
(19)
(20)
(21)
(22)
(23)
(24)
(25)
General Distribution Agreement, dated November 18, 2020, between Fidelity Covington Trust and Fidelity Distributors Company LLC, on behalf of Fidelity Real Estate Investment ETF, is filed herein as Exhibit (e)(25).
(26)
(27)
General Distribution Agreement, dated November 18, 2020, between Fidelity Covington Trust and Fidelity Distributors Company LLC, on behalf of Fidelity Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF, is filed herein as Exhibit (e)(27).
(28)
(29)
(30)
(31)
(32)
(f)
(g)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(h)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(i)
Legal Opinion of Dechert LLP, dated January 20, 2021, is filed herein as Exhibit (i).
(j)
Not applicable
(k)
Not applicable.
(l)
Not applicable.
(m)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Fidelity Growth Opportunities ETF is filed herein as Exhibit (m)(5).
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Fidelity Magellan ETF is filed herein as Exhibit (m)(10).
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
(18)
(19)
(20)
(21)
(22)
(23)
(24)
Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Fidelity Real Estate Investment ETF is filed herein as Exhibit (m)(24).
(25)
(26)
Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Fidelity Small-Mid Cap Opportunities ETF is filed herein as Exhibit (m)(26).
(27)
(28)
(29)
(30)
(31)
(32)
(n)
Not applicable.
(p)
(1)
(2)
(3)
Item 29.
Trusts Controlled by or under Common Control with this Trust
The Board of Trustees of the Trust is the same as the board of other Fidelity funds, each of which has Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, or an affiliate, or Geode Capital Management LLC, as its investment adviser. In addition, the officers of the Trust are substantially identical to those of the other Fidelity funds. Nonetheless, the Trust takes the position that it is not under common control with other Fidelity funds because the power residing in the respective boards and officers arises as the result of an official position with the respective trusts.
Item 30.
Indemnification
Article XI, Section 2 of the Declaration of Trust sets forth the reasonable and fair means for determining whether indemnification shall be provided to any past or present Trustee or officer. It states that the Trust shall indemnify any present or past trustee or officer to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability, and all expenses reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he or she is involved by virtue of his or her service as a trustee or officer and against any amount incurred in settlement thereof. Indemnification will not be provided to a person adjudged by a court or other adjudicatory body to be liable to the Trust or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties (collectively, “disabling conduct”), or not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his or her action was in the best interest of the Trust. In the event of a settlement, no indemnification may be provided unless there has been a determination, as specified in the Declaration of Trust, that the officer or trustee did not engage in disabling conduct.
Pursuant to Section 11 of the Distribution Agreement, the Trust agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Distributor and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act against any loss, liability, claim, damages or expense (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damages, or expense and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) arising by reason of any person acquiring any shares, based upon the ground that the registration statement, Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, shareholder reports or other information filed or made public by the Trust (as from time to time amended) included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated or necessary in order to make the statements not misleading under the 1933 Act, or any other statute or the common law. However, the Trust does not agree to indemnify the Distributor or hold it harmless to the extent that the statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Trust by or on behalf of the Distributor. In no case is the indemnity of the Trust in favor of the Distributor or any person indemnified to be deemed to protect the Distributor or any person against any liability to the Issuer or its security holders to which the Distributor or such person 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 its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Registrant, the Registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Item 31.
Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser(s)
(1) FIDELITY MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH COMPANY LLC (FMR)
FMR serves as investment adviser to a number of other investment companies. The directors and officers of the Adviser have held the following positions of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.
|
Abigail P. Johnson |
Chairman of the Board of certain Trusts; Chairman of the Board and Director of FMR LLC; Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Director of Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC. Previously served as Chairman of the Board and Director FMRC (2019). |
|
Peter S. Lynch |
Vice Chairman and Director of Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC and a member of the Advisory Board of funds advised by FMR. Previously served as Vice Chairman and Director of FMRC (2019). |
|
Cynthia Lo Bessette |
Senior Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC (2019); Chief Legal Officer FMR H.K (2019), FMR Japan (2019) and FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited (2020); Previously served as Senior Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer FMRC (2019); Secretary SelectCo, LLC and FIMM (2019). |
|
Christopher Rimmer |
Treasurer of Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, FMR H.K., FMR Japan, and Strategic Advisers LLC; President and Director FMR Capital Inc. Previously served as Treasurer of FMRC, FIMM, and SelectCo, LLC; Chief Accounting Officer FMR LLC. |
|
Eric C. Green |
Assistant Treasurer of Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, Strategic Advisers LLC, Fidelity Distributors Company LLC, and FMR Capital Inc; Executive Vice President, Tax and Assistant Treasurer of FMR LLC. Previously served as Assistant Treasurer of FMRC, FIMM, SelectCo, LLC, and Fidelity Distributors Corporation (2019). |
|
Lisa D. Krieser |
Assistant Secretary Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC and Fidelity Distributors Company LLC (2020), Secretary FMR Capital, Inc (2020). |
|
Kevin M. Meagher |
Chief Compliance Officer of Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, FMR H.K., FMR Japan, FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited, FIAM, and Strategic Advisers LLC. Previously served as Chief Compliance Officer of FMRC, FIMM, SelectCo, LLC. |
|
Kenneth B. Robins |
Compliance Officer of Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC (2020). |
|
Bart Grenier |
President of Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC (2019). |
|
Margaret Serravalli |
Chief Financial Officer of Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC (FMR) (2020). |
(2) FIDELITY MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH (HONG KONG) LIMITED (FMR H.K.)
FMR H.K. provides investment advisory services to other investment advisers. The directors and officers of the Sub-Adviser have held the following positions of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.
|
Sharon Yau Lecornu |
Chief Executive Officer of FMR H.K., Executive Director of FMR H.K., Director of Investment Services – Asia, and Director of FMR H.K. |
||
|
William Francis Shanley III |
Director of FMR Japan and FMR H.K. |
||
|
Christopher J. Seabolt |
Director of FMR H.K. and FMR UK. |
||
|
Adrian James Tyerman |
Compliance Officer FMR H.K. and FMR UK, Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer of FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited. |
||
|
Kevin M. Meagher |
Chief Compliance Officer of Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, FMR H.K., FMR Japan, FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited, FIAM, and Strategic Advisers LLC. Previously served as Chief Compliance Officer of FMRC, FIMM, SelectCo, LLC. |
||
|
Christopher Rimmer |
Treasurer of Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, FMR H.K., FMR Japan, and Strategic Advisers LLC; President and Director FMR Capital Inc. Previously served as Treasurer of FMRC, FIMM, and SelectCo, LLC; Chief Accounting Officer FMR LLC. |
||
|
Cynthia Lo Bessette |
Senior Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC (2019); Chief Legal Officer FMR H.K (2019), FMR Japan (2019) and FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited (2020); Previously served as Senior Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer FMRC (2019); Secretary SelectCo, LLC and FIMM (2019). |
||
(3) FIDELITY MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH (JAPAN) LIMITED (FMR JAPAN)
FMR Japan provides investment advisory services to other investment advisers. The directors and officers of the Sub-Adviser have held the following positions of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.
|
Timothy M. Cohen |
Director of FMR Japan; Executive Vice President SelectCo, LLC (2019). |
||
|
Risteard Hogan |
Director of FMR Japan (2020). |
||
|
Rieko Hirai |
Director of FMR Japan. |
||
|
Judy Yelim Song |
Director of FMR Japan (2019). |
||
|
Kan Man Wong |
Director of FMR Japan (2019). |
||
|
Kirk Roland Neureiter |
Director of FMR Japan. |
||
|
William Francis Shanley III |
Director of FMR Japan and FMR H.K. |
||
|
Koichi Iwabuchi |
Statutory Auditor of FMR Japan (2020); Previously served as Compliance Officer of FMR Japan (2020). |
||
|
Ryo Sato |
Compliance Officer of FMR Japan (2020). |
||
|
Kevin M. Meagher |
Chief Compliance Officer of Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, FMR H.K., FMR Japan, FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited, FIAM, and Strategic Advisers LLC. Previously served as Chief Compliance Officer of FMRC, FIMM, SelectCo, LLC. |
||
|
Cynthia Lo Bessette |
Senior Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC (2019); Chief Legal Officer FMR H.K (2019), FMR Japan (2019) and FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited (2020); Previously served as Senior Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer FMRC (2019); Secretary SelectCo, LLC and FIMM (2019). |
||
|
Christopher Rimmer |
Treasurer of Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, FMR H.K., FMR Japan, and Strategic Advisers LLC; President and Director FMR Capital Inc. Previously served as Treasurer of FMRC, FIMM, and SelectCo, LLC; Chief Accounting Officer FMR LLC. |
||
(4) FMR INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT (UK) LIMITED (FMR UK)
FMR UK provides investment advisory services to other investment advisers. The directors and officers of the Sub-Adviser have held the following positions of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.
|
Mark D. Flaherty |
Director FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited. |
|
Niamh Brodie-Machura |
Director FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited (2020). |
|
Christopher J. Seabolt |
Director of FMR H.K. and FMR UK. |
|
Adrian James Tyerman |
Compliance Officer FMR H.K. Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer of FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited. |
|
Mark Sullivan |
Director of FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited. |
|
Kevin M. Meagher |
Chief Compliance Officer of Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, FMR H.K., FMR Japan, FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited, FIAM, and Strategic Advisers LLC. Previously served as Chief Compliance Officer of FMRC, FIMM, SelectCo, LLC. |
|
Robert Minicus |
Director of FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited (2020). |
|
Cynthia Lo Bessette |
Senior Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC (2019); Chief Legal Officer FMR H.K (2019), FMR Japan (2019) and FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited (2020); Previously served as Senior Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer FMRC (2019); Secretary SelectCo, LLC and FIMM (2019). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5) GEODE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC (Geode)
Geode serves as investment adviser to a number of other investment companies AND OTHER ACCOUNTS. Geode may also provide investment advisory services to other investment advisers. The directors and officers have held the following positions of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.
|
Vincent C. Gubitosi |
President and Chief Investment Officer. |
|
Jeffrey S. Miller |
Chief Operating Officer. |
|
Joseph Ciardi |
Chief Compliance Officer. |
|
Sorin Codreanu |
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. |
|
Matt Nevins |
General Counsel. |
|
Caleb Loring, III |
Director. |
|
Franklin Corning Kenly |
Director. |
|
Arlene Rockefeller |
Director. |
|
Eric Roiter |
Director. |
|
Jennifer Uhrig |
Director. |
|
Philip L. Bullen |
Director. |
|
Thomas Sprague |
Director (2019). |
|
Michael Even |
Director (2019). |
|
Robert Minicus |
Director (2020). |
(6) BLACKROCK FUND ADVISORS
|
Robert L. Goldstein |
Director and Chief Operating Officer. |
|
Gary S. Shedlin |
Director and Chief Financial Officer. |
|
Daniel R. Waltcher |
Director. |
|
Philippe Matsumoto |
Treasurer. Previously served as Managing Director (2019). |
|
Charles C. Park |
Chief Compliance Officer. |
|
Terri Slane |
Assistant Secretary. |
|
Jared Sams |
Assistant Secretary. |
|
Robert Seaver |
Assistant Secretary. |
|
Patrick Hennessey |
Assistant Secretary. |
Principal business addresses of the investment adviser, sub-advisers and affiliates.
Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC (FMR)
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
Fidelity Management & Research (Hong Kong) Limited (FMR H.K.)
Floor 19, 41 Connaught Road Central
Hong Kong
Fidelity Management & Research (Japan) Limited (FMR Japan)
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited (FMR UK)
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
FIL Investment Advisors (FIA)
Pembroke Hall
42 Crow Lane
Pembroke HM19, Bermuda
FIL Investment Advisors (UK) Limited (FIA(UK))
Beech Gate Millfield Lane
Lower Kingswood, Tadworth, Surrey
KT20 6RP, United Kingdom
FIL Investments (Japan) Limited (FIJ)
Tri Seven Roppongi
7-7-7 Roppongi, Minato-ku,
Tokyo, Japan 106-0032
Strategic Advisers LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
FMR LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
Fidelity Distributors Company LLC (FDC)
900 Salem Street
Smithfield, RI 02917
Geode Capital Management, LLC (Geode)
100 Summer Street
12th Floor
Boston, MA 02110
Fidelity Management Trust Company
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
Fidelity Investors Management LLC
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
BlackRock Fund Advisors
400 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Item 32.
Principal Underwriters
(a)
Fidelity Distributors Company LLC (FDC) acts as distributor for all funds advised by FMR or an affiliate, as well as Fidelity Commodity Strategy Central Fund and Fidelity Series Commodity Strategy Fund.
|
(b) |
|
|
|
Name and Principal |
Positions and Offices |
Positions and Offices |
|
Business Address* |
with Underwriter |
with Fund |
|
Sanjiv H. Mirchandani |
President |
None |
|
Robert F. Bachman |
Executive Vice President |
None |
|
Eric C. Green |
Assistant Treasurer |
None |
|
Natalie Kavanaugh |
Chief Legal Officer |
None |
|
Michael Lyons |
Chief Financial Officer |
None |
|
Judy A. Marlinski |
Director |
None |
|
Richard O’Brien |
Chief Compliance Officer |
None |
|
Timothy Mulcahy |
Director |
None |
|
Matthew DePiero |
Director |
None |
|
Michael Kearney |
Treasurer |
None |
|
Natalie Kavanaugh |
Secretary (2019) |
None |
|
Lisa D. Krieser |
Assistant Secretary |
None |
* 900 Salem Street, Smithfield, RI
(c)
Not applicable.
Item 33.
Location of Accounts and Records
All accounts, books, and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and the Rules promulgated thereunder are maintained by Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, or an affiliate, or Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company, Inc., 245 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210, or the funds’ custodian, or special purpose custodian, as applicable, State Street Bank & Trust Company, 1 Lincoln Street, Boston, MA.
Item 34.
Management Services
Not applicable.
Item 35.
Undertakings
Not applicable.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for the effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Boston, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the 25th day of January 2021.
|
|
Fidelity Covington Trust |
||
|
|
By |
/s/Stacie M. Smith |
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|
|
|
Stacie M. Smith, President |
|
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
|
(Signature) |
|
(Title) |
(Date) |
|
|
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|
|
|
/s/Stacie M. Smith |
|
President and Treasurer |
January 25, 2021 |
|
Stacie M. Smith |
|
(Principal Executive Officer) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ John J. Burke III |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
January 25, 2021 |
|
John J. Burke III |
|
(Principal Financial Officer) |
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|
|
/s/Dennis J. Dirks |
* |
Trustee |
January 25, 2021 |
|
Dennis J. Dirks |
|
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|
|
|
/s/Donald F. Donahue |
* |
Trustee |
January 25, 2021 |
|
Donald F. Donahue |
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|
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|
|
|
|
/s/Bettina Doulton |
* |
Trustee |
January 25, 2021 |
|
Bettina Doulton |
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|
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|
|
|
/s/Vicki L. Fuller |
* |
Trustee |
January 25, 2021 |
|
Vicki L. Fuller |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/Patricia L. Kampling |
* |
Trustee |
January 25, 2021 |
|
Patricia L. Kampling |
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|
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/s/Thomas Kennedy |
* |
Trustee |
January 25, 2021 |
|
Thomas Kennedy |
|
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|
|
___________________ |
* |
Trustee |
|
|
Alan J. Lacy |
|
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|
___________________ |
* |
Trustee |
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Ned C. Lautenbach |
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|
|
/s/Robert A. Lawrence |
* |
Trustee |
January 25, 2021 |
|
Robert A. Lawrence |
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|
|
___________________ |
* |
Trustee |
|
|
Joseph Mauriello |
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|
___________________ |
* |
Trustee |
|
|
Cornelia M. Small |
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|
/s/Garnett A. Smith |
* |
Trustee |
|
|
Garnett A. Smith |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
/s/David M. Thomas |
* |
Trustee |
January 25, 2021 |
|
David M. Thomas |
|
|
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|
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|
/s/Susan Tomasky |
* |
Trustee |
January 25, 2021 |
|
Susan Tomasky |
|
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/s/Michael E. Wiley |
* |
Trustee |
January 25, 2021 |
|
Michael E. Wiley |
|
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* |
By: |
/s/Megan C. Johnson |
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|
|
Megan C. Johnson,pursuant to powers of attorney dated June 9, 2020 and January 1, 2021 and filed herewith. |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
We, the undersigned Directors or Trustees, as the case may be, of the following investment companies:
|
Fidelity Advisor Series I Fidelity Advisor Series VII Fidelity Advisor Series VIII Fidelity Capital Trust Fidelity Commonwealth Trust Fidelity Commonwealth Trust II Fidelity Concord Street Trust Fidelity Contrafund Fidelity Covington Trust Fidelity Destiny Portfolios Fidelity Devonshire Trust Fidelity Financial Trust |
Fidelity Hastings Street Trust Fidelity Investment Trust Fidelity Magellan Fund Fidelity Mt. Vernon Street Trust Fidelity Puritan Trust Fidelity Securities Fund Fidelity Select Portfolios Fidelity Summer Street Trust Fidelity Trend Fund Variable Insurance Products Fund Variable Insurance Products Fund II Variable Insurance Products Fund III Variable Insurance Products Fund IV |
in addition to any other investment company for which Fidelity Management & Research Company (“FMR”) or an affiliate acts as investment adviser and for which the undersigned individuals serve as Directors or Trustees (collectively, the “Funds”), hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney we have given to sign and otherwise act in our names and behalf in matters involving any investment company for which FMR or an affiliate acts as investment adviser and hereby constitute and appoint Thomas C. Bogle, John V. O’Hanlon, Robert W. Helm, Megan C. Johnson, and Anthony H. Zacharski, each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for us and in our names in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, or any successors thereto, any and all subsequent Amendments, Pre-Effective Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statements or any successors thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in our names and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys–in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, and all related requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. We hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This power of attorney is effective for all documents filed on or after January 1, 2021.
WITNESS our hands on this first day of January 2021
|
/s/Thomas Kennedy |
|
|
Thomas Kennedy |
|
POWER OF ATTORNEY
I, the undersigned Trustee of the following investment companies:
|
Fidelity Advisor Series I Fidelity Advisor Series VII Fidelity Advisor Series VIII Fidelity Capital Trust Fidelity Commonwealth Trust Fidelity Commonwealth Trust II Fidelity Concord Street Trust Fidelity Contrafund Fidelity Covington Trust Fidelity Destiny Portfolios Fidelity Devonshire Trust Fidelity Financial Trust |
Fidelity Hastings Street Trust Fidelity Investment Trust Fidelity Magellan Fund Fidelity Mt. Vernon Street Trust Fidelity Puritan Trust Fidelity Securities Fund Fidelity Select Portfolios Fidelity Summer Street Trust Fidelity Trend Fund Variable Insurance Products Fund Variable Insurance Products Fund II Variable Insurance Products Fund III Variable Insurance Products Fund IV |
in addition to any other Fidelity Fund for which the undersigned individual serves as Director or Trustee (collectively, the “Funds”), hereby constitute and appoint Thomas C. Bogle, John V. O’Hanlon, Robert W. Helm, Megan C. Johnson, and Anthony H. Zacharski, each of them singly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacity, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, or any successors thereto, any and all subsequent Amendments, Pre-Effective Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statements or any successors thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, and all related requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This power of attorney is effective for all documents filed on or after June 9, 2020.
WITNESS my hand on this 9th day of June, 2020.
|
/s/Bettina Doulton |
|
|
Bettina Doulton
|
|
POWER OF ATTORNEY
We, the undersigned Directors or Trustees, as the case may be, of the following investment companies:
|
Fidelity Advisor Series I Fidelity Advisor Series VII Fidelity Advisor Series VIII Fidelity Capital Trust Fidelity Commonwealth Trust Fidelity Commonwealth Trust II Fidelity Concord Street Trust Fidelity Contrafund Fidelity Covington Trust Fidelity Destiny Portfolios Fidelity Devonshire Trust Fidelity Financial Trust |
Fidelity Hastings Street Trust Fidelity Investment Trust Fidelity Magellan Fund Fidelity Mt. Vernon Street Trust Fidelity Puritan Trust Fidelity Securities Fund Fidelity Select Portfolios Fidelity Summer Street Trust Fidelity Trend Fund Variable Insurance Products Fund Variable Insurance Products Fund II Variable Insurance Products Fund III Variable Insurance Products Fund IV |
in addition to any other investment company for which Fidelity Management & Research Company (“FMR”) or an affiliate acts as investment adviser and for which the undersigned individuals serve as Directors or Trustees (collectively, the “Funds”), hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney we have given to sign and otherwise act in our names and behalf in matters involving any investment company for which FMR or an affiliate acts as investment adviser and hereby constitute and appoint Thomas C. Bogle, John V. O’Hanlon, Robert W. Helm, Megan C. Johnson, and Anthony H. Zacharski, each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for us and in our names in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, or any successors thereto, any and all subsequent Amendments, Pre-Effective Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statements or any successors thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in our names and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys–in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, and all related requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. We hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This power of attorney is effective for all documents filed on or after June 9, 2020.
WITNESS our hands on this ninth day of June 2020.
|
/s/Dennis J. Dirks |
/s/Joseph Mauriello |
|
Dennis J. Dirks |
Joseph Mauriello |
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/s/Donald F. Donahue |
/s/Cornelia M. Small |
|
Donald F. Donahue |
Cornelia M. Small |
|
|
|
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/s/Vicki L. Fuller |
/s/Garnett A. Smith |
|
Vicki L. Fuller |
Garnett A. Smith |
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/s/Alan J. Lacy |
/s/David M. Thomas |
|
Alan J. Lacy |
David M. Thomas |
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/s/Ned C. Lautenbach |
/s/Susan Tomasky |
|
Ned C. Lautenbach |
Susan Tomasky |
|
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/s/Patricia L. Kampling |
/s/Michael E. Wiley |
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Patricia L. Kampling |
Michael E. Wiley |
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/s/Robert A. Lawrence |
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Robert A. Lawrence |
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