EX-99.(P)(6) 9 ex99-p6.htm CODE OF ETHICS FOR FORMIDABLE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC

 

ETF OPPORTUNITIES TRUST 485BPOS

 

 

Exhibit 99(p)(6)

 

 

FORMIDABLE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC

 

CODE OF ETHICS

 

A.    Code of Conduct

 

Formidable has established this Code of Ethics (the “Code”) pursuant to Rule 204A-1 of the Act. As an investment adviser, Formidable has an undivided duty of loyalty to act solely in the best interests of its clients, an obligation which includes the responsibility to make full and fair disclosure of all material facts, especially where Formidable’s interests may conflict with those of its clients. In carrying on its daily affairs, Formidable and all Supervised Persons must act in a fair, lawful and ethical manner, in accordance with all applicable federal security laws as well as any other rules and regulations imposed by the Company’s governing regulatory authority.

 

All Supervised Persons must review this Code, as well as Formidable’s internal policies and procedures, in an effort to be aware of their responsibilities pertaining to client service. To the extent that any term within the Manual, or any other Formidable policy, is inconsistent with any term contained within this Code, the Code will control. Any violation by a Supervised Person of this Code or any other Formidable policy and/or procedure will subject the Supervised Person to the Firm’s disciplinary procedures, which may include termination of employment.

 

All Supervised Persons must act in accordance with the requirements of all applicable federal security laws including, but not limited to, the Advisers Act, which sets forth numerous policies and procedures pertaining to Formidable’s advisory business. Formidable, as a fiduciary, has an obligation to act consistent with the Advisers Act, but to also place clients’ interests above those of the Firm. To that end, all Supervised Persons must avoid conflicts of interest that may compromise Formidable’s ability to act in clients’ best interests.

 

In a similar vein, it is against Formidable policy for any Supervised Person to use the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce to:

 

Employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud a client or prospective client;

Engage in any transaction, practice, or course of business which defrauds or deceives a client or prospective client; and

Engage in fraudulent, deceptive or manipulative practices.

 

Finally, it is the policy of Formidable that it and each such Supervised Person comply with the aforementioned standards and to recognize that the Firm has a fiduciary obligation towards its clients. Supervised Persons must be fully aware of the high value Formidable has placed and continues to place on the adherence by all Supervised Persons to ethical conduct at all times, and all Supervised Persons are urged to comply not only with the letter of their respective fiduciary duties, but also to the ideals of Formidable. In addition, all Supervised Persons are required to comply with those federal securities laws which apply to the business of the Firm, and each Supervised Person’s execution of the Annual Acknowledgment of the Policies and Procedures constitutes his or her agreement that they have complied, and will continue to comply, with such applicable laws.

 

 

 

 

B.   Provision of the Code and Acknowledgment of Receipt

 

1.     Initial Provision – Acknowledgment of Receipt

 

Within ten (10) days of becoming a Supervised Person colleagues are required to certify in writing that they have:

 

Received a copy of the Code;
Read and understand all provisions of the Code; and
Agree to comply with the provisions set forth in the Code.

 

The CCO is responsible for delivery of the Code and the receipt of the required acknowledgments. See also Section I and the acknowledgment of receipt described in that section.

 

2.     Amendments

 

The CCO will provide all Supervised Persons with any amendments to the Code. All Supervised Persons will provide to the CCO the acknowledgment of receipt of the amended Code, as described above for the initial provision of the Code, within ten (10) days of being provided with an amendment. See also Section I and the acknowledgment of receipt described in that section.

 

3.     Annual Certification of Compliance

 

On an annual basis all Supervised Persons are required to certify that they have received and read the provisions of the Code. Such certification will also include a statement that the Supervised Person has complied with the requirements of the Code and applicable laws, rules statutes and regulations. The CCO is responsible for delivery of the annual certification and the receipt of the executed annual certification. See also Section I and annual acknowledgment described in that section.

 

C.    Personal Securities Transactions

 

All Access Persons must submit for the Firm’s review a report of his/her personal securities transactions and securities holdings periodically as described below. The review of personal securities transactions assist an adviser in recognizing such things as “scalping” (i.e., a practice whereby the owner of shares of a security recommends that security for investment and then immediately sells it at a profit upon the rise in the market price which follows the recommendation), as well as potentially abusive “soft dollar” or brokerage practices. In addition, this requirement can help detect insider trading, “front-running” (i.e., personal trades executed prior to those of Formidable’s clients) and other potentially abusive practices.

 

1.     Initial and Annual Holdings Reports

 

Each Access Person must provide the CCO with a written report of the Access Person’s current Covered Securities holdings within ten (10) days after the person becomes an Access Person, which information must be current as of a date no more than forty five (45) days prior to the date the person becomes an Access Person. Additionally, each Access Person must provide the CCO on an annual basis with a written report of the Access Person’s Covered Securities holdings current as of a date no more than forty five (45) days prior to the date the quarterly report is submitted. Reportable Covered Securities are those over which the Access Person directly, or indirectly, has Beneficial Ownership.

 

 

 

 

Each Covered Securities holdings report must provide, at a minimum, the following information:

 

The title and type of security, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of shares, and principal amount of each Covered Security in which the Access Person has any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership;

The name of any broker, dealer or bank with which the Access Person maintains an account in which any securities are held for the Access Person’s direct or indirect benefit; and

The date the Access Person submits the report.

 

Copies of the Holdings Report Forms are included at Exhibit T. The CCO reviews all received Holdings Report Forms.

 

2.    Transaction Reports

 

Each Access Person must provide the CCO with a written record of his/her personal Covered Securities transactions no later than thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar quarter, which report must cover all transactions in Covered Securities (other than those pursuant to an Automatic Investment Plan) during the quarter. The report must provide, at a minimum, the following information about each transaction in which the Access Person had, or as a result of the transaction acquired, any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership:

 

The date of the transaction, the title, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, interest rate and maturity date, number of shares, and principal amount of each Covered Security involved;

The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition);

The price of the security at which the transaction was effected;

The name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through which the transaction was effected; and

The date the Access Person submits the report.

 

A copy of the Quarterly Transaction Report Form, is included as Exhibit U. The CCO reviews all received Quarterly Transaction Report Forms.

 

D.    Preclearance of Transactions

 

All Access Persons are prohibited from acquiring any security distributed in an Initial Public Offering, without obtaining the prior approval of the CCO. Any request for pre-clearance is to be submitted to the CCO utilizing the Securities Transaction Pre-Clearance Form, attached as Exhibit V. In addition, All Access Persons are prohibited from acquiring any securities for their personal accounts distributed in a Limited Offering, without the express prior approval of the CCO through utilization of the Securities Transaction Pre-Clearance Form. In instances where Access Persons, after receiving prior approval, acquire a security in a Limited Offering, Access Persons have an affirmative obligation to disclose this investment to the CCO if the Access Person participates in any subsequent consideration of any potential investment by any client of Formidable in the issuer of those securities.

 

 

 

 

E.     Insider Trading

 

The securities laws prohibit trading by a person while in the possession of Material Nonpublic Information about a company or about the market for that company’s securities. The securities laws also prohibit a person who is in possession of material nonpublic information from communicating any such information to others. Section 204A of the Act requires that investment advisers maintain and enforce written policies reasonably designed to prevent the misuse of Material Nonpublic Information by the investment adviser or any person associated with the investment adviser. Insider trading violations are likely to result in harsh consequences for the individuals involved, including exposure to investigations by the SEC and criminal and civil prosecution.

 

1.     Trading on Material NonPublic Information

 

No employee of an investment adviser who is in possession of Material Nonpublic Information about a company, or about the market for that company’s securities, is permitted to purchase or sell those securities until the information becomes public and the market has had time to react to it. Should you have any doubt regarding the propriety of a proposed securities transaction, you should seek advice from the CCO, who has been designated by Formidable to handle such matters.

 

2.     Disclosure of Material NonPublic Information

 

No Supervised Person may disclose Material Nonpublic Information about a company or about the market for that company’s securities:

 

To any person except to the extent necessary to carry out the legitimate business obligations of Formidable; or

In circumstances in which the information is likely to be used for unlawful trading.

 

3.     Questions About Formidable’s Insider Trading Policy

 

While compliance with the law and with Formidable’s policies and procedures described above is each individual’s responsibility, interpretive questions may arise, such as whether certain information is Material Nonpublic Information, or whether trading restrictions should be applicable in a given situation. Any questions should immediately be addressed with the CCO who has been designated by Formidable to respond to such questions.

 

 

 

 

4.     Violations

 

Violations of the Firm’s policies and procedures relative to prohibitions against insider trading will be regarded with the utmost seriousness and will subject personnel to disciplinary action.

 

F.     Reporting of Violations of the Code

 

All Supervised Persons must promptly report improper or suspicious activities, including any suspected violations of the Code and/or this Manual. Issues can be reported to the CCO in person, by telephone, email or written letter. Any reports of potential violations will be thoroughly investigated by the CCO, who will report directly to the executive officers on the matter.

 

G.    Retention of Certain Records

 

A record of each securities holdings report and transaction report, including any duplicate broker trade confirmation or account statements provided by an Access Person will be maintained by Formidable for the time period required by the Advisers Act. In addition, a record of the names of persons who are currently, or within the past five years were, Access Persons of Formidable will be maintained. See also Section V Books and Records/Recordkeeping.

 

H.    Definitions

 

Access Persons” means:

 

Any of Formidable’s Supervised Persons who have access to nonpublic information regarding any Formidable client’s purchase or sale of securities, is involved in making securities recommendations to Formidable clients or who has access to such recommendations that are nonpublic; or

Since providing investment advice is Formidable’s primary business, all of Formidable’s directors, officers, members and/or partners.

  

Automatic Investment Plan” means a program in which regular periodic purchases (or withdrawals) are made automatically in (or from) investment accounts in accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation. An Automatic Investment Plan includes a dividend reinvestment plan.

 

Beneficial Ownership” means an Access Person having or sharing a direct or indirect pecuniary interest (i.e., the opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in any profit) in Covered Securities (or an Initial Public Offering or Limited Offering, as the case may be), directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise.

 

 

 

 

Covered Security” means any security defined in Section 202(a)(18) of the Advisers Act (generally, all securities of every kind and nature), except that it does not include:

 

Direct obligations of the Government of the United States;

Bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements;

Shares issued by money market funds;

Shares issued by open-end mutual funds; and

Shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open-end funds. This exception is aimed at variable insurance contracts that are funded by insurance company separate accounts organized as unit investment trusts.

 

Federal Securities Laws” means the Securities Act of 1933; the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; the Investment Company Act of 1940; the Investment Advisers Act of 1940; Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act; any rules adopted by the SEC under any of these statutes; the Bank Secrecy Act as it applies to funds and investment advisers and any rules adopted thereunder by the SEC or the Department of Treasury.

 

Initial Public Offering” means an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933, the issuer of which, immediately before the registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Limited Offering” means an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to section 4(2) or section 4(5) or pursuant to rules 504, 505 or 506 under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

Material Information” means any information about a company, or the market for its securities, that, if disclosed, is likely to affect the market price of the company’s securities or to be considered important by the reasonable investor in deciding whether to purchase or sell those securities. Examples of information about a company which should be presumed to be “material” include, but are not limited to, matters such as:

 

Dividend increases or decreases;

Earnings estimates;

Changes in previously released earnings estimates;

Significant new products or discoveries;

Developments regarding major litigation by or against the company;

Liquidity or solvency problems;

Significant merger or acquisition proposals; or

Similar major events which would be viewed as having materially altered the information available to the public regarding the company or the market for any of its securities.

 

The foregoing is not intended to be an exhaustive list.

 

Nonpublic Information” means information that has not been publicly disclosed. Information about a company is considered to be nonpublic information if it is received under circumstances which indicate that it is not yet in general circulation.

 

 

 

 

"Supervised Person" means any partner, officer, director (or other person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions), or employee of Formidable, or other person who provides investment advice on behalf of Formidable and is subject to the supervision and control of Formidable.