First Trust Launches New Exchange Traded Fund (GRID) Based on
NASDAQ OMX® Clean Edge® Smart Grid Infrastructure Index
First Investment Product Based on the Index
New York & Oakland/Portland — November 17, 2009 — The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.
(NASDAQ:NDAQ), Clean Edge, Inc., and First Trust Advisors L.P. have announced the launch of a new
exchange traded fund (ETF) − the First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Smart Grid Infrastructure Index
Fund (NASDAQ:GRID). It is based on the NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Smart Grid Infrastructure IndexSM
(NASDAQ:QGRD), a benchmark for the smart grid and electric infrastructure sector. The ETF is managed
by First Trust Advisors L.P. and listed on NASDAQ®.
QGRD is a modified market-capitalization index and includes companies that are primarily involved in
electric grid; electric meters, devices and networks; energy storage and management; and enabling
software used by the smart grid and electric infrastructure sector.
First Trust’s ETF, GRID, is designed to correspond to the price and yield performance of the index on
which it is based. ETFs are financial products that trade like shares of stock and can be bought and sold
throughout the trading day.
“First Trust has filled the need for an investment product based on an index that has brought sharper
focus to an industry that is transforming our nation’s energy grid,” said NASDAQ OMX Executive Vice
President John Jacobs. “This ETF reflects First Trust’s commitment to extending its suite of products to
broaden investor choice.”
“This is the first ETF to track a smart grid and electric infrastructure index,” said Ron Pernick, Clean Edge
Co-Founder and Managing Director. “First Trust continues to demonstrate leadership and to build a
strong presence in the clean-energy sector.”
"With a growing demand for electricity and the increasingly inefficient infrastructure, the current power
grid is unable to keep up with the twenty first century technology," according to Ryan Issakainen, Vice
President, Exchange-Traded Fund Strategist for First Trust Portfolios. "There's a growing movement
towards a next generation power grid - Smart Grid. Electricity is one of the largest and most capital
intensive sectors in our economy and we are tremendously excited about the potential that this industry
represents."
The NASDAQ OMX® Clean Edge® Smart Grid Infrastructure Index is calculated in real-time across the
combined exchanges and is disseminated by NASDAQ OMX in U.S. Dollars. The Index commenced
calculation on September 22, 2009 with a value of 250.00.
The NASDAQ OMX® Clean Edge® Smart Grid Infrastructure Index is comprised of companies that are
screened by Clean Edge. To view the companies in the NASDAQ OMX® Clean Edge® Smart Grid
Infrastructure Index, visit www.nasdaqomx.com/indexes.
About NASDAQ OMX
The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. is the world's largest exchange company. It delivers trading, exchange
technology and public company services across six continents, with over 3,700 listed companies.
NASDAQ OMX offers multiple capital raising solutions to companies around the globe, including its U.S.
listings market, NASDAQ OMX Nordic, NASDAQ OMX Baltic, NASDAQ OMX First North, and the U.S.
144A sector. The company offers trading across multiple asset classes including equities, derivatives,
debt, commodities, structured products and exchange-traded funds. NASDAQ OMX technology supports
the operations of over 70 exchanges, clearing organizations and central securities depositories in more
than 50 countries. NASDAQ OMX Nordic and NASDAQ OMX Baltic are not legal entities but describe the
common offering from NASDAQ OMX exchanges in Helsinki, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Iceland, Tallinn,
Riga, and Vilnius. For more information about NASDAQ OMX, visit http://www.nasdaqomx.com. *Please
follow NASDAQ OMX on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/NASDAQ-OMX/108167527653)
and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/nasdaqomx).
About Clean Edge
Clean Edge, Inc., founded in 2000, is the world’s first research and publishing firm devoted to the cleantech sector. The company, via its publications, events, and online services, helps companies, investors,
and governments understand and profit from clean technologies. Clean Edge, with offices in the San
Francisco Bay Area and Portland Oregon, offers unparalleled insight and intelligence on emerging cleantech trends, opportunities, and challenges. Among its many activities, the company publishes the annual
Clean Energy Trends and Clean Tech Job Trends reports; produces the annual Clean-Tech Investor
Summit (along with IBF); maintains a number of benchmark clean-tech stock indexes with NASDAQ OMX
including CELS, QWND, and QGRD; and produces Clean Edge Jobs, a leading online jobs board for
clean-tech job seekers, employers, and recruiters. To keep abreast of the latest clean-tech news; access
industry reports; learn more about Clean Edge, or sign up for the firm’s free e-newsletters; visit
http://www.cleanedge.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The matters described herein may contain forward-looking statements that are made under the Safe
Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but
are not limited to, statements about the NASDAQ OMX Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index and
NASDAQ OMX Group's other products and offerings. We caution that these statements are not
guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in
the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or
other factors beyond NASDAQ OMX's control. These factors include, but are not limited to, factors
detailed in NASDAQ OMX's annual report on Form 10-K, and periodic reports filed with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to release any revisions to any
forward-looking statements.
NASDAQ OMX Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index (“Index”) is the exclusive property of The
NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (collectively, with its affiliates, “NASDAQ OMX”) and Clean Edge, Inc. (“Clean
Edge”). NASDAQ OMX has contracted with Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) to calculate and maintain the
NASDAQ OMX Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index. S&P shall have no liability for any errors or
omissions in calculating the Index.
NASDAQ OMX makes no recommendation to buy or sell any security. The NASDAQ® Clean Edge®
Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund has not been passed on by NASDAQ OMX as to its legality or
suitability. The NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund is not issued, endorsed or
sold by NASDAQ OMX. NASDAQ OMX MAKES NO WARRANTIES AND BEARS NO LIABILITY WITH
RESPECT TO THE PRODUCT. Investors should undertake their own due diligence before investing.
NASDAQ Media Contact:
Wayne Lee
+1.301.978.4875
Wayne.D.Lee@NASDAQOMX.Com
NASDAQ Issuer and Investor Contact:
Lisa Chaney
+1.301.978.8281
Lisa.Chaney@NASDAQOMX.Com
Clean Edge Contact:
Ron Pernick
+1.503.493.8681
pernick@cleanedge.com